SYSTEMS, HEADPHONES AND METHODS FOR INTERCHANGEABLE EAR CUP CUSHIONS ON HEADPHONES WITH RFID SENSING FOR AUTOMATED SOUND PERFORMANCE CONFIGURATION

A headphone comprises a band; right and left ear cup bases coupled to the band, the right and left ear cup bases including right and left speakers; a radio-frequency identification (RFID) sensor; right and left ear cup cushions removably coupleable to the right and left ear cup bases using a mounting mechanism, at least one of the right and left ear cup cushions including an RFID tag, the RFID tag including configuration information; and a control system configured to obtain the configuration information from the RFID tag via the RFID sensor, to obtain configuration settings associated with the configuration information, and generate configuration parameters for driving the right and left speakers based on the configuration information and the configuration settings.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to headphones, and provides headphones with interchangeable ear cup cushions, and more particularly provides interchangeable ear cup cushions on headphones with embedded radio frequency identification (RFID) sensing to enable automated sound performance configuration based on the ear cup cushion configuration information.

BACKGROUND

Headphones come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, types, and audio performance. Variations in headphone shape, size, type and/or audio performance may dictate the user, the manner in which the headphone is worn by a user, its comfort, the extent to which ambient noise is blocked by the headphone, the environments in which it is used, etc. Example headphone types include on-ear headphones and over-ear headphones, both including ear cup cushions designed to rest on or over the ears of a user. Some users may own multiple headphones for multiple different uses.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, the present invention provides a headphone, comprising a band; right and left ear cup bases coupled to the band, the right and left ear cup bases including right and left speakers; a radio-frequency identification (RFID) sensor; right and left ear cup cushions removably coupleable to the right and left ear cup bases using a mounting mechanism, at least one of the right and left ear cup cushions including an RFID tag, the RFID tag including configuration information; and a control system configured to obtain the configuration information from the RFID tag via the RFID sensor, to obtain configuration settings associated with the configuration information, and generate configuration parameters for driving the right and left speakers based on the configuration information and the configuration settings.

The mounting mechanism may include magnets, screws, clips and/or clamps. The configuration information may include one or more attributes about the right and left ear cup cushions. The configuration information may include an identifier that identifies one or more attributes about the right and left ear cup cushions. The configuration settings may be received from a separate computer device.

In some embodiments, the present invention provides a headphone portion, comprising a band; right and left ear cup bases coupled to the band, the right and left ear cup bases including right and left speakers; a radio-frequency identification (RFID) sensor; and a control system configured to obtain configuration information from an RFID tag in at least one ear cup cushion removably coupleable to the right ear cup base or the left ear cup base, to obtain configuration settings associated with the configuration information, and generate configuration parameters for driving the right and left speakers based on the configuration information and the configuration settings.

The mounting mechanism may include magnets, screw holes or bolts, clips or clamps, and/or protrusions to cooperate with clips or clamps. The configuration information may include one or more attributes about the right and left ear cup cushions. The configuration information may include an identifier that identifies one or more attributes about the right and left ear cup cushions. The configuration settings may be received from a separate computer device.

In some embodiments, the present invention provides an ear cup cushion for a headphone, comprising an ear cup cushion; a mounting mechanism for coupled to an ear cup base of a headphone; and an RFID tag including configuration information associated with the ear cup cushion.

The ear cup cushion may be an over-ear type and the configuration information may specify that the ear cup cushion is an over-ear type. The ear cup cushion may be an on-ear type and the configuration information may specify that the ear cup cushion is an on-ear type. The ear cup cushion may have a size and the configuration information may specify the size. The ear cup cushion may have a foam density and the configuration information may specify the foam density. The mounting mechanism ay include magnets, screw holes or bolts, clips or clamps, and/or protrusions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is provided to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use various embodiments of the invention. Modifications are possible. The generic principles defined herein may be applied to the disclosed and other embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the embodiments disclosed, but are to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles, features and teachings herein.

