English:
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to audio devices and more particularly to earpiece devices and more particularly to user-adjustable earpiece devices.
[0003] The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrate embodiments of concepts that include the claimed invention, and explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments.
[0004] FIG. 1 is an earpiece device being worn by a user in accordance with some embodiments;
[0005] FIG. 2 shows right and left mounting positions of the earpiece device in accordance with some embodiments;
[0006] FIG. 2 shows right and left mounting positions of the earpiece device in accordance with some embodiments;
[0007] FIG. 3 shows rotation of a boom microphone of the earpiece device and movement along an adjustable shaft in accordance with some embodiments;
[0008] FIG. 4 shows another rotation of a boom microphone of the earpiece device in accordance with some embodiments;
[0009] FIG. 5 shows adjustment of an ear loop of the earpiece device in accordance with some embodiments; and
[0010] FIG. 6 shows the earpiece device coupled to a remote electronic device in accordance with some embodiments.
[0011] Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
[0012] The apparatus components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.
[0014] FIG. 1 is a user worn audio device formed in accordance with some embodiments. The audio device 100 comprises an on-ear speaker housing 110 having inner and outer surfaces, an adjustable shaft 120 coupled to the on-ear speaker housing, and a malleable ear loop 130 coupled to the adjustable shaft. The audio device 100 may further comprise a swivel boom microphone 140 coupled to the outer surface of the on-ear speaker housing 110. As will be shown in subsequent views, this single audio device provides a plurality of adjustable features which allows a user to fully customize the fitting of the device for comfort and audio reception as well as left or right ear usage.
[0015] FIG. 2 shows right and left mounting positions of the audio device 100 in accordance with some embodiments. For the right ear mounting, view 202 shows a right outside position of the audio device having on-ear speaker housing 110, adjustable shaft 120, malleable ear loop 130, and boom microphone 140. View 210 shows the audio device 100 mounted to the right ear of a user. With this mounting, audio porting 212 located on the inner surface of the on-ear speaker housing 110 is located next to the user's right ear. View 204 shows the right inside position of the audio device 100.
[0016] For left ear mounting, view 206 shows a left inside position of the audio device 100 having on-ear speaker housing 110, adjustable shaft 120, malleable ear loop 130, and boom microphone 140. View 220 shows the audio device 100 mounted to the left ear of a user. With this mounting audio porting 212 is located next to the user's left ear. View 208 shows the left outside position of the audio device 100.
[0017] In accordance with the various embodiments, the adjustable shaft 120 is rotated to accommodate either left side or right side usage. The adjustable shaft 120 is formed as an extension of the on-ear speaker housing 110, preferably as a single molded piece part, within which the shaft pin 310 can be pulled up and down by pulling on the ear loop 130.
[0018] FIG. 3 shows a boom microphone 140 being pivoted in view 302, and FIG. 3 further shows telescoping of the ear loop 130 in view 304 in accordance with some embodiments. Referring to view 302, the swivel boom microphone 140 is coupled to the outer surface of the on-ear speaker housing 110, preferably as a molded piece part. The outer surface of the on-ear speaker housing 110 controls up and down movement of the boom microphone 140. The boom microphone can pivot upwards and downwards about point A 308. If viewed relative to an x, y, z axis 312, the boom microphone 140 may be viewed as rotating through a secondary axis.
[0019] Referring to view 304, the adjustable shaft 120 provides a two-way adjustable shaft comprising a shaft pin 310 for vertical movement of the ear loop 130. Point B shows the vertical movement of the earpiece along shaft pin 310. Relative to an x, y, z axis 312, the ear loop 130 moves up and down along the z axis. The vertical movement of the adjustable shaft 120 provides the telescoping control for the ear loop 130.
[0020] FIG. 4 shows another rotation 400 of boom microphone 140 of the audio device 100 in accordance with some embodiments. The boom microphone swivels at C 402 along a predetermined range of rotation, for example 160 degrees for left to right ear use. The adjustable shaft 120 controls horizontal movement 404 (the left-to- right and right-to-left movement) of the boom microphone 140. The adjustable shaft 120, on-ear speaker housing 110 and boom microphone all rotate as a single unit. Since the audio device can be worn on either ear, the boom microphone 140 may be curved as its placement is adjustable.
