WO2012000042A1

WO2012000042A1 - Audio headband system

Info

Publication number: WO2012000042A1
Application number: PCT/AU2011/000813
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roger Hanna
Original assignee: Roger Hanna
Priority date: 2010-06-30
Filing date: 2011-06-30
Publication date: 2012-01-05

Abstract

A personal audio system is disclosed the system (10) comprises a headband (20) for positioning about a user's head and over the user's ears in radio communication with a remote control unit (50) to be secured against a user's wrist or arm. The headband includes first (32) and second (34) audio headphones are provided on an (20) inner side of the headband (20) for placement over a user's ears. The audio headphones (32) and (34) are able to receive audio signals from an audio player (40) via a wireless communication channel. The remote control unit (50) allows a user to easily adjust settings of the audio headphones (32) and (34) or the audio player (40), or both without having to reach for the audio player (40) itself. The remote control unit (50) is secured to, or integrated with, an elongated band (52) detachably securable a user's wrist or arm.

Description

Title

Audio Headband System

Technical Field

The present invention concerns an audio headband system.

Background Art

Audio players, such as MP3 players and mobile phones with digital audio playing capability, are becoming increasingly popular. For example, it has been reported that more than 100 million iPods (a registered trade mark of Apple Inc.) have been sold since introduced in November 2001. The portability aspect of these audio players makes them especially popular with people who enjoy listening to music while performing physical activities such as running and cycling. The audio players usually come with earphones or headsets that are designed to fit in or cover a user's ears.

Disclosure of the Invention

The invention is audio headband system comprising

a headband having a pair of audio headphones operable to receive and output audio signals from an audio player, the headband being shaped and sized for positioning the audio headphones over a user's ears and the headband about the user's head; and

a remote control unit to be releasably secured to one part of the user's body, the remote control unit being operable to adjust settings of the audio headphones or the audio player, or both using a radio signal.

Using the invention, the audio headphones on the headband can be better secured over the user's ears and firmly maintained in place during use, such as when the user is performing physical activities. A user can also conveniently adjust settings of the audio headphones, or the audio playeT, or both, using the remote control unit without having to reach for the audio player itself.

The system may further comprise a first transceiver on the headband to connect with the audio player and to receive a radio signal from the remote control unit such that settings of the audio player can be adjusted based on the received radio signal. The system may also comprise a second transceiver on the headband to connect with the audio player and to transmit audio signals from the audio player to the audio headphones for output. The remote control unit may be integrated with a detachable band to be secured against a user's wrist or arm. Further, the remote control unit may further comprise at least one button for adjusting the settings of the audio headphones or the audio player, or both, and a display screen to display those settings. The system may further comprise a speaker on the headband that is operable to output audio signals from the audio player instead of the audio headphones. In that case, the remote control unit may be operable to select either the audio headphones or the speaker to output audio signals from the audio player. The audio headphones may be operable to receive audio signals from a mobile phone via the second transceiver. In that case, the remote control unit may be further operable to cause the audio headphones to output audio signals of a mobile phone call.

The system may further comprise a microphone positioned on the headband to receive sounds from a user for transmission to a mobile phone via the second transceiver.

The headband may further comprise a holder to hold an audio player, and one or more wireless transceivers within the holder to connect with the audio player in use. The remote control unit may be further operable to adjust one or more of the following settings:

volume of the audio headphones,

an audio track being played by the audio player, and

frequency of a radio channel being played by the audio player.

Brief Description of the Drawings

By way of a non-limiting example, the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 (a) is an isometric view of a headband of the audio headband system exemplifying a first embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 (b) is an isometric view of a remote control unit. Fig. 2 is an isometric view of the headband in Fig. 1 (a) from another angle.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the remote control unit in Fig. 1 (b).

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of communication paths between an audio player, a pair of audio headphones, a mobile phone and the remote control unit.

Fig. 5(a) is a view of the headband in Fig. 1 (a) during use.

Fig. 5(b) is a view of the remote control unit in Fig. 1 (b) during use.

Fig. 6(a) is an isometric view of a headband of the audio headband system exemplifying a second embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6(b) is an isometric view of the headband in Fig. 6(a) from another angle.

Best Modes of the Invention

Referring to Figs. 1 (a) and 1(b), the audio headband system 10 exemplifying the invention comprises a headband 20 for positioning about a user's head and over the user's ears in radio communication with a remote control unit 50 to be secured against a user's wrist or arm. The headband 20 and remote control unit 50 will now be explained in more detail below.

