Patent Description:
Wearable audio devices (e.g., earbuds or headphones) can include orientation tracking systems that use a magnetometer to track motions of the head and the direction in which the wearer is looking. Magnetometers need to accurately detect the Earth's magnetic field. The wearable audio device's electro-acoustic transducer typically includes a magnet. The wearable audio device can also include a magnet used to dock or park the wearable audio device to another structure. Since some wearable audio devices, such as in-ear headphones (sometimes also called earbuds) are desirably quite small, of necessity the magnetometer is close to other magnets. The magnetic field of the other magnets may have a magnetic field strength that is much greater than the Earth's magnetic field. Accordingly, the magnetic fields can overwhelm the magnetometer and prevent it from working properly.

<CIT> discloses a prior art headphone, wherein a nulling magnet is added to sufficiently null the stray magnetic fields.

The present invention relates to a wearable audio device according to claim <NUM>. Advantageous embodiments are recited in dependent claims of the appended claim set.

Examples may include one of the above and/or below features, or any combination thereof. The magnetic field sensor may comprise a magnetometer, which may be a three-axis magnetometer. The docking or parking magnet may comprise a permanent magnet. The docking or parking magnet may comprise an array of a plurality of differently magnetized regions. This array may comprise a Halbach array.

Examples may include one of the above and/or below features, or any combination thereof. The wearable audio device may further include a housing that is constructed and arranged to direct the audio output towards the ear of the wearer. The docking or parking magnet may be positioned in the housing such that the second magnetic field reduces the strength of the transducer magnetic field at the magnetic field sensor. The electro-acoustic transducer may comprise a magnetic structure that comprises the transducer magnet and magnetic material that guides the transducer magnetic field.

Examples may include one of the above and/or below features, or any combination thereof. The wearable audio device may comprise an earbud with an earbud body, and the magnetic field sensor, the first magnet, and the docking or parking magnet may all be located in the earbud body. The magnetic field sensor may have a sensed magnetic field range where it operates linearly, and the second magnetic field may reduce the strength of the first magnetic field at the magnetic field sensor such that the sensed magnetic field strength is in the sensed magnetic field range where the magnetic field sensor operates linearly. The magnetic field sensor may be positioned less than <NUM> from the first magnet.

In another aspect, a wearable audio device includes an electro-acoustic transducer for creating audio output, the electro-acoustic transducer comprising a transducer magnet that produces a transducer magnetic field having a magnetic field strength. The wearable audio device also includes a magnetometer constructed and arranged to sense the Earth's magnetic field, and a docking or parking magnet constructed and arranged to produce a nulling magnetic field that reduces the strength of the transducer magnetic field at the magnetometer.

Examples may include one of the above and/or below features, or any combination thereof. The magnetometer may have a sensed magnetic field range where it operates linearly, and the nulling magnetic field may reduce the strength of the transducer magnetic field at the magnetometer such that the sensed magnetic field strength is in the sensed magnetic field range where the magnetometer operates linearly. The transducer magnet may have a diameter of about <NUM> and the magnetometer may be positioned less than <NUM> from the electro-acoustic transducer. The magnetometer may comprise a three-axis magnetometer. The docking or parking magnet may comprise a permanent magnet. The docking or parking magnet may comprise an array of a plurality of differently magnetized regions, which may comprise a Halbach array. The wearable audio device may further comprise a housing, and the electro-acoustic transducer, the magnetometer, and the docking or parking magnet may all be located in the housing.

Many wearable audio devices are powered by batteries that must be periodically charged. Battery charging can be accomplished by direct electrical connection or by inductance, using a charger that may be built into a case that is also configured to store the wearable audio devices when they aren't in use. The charger can alternatively be carried by another structure such as a separate battery charging device. In order for the wearable audio device batteries to properly charge, the wearable audio device must be brought into close proximity to the battery charger, which requires the wearable audio device to be "docked" in the battery charger. Docking of wearable audio devices in a charger is often accomplished using magnetic attraction of the wearable audio device to the correct location of the charger. A docking magnet, located in the wearable audio device such that it is attracted to a magnet or magnetic material in the charger, can be used to help properly locate and orient the wearable audio device in the charger.