[0021] The embodiments of FIGs. 3 and 4 have thus provided for an audio device 100 having an adjustable shaft 120 that adjusts vertical movement of the ear loop 130, and the adjustable shaft adjusts horizontal rotation 404 of the boom microphone 140. The boom microphone 140 comprises a rotating base coupled to the on-ear speaker housing 110 to control up/down rotation or pivoting of the boom microphone.
[0022] FIG. 5 shows adjustment of the malleable ear loop 130 of the audio device 100 in accordance with some embodiments. The ear loop 130 is formed of a flexible rubber material having an insert-molded wire 510 contained therein for customized shaping and positioning of the malleable ear loop. The malleable ear loop 130 can be bent and shaped in a plurality of positions about the ear, shown here as behind the ear positions 502, 504, 506, 508. Electrical wires running from a cable (602 of FIG. 6) may be embedded along the entire length of the ear loop 130 for audio wiring interconnection to another device.
[0023] The embodiments of FIGs. 3, 4 and 5 have thus provided for an audio device 100 providing a plurality of adjustable positioning modes or features. Not in any particular order, the first adjustment mode being adjustment of the malleable ear loop 130 shaped to fit about the user's ear, the second adjustment mode being rotation of the shaft for left or right ear usage, the third adjustment mode being up/down movement of the shaft to adjust the ear loop position, the fourth adjustment mode being the up/down position of the boom microphone, and the fifth adjustment mode being horizontal movement of the boom microphone 140 via the shaft. The swivel boom microphone 140 and telescoping malleable ear loop 130 provide adjustability for a wide variety of user preferences.
[0024] FIG. 6 shows the earpiece device coupled to a remote electronic device 604 in accordance with some embodiments. Embedded wiring 602 may run between the remote electronic device 604 along the entire length of ear loop 130 for electrical interconnectivity. The audio device 100 is wearable on either ear of a user by adjustment of the adjustable shaft which controls left-to-right (and right-to-left) rotation of the boom microphone. The audio device 100 provides for the plurality of adjustment modes as previously described for a user friendly customized fit.
[0026] In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present teachings.
