Abstract:
A headphone comprising: at least one speaker housing comprising at least a first surface with a first opening and a second surface with second opening; at least one resonator designed to cover at least a portion of the second opening of the second surface; at least one speaker, at least a portion of the speaker disposed within the speaker housing proximate to the first opening of the first surface of the speaker housing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is related to, and claims priority to, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/867,870 filed on Aug. 20, 2013 entitled “Audio Bass Resonator”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the field of audio devices and, more particularly, to a headphone including an air-driven resonator for additional bass production. 
     BACKGROUND 
     There are various patents covering headphones and headsets. The present invention provides for a headphone that can be used as a music listening device with increased base response. 
     Conventional wearable audio producing devices, such as headphones were designed to be powered directly from the output of an audio source, such as a stereo system, MP3 player or smartphone. These audio sources are typically limited to less than 100 mW of power, and a 1 Volt signal amplitude. 
     In many applications it is desirable to produce an additional or enhanced bass response from headphones. In some additional applications it may be desirable to produce an enhanced bass response from headphones when the internal speakers have been activated. In some additional applications it may be desirable to produce an enhanced bass response from headphones when the internal speakers have been activated such as when sharing audio with one or more additional listeners or when wearing the headphones around the neck. There may also be a need to produce the additional bass without having to add the expense and effort of including additional circuitry or drivers specifically configured to produce bass frequencies. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, the present invention provides a headphone comprising at least one speaker housing comprising at least a first surface with a first opening and a second surface with second opening; at least one resonator designed to cover at least a portion of the second opening of the second surface; at least one speaker, at least a portion of the speaker is disposed within the speaker housing proximate to the first opening of the first surface of the speaker housing. 
     In yet another embodiment, the headphone has a speaker comprises a moving portion, and the speaker housing encloses a volume of air. The moving portion is coupled to the volume of air such that the volume of air moves in response to motion of the moving portion of the speaker. 
     In a further embodiment, the resonator has a shape which is selected from a group comprising a donut, square, oval, round, cylindrical, circular and rectangular. 
     In still another embodiment, the speaker creates pressure within the speaker housing, thereby causing at least a portion of the resonator to move. 
     In yet a further embodiment, the resonator includes a resilient element having a spring constant, and a mass element having a mass, and wherein altering the mass and the spring constant alters the movement of the resonator. 
     In still a further embodiment, the resilient element is constructed of a material selected from a group comprising paper, rubber, foam, plastic, metal, synthetics and silicone. 
     In another embodiment, the resilient element is a spring. In a further embodiment, the resilient element is a gasket. 
     In yet another embodiment, the first surface is configured to be placed proximal to a user&#39;s ear. In still a further embodiment, the first surface is configured to contact a user&#39;s ear. 
     In still another embodiment, a headphone of the present invention further comprises: a second speaker housing; a second resonator; and a second speaker. 
     In yet a further embodiment, the headphone further comprises an amplifier. 
     In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to a headphone comprising: at least one speaker housing comprising at least a first surface with a first opening and a second surface with second opening; at least one resonator designed to cover at least a portion of the second opening of the second surface; at least one speaker, at least a portion of the speaker is disposed within the speaker housing proximate to the first opening of the first surface of the speaker housing, the speaker comprises a moving portion, and the speaker housing encloses a volume of air, and wherein the moving portion is coupled to the volume of air such that the volume of air moves in response to motion of the moving portion of the speaker, thereby causing motion in at least some portion of the resonator. 
     In yet another embodiment, the motion of the moving portion of a speaker creates an enhanced bass output from the headphone. 
     In still another embodiment, the resonator shape is selected from a group comprising: a donut, square, oval, round, cylindrical, circular and rectangular. 
     In another embodiment, the resonator includes a mass element constructed of a material selected from a group comprising metal, powder, glass, water, gels, and pads. 
     In yet another embodiment, the resonator includes a resilient element constructed of a material selected from a group comprising of paper, rubber, foam, plastic, metal, synthetics and silicone. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a headphone comprising: at least two speaker housings, each of the speaker housings comprising at least a first surface with a first opening and a second surface with second opening; at least two resonators, each of the resonators designed to cover at least a portion of each of the second openings; at two speakers, at least a portion of each of the speakers is disposed within each of the speaker housings proximate to each of the first openings. 
     In still another embodiment, the first and second speaker housings are joined via a headband. 
     In still a further embodiment, at least one of the speaker housings encloses at least a portion of an amplifier. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention. These drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective and cross-sectional view of the bass resonator of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the present invention with two speaker housings. 
     
    
    
     Among those benefits and improvements that have been disclosed, other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A headphone (alternatively referred to as a “headset”) that includes a bass resonator is described herein. In another embodiment, a headphone that may include an amplifier and bass resonator is described herein. In an embodiment, the bass resonator employs a passively driven mass built into each speaker housing of the headphone. In another embodiment the resonator is a discrete assembly attached to the speaker housing. 
