Patent Publication Number: US-2002003889-A1

Title: Headphone device with improved controls and/or removable memory

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates to headphones and, more particularly, to an headphone system with improved controls and/or a removable memory that can be used for playback and/or recording of audio.  
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] While engaged in various activities, such as walking, exercising, relaxing or the like, many people enjoy listening to pre-recorded audio material through headphones using devices such as conventional portable tape cassette or compact disc players. The headphones used in such conventional tape or disk players are typically attached using audio cables or wires to the playback device which is typically carried by the user in a pocket or otherwise attached to the user belt or other garment. In other words, the playback device is separate from the headphones but is physically attached thereto via wires that are used to channel the audio output from the playback device to the speakers in the headset. The playback device is typically a device that enables playback and/or recording of a cassette or compact disk or other available type of storage medium.  
       [0003] In these conventional portable playback devices (such as a Sony Walkman®), the existence of the physical connection (i.e., wires) between the headphones and the playback device can be burdensome and annoying. For example, the wire or cord can become tangled or can catch on an object and thereby interfere with the use and enjoyment of such devices. In other words, having to maintain a wired connection between the playback device and the headphone or headset can be clumsy and inconvenient, particularly when engaged in physical activities. Moreover, having to carry the playback device in the hands of the user or by connecting the device to a user&#39;s clothing or body part can also be problematic in many situations. In fact, many users of such playback devices use a special carrier device or accessory, such as a hip, waist or arm belt, that is designed to enable the device to be more easily carried by the user during operation. In addition to the disadvantage of the added expense for such accessories, placing the playback device in the accessory (such as a pocket or holder) often makes it difficult to operate the controls on the playback device, such as the on/off and/or volume controls. Thus, while conventional playback devices have become very popular, further improvements are still needed that will make is them more convenient in operation as well as enhance the functionality thereof. This instant invention addresses this need by providing a new and improved headset/playback device which eliminates the troublesome wired connection and streamlines the use of headphones.  
       [0004] In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a headphone system is provided that incorporates a removable memory card and memory card reader in an earpiece of the headset, in addition to a speaker. The other earpiece of the headset is used to house, in addition to a speaker, a power supply for the system, such as batteries. Various control devices are provided on the outside of the earpieces for enabling the user the control the playback, such as start/stop, power, volume, track, forward and reverse. In another embodiment, the memory media, playback device and power supply, as well as all of the controls, are incorporated into the headband that connects the two earpieces. A microphone may also be used on the headset to enable the device to be used for dictation as well as playback of audio. A further embodiment is provided wherein a remote playback device is used to send wireless signals to the headset and/or receive wireless signals from the headset. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
     [0005] These and other objects, features and advantages of the instant invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when read in conjunction with the appending drawings, in which:  
     [0006]FIG. 1 is a right-side perspective view of a first embodiment of the headphone system of the instant invention;  
     [0007]FIG. 2 is a left-side perspective view of the headphone system of FIG.  
     [0008]FIG. 3 is a plan view of the right-side of the headphone system of FIG. 1;  
     [0009]FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the right-side earpiece of the headphone system of FIG. 3;  
     [0010]FIG. 5 is a plan view of the left-side of the headphone system of FIG. 1;  
     [0011]FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the left-side earpiece of the headphone system of FIG. 5;  
     [0012]FIG. 7 is a front plan view of a second embodiment of the headphone system of the instant invention;  
     [0013]FIG. 8 is a plan view of right-side of the headphone system of FIG. 7;  
     [0014]FIG. 9 is a rear plan view of the headphone system of FIG. 7  
     [0015]FIG. 10 is a plan view of the left side of the headphone system of FIG. 7;  
     [0016]FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the headphone system of FIG. 7;  
     [0017]FIG. 12 schematically shows a third embodiment of the headphone system of the instant invention; and  
     [0018]FIG. 13 schematically shows a fourth embodiment of the headphone system of the instant invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0019] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the headphone system of the instant invention. In accordance with this embodiment, the headphone system constitutes a self-contained playback system wherein all of the parts necessary for playback to the user are contained in the headset itself. In other words, in accordance with this embodiment of the instant invention, a separate playback unit or device is not needed and, as a result, no external wires are needed to connect the playback device to the headphones. Thus, the headphones can be easily and conveniently worn by a user without experiencing the disadvantages and inconveniences associated with conventional wired-connection portable playback systems.  