Wearable audio devices, in particular earbuds, may be configured to allow the left and right earbuds to be held or "parked" together when not in use. Earbuds can also be configured to be parked to another structure, such as a neckband. Parking of earbuds is often accomplished with a parking or coupling magnet in the earbud, where the parking or coupling magnet is located such that it is at or very close to the surface of the earbud.

Wearable audio devices (one non-limiting example being earphones) can include one or both of a docking magnet and a parking magnet. Wearable audio devices many times include other magnetic devices, for example a magnetometer, the transducer magnet of an electro-acoustic transducer, ferrite cores (which may be used in filters, for example), and magnetic reed switches, to name only several of many possible magnetic devices in a wearable audio device such as an earbud. These magnetic devices are typically designed to operate without substantial interference from stray magnetic fields. Magnetic devices typically operate in a stable operational range only if the strength of any stray magnetic field is relatively low. The docking or parking magnet in a wearable audio device can be configured to reduce adverse effects of stray magnetic fields on magnetic device(s) of the wearable audio device.

In an earphone with an electro-acoustic transducer magnet and a magnetometer that is located close to the transducer, the transducer's magnetic field can overwhelm the magnetometer and prevent it from properly detecting the strength of the Earth's magnetic field. The magnetometer can be brought into a region of stable operation by placing the earphone docking or parking magnet such that its magnetic field partially or fully nulls the transducer magnetic field at the location of the magnetometer, sufficiently such that the magnetometer can operate in its operational region where stray magnetic fields do not overwhelm the Earth's magnetic field.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a wireless in-ear headphone, earphone, or earbud, <NUM>. An earphone is only one non-limiting example of the subject audio device. Other examples are described elsewhere herein. Earbud <NUM> includes body or housing <NUM> that houses the active components of the earbud. Portion <NUM> is coupled to body <NUM> and is pliable so that it can be inserted into the entrance of the ear canal. Sound is delivered through opening <NUM>. Retaining loop <NUM> is constructed and arranged to be positioned in the outer ear, for example in the antihelix, to help retain the earbud in the ear. Earbuds are well known in the field (e.g., as disclosed in <CIT>), and so certain details of the earbud are not further described herein. An earbud <NUM> is an example of a wearable audio device according to this disclosure, but is not limiting of the scope of the disclosure, as stray magnetic fields from magnetic devices in other types of wearable audio devices can also be reduced by the magnetic field from a device docking or parking magnet.

<FIG> is a partial cross-sectional view of only certain elements of an earphone <NUM> that are useful to a better understanding of the present disclosure. Earphone <NUM> comprises housing <NUM> that encloses electro-acoustic transducer <NUM>. Housing <NUM> comprises front housing portion <NUM> and rear housing portions <NUM> and <NUM>. Transducer <NUM> has diaphragm <NUM> that is driven in order to create sound pressure in front cavity <NUM>. Sound pressure is directed out of front housing portion <NUM> via opening <NUM>. When earphone <NUM> is an earbud, as shown by earbud <NUM> in <FIG>, there is typically a pliable tip (not shown) that is engaged with neck <NUM> of housing portion <NUM>, to help direct the sound into the ear canal. Earphone housing <NUM> further comprises a rear enclosure made from rear housing portions <NUM> and <NUM>, and grille <NUM>. Note that the details of earphone <NUM> are exemplary of aspects of earphones and are not limiting of the scope of this disclosure, as the present magnetic field reduction or nulling at the location of the magnetometer can be used in varied types and designs of earphones and other wearable audio devices.

Transducer <NUM> further comprises magnetic structure <NUM>. Magnetic structure <NUM> comprises transducer magnet <NUM> and magnetic material that functions to confine and guide the magnetic field from magnet <NUM>, so that the field properly interacts with coil <NUM> to drive diaphragm <NUM>, as is well known in the electro-acoustic transducer field. The magnetic material comprises cup <NUM> and front plate <NUM>, both of which are preferably made from a material with relatively high magnetic susceptibility, also as is known in the field. Transducer printed circuit board (PCB) <NUM> carries electrical and electronic components (not shown) that are involved in driving the transducer. Pads <NUM> and <NUM> are locations where wires (not shown) can be coupled to PCB <NUM>.

Three-axis magnetometer <NUM> is mounted on PCB <NUM> and is arranged to sense the strength of magnetic fields in three axes at the location of the magnetometer, as is known in the field. Magnetometer <NUM> is configured to detect the Earth's magnetic field. The output of magnetometer <NUM> can be used to determine the direction in which the wearer's head is pointed, as described in <CIT>. As discussed above, earphone <NUM> may additionally or alternatively include other magnetic devices that might be adversely impacted by stray magnetic fields from the transducer magnet or other magnetic devices.

