EP1510103A1

EP1510103A1 - Headset

Info

Publication number: EP1510103A1
Application number: EP03724773A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Heinz Rüegg
Original assignee: Adec & Partner AG
Current assignee: Adec & Partner AG
Priority date: 2002-06-04
Filing date: 2003-06-02
Publication date: 2005-03-02
Anticipated expiration: 2023-06-02
Also published as: DE50313583D1; AU2003229240A1; US20050163337A1; ATE504166T1; WO2003103335A1; US7356156B2; EP1510103B1

Abstract

In a headset ( 100, 200 ) for receiving infrared or radio signals and transforming them into an audio transmission in the audible range, the headset essentially comprises a base housing ( 101 ), one continuous or two individually guided supporting bands ( 102, 103 ) each with a miniature loudspeaker ( 300, 400 ) arranged at the end. The miniature loudspeaker has a loudspeaker body ( 305, 405 ) on the ear side, which loudspeaker body assumes a place in the auditory passage or surrounds the whole external ear. The loudspeaker body ( 305, 405 ) on the ear side is supported rotatably with respect to the supporting band ( 102, 103 ) or a joining part ( 301, 401 ).

Description

headphone

Technical field

The present invention relates to headphones according to the preamble of claim 1.

State of the art

From DE-3325 031 C2 an infrared headphone has become known, which consists of two playback transducers connected to one another via a chin guard, an electrical circuit that receives infrared signals and converts them into audio signals, and two microphones with downstream microphone amplifiers. The circuit of this infrared headphone is such that the playback transducers can be supplied with the signals derived from the infrared circuit or the microphone amplifiers either individually or in combination. The microphones are arranged at a distance from one another on the chin guard in such a way that they are symmetrical to the media plane of the head of a user, the signals derived from the microphones being supplied in phase opposition to the other microphone amplifier in the same ratio. These infrared headphones are usually in operative connection with a transmitter that converts the emitted sound signals, for example from a television or a hi-fi system, into invisible infrared rays, and emits them into the room where they are received by the infrared headphones which can provide wireless infrared sound transmission. It makes sense that such a transmitter is both a charging station for the infrared receiver and for at least one a battery insert that is used to charge the infrared headphones when charged.

The document WO 95/35011 A discloses an infrared headphone designed as a chin guard receiver. These infrared headphones essentially consist of a basic housing, two mounting brackets, each with a small loudspeaker arranged at the end. The two mounting brackets are mounted in the basic housing, each of which can be expanded in connection with a spring element acting in the area of the bearing, with which a pleasant ear attachment of the small loudspeakers can be achieved via these spring elements. The start-up and shutdown of these headphones is carried out by means of a manually operated switch.

GB 2 304 488 A and FR 2 280 283 A also disclose cable-free headphones, in which the expandable temple ends designed as headband also enable flexible ear attachment and in which an on / off switch is integrated, the on / off of which Actuation is dependent on the stirrup, making manual operation of the switch unnecessary.

All of the above-mentioned headphones belonging to the prior art have one thing in common that the small speakers, also called speakers, and their housings are firmly connected to the carrying arms of the chin guard system. The user of such systems primarily wears the headphones in a slightly bent or reclined posture in such a way that these systems, regardless of whether the user is standing, sitting or walking, hang vertically downwards due to their own weight. However, with every change in the position of the head, no matter how minimal, the position of the small loudspeakers in the auricles relative to the auditory canal changes, which leads to the following shortcomings:

a) The small speakers adapt to the new position every time, even with the smallest change, which results in friction in the ear cups and in the ear canal, which in turn is extremely unpleasant for the user. b) Especially in the case of small loudspeakers that close the ear canal like a stopper or plug, their position relative to the ear canal changes. This also changes the original acoustic properties of the human ear system. This leads in particular to users with hearing loss in certain frequency ranges to acoustic changes, which in most cases impair the optimal hearing sensation, apart from the fact that the different earphone pressures between the one ear to the other adversely affect the stereophonic balance, which reduce the hearing sensation ,

c) But even with small speakers that are parallel or quasi-parallel to the ear canal and only partially close the ear canal, each new head position causes a change in the position of the small speakers to the pinna / ear canal, which has a negative impact on wearing comfort and leads to uncomfortable feeling as well as negatively affected hearing.

Presentation of the invention

The invention seeks to remedy this. The invention, as characterized in the claims, is based on the object of taking the measures for a headphone of the type mentioned at the outset which are capable of eliminating the above-mentioned disadvantages by correcting any change in the head position when the headphones are worn by means of a dispositive becomes.

According to the invention, it is proposed that the small speakers or, in the case of conventional headphones, the surrounding attachment parts to the ear cups be further developed so that the relevant parts in the area of the auditory canal are designed to be easily rotatable and that they can adapt to the respective head and body posture of the user, or they depending on how the headband is worn Users can adjust without losing in the least the original position in the ear canal or in terms of the enclosure of the ear.

The main advantage of the invention can be seen in the fact that this development can be implemented for any type of small loudspeaker, and that it achieves the highest possible level of sound transmission quality.

