Patent Publication Number: US-2017374447-A1

Title: Earbuds for use both wirelessly and with a wired connection

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/353,453 filed on Jun. 22, 2016, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Wireless earbuds suffer from a number of drawbacks. For example, the music can occasionally slip out of sync between the two earphones and the he volume level drifted out of balance as well. Further, the touch commands—which allow you to control playback functions with the tap of a finger—may be inconsistent. For example, the earbuds may not respond or may malfunction (e.g., quickly cycling among play, pause, and rewind unprompted). 
     In addition, the earbuds can be easy to misplace. In particular, during vigorous exercise, the earbuds can shake loose and if they fall from a user&#39;s ear during activity, they can be virtually impossible to locate. 
     However, users are expected to adopt this technology because of the benefits offered by wireless earbuds. In particular, users have a much broader range of motion available and user&#39;s need not have the electronic device carried by the user (for example, the electronic device can be in a pack or located in the vicinity of the user). In addition, cords can sometimes be a hindrance or otherwise be inconvenient for a user. 
     Accordingly, there is a need in the art for earbuds that can be used both wirelessly and with a wired connection. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential characteristics of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     One example embodiment includes an earbud for producing a sound output based on an audio signal that is received via a wired connection or wirelessly. The earbud includes a speaker configured to produce a sound based on an audio signal and a battery, wherein the battery is configured to provide power to the speaker. The earbud also includes an antenna, wherein the antenna is configured to connect wirelessly to an external device. The earbud further includes a connector, the connector configured to receive power to charge the battery and connect to the external device. The audio signal is received either over the connector or the antenna. The earbud additionally includes a processor configured to control the electrical elements of the earbud. 
     Another example embodiment includes an earbud for producing a sound output based on an audio signal that is received via a wired connection or wirelessly. The earbud includes a speaker, wherein the speaker produces a sound based on an audio signal and a battery, wherein the battery provides power to the speaker. The earbud also includes a user input, wherein the user input receives one or more commands from a user an antenna, wherein the antenna connects wirelessly to an external device. The earbud further includes a connector, the connector receiving power to charge the battery and connected to the external device. The audio signal is received either over the connector or the antenna. The earbud additionally includes a processor, wherein the processor controls at least some of the electrical elements of the earbud. 
     Another example embodiment includes an earbud for producing a sound output based on an audio signal that is received via a wired connection or wirelessly. The earbud includes an audio cone, the audio cone shaped to fit the ear canal of a user and a tip covering the audio cone. The earbud also includes a speaker within the audio cone, wherein the speaker produces a sound based on an audio signal and a battery, wherein the battery provides power to the speaker. The earbud further includes a user input, wherein the user input receives one or more commands from a user and an antenna, wherein the antenna connects wirelessly to an external device. The earbud additionally includes a connector, the connector receiving power to charge the battery and connected to the external device. The audio signal is received either over the connector or the antenna. The earbud moreover includes a cable, wherein the cable includes a coupler that is electrically connected to the connector and is connected to the connector and the external device. The earbud also includes a processor, wherein the processor controls at least some of the electrical elements of the earbud. 
     These and other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       To further clarify various aspects of some example embodiments of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only illustrated embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an earbud; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an example of an earbud; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an example of a cable; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an example of an earbud connected to a cable; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an example of a converter for connecting an external device to the earbud via a cable; and 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an example of a charging case. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made to the figures wherein like structures will be provided with like reference designations. It is understood that the figures are diagrammatic and schematic representations of some embodiments of the invention, and are not limiting of the present invention, nor are they necessarily drawn to scale. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an earbud  100 . The earbud  100  is small enough that a portion of the earbud  100  can be placed in the ear of a user. The earbud  100  can allow a user to either connect to a device wirelessly or via a wired connection, as described below. The earbud  100  is also known as headphones, earspeakers, earphones, or cans. 
       FIG. 1  shows that the earbud  100  can include a speaker  102 . The speaker  102  can include an electroacoustic transducer, which converts an electrical signal to a corresponding sound. The speaker  102  can be small enough that the sound produced is produced in the user&#39;s ear canal and is heard only by the user. The speaker  102  can include a port which allows the sound to exit the earbud  100  and enter the ear canal of the user. One of skill in the art will appreciate that the speaker  102  can include a grill or other mechanism for protecting the transducer of the speaker  102 . 
       FIG. 1  also shows that earbud  100  can include a battery  104 . The battery  104  provides electrical power to the other components of the earbud  100 . The battery  104  can convert electrical energy to chemical energy and vice versa. The battery  104  can include charging circuitry which allows a user to recharge the battery  104  as needed. The battery  104  is capable of powering components of the earbud  100  even when being charged. Thus, the battery  104  can allow a user to use the earbud  100  in both a wireless mode and in a wired mode, as described below. 
