Patent Description:
Headphones including active noise cancelation are primarily employed to reduce the impact of environmental noise on the listening experience. For example, feed-forward, noise-cancelation systems typically monitor environmental noise at an exterior of a headphone and use the monitored noise to produce a modified audio signal configured to reduce the impact of the environmental noise on the intended listening experience when sent to an audio driver and used to produce audible sound. As another example, feedback, noise cancelation systems typically monitor noise at an interior of an earcup and use the monitored noise to produce a modified audio signal configured to reduce the impact of environmental noise that has leaked to in the interior of the earcup on the intended listening experience when sent to an audio driver and used to produce audible sound.

<CIT> discloses headphones with combined ear -cup and ear -bud, wherein the ear-cup substantially surround the listener's ear and delivers sub sonic and low-frequency vibrations and the ear- bad is disposed within the listener's ear canal and delivers a full range of audible frequencies.

<CIT> concerns active cancellation of noise in the temporal bone. The noise-canceling device includes a processing circuit configured to detect vibrational noise sound waves near a listener's ear using a vibration sensor, generate a vibrational noise-canceling signal, and control operation of a speaker to provide a desired sound signal and the vibrational noise-canceling signal to at least partially cancel the vibrational noise sound waves.

Noise-canceling headphones may include a headband, an audio input, and earcups supported proximate ends of the headband. At least one of the earcups may be operatively connected to the audio input and may include a housing, a first vibration member operatively connected to the audio input and supported at least partially within the housing, a second vibration member operatively connected to the audio input and supported at least partially within the housing, and a microphone supported by the housing. A feedback, noise-cancelation circuit may be configured to reduce a user's perception of an undesirable audible response of the second vibration member and may be operatively connected to the microphone. The feedback, noise-cancelation circuit configured to modify an audio signal from the audio input at least in part based on a signal from the microphone and send the modified audio signal to the first vibration member, the modified audio signal configured to at least partially cancel at least a portion of an audible response of the second vibration member.

According to the invention, a method of making noise-canceling headphones involves placing a first vibration member operatively connected to an audio input at least partially within a housing of an earcup, placing a second vibration member that comprises a tactile vibrator and that is operatively connected to the audio input at least partially within the housing, and supporting a microphone from the housing. A feedback, noise-cancelation circuit configured to reduce a user's perception of audible noise generated by the tactile vibrator and operatively connected to the microphone supported within the housing. The feedback, noise-cancelation circuit configured to modify an audio signal from the audio input at least in part based on a signal from the microphone and send the modified audio signal to the first vibration member, the modified audio signal configured to at least partially cancel at least a portion of an audible response of the tactile vibrator. The earcup is proximate an end of a headband.

According to the invention a method of making noise-canceling headphones comprises the features as set out in claim <NUM>.

While this disclosure concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming specific embodiments, various features and advantages of embodiments within the scope of this disclosure may be more readily ascertained from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:.

The illustrations presented in this disclosure are not meant to be actual views of any particular noise-canceling headphone or component thereof, but are merely idealized representations employed to describe illustrative embodiments. Thus, the drawings are not necessarily to scale.

Disclosed embodiments relate generally to noise-canceling headphones including multiple vibration members, an output of one of the vibration members may be detected by one or more microphones and another of the vibration members may be utilized to cancel at least a portion of an audible output of the one of the vibration members to produce an improved sound response. More specifically, disclosed are embodiments of noise-canceling headphone including tactile vibrators that may employ a feed-forward, noise-cancelation system primarily to reduce the impact of environmental noise on the listening experience and a feedback, noise-cancelation system primarily to reduce the impact of noise incidentally produced by the tactile vibrators on the listening experience.

<FIG> is a view of an audio system <NUM> including a side view of a noise-canceling headphone <NUM> configured to receive an audio signal from a media player <NUM>. The noise-canceling headphone <NUM> may include a headband <NUM>, a first earcup <NUM> suspended from the headband <NUM> proximate a first end <NUM> of the headband <NUM>, and a second earcup <NUM> suspended from the headband <NUM> proximate a second end <NUM> of the headband <NUM>. The headband <NUM> may be sized and shaped to rest on top of a user's head and the first earcup <NUM> and second earcup <NUM> may be positioned to be placed over the user's ears when the noise-canceling headphone <NUM> is worn by the user.

