Adjustable opening headphones

A headphone and method are provided. The headphone includes a headphone housing and a resilient cushion attached to the housing to define a chamber with the housing for enclosing the user's ear. An assembly is disposed in the housing proximate to a distal end and has a plurality of blades moveable between at least one open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the blades define a distal surface of the housing. In the open position, the assembly defines an aperture in the housing. The aperture allows sound communication from outside the housing into the chamber. The headphone is in communication with at least one external device and is programmed to receive a signal from the external device. The assembly to moves between the open position and the closed position based on the signal.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to headphones such as audio headphones and hearing protectors.

BACKGROUND

Headphones typically include a resilient seal adapted to surround the user's ear. This type of headphone protects the wearer's ears from the surrounding environment's noise and conditions.

SUMMARY

According to at least one embodiment, a headphone is provided. The headphone includes a headphone housing and a resilient cushion attached to the housing to define a chamber with the housing for enclosing the user's ear. An assembly is disposed in the housing proximate to a distal end and has a plurality of blades moveable between at least one open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the blades define a distal surface of the housing. In the open position, the assembly defines an aperture in the housing. The aperture allows sound communication from outside the housing into the chamber. A controller is in communication with the assembly and at least one external device and is programmed to receive a signal from the external device. The controller commands the assembly to move between the open position and the closed position based on the signal.

In one embodiment, the external device includes a gun and the signal is indicative that the user is going to fire the gun, wherein the controller moves the assembly to the closed position before the user fires the gun.

In another embodiment, the headphone includes at least one acoustic driver for transmitting sound signals to the chamber in the headphone.

In one other embodiment, the controller includes an equalizer in communication with the acoustic driver. The equalizer increases low frequency sound signals when the assembly is in the open position.

In another embodiment, the external device includes a phone and the signal is indicative of an incoming call, wherein the controller moves the assembly to the closed position and turns off the acoustic driver.

In yet another embodiment, the headphone includes an actuator connected to assembly for moving the assembly between the open and closed position.

In another embodiment, the actuator comprises an electric motor connected to the assembly.

In still another embodiment, the assembly includes a rotating disk connected to housing and the blades. Rotation of the disk with respect to the housing moves the assembly between the open and closed position.

According to one other embodiment, the external device comprises a microphone and the signal is indicative of an alarm, wherein the controller moves the assembly to the open position before the user fires the gun.

According to at least one embodiment, a method is provided. The method includes providing a headphone housing having an assembly having a plurality of blades moveable between at least one open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the blades define a distal surface of the housing. In the open position, the assembly defines an aperture in the housing that allows sound communication from outside the housing into the chamber. The method includes receiving a signal from an external device. Based on the signal, the assembly moves between the open position and closed position

In another embodiment, the method includes moving the assembly to the closed position when the signal is indicative that the user is going to fire a gun.

In one other embodiment, the method includes receiving a signal from a sensor disposed on a trigger of the gun.

In another embodiment, the method includes moving the assembly to the closed position when the signal is indicative of an incoming call.

In yet another embodiment, the method includes increasing low frequency sound signals by an acoustic driver via an equalizing filter when the assembly is in the open position.

In still another embodiment, the method includes providing an instruction to an actuator connected to assembly to moving the assembly between the open and closed position.

In another embodiment, the method includes moving the assembly to the open position when the signal is indicative of an alarm.

According to at least one embodiment, a headphone is provided having a headphone housing and a resilient cushion attached to the housing defining a chamber with the housing for enclosing the user's ear. An assembly is disposed in the housing proximate to a distal end and has a plurality of blades moveable between at least one open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the blades define a distal surface of the housing. In the open position, the assembly defines an aperture in the housing. The aperture allows sound communication from outside the housing into the chamber.

In another embodiment, the headphone includes a handle operable by the user outside the housing for moving the assembly between the open and closed position.

In one other embodiment, the assembly includes a rotating disk connected to handle and the blades. Rotation of the disk with respect to the housing moves the assembly between the open and closed position. Operation of the handle moves the rotating disk.

