Abstract:
A green headphone is disclosed. A force sensor is configured between a speaker cover and a cushion of the headphone. The headphone switches on automatically to play audio when a user puts the headphone on his head. The headphone switches off automatically to stop playing audio when a user puts the headphone off his head, the power consumption is saved.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a head phone, especially relates to a Green Headphone, the green headphone switches on automatically to start audio transmission when a user put the headphone on his head, and the green headphone switches off automatically to stop audio transmission when a user put the headphone off his head. 
     Description of Related Art 
       FIGS. 1A ˜ 1 B show a prior art. 
       FIG. 1A  shows an exploded three-dimensional view of a prior art headphone. The traditional headphone has a left speaker set LS and a right speaker set RS bridged by a spring head band  13 . The left speaker set LS has a speaker (not shown) for playing audio and a speaker cover  11  configured outside for protecting the speaker inside. A cushion  15  is configured on the speaker cover  11 . The right speaker RS has similar structure and is omitted herein for simplification. 
       FIG. 1B  shows a side view of  FIG. 1A . 
       FIG. 1B  shows the speaker cover  11  and the cushion  13 . The cushion  13  is mounted onto the speaker cover  11  for a finished headphone. The traditional headphone plays audio coming from an audio source such as a computer, radio, TV . . . etc., a switch to turn on/off or to play/pause the audio signal is configured on the main body of the computer, radio or TV respectively. 
     Power energy is wasted for the traditional headphone when a user puts off the headphone and goes to pick a phone call, as an example, the audio signal continues broadcasting, which consumes the power energy while the user is not listening on. Green products are pursued nowadays for all electronic devices because energy crisis has become a critical issue due to a large amount power consumed electronic devices have been used by the people in the world. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A ˜ 1 B show a prior art. 
         FIGS. 2A ˜ 2 B show an embodiment of a green headphone according to the present invention. 
         FIGS. 3A ˜ 3 B show a front view of the embodiment according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4A  shows a first profile of the force sensor according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4B  shows a second profile of the force sensor according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  shows a third profile of the force sensor according to the present invention. 
         FIGS. 6A ˜ 6 B show a first example for AA′ section view of the force sensor according to the present invention. 
         FIGS. 7A ˜ 7 B show a second example for AA′ section view of the force sensor according to the present invention. 
         FIGS. 8A ˜ 8 B show a third example for AA′ section view of the force sensor according to the present invention. 
         FIGS. 9A ˜ 9 B show a fourth example for AA′ section view of the force sensor according to the present invention. 
         FIGS. 10A ˜ 10 B show a fifth example for AA′ section view of the force sensor according to the present invention. 
         FIGS. 11A ˜ 11 B show a sixth example for AA′ section view of the force sensor according to the present invention. 
         FIGS. 12A ˜ 12 B show a seventh example for AA′ section view of the force sensor according to the present invention. 
         FIGS. 13A ˜ 13 B show a eighth example for AA′ section view of the force sensor according to the present invention. 
         FIGS. 14A ˜ 14 B show a ninth example for AA′ section view of the force sensor according to the present invention. 
         FIGS. 15A ˜ 15 B show a tenth example for AA′ section view of the force sensor according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     An energy saving headphone is disclosed. The headphone automatically turns on when a user puts on the headphone, and the headphone automatically turns off to save energy when a user puts off the headphone. 
       FIGS. 2A ˜ 2 B show an embodiment of a green headphone according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2A  shows an exploded three-dimensional view of the embodiment. A green headphone has a left speaker set LS and a right speaker set RS bridged with a spring head band  13 . The left speaker set LS has a speaker inside, and a speaker cover  11  is configured outside the speaker for protecting the speaker. A cushion  15  is configured on the speaker cover  11 . The right speaker set RS has similar structure and is omitted herein for simplification. 
     A force sensor  21  is configured on an outer surface of the speaker cover  11 . In other words, the force sensor  21  is sandwiched in between the cushion  15  and the speaker cover  11 . An automatic “power on” or “audio play” signal is generated when the cushion  15  presses against the force sensor  21  at a time when a user puts on the headphone. Similarly an automatic “power off” or “audio pause” signal is generated when the cushion  15  releases the pressure from the force sensor  21  at a time when the user puts off the headphone. 
       FIG. 2B  shows a side view of  FIG. 2A . 