       FIG. 1  further shows that the earbud  100  can include a user input  106 . The user input  106  can include one or more buttons or other devices which allows a user to control the operation of the earbud  100 . For example, the user input  106  can allow a user to turn on the earbud  100 , adjust the volume, change modes, connect to an external device, or any other desired function. The user input  106  can include any mechanism for user control. E.g., the user input  106  can include slide switches, depressible buttons, dials, wheels, navigation pads, touch pads, or any other desired mechanism. 
       FIG. 1  additionally shows that the earbud  100  can include an antenna  108 . The antenna  108  allows the earbud  100  to wirelessly connect to an external device. The external device provides a signal that is routed from the antenna  108  to the speaker  102  allowing the user to hear audio. For example, the antenna  108  can communicate via Bluetooth, Home RF, iEEE 802.11 or any other desired wireless protocol. In addition, the antenna  108  can include an amplifier. The amplifier increases the strength of the signal to drive the speaker  102  with sufficient power to create an audio signal that can be heard by the user. One of skill in the art will appreciate that the antenna  108  can allow the user to give commands to the earbud  100 . I.e., instead of a user input  106 , the external device can control the earbud  100  via antenna  108 . 
       FIG. 1  moreover shows that the earbud  100  can include a connector  110 . The connector  110  allows the earbud  100  to be connected to an external device. For example, the connector  110  can allow the earbud  100  to be connected to a charging device, such as a charging case or wired connection, as described below. Additionally or alternatively, the connector  110  can allow the earbud  100  to be connected to a data and/or power cord, as described below. The connector  110  can be connected to the battery  104  allowing the batter to be recharged when desired. 
       FIG. 1  also shows that the earbud  100  can include a processor  112 . The processor  112  controls the functions of the earbud  100 . In particular, the processor  112  can be electrically coupled to the other components through circuit boards (such as printed circuit boards) and/or wires. Additionally or alternatively, the processor  112  may facilitate wireless communications with a host device by generating signals for wireless transmission and process received wireless signals. In addition to wireless communications, processor  112  may coordinate the operation of the various components of earbud  100 . For example, processor  112  may control the charging of a battery or the operation of a display system. 
       FIG. 1  further shows that the earbud  100  can include a microphone  114 . A microphone  114 , colloquially nicknamed mic or mike is a transducer that converts sound into an electrical signal. The microphone  114  can allow a user to speak (e.g., as part of a phone conversation or to give a voice command) and/or can be used for noise cancellation purposes. The microphone  114  can include any desired type of transducer, including a dynamic transducer, a condenser transducer, a piezoelectric transducer, or any other desired mechanism. The microphone  114  can include a preamplifier (an electronic amplifier that prepares a small electrical signal for further amplification or processing) that allows the signal to be transmitted to the connected external device. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an example of an earbud  200 . The earbud  200  can include some or all of the components of the earbud  100  of  FIG. 1 . The earbud  200  can be used in isolation, with another earbud in the opposite ear of the same user (e.g., to produce stereo sound) or in combination with other headphone sets to allow multiple users to share audio. 
       FIG. 2  shows that the earbud  200  can include an audio cone  202 . The audio cone  202  is configured to be placed within the ear canal of the user and direct the sound from the speaker to the user&#39;s ear canal. I.e., the audio cone  202  is the portion of the earbud  202  where sound is produced and sent to the user&#39;s ear. The audio cone can include a screen or other cover that protects the speaker. As used in the specification and the claims, the phrase “configured to” denotes an actual state of configuration that fundamentally ties recited elements to the physical characteristics of the recited structure. That is, the phrase “configured to” denotes that the element is structurally capable of performing the cited element but need not necessarily be doing so at any given time. Thus, the phrase “configured to” reaches well beyond merely describing functional language or intended use since the phrase actively recites an actual state of configuration. 
       FIG. 2  also shows that the earbud  200  can include a tip  204 . The tip  204  covers the audio cone  202  and secures the audio cone  202  within the ear canal. The tip  204  is made of an elastic material that conforms to the ear canal of the user. For example, the tip  204  can be made of memory foam, rubber or any other desired material. When the user inserts the audio cone  202  and into his/her ear, the tip  204  deforms and then expands to fill the user&#39;s ear canal. This retains the audio cone  202  within the ear canal, helps contain the sound produced in the speaker within the user&#39;s ear canal and prevents some external noise from entering the user&#39;s ear canal. 
