Headphone Patents (Class 381/370)
  • Patent number: 9402124
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for controlling a smart terminal device and the smart terminal device thereof. The method comprises: monitoring a wearing state of receivers of an earphone connected to the smart terminal device, wherein the wearing state comprises a putting-on state and a taking-off state; and controlling running state of one or more applications in the smart terminal device and/or an operation mode of the smart terminal device according to the wearing state of the receivers. The embodiments of the present disclosure can simplify manual operations by monitoring the change of wearing state of an earphone. The lifetime of the mechanical members of the earphone can be improved, the electric energy of the smart terminal device can be saved, and no manual operation control is needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: XIAOMI INC.
    Inventor: Xu Zhang
  • Patent number: 9385546
    Abstract: A to-be-charged apparatus, including: a built-in battery; a plug connectable to a jack included in a data storage apparatus capable of storing data and a jack included in a charging adapter; a drive unit that is capable of acquiring the data from the data storage apparatus while the plug is connected to the jack of the data storage apparatus and is driven by power supplied from the built-in battery; and a circuit that includes a data line for transmitting the data, which is connected between the plug and the drive unit, and supplies, when a connection of the plug to the jack of the charging adapter is detected by a detection switch included in the charging adapter connected to a power supply apparatus, a charge from the charging adapter to the built-in battery using the data line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kikuo Wakayama, Tooru Okamura, Naotaka Tsunoda
  • Patent number: 9380376
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a headband cover for a headphone. In one embodiment, a headphone comprises a headband having an interchangeable headband cover folded around the headband of the headphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Zound Industries International AB
    Inventor: Carl Johan Uggla
  • Patent number: 9357286
    Abstract: A two-way earphone includes: a main earphone body including a first sound generating unit and a second sound generating unit; a housing having a first holder part where the first sound generating unit is inserted, and a second holder part where the second sound generating unit is inserted, and a partition wall having at least one first sound releasing hole for releasing the sound generated from the first sound generating unit between the first holder part and the second holder part; a cap assembled onto the second holder part, and including at least one second sound releasing hole for releasing, to the outside, a mixed sound resulting from the intermixing of the sound released through the first sound releasing hole and the sound generated from the second sound generating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Inventor: Ki Young Seo
  • Patent number: 9310884
    Abstract: A head-mountable display system comprises a head mountable display having a frame to be mounted onto an observer's head, the frame defining one or two eye display positions which, in use, are positioned for viewing by the observer. The frame comprises one or more shutters for obscuring the observer's view of the surrounding real environment and a display element mounted with respect to each of the eye display positions. The display element provides a virtual image of a video display of a video signal from a video signal source to the observer. An object detector detects the presence of an object within a detection range of the observer's head. And a controller controls operation of the head mountable display so as to allow the observer to view at least a portion of the surrounding real environment in response to detection of the presence of an object within the detection range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Limited
    Inventors: Simon Mark Benson, Ian Henry Bickerstaff
  • Patent number: 9294831
    Abstract: There is provided an in-ear earphone having a housing for receiving an electroacoustic transducer and an expansion adaptor unit which is coupled to the housing of the in-ear earphone. The expansion adaptor unit has an expansion unit with an upper portion having a curvature for fitting into a crus inferius anthelicis, an anti-helix and/or a concha of an ear of a user. The expansion adaptor unit further has at least one coupling element for coupling the upper portion to the housing of the in-ear earphone, wherein the expansion unit has at least two flexible legs as coupling elements, wherein one leg is coupled to a first end of the upper portion and a second leg is coupled to a second end of the upper portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Chee Keong Tan, Yuen Shen Wong
  • Patent number: 9288569
    Abstract: An earphone simultaneously allows high-level low-frequency sound and effective noise reduction. The earphone has a front cavity separated from ambient space The earphone has a housing having a wall separating a rear cavity with an acoustic compliance from the front cavity and from ambient space; a first diaphragm reciprocatably suspended across a first through hole in the housing wall between the front cavity and the rear cavity and adapted to be actively driven to provide the acoustic output signal; and a second diaphragm reciprocatably suspended in the housing wall between the rear cavity and ambient space where the acoustic resonant system is configured such that the resonance frequency is below 500 Hz. The second diaphragm attenuates acoustic signals entering the rear cavity from ambient space at frequencies above the resonance frequency and virtually increases the acoustic compliance of the rear cavity at frequencies below the resonance frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: GN Netcom A/S