     [0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the headphone system  10  of this first embodiment includes a pair of earpieces  12   a  and  12   b  connected by a headband  14 , so that the headphone system can be worn on the head of a user like a conventional headset. Like a conventional headset, each of the earpieces  12   a  and  12   b  includes a speaker  18 , as well as foam padding  16  that enables the earpieces to fit comfortably and securely over the ears of a user. The speakers  18  are sized and configured to enable high quality audio signals to be heard by the user when audio signals are provided thereto.  
     [0021] In accordance with this embodiment of the instant invention, one of the earpieces  12   a  incorporates a playback device and a removable memory medium therein. Preferable the memory medium is a solid-state memory  24  and the playback device is suitably adapted (i.e., includes appropriate accessing circuitry) to read the particular memory  24 . However any suitable memory may be used, including, but not limited to, optical, electric, magnetic or any combination thereof. Thus, audio information, such as music, can be stored on the memory  24  and played to the user through the headphone system  10 . The earpiece  12   a  preferably includes a slot  22  in the housing  20  of the earpiece that enables the memory medium  24  to be inserted and removed from the earpiece. Thus, the memory  24  can be removed from the earpiece and used with another device (such as a computer) to download music or other audio information thereon. The memory medium  24  can then be placed back in the headset so that the downloaded audio information can be played to the user when wearing the headphones. An eject button  26  is provided for enabling the user to eject the memory  24  from the earpiece  12   a.    
     [0022] In addition to holding the memory  24 , the earpiece  12   a  also includes controls for the payback device contained in the earpiece  12   a . For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the controls preferably include a stop/start button assembly  28 , a volume control assembly  30  for both increasing and decreasing the volume of the audio output, a fast forward button assembly  32  for fast forwarding the audio information, and a first backwards button assembly for fast backing-up the audio information. Thus, by inserting the memory  24  into the earpiece  12   a  and pressing the start button  28 , the headphones will play the audio information to the wearer of the headphones, and the wearer can easily control the audio playback by manipulating the various controls  28 ,  30 ,  32  and  34 .  
     [0023] Referring now to FIG. 2, the other earpiece  12   b  of the headphone system  10  includes a battery compartment  42  built into the housing  20  of the earpiece, thereby enabling batteries  44 , or other suitable power supply, to be inserted into the device for powering the headphone system. In addition to the power supply, the earpiece  12   b  preferably also includes a power button assembly  36 , such as a toggle switch, for powering on and off the headphone system. The earpiece  12   b  may also include a next track assembly  38  and previous rack assembly  40  for enabling the next or previous tracks to be selected by respective operation thereof.  
     [0024] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the earpiece  12   a  is shown in more detail. A memory card reader  54 , or other suitable accessing circuitry, is provided such that the memory  24  can be read by the headphone system when inserted in the slot  22 . A processor/logic assembly  50  is also included in the earpiece for controlling the operation of the headphone system. All of the various control assemblies/buttons are connected to the processor/logic assembly  50  via wiring  52  and are controlled thereby. The processor/logic assembly preferably includes a microprocessor  51  and one or more local memories  53  for use by the processor in operating and controlling the headphone system.  
     [0025] Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the earpiece  12   b  is shown in more detail. Again, this earpiece includes the batteries  44  in compartment  42 , as well as additional controls  36 ,  38  and  40  as described above. The power supply  44  and the controls are all wired to the processor/logic assembly in the other earpiece  12   a  using wires  52  that extend through the interior of the headband  14 , thereby interconnecting all of the functional features of the two earpieces  12   a  and  12   b  so that they work as a single playback unit. A removable cover  43  is also provided for opening and closing the battery compartment  42  so that batteries can be inserted and removed therefrom as needed.  
     [0026] As explained in detail above, in the exemplary embodiment of FIGS.  16 , the headset unit comprises both the earphones and the playback equipment together in a single device. Preferably, the audio material itself is stored, either optically or electro-magnetically in solid-state memory  24 . Such memory  24  may reside permanently in the device, or may be removable so that different memory elements can be exchanged and used in the headphone system. Alternatively, the headphone system may include the ability to use more than one type of memory, or may facilitate different formats of removable solid state memories. For example, the headphone system may include reading equipment for both the Toshiba SmartMedia and the SanDisk Multimedia cards, thereby enabling either or both of these memories to by used in the system.  
