Source dependent wireless earpiece equalizing

• US 8,509,858 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2011
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Inventors: Annunziato, Kevin P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Application Number:
  US13/271,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20130095884A1
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 455/569.1, 455/570, 455/73, 455/135, 455/222, 455/226.3, 455/296, 381/74, 381/103, 379/420.01, 379/420.02, 379/420.03, 379/420.04
• US Class Current: 455/569.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6008 in the transmitter circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• 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 2420/01 Input selection or mixing for amplifiers or loudspeakers for hearing aids H04R25/43
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/03 Synergistic effects of band splitting and sub-band processing
• 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

Abstract

A headphone for use with a wireless audio device. The headphone determines whether the origin of an incoming transmission is a cell phone or a device such as a land line device or a computer. The headphone applies a different equalization pattern depending on whether the origin is a land line device or a computer or whether the origin is a cell phone. The headphone may measure the amplitude of the incoming transmission above a first threshold frequency, or below a second threshold frequency, or both to determine if the origin is a land line device or a computer or if the origin is a cell phone.

Claims

1. A headphone, comprising

a first receiver for wirelessly receiving incoming cell phone transmissions;

a transducer for transducing the cell phone transmission to acoustic energy;

circuitry for determining whether the origin of the cell phone transmission is a cell phone, a land line device, or a computer;

circuitry for applying, in the event that the origin of the cell phone transmission is a cell phone, a first equalization pattern to the incoming cell phone transmission; and

circuitry for applying, in the event that the origin of the cell phone transmission is a land line device or a computer, a second equalization pattern, different from the first equalization pattern, to the incoming cell phone transmission

wherein the second equalization pattern boosts the frequencies below a threshold frequency less than the first equalization pattern.

2. The headphone of claim 1, wherein the circuitry for determining whether the origin of the cell phone transmission is a cell phone, a land line device, or a computer comprises circuitry for measuring the amplitude of the audio signal above a first threshold frequency or below a second threshold frequency, or both.

3. The headphone of claim 1, wherein the second equalization pattern boosts the frequencies above a threshold frequency less that the first equalization pattern.

4. The headphone of claim 1, wherein the first receiver is further for wirelessly receiving incoming transmissions of non-cellphone audio signals from an audio device, the headphone further comprising circuitry for applying a third equalization pattern, different from the first equalization pattern and the second equalization pattern.

5. The headphone of claim 1, further comprising:

a second receiver for wirelessly receiving incoming transmissions from a wireless communications network.

6. The headphone of claim 1, wherein the first receiver is further for wirelessly receiving incoming transmissions from a wireless communications network.

7. The headphone of claim 1, further comprising circuitry for receiving incoming transmissions through a physical transmission medium.

8. The headphone of claim 1, wherein the headphone is an in-ear earpiece.

9. A headphone, comprising

a first receiver for wirelessly receiving incoming cell phone transmissions;

a transducer for transducing the cell phone transmission to acoustic energy;

circuitry for measuring the amplitude of the audio signal above a first threshold frequency or below a second threshold frequency or both;

circuitry for applying, in the event that the amplitude of the audio signal above the first threshold frequency, or below the second threshold frequency, or both, is below a corresponding threshold amplitude, a first equalization pattern to the incoming cell phone transmission; and

circuitry for applying, in the event that the amplitude of the signal above the first threshold frequency and below the second threshold frequency is above the corresponding threshold amplitudes, a second equalization pattern, different from the first equalization pattern, to the incoming cell phone transmission.

10. The headphone of claim 9, wherein the first receiver is further for wirelessly receiving incoming transmissions of non-cellphone audio signals that from an audio device, the headphone further comprising circuitry for applying a third equalization pattern, different from the first equalization pattern and the second equalization pattern.

11. The headphone of claim 9, further comprising:

a second receiver for wirelessly receiving incoming transmissions from a wireless communications network.

12. The headphone of claim 9, wherein the first receiver is further for wirelessly receiving incoming transmissions from a wireless communications network.

13. The headphone of claim 9, further comprising circuitry for receiving incoming transmissions through a physical transmission medium.

14. The headphone of claim 9, wherein the headphone is an in-ear earpiece.

15. A method for operating a headphone, comprising:

wirelessly receiving an incoming cell phone transmission;

determining whether the origin of the cell phone transmission is a cell phone or is a land line device or a computer;

in response to the origin of the incoming cell phone transmission being a cell phone, applying first equalization pattern to the incoming cell phone transmission;

in response to the origin of the incoming cell phone transmission being a land line device or a computer, applying a second equalization pattern, different from the first equalization pattern, to the incoming cell phone transmission

wherein the determining comprises measuring the amplitude of the audio signal above a first threshold frequency or below a second threshold frequency, or both;

in response to the amplitude above the first threshold frequency, or below the second threshold frequency, or both, being below a threshold amplitude, determining that the origin of the incoming cell phone transmission is a cell phone; and

in response to the frequency content above the first threshold frequency or below the threshold frequency being above a threshold amplitude, determining that the origin of the incoming cell phone transmission is a land line device.

16. A method for operating a headphone, comprising:

wirelessly receiving an incoming cell phone transmission;

measuring the amplitude of the audio signal in the cell phone transmission above a first threshold frequency or below a second threshold frequency, or both;

in response to the amplitude above the first threshold frequency, or below the second threshold frequency or both, being below a threshold amplitude, applying a first equalization pattern to the incoming cell phone transmission; and

in response to the amplitude above the first threshold frequency and below the threshold frequency being above the threshold amplitude, applying a second equalization pattern, different from the first equalization pattern, to the incoming cell phone transmission.