       FIG. 2B  shows a force sensor  21  configured between the speaker cover  11  and the cushion  13 . The cushion  13  is mounted onto the speaker cover  11  for a finished headphone. 
       FIGS. 3A ˜ 3 B show a front view of the embodiment according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 3A  shows that a speaker cover plate  11  and a force sensor  21  are prepared. 
       FIG. 3B  shows the force sensor  21  is configured on a top surface of the speaker cover plate  11 . Next, a cushion  15  (not shown) is then configured on a top surface of the speaker cover plate  11  and sandwiched the force sensor  21  in between. 
       FIG. 4A  shows a first profile of the force sensor according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 4A  shows the force sensor  21  has a profile of a ring. Signal wires  22  are extended from the force sensor  21  to electrically couple to a control system (not shown). The ring shaped force sensor  21  is configured on a top surface of the speaker cover  11 . The force sensor  21  triggers a “turn on” or “audio play” signal when the cushion  13  presses against the force sensor  21  at a time when the headphone is put on a user&#39;s head. The force sensor  21  triggers a “turn off” or “audio pause’ signal when the cushion  13  is released from the force sensor  21  at a time when the headphone is put off a user&#39;s head. 
       FIG. 4B  shows a second profile of the force sensor according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 4B  shows the force sensor  212  has a profile of a partial ring which is near to or larger than one-third of a ring. Signal wires  22  are extended from the force sensor  212  to electrically couple to a control system (not shown). 
       FIG. 5  shows a third profile of the force sensor according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  shows the force sensor  213  has a profile of a pad. A plurality of force sensor pads  213  are parallel connected and mounted on a top surface of the speaker cover  11 . Signal wires  22  are extended from the force sensor pads  213  to electrically couple to a control system (not shown). 
       FIGS. 6A ˜ 6 B show a first example for AA′ section view of the force sensor according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 6A  shows a membrane switch can be used as one of the first sensors which can be used according to the present invention.  FIG. 6A  shows a first force sensor  100  which has a top substrate  311  and a bottom substrate  312 . A top electrode  321  is configured on a bottom surface of the top substrate  311  and a bottom electrode  322  is configured on a top surface of the bottom substrate  312 . A gap  411  is reserved between the top electrode  321  and the bottom electrode  322 . 
       FIG. 6B  shows when the headphone is put on a user&#39; head, the cushion  15  is pushed against the force sensor  21 ,  212 ,  213 , which causes the top electrode  321  of the force sensor touching the bottom electrode  322  of the force sensor. An electrical path is established between the two electrodes and a corresponding electrical signal is generated to trigger a “power on” or “audio play” signal, the audio transmission starts to transmit to the headphone speakers. And when the headphone is put off a user&#39; head, the cushion  13  is released from the force sensor, which causes the top electrode  321  leaving the bottom electrode  322 , The electrical path between the two electrodes interrupts and a corresponding electrical signal is generated to trigger a “power off” or “audio pause” signal, the audio transmission stops so as to save power energy. 
       FIGS. 7A ˜ 7 B show a second example for AA′ section view of the force sensor according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 7A  shows a second force sensor  200 . The second force sensor has a piece of piezo sheet  41  configured on a bottom surface of the top electrode  321 . The piezo sheet  41  has a bottom surface touching, but not giving a force to, a top surface of the bottom electrode  322 . 
       FIG. 7B  shows when the headphone is put on a user&#39; head, the cushion  15  is pushed against the force sensor  21 ,  212 ,  213 , which causes the piezo sheet  41  of the force sensor squeezed. An electrical path is established between the two electrodes and a corresponding electrical signal is generated to trigger a “power on” or “audio play” signal, the audio transmission starts to transmit to the headphone speakers. And when the headphone is put off a user&#39; head, the cushion  13  is released from the force sensor, which causes the squeezed piezo sheet released, The electrical path between the two electrodes interrupts and a corresponding electrical signal is generated to trigger a “power off” signal, the audio transmission stops so as to save power energy. 
       FIGS. 8A ˜ 8 B show a third example for AA′ section view of the force sensor according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 8A  shows a third force sensor  300 . The third force sensor  300  is similar to  FIG. 7A  but a space  411  is reserved between the piezo sheet  41  and the bottom electrode  322 . 
       FIG. 8B  is similar to that of  FIG. 7B  to show that when the headphone is put on a user&#39; head, the cushion  15  is pushed against the force sensor  21 ,  212 ,  213 , which causes the piezo sheet  41  of the force sensor squeezed. An electrical path is established between the two electrodes and a corresponding electrical signal is generated to trigger a “power on” or “audio play” signal, the audio transmission starts to transmit to the headphone speakers. And when the headphone is put off a user&#39; head, the cushion  13  is released from the force sensor, which causes the squeezed piezo sheet released, The electrical path between the two electrodes interrupts and a corresponding electrical signal is generated to trigger a “power off” or “audio pause” signal, the audio transmission stops so as to save power energy. 
       FIGS. 9A ˜ 9 B show a fourth example for AA′ section view of the force sensor according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 9A  shows a fourth force sensor  400 . The fourth force sensor is similar to  FIG. 8A  but a space  411  is reserved between the piezo sheet  41  and the top electrode  321 . 
       FIG. 9B  is similar to that of  FIG. 8B  to show that when the headphone is put on a user&#39; head, the cushion  15  is pushed against the force sensor  21 ,  212 ,  213 , which causes the piezo sheet  41  of the force sensor squeezed. An electrical path is established between the two electrodes and a corresponding electrical signal is generated to trigger a “power on” or “audio play” signal, the audio transmission starts to transmit to the headphone speakers. And when the headphone is put off a user&#39; head, the cushion  13  is released from the force sensor, which causes the squeezed piezo sheet released, The electrical path between the two electrodes interrupts and a corresponding electrical signal is generated to trigger a “power off” or “audio pause” signal, the audio transmission stops so as to save power energy. 
       FIGS. 10A ˜ 10 B show a fifth example for AA′ section view of the force sensor according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 10A  shows a fifth force sensor  500 . The fifth force sensor shows that a top piezo sheet  431  is configured on a bottom surface of the top electrode  321 . A bottom piezo sheet  432  is configured on a top surface of the bottom electrode  322 . The top piezo sheet  431  has a bottom surface touching, but not giving a force to, a top surface of the bottom piezo sheet  432 . 
       FIG. 10B  shows that when the headphone is put on a user&#39; head, the cushion  15  is pushed against the force sensor  21 ,  212 ,  213 , which causes the piezo sheet  431 ,  432  of the force sensor squeezed. An electrical path is established between the two electrodes and a corresponding electrical signal is generated to trigger a “power on” or “audio play” signal, the audio transmission starts to transmit to the headphone speakers. And when the headphone is put off a user&#39; head, the cushion  13  is released from the force sensor, which causes the squeezed piezo sheet  431 , 432  released, The electrical path between the two electrodes interrupts and a corresponding electrical signal is generated to trigger a “power off” or “audio pause” signal, the audio transmission stops so as to save power energy. 
       FIGS. 11A ˜ 11 B show a sixth example for AA′ section view of the force sensor according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 11A  shows a sixth force sensor  600 . The sixth force sensor is similar to  FIG. 10A  but a space  411  is inserted in between the top piezo sheet  431  and the bottom piezo sheet  432 . The rest structure is the same as that of  FIG. 10A  and omitted herein. 
       FIG. 11B  is similar to that of  FIG. 10B  to show that when the headphone is put on a user&#39; head, the cushion  15  is pushed against the force sensor  21 ,  212 ,  213 , which causes the piezo sheet  431 ,  432  of the force sensor squeezed. An electrical path is established between the two electrodes and a corresponding electrical signal is generated to trigger a “power on” or “audio play” signal, the audio transmission starts to transmit to the headphone speakers. And when the headphone is put off a user&#39; head, the cushion  13  is released from the force sensor, which causes the squeezed piezo sheet  431 , 432  released, The electrical path between the two electrodes interrupts and a corresponding electrical signal is generated to trigger a “power off” or “audio pause” signal, the audio transmission stops so as to save power energy. 
       FIGS. 12A ˜ 12 B show a seventh example for AA′ section view of the force sensor according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 12A  shows a seventh force sensor  700 . The seventh force sensor shows a top left electrode  521  and a top right electrode  522  configured on a bottom surface of the top substrate  311 . A piezo sheet  531 B is configured on a top surface of the bottom substrate  312 . The piezo sheet  531 B has a top surface touching, but not giving force to, a bottom surface of the top electrodes  521 ,  522 . The bottom surfaces of the top electrodes  521 ,  522  are coplanar. 
