EP3677045A1 - Eyewear accommodating headset with adaptive and variable ear support - Google Patents
Eyewear accommodating headset with adaptive and variable ear supportInfo
- Publication number
- EP3677045A1 EP3677045A1 EP18851274.3A EP18851274A EP3677045A1 EP 3677045 A1 EP3677045 A1 EP 3677045A1 EP 18851274 A EP18851274 A EP 18851274A EP 3677045 A1 EP3677045 A1 EP 3677045A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- headset
- ear cup
- foam
- wearer
- temple
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
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Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
- H04R1/10—Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones
- H04R1/105—Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R5/00—Stereophonic arrangements
- H04R5/033—Headphones for stereophonic communication
- H04R5/0335—Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
- H04R1/10—Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones
- H04R1/1008—Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
- H04R1/10—Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones
- H04R1/1041—Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
- H04R1/10—Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones
- H04R1/1058—Manufacture or assembly
- H04R1/1066—Constructional aspects of the interconnection between earpiece and earpiece support
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
- H04R1/10—Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones
- H04R1/1083—Reduction of ambient noise
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R2201/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones covered by H04R1/00 but not provided for in any of its subgroups
- H04R2201/10—Details of earpieces, attachments therefor, earphones or monophonic headphones covered by H04R1/10 but not provided for in any of its subgroups
- H04R2201/105—Manufacture of mono- or stereophonic headphone components
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R2201/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones covered by H04R1/00 but not provided for in any of its subgroups
- H04R2201/10—Details of earpieces, attachments therefor, earphones or monophonic headphones covered by H04R1/10 but not provided for in any of its subgroups
- H04R2201/107—Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R3/00—Circuits for transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
- H04R3/04—Circuits for transducers, loudspeakers or microphones for correcting frequency response
Definitions
- aspects of the present disclosure relate to audio technologies, particularly headsets. More specifically, certain implementations of the present disclosure relate to methods and systems for an eyewear accommodating headset with adaptive and variable ear support.
- FIG. 1 depicts a first view of a headset configured for accommodating eyewear.
- FIG. 2 depicts a second view of the headset of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 3 depicts one of the ear cups of the headset of FIG. 1
- FIGs. 4A and 4B illustrate adjusting the tightness of a strap-type ear cup shaper of a first embodiment of the headset to adjust the amount of space created for the eyewear.
- FIGs. 5A and 5B illustrate adjusting the tightness of a strap-type ear cup shaper of a second embodiment of the headset to adjust the amount of space created for the eyewear.
- FIGs. 6A and 6B illustrate cross section views of the embodiment of the headset shown in FIG. 5B.
- FIG. 7 illustrates how the temple piece of the glasses fits into the depression created by a strap-type ear cup shaper.
- FIG. 8 depicts a block diagram of an example implementation of a headset with eyewear accommodation.
- FIGs. 9A-D depict an example implementation where retractable structures positioned inside the foam of the ear cups enable the headset to accommodate temple pieces of eyeglasses.
- FIGs. 10A-D depict an example implementation in which the ear pieces have openings to accommodate temple pieces of eyeglasses.
- FIG. 1 1 A is a flowchart illustrating a first example process for adjusting audio settings based on a state of an ear cup shaper.
- FIG. 1 1 B is a flowchart illustrating a second example process for adjusting audio settings based on a state of an ear cup shaper.
- FIG. 12 depicts a headset configured in accordance with example implementation in which the ear cups have parts with different foam for accommodating temple pieces of eyeglasses.
- FIGs. 13A-B depict an example implementation in which the ear pieces have divots to accommodate temple pieces of eyeglasses.
- circuits and “circuitry” refer to physical electronic components (e.g., hardware), and any software and/or firmware (“code”) that may configure the hardware, be executed by the hardware, and or otherwise be associated with the hardware.
- code software and/or firmware
- a particular processor and memory e.g., a volatile or non-volatile memory device, a general computer-readable medium, etc.
- a circuit may comprise analog and/or digital circuitry. Such circuitry may, for example, operate on analog and/or digital signals.
- a circuit may be in a single device or chip, on a single motherboard, in a single chassis, in a plurality of enclosures at a single geographical location, in a plurality of enclosures distributed over a plurality of geographical locations, etc.
- module may, for example, refer to a physical electronic components (e.g., hardware) and any software and/or firmware (“code”) that may configure the hardware, be executed by the hardware, and or otherwise be associated with the hardware.
- circuitry or module is "operable" to perform a function whenever the circuitry or module comprises the necessary hardware and code (if any is necessary) to perform the function, regardless of whether performance of the function is disabled or not enabled (e.g., by a user-configurable setting, factory trim, etc.).
- "and/or” means any one or more of the items in the list joined by “and/or”.
- "x and/or y” means any element of the three-element set ⁇ (x), (y), (x, y) ⁇ .
- "x and/or y” means "one or both of x and y.”
- "x, y, and/or z” means any element of the seven-element set ⁇ (x), (y), (z), (x, y), (x, z), (y, z), (x, y, z) ⁇ .
- x, y and/or z means “one or more of x, y, and z.”
- exemplary means serving as a non-limiting example, instance, or illustration.
- terms "for example” and “e.g.” set off lists of one or more non-limiting examples, instances, or illustrations.
- FIGs. 1 and 2 there is shown two views of an example headset 100 that may present audio received from a connected device (e.g., game console) to a listener.
- the headset 100 comprises a headband 102, a microphone boom 106 with microphone 104, ear cups 108a and 108b which attach to housings 1 19a and 1 19b which house speakers 1 16a and 1 16b, ear cup shapers in the form of straps 1 18a and 1 18b for accommodating eyewear, connector 1 10, connector 1 14, and user controls 1 12.
