Abstract:
Audio apparatus, including an audio player, housed within a casing, for producing audio output, a port on a surface of the casing for inserting a headphone connector therein, a light emitting source, a power source, housed within the casing, for supplying power to the audio player and to the light emitting source, and a headphone for listening to audio output produced by the audio player, including a connector for insertion into the port, and a light pipe for transmitting light generated by the light emitting source.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/256,284, entitled LUMINESCENT HEADPHONES WITHOUT BATTERY PACKS, filed on Oct. 29, 2009 by inventors Eyal Bychkov, Dov Moran and Itay Sherman. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The field of the present invention is headphones for audio devices. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Headphones (variously referred to as earphones and headsets) are being manufactured today with fashionable elements of different shapes, colors and sizes. Some headphones have luminescent elements that enable them to glow. One example of such a headphone set is the !Tude® illuminating earphone developed and manufactured by HelpDezk Ltd. of Hong Kong. Another example is the Mulit EL Flash Earphone developed and manufactured by WANYU Technology Development Co., Ltd of China. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,319,762 to Andrea et al. describes a headphone that incorporates light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in the ear-buds, and a control module that changes the LEDs&#39; luminescent pattern according to audio being played. The ear-buds, referred to as Blinx by Andrea®, are developed and manufactured by Andrea Electronics Corporation of Bohemia, N.Y. 
     Many luminescent headphones and other accessories use electro-luminescent (EL) wires (variously referred to as Lytec™). EL-wire is a specially manufactured wire with a core of phosphorescent material coated flexible copper wire. When a high frequency voltage is applied, the EL wire glows like neon. 
     A drawback with EL-wires is their high power consumption. EL-wire accessories come with external battery packs. The !Tude® uses 2 AAA batteries (3V DC), and the Mulit EL Flash Earphone uses a rechargeable Lithium battery (5V DC˜8V DC, 200 mA˜500 mA). The !Tude and the Multi include transformers to convert the battery voltage to the high-voltage required for the EL-wires. The Blinx by Andrea® earphones use batteries in their control module. 
     Use of battery packs makes the prior art luminescent earphones uncomfortable and cumbersome. Moreover, use of transformers often causes a humming noise, which interferes with the audio experience. 
     Thus it would be of advantage to develop luminescent headphones that have low power consumption, and that do not require their own batteries. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIPTION 
     Aspects of the present invention relate to luminescent headphones for audio devices including inter alia cell phones, PDAs, radios, music players, pagers and answering machines. Embodiments of the present invention overcome drawbacks of the prior art by supplying power from the audio device to illuminate the headphones, thereby eliminating the need for accessory headphone batteries. 
     Further aspects of the present invention couple a headphone port and a light source having low power consumption, such as an LED. In a first embodiment of the present invention, the light source is a component of the audio device. In a second embodiment of the present invention, the light source is a component of the headphone but is nevertheless powered by the audio device. 
     The light source may receive its power from a VBUS signal carrying voltage to a USB connector. The light source may alternatively receive its power from a voltage line carrying voltage to an audio jack. The light source may yet alternatively receive its power from a high frequency inaudible audio signal coupled with an AC-to-DC converter. 
     The light source may be controlled to generate one of a variety of light patterns in the headphone, the patterns differing in frequencies, colors and intensities. The light pattern generated by the light source may correspond to operating characteristics of the audio device. Different light patterns may be generated in the headphone, corresponding to different profiles of configurable parameter settings, corresponding to incoming data (SMS) vs. incoming voice (phone call), corresponding to a volume setting, corresponding to a caller identifier, corresponding to a caller origin, and corresponding to many other such characteristics. 
     There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention audio apparatus, including an audio player, housed within a casing, for producing audio output, a port on a surface of the casing for inserting a headphone connector therein, a light emitting source, a power source, housed within the casing, for supplying power to the audio player and to the light emitting source, and a headphone for listening to audio output produced by the audio player, including a connector for insertion into the port, and a light pipe for transmitting light generated by the light emitting source. 
