System with wireless earphones

• US 10,757,498 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2019
• Issued: 08/25/2020
• 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:
  US16/528,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20190356981A1
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• Field of Search: 455 412, 455466, 4553432, 455 661, 4555691, 4555531, 4554561, 4555501, 455425, 381379, 381111, 381381, 381105, 381380, 381375
• 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. Headphones comprising:

a pair of first and second wireless earphones to be worn simultaneously by a user, wherein each of the first and second wireless earphones comprises at least one acoustic transducer for producing audible sound;

wherein the first wireless earphone comprises a first system-on-chip (SOC), wherein the first SOC comprises;

a first wireless communication circuit for receiving and transmitting wireless signals;

a first processor circuit connected to the first wireless communication circuit; and

a first memory unit in communication with the first processor circuit for storing firmware updates pushed to the headphones from a remote network server;

wherein the first wireless communication circuit is for receiving audio content streamed wirelessly to the headphones from a first audio content source, such that the first and second wireless earphones play the audio content streamed wirelessly to the headphones; and

wherein the first processor circuit is configured to, in response to detecting an incoming wireless communication to the headphones;

mute the audio content streamed wirelessly to the headphone being played by the headphones; and

output audio of the incoming wireless communication circuit via the first and second wireless earphones.

2. The headphones of claim 1, wherein the second wireless earphone comprises a second SOC, wherein the second SOC comprises:

a second wireless communication circuit for receiving and transmitting wireless signals;

a second processor circuit connected to the second wireless communication circuit of the second wireless earphone; and

a second memory unit in communication with the second processor circuit of the second wireless earphone for storing firmware updates pushed to the headphones from the remote network server.

3. The headphones of claim 2, 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.

4. The headphones of claim 3, wherein the headphones receive the firmware updates wirelessly.

5. The headphones of claim 4, wherein:

each of the first and second earphones comprises a rechargeable power source; and

each of the rechargeable power sources comprises a wirelessly chargeable circuit component.

6. The headphones of claim 5, wherein each of the first and second earphones comprise an earbud.

7. The headphone of claim 3, wherein:

the first SOC further comprises a first buffer that caches the audio content received wirelessly by the first earphone prior to the audio content being played by the at least one acoustic transducer of the first earphone; and

the second SOC further comprises a second buffer that caches the audio content received wirelessly by the second earphone prior to the audio content being played by the at least on acoustic transducer of the second earphone.

8. The headphones of claim 7, further comprising a docking station for holding at least one of the wireless earphones, wherein the docking station comprises a power cable for connecting to an external device, and wherein the docking station is for charging the at least one earphone when the docking station holds the at least one earphone.

9. The headphones of claim 8, wherein each of the first and second earphones comprise an earbud.

10. The headphones of claim 8, wherein the headphones are configured to receive the firmware updates wirelessly.

11. The headphones of claim 8, wherein:

the first earphone comprises a microphone; and

the first processor circuit of the first wireless earphone is configured to, upon activation of the microphone by the user, transmit data about the headphones to a remote device.

12. The headphones of claim 11, wherein the remote device comprises a remote network server.

13. The headphones of claim 12, wherein:

the first processor circuit of the first SOC comprises;

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

a first baseband processor circuit that is in communication with the first wireless communication circuit of the first SOC; and

the second processor circuit of the second SOC comprises;

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

a second baseband processor circuit that is in communication with the second communication circuit of the second SOC.

14. The headphones of claim 8, wherein:

the first wireless earphone comprises a first microphone; and

the second wireless earphone comprises a second microphone.

15. The headphones of claim 14, wherein each of the first and second processor circuits of the first and second SOCs of the first and second wireless earphones is configured to perform noise cancelling on the audible sound produced by the at least one acoustic transducers of the first and second wireless earphones.

16. The headphones of claim 7, wherein the processor circuit for each earphone is configured to transition from playing the audio content streamed wirelessly to the headphones from the first digital audio source via a first wireless communication link to playing the audio content streamed wirelessly to the headphones from a second digital audio source via a second wireless communication link automatically based on, at least in part, a signal strength for the second wireless communication link.

17. The headphones of claim 3, wherein each of the first and second earphones comprises a rechargeable power source.

18. The headphones of claim 17, wherein the rechargeable power source comprises a wirelessly chargeable circuit component.

19. The headphones of claim 3, wherein:

the first processor circuit of the first SOC comprises;

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

a first baseband processor circuit that is in communication with the first wireless communication circuit of the first SOC; and

the second processor circuit of the second SOC comprises;

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

a second baseband processor circuit that is in communication with the second communication circuit of the second SOC.

20. The headphones of claim 2, wherein each of the first and second earphones comprise an earbud.

21. The headphones 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 device.

22. The headphones of claim 21, wherein the processor circuit of the first earphone is further for receiving a response to the request.

23. The headphones of claim 1, wherein the processor circuit for each earphone is configured to transition from playing the audio content streamed wirelessly to the headphones from the first digital audio source via a first wireless communication link to playing the audio content streamed wirelessly to the headphones from a second digital audio source via a second wireless communication link automatically based on, at least in part, a signal strength for the second wireless communication link.

24. The headphones of claim 1, wherein the first earphone comprises a microphone.

25. The headphones of claim 24, 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 wireless communication from the headphones based on the audible utterances.

26. The headphones of claim 24, wherein the first processor circuit of the first wireless earphone is configured to, upon activation of the microphone by the user, transmit data about the headphones to a remote device.