Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The embodiments of the invention relate to an audio emitting electronic device with an embedded energy source. More particularly, the present invention relates to headphones with a rechargeable internal energy source having an evenly distributed mass for providing entertainment or communications in an audio format. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Generally speaking, headphones are audio devices which consist of a pair of small speakers designed to be held in place close to a user&#39;s ears. Headphones may contain a headband which rests on the user&#39;s head so the headphones speakers remain adjacent to the user&#39;s ears. Headphones can come in a circumaural, sport, or supra-aural variety; the headband which rests on the user&#39;s head can vary for each type. The speakers in headphones can require lower electronic impedance to that of standard speakers. Low electronic impedance can accommodate the lower voltages from the batteries of common portable devices. Electronic impedance is the measure of the opposition that a circuit presents to the passage of a current when a voltage is applied. 
         [0005]    When accommodating the lower voltages on modern portable devices, amplifiers within these devices must be designed to provide lower voltages, but higher current. As a result, lower electronic impedance headphones requiring more current from the portable electronic device may increase the consumption of electricity within the device. Related art headphones can contain a power source independent of the audio source and not rely on the audio source to supply power to the loudspeakers. Related art headphones having an independent power supply can perform at designated audio levels uniformly with a variety of devices. 
         [0006]    While related art headphones can have an internal power supply that is independent from the audio device, the related art internal power sources consistently rely on standard sized disposable or rechargeable batteries, typically in sizes “AA” or “AAA”. These standard sized batteries can be secured in a batter holder that is electronically connected to a circuit board mounted within one of housings of the headphones. As such, users of related art headphones with internal power sources are burdened with at least two inconveniences: (1) the weight of the batteries in the headphones typically falls onto one side, thereby creating discomfort to the user because the center of gravity of the headphone lies on the side of a user&#39;s head, and (2) the user incurs increased maintenance costs through the purchase of primary cell or rechargeable cell batteries for use in the headphones. 
         [0007]    Other related art headphones have rechargeable power source(s) within one or both ends of the headphone, for example, within the earphones. Users of these related art headphones with the related art rechargeable internal power source are burdened with additional inconveniences: (1) the weight of the rechargeable internal power source, if only placed in one earphone, falls onto one side thereby creating discomfort to the user because the center of gravity of the headphone lies on the side of a user&#39;s head; (2) in related art headphones having a rechargeable energy sources on congruent ends of the headphones (typically within the opposing earphones), the weight of the rechargeable internal power source can fall onto the user&#39;s ears because the center of gravity of the headphone is on congruent ends of a user&#39;s head thereby causing discomfort and a feeling of heaviness on the user&#39;s ears after extended use; and (3) related art headphones with rechargeable internal power sources can require the user to endure a frustrating and difficult assembly process to place the rechargeable power sources within the earphones, thereby availing the headphone to improper installation of the rechargeable power sources and as a consequence, exasperating a user. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Accordingly, embodiments of the invention are directed to headphones having a distributed mass power source. More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide headphones having an internal power source that is widely distributed through the headband that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
         [0009]    The present invention is directed to a headphone that satisfies these needs. Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows or may be learned by those skilled in the art through reading these materials or practicing the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be achieved through the means recited in the attached claims. 
         [0010]    To achieve the stated and other objects of the present invention, the present invention having features as embodied and described below, a headphone can include a curved component which is attached to a first and second housing, both housings being at opposite congruent positions, thereby connecting the housings to one another. A speaker can be embedded within each of the housings to provide sound. A receiver can be mounted on the headphone at either end and can receive either an analog or digital audio signal from an external audio device such as an MP3 player. An energy storage device can be mounted within the curved component and can provide power to the receiver and amplifier and can provide the audio signal to the speakers within the housings. 
         [0011]    In another aspect, the curved component can be substantially U-shaped to conform to the shape of the apex of the human head. The curved component can be connected to the housing through an adjustable band that connects each of the housings to the curved component and can be mounted within the curved component. As such, an attached adjustable band can allow a user of the headphones to modify the length of the curved component and can allow the curved component to fit on a variety of head sizes. 
         [0012]    External power can be provided to charge the internal energy storage device via a power input port mounted on one of the housings or the headband. The power input can be a DC coaxial power port or a USB port. 