Headband

As shown in Fig. 1 (a), first 32 and second 34 audio headphones are provided on an inncT side of the headband 20 for placement over a user's ears. The audio headphones 32 and 34 are wireless headphones that are able to receive audio signals from an audio player 40 (shown in dotted lines) via a wireless communication channel employing a wireless protocol such as Bluetooth. The audio headphones 32 and 34 are each generally circular in shape and rest on the exterior of the user's ear during use. The position of the audio headphones 32 and 34 on the headband 20 is adjustable.

An integral holder 26 is provided on the headband 20 adjacent one of its end 24, and sized to hold the audio player 40 when during use. At least part of the holder 26 is made of transparent material to allowing viewing of a display screen on the audio player 40. The backing of the holder 26

The audio player 40 may be any portable device that can generate audio signals, such as an MP3 player, a mobile phone with audio generation facility, or a portable radio player. A speaker 36 is provided on an outer side of the headband 20 near the holder 26. The speaker 36 is operable to output audio signals from the audio player 40 instead of the audio headphones 32 and 34.

5 Referring also to Fig. 2, two buttons 38 and 39 are provided on the outer side of the headband 20 to allow a user to adjust settings of the speaker 36 or audio headphones 32 and 34, or both:

Switch button 38 is provided adjacent the second audio headphone 34 and the speaker 36 to allow selection of either the speaker 36 or the audio headphones 32 and 10 34 to output audio signals from the audio player 40.

Volume button 39 is provided adjacent the first audio headphone 32 to allow a user to adjust volume of the speaker 36 and audio headphones 32 and 34.

The elongated headband body 22 is made from elastic material to allow fastening 15 around the user's 10 head. The material is also absorbent and washable to absorb perspiration when the user is exercising. The headband body 22 has two ends 23 and 24 that are detachably securable against each other using Velcro fasteners. This allows the headband 20 to be better secured about a user's head, and therefore the audio headphones 32 and 34 over the user's ears.

0

Remote control unit

Referring to Fig. 1 (b), the remote control unit 50 allows a user to easily adjust settings of the audio headphones 32 and 34 or the audio player 40, or both without having to reach for the audio player 40 itself.

5

The remote control unit 50 is secured to, or integrated with, an elongated band 52 having two ends 53 and 54 that are detachably securable against each other using Velcro fasteners. Referring also to Fig. 3, the remote control unit 50 has an operational button 56 to allow a user to adjust settings of the audio headphones 32 and 34 or the0 audio player 40, or both.

The remote control unit 50 also has a LCD screen 58 to display a menu to display settings that can be adjusted, which include:

adjust volume of the audio headphones 32 and 34 and the speaker 36;5 play, pause and change a track being played on the audio player 40; change the frequency of a FM or AM radio channel being played on the audio player 40; and

select either the speaker 36 or the audio headphones 32 and 34 to output audio signals from the audio player 40.

Communication Paths

Referring to Fig. 4, the remote control unit 50 is in wireless communication with the audio player 40 via a first transceiver 70 that is removably connected to the audio player 40. The first transceiver 70 is associated with a first operating frequency to receive command signals 74 from the remote control unit 50 such that settings of the audio player 40 can be adjusted based on the received signals 74.

For example, a user may operate the button 56 on the remote control unit 50 to command the audio player 40 to skip a track being played on the audio player 40 by pressing the button 56 on the remote control unit 50; see Fig. 3. This command is sent wirelessly to the audio player 40 in the form of a command signal 74 at the first operating frequency.

The remote control unit 50 is also in wireless communication 80 with the audio headphones 32 and 34 to adjust the volume of the headphones 32 and 34, and to select either the headphones 32 and 34 or the speaker 36 to output audio signals 76 received from the audio player 40.

The audio headphones 32 and 34 are in wireless communication with the audio player 40 via a second transceiver 72 that is removably connected to the audio player 40. The second transceiver 72 is associated with a second operating frequency to transmit audio signals 76 to the audio headphones 32 and 34 for output.

For easy connection with the audio player 40, the first 70 and second 72 transceivers are disposed within the holder 26 on the headband 20. The first 70 and second 72 transceivers employ a wireless communication protocol such as Bluetooth to transmit and receive signals.

