Music headphones for manual control of ambient sound

• US 8,023,663 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2006
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tunnel IP LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Syncronation, Inc.
• Inventors: Goldberg, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Ping
• Application Number:
  US11/566,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20070116316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,751 Days
• Field of Search: 381/74, 381/72, 381/57, 381/373, 381/380, 381/376, 381/382
• US Class Current: 381/74
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0025 Automatic or semi-automatic music composition, e.g. producing random music, applying rules from music theory or modifying a musical piece automatically producing a series of tones G10H1/26
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0083 using wireless transmission, e.g. radio, light, infrared
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/40 Rhythm
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/076 for extraction of timing, tempo; Beat detection tempo display G10H2220/081; tempo control G10H2210/375
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/175 for jam sessions or musical collaboration through a network, e.g. for composition, ensemble playing or repeating; Compensation of network or internet delays therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/251 Mobile telephone transmission, i.e. transmitting, accessing or controlling music data wirelessly via a wireless or mobile telephone receiver, analog or digital, e.g. DECT GSM, UMTS smartphone, PDA or palmtop used for musical purposes G10H2230/015; mobile ringtone G10H2230/021
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/305 Internet or TCP/IP protocol use for any electrophonic musical instrument data or musical parameter transmission purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/325 Synchronizing two or more audio tracks or files according to musical features or musical timings synchronised lyrics, e.g. for karaoke G10H2220/011
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/58 of audio determination or detection of speech characteristics in general G10L25/00; speech recognition in general G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones

Abstract

A headphone and method for allowing manually controlled reception of ambient sound by a user. More particularly, the invention relates to a headphone for listening to an audio signal while allowing varying amounts of ambient sound to the user. In one aspect, the headphone comprises a manually-controllable physical characteristic that controls the amount of ambient sound accessible to the user. The physical characteristic can be sound ports that can be opened or closed. In another aspect, the headphone can comprise a microphone receptive of ambient sound, wherein the user can control the proportion of sound that comes from the ambient sound or the audio signal. The microphone can be part of a noise cancellation system.

Claims

1. A device for audibly presenting audio content to at least one ear of a user, comprising:

a) a speaker element adapted to receive an electrical signal corresponding to audio content and to audibly present the audio content to at least one ear of a user wearing the device; and

b) an ambient sound control system adapted to enable the user to variably control a loudness of ambient sound heard by the user while wearing the device and listening to the audio content and wherein the ambient sound control system comprises;

a rotatable sound shield associated with the speaker element and comprising at least one first sound port; and

a non-rotatable sound shield within the rotatable sound shield comprising at least one second sound port;

wherein the rotatable sound shield enables the user to control the loudness of the ambient sound heard by the user by rotating the rotatable sound shield to control alignment of the at least one first sound port with the at least one second sound port.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is headphones.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is one or more earphones.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is one or more earplugs.

5. A method comprising:

presenting audio content to at least one ear of a user via a device wearable by the user; and

enabling the user to control, via the device, a loudness of ambient sound heard by the user while wearing the device and listening to the audio content wherein the device comprises a rotatable sound shield comprising at least one first sound port and a non-rotatable sound shield within the rotatable sound shield comprising at least one second sound port, the method further comprising;

enabling the user to rotate the rotatable sound shield to control alignment of the at least one first sound port and the at least one second sound port to thereby control the loudness of the ambient sound heard by the user.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the device is headphones.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the device is one or more earphones.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the device is one or more earplugs.