         [0013]    The energy storage device can be mounted within the curved component and can be a single energy storage device, or multiple energy storage devices that are electrically connected. An energy storage device can be flexible to conform to the curved component such as a flexible lithium polymer batter. The energy storage device can be centrally mounted within the curved component. The mass of the energy storage device or energy storage devices can be equally distributed over the curved component. The mass of the energy storage device on the left side of the curved component can be approximately equal to that of the mass on the right side of the curved component. 
         [0014]    In embodiments of the invention the internal power source can be a plurality of rechargeable batteries such as PCB mountable lithium polymer patters. The headband can include a first energy storage device and a second energy storage device and the curved member can include a first half and a second half. The plurality of energy storage devices can be mounted in curved member such that the mass of the energy storage devices disposed on the first half is approximately equal to the mass of the energy storage devices disposed on the second half. Each of the housings can further include an energy storage device. The energy storage devices in the housing can be electrically connected to the energy storage devices in the headband or curved member. 
         [0015]    In another aspect of the invention, headphones can have an internal power source having a mass that is distributed approximately equally over the headband. The headphones can include a first and second speaker, a first housing surrounding the first speaker and a second housing surround the second speaker, a curved member having a midpoint which is connected to the first and second housing, a receiver to receive an audio signal, a plurality of energy storage devices mounted the first side of the midpoint of a curved component, an equal number of energy storage devices of the second side of the midpoint of the curved component where the second side&#39;s mass is approximately equal to that of the first side&#39;s mass. 
         [0016]    In another aspect, a headphone having an internal power source with an approximately equal distributed mass can include a first and second speaker, a first housing surrounding the first speaker, and a second housing surround the second speaker. A curved component having a midpoint can connect the first and second housing together and a receiver can receive an audio signal. An energy storage device can be mounted on both the first and second half of the midpoint of a curved member; the energy storage device can have a curvature on the first side that is congruent with that of the second side of the curved component. The energy storage device can be electrically connected to the receiver and speakers. Further, the mass of the first half of the energy storage device can be approximately equal to that of the mass of the second half of the energy storage device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of embodiments of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of embodiments of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of headphones with portions removed to expose an internal energy storage device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of headphones with portions removed to expose a plurality of internal energy storage devices according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 3A-3B  are sectional perspective views of a headband with an energy storage device mounted on said headband according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0021]      FIGS. 4A-4B  are side views of headphones according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 5A-5C  are sectional perspective views of a housing for an acoustic transducer; and 
           [0023]      FIGS. 6A-6B  are exemplary electrical schematics for an energy storage device and acoustic transducers. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the thicknesses of layers and regions are exaggerated for clarity. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of headphones with portions removed to expose an internal energy storage device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the headphones  100  can include a headband  110 , a left housing  120 , a right housing  130 , and an internal energy storage device  140 . Both the left housing  120  and the right housing  130  can include an acoustic transducer  132  and can include a comfort padding  134  which surrounds the user&#39;s ear. One of the left housing  120  or the right housing  130  can include an on/off switch  124 , an on/off indicator  122 , a receiver  126 , and a power input (not shown). The headband  110  can be connected to the left housing  120  and the right housing  130 . The energy storage device  140  can be mounted inside the headband  110 . Various electronic components (not shown) in the left housing  120  or the right housing  130  can be electrically connected to the internal energy storage device  140 . The left housing  120  or the right housing  130  can be connected to an on/off switch  124 , an on/off indicator  122 , a receiver  126 , an acoustic transducer  132 , and comfort padding  134 . The acoustic transducer  132 , on/off switch  124 , on/off indicator  122 , and receiver  126  can be electrically connected to the internal energy storage device  140 . 
         [0026]    The left housing  120  and right housing  130  can come in a variety of sizes and shapes (not shown), including basic geometric shapes like ovals, squares, circles, to conform with a user&#39;s preferences, style, and fit. The on/off switch  124  can be a button and the receiver  126  can be wired or wireless. The headphones can include other electronic controls (not shown) such as a volume control buttons/wheel, and buttons to connect to applicable wireless frequencies. These other electronic controls can be fitted onto the left housing  120  or right housing  130 . In this way, the headphones can be configured in a multitude of ways to appeal to a mass consumer market while providing consumers pricing options. 