     [0027] The various components of the device such as the batteries, the memory and/or the memory reader, the processor, and the various control mechanisms (e.g., buttons or switches) may be positioned in a variety of locations on the headset. Thus, the configuration shown in FIGS.  1 - 6  is only one embodiment and other configurations can be used as desired. In one exemplary embodiment, power is provided by two removable AAA batteries  44  located within the left earpiece  12   b . As explained above, audio performances are presented to the device through removable memory cards (e.g., Toshiba SmartMedia or SanDisk Multimedia)) which are inserted into the memory card reader, the slot  22  for which is located in the right earpiece  12   a , as explained above. Of course, other arrangements are possible, such as swapping the functionality of the right and left earpieces described above.  
     [0028] As explained above, the embodiment of FIGS.  1 - 6  has various controls which are present on the device for controlling the operation of the headphone system  10  in a convenient and easy manner. For example, the power on/off control button  36  is preferably located at the back of the left earpiece  12   b , so that it can be easily operated by the left hand of the operator to turn on and off the power to the headphone system. The fast backward control button  34 , which moves the moment of play backward like a tape rewind, is located at the bottom of the back of the right earpiece  12   a . The fast forward control  32  which accelerates play like a “fast forward” on a tape device, is located at the top of the back of the right earpiece  12   a . Preferably, fast forward and fast backwards buttons move the performance forward or backwards at an accelerated rate as long as the button is being pressed. The Play/Pause control  28  (which toggles audio play between pause and resume) is located near the top front of the right earpiece  12   a , and alternatively starts and stops the performance, leaving the position of the performance unchanged. The volume increase/decrease control  30  is conveniently located on the front of the right earpiece  12   a  below Play/Pause button  28 . Each use of these volume controls increases/decreases the volume to the next higher/lower discrete level. The device has a series of volume levels, and each click of this control increases/decreases the volume to the next level. Alternatively, the volume controls could operate continuously, so that the volume increases/decreases continuously as long as the control is pressed. On the top and bottom respectively of the front of the left earpiece  12   b  are the Track Forward and Track Backward controls  38  and  40  which move the audio performance to the next or previous audio selection, similar to the “next track” and “previous track” controls on a CD player. Each use of these track controls advances play to the next/previous prescribed performance boundary (“track”) on the media.  
     [0029] To operate the headphone system  10  of FIGS.  1 - 6 , the user inserts with their right hand a SmartMedia card  24  (or other suitable memory device) into the slot  22  at the top of the right earpiece  12   a , turns on the headset with their left hand (On/Off), then adjusts the volume with their right hand (Volume +, Volume −). If necessary, the selection can be adjusted to the desired position using the Next/Previous track controls. To suspend operation at any time, the user simply operates the Play/Pause control to pause the performance at its current position. Unless the SmartMedia card  24  is removed, the device will resume the performance at the point of pause when the user next operates the Play/Pause control.  
     [0030] Preferably, there is embedded “permanent” control memory, (e.g., embedded memory  53 ) in addition to the removable performance memory  22 , which is used to record the position of performance, the volume level, and any other operating parameters, so that the headphones will be automatically set to the appropriate or desired volume level/memory location when the headphone system is tuned on. In other words, for convenience of the user, the operating parameters are preferably saved when the power supply is tuned off for use when the unit is turned back on.  
     [0031]FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the headphone system  10  of the instant invention. This embodiment differs from the embodiment of FIGS.  16  in that the earpieces are smaller, and the battery, the user&#39;s operational controls, and the processor are located in the headband  14  connecting the earpieces, rather than in the earpieces themselves. As shown in FIG. 7 the headband  14  connects the two earpieces  12   a  and  12   b , which in this embodiment are similar to conventional earpieces, i.e., they have a speaker  18  and foam padding/insulation for comfortably and securely enabling the earpiece to fit over the ear of the user. In this embodiment, however, the headband  14  is equipped with all of the memory, control and playback elements discussed in connection with the first embodiment. In other words, the headband  14  includes a right side having a memory slot  22  for receiving a memory card  24 , or other removable memory device, as discussed above. A memory reader, like the one described above, is also provided within the right side of the headband  14  to enable the memory card to be read thereby. An eject button  26  is also provided for ejecting the memory device. As explained above, the memory device may be permanent or removable and may be implemented using any suitable technology (i.e., optical, electrical, magnetic or combination thereof). In this embodiment, the earpieces are also adjustable relative to the headband  14 , via adjusters  106  to enable the headphone system to easily fit a variety of users. It is noted that the first embodiment may also include this adjustable feature.  