Furthermore, the further development according to the invention ensures that the wearing comfort can be maximized, which can only increase the acceptance for such systems, namely chin strap receivers, headphones, etc., whether wired or wireless, the wireless variant being based on infrared, Radio frequency, etc., can be designed.

Advantageous and expedient developments of the task solution according to the invention are characterized in the further claims.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. All features which are not essential for the direct understanding of the invention have been omitted. Identical features are provided with the same reference symbols in the various figures.

Brief description of the drawings

It shows

1 wearing a hearing receiver as a chin guard,

2 wearing a hearing receiver as a stethos clip,

3 closes a small loudspeaker auditory canal, 3a-3c different views of the small speaker according to FIG. 3,

4 a small loudspeaker parallel or quasi parallel to the ear canal,

4a-4c different views of the small speaker according to FIG. 4,

5 shows a small loudspeaker according to FIG. 3 with a rotatable one

coupling,

6 shows a rotatable coupling of the small loudspeaker according to FIG. 4 in a side view,

Fig. 7 shows the basic view of the ear-side part of the small speaker

Fig. 4 and

8 shows the rotatable coupling of the small loudspeaker according to FIG. 4 in

Superintendence.

Ways of carrying out the Invention, Industrial Usability

The chin guard receiver 100 according to FIG. 1 is shown in use to users. Such a chin guard receiver 100 is described in detail in WO 00/08894, this publication forming an integral part of the present description. In summary it can be stated here that this chin guard receiver 100 is a device which is used to receive wireless signals, such as infrared or radio signals, and is designed to convert them into a sound transmission in the listening area. This chin guard receiver 100 consists of a basic housing 101, two mounting brackets 102, 103 with small loudspeakers 300, 400 arranged at the ends. The two mounting brackets 102, 103 are mounted in the basic housing 101 and can be elastically expanded in at least one plane. These brackets 102, 103 are operatively connected with at least one switch housed in the lever effective range of this level, in such a way that this switch switches on the receiver circuit in the case of a specific load-dependent spreading position of the carrying brackets 102, 103, with which an advantageous automatic switching on and off of the receiver depending on the wearing of the chin guard receiver. Furthermore, there is a sound management, which automatically intervenes in terms of circuitry, depending on the sound transmission quality that arises in the case of interfering reception, in such a way that either an improvement in the sound quality is acted on, or if the transmission falls below a certain sound quality, it automatically switches off the transmission and this transmission Restores the minimum requirements for the tone quality automatically. The circuit-based sound management also means that a switch from mono to stereo reception or vice versa can be activated at any time. The features described here can of course also be transferred to conventional headphones with built-in receivers. All of the aforementioned functions relating to sound management are to be understood cumulatively and alternatively among themselves.

FIG. 2 shows a hearing receiver 200 which is designed as a stethosclip, in which case the sound transmission can also be accomplished by means of a cable. As far as the technology is concerned, reference is essentially made to the explanations under FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows the embodiment of a small loudspeaker 300, which is designed in such a way that it closes the ear canal like a stopper or plug. For a more detailed illustration of this small speaker 300, reference is made to FIGS. 3a-3c, 5.

FIG. 4 shows the embodiment of a lenticular loudspeaker body (405) which is guided parallel or quasi-parallel to the auditory canal, accordingly only partially closes the auditory canal and thus leaves it open. For a more detailed illustration of this lenticular small speaker 400, reference is made to FIGS. 4a-4c and 6-8. 3a-3c show the small speaker 300 in different views. Such a small loudspeaker 300 essentially consists of a base body 301, which is provided on the ear side with acoustic sound openings 307 and on the rear side with further acoustic openings 302. The support bracket 303, which is only partially visible here, is connected to the base body 301. On the ear side, the small loudspeaker 300 has a plug-shaped loudspeaker body 305 which closes off the ear canal. A coupling part 308 with a connected sleeve 309 is arranged between the base body 301 and the loudspeaker body 305 on the ear side, the connection of the latter parts 308 and 309 with respect to the base body 301 and speaker body 305 being designed in such a way that a free rotation 306 of one between the latter 305 and the base body 301 certain angle is possible. With this development, any change in the user's head position can be absorbed in such a way that the loudspeaker bodies 305 of the respective small loudspeaker 300, which are fixed in position in the ear canal, are not exposed to any rotational pressure due to their rotatability relative to the base body 301, as a result of which the carrying comfort is maximized, coupled with the highest degree of sound transmission quality is achieved because the latter effect eliminates a position-related acoustic changes in the sound transmission.