Each of the first earcup <NUM> and the second earcup <NUM> may include a first vibration member <NUM> (see <FIG>), which may be specifically configured as an audio driver <NUM> configured to produce audio playback in response to receipt of an audio signal from the media player <NUM>. Each of the first earcup <NUM> and the second earcup <NUM> may further include a second vibration member <NUM> (see <FIG>), which may be specifically configured as a tactile vibrator <NUM> configured to produce tactile vibrations in response to receipt of at least a bass component of the audio signal from the media player <NUM>. In other embodiments, the second vibration member may be configured as a component of another audio driver. For example, each earcup <NUM> may include a first audio driver 132A, which may be particularly suited for treble playback and configured to produce audio playback in response to receipt of at least a treble component of an audio signal from the media player <NUM>, and a second audio driver 132B, which may be particularly suited for bass playback and configured to produce audio playback in response to receipt of at least the bass component of the audio signal from the media player <NUM>.

The media player <NUM> may store or have access to at least audio media for playback over the noise-canceling headphone <NUM>. The media player <NUM> may include, for example, a smartphone, tablet, computer, television, e-reader with audio capabilities, digital file player, disc player, radio, stereo, gaming system, etc. The media player <NUM> may be operatively connected to the noise-canceling headphone <NUM> by a wireless connection <NUM>, over a wired connection <NUM>, or both. For example, the noise-canceling headphone <NUM> may connect wirelessly to the media player <NUM> utilizing a BLUETOOTH® wireless connection protocol and may form a wired connection to the media player <NUM> utilizing one or more wires <NUM> having audio jacks <NUM> at two, opposite ends thereof. One of the audio jacks <NUM> may be inserted into a corresponding audio plug <NUM> of the media player <NUM>, and the one or more of the other audio jacks <NUM> may be inserted into a corresponding audio plug <NUM> located on, for example, the first earcup <NUM>, the second earcup, <NUM>, or one on each of the first earcup <NUM> and the second earcup <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective bottom view of the first earcup <NUM> of the noise-canceling headphone <NUM> of <FIG>. The first earcup <NUM> may include a rigid housing <NUM> and a cushion <NUM> located on a side of the housing <NUM> proximate the ear of the user when the noise-canceling headphone <NUM> (see <FIG>) is worn by the user. The housing <NUM> may include an opening <NUM> extending at least partially through a back plate <NUM> of the housing <NUM>, the back plate <NUM> located on a side of the housing <NUM> opposite the cushion <NUM>. The opening <NUM> may expose a first microphone <NUM> at an exterior <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The first microphone <NUM> may, for example, be used for at least two purposes: voice pickup and noise cancelation. For example, when voice commands or voice calls are being received via the noise-canceling headphone <NUM> (see <FIG>), the first microphone <NUM> may be monitored, and the voice commands and voice audio may be detected via the first microphone <NUM>. As another example, when audio playback is being provided via the noise-canceling headphone <NUM> (see <FIG>), the first microphone <NUM> may be monitored, and the environmental noise detected via the first microphone <NUM> may be employed to reduce the impact of such environmental noise on the listening experience, as described in greater detail below.