     [0032] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the left side of the headband  14  includes a battery section  101 , or other suitable power supply section, which has a compartment  100  therein for holding batteries  102  for powering the headphone system  10 . The compartment  100  preferably includes a flip-up lid  104  for enabling the batteries  102  to be inserted and removed therefrom. While batteries are preferred, any suitable portable power supply can be used. On the front right side of the headband  14  the fast backwards  32  and fast forward  34  control buttons are provided which have the same functions as described above. Track backward and track forward buttons  38  and  40  are provided on the front left side of the headband  14  and have the same functions as described above.  
     [0033]FIG. 9 shows a back view of the headphone system of FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 9, the Start/Stop button  36  and volume control buttons  30   a  and  30   b  are provided on the back side of the headband  14 . All of the control buttons preferably have the same functionality and operation as described above with respect to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 shows a side view of the right side of the headband  14  and shows the memory device  24  inserted into the memory slot  22 , as well as the eject button  26 . A power button (not shown) may also be provided on the headband  14  to enable powering on/off the system. A processor/logic assembly  50  is also provided in the headband  14 , as seen most clearly in FIGS. 9 and 11, and has substantially the same operation as described above. Additional permanent/embedded memory units  53  may also be provided in the headband  14 . This exemplary embodiment also contains a processor/control logic unit  112  that can be used to decrypt the audio information on the memory device, in the event that the information on the memory device is encrypted. Other electronic components  110  can also be included in the headband  14  as desired. As explained above, the playback device, controls, speakers and processor(s) are all connected via wires that are positioned within the interior of the headband  14 . The operation of the headphone system  10  of this second embodiment is substantially the same as described above in connection with the first embodiment. The user places a memory card in the memory slot and then uses the controls on the headband to control the operation thereof. Again, the headphone system is entirely self-contained and does not require a physical or other connection to any other device for operation, thereby making it extremely convenient and portable.  
     [0034] Referring now to FIG. 12, there is shown a third embodiment of the instant invention. In this embodiment the headset  10   a  and the media player  10   b  are not physically connected. In other words, the headset  10   a  does not include the playback device as in the other embodiments described above. Instead, a separate playback unit  10   b  is provided that is remote to the headset  10   a . The remote unit  10   b  preferably includes a player unit  202  having a memory slot  22  for receiving a removable memory device as described above. In another embodiment, the memory device could be permanent. The player unit  202  includes an appropriate memory reader and other circuitry necessary for operation. A signal  206  generated by the player  10   b  is transmitted to the headset through low power wireless (e.g., radio) communication. In this exemplary embodiment, both the player and the head unit use batteries. The player  10   b  contains a transmitter which sends signals  206  to the headset  10   a . The headset  10   a  contains a receiver designed to receive the low power signals generated by the player  10   b , via antenna  200 . In this exemplary embodiment, the only control on the headset is the power on/off control, which powers the receiver and the speakers in the earphones. However, other controls can be placed on the headset if desired. Preferably, the other controls discussed above, such as Forward, Backward, Pause, Start, etc., as well as Power are located on the player unit  202 . This embodiment allows not only players for memory cards, but also those capable of comfortably handling larger media such as Compact Disks or tape cassettes. In other words, this embodiment is designed for use when the memory media is sufficiently large so as to make incorporation in the headset too cumbersome. As also shown in this embodiment, a permanent or removable microphone  208  may be provided together with suitable transmission electronics to enable the headphone system to be used to record the user&#39;s voice onto the memory media  24 . In other words, in addition to receiving audio, the headset  10   a  can also send audio generated by the user to the player unit  202 , so that the system could be used for dictating or the like.  
     [0035]FIG. 13 shows a fourth embodiment of the instant invention. This fourth embodiment is similar to the first embodiment, except that a permanent or removable microphone  208  is provided, together with the necessary electronics, to enable the device to be used to record the users voice on the memory card  24 . In other words, in this embodiment, the headphone system  10  can selectively used to playback or record audio to the memory device  24 . Thus, the microphone  208  allows the device to act as a speech-recording device, so that users can record their dictation. In this case, the device also contains a media writer, typically being the same element as the media reader, i.e. a single input/output element. To regulate the recording process, this embodiment has an additional record button preferably located near the top of the right front earpiece.  