     There is additionally provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a mobile communicator, including a wireless modem, housed within a casing, for receiving and transmitting data and voice signals, a port on a surface of the casing for inserting a headphone connector therein, a light emitting source, a power source, housed within the casing, for supplying power to the wireless modem and to the light emitting source, and a headphone for listening to voice signals received by the wireless modem, including a connector for insertion into the port, and a light pipe for transmitting light generated by the light emitting source. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a simplified block diagram of a first configuration of luminescent headphones powered by an audio device to which the headphones are connected, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a simplified block diagram of a second configuration of luminescent headphones powered by an audio device to which the headphones are connected, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a simplified block diagram of a third configuration of luminescent headphones powered by an audio device to which the headphones are connected, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a simplified block diagram of an audio device with luminescent headphones, in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a simplified diagram of a port that transmits both light and sound to a headphone, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a simplified diagram of a headphone having a jack that comprises an audio cable in its center, and a light pipe in its periphery, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a simplified block diagram of an audio device with luminescent headphones, in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 8  is a simplified block diagram of an audio device with luminescent headphones, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Aspects of the present invention relate to luminescent headphones that are powered by an audio device to which they connect. A light source with low power consumption is powered by the audio device, and emits light to luminescent wires within a headphone. When the headphone is connected to the audio device, the light source causes the headphone to glow. The term “audio device” as used herein refers to any electronic device that generates sound and to which a headphone may be connected, including inter alia an audio player or such other media player, a phone, a PDA or such other computer, and a pager. 
     The present invention may be embodied in several hardware configurations, according to whether the light source is housed within the audio device or within the headphones, according to whether the headphones connect to the audio device via an audio jack or via a USB connector, and according to how the audio wires and luminescent wires are arranged.  FIGS. 1-3  illustrate three of such configurations. 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 1 , which is a simplified block diagram of a first configuration of luminescent headphones powered by an audio device to which the headphones are connected, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Shown in  FIG. 1  is an audio device  100  including a power supply  140 , a light emitting source  150  and a connector  160  for an audio jack. Light emitting source  150  may include one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs), but other light sources are also contemplated by the present invention. Light emitting source  150  is powered by power supply  140 . 
     Audio device  100  includes other components, some of which are shown in  FIGS. 4 and 7 . However, these other components are generally common to many configurations, and it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that  FIGS. 1-3  are intentionally simplified in order to focus on essential differences between the configurations being illustrated. 
     Also shown in  FIG. 1  is a headphone having a portion  210  with ear pieces that is positioned on a person&#39;s head, one or more audio wires  220  and, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a light pipe  230 . Light pipe  230  is a transparent tube or pipe for transporting light over its length. An example of light pipe  230  is the 3M™ Light Pipe manufactured by 3M Company of St. Paul, Minn. The 3M light pipe is lined with a film that is highly reflective to light striking the surface of the film at certain angles, and is transmissive at other angles. Light pipe  230  is illuminated by light emitting source  150  when the headphone is connected to audio device  100 . 
     Audio wire(s)  220  may be positioned alongside light pipe  230  or coiled around light pipe  230 . Alternatively audio wire(s)  220  may pass through light pipe  230 . Two specific arrangements of audio wire(s)  220  and light pipe  230  are described hereinbelow with reference to  FIG. 5 . 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 2 , which is a simplified block diagram of a second configuration of luminescent headphones powered by an audio device to which the headphones are connected, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In distinction from the configuration of  FIG. 1 , the light emitting source in  FIG. 2  is a portion of the headphone.  FIG. 2  shows audio device  100  having a USB connector  170 .  FIG. 2  also shows the headphone having one or more audio wires  220 , a light pipe  230 , a power line  240  and a light emitting source  250 . Light emitting source  250  is powered by power supply  140 , and power is transmitted to light emitting source  250  over power line  240 . Light pipe  230  may be arranged alongside audio wire(s)  220  and power line  240 , or may alternatively enclose audio wire(s)  220  and power line  240 . Yet alternatively, light pipe  230  may enclose only audio wire(s)  220  or only power line  240 . 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 3 , which is a simplified block diagram of a third configuration of luminescent headphones powered by an audio device to which the headphones are connected, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 3 , light emitting source  250  is connected to USB connector  170 , through which it receives power from power supply  140 . Audio wire(s)  220  may be arranged alongside light pipe  230 , or alternatively may pass through light pipe  230 . 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 4 , which is a simplified block diagram of audio device  100  with luminescent headphones, in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 . Audio device  100  may be inter alia a media player, a PDA, a radio, a cellular telephone, a pager or an answering machine. A user may use a headphone to listen to the audio output of audio device  100 . 
     Audio device  100  includes five primary components, housed within a casing; namely, an audio player  110 , a wireless modem  120 , a power supply  140 , a light emitting source  150  and a light pattern generator  180 . Power supply  140  supplies voltage to audio player  110 , to wireless modem  120 , to light emitting source  150  and to light pattern generator  180 . 
     Audio device  100  also includes a port  160 , in the surface of the casing, through which the headphone may be connected. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, both light and sound are transmitted through port  160 . Light emitting source  150  generates the light that is transmitted through port  160 , and audio player  110  and wireless modem  120  generate the sound that is transmitted through port  160 . Light pattern generator  180  controls light emitting source  150  to generate any of a variety of light patterns. Light patterns generated by light pattern generator  180  may vary according to frequency, color, intensity, and other such properties of light. 