    Inventor: Jacob Reimert
  • Patent number: 9255982
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for the binaural reproduction of audio sonar signals, which can be direction-selectively received by a sonar system having a receiving antenna provided with a plurality of transducers, and at least one direction generator, and which can be modified by binaural audio signal processing. The apparatus comprises a portable sound reproduction device, particularly a headphone, and a head tracking sensor connected to the sound reproduction device for registering position changes of the sound reproduction device. Signals, associated with the position changes, are generated, which are transferred to the direction generator, in order to select a direction of the sound waves to be received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: ATLAS ELEKTRONIK GMBH
    Inventors: Jan-Philip Schwarz, Heiko Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9232308
    Abstract: Provided is a headphone device including an outside microphone attached to a position at which an extraneous sound is picked up without passing through a shield in a state in which a user is wearing the headphone device, an inside microphone attached to a position at which the extraneous sound is picked up via the shield in the state in which the user is wearing the headphone device, a driver unit which performs an acoustic output, and a wearing state detection unit which detects a wearing or non-wearing state using a signal comparison result between sound signals obtained by the outside and inside microphones, respectively, a pre-stored non-wearing state reference value which is a signal comparison result when the extraneous sound arrives in the non-wearing state, and a pre-stored wearing state reference value which is a signal comparison result when the extraneous sound arrives in the wearing state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasunobu Murata, Kohei Asada
  • Patent number: 9210496
    Abstract: An earphone comprising an earphone housing having a wall comprising (1) a front side that joins (2) an end portion in which a primary sound output opening is formed, which joins (3) a face portion in which a secondary output opening is formed, which joins (4) a back side which joins the front side and encloses a driver, wherein the face portion and the front side form a tapered portion of the earphone housing that is dimensioned to be inserted into, and contact, an ear of a wearer, wherein the primary output opening is dimensioned to output sound generated by a diaphragm of the driver contained within the earphone housing into the ear, the secondary output opening is dimensioned to vent the ear to a surrounding environment, and wherein the primary output opening and the secondary output opening face different directions and are positioned over a sound output face of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael B. Howes, Yacine Azmi, Scott P. Porter, Jonathan S. Aase, Andrew P. Bright, Christopher R. Wilk
  • Patent number: 9143855
    Abstract: There is provided an in-ear earphone having a housing for receiving an electroacoustic transducer and an expansion adaptor unit which is coupled to the housing of the in-ear earphone. The expansion adaptor unit has an expansion unit with an upper portion having a curvature for fitting into a crus inferius anthelicis, an anti-helix and/or a concha of an ear of a user. The expansion adaptor unit further has at least one coupling element for coupling the upper portion to the housing of the in-ear earphone, wherein the expansion unit has at least two flexible legs as coupling elements, wherein one leg is coupled to a first end of the upper portion and a second leg is coupled to a second end of the upper portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Chee Keong Tan, Yuen Shen Wong
  • Patent number: 9071902
    Abstract: A phone case with a retractable headset integrated thereof includes a removable housing, a headset with two earbuds, and a cord for the headset with a pair of free ends and a plug. The housing includes a wire storage slot for the earbud cord, and the wire storage slot includes a spring-loaded reel for automatic retracting of the cord when not used. It further includes an earbud storage slot with an opening at one edge of the housing for storing the earbuds; a plug storage slot with an opening at another edge of the housing for storing the plug close to the headset jack of a mobile phone; and the wire storage slot, earbud storage slot, and plug storage slot are interconnected via said headset cord. A plurality of wheels are positioned inside the case for routing the headset cord through the earbud storage slot, wire storage slot, and plug storage slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Inventor: Chunbing Ai
  • Patent number: 9049512