     [0036] Also in this fourth exemplary embodiment, the controls are preferably positioned differently than in the first embodiment. This is done to accommodate users who may frequently record, rewind, play, and resume recording as they dictate. The controls in this embodiment are rearranged so that these common operations can be done with a single hand—the right hand in this embodiment. Specifically, on the left earpiece, controls are located as follows: Volume up/down on the back of the earpiece so they can be easily operated with the left thumb; the Power on/off control is located at the top of the earpiece; and the Forward Track and Backward Track controls are on the top and bottom front. On the right earpiece the controls are preferably positioned as follows: the Play/Pause control is located on the back of the earpiece toward the top so it may be conveniently operated by the end part of the thumb while the lower part of the thumb grips the earpiece during operation of the front controls; the record control, which must be depressed when Play is pressed to start recording, is located at the top of the front of the earpiece for easy operation by the index finger; and the Forward and Backward controls are positioned below the Record key. A “mark” button may also be provided to set an indication without starting/stopping the device to allow the user to later search and easily locate marked places on the tape, such as when the tape is later played back or processed on a computer or the like.  
     [0037] In addition, to achieve even more “hands free” operation, the device is preferably operable to and includes logic to analyze the input being recorded, identify unusually long pauses, and avoid recording them in long-term memory. This feature is achieved by recording all data in a temporary buffer in its internal memory. Before the data is transferred to longer term “permanent memory” (e.g., on the SmartMedia memory card in the exemplary embodiment), the device&#39;s processor analyzes the data to determine whether it reflects “dead” time of no speaking, or other meaningful sound. If it is deemed to be deadtime, then dead periods are shortened (such as to a fraction of their length, or to some fixed interval). A short “beep” or other audio signal may be used to indicate the passage of time. This allows a user to record dictation while both hands are occupied with another activity without having to be concerned about deactivating the recorder during quiet periods.  
     [0038] Of course, in any of the embodiments described above, the particular location of the elements described herein can be changed. For example, the left and right earpiece or headband functionality can be switched.  
     [0039] In accordance with another feature of the invention, the headphone system can be solar powered. In other words, solar cells could be provided on the headset to provide alternate or supplemental power from ambient light. Various other features may be added as well, such as a “sleep” state to conserve power during inactive times. As explained above, the system may also include encryption/decryption functionality so that the audio material may be encrypted/decrypted  
     [0040] In another embodiment of the invention, the playback equipment may also contains a radio receiver enabling it to receive broadcasts from sources away from the user. The device may then be provided with controls allowing the user to tune to different frequencies, and to receive either AM or FM radio, and also to make and receive radio and/or cellular telephone communication. Such communication may be analog or digital in nature.  
     [0041] In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the headset also supports video, so that visual presentations can also be made to the user without requiring cables connecting the headphones to a playback device. In other words, the playback device may be provided with an appropriate video display and the memory media could be loaded with video data for display on the display by the playback device.  
     [0042] In any of the embodiments described above, especially those in which the controls are mounted on the headset, the controls can be embossed with tactile patterns or symbols making it easier for the user to identify them without actually seeing the controls. In addition, especially in embodiments in which the digital memory is not removable, the device may also include an interface for connecting the device to a source from which information can be loaded into the memory, and in embodiments with a microphone, downloaded from the memory. This may be useful even in embodiments in which the device uses removable memory, in the event that the user does not have another way to couple the memory cards to a communication system.  
     [0043] As explained above, the device is preferably powered by batteries, either conventional or specialized, and in various different preferred embodiments, these batteries may be permanently installed, or may be removable. Some embodiments may allow power to be generated through “solar” cells or other units which convert ambient or incident electromagnetic radiation into power used by the device. In addition, other embodiments may allow a variety a different power strategy—allowing permanent battery and/or replaceable battery and/or ambient electro-magnetic “power” cells as sources.  
     [0044] While the preferred forms and embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, various changes and modification may be made to the exemplary embodiment without deviating from the scope of the invention, as one skilled in the art will readily understand from the description herein. Thus, the above description is not meant to limit the scope of the appended claims beyond the true scope and sprit of the instant invention as defined herein.