     The headphone includes two primary components; namely, a component with one or two ear pieces  280  that is positioned on a person&#39;s head, and a light pipe  230  for transmitting light. 
     The headphone includes a jack  260  that inserts into port  160 , thereby connecting the headphone to audio device  100  and enabling a user to listen to audio output of audio device  100  through the one or two ear pieces  280 . In one implementation of the present invention, jack  260  is a conventional audio jack, such as a 2.5 mm or 3.5 mm audio jack. In this implementation, one line out of audio device  100  is used for voltage and another line is used for ground. 
     When the headphone is connected to audio device  100 , light emitted by light emitting source  150  is transmitted through light pipe  230 , causing the headphone to glow. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the requisite power for illuminating light pipe  230  is supplied by audio device  100 . 
     There are several implementations of port  160  and the wire structure of the headphone that enable transmission of both light and sound from audio device  100  to the headphone. In this regard, reference is made to  FIG. 5 , which is a simplified diagram of two such implementations, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In the upper diagram, port  160  includes a center portion  161  and a peripheral portion  162 . Sound is transmitted through center portion  161 , and light is transmitted through peripheral portion  162 . Peripheral portion  162  may be a simple opening in the casing of audio device  100 . Alternatively, peripheral portion  162  may be a transparent surface. Yet alternatively, peripheral portion  162  may be an optical coupling connector. An example of such an optical coupling connector is the light pipe optical connector described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,548,676 to Savage, Jr. 
     Corresponding to  FIG. 5 , reference is made to  FIG. 6 , which is a simplified diagram of a headphone  200  having a jack  260  that comprises an audio cable  220  in its center, and light pipe  230  in its periphery, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Light emitted through peripheral portion  162  of port  160  is transmitted through the peripheral light pipe  230  of headphone  200 . Sound emitted through center portion  161  of port  160  is transmitted through the center audio cable  220  of headphone  200 . 
     In the lower diagram of  FIG. 5 , port  160  comprises two adjacent portions; namely, a portion  163  for transmitting sound, and a portion  164  for transmitting light. As above, portion  164  may be inter alia a simple opening in the casing of audio device  100 , or a transparent surface, or an optical coupling connector. 
     In various implementations of the present invention, audio device  100  may contain one or both of audio player  110  and wireless modem  120 . For example, audio device  100  may be a cell phone with a wireless modem  120 , but lacking an audio player  110 . Alternatively, audio device  100  may be a music player or a radio with an audio player  110 , but lacking a wireless modem  120 . 
     Similarly, in various implementations of the present invention, audio device  100  may contain other components, not illustrated in  FIG. 4  for the sake of clarity of presentation, such as one or more microprocessors, a microphone, one or more speakers, a display screen, and one or more user interface controls including inter alia a keypad, buttons, switches, sliders and dials. 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 7 , which is a simplified block diagram of an audio device with luminescent headphones, in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 2 . In distinction from the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , where light emitting source  150  is a component of audio device  100 , in the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , a light emitting source  250  is a component of the headphone. Nevertheless, light emitting source  250  is still powered by power supply  140  and is still controlled by light pattern generator  180 . Light pattern generator  180  typically controls the power supplied by power supply  140 . 
     When the headphone is connected to audio device  100 , light emitted by light emitting source  250  is transmitted through light pipe  230 , causing the headphone to glow. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the requisite power for illuminating light pipe  230  is supplied by audio device  100 . 
     In one implementation of the present invention, connector  170  is a mufti-pin USB connector, such as a mini-USB or micro-USB connector. In this implementation, light emitting source  250  draws power from a pin for a VBUS signal line of audio device  100 . 
     In another implementation of the present invention, shown in  FIG. 8 , an audio tone produced by audio device  100  is used to supply power to light emitting source  250 . In this implementation, an inaudible frequency above 20 KHz is produced and coupled to an AC-to-DC converter  290 , which in turn is connected to light emitting source  250 . 
     In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the light patterns generated by light pattern generator  180  may be controlled so as to correspond with certain operating characteristics of audio device  100 . Such correspondence includes inter alia:
         light pattern corresponding to volume of audio output produced by audio device  100 ;   light pattern corresponding to connectivity status of audio device  100  (standby/during a phone call);   light pattern corresponding to incoming data or voice signal (SMS/incoming phone call); e.g., the light may blink once if an SMS is received, and continue to blink until an incoming call is answered;   light pattern corresponding to caller group, as defined by a user (family/friends/unknown);   light pattern corresponding to caller&#39;s phone number (country of origin/wireless operator); and   light pattern corresponding to a current profile setting of audio device  100  (normal/meeting/silent), the profile being a user configurable selection of parameter settings.       

     In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to the specific exemplary embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.