In some embodiments, such as that shown in <FIG>, the first earcup <NUM> may include a first audio plug 126A configured to accept an audio jack <NUM> (see <FIG>) and a second plug 126B configured to accept a power jack. For example, the first audio plug 126A may be located proximate a bottom of the housing <NUM> when the noise-canceling headphone <NUM> (see <FIG>) is worn by the user between the cushion <NUM> and the back plate <NUM>, and may be configured as, for example, a tip-ring-sleeve-type plug. More specifically, the first audio plug 126A may be configured in a tip-ring-sleeve (TRS), tip-ring-ring-sleeve (TRRS), tip-ring-ring-ring-sleeve (TRRRS), etc., and may operably couple with audio jacks <NUM> (see <FIG>) having complementary configurations. The second plug 126B may be located adjacent to the first audio plug 126A at the bottom of the housing <NUM> when the noise-canceling headphone <NUM> (see <FIG>) is worn by the user, and the second plug 126B may be configured as, for example, a power-and-data-connection-type plug specifically configured to receive power to charge a battery <NUM> configured to power electrical components of the noise-canceling headphone <NUM> (see <FIG>). More specifically, the second plug 126B may be configured as, for example, a universal serial bus (USB), mini-USB, or LIGHTNING® connector. Although specific examples have been provided, the audio plug <NUM> or audio and power plugs 126A and 126B may be configured as any type of plug for receiving a jack <NUM> (see <FIG>) configured to convey audio signals, power, or both. In other embodiments, the second plug 126B may further be configured to receive an audio signal via a data connection portion of the power-and-data-connection-type plug.

The first earcup <NUM> may further include buttons <NUM> configured to affect the powered state or the operation of the noise-canceling headphone <NUM> (see <FIG>), the buttons <NUM> located on the housing <NUM> between the cushion <NUM> and the back plate <NUM>. For example, the first earcup <NUM> may include a power button <NUM> configured to power and unpower powered electrical components of the noise-canceling headphone <NUM> (see <FIG>) in response to successive and/or sustained presses. In addition, the first earcup <NUM> may include a vibration increase button <NUM> and a vibration decrease button <NUM> in embodiments where the noise canceling headphone <NUM> (see <FIG>) includes tactile vibrators <NUM>, which may increase and decrease the intensity of vibrations produced by the tactile vibrators <NUM> in response to pressing the requisite button <NUM> or <NUM>, as explained in further detail below.

<FIG> is a perspective bottom view of the second earcup <NUM> of the noise-canceling headphone <NUM> of <FIG>. Like the first earcup <NUM> (see <FIG>), the second earcup <NUM> may include a rigid housing <NUM> and a cushion <NUM> located on a side of the housing <NUM> proximate the ear of the user when the noise-canceling headphone <NUM> (see <FIG>) is worn by the user. The housing <NUM> may include an opening <NUM> extending at least partially through a back plate <NUM> of the housing <NUM>, the back plate <NUM> located on a side of the housing <NUM> opposite the cushion <NUM>. The opening <NUM> may expose another first microphone <NUM> at an exterior <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The other first microphone <NUM> may also be used for voice pickup and noise cancelation. Providing a first microphone <NUM> (see <FIG>) and <NUM> on each of the earcups <NUM> (see <FIG>) and <NUM> may enable stereo voice pickup and independent left and right noise-canceling. In other embodiments, only one of the earcups <NUM> (see <FIG>) and <NUM> may include the respective first microphone <NUM> (see <FIG>) or <NUM>.

The second earcup <NUM> may include a multifunction button <NUM> configured to increase and decrease a volume of the audio drivers <NUM> and otherwise affect operation of the noise-canceling headphone <NUM> (see <FIG>), the multifunction button <NUM> located on the housing <NUM> between the cushion <NUM> and the back plate <NUM>. For example, the multifunction button <NUM> may include a volume increase button <NUM>, a volume decrease button <NUM>, and a central button <NUM> that may, for example, increase volume of the audio drivers <NUM>, decrease volume of the audio drivers <NUM>, start and stop playback, accept voice calls, initiate voice commands, and otherwise affect operation of the noise-canceling headphone <NUM> and associated media player <NUM> (see <FIG>) depending on press occurrence, number, and/or duration.