    Abstract: A headset may comprise at least one ear cup and an ear cup shaper configurable into at least two configurations. When the ear cup shaper is configured in a first of the configurations, the ear cup is shaped to contact the temple of a wearer of the headset. When the adjustable ear cup shaper is configured in a second of the configurations, the ear cup is shaped to accommodate the temple piece of a pair of eyeglasses of a wearer of the headset. The ear cup may comprise a filler material such as foam, and the adjustable ear cup shaper when configured in the second of the configurations may create a depression in the foam. The adjustable ear cup shaper may comprise a strap and/or a plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Kulavik, Andy Logan
  • Patent number: 9042590
    Abstract: A positioning and retaining structure for an in-ear earpiece. An outer leg and an inner leg are attached to each other at an attachment end and attached to a body of the earpiece at the other end. The outer leg lies in a plane. The positioning and retaining structure have a stiffness that is greater when force is applied to the attachment end in a counterclockwise direction in the plane of the outer leg than when force is applied to the attachment end in a clockwise direction in the plane of the outer leg. The positioning and retaining structure position an earpiece associated with the earpiece in a user's ear and retains the earpiece in its position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan C. Silvestri, Eric M. Wallace, Kevin P. Annunziato, Ian M. Collier, Michael Monahan
  • Patent number: 9042587
    Abstract: A headphone including two earphone cups, a main strap and a decorating strap is provided. Two ends of the main strap are connected to the earphone cups. Two ends of the decorating strap are detachably connected to the earphone cups or the main strap and rotatable corresponding to the earphone cups or the main strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Cotron Corporation
    Inventor: Bill Yang
  • Patent number: 9042591
    Abstract: Corded devices, such as headphones and power suppliers, can be stored in a case that reduces the tendency of their cords to tangle without the need for wrapping or winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas Nathan Millikan
  • Publication number: 20150139469
    Abstract: Devices and methods for ergonomically, quickly and securely carrying headsets, other wearable items, or other items that must remain handy. In an embodiment, there is a headset carrying device comprising a body for receiving a headset, supporting and protecting the majority of the headset body (boom); a capture clip for retaining the earpiece of the headset; and a mounting device for affixing the headset carrying device body to the user or an object. The capture clip holds the headset near the earpiece, allowing for easy and secure capture, followed by easily accomplished intentional release. The capture clip may be a removable component to accommodate various types of headset designs and sizes and formed into the body without moving parts, or alternatively comprises a mechanism with moving parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventor: David R. Hurwitz
  • Publication number: 20150139468
    Abstract: A hearing device includes at least one input transducer for generating an input signal, an output transducer for generating an output signal and a signal processing unit operationally interconnecting the input transducer and the output transducer. A method includes receiving context information describing a possible current acoustic situation and selecting an adjustment scheme taking into account the context information. The adjustment scheme is one of the following: predefined adjustment scheme, and scenario dependent adjustment scheme comprising at least two scenario adjustments (S1, . . . , Sn), each being assigned at least one hearing program (P1, . . . , Pm). The method also includes selecting a hearing program (P1, . . . , Pm) based on the selected adjustment scheme, and processing the input signal by applying the selected hearing program (P1, . . . , Pm) to obtain the output signal of the hearing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: PHONAK AG
    Inventors: Manuela Feilner, Hilmar Meier
  • Patent number: 9036854
    Abstract: Audio equipment comprising a signal generating module (26) arranged to output signals to a pair of speakers (20), wherein the speakers (20) are mounted upon respective housings (18), adapted to be carried by a glasses frame unit (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Inventor: Marcus Lewis
  • Patent number: 9036849
    Abstract: A headset comprises a headband for supporting the headset on a user's head, an earpiece including an audio driver and a microphone boom including a microphone. The microphone boom is rotatable when the headset is located on a user's head from an operative position in which the microphone boom is directed towards the user's mouth to a stowed position in which the microphone boom is at least partially received in a recess defined in the headset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale E Thompson, Manoj Mistry, John B Ledingham, Matthew E Kramer
  • Patent number: 9036852
    Abstract: A positioning and retaining structure for an in-ear earpiece. An outer leg and an inner leg are attached to each other at an attachment end and attached to a body of the earpiece at the other end. The outer leg lies in a plane. The positioning and retaining structure have a stiffness that is greater when force is applied to the attachment end in a counterclockwise direction in the plane of the outer leg than when force is applied to the attachment end in a clockwise direction in the plane of the outer leg. The positioning and retaining structure position an earpiece associated with the earpiece in a user's ear and retains the earpiece in its position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan C. Silvestri, Eric M. Wallace, Kevin P. Annunziato, Ian M. Collier, Michael Monahan