According to at least one embodiment, an audio listening device is provided. The listening device includes a first headphone cup and a second headphone cup, connected by a headband. Each of the first and second headphone cups has disposed on an exterior surface an aperture. Each aperture is configured to be open in a first state and closed in a second state, whereby in the first state an interior diaphragm of the headphone is exposed to an outside environment and whereby in the second state the interior diaphragm of the headphone is isolated from the outside environment.

According to at least one embodiment, an audio device is provided. The audio device includes a headset form communicating electronically with a plurality of electronic devices. The headset selectively prioritizes audio communicated by the electronic devices.

According to at least one embodiment, an earphone set, is provided. The earphone set includes a first earphone and a second earphone, each of the first and second earphones each able to be connected to communicate with an audio device wirelessly in a first mode. A cord is connected to each earphone at a disconnectable junction. The first and second earphone are each able to be connected to communicate with the audio device via the cord in a second mode.

According to at least one embodiment, an audio device is provided. The audio device includes a headphone set having a first and second earphone connected via a headband. The first earphone has a removable ear bud insertibly connected thereto. The ear bud is able to serve as a wireless audio device when disconnected from the first earphone.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference now toFIG. 1, headphones100according to various aspects include two ear piece housings104connected by a support member102. The support member102can rest on a wearer's head to support the weight of the ear piece housings104. In various embodiments, the support member102could be shaped so that the ear piece housings104are touching or in close proximity to each other when the headphones100are not being worn.

To put on the headphones, a wearer would pull the ear piece housings104apart, resulting in the support member102applying a biasing force to the ear piece housings104that urges the ear piece housings104toward each other. The biasing force can press the ear piece housings104against the ears of the wearer to hold the headphones100in place on the wearer's head. In such instances, the support member102could rest on top of the wearer's head or behind the wearer's head, for example.

As shown inFIGS. 3a-3b, the headphones100include an ear cushion108connected to the ear piece housing104. The ear cushion108can be sized to fit on the wearer's ear or over the wearer's ear. In each case, ear cushion108is formed of resilient material adapted to seal and surround wearer's ear and form a chamber enclosing the wearer's ear in order block incoming sound. The ear cushion108may also be sized to seal on the wearer's ear, such as on in supra-aural headphones.

In one embodiment, the headphones100may be hearing protectors worn to block incoming sound. In another embodiment, the headphones100include an acoustic driver106(e.g., an acoustic transducer or speaker). In headphones100including an acoustic driver106, the ear piece housing104and ear cushion108are arranged relative to the wearer's ear to direct audio signals output by the acoustic driver106toward the ear of the wearer.

As shown inFIG. 1, various aspects of headphones may include a yoke112disposed between the support member102and the ear piece housings104. The ear piece housings104can pivot relative to the yoke112to enable a more comfortable fit for different wearers. The headphones100can include a cable120and a headphone jack122that can connect to a media player (e.g., an iPod®, a smart phone, or a tablet). The cable120can also include a microphone126. If the headphones are connected to the wearer's smart phone, the microphone can enable the wearer to listen (via the acoustic drivers106) and speak (via the microphone126) to a telephone conversation, Skype® conversation, or the like. The headphones100can receive audio signals from the media player for the acoustic drivers106via the cable120. The headphones100can also receive other types of data from the media player and send data, such as commands, to the media player via the cable120. Various aspects of the headphones can omit the cable120and headphone jack122for a wireless connection (e.g., a Bluetooth® connection) to the media player.

In headphones that have ear cushions that seal well around the ear, while being effective at block incoming sound, the headphones may make the wearer's own voice muffled, and also get uncomfortably warm around the ear. In the case of hearing protection headphones, users do not want to wear the hearing protectors due to these drawbacks, even when damaging noise is possible. For example, hunters despite the loudness of gunshots when firing a gun, do not want to wear sealed hearing protectors while hunting because the headphones also acoustically isolate the hunter from environmental sounds, in addition to being uncomfortably warm and muffling their voice.