Since magnetometer <NUM> is relatively close to transducer magnet <NUM>, the transducer's magnetic field can overwhelm the magnetometer and prevent it from properly detecting the strength of the Earth's magnetic field. The magnetometer can be brought into its specified measurement range (where stray magnetic fields do not skew the desired measurement) with an additional nulling magnet. Parking magnet <NUM> is in this non-limiting example located just inside of grill <NUM>. It should be understood that a parking magnet is generally located inside of or at least close to (adjacent) the inside surface of earphone housing <NUM> at a location where it can act to help park the earphone to another structure, such as another earphone housing. Magnet <NUM> could alternatively be a coupling or docking magnet, which would generally be located inside of or at the inside surface of housing <NUM> at a location where it can act to help dock or couple the earphone to a battery charger. One possible location of a coupling magnet would be somewhere on the interior of front housing portion <NUM> inside the front cavity <NUM>.

Magnet <NUM> is also located such that its magnetic field partially or fully nulls the transducer magnetic field at the location of magnetometer <NUM>. This transducer magnetic field nulling should take place in any one, two, or three of the three axes in which stable operation of the magnetometer is needed. In the present case, stable magnetometer results are desired in all three axes, so magnet <NUM> is desirably configured to sufficiently null the Earth's magnetic field in all three axes. It should be understood that the location of nulling magnet <NUM> in <FIG> is representative, and magnet <NUM> may actually be located elsewhere in housing <NUM>. It should also be understood that magnet <NUM> could be a permanent magnet or an electromagnet, it being necessary only to properly place and orient a nulling magnetic field, as described elsewhere herein. The nulling should be sufficient such that magnetometer <NUM> can operate in at least one sense axis in its operational region where stray magnetic fields do not overwhelm the Earth's magnetic field. Linear operation of magnetometers (where there are stray magnetic fields that are not so strong that they overwhelm sensing or detection of the desired field) is known in the technical field, and so is not further described herein.

The docking or parking magnet (e.g., magnet <NUM>), may comprise a single permanent magnet or an array or assembly of two or more permanent magnets. In either case, the docking or parking magnet generates a magnetic field that, at the location of the magnetometer, can reduce the strength of the stray magnetic field from the transducer magnet(s) in one, two, or three axes. In one non-limiting example the docking or parking magnet comprises a Halbach array. A Halbach array is a configuration of three or more permanent magnets which are differently magnetized from one another, or three or more differently magnetized portions or regions of a monolithic structure. The differently magnetized regions of the Halbach array are arranged such that on one side of the Halbach array the magnetic fields from the different regions reinforce, and on another side of the Halbach array the fields from the different regions cancel. One arrangement, which may be termed a discrete Halbach array, comprises three permanent magnets (which may be considered to be portions or regions of the overall array) arranged side-by-side into a generally planar Halbach array. Another arrangement, which may be termed a continuous Halbach array, comprises three side-by-side portions or regions of a monolithic structure, where the regions are magnetized differently from one another. Note that either or both of the docking and parking or clasping magnet can be a Halbach array.

An advantage of a Halbach array is that its field is strong on one side and weak on the other side. If the side on which the field is strong is placed close to the inside surface of the wearable audio device housing, the field is better able to couple or park to another structure. At the same time, the field on the opposite side facing into the wearable audio device housing is weak and so it has less effect on the magnetometer and/or other magnetic devices as compared to a single magnet used that has equal field strength on both sides as a parking or docking magnet. The effect of the Halbach array at the magnetometer and/or other magnetic device may be small enough that a separate nulling magnet may not be needed. In other words, the combined magnetic fields at the magnetometer and/or other magnetic device from the Halbach array and the transducer magnet(s) may be small enough that the magnetometer and/or other magnetic device can operate in its linear range without the need for an additional nulling magnetic field. Another advantage of a Halbach array is that it can achieve the same parking or docking field as a single magnet in less volume and less thickness than a single magnet. This frees up space in the earphone for other components or other functionalities. Another advantage is that the magnetic field on one side of the parking/docking magnet is stronger than the magnetic field of a comparably-sized single magnet.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate aspects of an earphone. Earphone electro-acoustic transducer <NUM> comprises magnet <NUM>, and a magnetic structure <NUM> that comprises cup <NUM> and front member <NUM>. Magnet <NUM> has a magnetic field, which is represented by the generally vertical field line representations <NUM>. Magnetic fields and field line representations are well known in the art and so are not further described herein. The magnetic structure <NUM> spans a distance "d. " Magnetometer <NUM> is spaced a distance "d<NUM>" from magnetic structure <NUM>. The field from magnet <NUM> in the vicinity of magnetometer <NUM> is represented by field lines <NUM>. In one non-limiting example, the field strength of the magnetic field from magnet <NUM> in the vicinity of magnetometer <NUM> is about 500µT. In contrast, the strength of the Earth's magnetic field is generally approximately 50µT, or about <NUM>/<NUM>th of the field from magnet <NUM>. With a stray field such as this that overwhelms the field to be sensed, magnetometer <NUM> can be inaccurate. Accordingly, the look direction sensing involving magnetometer <NUM> can be inaccurate. The strength of the stray magnetic field(s) that bring a sensor out of range are dependent on the particular sensor. It should be understood that electro-acoustic magnet transducers can have varied shapes, sizes, locations, and field strengths, and that the illustrative values set forth in the examples are not limiting of the scope of this disclosure.

<FIG> illustrates schematically an effect of nulling parking or docking magnet <NUM>. Nulling magnet <NUM> has a magnetic field, which is represented by the generally vertical field line representations <NUM>. Nulling magnet <NUM> has a size, shape, magnetic orientation, magnetic field strength, and location relative to transducer <NUM> and magnetometer <NUM> such that its magnetic field is superimposed on the field from the transducer magnet <NUM> sufficiently to fully or partially null the transducer field in three axes, at the location of magnetometer <NUM>. In this non-limiting example, field nulling is indicated by field line representation 92a, showing a field null at magnetometer <NUM> (i.e., no field lines intersect magnetometer <NUM>). It should be understood that the field does not need to be fully nulled by nulling magnet <NUM>. Rather, as described above, the strength of the field needs to be reduced sufficiently such that the magnetometer can sense the Earth's magnetic field. The reduction in the transducer field at the magnetometer that needs to be accomplished with the nulling magnet will in part depend on the particular magnetometer used, as would be apparent to one skilled in the field. Also, it should be understood that magnetic fields are three-dimensional, while <FIG> and <FIG> are two-dimensional. Those skilled in the field will understand the extent to which the transducer magnet's field in three dimensions needs to be nulled in order for the sensing of the Earth's magnetic field to be accomplished with sufficient accuracy for the particular application of the Earth's magnetic field sensor, and can make an appropriate selection of the nulling magnet parameters described above to accomplish such results.

In one non-limiting example, transducer magnet <NUM> can be a generally cylindrical magnet with a diameter of about <NUM>, and cup <NUM> can have a diameter d of about <NUM>. In one non-limiting example, sensor <NUM> can be positioned less than about <NUM> (distance d<NUM>) from transducer <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of in-ear headphone <NUM>, illustrating in part a coupling or parking magnet <NUM>. The described components are located in earbud body <NUM>. Battery <NUM> provides power to powered components. Processor <NUM> is used, in part, to drive transducer <NUM>. Processor <NUM> is also used to determine the wearer's look direction, in part using the output of magnetic field sensor <NUM>. It should be understood that earphones will have more components and can have different components than those shown in <FIG>. Some earphones include a magnet other than the transducer magnet. This other magnet is represented in this non-limiting example by coupling or parking magnet <NUM>. Coupling or parking magnet <NUM> can be used to couple or park earphone <NUM> to another structure. As one non-limiting example, magnet <NUM> can be used to "dock" an earbud to a battery charger. As another non-limiting example, magnet <NUM> can be used to park an earbud to another structure, such as a neckband or another earbud. Other uses of coupling and/or parking magnets are known in the field and are included within the scope of the present disclosure.

All of the magnets in earbud body <NUM> of earphone <NUM> create magnetic fields that can adversely impact the accuracy of the sensing of the Earth's magnetic field by sensor <NUM>, as described above. By proper sizing, orientation and placement of magnet <NUM>, the magnetic field from transducer <NUM> at sensor <NUM> can be reduced such that sensor <NUM> can detect the Earth's magnetic field, as described above.

One or more of the above described systems and methods, in various examples and combinations, may be used in a wide variety of audio systems, including wearable audio devices in various form factors. Unless specified otherwise, the term wearable audio device, as used in this document, includes headphones and various other types of personal audio devices such as head, shoulder or body-worn acoustic devices (e.g., audio eyeglasses or other head-mounted audio devices) that include one more acoustic transducers to receive and/or produce sound, with or without contacting the ears of a user. It should be noted that although specific implementations of speaker systems primarily serving the purpose of acoustically outputting audio are presented with some degree of detail, such presentations of specific implementations are intended to facilitate understanding through provisions of examples and should not be taken as limiting either the scope of disclosure or the scope of claim coverage.

Elements of <FIG> are shown and described as discrete elements in a block diagram. These may be implemented as one or more of analog circuitry or digital circuitry. Alternatively, or additionally, they may be implemented with one or more microprocessors executing software instructions. The software instructions can include digital signal processing instructions. Operations may be performed by analog circuitry or by a microprocessor executing software that performs the equivalent of the analog operation. Signal lines may be implemented as discrete analog or digital signal lines, as a discrete digital signal line with appropriate signal processing that is able to process separate signals, and/or as elements of a wireless communication system.

When processes are represented or implied in the block diagram, the steps may be performed by one element or a plurality of elements. The steps may be performed together or at different times. The elements that perform the activities may be physically the same or proximate one another, or may be physically separate. One element may perform the actions of more than one block. Audio signals may be encoded or not, and may be transmitted in either digital or analog form. Conventional audio signal processing equipment and operations are in some cases omitted from the drawing.

The example of <FIG> comprises a processor that is configured to use computer-implemented steps that will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, it should be understood by one of skill in the art that the computer-implemented steps may be stored as computer-executable instructions on a computer-readable medium such as, for example, floppy disks, hard disks, optical disks, Flash ROMS, nonvolatile ROM, and RAM. Furthermore, it should be understood by one of skill in the art that the computer-executable instructions may be executed on a variety of processors such as, for example, microprocessors, digital signal processors, gate arrays, etc. For ease of exposition, not every step or element of the systems and methods described above is described herein as part of a computer system, but those skilled in the art will recognize that each step or element may have a corresponding computer system or software component. Such computer system and/or software components are therefore enabled by describing their corresponding steps or elements (that is, their functionality), and are within the scope of the disclosure.

<FIG> is a partial, schematic, cross-sectional diagram of an earbud <NUM> docked to a battery charging device <NUM>. Most of the components of earbud <NUM> are not included, simply for ease of illustration. Earbud <NUM> includes earbud body <NUM>. Inside of body <NUM> are transducer magnet <NUM> and three-axis magnetometer <NUM> that is located on printed circuit board (PCB) <NUM>. Docking magnet <NUM> is typically located just inside of earbud body <NUM> or it can even be located such that it is exposed to the outside of body <NUM>. Magnet <NUM> is used to hold earbud <NUM> against and in the correct orientation relative to charging device <NUM> such that the earbud batteries (not shown) can be recharged by charging device <NUM> via its battery charger <NUM>. Charging device180 could, for example, work by direct electrical connection to the earbud batteries, or by induction, as is known in the field. Magnet or magnetic metal plate <NUM> of battery charging device <NUM> can help to dock the earbud to the charger. Magnet <NUM> is located, sized and oriented such that it partially or fully nulls the magnetic field from magnet <NUM> at sensor <NUM>. Magnet <NUM> thus has dual functions (docking and nulling) in the earbud.

In some cases, magnet <NUM> is combined with an additional nulling magnet that together null stray magnetic fields within a wearable audio device.

Claim 1:
A wearable audio device (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), comprising:
an electro-acoustic transducer (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) that is adapted to create an audio output, the electro-acoustic transducer comprising a transducer magnet;
a magnetic field sensor (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) that is constructed and arranged to sense the Earth's magnetic field;
a first magnet (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) that produces a first magnetic field having a first magnetic field strength, wherein the first magnet comprises the transducer magnet of the electro-acoustic transducer; and
a docking or parking magnet (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) that produces a second magnetic field, characterized in that the second magnetic field is configured to reduce an influence of the first magnetic field on the magnetic field sensor.