  • Patent number: 9036850
    Abstract: An augmented custom fit headset (300) is disclosed. The augmented headset (300) can include: a wearable module (310) configured to be worn around a user's head including an outer band structure (312) with left and right ends (314) and (316), at least one of the left and right ends (314) and (316) having an inner facing cavity (318); earpiece modules (322) and (324) including left and right speakers (326) and (328) connected to the left and right ends (314) and (316); and a removable inner band (330) including a plug portion (332), the plug portion (332) being snap connected to the inner facing cavity (318), defining a snap connector (336). Advantageously, this structure provides an improved removable inner band (330), which is effective, economical, reliable and easy to use. Also, this construction helps to allow the plug portion (332) to remain in place, during use, and can slightly deflect or bend inwardly, to facilitate insertion and removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: David W. Larmour, Carl A. Cepress, Scott A. Wilke, Mark D. Zaveson
  • Patent number: 9036853
    Abstract: A positioning and retaining structure for an in-ear earpiece. An outer leg and an inner leg are attached to each other at an attachment end and attached to a body of the earpiece at the other end. The outer leg lies in a plane. The positioning and retaining structure have a stiffness that is greater when force is applied to the attachment end in a counterclockwise direction in the plane of the outer leg than when force is applied to the attachment end in a clockwise direction in the plane of the outer leg. The positioning and retaining structure position an earpiece associated with the earpiece in a user's ear and retains the earpiece in its position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan C. Silvestri, Eric M. Wallace, Kevin P. Annunziato, Ian M. Collier, Michael Monahan
  • Patent number: 9031254
    Abstract: A headphone or a headset having at least a first and a second earphone unit is provided, the first and second earphone units being interconnected via a connecting band, the connecting band having a first end configured to connect to the first earphone unit and a second end configured to connect to the second earphone unit, wherein at least the first earphone unit comprises a first transceiver, and at least the first end of the connecting band comprises a second transceiver, the first and second transceivers being configured to inductively connect, thereby connecting the first earphone unit to conducting elements in the connecting band. It is an advantage of using an inductive connection between the earphone unit and the connecting band that no wires need to be transferred from the earphone unit to the connecting band. Hereby, a 360 degree rotation of the joint may be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: GN Netcom A/S
    Inventor: Stefan Heise
  • Patent number: 9031226
    Abstract: A method and device for streaming the output of one or more audio sources to one or more smart headsets includes establishing a secure connection with a smart headset, associating an audio channel of the one or more audio sources with the smart headset, and streaming the associated audio channel to the smart headset. The audio streaming device may selectively stream one or more audio channels from one or more audio sources to one or more of the smart headsets as a function of a streaming policy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Ravikiran Chukka, Rajesh Poornachandran, Gyan Prakash, Saurabh Dadu
  • Patent number: 9031275
    Abstract: A headset (1) comprising an attachment device (2) for attaching the headset (1) to the head of a user and a speaker housing (3). The speaker housing 3 is connected slidable along and rotatable about a first axis (X) to the attachment device (2), such that it can be placed into a selected longitudinal and angular position within a longitudinal interval (LI) and an angular interval (AI). The longitudinal interval (LI) comprises a first zone (Z1) and a second zone (Z2), and the speaker housing (3) can rotate through a first angular interval (AI1), when in the first zone (Z1) and through a second angular interval (AI2), when in the second zone (Z2). The first angular interval (AI1) is larger than the second angular interval (AI2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: GN Netcom A/S
    Inventor: Brian Brødsgaard
  • Patent number: 9025787
    Abstract: An earphone plug with a mode switching function is presented. The earphone plug includes a terminal and a switching device. The terminal has a plurality of electrodes to transmit signals. The switching device is combined with the terminal, and is capable of switching between a first mode and a second mode, and part of the electrodes of the terminal are electrically connected together, so as to achieve mode switching to perform processing on different transmission signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Merry Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chiu-Yun Tung, Fang-Chang Hsieh, Yuan-Hsing Wu, Chiung-Wen Yeh
  • Publication number: 20150117693