[0027] The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.
[0028] Moreover in this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms "comprises," "comprising," "has", "having," "includes", "including," "contains", "containing" or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by "comprises ...a", "has ...a", "includes ...a", "contains ...a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. The terms "a" and "an" are defined as one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. The terms "substantially", "essentially", "approximately", "about" or any other version thereof, are defined as being close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, in another embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and in another embodiment within 0.5%. The term "coupled" as used herein is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is "configured" in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.
[0029] The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

中文:
[0001]本公开大体涉及音频装置,并且更具体地涉及耳机装置,以及更具体地涉及用户可调节耳机装置。
[0003]附图与具体实施例在下面一起合并并且构成说明书的一部分,并且用于进一步示出包括如权利要求所述的发明的概念的实施例,以及解释了种原理和这些实施例的优点,其中贯穿不同的视图,相同的附图标记表示相同或者功能上类似的单元。
[0004]图1是根据一些实施例的用户佩戴的耳机装置;
[0005]图2示出了根据一些实施例的耳机装置的右装配位置和左装配位置;
[0006]图2示出了根据一些实施例的耳机装置的右装配位置和左装配位置;
[0007]图3示出了根据一些实施例的耳机装置的臂式麦克风的旋转以及沿着可调节轴的运动;
[0008]图4示出了根据一些实施例的耳机装置的臂式麦克风的另一种旋转;
[0009]图5示出了根据一些实施例的耳机装置的耳套圈的调节;以及
[0010]图6示出了根据一些实施例的被耦合到远程电子装置的耳机装置。
[0011]本领域技术人员将会意识到附图中的单元是为了简便和清楚而示出的,并且不是必须按照比例所绘制。例如,附图中的一些单元的维度可以被相对于其他单元而放大从而帮助促进对本发明的实施例的理解。
[0012]设备部件已经被在附图中通过常用的符号适当的呈现出,其仅仅示出了有关于理解本发明的实施例的具体细节,以便于不会由于具有此处说明书的益处的、并且对于本领域普通技术人员而言轻易显见的细节而使本公开难懂。
[0014]图1是根据一些实施例形成的用户佩戴音频装置。该音频装置100包括具有内部表面和外部表面的贴耳式扬声器外壳110,被耦合到该贴耳式扬声器外壳的可调节轴120,以及被耦合到该可调节轴的可延展型耳套圈130。该音频装置100还可以包括被耦合到该贴耳式扬声器外壳110的该外表面的转臂式麦克风140。如在下面的附图中将要示出的,这一单个音频装置提供了多个可调节特征,其允许用户完全地定制化该装置的舒适化的佩戴和音频接收以及左或者右耳的使用。
[0015]图2示出了根据一些实施例的该音频装置100的右和左装配位置。对于该右耳装配,视图202示出了具有贴耳式扬声器外壳110、可调节轴120、可延展型耳套圈130,以及臂式麦克风140的该音频装置的右外侧位置。视图210示出了装配到用户的右耳的该音频装置100。采用这一装配,位于该贴耳式扬声器外壳110的内表面的音频端口212位于接近于该用户的右耳。视图204示出了该音频装置100的该右内侧位置。
[0016]对于左耳装配,试图206示出了具有贴耳式扬声器外壳110、可调节轴120、可延展型耳套圈130,以及臂式麦克风140的该音频装置的左内侧位置。视图220示出了装配到该用户的左耳的该音频装置100。采用这一装配,音频端口212位于接近于该用户的左耳。视图208示出了该音频装置100的该左外侧位置。
[0017]根据多个实施例,该可调节轴120被旋转从而适应或者左侧或者右侧的使用。该可调节轴120被形成为该贴耳式扬声器外壳110的延伸部分,优选地是作为单个模制件部分,在可调节轴120中,轴销310可以通过在该耳套圈130上拉拔而被拉上或者按下。
