Abstract:
A wireless headphone assembly has left and right speakers attached to ends of a headphone body, and at least two antennas, e.g., one located at each speaker. Since multiple antennas are used, reception can be improved using one of several approaches, e.g., simple selection of the “best” antenna, multiplexing antenna input, using diversity algorithms such as multiple input multiple output (MIMO) algorithms, etc.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/761,730, filed Jan. 23, 2006. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to wireless headphones.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Wireless headphones have been provided for a number of applications, including listening to television audio, portable music players, and computer game audio. As understood herein, a drawback of wireless headphones is that they sometimes “drop out” (effectively stop playing audio on the headphone speakers) because of a variety of reasons, including antenna nulling, body shadowing, multipath fading, etc. The present invention further understands that it would desirable to address this problem without increasing transmission power, which can be wasteful of power, or increasing audio buffering or receiver sensitivity, which can lead to cost increases. Accordingly, with these observations in mind, the present invention is provided.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     A wireless headphone includes a body configured to fit onto a user&#39;s head and defining opposed ends. A first speaker is coupled to the body and is juxtaposed with the first end, while a second speaker is coupled to the body and is juxtaposed with the second end. A wireless receiver is supported by the body and is electrically connected to at least one of two or more antennas that are coupled to the body.  
         [0005]     In some implementations the first antenna can be juxtaposed with the first speaker and the second antenna can be juxtaposed with the second speaker. A processor can be supported on the body for executing an antenna selection protocol. Without limitation, the protocol can be the selection of one and only one antenna based on quality metrics derived from signals from both antennas, or an antenna diversity protocol such as a MIMO protocol, or a multiplexing protocol. In non-limiting embodiments the first antenna has a first nulling direction and the second antenna has a second nulling direction different from the first.  
         [0006]     In another aspect, a wireless headphone includes a body and defining opposed ends. A first speaker is coupled to the body and is juxtaposed with the first end, while a second speaker is coupled to the body and is juxtaposed with the second end. Two or more antennas are coupled to the body. Means are provided for selectively combining signals from the antennas into an audio stream playable by the speakers.  
         [0007]     In yet another aspect, a method includes receiving, at a headphone assembly that can be worn on the head of a person, first wireless signals from a first antenna. The method also includes receiving at the headphone assembly second wireless signals from a second antenna, and employing an antenna selection procedure at the assembly. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of the present wireless headphones; and  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates the logic of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0011]     Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , a headphone assembly  10  is shown, generally designated  10 , which receives wireless audio signals from a source  12  such as but not limited to a portable music player, game device, etc. As shown, the headphone assembly  10  includes an elongated body  14  that is configured to fit on the head of a person. Accordingly, in non-limiting embodiments the body  14  may be slightly elastic and curved as shown.  
         [0012]     In accordance with headphone principles known in the art, the body  14  has opposed ends, and juxtaposed with the ends of the body  14  are respective speakers  16 ,  18 . In the embodiment shown, the speakers  16 ,  18  are borne on padded speaker mounts  20 ,  22  that are configured for comfortably fitting against a user&#39;s ear.  
         [0013]     In any case, the headphone assembly  10  includes at least first and second antennas  24 ,  26 . In the non-limiting embodiment shown, the first antenna  24  can be juxtaposed with the first speaker  16  and the second antenna  26  can be juxtaposed with the second speaker  18 , although if desired both antennas can be mounted on the same speaker or elsewhere on the body. The antennas  24 ,  26  may be mounted on the body  14  or on the speaker mounts  20 ,  22  to receive signals from the source  12 . Preferably, to reduce the likelihood that a signal from the source  12  will be in null zones of both antennas simultaneously, the first antenna  24  has a first nulling direction and the second antenna  26  has a second nulling direction different from, e.g., orthogonal to, the first.  
         [0014]     Each antenna  24 ,  26  may be associated with a respective wireless receiver  28 ,  30  as shown, with each receiver  28 ,  30  being supported on the body  14  or on respective speaker mounts  20 ,  22  as shown. In other implementations only a single receiver need be used. In the latter case, the processor discussed below, prior to executing antenna selection as discussed further in relation to  FIG. 2 , executes a pre-selection multiplexing step in which the first antenna  24  is connected to the receiver, the output of the receiver is evaluated, then the second antenna  26  is connected to the receiver and the output of the receiver is re-evaluated.  
         [0015]     The receiver or receivers  28 ,  30  are electrically connected to a processor  32  so that signals from the receivers  28 ,  30  are processed by the processor  32  in accordance with disclosure below. The processor  32  may be mounted anywhere on the headphone assembly  10 , such as on one of the speaker mounts  20 ,  22  as shown. More than one processor can be provided to execute the logic below. One or more dc batteries  34  are also supported on the assembly  10 , e.g., on one of the speaker mounts or on the body  14 , to power the receivers and processor.  
         [0016]     Now referring to  FIG. 2 , as shown at block  36  the antennas  24 ,  26  preferably are configured and mounted on the assembly  10  in a way such that a low likelihood exists of nulling of source  12  signals occurring at both antennas  24 ,  26  simultaneously. Then, block  38  shows that the processor  32  executes logic to optimize antenna use.  
         [0017]     In one non-limiting embodiment, the logic executed by the processor  32  at block  38  includes the selection of one and only one antenna based on quality metrics derived from signals from both antennas. By way of non-limiting example, the processor  32  may select signals from the antenna currently having the lowest bit error rate (BER), or the antenna providing the highest signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Yet again, the antenna providing the highest received power may be selected. In any case, signals from the selected antenna are provided to both speakers  16 ,  18 . When the quality metric of the non-selected antenna improves over that of the selected antenna, the processor switches the selected antenna.  
         [0018]     In another non-limiting embodiment, the logic executed by the processor  32  at block  38  includes employing an antenna diversity protocol to combine the input from both antennas and provide the combined signal to the speakers  16 ,  18 . For example, the processor  32  may execute a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) protocol. Non-limiting discussions of MIMO protocols are set forth in the following Sony U.S. patent publications, incorporated herein by reference: 2005/0276245 (frequency diversity MIMO); 2005/0249304 (spatial diversity MIMO); 2005/0249151 (singular value decomposition MIMO). Yet again, the protocol can be a simple multiplexing protocol wherein signals from the first antenna are selected for a first relatively short (e.g., a few milliseconds) period for playing on the speakers, then signals from the second antenna are selected, and back and forth so that signals from a “good” antenna are always ensured to be played in a period that is imperceptibly short to a user.  
         [0019]     While the particular WIRELESS HEADPHONES WITH DUAL ANTENNAS as herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the above-described objects of the invention, it is to be understood that it is the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention and is thus representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention, that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more”. It is not necessary for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be solved by the present invention, for it to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. Absent express definitions herein, claim terms are to be given all ordinary and accustomed meanings that are not irreconcilable with the present specification and file history.