<FIG> is a front view of one of the earcups <NUM> or <NUM> of the noise-canceling headphone <NUM> of <FIG>. At least one of the earcups <NUM> or <NUM>, or optionally both earcups <NUM> and <NUM>, may include a second microphone <NUM> located between the second vibration member, depicted in <FIG> as the tactile vibrator <NUM>, and an ear of a user when the noise-canceling headphone <NUM> (see <FIG>) is worn by the user. More specifically, the second microphone <NUM> may be located on a side of the audio driver <NUM> proximate the ear of the user when the noise-canceling headphone <NUM> (see <FIG>) is worn by the user. As a specific, nonlimiting example, the second microphone <NUM> may be located within a recess <NUM> formed by the cushion <NUM> and/or <NUM> between a surface <NUM> of the cushion <NUM> and/or <NUM> positioned to contact the user when the noise-canceling headphone <NUM> (see <FIG>) is worn by the user and a cover <NUM> of the audio driver <NUM> exposed toward the ear of the user within the recess <NUM> (e.g., secured to the cover <NUM>). The second microphone <NUM> may enable the first vibration member <NUM> (see <FIG>), depicted in <FIG> as the audio driver <NUM>, to at least partially cancel at least the incidental noise produced by the second vibration member, depicted in <FIG> as the tactile vibrator <NUM>, as described in greater detail below. The second microphone <NUM> may include, for example, a microelectrical-mechanical system (MEMS) microphone or an electret condenser microphone (ECM).

While specific combinations of features for individual earcups <NUM> and <NUM> associated with the particular left-side and right-side earcups <NUM> and <NUM> have been shown and described in connection with <FIG>, those features may be placed in different combinations with one another on either earcup <NUM> or <NUM>. For example, the port or ports <NUM> may be located on the left-side or right-side earcup <NUM> or <NUM>, the audio port 126A may be located on a different earcup <NUM> or <NUM> than the power port 126B, the buttons <NUM> and <NUM> may be located on the same earcup <NUM> or <NUM>, etc..

<FIG> is a cross-sectional side view of the noise-canceling headphone <NUM> of <FIG>. The housing <NUM> and <NUM> of each earcup <NUM> and <NUM> may form a first acoustic cavity <NUM> located proximate the ear of the user when the noise-canceling headphone <NUM> is worn by the user and a second acoustic cavity <NUM> located on a side of the first acoustic cavity <NUM> opposite the ear of the user. The first vibration member <NUM>, depicted in <FIG> as being associated with an audio driver <NUM>, may be located at least partially within the first acoustic cavity <NUM>, and the second vibration member <NUM>, depicted in <FIG> as being associated with a tactile vibrator <NUM>, may be located at least partially within the second acoustic cavity <NUM>. More specifically, the audio driver <NUM> may be contained within the first acoustic cavity <NUM>, with the cover <NUM> of the audio driver <NUM> and portions of the housing <NUM> and <NUM> forming an ear-facing border of the first acoustic cavity <NUM>, and the tactile vibrator <NUM> may be contained within the second acoustic cavity <NUM>.

At least one of the first vibration member <NUM> and the second vibration member <NUM> may produce incidental noise that may result in a detectable sound pressure level (SPL) profile different from an intended SPL profile for the noise-canceling headphone <NUM>, at least at some frequencies. For example, the second vibration member <NUM> may produce audible noise outside its intended audible response, which may be detectable as an audible buzz in embodiments there the second vibration member <NUM> is a component of a tactile bass vibrator <NUM>. More specifically, the second vibration member <NUM> may produce undesirable audible noise in addition to tactile vibrations within its intended frequency response (e.g., primarily frequencies between about <NUM> and about <NUM>, such as, for example, between about <NUM> and about <NUM> or between about <NUM> and about <NUM>) and may vibrate at frequencies (e.g., frequencies above about <NUM>) outside its intended frequency response (e.g., primarily frequencies between about <NUM> and about <NUM>), which may be caused by, for example, harmonic resonance or imperfect signal filtering. As another example, each of the first vibration member <NUM> and the second vibration member may produce audible noise outside their intended audible responses, which may be detectable as buzzing bass from a high-frequency audio driver 132A (see <FIG>) and muddy mids and treble from a low-frequency audio driver 132B (see <FIG>). More specifically, each of the first vibration member <NUM> and the second vibration member may vibrate at frequencies (e.g., frequencies below about <NUM> and above about <NUM>, respectively) outside an intended frequency response (e.g., primarily frequencies between about <NUM> and about <NUM> and between about <NUM> and about <NUM>, respectively) of the first vibration member <NUM> and the second vibration member, which may also be caused by, for example, harmonic resonance or imperfect signal filtering.