In an audio headphone with acoustic drivers, the ear cushions may be comfortable and provide excellent sound to the wearer, but the headphones may acoustically isolate the wearer from the surrounding environment. This can be problematic because the wearer may not be aware of important communications in their surrounding environment or warning signals.

Further, with audio headphones, users often experience the same audio content differently and different types of music are best enjoyed through different headphone configurations. In some instances there is a desire to have an open-back versus a closed-back in headphones, and vice versa, or, a partially open back. A closed back configuration that reinforces the bass may be desired for hip hop while an open back configuration may better present acoustic vocals. Also, when mixing, audio content producers often flip one of their headphone's cups off of their ear so that they can experience the sound as part of their surrounding environment.

To overcome these problems and allow various listening configurations, the headphone100has an adjustable aperture130formed on a back surface132of the housing104. The back surface132is the surface of the earpiece housing104that is furthest from the wearer's ear at a distal end of the housing104. The back surface132is opposite a contact surface134of the ear cushions108and may be generally parallel to the wearer's ear.

While the adjustable aperture130depicted in detailFIGS. 2a-2dconsists of a number of interlocking blades138forming an adjustable shutter assembly140similar to the iris of a camera, a person of ordinary skill in the art would understand that other adjustable aperture designs may be employed and are within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the shutter assembly may be formed like a Venetian or slat blind having a plurality of blades that are rotatable between the opened or closed position. In shutter assembly formed as a slat blind, the blades may be oriented vertically or horizontally and rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the blade. Similarly, the blades of the shutter assembly may be rectangular blades having a generally constant cross-section, or the blades may have any suitable shape for use in the shutter assembly.

The shutter assembly140shown inFIGS. 2a-2dincludes a plurality of overlapping curved blades138mounted in a circle along a mounting surface142of the housing104. The blades138can be rotated in unison to adjust the diameter of the aperture130. The shutter assembly140includes a rotatable disk146provided with a corresponding aperture. A first end144of each of the blades138is mounted in a fixed pivotal position to either the rotatable disk146or the mounting surface142. The second end148of the each blade is mounted in a sliding pivotal position to the other of the rotatable element or the mounting surface142.

The blades138can be mounted at equal points around the circumference of the mounting surface, and are so shaped that inner edge150(FIG. 2a-2d) of each blade138has a curvature that corresponds to the curvature of the aperture130defined by the mounting surface142. When the blades138move to the fully retracted position, the aperture130may be unobstructed by the blades138, as shown inFIG. 3a. Various shapes and numbers of blades can be used to choose a predetermined curved or geometric shape as the aperture of the iris opens and closes when the mounting surface142and rotatable disk146are rotated relative to one another.

When the rotating disk146is rotated, each of the blades138is rotated about their fixed pivot point and extends to cover and close the aperture130. The shutter assembly140moves the blades138from a fully open position, shown generally inFIG. 2a, to a fully closed position, shown inFIGS. 2dand 3bin approximately 110 degrees of rotation.

The rotatable disk146is positioned in a slot the housing104, and it is provided with a protruding lever152that is accessible outside the housing104by the wearer. The lever152acts as a handle and allows the wearer to manually move the shutter assembly140between the opened and closed positions. As shown inFIG. 2a-2d, when the lever152is rotated in a circular direction. The lever152may extend beyond an outer surface of the housing104to be easily accessible, as shown inFIGS. 4a-4b. Any suitable handle and movement may be used to move the blades of the shutter assembly between the open and closed position.

In another embodiment, the headphone100includes an actuator160that is connected to the shutter assembly140to automatically move the shutter assembly140between the open and closed positions. The actuator160may include an electric motor, a piezoelectric element, a solenoid, or other suitable actuators for moving the shutter assembly between the open and closed positions.