If the speaker 36 is selected to output the audio signals 76 from the audio player 40, the audio signals 76 will be sent to the speaker 36 via a wired connection 82 between the speaker 36 and the audio headphones 32 and 34. The second transceiver 72 can also be configured to communicate wirelessly with a mobile phone 60. This allows a call from the mobile phone 60 to intercept audio signals 76 sent from the audio player 40 to the audio headphones 32 and 34.

For example, when a call is received on the mobile phone 60, a call alert signal 78 will be sent from the mobile phone 60 to the audio headphones 32 and 34 and/or speaker 36 via the second transceiver 72; see Fig. 4. A user can then answer the call either using the remote control unit 50, pressing a button on the headband 20 or by directly manipulating the mobile phone 60 itself. The audio headphones 32 and 34 or the speaker 36 will resume playing audio signals from the audio player 40 when the call ends.

In use, a user first places an audio player 40 within the holder 26 on the headband 20 and connects the audio player 40 to the first 70 and second 72 transceivers disposed within the holder 26; see Fig. 5(a). The headband body 22 is then positioned about the user's head 92 such that the audio headphones 32 and 34 are placed over the user's ears. The first 23 and second 24 ends of the headband 20 are then fastened. The headband 20 can be worn either with the audio player 40 on the user's forehead or the back of the head.

The remote control unit 50 can then be secured against the user's wrist 94 by fastening the ends 53 and 54 together; see Fig, 5(b). Settings of the audio headphones 32 and 34 and the audio player 40 can be adjusted using the button 56 on the remote control unit 50, At any time, the user may also use the volume button 39 and switch button 38 on the headband to respectively adjust volume and switch between the speaker 36 and the headphones 32 and 34.

A second embodiment of the headband 20 is shown in Figs. 6(a) and (b). The headband 20 comprises two external speakers 36a and 36b that are respectively connected to the headphones 34 and 32. Advantageously, stereo sound can be achieved with the speakers 36a and 36b.

The switch button 38 is now in the form of a slide button positioned on the underside of speaker 36a. To select between the speakers 36a and 36b and the audio headphones 32 and 34 to output audio signals from the audio player 40, the switch button 38 can be rotated clockwise and anti-clockwise respectively.

In addition, the headband 20 further comprises a microphone 46 protruding from one external speaker 36a to talk on a mobile phone 60. Sounds received on the microphone will be converted to electrical signals and transmitted to the mobile phone 60 via the second transceiver 72. A call button 48 is placed on the protrusion to allow a user to answer and end a mobile phone call using the headband 20. Additional buttons are also positioned on the headband 20 to further increase usability: power button 42 to on or off the headband; and

Bluetooth connect button 44 to connect with the remote control unit 50.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in al l respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

The Claims Defining The Invention Are:-

1. An audio headband system comprising

2. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a first transceiver on the headband to connect with the audio player and to receive a radio signal from the remote control unit such that settings of the audio player can be adjusted based on the received radio signal.

3. The system according to claim ! or 2, further comprising a second transceiver on the headband to connect with the audio player and to transmit audio signals from the audio player to the audio headphones for output.

4. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the remote control unit is integrated with a detachable band to be secured against a user's wrist or arm.

5. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the remote control unit further comprises at least one button for adjusting the settings of the audio headphones or the audio player, or both, and a display screen to display those settings.

6. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a speaker on the headband that is operable to output audio signals from the audio player instead of the audio headphones.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the remote control unit is operable to select either the audio headphones or the speaker to output audio signals from the audio player.

8. The system according to any one of claims 4 to 7 when dependent on al least claim 3, wherein the audio headphones are operable to receive audio signals from a mobile phone via the second transceiver.

9. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a microphone positioned on the headband to receive sounds from a user for transmission to a mobile phone.

10. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the remote control unit is further operable to cause the audio headphones to output audio signals of a mobile phone call.

1 1. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the headband further comprises a holder to hold an audio player, and one or more wireless transceivers within the holder to connect with the audio player in use.

12. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the remote control unit is further operable to adjust one or more of the following settings:

volume of the audio headphones,

an audio track being played by the audio player, and

frequency of a radio channel being played by the audio player.

1 3. The steps, features, integers, compositions and/or compounds disclosed herein or indicated in the specification of this application individually or collectively, and any and all combinations of two or more of said steps or features.