The second microphone <NUM> may enable modification of the audio signal sent to the audio driver <NUM>, causing the audio driver <NUM> to produce a detectable SPL profile that, when emitted, combines with the existing SPL profile at the interior of a respective earcup <NUM> or <NUM> to better match a heard SPL profile to an intended SPL profile for the noise-canceling headphone <NUM>, reducing the impact of incidental noise and other undesirable audio emissions produced by the tactile vibrator <NUM> on the listening experience. The second microphone <NUM> may also enable modification of the audio signal sent to the first audio driver 132A, the second audio driver 132B, or both the first audio driver 132A and the second audio driver 132B, causing first audio driver 132A, the second audio driver 132B, or both the first audio driver 132A and the second audio driver 132B to produce a detectable SPL profile that, when emitted, combines with other pressure phenomena to better match a heard SPL profile to an intended SPL profile for the noise-canceling headphone <NUM>, reducing the impact of incidental noise produced by the other of the first audio driver 132A, the second audio driver 132B, or both the first audio driver 132A and the second audio driver 132B on the listening experience.

A driver plate <NUM> may subdivide a hollow interior <NUM> of the housing <NUM> and <NUM>, and may be located between the first vibration member <NUM> and the second vibration member <NUM> (between the audio driver <NUM> and the tactile vibrator <NUM> in <FIG>), to form the first acoustic cavity <NUM> and the second acoustic cavity <NUM>. The driver plate <NUM> may include at least one passage <NUM> extending between the first acoustic cavity <NUM> and the second acoustic cavity <NUM>. A greatest diameter D<NUM> of any passage <NUM> may be, for example, between about <NUM>% and about <NUM>% of a greatest diameter D<NUM> of the housing <NUM> and <NUM>. More specifically, the greatest diameter D<NUM> of any passage <NUM> may be, for example, between about <NUM>% and about <NUM>% of the greatest diameter D<NUM> of the housing <NUM> and <NUM>. The housing <NUM> and <NUM> may further include at least one port <NUM> extending from the first acoustic cavity <NUM>, through the housing <NUM> and <NUM>, to the exterior <NUM> and <NUM>. A greatest diameter D<NUM> of any port <NUM> may be, for example, between about <NUM>% and about <NUM>% of the greatest diameter D<NUM> of the housing <NUM> and <NUM>. More specifically, the greatest diameter D<NUM> of any port <NUM> may be, for example, between about <NUM>% and about <NUM>% of the greatest diameter D<NUM> of the housing <NUM> and <NUM>.