    Abstract: Provided is a dynamic headphone that has a small size but makes a larger-diameter headphone unit mountable thereon, the dynamic headphone including a highly reliable acoustic channel that acoustically connects a front air chamber and a back air chamber to each other. A headphone case 20 houses a headphone unit 50 therein, and includes a back air chamber C2 on a back side of the headphone unit 50. The headphone case 20 includes: a back air chamber forming portion 40 that forms the back air chamber C2; and a mount portion 30 integrally provided to an opening end of the back air chamber forming portion 40, the headphone unit 50 being mounted in the mount portion 30. An acoustic channel 70 is provided between the mount portion 30 and the headphone unit 50.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Hiroshi AKINO
  • Patent number: 9014409
    Abstract: An earcup assembly for a headset may include a housing having a first side adapted to engage the head of a user when in use and a second side opposite thereto. A recess provided in the second side of the housing receives and stores a battery. A battery door is arranged to slidably engage the second side of the housing such that the battery door may be moved between a first, open position in which the recess is accessible to a user and a second, closed position in which the recess is covered by the battery door. Preferably, the earcup assembly includes active noise reduction circuitry. One or a pair of such earcup assemblies may be arranged to form a headset, wherein the assemblies are coupled to a headband via yokes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Inventors: Andre Steyn, Aran Pudney
  • Patent number: 9008346
    Abstract: A headphone with articulating earpieces includes a headband, a hinged fork, and earpieces connected to the fork in a manner allowing the earpieces to articulate relative to the fork as a hinge on the fork articulates. The earpieces are arranged on the fork in a manner allowing them to face each other while articulating from a folded position adjacent the headband, to an unfolded position for listening. When unfolded for listening, the earpieces are adapted to fully extend into a biased open position with an audible click. Similarly, when articulating the earphones to a closed position, they are biased against the headband with an audible click.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Inventor: Timothy Val Kolton
  • Patent number: 9008347
    Abstract: A hands-free device includes upper and lower earphones; a hands-free main body having opened top and bottom surfaces; a control unit mounted in the hands-free main body and configured to apply an operation signal; and an earphone protruding unit formed in the hands-free main body and configured to protrude the upper earphone through a rear surface of the hands-free main body in response to a protrusion operation signal of the control unit; and an earphone drawing unit formed in the hands-free main body and configured to draw one or more of the upper and lower earphones through one or more of the top and bottom surfaces of the hands-free main body in response to a draw operation signal of the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Youngok Lee
    Inventor: Youngok Lee
  • Publication number: 20150098592
    Abstract: In an electrodynamic acoustic transducer which uses a surface potential of an electret dielectric film as a polarization voltage, prevention of partial suctional adhesion of a diaphragm caused by variation in surface potential across the electret dielectric film is ensured in a simple way. In an electrodynamic acoustic transducer including a diaphragm and a fixed pole which are arranged with a predetermined interval so as to face each other, a facing surface of either one of the diaphragm and the fixed pole having an electret dielectric film, a surface of the electret dielectric film is divided into a plurality of segment regions, and a predetermined surface potential is given to each of the segment regions by a polarization processing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: Hiroshi AKINO
  • Publication number: 20150098603
    Abstract: A game headset receives a plurality of channels of game and/or chat audio during game play, monitors the plurality of channels, and detect one or more sounds on the channels during the monitoring. The game headset determines characteristics of the detected one or more sound and outputs one or more signals for generating a visual representation of the detected one or more sounds based on the determined characteristics. The game headset output the signals to a game console that provides the game play. The game console displays the visual representation during the game play based on the communicated visualization information. The one or more signals is a video stream of an in-game visualization. The game headset outputs the one or more signals to a second screen communication device that generates the visual representation during the game play based on the signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Richard Kulavik, Shobha Devi Kuruba Buchannagari
  • Patent number: 9002026
    Abstract: A headphone with speaker function comprises a first playback unit, a second playback unit, a first audio source interface and a second audio source interface. Both the first playback unit and the second playback units have a speaker respectively. The first audio source interface is disposed on the first playback unit and is electrically connected to the two speakers simultaneously, while the second audio source interface can be disposed on the first playback unit or the second playback unit, and is electrically connected to the two speakers simultaneously via an amplifier circuit. From an external audio interface, an audio signal is transmitted to the headphone via the first audio source interface; at this moment, the headphone set is operated under a headphone mode. From an external audio interface, an audio signal is transmitted via the second audio source interface; at this moment, the headphone is operated under a speaker mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Merry Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chia-Chung Lin