         [0027]    The headphone&#39;s  100  headband  110  may come in variety of types, including circumaural, sport (not shown), and supra-aural (not shown). Circumaural headphones can have a headband  110  that rests on the top of the user&#39;s head where the acoustic transducers  132  in the left housing  120  and right housing  130  are separated from a users ear by the comfort padding. Sport headphones can include a headband that rests on the back of the user&#39;s head where the occipital bone is located. Supra-aural headphones can include acoustic transducers  132  in the left housing  120  and the right housing  130  that are directly pressed against the user&#39;s ears because the headband  110  acts as a flat spring. 
         [0028]    In the instance of circumaural headphones, the headband  110  can be substantially U-shaped, square shaped, or elliptical shaped. Depending on the shape of the headband  110 , the comfort padding  134  can be placed on the inner circumference of the left housing  120  and right housing  130  adjacent a user&#39;s head. The comfort padding  134  can provide both comfort to the user and can attenuate external noise. The acoustic transducer&#39;s  132  can come in a multitude of options such as loud speakers, moving-coil drivers, electrostatic transducers, and bone conduction transducers. 
         [0029]    The energy storage device  140  mounted on the headband  110  may be of a flexible or solid consistency. The shape of the energy storage device can be can be straight or curved. The decision of whether the energy storage device is flexible or curved can depend of a number of factors, including a necessity to conform to the headband shape or consumer pricing. In embodiments of the invention, the energy storage device  140  can be mounted such that the center of gravity is located in approximately the center of the headband  110 . The energy storage device  140  can be mounted such that the mass of the energy storage device  140  is equally distributed on both sides of a midpoint (not shown) of the headband  110 . The mass of the energy storage device  140  on a left side of headband  110  can be approximately equal to the mass of the energy storage device mounted on the right side of the headband  110 . 
         [0030]    The energy storage device  140  can be formed from a multitude of different electrochemical cells which are well known in the art such as nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride, lithium-ion, lithium-ion polymer, lithium sulfur, and potassium-ion. The electrochemical cells can be rechargeable via an external power source. An energy storage device  140  can be flexible and can be comprised of single or multiple thin film rechargeable lithium batteries. 
         [0031]    The headband  110  can be formed from plastic such as polypropylene, polystyrene, high impact polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, polyamides, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polycarbonate, or polycarbonate/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene blend. The headband  110  can be formed of metal such as aluminum, alloys of aluminum, copper, alloys of copper, alloys of iron, alloys of nickel, alloys of titanium, alloys of tin, and alloys of zinc. The headband  110  can include leather, artificial leather, rubber, textiles, foam materials, silicone, vinyl, and other advanced plastics. 
         [0032]    The comfort padding  134  can be formed of silicone, foam materials such as memory foam, rubber, polyurethane, bonded urethane, hydrogels, xerogels, and other textiles. The comfort padding  134  can be lined with leather, artificial leather, rubber, vinyl, advanced plastics, and other natural and artificial textiles. 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of headphones with portions removed to expose a plurality of internal energy storage devices according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the headphones  200  can include a headband  210 , a left housing  220 , a right housing  230 , and multiple internal energy storage devices  240 . Both the left housing  220  and the right housing  230  include an acoustic transducer  232  and can include a comfort padding  234  that can surround a user&#39;s ear. One of the left housing  220  or the right housing  230  can further include an on/off switch  224 , an on/off indicator  222 , a receiver  226 , an display  225 , and a power input (not shown). The headband  210  can be connected to the left housing  220  and the right housing  230 . The multiple energy storage devices  240  can be mounted on the headband  210 . The multiple energy storage devices  240  can be electrically interconnected. Various electrical components (not shown) in the left housing  220  or the right housing  230  can be electrically connected to the multiple energy storage devices  240 . The left housing  220  or the right housing  230  can be physically connected to the on/off switch  224 , on/off indicator  222 , receiver  226 , acoustic transducer  232 , and comfort padding  234 . The acoustic transducer  232 , on/off switch  224 , on/off indicator  222 , and receiver  226  can be electrically connected to the internal energy storage device. 