In embodiments where the second vibration members <NUM> are components of tactile vibrators <NUM>, the tactile vibrators <NUM> of the noise-canceling headphone <NUM> may be capable of producing high-amplitude, tactile vibrations to augment at least a bass listening experience of the user, which may tend to cause a vibrating member <NUM> (e.g., a mass of vibrating material) of the tactile vibrators <NUM> to move beyond intended boundaries therefor. To better constrain movement of the mass <NUM>, each earcup <NUM> and <NUM> may include a compressible material <NUM> secured to the driver plate <NUM> on a side of the driver plate opposite the audio driver <NUM> and on a side of the tactile vibrator <NUM> proximate the ear of the user when the noise-canceling headphone <NUM> is worn by the user. The compressible material <NUM> may be positioned and configured to delimit movement of the mass <NUM> of the tactile vibrator <NUM> in a first direction <NUM>. The compressible material <NUM> may include, for example, a felt or foam material (e.g., neoprene or acoustic foam). The back plate <NUM> and <NUM> of each housing <NUM> and <NUM> located on a side of the tactile vibrator <NUM> opposite the audio driver <NUM> and distal from the ear of the user when the noise-canceling headphone <NUM> is worn by the user may delimit movement of the mass <NUM> the tactile vibrator <NUM> in a second, opposite direction <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the second microphones <NUM> of the earcups <NUM> and <NUM> may be, for example, centrally located within the recess <NUM> and on each respective earcup <NUM> and <NUM>. More specifically, a line <NUM> passing through a geometric center of the first vibration member <NUM> of the audio driver <NUM> in a direction at least substantially parallel to a direction of intended movement of the first vibration member <NUM> of the audio driver <NUM> may intersect with the second microphone <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic of circuitry <NUM> for controlling the noise-canceling headphone <NUM> of <FIG>. The circuitry <NUM> may be at least substantially duplicated in each earcup <NUM> and <NUM> (see <FIG>), enabling independent operation and powering of each earcup <NUM> and <NUM> (see <FIG>), or may be at least partially divided among the earcups <NUM> and <NUM> (see <FIG>) such that at least some of the circuitry <NUM> in a single earcup <NUM> or <NUM> (see <FIG>) controls the operation and/or powering of both. The circuitry <NUM> may receive an incoming audio signal from a connected media player <NUM> (see <FIG>) at a system module <NUM> including wireless communication functionality or at the audio jack 126A. The system module <NUM> may be configured as a system-on-a-chip, and may, for example, be configured to form and communicate over wireless connections, manage power consumption and charging, accept and process control inputs, and process and route audio signals. Suitable system modules <NUM> are commercially available from, for example, Qualcomm, Inc. of <NUM> Morehouse Drive, San Diego, CA <NUM>. The system module <NUM> may be operatively connected to memory <NUM> storing instructions for configuring the operation of the system module (e.g., firmware). The battery <NUM> and power port 126B may be operatively connected to the system module <NUM> to enable charging of the battery <NUM> via the power port 126B. A status indicator <NUM> (e.g., an RGB LED) may be operatively connected to the system module <NUM>, and may selectively indicate a status of the noise-canceling headphone <NUM> (see <FIG>) in response to control signals from the system module <NUM>. Signals from the first microphone <NUM> and <NUM> may be sent to the system module <NUM> directly or through a switch <NUM> that may toggle when signals from the first microphone <NUM> and <NUM> are being monitored.

The signals received directly at the system module <NUM> or sent to the system module <NUM> from the audio jack 126A and/or the first microphone <NUM> and <NUM> may be routed through a converter <NUM>, which may be configured to convert any signals in the form of differential signals to analog signals. The audio input received from the system module <NUM> or the audio jack 126A and the environmental noise received from the first microphone <NUM> and <NUM> may then be sent to an active-noise-canceling module <NUM>. When the audio input is received from the audio jack 126A and is already in analog format, a switch <NUM> operatively connected between the audio jack 126A, the system module <NUM>, and the active-noise-canceling module <NUM> may route the audio input directly to the active-noise-canceling module <NUM>. Although an embodiment involving analog signal routing and noise-cancelation is particularly described herein, the audio input received may remain in digital format, may be converted to digital format, and may be in either analog or digital format during signal routing, noise-cancelation, or both. The second microphone <NUM> may send a signal representative of detected audio directly to the active-noise-canceling module <NUM>.

The active-noise-canceling module <NUM> may include at least a feed-forward, noise-cancelation circuit operatively connected between the first microphone <NUM> and <NUM> and at least the first vibration member <NUM>, which is associated with the audio driver <NUM> in <FIG>, and a feedback, noise-cancelation circuit operatively connected between the second microphone <NUM> and at least the first vibration member <NUM> of the audio driver <NUM>. Suitable active-noise-canceling modules <NUM> are commercially available from, for example, ams AG of Tobelbader Strasse <NUM>, Premstaetten, <NUM> AT, among other suppliers (e.g., Analog Devices, Sony, Cirrus Logic, Qualcomm, etc.). The feed-forward, noise-cancelation circuit may be configured to compare a signal from the first microphone <NUM> and <NUM> to a predetermined, desired SPL profile and generate at least a portion of a modified audio signal <NUM> configured to cancel environmental noise by, for example, amplifying pressure at one or more frequencies, reducing pressure at one or more frequencies, or amplifying pressure at one or more frequencies and reducing pressure at one or more other frequencies. For example, the active-noise-canceling module <NUM> may produce a portion of the modified audio signal <NUM> by combining the audio input with a noise-canceling signal of the same amplitude as the detected environmental noise and having inverted phase relative to the detected noise. The modified audio signal <NUM> may be sent to the audio driver <NUM>, and when the modified audio signal <NUM> is played over the audio driver <NUM>, the resulting audio may be perceived by the user as primarily the audio content sent from the media player <NUM> (see <FIG>) without the environmental noise, the environmental noise being at least partially canceled by destructive interference.