  • Patent number: 8995679
    Abstract: Through a cable coupling two portions of a communications headset, conductors of the cable providing electric power from one of the portions to another are caused to do so with one of a selection of different predetermined voltage levels used to control aspects of one or more functions performed by the communications headset, including enabling or disabling functions, perhaps at least partially by controlling the manner in which the provided electric power is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventor: Paul G. Yamkovoy
  • Patent number: 8989426
    Abstract: A positioning and retaining structure for an in-ear earpiece. An outer leg and an inner leg are attached to each other at an attachment end and attached to a body of the earpiece at the other end. The outer leg lies in a plane. The positioning and retaining structure have a stiffness that is greater when force is applied to the attachment end in a counterclockwise direction in the plane of the outer leg than when force is applied to the attachment end in a clockwise direction in the plane of the outer leg. The positioning and retaining structure position an earpiece associated with the earpiece in a users ear and retains the earpiece in its position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan C. Silvestri, Eric M. Wallace, Kevin P. Annunziato, Ian M. Collier, Michael Monahan
  • Patent number: 8989425
    Abstract: An earphone is disclosed. The earphone includes a housing forming a volume, a plurality of sound holes arranged in the housing, a sound generator received in the volume of the housing and cooperatively with the housing forming a front volume, a supporter accommodated in the volume of the housing and engaging with the sound generator forming a main back volume, and cooperatively with the housing forming a auxiliary back volume. The supporter includes bottom, a sidewall upwardly extending from the bottom and an acoustic pipe, the acoustic pipe communicating the main back volume with the auxiliary back volume for balancing an internal acoustic pressure of the earphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Zhigang Hua
  • Patent number: 8976994
    Abstract: An earphone comprising an earphone housing having a body portion acoustically coupled to a tube portion extending from the body portion, the body portion having an acoustic output opening to output sound from a driver positioned therein into an ear canal of a wearer. An acoustic tuning member is positioned within the body portion for acoustically coupling the driver to the tube portion. The acoustic tuning member defines a back volume chamber of the driver and includes an acoustic output port for outputting sound from the back volume chamber of the driver to the tube portion to improve an acoustic performance of the earphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael B. Howes, Yacine Azmi, Scott P. Porter, Jonathan S. Aase
  • Patent number: 8971562
    Abstract: A headphone can have at least one wireless audio reproducing element attached to a headband. The headband may have parietal and temporal features with the temporal feature contacting a user's temporal bone and the parietal feature having a curvilinear extension from the temporal feature that contacts a predetermined portion of a user's parietal bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: WR Nine Ventures LLC
    Inventors: Mark Clayton, John Grayson Estes, Phillip Dale Lott
  • Patent number: 8971561
    Abstract: An earphone having an earphone housing including a tip portion dimensioned to be inserted into an ear canal of a wearer, a body portion extending outward from the tip portion, and a tube portion extending from the body portion. The body portion has a face portion that faces a pinna region of the ear when the tip portion is inserted into the ear canal. A primary output opening, that outputs sound from a driver in the housing to the ear canal, is formed in the tip portion. A secondary output opening, that outputs air from the ear canal to the surrounding environment, is formed in the face portion. The primary output opening and the secondary output opening are horizontally aligned when the tube portion is positioned vertically downward and an angle formed between the primary output opening, the tube portion and the secondary output opening is less than 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael B. Howes, Yacine Azmi, Scott P. Porter, Jonathan S. Aase, Andrew P. Bright, Christopher R. Wilk
  • Publication number: 20150055813
    Abstract: A wearable malleable earphone case includes a main body having a front surface, back surface, bottom surface and a pair of opposing side surfaces forming a generally hollow interior space. A lid is hingedly secured along the top surface of the main body, and an elongated central post is positioned within the main body. A plurality of apertures function to receive a set of earphones and the central post secures the earphone cord within the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventor: Lorie Ingraham
  • Patent number: 8965030