     The headphone includes a housing which encloses a volume of air. Advantageously, the speaker of the headphone produces sufficient airflow (and corresponding pressure) within the speaker chamber to passively drive the bass resonator. The passive driving of the bass resonator uses varying pressure created by movement of the speaker to set this mass into motion, thereby enabling the bass resonator to vibrate in synchrony with the audio, and in particular low frequency audio, components produced by the source (e.g., the music, speech, etc.). In addition the vibration of the bass resonator causes the housing to vibrate providing a tactile sensation of bass when the headphone is in contact with a user (e.g., worn on the head or worn around the user&#39;s neck) or in physical proximity to the user. In another embodiment, the bass resonator includes a resilient element (e.g., a spring or other suitable movable component) in communication with a mass configured to vibrate at a particular frequency (or within a frequency range) when driven by the air within the speaker chamber. In yet another embodiment the resilient element is made integral to the speaker housing. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a bass resonator  100  including a mass element  102  in communication with a resilient element  101 , according to one embodiment of the present invention. The bass resonator  100  may be any suitable shape, such as for example, an oval or square. In a further embodiment, the bass resonator  100  is a circular shape, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The mass element  102 , for example a metal disk, is operatively coupled to the resilient element  101 . The resilient element  101  is a flexible material constructed from any suitable material such as paper, foam, metal, rubber, synthetics, silicone or plastic. The resilient element  101  acts as a spring with a corresponding spring constant. The combination of the spring constant of the resilient element  101  and the mass of the mass element  102  defines the natural frequency of oscillation of the resonator  100 . Either of the spring constant or the mass may be modified to alter the natural frequency of oscillation of the resonator  100 . In yet another embodiment, the combination of spring constant and mass may be selected so that resonator  100  oscillates at a natural frequency of between 50 Hz and 150 Hz. The mass element  102  may be made from any suitable material such as metal, powder, glass, water, gels, and pads. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of a headphone speaker housing incorporating a main housing  201 , a resonator  202 , and a resonator cover  203 . The embodiment may include a speaker, an amplifier, electronics, etc (not shown). In the embodiment, the main housing  201  includes an opening  211  over which the bass resonator  202  is mounted. In an embodiment, the bass resonator is mounted in such a manner that air cannot leak between the resonator  202  and the housing  201 . Any suitable securing material or technique may be used to secure the bass resonator  202  in place over the opening  211 , such as, for example and without limitation, screws, glue, ultra sonic welding, etc. In yet a further embodiment, the resilient element  101 , shown in  FIG. 1 , maybe co-molded, overmolded, or otherwise made an integral part of housing  201 . In operation, the speaker (not shown) produces vibrations (and corresponding air pressure) which drives the bass resonator  202 . 
     In another embodiment, a resonator cover  203  is attached over the resonator  202 . In yet another embodiment the attachment of the resonator cover  203  to housing  201  is used to simultaneously secure the bass resonator  202  to the housing  201  in such a manner where that the resonator  202  forms a gasket between housing  201  and cover  203 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of headphone assembly including a speaker  301  with speaker cone  307 , bass resonator  304 , cavity  302 , resonator cover  305 , within a housing  303 . Housing  303  includes a first surface  309  and a second surface  308 . When speaker  301  is operating, the movement of speaker cone  307  creates vibrations that change the corresponding pressure of the volume of air contained in the cavity  302 . These air pressure changes (illustrated in  FIG. 3  by the wavy lines  306 ) drive the bass resonator  304  to move. The volume of air coupled to the speaker cone  307  is most effective at driving the bass resonator  304  at the bass resonator&#39;s natural frequency. The driving of the bass resonator  304  causes the resonator  304  to create additional sound waves in the air outside of the speaker housing  303  which enhances the bass from speaker  301 . In another embodiment, the first surface  309  is configured with a hole for the speaker  301  and an additional hole for the bass resonator  304 , such that both elements are mounted on the same portion of housing  303 . In an embodiment, resonator cover  305  is integral to housing  303  and resonator  304  is mounted inside housing  303 . 
     In an embodiment, the housing  303  may include a mechanical or electrically operated mechanism (not shown) that restrains the resonator  304  from moving. For example, a movement inhibitor may be employed to prevent the headset from vibrating off a smooth table, or when added bass is detrimental to the musicality of the source content. 
     As used herein, the terms “example”, and/or “exemplary” are utilized to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. For the avoidance of doubt, the subject matter disclosed herein is not limited by such examples. In addition, any aspect or design described herein as an “example” and/or “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs, nor is limited to preclude equivalent exemplary structures and techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the attendant claims attached hereto, this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically disclosed herein.