FIG. 1is a perspective view of a headphone100, in accordance with some embodiments.FIG. 2illustrates a front view of the headphone100, in accordance with some embodiments. The headphone100includes a band102coupled to right and left ear cup assemblies104A and104B, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. The right and left ear cup assemblies104A and104B include right and left ear cup cushions106A and106B mounted to right and left ear cup bases112A and112B. The right and left ear cup bases112A and112B include right and left speakers. The headphone100may also include a microphone, a user interface (e.g., buttons, knobs, keypads, graphical user interface, etc.), a processor, memory, operating system, code, etc.

As indicated herein, the right and left ear cup cushions106A and106B may be removable and replaceable with different right and left ear cup cushions106A and106B having a different size, shape, softness, material, color, sound performance, etc.

In some embodiments, the band102is configured to extend over the head of the user and to support the right ear cup assembly104A at one end and the left ear cup assembly104B at the other end. The band102may be integrally formed with the right and left ear cup bases112A and112B or coupled to the right and left ear cup bases112A and112B via one or more mechanical couplings. The band102is typically flexible to allow for the headphone100to be resiliently placed on and removed from a user's head. In some embodiments, the band102includes a band cushion on an under side of the band102to add comfort when worn.

The band102may be designed to rest on the top of the wearer's head, around the back side of the neck, around the front side of the neck, or elsewhere when in use. In some embodiments, the headphone100may include no band102, and instead may include connecting structures such as ear clips to retain the right and left ear cup assemblies104A and104B on or over the wearer's ears. In some embodiments, there may be only one ear cup assembly, e.g., a right ear cup assembly104A or a left ear cup assembly104B.

As indicated above, the right and left ear cup cushions106A and106B can be replaced for ones having different size, shape, design, type, color, material, foam density, sound performance, and/or the like. For instance, on-ear ear cup cushions106A and106B can be replaced with over-ear ear cup cushions106A and106B. The right and left ear cup cushions106A and106B can be replaced with ear cup cushions with a slit to support users who wear eyeglasses, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/104,720, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. The right and left ear cup cushions106A and106B can be replaced with right and left ear cup cushions106A and106B of a different color or pattern (for a different look), a different material, a different size, a different shape, a different foam, a different foam density, etc.

The right ear cup cushion106A may be affixed to an inside surface of the right ear cup base112A. Similarly, the left ear cup cushion106B may be affixed to an inside surface of the right ear cup base112B. Each of the right and left ear cup cushions106A and106B may have a back surface configured to flush mount to the inside wall of its respective right and left ear cup bases112A and112B. The right and left cushions106A and106B can be affixed to the right and left ear cup bases112A and112B using any coupling mechanism, including any one or combination of screws around the perimeter, hook-and-loop fasteners (such as Velcro™) on the back side, magnets along the perimeter or about the back side, clips or clamps along the perimeter, suction cups along the perimeter or about the back side, and/or the like.

In some embodiments, the right and left ear cup cushions106A and106B may include radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags110A and110B. The right and left ear cup bases112A and112B may include RFID sensors108A and108B. Each RFID tag110A or110B can identify to the headphone100configuration information about the associated ear cup cushion106A or106B. The configuration information may specify cushion attributes, e.g., the type (e.g., over-ear or on-ear), the particular foam density or a particular one of a set of particular foam densities (e.g., a stiff foam, medium foam or soft foam), the particular size or a particular one of a set of particular sizes (e.g., toddler size, teen size or adult size), the material (e.g., fabric, leather, PU leather, rubber), whether the each cup cushion106A or106B fully encapsulates the ear cup base112A or112B for waterproofing, etc. The configuration information may include an identifier that specifies the ear cushion attributes, which can be retrieved locally or remotely. In some embodiments, the headphone100may include only one RFID sensor/tag pair, e.g., on the right ear cup assembly104A or on the left ear cup assembly104B, since it is highly likely that ear cup configurations that match will be used on both sides. In some embodiments, the RFID sensor may be located in the band102. In some embodiments, the headphone100may include a single RFID sensor capable of reading the configuration information from both the right and left RFID tags110A and110B.