       FIG. 2  further shows that the earbud  200  can include a body  206 . The body  206  contains one or more components of the earbud  200 . For example, the body  206  can surround the antenna, processor, etc. of the earbud  200 . Additionally or alternatively, the body  206  can include one or more shielding elements. For example, the body  206  can include a divider that shields electric current providing power to the battery from the antenna to prevent the introduction of noise into an audio signal. In addition, the body  206  can be shaped to be aesthetically pleasing to the user. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an example of a cable  300 . The cable  300  connects to the earbud  100  of  FIG. 1 . The cable  300  allows for simultaneous charging and listening by a user. E.g., if the battery in the earbud  100  of  FIG. 1  has insufficient charge to power the earbud  100 , then the cable  300  can be connected and simultaneously the earbuds powered, the battery charged, and an audio signal received via the connection of the cable  300 . Likewise, a power source, such as a battery pack, can be connected to the earbud via cable  300  for charging purposes while the earbud is connected wirelessly to an external device. 
       FIG. 3  shows that the cable  300  can include a jack  302 . The jack  302  allows for power and/or data to flow through the cable  300 . For example, the jack  302  can include a 3.5 mm audio jack. An audio jack (also called “phone connector,” “phone jack,” “headphone jack” or “jack plug”) is an electrical connector. An audio jack is cylindrical in shape and can include two, three, four or five contacts made of conducting material separated by narrow bands of insulating material. One contact provides a ground and the remaining contacts are positive terminals over which signals are sent. Because the signal is transmitted via a voltage difference relative to the ground, the voltage can also be used to power the speaker and charge the battery. One of skill in the art will appreciate that one contact can be dedicated to providing power to the battery if so desired (i.e., the “signal” can just be a constant voltage used to provide power to charge the battery). 
       FIG. 3  also shows that the cable  300  can include a coupler  304 . The coupler  304  connects to the connector of an earbud. The coupler  304  allows one or more signals (including a possible power signal) to pass to the earbud. That is, the coupler  304  includes electrical contacts that match the electrical contacts on an earbud, allowing electrical signals to be passed from the electronic device via contacts on the jack  304  to the earbud. The electrical contacts of the coupler  304  are separated by one or more insulating sections to prevent shorting of the electrical contacts. 
       FIG. 3  further shows that the cable  300  can include an aligning feature  306 . The aligning feature  306  ensures that the electrical contacts of the coupler  304  is properly aligned with the connector of the earbud. For example, the aligning feature can include a protrusion, an indentation, a magnet or any other mechanism that ensures that the coupler  304  and the connector are aligned relative to one another. One of skill in the art will appreciate that the aligning feature  306  may vary for connection to the left earbud and the right earbud. I.e., the aligning feature  306  can also ensure that only a left earbud is connected to the left coupler  304  and only a right earbud is connected to the right coupler  304 . Alternatively, there may be no difference with either earbud capable of connecting to either coupler  304  (i.e., the coupler may detect which earbud is connected or which earbud is connected may be irrelevant). 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an example of earbuds  200  connected to a cable  300 . When connected, the cable  300  can provide power to the earbuds  200 . Likewise, the cable  300  can provide an audio signal to the earbuds  200 . That is, the cable  300  can act as both a data source and a power source simultaneously if so desired. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an example of a converter  500  for connecting an external device to the earbud via a cable, such as the cable  300  of  FIG. 3 . The converter  500  can connect the earbud for purposes of transmitting data, for charging the battery, or both. For example, the converter  500  can convert between an audio jack and USB, lightning connectors, mini USB or any other desired connector. The converter  500  can allow only a charging signal but no data signal, only a data signal and no charging signal or allow both. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an example of a charging case  600 . The charging case  600  is used in conjunction with a set of earbuds. I.e., the charging case  600  can receive the earbuds to supply a charge the earbuds. That is, the charging case  600  can receive one or more earbuds and charge the earbuds. Likewise, the charging case  600  can be used to store the earbuds. In particular, since the earbuds are small the charging case  600  allows them to be stored in a way that they are less likely to be misplaced or lost by a user. 
       FIG. 6  shows that the charging case  600  can include at least one cavity  602 . The cavity  602  is configured to receive one or more earbuds. I.e., the cavity  602  is of proper size and shape to receive at least a portion of one or both earbuds. The cavity  602  can cushion or otherwise protect the earbuds. For example, the cavity  602  can be made of a soft material that protects the earbuds, such as foam or rubber. 
       FIG. 6  also shows that the charging case  600  can include a coupler  604 . The coupler  604  connects to the connector of an earbud. The coupler  604  allows one or more signals (including a possible power signal) to pass to the earbud. That is, the coupler  604  includes electrical contacts that match the electrical contacts on an earbud, allowing electrical signals to be passed to the earbud. The electrical contacts of the coupler  604  are separated by one or more insulating sections to prevent shorting of the electrical contacts. 
       FIG. 6  further shows that the charging case  600  can include an input port  606 . The input port  606  allows the case to be charged or to receive a data signal (such as a firewire update) to the earbuds. For example, the input port  606  can receive power to charge a battery in the charging case  600  which is, in turn, used to charge the battery in each earbud. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.