       FIG. 12B  shows that when the headphone is put on a user&#39; head, the cushion  15  is pushed against the force sensor  21 ,  212 ,  213 , which causes the piezo sheet  531 B of the force sensor squeezed. An electrical path is established between the two electrodes and a corresponding electrical signal is generated to trigger a “power on” or “audio play” signal, the audio transmission starts to transmit to the headphone speakers. And when the headphone is put off a user&#39; head, the cushion  13  is released from the force sensor, which causes the squeezed piezo sheet  531 B released, The electrical path between the two electrodes interrupts and a corresponding electrical signal is generated to trigger a “power off” or “audio pause” signal, the audio transmission stops so as to save power energy. 
       FIGS. 13A ˜ 13 B show a eighth example for AA′ section view of the force sensor according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 13A  shows a eighth force sensor  800 . The eighth force sensor is similar to  FIG. 12A  but a space  411  inserted between top electrodes  521 ,  522  and the piezo sheet  531 B. The rest structures are the same as  FIG. 12A  and are omitted herein for simplification. 
       FIG. 13B  is similar to that of  FIG. 12B  to show that when the headphone is put on a user&#39; head, the cushion  15  is pushed against the force sensor  21 ,  212 ,  213 , which causes the piezo sheet  531 B of the force sensor squeezed. An electrical path is established between the two electrodes and a corresponding electrical signal is generated to trigger a “power on” or “audio play” signal, the audio transmission starts to transmit to the headphone speakers. And when the headphone is put off a user&#39; head, the cushion  13  is released from the force sensor, which causes the squeezed piezo sheet  531 B released, The electrical path between the two electrodes interrupts and a corresponding electrical signal is generated to trigger a “power off” or “audio pause” signal, the audio transmission stops so as to save power energy. 
       FIGS. 14A ˜ 14 B show a ninth example for AA′ section view of the force sensor according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 14A  shows a ninth force sensor  900 . The ninth force sensor shows that a piezo sheet  531  is configured on a bottom surface of a top substrate  311 . A bottom left electrode  521 B and a bottom right electrode  522 B are configured on a top surface of a bottom substrate  312 . The piezo sheet  531 B has a bottom surface touching, but not giving force to, top surfaces of the electrodes  521 B,  522 B. The top surfaces of the electrodes  521 B,  522 B are coplanar. 
       FIG. 14B  shows that when the headphone is put on a user&#39; head, the cushion  15  is pushed against the force sensor  21 ,  212 ,  213 , which causes the piezo sheet  531  of the force sensor squeezed. An electrical path is established between the two electrodes and a corresponding electrical signal is generated to trigger a “power on” or “audio play” signal, the audio transmission starts to transmit to the headphone speakers. And when the headphone is put off a user&#39; head, the cushion  13  is released from the force sensor, which causes the squeezed piezo sheet  531  released, The electrical path between the two electrodes interrupts and a corresponding electrical signal is generated to trigger a “power off” or “audio pause” signal, the audio transmission stops so as to save power energy. 
       FIGS. 15A ˜ 15 B show a tenth example for AA′ section view of the force sensor according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 15A  shows a tenth force sensor  1000 . The tenth force sensor is similar to that of  FIG. 14A  but a space  411  is reserved between the piezo sheet  531  and the two electrodes  521 B,  522 B. The rest structures are similar to that of  FIG. 14A  and are omitted herein for simplification. 
       FIG. 15B  is similar to that of  FIG. 14B  to show that when the headphone is put on a user&#39; head, the cushion  15  is pushed against the force sensor  21 ,  212 ,  213 , which causes the piezo sheet  531  of the force sensor squeezed. An electrical path is established between the two electrodes and a corresponding electrical signal is generated to trigger a “power on” or “audio play” signal, the audio transmission starts to transmit to the headphone speakers. And when the headphone is put off a user&#39; head, the cushion  13  is released from the force sensor, which causes the squeezed piezo sheet  531  released, The electrical path between the two electrodes interrupts and a corresponding electrical signal is generated to trigger a “power off” or “audio pause” signal, the audio transmission stops so as to save power energy. 
     The force sensor used in this invention is one selected from a group consisting of: membrane switch, piezo-capacitive switch, piezo-electric switch, piezo-resistive switch, strain gauge, and micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS). 
     While several embodiments have been described by way of example, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be configured without departs from the spirit of the present invention. Such modifications are all within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.