[0018]根据一些实施例,图3示出了在视图302中枢转的臂式麦克风140,并且图3还示出了在视图304中对耳套圈130的伸缩。参考视图302,该转臂式麦克风140耦被合到该贴耳式扬声器外壳110的该外表面,优选地作为模制件部分。该贴耳式扬声器外壳110的外表面控制该转臂式麦克风140的向上和向下运动。该臂式麦克风可以关于点A 308向上和向下枢转。如果相对于x,y,z轴312来观察,该臂式麦克风140可以被视为通过第二个轴旋转。
[0019]参考视图304,该可调节轴120提供包括用于该耳套圈130的垂直运动的轴销310的双向可调节轴。点B示出了该耳机沿着轴销310的垂直运动。相对于x,y,z轴312,该耳套圈130沿着该z轴向上和向下运动。该可调节轴120的垂直运动为该耳套圈130提供了可伸缩控制。
[0020]图4示出了根据一些实施例的该音频装置100的臂式麦克风140的另一种旋转400。该臂式麦克风在C 402沿着预定的旋转范围来旋转,例如160度,以便从左到右耳的使用。该可调节轴120控制该臂式麦克风140的水平运动(左到右以及右到左的运动)。该可调节轴120、贴耳式扬声器外壳110以及臂式麦克风都作为一个单元来旋转。由于该音频装置可以佩戴到任一耳朵上,该臂式麦克风140可以被弯曲,因为其位置是可调节的。
[0021]图3和4的实施例因此已经为该音频装置100提供了具有用于调节该耳套圈130的垂直运动的可调节轴120,并且该可调节轴调节该臂式麦克风140的水平旋转404。该臂式麦克风140包括耦合到该贴耳式扬声器110的旋转底座,从而控制该转臂式麦克风的枢转或者向上/向下旋转。
[0022]图5示出了根据一些实施例的该音频装置100的可延展型耳套圈130的调节。该耳套圈130由弹性橡胶材料形成,该弹性橡胶材料具有包含在其内的插入-塑型丝线510,以用于该可延展型耳套圈的定制化成形和定位。该可延展型耳套圈130可以被弯曲并且以多个关于耳朵的位置来成形,此处示出为在耳朵后面的位置502、504、506、508。源自于缆线(图6的602)的电线可被沿着该耳套圈130的整个长度而嵌入以便于音频线与其他装置互连。
[0023]图3、4和5的实施例因此已经提供了提供多个可调节位置模式或者特征的音频装置100。不是以任意特定的顺序,该第一调节模式是对被成形为适配于该用户的耳朵的该可延展型耳套圈130的调节,该第二调节模式是该轴的旋转以用于左或者右耳使用,该第三调节模式是该轴的向上/向下运动从而调节该耳套圈的位置,该第四调节模式是该臂式麦克风的向上/向下定位,并且该第五调节模式是该转臂式麦克风140通过该轴的水平的运动。该转臂式麦克风140和可伸缩的可延展型耳套圈130针对很多种用户偏好提供了可调节能力。
[0024]图6示出了根据一些实施例的耦合到远程电子装置604的耳机装置。嵌入的电线602可以在该远程电子装置604之间沿着该耳机130的整个长度延伸以便于电气的互联性。通过用于控制该臂式麦克风的左到右(和右到左)的旋转的可调节轴的调节,该音频装置100可佩戴到用户任一耳朵上。如先前描述地,该音频装置100提供了多种调节模式,便于用户友好地定制化适配。
[0026]在前面的说明书中,已经描述了具体实施例。但是,本领域技术人员可以意识到在不超出下面权利要求限定的本发明的范围的情况下,可以做出多种变形和修改。因此,说明书和附图被认为是示意性的而不是限制作用的,并且所有的这些变形都被认为包括在本教导的范围内。
[0027]所述的益处、优点、解决问题的手段、以及可以使得任意益处、优点或者手段发生或者变得更加显著的任意要素并非被解释为对于任一的或者全部的权利要求而言是关键的、必需的、或者必要的特征或者要素。本发明单独通过附加的权利要求来定义,其包括在这一申请未决时做出的任意修正以及如公布的那些权利要求的所有等同替代。
[0028]此外,在本文献中,相关的术语,例如第一和第二、顶部和底部、以及之类的可以仅仅是被用于将一个实体或者动作与另一个实体或者动作区别开来,而非必然地要求或者暗示在这些实体或者动作之间有任何实际的这种关系或者顺序。术语“包括”、“包括有”、“有”、“具有”、“包括、“包括有”、“包含”、“包含有”或者这些术语的任意其他的变型,被认为覆盖非排他性的包含,使得包括、具有、包括有、包含一系列单元的处理、方法、产品、或者设备不仅仅包括这些要素而且还包括其他没有明确列出的或者这些处理、方法、产品或者设备固有的要素。在“包括...一个”、“具有...一个”、“包括有...一个”、“包含...一个”之后的要素,在没有更多限制的情况下,不排除在该包括、具有、包括有、包含该要素的处理、方法、产品,或者设备中还存在额外的相同的要素。术语“一”和“一个”被定义为一个或者多个,除非在此另外明确说明。术语“实质上”、“本质上”、“近似地”、“大约”或者这些术语的任意其他说法,被定义为接近于,正如本领域技术人员理解的,并且在一个非限制性实施例中,该术语被定义为在10%之内,在另一个实施例中在5%之内,在另一个实施例中在1%之内,并且在另一个实施例中在0.5%之内。在此使用的术语“被耦合”被定义为被连接,尽管不必然是直接的并且也不必然是机械的。以某些方式被“配置”的装置或者结构是至少以该方式来被配置,但是也可以被以没有列出来的方式来被配置。
[0029]本公开的摘要被提供为以便允许读者能够很快地明白该技术公开的实质。其应被理解为不是用于解释或者限制权利要求的范围或者含义。此外,在前面的具体实施例中,可以看出多个特征在多个实施例中被组合在一起,以用于简化本公开。本公开的这一方法不被解释为反映这样的意图,即,所声称的实施例相比于在每一个权利要求中明确列举的特征而需要更多的特征。相反,如下面的权利要求反映地,发明的主题在于少于单个公开的实施例的全部特征。因此下面的权利要求由此而被包含于所述“具体实施方式”中,而每一个权利要求作为单独要求的主题以其自身为准。