The headphone100may also include a controller170that is in communication with an external device172and/or a sensor174, as shown inFIG. 4. While a wired connection is shown between the headphone100and external device172and a sensor174, the connection could be a wireless signal, such as a Bluetooth signal.

In one embodiment, the external device may include a gun. Despite the loudness of gunshots, hunters may not always wear hearing protection in the field since hunters want to be able to hear sounds of prey approaching and it would not be convenient to put on hearing protectors before quickly firing their gun. In the embodiment where the external device is a gun, the sensor may be a tactile or capacitive sensor on the trigger of the gun, or on clothing of the wearer or perhaps on a separate device in communication with the gun. When the sensor174detects that a user is going to fire the gun, the sensor174provides a signal to the controller170to move the shutter assembly140to the closed position to protect the wearer from the damaging sound generated by the gunshot. The controller170provides a signal to the motor to automatically move the shutter assembly140to the closed position. When the sensor does not sense the gun is going to be fired, the controller170returns the shutter assembly140to the opened position.

To provide maximum hearing protection, such as for use with a gun, the blades138are adapted to make full contact and may even overlap with each other. To ensure that the blades138seal when moved to the closed position, the blades could be made of a firm rubber or coated with a rubber or silicone or other suitable material. Further, the blades138may also be at least as thick as the housing104, for example, approximately 4 mm thick. However, the thickness of the housing and blades may vary depending on the materials or other design features of the headphones.

The headphones100may also include a sensor for sensing sound signals outside the housing. The sensor may include a microphone incorporated into the housing104or positioned external to the housing104. The controller170may be programmed move the shutter assembly140in response to the volume, frequency, and/or duration of sound sensed outside the headphones100. For example, the controller170may close the shutter assembly140sensor senses sound in excess of a predetermined threshold that may be damaging to the wearer's hearing. Alternatively, the controller170may open the shutter assembly140to the open position when the sensor senses an alarm or an emergency siren that the wearer should be aware of in an emergency situation.

In another embodiment, the external device172may include a phone, such as an office phone or mobile phone that is in communication with the headphones100. If the wearer receives a phone call, the controller170receives a signal of the incoming call and automatically moves the shutter assembly140to the closed position before the wearer answers so that the caller can clearly hear the incoming call. When the call is completed, the controller170returns the shutter assembly140to the open position.

When the headphones100are being used as audio headphones with acoustic drivers106, the controller170may also include an equalizer for controlling the sound generation by the acoustic drivers106. The controller170, via the equalizer, may increase the low frequency sound signals when the shutter assembly140is in the open position. Since bass sounds at low frequencies would be diminished when the shutter assembly140is open, the equalizer may restore at least a portion of the bass sounds using a low pass shelving filter.

The headphones100may also include a cover178disposed in the chamber. The cover178allows transmission of sound, but may shield the wearer's ear from the environment when the shutter assembly140is in the open position. The cover178may be formed of a thin membrane material. The cover178may be attached to the housing104along an interior surface, or may be sandwiched between the housing104and the ear cushions108.

FIGS. 5-6illustrate another embodiment of the present disclosure. Currently, users are often inconvenienced by the inefficiencies of possessing and simultaneously monitoring or using multiple electronic devices. For instance, an office worker may be working on a laptop and using headphones to listen to audio. That user may, for instance, simultaneously have a smart phone, a tablet, and an office phone. If the user receives a phone call on their smart phone, they may need to remove their headphones, even if they include a microphone if that microphone is not in communication with their smart phone. If the user then receives a phone call to their office phone simultaneously, they must struggle to balance the call on their smart phone with the new incoming call. Such disorganization is inefficient and disrupts a user's work flow in a highly negative way. Further, even though some headphones are adept at noise canceling low-frequency noises, such as constant ambient sounds, high-frequency sounds such as the voices of surrounding individuals are not blocked.

