Patent Publication Number: US-11388498-B1

Title: Binaural hearing device with monaural ambient mode

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The specification relates to a hearing device and a hearing device system comprising
         a first earphone comprising a first driver unit,   a second earphone comprising a second driver unit,   a first ambient microphone adapted for converting ambient noise to a first ambient input signal,   a first electric circuitry adapted for receiving the first ambient input sound signal from the first ambient microphone and in an ambient mode outputting a first ambient output sound signal to the first driver unit,   an activation circuit adapted to activate and deactivate the ambient mode for the hearing device.       

     BACKGROUND ART 
     Hearing devices, such as headsets and headphones, become more and more popular. They exist in many different form factors. This specification only relates to hearing devices and hearing device systems comprising two earphones, such that audio can be directed to both ears of a user. Thus, the specification relates to hearing devices, which can be termed stereo headphones, duo headsets, binaural headsets and stereo headsets. When using a binaural headset, both ears can receive audio, which can give a better experience when listening to music. It may also be easier for the user to hear the audio and not being disturbed by ambient noise. Especially when using active noise cancellation earphones, which can circumaural, ambient noise can be prevented very efficiently from accessing the user&#39;s ears. Active noise cancellation is a technology, where ambient noise waves are phase-inverted to create “anti-noise”, which is sent to the earphone&#39;s driver unit. The anti-noise cancels the noise at the user&#39;s ear. 
     A potential disadvantage by such headsets and headphones is, that the user gets acoustically isolated from the surroundings, which is undesirable in certain situations. Therefor, it is normally possible to switch off the noise cancellation feature and even switch on an “ambient mode”, where ambient noise is not phase inverted but sent more or less amplified to the driver unit, and thereby short-circuiting the passive noise cancellation provided by the earphone housing blocking the ear canal from the surroundings. In this ambient mode, the user can hear the surroundings and talk to other people directly without taking the headset off. 
     There exist headphones, where one of the earphones can be detached or rotated away from the ear, so that the user simultaneously can hear received audio with one ear and ambient noise with the other ear. 
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     A hearing device may comprise
         a first earphone comprising a first driver unit,   a second earphone comprising a second driver unit,   a first ambient microphone adapted for converting ambient noise to a first ambient input signal,   a first electric circuitry adapted for receiving the first ambient input sound signal from the first ambient microphone and in an ambient mode outputting a first ambient output sound signal of a certain level to the first driver unit,   an activation circuit adapted to activate and deactivate the ambient mode for the hearing device,   in the ambient mode, the first ambient output sound signal is sent to the first driver unit and not the second driver unit.       

     With such a solution, it may be possible for the user to hear audio transmitted to the hearing device clearly in one ear while hearing the ambient noise clearly with the other ear, without having to move one of the earphones away from the ear. Thus, a user, which is having a phone call over his headset, can navigate in a safer manner in a potentially dangerous environment with traffic. 
     According to an embodiment, the first ambient sound signal is tuned to mainly lead human voices through and not other noise. Thus, in a crowded airport, the user may hear speech such as flight announcements without hearing other noises. 
     According to an embodiment, the ambient mode may be manually activate or deactivated by a button on the headset. 
     The ambient output sound signal is of a certain level, which means, that the user will be able to hear the ambient noise clearly, almost as he was not wearing the second earphone. 
     According to an embodiment, the activation circuit comprises a motion detector adapted to detect a motion of the hearing device and generate a motion output signal in dependence on the detected motion, and in that the ambient mode is activated and deactivated in dependence of the detected motion. Thus, is situations, where the user moves, the ambient mode may be automatically switched on. 
     According to an embodiment, the motion detector comprises an accelerometer. 
     According to an embodiment, the motion detector comprises a satellite navigation sensor, such as sensor based on GPS, GLONASS, Galileo or BeiDou. 
     According to an embodiment, the hearing device enters the ambient mode, when the motion detector detects a linear speed of the hearing device above a certain speed threshold. 
     According to an embodiment, the speed threshold is about 5 mph. It could also be 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20 mph. Alternatively, it could be 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 or 30 km/t. 
     According to an embodiment, the ambient mode is a mode, where the user clearly can hear ambient sounds. 
     According to an embodiment, the hearing device comprises a visual indicator adapted to indicate, when the headset is in the ambient mode. 
     According to an embodiment, the hearing device comprises a first active noise cancellation circuit, which is adapted to generate a first anti-noise signal from a first ambient noise signal. 
     According to an embodiment, the first active noise cancellation circuit is receiving the first ambient noise signal from the first ambient microphone. 
     According to an embodiment, the first anti-noise signal is sent to the first driver unit when the headset is in an ANC mode. 
     According to an embodiment, the hearing device comprises a second noise cancellation circuit and a second ambient microphone, wherein the second noise cancellation circuit generates a second anti-noise signal from a second ambient noise signal received from the second ambient microphone, which can be sent to the second driver unit. 
     According to an embodiment, the second anti-noise signal is sent to the second driver unit, when the headset is in the ambient mode. 
     According to an embodiment, the hearing device comprises a voice microphone to be used for to-way communication. 
     According to an embodiment, the hearing device comprises a microphone arm, which in a use situation is extending from the first earphone, and which comprises the voice microphone. 
     According to an embodiment, the hearing device is adapted to be connected to an audio gateway, such as a smartphone, and receive an audio signal form the audio gateway. 
     According to an embodiment, the hearing device is adapted play back the received audio signal by the first driver unit only in the ambient mode. 
     According to an embodiment, the hearing device is adapted to play back the received audio signal by the first driver unit and the second driver unit. 
     According to an embodiment, the hearing device comprises a wireless transceiver, whereby it can be wirelessly connected to a device comprising a corresponding wireless transceiver. 
     According to an embodiment, the wireless transceiver is a Bluetooth transceiver. 
     The specification also relates to a hearing device system comprising
         a first earphone comprising a first driver unit, a first ambient microphone adapted for converting ambient noise to an ambient input signal, a first electric circuitry adapted for receiving the ambient input sound signal from the first ambient microphone and in an ambient mode outputting an ambient output sound signal of a certain level to the first driver unit,   a second earphone comprising a second driver unit,   an activation circuit adapted to activate and deactivate the ambient mode for the hearing device, and where in the ambient mode, the ambient output sound signal is sent to the second driver unit and not the first driver unit.       

     According to an embodiment, the hearing device system comprises an external device, which comprises the activation circuit, and which is wirelessly connected to the first earphone and the second earphone. 
     According to an embodiment, the external device is a smartphone. 
     In a complete alternative embodiment, an ambient output signal of a certain level may be sent to both the first driver unit and the second driver unit, as a result of movement. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention is explained in detail below with reference to the drawing illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention and in which 
         FIG. 1  is a headset in use, 
         FIG. 2  is the headset alone, 
         FIG. 3  is the headset in collapsed state, 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram of the headset with its main components and a connected smartphone, 
         FIG. 5  is a headset system, 
         FIG. 6  is a process diagram showing the use of a headset, and 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram showing different modes of the headset. 
     
    
    
     MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  is a headset  1  arranged on the head of a user  12 . The headset  1  comprises a first earphone  2 L, a second earphone  2 R, a headband  11  connecting the first and second earphones  2 L,  2 R. The first earphone  2 L, which is arranged on the left ear of the user  12 , comprises a first ambient microphone  4 L and a LED indicator  14 . The second earphone  2 R comprises a second ambient microphone  4 R. A microphone arm  9  extends from the second earphone  2 R with a voice microphone  10  at the tip of the microphone arm  9  so it can be arranged close to the user&#39;s mouth  13 . 
       FIG. 2  is the headset  1  in a state where it is ready to be put on a user&#39;s head. 
       FIG. 3  is the headset  1  in collapsed state, where it takes up less space and is easier to stow away and transport. The microphone arm  9  is folded into a recess in the second earphone  2 R. 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram of the headset  1  with its main components. The first earphone  2 L comprises a first driver unit  3 L, a first circuit  7 L with a first ANC circuit  21 L, the first ambient microphone  4 L and an activation circuit  20  with a motion detector  8  and a button  5 . The second earphone  2 R comprises a second driver unit  3 L, a second circuit  7 R with a second ANC circuit  21 R, the second ambient microphone  4 R, a Bluetooth transceiver  22  and a rechargeable battery  26 . A wire  5  extends through the headband  11 , which connects the two earphones  2 L,  2 R. As both earphones  2 L,  2 R has an active noise cancellation circuit  21 L,  21 R, ambient noise can efficiently be hindered in reaching the user&#39;s ear canals. The headset  1  is wirelessly connected by a Bluetooth link  24  to a Bluetooth enabled smartphone  23 , whereby the user  12  can use the headset for two-way telecommunication via the smartphone  23  and listen to audio content streamed from the smartphone  23  to the headset  1 . If the user  12  wants, he can activate the ANC on both earphones  2 L,  2 R by using an associated app on the smart phone  23  or pushing a not shown button on the headset  1 . The app may also provide the possibility of making user defined pre-settings, where the ANC is automatically activated in certain cases, f. ex, if there is a high level of ambient noise, during phone calls, when the user finds himself in certain geographical locations determined by GPS or Wi-Fi connections etc. If the user is having a phone call in an environment, where he must be aware of his surroundings, it could be in a warehouse or out in the traffic, it may be dangerous to be acoustically isolated from the surroundings, and it is therefore not recommended to use ANC here. However, switching off ANC may not be enough, as the earphones  2 L,  2 R may cause high passive noise cancellation or reduction. Therefore, it is known to provide a “transparency mode” or HearThrough™ mode, where the noise captured by the ambient microphones are not phase inverted but sent more or less amplified to the driver unit, so the user can hear the surroundings clearly. Until now, three modes have been described: 1. Normal mode, where ANC is switched off, 2. ANC mode, where ANC is switched on for both earphones, and 3. transparency mode, mode where ambient noise is captured by microphones and sent to the driver units  3 L,  3 R. However, none of these modes are suitable for situations, where a user must hear audio clearly from the headset  1  and be able to hear surroundings clearly at the same time. Therefore, the headset shown in  FIGS. 1-4  has a fourth mode, which is called “ambient mode” here. In “ambient mode”, the first electric circuitry  7 L receives a first ambient input sound signal from the first ambient microphone  4 L and outputs a first ambient output sound signal of a certain level to the first driver unit  3 L. Thus, the user can hear ambient sounds clearly through the first driver unit  3 L, and simultaneously hear audio received from the smartphone  23  via the second earphone  2 R. The second ANC circuit  21 R is active in the second earphone  2 R in ambient mode. In another embodiment, the second ANC circuit  21 R could be inactive in ambient mode. The motion detector  8  of the activation circuit  20 , is based on an accelerometer. This motion detector  8  is able to detect linear speed of the headset  1 . If the speed exceeds 5 mph, the activation circuit  20  activates the ambient mode. This is particularly advantageous, because the headset  1  automatically will enters ambient mode, if the user starts driving a vehicle. In certain states in the US, it is only allowed to wear a single-sided headsets or headphones (i.e. earphones only on or in one ear). With this headset  1 , the ambient mode corresponds to a single-sided headset. The motion detector could also be based on satellite navigation, such as GPS. The button  6  of the activation circuit  20  is used to activate an deactivate the ambient mode. Thus, the user  26  may choose to annually activate the ambient mode, if he wants to hear ambient noise while having a phone call. The first ambient noise signal may be tuned to primarily let speech through, so that other noises that human speech is not directed to the ear as much as the speech. Thus, the user may hear important announcements in a public place, such as an airport or railway-station while being on a phone call. 
       FIG. 5  is a headset system  100 , which comprises two earphones embodied as true wireless earbuds  2 L,  2 R. These are both wirelessly connected to a smartphone  23  by Bluetooth links  24 L,  24 R. Motion is detected by the smartphone  23 , which activates transparency mode in one of the earbuds  2 L,  2 R. The smartphone  23  can detect motion in different ways, f. ex. by an internal accelerometer-based motion sensor or built-in GPS. 
       FIG. 6  is a process diagram showing the use of a headset  1 . A user wearing the headset  1  is entering his car. He starts driving, and when the motion sensor  8  of the headset  1  detects, that the headset  1  and thus the car, reaches a speed of 5 mph, the headset  1  enters ambient mode, where the first earphone gets into transparency mode. At the same time the LED indicator  14  on the first earphone  2 L starts lighting, which indicates ambient mode. It is advantageous, that the first earphone  2 L is arranged on the left ear of the user, as other people, such as police officers easier can see through the window of the left car door, that the headset is in ambient mode, which increases traffic safety. This, off course, applies to countries where the steering wheel is to the right. The headset  1  should not exit ambient mode, every time the car stops for red light or make other short stops. Therefore, deactivation of the ambient mode requires manual action. After the user has parked the car, he presses a button, whereby the headset  1  exits ambient mode. 
       FIG. 7  is a diagram showing different modes of the headset. As seen the headset  1  can jump between the four modes: Normal, Transparency, ANC and Ambient. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
         
           
               1  Headset 
               2 L First earphone 
               2 R Second earphone 
               3 L First driver unit 
               3 R Second driver unit 
               4 L First ambient microphone 
               4 R Second ambient microphone 
               5  Wire 
               6  Button 
               7 L First electric circuitry 
               7 R Second Electric circuitry 
               8  Motion detector 
               9  Microphone arm 
               10  Voice microphone 
               11  Headband 
               12  User 
               13  Mouth 
               14  LED indicator 
               20  Activation circuit 
               21  ANC circuit 
               22  Bluetooth transceiver 
               23  Smartphone 
               24  Bluetooth link 
               25  Conductor 
               26  Rechargeable battery