The feedback, noise-cancelation circuit may be configured to compare a signal from the second microphone <NUM> to the predetermined, desired SPL profile and generate at least another portion of the modified audio signal <NUM> configured to cancel incidental noise from the tactile vibrator <NUM> by, for example, amplifying pressure at one or more frequencies, reducing pressure at one or more frequencies, or amplifying pressure at one or more frequencies and reducing pressure at one or more other frequencies. For example, the active-noise-canceling module <NUM> may produce another portion of the modified audio signal <NUM> by combining the audio input with another noise-canceling signal of the same amplitude as the detected incidental noise from the tactile vibrator <NUM> and having inverted phase relative to the detected incidental noise from the tactile vibrator <NUM>. More specifically, the active-noise canceling module <NUM> may be configured to at least partially reduce (e.g., at least partially cancel or eliminate) undesirable audible noise produced by the tactile vibrator <NUM> at least at frequencies between about <NUM> and about <NUM> (e.g., between about <NUM> and about <NUM> or between about <NUM> and about <NUM>). The modified audio signal <NUM> may be sent to the audio driver <NUM>, and when the modified audio signal <NUM> is played over the audio driver <NUM>, and its sound is naturally combined with the incidental noise from the tactile vibrator <NUM>, the resulting audio may be perceived by the user as primarily the audio content sent from the media player <NUM> (see <FIG>) without the incidental noise from the tactile vibrator <NUM>, the incidental noise from the tactile vibrator <NUM> being at least partially canceled by destructive interference.

In other embodiments, the feedback, noise-cancelation circuit may be configured to compare the signal from the second microphone <NUM> to the predetermined, desired SPL profile and generate at least another portion of separate modified audio signals to be sent to the first audio driver 132A and the second audio driver 132B, respectively, the modified audio signals configured to cancel the undesirable audible response (e.g., buzzing bass or muddy mids and treble) of at least one of the first audio driver 132A, the second audio driver 132B, or both the first audio driver 132A and 132B (see <FIG>) by, for example, amplifying pressure at one or more frequencies, reducing pressure at one or more frequencies, or amplifying pressure at one or more frequencies and reducing pressure at one or more other frequencies. For example, the active-noise-canceling module <NUM> may produce one other portion of the modified audio signal <NUM> by combining the audio input with another noise-canceling signal of the same amplitude as the detected audible response from the second audio driver 132B that is outside the predetermined, desired SPL profile and having inverted phase relative to the detected incidental noise from the second audio driver 132B. The one portion of the modified audio signal may be sent to the first audio driver 132A, and when the one portion of the modified audio signal is played over the first audio driver 132A, the resulting audio may be perceived by the user as primarily the audio content sent from the media player <NUM> (see <FIG>) without the detected audible response from the second audio driver 132B that is outside the predetermined, desired SPL profile, the detected audible response from the second audio driver 132B that is outside the predetermined, desired SPL profile being at least partially canceled by destructive interference. Continuing the example, the active-noise-canceling module <NUM> may produce another portion of the modified audio signal by combining the audio input with another noise-canceling signal of the same amplitude as the detected audible response from the first audio driver 132A that is outside the predetermined, desired SPL profile and having inverted phase relative to the detected incidental noise from the first audio driver 132A. The other portion of the modified audio signal may be sent to the second audio driver 132B, and when the other portion of the modified audio signal is played over the second audio driver 132B, the resulting audio may be perceived by the user as primarily the audio content sent from the media player <NUM> (see <FIG>) without the detected audible response from the first audio driver 132A that is outside the predetermined, desired SPL profile, the detected audible response from the first audio driver 132A that is outside the predetermined, desired SPL profile being at least partially canceled by destructive interference.