The headphone100may use the configuration information from the RFID tags110A and110B and configuration settings associated therewith to generate configuration parameters for controlling the sound performance of the speakers. For example, users may prefer to lower base effects when ear cushions include stiffer foam. Parents may prefer a maximum volume level for teens that is lower than for adults and may prefer a maximum volume level even lower for toddlers. These configuration parameters to may be automatically set based on the size of the ear cup cushion.

Because different ear cup cushions106A and106B may be used in different environments, e.g., on a plane, on the bed, in a spa, etc., the user may wish to set the configuration settings for each of several different pairs of ear cup cushions106A and106B. The configuration settings may have defaults that can be modified by the user, e.g., via an application on a computer device in communication with the headphone100(see configuration application602on computer system600inFIG. 6).

In some embodiments, the RFID tags110A and110B can also store authentication information to authenticate the ear cup cushions106A and106B as authentic and not knock-offs. In some embodiments, the headphone100may notify the user that the ear cup cushions106A and106B are knock-offs. In some embodiments, the headphone100may be designed to shut down or reduce functionality when the ear cup cushions106A and106B are knock-offs.

FIG. 3illustrates a front view of headphone100with the right and left ear cup cushions106A and106B removed, in accordance with some embodiments. As shown, the headphone100includes the band102, coupled to the right and left ear cup bases112A and112B, which include the right and left speakers. The right and left ear cup bases112A and112B include the right and left RFID sensors108A and108B. As noted above, in some embodiments, only one RFID sensor108A or108B may be needed, since it is highly likely that matching ear cup configurations will be used. The RFID sensor108A or108B may alternatively be located in the band102.

FIG. 4Aillustrates a side view of right and left ear cup cushions106A and106B attachable to the headphone100(as shown inFIG. 3), in accordance with some embodiments. As shown, the right and left ear cup cushions106A and106B include right and left RFID tags110A and110B. As noted above, in some embodiments, only one RFID tag110A or110B may be needed, e.g., one in the right ear cup assembly104A or one in the left ear cup assembly104B, since it is highly likely that matching ear cup configurations will be used.

FIG. 4Billustrates a front view of an ear cup cushion402attachable to the headphone100(as shown inFIG. 3) using magnets or suction cups404, in accordance with some embodiments. Although not shown, the ear cup base that receives the ear cup cushion402may include corresponding metal or magnets to cooperate with the magnets404of the ear cup cushion402. Although not shown, the ear cup base that receives the ear cup cushion402may include a solid surface to cooperate with the suction cups404of the ear cup cushion402.

FIG. 4Cillustrates a front view of an ear cup cushion406attachable to the headphone100(as shown inFIG. 3) with screws408, in accordance with some embodiments. Although not shown, the ear cup base and the ear cup cushion406may include screw holes or bolts to receive the screws408. In some embodiments, the screws may go through holes in the ear cup base into the screw holes or bolts in the ear cup cushion406. Alternatively, the screws may go through holes in the ear cup cushion406into the screw holes or bolts in the ear cup base.

FIG. 4Dillustrates a front view of an ear cup cushion410attachable to the headphone100(as shown inFIG. 3) with clips or clamps412, in accordance with some embodiments. Although not shown, the ear cup base that receives the ear cup cushion410may include protrusions to cooperate with the clips or clamps412of the ear cup cushion410. In some embodiments, the clips or clamps may be on the base and the protrusions may be on the ear cup cushion410.

Other coupling mechanisms and combinations of coupling mechanisms are also possible (e.g., magnets and screws, magnets and clips, magnets and clamps, etc.).

