System with wireless earphones

• US 10,491,982 B1
• Filed: 08/01/2019
• Issued: 11/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koss Corporation
• Original Assignee: Koss Corporation
• Inventors: Koss, Michael J., Pelland, Michael J., Sagan, Michael, Reckamp, Steven R., Hallingstad, Gregory J., Bovee, Jeffery K., Lowery, Morgan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan, Kiet M
• Application Number:
  US16/528,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20190356978A1
• Time in Patent Office: 117 Days
• Field of Search: 381 74, 381 77, 381386, 381 716, 381381, 381 59, 381306, 381309, 381103, 4555561, 455462, 455 661, 4555752, 455 412, 370412, 370338
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/02 Manually-operated control H03G3/001 and H03G3/002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960785 with illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/95 characterised by a specific format, e.g. an encoded audio stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/668 Internet protocol [IP] address subnets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/02 Casings; Cabinets ; Supports therefor; Mountings therein H04R1/28 takes precedence ; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1083 Reduction of ambient noise active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/103 Combination of monophonic or stereophonic headphones with audio players, e.g. integrated in the headphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 : Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 : Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 : Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 : Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/22 : with access to wired networks

Abstract

Apparatus comprises adapter and speaker system. Adapter is configured to plug into port of personal digital audio player. Speaker system is in communication with adapter, and comprises multiple acoustic transducers, programmable processor circuit, and wireless communication circuit. In first operational mode, processor circuit receives, via adapter, and processes digital audio content from personal digital audio player into which adapter is plugged, and the multiple acoustic transducers output the received audio content from the personal digital audio player. In second operational mode, wireless communication circuit receives digital audio content from a remote digital audio source over a wireless network, processor circuit processes the digital audio content received from remote digital audio source, and the multiple acoustic transducers output the audio content received from the remote digital audio source.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

headphones comprising a pair of first and second wireless earphones to be worn simultaneously by a user, wherein the first and second earphones are separate such that when the headphones are worn by the user, the first and second earphones are not physically connected, wherein each of the first and second earphones comprises;

a body portion that comprises;

a wireless communication circuit for receiving and transmitting wireless signals;

a processor circuit in communication with the wireless communication circuit; and

an ear canal portion that is inserted into an ear of the user when worn by the user; and

at least one acoustic transducer connected to the processor circuit; and

an elongated portion that extends away from the body portion such that the elongated portion extends downwardly when the ear canal portion is inserted in the ear of the user;

a microphone connected to the processor circuit and for picking up utterances of a user of the headphones;

an antenna connected to the wireless communication circuit; and

a rechargeable power source; and

a mobile, digital audio player that stores digital audio content and that comprises a wireless transceiver for transmitting digital audio content to the headphones via Bluetooth wireless communication links, such that each earphone receives and plays audio content received wirelessly via the Bluetooth wireless communication links from the mobile, digital audio player.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a docking station for holding at least the first wireless earphone, wherein the docking station comprises a power cable for connecting to an external device for charging the at least the first wireless earphone when the docking station is connected to the external device via the power cable.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

in a first operational mode, the pair of first and second earphones play audio content stored on the mobile, digital audio player and transmitted to the first and second earphones from the mobile, digital audio player via the Bluetooth wireless communication links; and

in a second operational mode, the pair of first and second earphones play audio content streamed from a remote network server.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor circuit of the first earphone is for, upon activation of a user control of the headphones, initiating transmission of a request to a remote network server that is remote from the mobile, digital audio player and in communication with the mobile, digital audio player via a data communication network.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the processor circuit of the first earphone is further for receiving a response to the request.

6. The headphones of claim 5, wherein:

the mobile digital audio player is a first digital audio source;

the system further comprises a second digital audio player that is different from the first digital audio player; and

the headphones transition to play digital audio content received wirelessly from the second digital audio source via a second wireless communication link based on, at least in part, a signal strength for the second wireless communication link.

7. The headphones of claim 6, wherein the processor circuits of the headphones are configured to receive firmware upgrades pushed from a remote network server.

8. The headphones of claim 6, wherein each of the first and second earphones comprises a buffer for caching the audio content received by the earphone prior to being played by the at least one acoustic transducer of the earphone.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor circuits of the headphones are configured to receive firmware upgrades pushed from a remote network server.

10. The headphones of claim 9, wherein the processor circuit of each of the first and second earphones comprises:

a digital signal processor that provides a sound quality enhancement for the audio content played by the at least one acoustic transducers of the earphone; and

a baseband processor circuit that is in communication with the wireless communication circuit of the earphone.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the mobile digital audio player is a first digital audio source;

the system further comprises a second digital audio player that is different from the first digital audio player; and

the headphones transition to play digital audio content received wirelessly from the second digital audio source via a second wireless communication link based on, at least in part, a signal strength for the second wireless communication link.

12. The headphones of claim 11, wherein the processor circuits of the headphones are configured to receive firmware upgrades pushed from a remote network server.

13. The headphones of claim 12, wherein each of the first and second earphones comprises a buffer for caching the audio content received by the earphone prior to being played by the at least one acoustic transducer of the earphone.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor circuits of the headphones are configured to receive firmware upgrades pushed from a remote network server.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor circuit of the first earphone is configured to:

process audible utterances by the user picked by the microphone in response to activation of the microphone by the user; and

transmit a communication based on the audible utterances via the Bluetooth wireless communication links.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the rechargeable power source comprises a wirelessly chargeable circuit component.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the rechargeable power source comprises a passive, wireless rechargeable power source.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second earphones comprises a buffer for caching the audio content received by the earphone prior to being played by the at least one acoustic transducer of the earphone.

19. The headphones of claim 1, wherein the processor circuit of each of the first and second earphones comprises a digital signal processor that provides a sound quality enhancement for the audio content played by the at least one acoustic transducers of the earphone.

20. The headphones of claim 19, wherein the processor circuit of each of the first and second earphones further comprises a baseband processor circuit that is in communication with the wireless communication circuit of the earphone.