Disclosed is a headphone set that allows a user to simultaneously manage a plurality of devices. In certain embodiments, the headphones are in wireless electronic communication with multiple devices. Those of skill in the art of the present disclosure will appreciate that various communication technologies, such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, may be employed to accomplish this communication. In some instances, wired connections may also be employed. Software manages and prioritizes the devices accordingly to criteria, which are preferably selected by the user.

In certain alternative embodiments, connections are made between various devices and a dongle, which may for instance rest on a user's desk. In such embodiments, communication functionality and processing may be supported by wired connections to some of the devices, with wireless communication being made to other devices.

Optionally, a user can control various functions and prioritization via controls included in the headphones or via an app on a mobile device.

In certain embodiments, the headphones incorporate an indicator, such as a green/red light to indicate to individuals around them whether user wishes to remain isolated. Optionally, the headphones may incorporate ambient noise canceling of either or both high and low frequency noises by physical manipulation of a portion of the head phone, such as rotation of portion601inFIG. 6. A user thus may selectively cancel none of the surrounding noise, only ambient sounds, or nearly all sound so as to create a near total sound bubble in which to remain isolated.

FIG. 7illustrates another embodiment of the present disclosure. Often, individuals who are exercising use headphones so that they can listen to audio, typically music. In many instances, such individuals may employ traditional wired earphones or ear buds. While dependable in that they do not require batteries, they require a wired connection to an audio device, such as a smart phone, in order to operate. Such wires are ungainly, difficult to size to particular users, and are prone to snagging on various objects. This can lead to separation of the headphones from the audio device, destruction of the ear phones and other inconvenient or even dangerous situations. Furthermore, often users only employ one of the two included earphones so that they can, for instance, hear and interact with their surroundings. This leaves the second earphone dangling from the user's body, which is inconvenient and presents another wire to be snagged.

There are existing wireless ear phones that connect to an audio device, for instance via Bluetooth. While such designs eliminate the need for wires and their attendant problems, they introduce new challenges. Primarily, such designs require a battery that must be charged in order to operate. Many individuals forget to charge the units or do not wish to be inconvenienced in needing to do so whenever they wish to use their headphones.

With reference toFIG. 7, disclosed are wireless earphones, each which may be selectably coupled with a common wire for connection to an audio device.

Earphones701and702connect to wire703. In one embodiment, such connection is accomplished via magnetic connection704. Therefore, the user may select whether or not to operate the earphones in a wired or wireless configuration. For instance, if a user is not moving and does not wish to drain their earphones' batteries, they may have the earphones connected to the wire, which is plugged into the audio device. Various configurations may be used for connection to an audio device, without limitation including 3.5 mm audio jacks or micro-USB connectors. This may allow a user to, in some embodiments, charge the earphones. Otherwise, connection will stop battery drain. Once a user wishes to be more active, they may disconnect the cable and connect the earphones to the audio device wirelessly. An internal microphone may be incorporated for making phone calls.

In certain embodiments, a user can choose to employ only one of the earphones. In this scenario, the audio device may include software for conditioning the audio media to better work with the single earphone. If the user is employing both earphones, they may hand one to a friend to listen to, allowing them to partake in the audio. Thus, the user is empowered in various usage situations to select which earphone setup they wish to employ.

FIGS. 8-11illustrate another embodiment of the present disclosure. In many instances, users have a number of audio devices that they employ in a typical day. For instance, a user may have a set of ear covering headphones to listen to high quality audio and also to isolate themselves from their surrounding environment. Separately, the same user may frequently employ a Bluetooth-connected ear piece for making calls while still being able to interact with their surrounding environment. Carrying and charging multiple such devices can be cumbersome, time consuming, and disruptive to one's work flow.

Disclosed is a paired headphones set and single ear bud Bluetooth device. In a first configuration, the headphones act as a typical headphone set, allowing a user to isolate themselves from their surroundings, as depicted inFIG. 9. In a second configuration, the user may remove the ear bud and use it as a Bluetooth device independent of the headphone set. When coupled with the headphones, the headphones serve to charge the ear bud. The ear bud may incorporate a microphone allowing it to be used with telephone calls.