FIG. 5is a block diagram of the headphone system500, which may be an instance of the headphone100, in accordance with some embodiments. The headphone system500includes ear cup cushions502(e.g., right and left ear cup cushions106A and106B) including RFID tags504(e.g., right and left RFID tags110A and110B), RFID sensors504(e.g., right and left RFID sensors108A and108B), coupled to RFID drivers506, coupled to a control system508, coupled to speaker drivers512, coupled to speakers514. The control system510may include or be coupled to a first antenna516(e.g., a Bluetooth antenna) for communicating with a computer system (e.g., an iPhone) for receiving configuration settings and/or audio for playback. Although shown herein as a wireless headphone100, the headphone100may be connected via wire to the computer system. The control system510may include or be coupled to a second antenna518(e.g., a Wi-Fi antenna, second Bluetooth antenna, cellular (e.g., LTE) antenna, and/or the like) for communicating with other headphones100(as described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,390,122, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein) or with the Internet (e.g., for obtaining audio data for playback or general web navigation). The components and functions described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,390,122 are available as design choices and can be incorporated into the headphone100herein.

In operation, when the ear cup cushions502are mounted on the headphone500(e.g., on the right and left ear cup bases112A and112B), the RFID sensors506(as controlled by the RFID drivers508) capture configuration information from the RFID tags504. The configuration information is provided via the RFID drivers506to the control system510. The control system510uses the configuration information to determine configuration parameters based on configuration settings (user and/or default settings). The control system510provides the configuration parameters to the speaker drivers512, which drives the speakers514based on the configuration parameters.

In some embodiments, the RFID tags504can provide authentication information to the control system510to authenticate the ear cup cushions502as authentic and not knock-offs. In some embodiments, the control system510may be configured to notify the user when the ear cup cushions502are knock-offs. In some embodiments, the control system510may be designed to shut down or reduce functionality when the ear cup cushions502are knock-offs.

FIG. 6is a block diagram of a computer system600with a configuration application602for configuring the headphone100, in accordance with some embodiments. The computer system600may be a mobile device (e.g., a smart phone, a laptop, a car, a computer tablet, etc.) or a stationary device (e.g., a desktop, a cloud server, etc.). The configuration application602may include a graphical user interface to capture configuration settings (e.g., equalizer output settings, base level settings, treble level settings, mid-range level settings, maximum volume settings, etc.), which can be communicated with the headphone500(e.g., headphone100), possibly via the first antenna516over Bluetooth. The configuration application602may associate the configuration settings with an identifier of the ear cup cushions106A and106B attached to the ear cup bases112A and112B. The configuration application602may store the configuration data, including the configuration information and the configuration settings. Alternatively, the configuration data may be stored only by the headphone100.

FIG. 7is a block diagram of the control system510, in accordance with some embodiments. The control system510includes an RFID driver interface702, a speaker driver interface704, a Wi-FI/LTE module706, a Bluetooth module708, a controller710, and configuration data712.

The RFID driver interface702includes hardware, software and/or firmware configured to communicate with the RFID drivers508. The RFID driver interface702may receive the configuration information from the RFID tags504via the RFID sensors506. The configuration information may be provided in the form of an ear cup cushion identifier, which may be used to obtain the ear cup cushion attributes from a local source or a remote source.

The speaker driver interface704includes hardware, software and/or firmware configured to communicate with the speaker drivers512. The speaker driver interface704may receive the configuration parameters generated for controlling the speaker drivers512to drive the speakers accordingly.

The Wi-Fi/LTE module706includes hardware, software and/or firmware configured to communicate over the second antenna518, e.g., with other headphones100or with the Internet, possibly to capture audio data (music, chat, web navigation data, etc.).

The Bluetooth module708includes hardware, software and/or firmware configured to communicate over the first antenna516with the computer system600, e.g., for obtaining configuration settings and/or audio data.

The controller710includes hardware, software and/or firmware configured to manage the sound performance configuration of the headphone500based on the configuration information obtained from the RFID tags504, based on the configuration settings obtained from the configuration application602or locally, and based on algorithms for generating configuration parameters based the configuration information and the configuration settings. The controller710may store the configuration data712in a configuration store. The configuration data712stored by the control system510may include the configuration information, the configuration settings associated with the configuration information, and the configuration parameters associated with the configuration information and configuration settings. In some embodiments, the configuration settings may be obtained by the controller510via a local user interface, e.g., a voice user interface (VUI), a graphical user interface (GUI), physical buttons or keys (e.g., a keypad) located on the headphone500.