         [0034]    The multiple energy storage devices  240  on the headband  210  can be flexible or solid. The shape of the energy storage devices can be straight or curved to conform to the shape of the headband  210 . The energy storage devices can be electrically connected, such as in parallel or series, to provide the electrical power to the transducers  232  and receiver  226  and other electrical components (not shown) such as amplifier or noise cancellation processor. To maintain the center of gravity and equilibrium of the headphones  200 , the mass of the energy storage devices  240  placed on the left side of headband  210  can be approximately equal to the mass of the energy storage devices placed on the right side of the headband  210 . The energy storage devices can be include different electrochemical cells such as nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride, lithium-ion, lithium-ion polymer, and potassium-ion. 
         [0035]    The display  225  can be a touch screen LCD screen. The display  225  can interface with the receiver  226  to receive information from an audio transmitting device such as laptop computer or portable music player. The receiver  226  can be a Bluetooth receiver that receives song and track information from a laptop or portable music player and display relevant information on the screen  225 . In embodiments where the screen  225  is a touch screen, the screen  225  can further receive inputs from a user which are transmitted via Bluetooth to an audio transmitting device to control the audio transmitting device. The inputs can be, among other things, instructions to change tracks, increase or decrease the volume, play, pause, or stop the music. 
         [0036]    In the retail environment, the left housing  220  and right housing  230  can come in a variety of sizes and shapes (not shown), including basic geometric shapes like ovals, squares, circles, to conform with a user&#39;s preferences, style, and fit. The on/off switch  224  can be a button and the receiver  226  can be wired or wireless. The headphones can include other electronic controls (not shown), such as a volume control buttons/wheel, and buttons to connect to applicable wireless frequencies. These other electronic controls can be fitted onto the left housing  220  or right housing  230 . In this manner, the headphones can be configured in a multitude of ways to appeal to a mass consumer market while providing consumers various pricing options. 
         [0037]    The headphone&#39;s  200  headband  210  can come in variety of types, including circumaural, sport (not shown), and supra-aural (not shown). In the instance of circumaural headphones, the headband  210  can be substantially U-shaped, square shaped, or elliptical shaped. Depending on the variety of the headphone  200 , a comfort padding  234  can be placed on the inner circumference of the left housing  220  and right housing  230  adjacent the user&#39;s head; the comfort padding  234  can provide both comfort to the user and can attenuate external noise. The acoustic transducers  232  can come in a multitude of options such as loud speakers, moving-coil drivers, electrostatic transducers, and bone conduction transducers. 
         [0038]    The energy storage devices  240  mounted on the headband  210  can be flexible or solid. The energy storage devices  240  can be straight or curved to conform to the headband shape or consumer pricing. To maintain the center of gravity and an approximately equal distributed mass of the energy storage devices  240  mounted on the headphones  200 , the masses of the energy storage devices mounted on the left side of headband  210  can be approximately equal to the masses of the energy storage device mounted on the right side of the headband  210 . 
         [0039]      FIGS. 3A-3B  are sectional perspective views of a headband with an energy storage device mounted on a headband according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIGS. 3A-3B , the headband  310  includes a top layer  312 , a left side wall  314 , a right side wall  316 , and a bottom layer  318 . The culmination of the layers in the headband can provide sufficient space to mount multiple energy storage devices  320  or a single energy storage device  330 . The energy storage device  320  or  330  can be straight or curved to match the curvature of the headband  310 . The thickness of the headband  310  may vary depending on the style of headphones, the width of the energy storage device, and the required energy to power the receiver and acoustic transducers supplied in the headphones. 
         [0040]    The headband  310  can be constructed in a multitude of manners thereby allowing variation in the styles and configuration thereof. The headband  310  can be one solid band as pictured, but can be split into two or more independent bands within the curvature, and at a congruent point on the opposite end of the curvature, merge into one solid band again. As such, the headband  310  can include sufficient space between the top layer  312 , left side wall  313 , right side wall  316 , and bottom layer  318  to allow a single energy storage device  330  or multiple energy storage devices  320  to be mounted therein. 
