Off-center pivoting earpiece
First Claim
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1. An earpiece, comprising:
- an earpiece housing;
a speaker disposed within a central portion of the earpiece housing;
a pivot mechanism disposed at a first end of the earpiece housing, the pivot mechanism comprising;
a stem, anda spring configured to oppose a rotation of the earpiece housing with respect to the stem, the spring comprising a first end coupled to the stem and a second end coupled to the earpiece housing,a first sensor configured to measure the rotation of the stem about a first axis; and
a processor configured to change an operational state of the speaker in response to the rotation of the stem exceeding a predetermined threshold.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This disclosure includes several different features suitable for use in circumaural and supra-aural headphones designs. Designs that reduce the size of headphones and allow for small form-factor storage configurations are discussed. User convenience features that include synchronizing earpiece stem positions and automatically detecting the orientation of the headphones on a user'"'"'s head are also discussed. Various power-saving features, design features, sensor configurations and user comfort features are also discussed.
25 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An earpiece, comprising:
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an earpiece housing; a speaker disposed within a central portion of the earpiece housing; a pivot mechanism disposed at a first end of the earpiece housing, the pivot mechanism comprising; a stem, and a spring configured to oppose a rotation of the earpiece housing with respect to the stem, the spring comprising a first end coupled to the stem and a second end coupled to the earpiece housing, a first sensor configured to measure the rotation of the stem about a first axis; and a processor configured to change an operational state of the speaker in response to the rotation of the stem exceeding a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Headphones, comprising:
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a first earpiece comprising a speaker; a second earpiece; a headband assembly, comprising a headband spring; a first pivot assembly joining the first earpiece to a first side of the headband assembly, the first pivot assembly comprising; a first stem; and a first pivot spring configured to oppose a rotation of the first earpiece relative to the first stem, the first pivot spring comprising a first end coupled to the first earpiece and a second end coupled to the first stem; a first sensor configured to measure the rotation of the first stem about a first axis; a processor configured to change an operational state of the speaker in response to the rotation of the first stem exceeding a predetermined threshold; and a second pivot assembly joining the second earpiece to a second side of the headband assembly, the second pivot assembly comprising; a second stem, and a second pivot spring configured to oppose a rotation of the second earpiece relative to the second stem, the second pivot spring comprising a first end coupled to the second earpiece and a second end coupled to the second stem. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Headphones, comprising:
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a first earpiece comprising a first speaker; a second earpiece comprising a second speaker; a headband assembly, comprising a headband spring; first and second pivot assemblies joining opposing sides of the headband assembly to respective first and second earpieces, each of the pivot assemblies substantially enclosed within respective first and second earpieces, a stem of each of the pivot assemblies coupling its respective pivot assembly to the headband assembly; a first sensor configured to measure a rotation of the first or second stem about a first axis; and a processor configured to change an operation state of the first or second speaker in response to the rotation of the respective first or second stem exceeding a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification