Power transferring headphones

• US 8,923,525 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2013
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Phaz Music Corp.
• Original Assignee: Zeikos Incorporated
• Inventors: Saideh, Isaac
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, PAUL
• Application Number:
  US14/071,223
• Publication Number:
  US 20140219466A1
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 381/74, 381/309, 381/370, 381/384, 381/123, 381/55, 381/311, 455/573, 455/571, 455/572, 320/103, 320/114
• US Class Current: 381/74
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1033 Cables or cables storage, e.g. cable reels cord reels per se H02G11/02; arrangements for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of conductors or cables B65H75/34; extensible conductors or cables, e.g. self-coiling cords H01B7/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/09 Applications of special connectors, e.g. USB, XLR, in loudspeakers, microphones or headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/03 Aspects of the reduction of energy consumption in hearing devices

Abstract

The invention relates to headphones which can facilitate the transfer of electrical power from the headphones'"'"' internal power source to other devices. A pair of headphones can connect to a device through a modified cable. The modified cable triggers the transfer of electrical power to the device. A pair headphones may have a modified port which, when connected to the device through a non-modified or regular cable, causes the transfer of power from the headphones. A power management component connected to the internal power source of the headphones helps control or regulate the transfer of power transfer to and from the headphones.

Claims

1. A pair of headphones comprising:

a left speaker unit including a left speaker for providing audio output;

a right speaker unit including a right speaker for providing audio output;

an adjustable band configured to hold the left speaker unit and the right speaker unit;

a port located on one of the speaker units, the port operatively connected to an internal power source of the headphones; and

an internal power management component for regulating the internal power source of the headphones and controlling an output voltage of the internal power source so that when electrical power is provided by the internal power source to a function of the headphones and a first cable is connected to the port and to an external device, electrical power is also transferred from the headphones to the external device, and when a power adaptor is connected to the port and to a wall outlet, the internal power source is being charged.

2. The headphones of claim 1, wherein a data pin of the connecting end of the first cable is electrically grounded.

3. The headphones of claim 1, wherein the first cable further comprises a removable adaptor at the end of the first cable connecting to the port, the connector electrically grounding a data pin of the first cable.

4. The headphones of claim 1, wherein the power management component determines the amount of power in the internal power source and prevents the transfer of power from the internal power source if the amount of power is less than or equal to a predefined threshold power level.

5. The headphones of claim 1, wherein the internal power source is one or more rechargeable batteries.

6. The headphones of claim 1, wherein the power management component comprises a power manager integrated circuit.

7. The headphones of claim 6, wherein the integrated circuit is a Linear Chip LTC4160.

8. The headphones of claim 1, wherein the port is a USB type port and the first cable is a USB type cable.

9. The headphones of claim 8, wherein the USB type port is a micro USB port and the USB type cable has at least one micro USB type connector.

10. The headphones of claim 1, wherein the power adaptor comprises a removable cable.

11. A pair of headphones comprising:

a left speaker unit including a left speaker for providing audio output;

a right speaker unit including a right speaker for providing audio output;

an adjustable band configured to hold the left speaker unit and the right speaker unit;

a first port located on one of the speaker units, the first port electrically connected to an internal power source of the headphones;

a second port located one of the speaker units, the second port electrically connected to the internal power source of the headphones; and

an internal power management component for regulating the internal power source of the headphones so that electrical power is provided by the internal power source to a function of the headphones and when a first cable is connected to the first port and to an external device electrical power is also transferred from the headphones to the external device, and when a power adaptor is connected to the second port and to a wall outlet, the internal power source is being charged.

12. The headphones of claim 11, wherein the first port is configured to electrically ground a data pin of a cable connecting thereto.

13. The headphones of claim 11, wherein the power management component determines the amount of power in the internal power source and prevents the transfer of power from the internal power source if the amount of power is less than or equal to a predefined threshold power level.

14. The headphones of claim 11, wherein the internal power source is one or more rechargeable batteries.

15. The headphones of claim 11, wherein the power management component comprises a power manager integrated circuit.

16. The headphones of claim 15, wherein the integrated circuit is a Linear Chip LTC4160.

17. The headphones of claim 11, wherein one of the ports is a USB port and the other port is a micro USB port.

18. The headphones of claim 11, wherein the power adaptor comprises a removable cable.