The circuitry <NUM> may include further processing for the audio signal before it is passed on to the tactile vibrator <NUM>. For example, the circuitry <NUM> may include a gain stage <NUM> located between the converter <NUM> and the tactile vibrator <NUM>. The gain stage <NUM> may be configured to increase a voltage of the audio signal before the audio signal reaches the tactile vibrator <NUM>. Such an increase in voltage may determine an amplitude, and corresponding intensity, of the tactile vibrations produced by the tactile vibrator <NUM>. The degree of increase may be incremented in steps in response to successive presses of the vibration increase and decrease buttons <NUM> and <NUM>, signals from which may be received at a controller circuit <NUM>. The controller circuit <NUM> may be operatively connected to the status indicator <NUM> to provide feedback about the degree of increase in intensity of the tactile vibrations. The controller circuit <NUM> may include a series of switches with resistors of varying electrical resistance to determine the degree of increase in voltage applied by the gain stage <NUM>. In other embodiments, a variable resistor with accompanying slider may be used in place of the controller circuit <NUM> and vibration increase and decrease buttons <NUM> and <NUM> to provide a smooth, rather than stepped, increase or decrease in voltage applied by the gain stage <NUM>. The gain stage <NUM> may include, for example, an operational amplifier.

The circuitry <NUM> may include a low-pass filter <NUM> immediately following the gain stage <NUM>. The low-pass filter <NUM> may be configured to remove a treble component of the voltage-amplified, audio signal from passage to the tactile vibrator <NUM> and pass a bass component of the audio signal to the tactile vibrator <NUM>. More specifically, the low-pass filter <NUM> may, for example, be configured to remove frequencies of about <NUM> or greater from the audio signal from passage to the tactile vibrator <NUM> and pass those portions of the audio signal at frequencies of about <NUM> or less to the tactile vibrator <NUM>. As specific, nonlimiting examples, the low-pass filter <NUM> may be configured to remove frequencies of about <NUM> or greater or <NUM> or greater from the audio signal from passage to the tactile vibrator <NUM> and pass those portions of the audio signal at frequencies of about <NUM> or less or <NUM> or less to the tactile vibrator <NUM>. By placing the low-pass filter <NUM> in the circuitry after the gain stage <NUM>, the low-pass filter <NUM> may reduce (e.g., eliminate) unwanted noise inherently introduced into the audio signal by the gain stage <NUM> because such noise may primarily be found at frequencies above bass frequencies.

The circuitry <NUM> may also include an amplifier <NUM> operatively connected between the low-pass filter <NUM> and the tactile vibrator <NUM>. The amplifier <NUM> may be configured to increase an amperage of the audio signal, which may result in the desired power for the tactile vibrations when combined with the increase in voltage from the gain stage <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A method of making a noise-canceling headphone, comprising:
placing at least partially within a housing of an earcup (<NUM>, <NUM>) a first vibration member (<NUM>, <NUM>) operatively connected to an audio input;
placing at least partially within the housing a second vibration member (<NUM>, <NUM>) that comprises a tactile vibrator (<NUM>) and that is operatively connected to the audio input;
supporting a microphone (<NUM>) by the housing; and
supporting the earcup proximate an end of a headband (<NUM>);
the method characterized in that the method further comprises:
supporting a feedback noise-cancelation circuit (<NUM>) configured to reduce a user's perception of audible noise generated by the tactile vibrator and operatively connected to the microphone (<NUM>) within the housing, the feedback noise-cancelation circuit (<NUM>) configured to modify an audio signal from the audio input at least in part based on a signal from the microphone (<NUM>) and send the modified audio signal to the first vibration member, the modified audio signal configured to at least partially cancel at least a portion of an audible response of the tactile vibrator.