    Abstract: Seamless earbud structures and methods for making the same are disclosed. Seamless earbud structures can be constructed using an insert molding construction method, which overmolds a cosmetic material over two sub-enclosures that are mated together. The two sub-enclosures form a housing that can encompass a driver assembly (e.g., woofer and tweeter), a conductor bundle, and provide one or more acoustic volumes. The housing has a non-occluding member and a neck member, and has a seamless or nearly seamless construction. The cosmetic material is insert molded around the housing to provide a smooth and seamless surface disposed around the periphery of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Aase
  • Patent number: 8965028
    Abstract: A speaker comprises a support structure having a circumferentially extending rim, a vibration member configured to be displaced relative to the support structure during operation of the speaker, and a suspension member suspending the vibration member relative to the support structure. The suspension member includes a radially outer portion attached to the rim of the support structure, a radially inner platform portion attached to the vibration member, and a plurality of beams. Each beam of the plurality of beams may extend from the radially outer portion to the radially inner platform portion. The plurality of beams is configured such that a resonant frequency of the vibration member attached to the radially inner platform portion of the suspension member scales linearly with a beam width of the beams of the plurality of beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Skullcandy, Inc.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Oishi, Sam Noertker
  • Patent number: 8942384
    Abstract: A headset comprises a body, an audio transducer, an arm, a detector and processor. The detector can indicate whether the arm is in a first or second position. The headset operates in a headset mode or speakerphone mode responsive to the arm's position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilmer Lau, Leon Wu
  • Patent number: 8934638
    Abstract: Noise canceling headphones designed so that external noise coming from all directions can be effectively concerned by means of a canceling sound before being heard by a user. These feed-forward noise canceling headphones use noise canceling headphones (10), each of which comprises an air chamber (8) formed from a space that is sealed by a member covering the outer circumference of the housing and provided more outward than a front air chamber (7), and wherein the sound-wave introducing part of a microphone (2) is inside the air chamber (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Audio-Technica
    Inventor: Tominori Kimura
  • Patent number: 8929582
    Abstract: A positioning and retaining structure for an in-ear earpiece. An outer leg and an inner leg are attached to each other at an attachment end and attached to a body of the earpiece at the other end. The outer leg lies in a plane. The positioning and retaining structure have a stiffness that is greater when force is applied to the attachment end in a counterclockwise direction in the plane of the outer leg than when force is applied to the attachment end in a clockwise direction in the plane of the outer leg. The positioning and retaining structure position an earpiece associated with the earpiece in a users ear and retains the earpiece in its position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan C. Silvestri, Eric M. Wallace, Kevin P. Annunziato, Ian M. Collier, Michael Monahan
  • Patent number: 8929581
    Abstract: A headphone apparatus is provided that may include a headphone and a writing surface. The headphone may include a headband, supports, and earpieces. The writing surface may be attached to a portion of the headphone. The writing surface may comprise a surface adapted to be written and erased on repeatedly, such as a dry-erase panel. The headphone apparatus may also include an eraser, which may be adapted to substantially and repeatedly erase what is written on the writing surface. The eraser may be slidably attached to at least a portion of the writing surface. Alternatively, the eraser may be attached to a portion of the headphone and/or the writing surface removably and/or via a flexible material. The headphone apparatus may further include a writing apparatus, which may be attached to a portion of the headphone apparatus and/or the writing surface removably and/or via a flexible material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Zeikos Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Kost
  • Patent number: 8923525
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Zeikos Inc.
    Inventor: Isaac Saideh
  • Publication number: 20140376763
    Abstract: A combination case includes a wallet portion and a removable storage portion and/or a removable face plate. The storage portion may store a first caddy configured for holding the earphone set and having a first keyed coupling. The storage portion may further be interchangeable with the removable face plate. In addition, the wallet portion may store a plurality of objects that are insertable when the storage portion and/or face plate are attached to the case portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Dean Stevinson
  • Patent number: 8913775
    Abstract: Corded devices, such as headphones and power suppliers, can be stored in a case that reduces the tendency of their cords to tangle without the need for wrapping or winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Inventor: Thomas Nathan Millikan