         [0041]    The headband  310  can include a left side wall  314 , a right side wall  316 , and a bottom layer  318  in which the energy storage devices  320  or energy storage device  330  can be mounted. The energy storage device  330  or energy storage devices  320  can be exposed and form the top layer of the headband  310 . The exposure of the energy storage device  330  or energy storage devices  320  can be used in instances when the power input (not shown) includes photovoltaic cells mounted onto the energy storage device(s), where the photovoltaic cells can be substituted for the top layer  312 . The energy storage device(s) can include a thin film flexible rechargeable battery combined with photovoltaic cells which can act as the top layer  312 , the energy storage device  330  or energy storage devices  320 , and power input (not shown). Such a combination can result in a headband  310  that has an energy source fueled using solar power and other external sources. 
         [0042]      FIGS. 4A-4B  are side views of headphones according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 4A , the headphones  400  include a headband  410 , a left housing  420  including an acoustic transducer, a right housing  430  including an acoustic transducer, and multiple electronically connected energy storage devices  440  mounted on the headband  410 . The energy storage devices  440  mounted in the head band  410  can be distributed such that the mass of the energy storage devices on the left side of the headband  410  is approximately equal to the mass of the energy storage devices  440  on the right side of the headband  410 . One of the left housing  420  or right housing  430  can include a receiver  424  or a power port  422  for charging the energy storage devices  440 . The headband  410  can be connected to the left housing  420 , the right housing  430 , the adjustable band  450 , and multiple energy storage devices  440 . The left housing  420  and the right housing  430  can be connected to the adjustable band  450 . The multiple energy storage devices  440  can be electronically interconnected. The multiple energy storage devices  440  can be electronically connected to the various electrical components (not shown) in the left housing  420  and the right housing  430  such as the power port  422  and the receiver  424 . The left housing  420  and right housing  430  can include additional energy storage devices  460   a  and  460   b , respectively. 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIG. 4B , the headphones  400  include a headband  410 , a left housing  420  including an acoustic transducer, a right housing  430  including an acoustic transducer, an energy storage device  440  can be mounted on the headband  410  such that the mass of the energy storage device  440  on the left side of the headband  410  is approximately equal to the mass of the energy storage device  440  on the right side of the headband  410 . One of the left housing  420  or right housing  430  can include a receiver  424  and an power plug  422  for charging the energy storage device  440 . The headband  410  can be connected to the left housing  420 , the right housing  430 , an adjustable band  450 , and an energy storage device  440 . The left housing  420  and the right housing  430  can be connected to the adjustable band  450 . The energy storage device  440  can be electronically connected to the various electrical components (not shown) in the left housing  420  and right housing  430 . 
         [0044]    For user comfort and ease of use, the headband  410  can include an adjustable band  450  that connects the headband  410  to the left housing  420  and right housing  430 . The adjustable band  450  can allow the left housing  420  or the right housing  430  to slide vertically to and from the headband  410 . The adjustable band  450  can allow the left housing  420  and right housing  430  to be centered over a user&#39;s ears regardless of the size of the user&#39;s head. 
         [0045]      FIGS. 5A-5C  are sectional perspective views of a housing for an acoustic transducer. As shown in  FIG. 5A , a housing for an acoustic transducer  510  can be attached to a substantially U-shaped headband  500  via an adjustable headband  530 . The housing  510  can include an on/off indicator  512 , an on/off switch  514 , and a receiver  516 . The housing can include an energy storage device  520 . Additional energy storage devices (not shown) can be mounted in the headband  500 . The energy storage device  520  can be electronically connected to an on/off indicator  512 , an on/off switch  514 , a receiver  516 , and other energy storage devices (not shown). 
         [0046]    The adjustable band  530  can be mounted to the housing for an acoustic transducer  510  and the headband  500 . The adjustable band  530  can be slidably attached to the housing  510  such that the housing  510  can slide vertically to and from the headband  500  so as to be adjustable to match the size of a user&#39;s head. 