In some embodiments, the controller710may capture authentication information from the RFID tags504to authenticate the ear cup cushions502as authentic and not knock-offs. In some embodiments, the controller710may be configured to notify the user when the ear cup cushions502are knock-offs, e.g., via the headphone500or via the computer system600. In some embodiments, the controller710may be designed to shut down or reduce functionality when the ear cup cushions502are knock-offs.

FIG. 8is a block diagram illustrating details of a computer system800. Any headphone, system, engine, database, module, and/or network described herein may comprise an instance of one or more computer systems800. In some embodiments, one or more computer systems800perform some or all of the functionality described herein. The computer system800comprises a processor802, memory1104, storage806, a communications interface808, and an input/output (I/O) interface810, each communicatively coupled to a communication channel814. The processor802is configured to execute executable instructions (e.g., programs). In some embodiments, the processor802comprises circuitry or any processor capable of processing the executable instructions.

The memory804stores data. Some examples of memory804include RAM, ROM, RAM cache, virtual memory, hard drives, solid state memory, etc. In various embodiments, working data is stored within the memory804. The data within the memory804may be cleared or ultimately transferred to the storage806.

The storage806includes any storage configured to retrieve and store data. Some examples of the storage include flash drives, hard drives, optical drives, cloud storage, and/or magnetic tape. Each of the memory804and the storage806comprises a computer-readable medium, which stores instructions or programs executable by the processor802.

The I/O interface810may include any device that inputs data (e.g., mouse and keyboard) and any device that outputs data (e.g., a speaker or display).

The communication interface808may support communication over an Ethernet connection, a serial connection, a parallel connection, and/or an ATA connection. The communications interface808may also support wireless communication (e.g., 802.11, Wi-Max, LTE, Wi-Fi). It will be apparent that the communication network interface1108may support many wired and wireless standards. The communications interface808may be coupled to a network (e.g., the Internet) via the link812.

The elements of the computer system800are not limited to those depicted. A computer system800may comprise more or less hardware, software and/or firmware components than those depicted (e.g., drivers, operating systems, touch screens, biometric analyzers, and/or the like). Further, elements may share functionality and still be within various embodiments described herein. For example, encoding and/or decoding may be performed by the processor802and/or a co-processor located on a GPU (i.e., Nvidia).

It will be appreciated that the terms “engine”, “system” “module” and/or “database” may comprise software, hardware, firmware, and/or circuitry. In one example, one or more software programs comprising instructions capable of being executable by a processor may perform one or more of the functions of the engines, databases, modules or systems described herein. In another example, circuitry may perform the same or similar functions. Alternative embodiments may comprise more, less, or functionally equivalent engines, systems, modules or databases, and still be within the scope or present embodiments. For example, the functionality of the various systems, engines, modules and/or databases may be combined or divided differently. The databases may include cloud storage. It will further be appreciated that the term “or” as used herein may be construed in either an inclusive or exclusive sense. Moreover, plural instances may be provided for resources, operations, or structures described herein as a single instance.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention is by way of example only, and other variations and modifications of the above-described embodiments and methods are possible in light of the foregoing teaching. Although the network sites are being described as separate and distinct sites, one skilled in the art will recognize that these sites may be a part of an integral site, may each include portions of multiple sites, or may include combinations of single and multiple sites. The various embodiments set forth herein may be implemented utilizing hardware, software, or any desired combination thereof. For that matter, any type of logic may be utilized which is capable of implementing the various functionality set forth herein. Components may be implemented using a programmed general purpose digital computer, using application specific integrated circuits, or using a network of interconnected conventional components and circuits. Connections may be wired, wireless, modem, etc. The embodiments described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or limiting. The present invention is limited only by the following claims.