Fig. 5 shows in a sectional plane the structure of such a small speaker according to Figs. 3a-3c. As already mentioned above, the coupling part 308 takes over the connection between the base body 301 and the loudspeaker body 305, which in turn is supplemented with a bush 309, which on the one hand takes over the mounting of the loudspeaker 310, and on the other hand as a stop and rotation lock 314 of the latching parts belonging to the coupling 308 313. The free rotatability of the loudspeaker body 305 relative to the base body 301 results from the fact that the coupling part 308 is firmly connected to the base body 301, and the resilient latching parts 313 arranged on the opposite side are pushed into the bush 309, where they are then locked with barbs , whereby these detents determine the predetermined angle of rotation, which always leaves sufficient scope, so that even unusual changes in head posture can always be absorbed by the user. The here through the The latching technique described, proposed rotatability between base body 301 and loudspeaker body 305, indicates a simple construction which can be used without restriction and in any case allows all body and head postures to be absorbed. Both the bush 309 and the coupling part 308 have a bore 312 through which the electrical connection line 311 can be passed to the loudspeaker 310.

6-8 show the structural design of the small loudspeaker 400 according to FIGS. 4a-4c, the acoustic openings 402 and the acoustic sound openings 407 being arranged in the large areas of the lens-shaped loudspeaker body 405 here. The main difference between this small speaker 400 and the previous 300 is that it is an insert parallel or quasi-parallel to the ear canal with a partial open ear canal. The structure of this small loudspeaker 400, as far as the rotatability 406 is concerned, is largely the same as that of the previous small loudspeaker (300), i.e. here, too, the rotatability that serves the final purpose described is achieved by means of a coupling part 411 with a latching part (analog 313). The outer geometry of this small loudspeaker 400 is, of course, its own and it can be seen clearly from FIGS. 6-8. A snap mechanism 412/413 ensures that the cover part 409 can be latched in, and thus results in a compact, rounded geometry, which is very important for a correct wearing of the loudspeaker body in the ear. The remaining parts of this small speaker 400 have the same functionality as the previous small speaker (300). Here, too, great importance must be attached to the rotatability of the lenticular loudspeaker body (405) in the ear with every change in the head position, because the coupling in the ear canal is not completely conclusive here, so that the smallest transmitted displacements result in a disproportionate reduction in sound quality pull, apart from the fact that such twists result in uncomfortable pressure points

In the case of headphones in which the fitting surrounds the entire auricle, it can also be rotated not shown in the drawing Provide the same criteria already described, so that the bracket or brackets can then be worn on the head as desired.

Instead of the described electrical connection lines 311, 414, a connection by means of slip ring contacts can be provided for sound transmission in the area of the rotatable parts, which then ensure the electrical connection between the movable loudspeaker bodies 305, 405 and the respective base bodies 301, 401.

By installing a torsion spring, not shown in the drawing, at a suitable location, it is ensured that when the headphones are no longer used, the position of the loudspeaker bodies 305, 405 relative to the base bodies 301, 401 resumes that original rest position.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100 chin strap receivers

101 basic housing

102 Support bracket in general

103 Support bracket in general

200 stethosclip

300 small speakers

301 basic body

302 Acoustic openings

303 end part of the support bracket

304 cable duct

305 Plug-shaped speaker body

306 rotation angle

307 Acoustic sound openings

308 coupling part

309 rifle 310 speakers

311 Electrical connection cable

312 hole

313 latching part

314 stop / rotation lock

400 small speakers

401 basic body

402 Acoustic openings

403 end part of the support bracket

404 cable duct

405 Lenticular speaker body

406 rotation angle

407 Acoustic sound openings

408 connecting part

409 cover part

410 speakers

411 coupling part

412/413 snap mechanism

414 Electrical connection cable

Claims

claims

1. Headphones for receiving infrared, radio signals, and converting the same into a sound transmission in the listening area, which headphones essentially consist of a basic housing, a coherent or two individually guided carrying balls, each with a small loudspeaker arranged at the ends, the small loudspeaker has an ear-side loudspeaker body, which can be accommodated in the ear canal or surrounds the entire auricle, characterized in that the ear-side loudspeaker body (305, 405) is rotatably mounted relative to the carrying bracket (102, 103) or a connecting part (301, 401) to the carrying bracket.

2. Headphones according to claim 1, characterized in that the ear-side speaker body (305) is in the form of a plug.

3. Headphones according to claim 1, characterized in that the ear-side speaker body (405) is lenticular.

4. Headphones according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrying brackets (102, 103) are mounted in the basic housing (101) and are expandable in at least one plane, that the carrying brackets are operatively connected to at least one switch housed in the lever effective area of this plane, and that this switch switches on the reception circuit for a certain load-dependent spreading position of the support bracket, that the headphones have a circuit-based sound management, which sound management ensures the maintenance of a minimally predetermined sound quality and / or a switch from mono to stereo reception and / or ensures that when the values are undershot automatically switches off the transmission of a certain tone quality and automatically switches this transmission on again when the tone quality is restored.

5. Headphones according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrical connection between a signal receiver belonging to the basic housing and the loudspeaker bodies (305, 405) takes place through a connecting line (311, 414), which is made internally by the mounting bracket (102, 103) and the Small speakers (300, 400) is guided.

6. Headphones according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrical connection in the region of the rotatable parts (305, 405/301, 401) takes place by means of slip ring contacts.

7. Headphones according to claim 1, characterized in that when the headphones are put down, a torsion spring arranged at a suitable location brings about the original rest position between loudspeaker bodies (305, 40) 5 and base bodies (301, 401).