         [0047]    As shown in  FIG. 5B , the substantially U-shaped headband  500  can be connected to a housing for an acoustic transducer  510  by a mounted adjustable band  530 . The housings  510  can be located at opposite ends of the headband  500 . The housing for an acoustic transducer  510  can include an on/off indicator  512 , an on/off switch  514 , a receiver  516 , and a power input port  518 . The adjustable band  530  can be exposed when the housing  510  is pulled away from the headband  500  or when the headband  500  is pulled away from the housing  510 . This feature can provide an additional length to the headband  500  so as to conform to a user&#39;s head size. 
         [0048]    A housing  510  can contain power input port  518  which can receive external power to provide energy into the energy storage devices (not shown) mounted within the headband  500 . The power input port  518  can be electronically connected to an energy storage device mounted within the headband  500  (not shown) or within the housing  510 . The power input port  518  can be located on various locations on the headband  500  or housing  510  to accommodate to various styles of headphones. 
         [0049]    The power input port  518  can accept multiple types of power plugs such as a DC coaxial plug, USB plug, or a standard AC plug. Electrical power from an external source (not shown) can interface with the headphones via the power input port  518 . The power input port  518  can be electrically connected to an energy storage device(s) (not shown) that are mounted within the headband  500  or the housing  510 . The headphones can include a photovoltaic module (not shown) which generates electrical power from ambient light and can be used to charge the energy storage device(s) (not shown). 
         [0050]    As shown in  FIG. 5C , a housing for an acoustic transducer  510  includes an on/off indicator  512 , an on/off switch  514 , a receiver  516 , a power input port  518 , and an audio input port  519 . A U-shaped headband  500  can be connected to the housing for an acoustic transducer  510 . The housing for an acoustic transducer  510  can be connected to an adjustable band (not shown). The adjustable band (not shown) can retract back into the headband  500  when a user pushes the housing for an acoustic transducer  510  towards the headband, and as such, is concealed when a user pushes the housing  510 . The housing  510  can include an audio input port  518  that can receive an analog audio signal via a traditional wire such as an ⅛″ audio plug. The receiver  516  can receive a wireless audio signal via Bluetooth or other suitable wireless audio transmission protocol. 
         [0051]      FIGS. 6A-6B  are exemplary electrical schematics for an energy storage device and acoustic transducers. As shown in  FIG. 6A , an energy storage device  600  can include be formed from single or multiple cells which are electrically interconnected in parallel. The number of cells in the energy storage device  600  can be sufficient to provide adequate electrical power to the acoustic transducers  630 , receiver (not shown), and other electronic components contained within the headphones. The energy storage device  600  can be electrically connected to an on/off switch  622 , an on/off indicator  624 , and acoustic transducers  630 . The energy storage device  600  can be electrically connected to the power input port  620  for providing electrical power to recharge the energy storage device  600 . Power from the energy storage device  600  can flow to the acoustic transducers  630  when the user activates the on/off switch  622 . Upon activating the on/off switch  622 , the circuit can close and the on/off indicator  624  can provide a visible signal that power is being supplied to the headphones. The indicator  624  can be an LED indicator and can provide a visible signal that the headphones are receiving electrical power. Upon de-activation of the on/off switch  622 , the circuit can open and the on/off indicator  624  can indicate that power is not being provided to the acoustic transducers  630 . 
         [0052]    As shown in  FIG. 6B , an energy storage device  610  can include single or multiple cells connected in series. The number of cells in the energy storage device  610  can be sufficient to provide adequate electrical power to the acoustic transducers  630 , receiver (not shown), or other electrical components (not shown) in the headphones. The energy storage device  610  can be electrically connected to an on/off switch  622 , and on/off indicator  624 , and acoustic transducers  630 . The energy storage device  610  can be electronically connected to a power input port  620  which can provide electrical power for recharging the energy storage device  610 . Power from the energy storage device  610  flows to the acoustic transducers  630  when the user activates the on/off switch  622 . Upon activating the on/off switch  622 , the circuit closes and the on/off indicator  624  provides a visible signal that the headphones are on. Upon de-activation of the on/off switch  622 , the circuit opens which causes the on/off indicator  624  to no longer provide a signal to the user and no power is provided to the acoustic transducers  630 . 
         [0053]    Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments which do not vary from the sprit or scope of this invention are contemplated. Therefore, the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred embodiments contained herein. 
         [0054]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the headphones having a distributed mass power source without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that embodiments of the invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Technology Category: h