- the connector 1 10 may be, for example, a 3.5mm headphone socket for receiving analog audio signals (e.g., receiving chat audio via an Xbox "talkback" cable).
- analog audio signals e.g., receiving chat audio via an Xbox "talkback" cable.
- the microphone 104 converts acoustic waves (e.g., the voice of the person wearing the headset) to electric signals for processing by circuitry of the headset and/or for output to a device (e.g., gaming console, a smartphone, and/or the like) that is in communication with the headset.
- acoustic waves e.g., the voice of the person wearing the headset
- a device e.g., gaming console, a smartphone, and/or the like
- the speakers 1 16a and 1 16b convert electrical signals to soundwaves.
- the user controls 1 12 may comprise dedicated and/or programmable buttons, switches, sliders, wheels, etc. for performing various functions.
- Example functions which the controls 1 12 may be configured to perform include: power the headset 100 on/off, mute/unmute the microphone 104, control gain/volume of, and/or effects applied to, chat audio by the audio processing circuitry of the headset 100, control gain/volume of, and/or effects applied to, game audio by the audio processing circuitry of the headset 100, enable/disable/initiate pairing (e.g., via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi direct, or the like) with another computing device, and/or the like.
- the connector 1 14 may be, for example, a USB port.
- the connector 1 14 may be used for downloading data to the headset 100 from another computing device and/or uploading data from the headset 100 to another computing device. Such data may include, for example, parameter settings. Additionally, or alternatively, the connector 1 14 may be used for communicating with another computing device such as a smartphone, tablet compute, laptop computer, or the like.
- Each of the housings 1 19a and 1 19b may comprise rigid plastic and/or metal for providing shape and support of the headset 200.
- Each of the ear cups 108a and 108b is attached to a respective one of the housings 1 19a and 1 19b.
- each of the housings 1 19a and 1 19b may provide a support structure which may be used in applying tension to a respective one of the straps 1 18a and 1 18b.
- the ear cups 108a and 108b are configured for surrounding the wearer/listener's ears and compressing against the wearer/listener's head to create an enclosed acoustic environment for improved sound quality.
- the ear cups 108a and 108b may comprise, for example, foam that compresses against the listeners head for creating the seal, an outer liner (e.g., a breathable fabric that wicks heat and/or moisture away from the listener's head), and an adjustable strap for deforming the foam to accommodate the temple pieces of a pair of eyeglasses worn by the wearer/listener.
- FIG. 3 depicts one of the ear cups of the headset of FIG. 1 .
- the foam and lining of ear cup 108a is deformed, creating space for the temple piece of a pair of eyeglasses, as a result of tension applied to the strap 1 18a.
- microphones 302 which may, for example, be used for automatic noise cancellation and/or used for characterizing an acoustic environment inside the ear cup 108a, as described below with reference to FIG. 1 1 B.
- the strap 1 18a is on the outside of the ear cup lining. This may be the case, for example, where the straps 1 18a and 1 18b are sold as an after-market add-on.
- the strap is on the inside of the ear cup lining (e.g., stitched to the inside of the lining), as indicated by the dashed lines.
- the wearer/listener may adjust the tension of the strap 1 18a by pulling (e.g., directly or via a ratchet, dial, or other mechanical assembly) on the tag end 402.
- FIGs. 4A and 5A there is less tension on the strap 1 18a relative to the tension on the strap in FIGs. 4B and 5B. Consequently, in FIGs. 4A and 5A there is a shorter tag end 402 and an accompanying smaller deformation, d1 (e.g., 0), in the ear cup as compared to the longer tag end and larger deformation d2 in FIGs. 4B and 5B.
- the tension may be maintained by a retaining device 408 which grips the strap 1 18a and braces against the housing 1 19a, as shown in FIG. 6A and 6B.
- the strap tension may be fixed and the retaining device 408 may simply be a stitching together of two ends of the strap.
- the retaining device may be such as is found on a clothing belt.
- the retaining device may be buttons, or Velcro, or the like.
- the retaining device may use a ratcheting action such as is used on snow sports boots and/or bindings.
- a sensor e.g., a hall effect sensor
- an electrical signal indicating the configuration (i.e., tension or position) of the strap.
- FIG. 7 illustrates how the temple piece of the glasses fits into the depression created by the strap.
- a larger depression e.g., d2 of FIG. 4B
- a smaller depression e.g., d1 of FIG. 4A
- a smaller temple piece e.g., for thin wire frames.
- one consequence of the eyeglasses accommodation may be gaps between the wearer's head and the air cup which may affect the audio experience of the wearer. For example, an air leak caused by such a gap may reduce the perceived loudness of low frequency audio (i.e., reduce the perceived "bass response").
- the headset 100 may be operable to compensate for such changes in the acoustic environment of the ear cup by adjusting the audio settings applied to the audio signals being output via the speakers 1 16a and 1 16b.
- FIG. 8 depicts a block diagram of an example implementation of a headset with eyewear accommodation.
- user controls 1 12, connector 1 14, microphone 104, microphones 302, and speakers 1 16a and 1 16b already discussed shown are a radio 820, a CPU 822, a storage device 824, a memory 826, an audio processing circuit 830, and an ear cup shaper sensor 832.
- the radio 820 comprises circuitry operable to communicate in accordance with one or more standardized (such as, for example, the IEEE 802.1 1 family of standards, the Bluetooth family of standards, and/or the like) and/or proprietary wireless protocol(s) (e.g., a proprietary protocol for receiving audio from an audio basestation such as the basestation 300).
- standardized such as, for example, the IEEE 802.1 1 family of standards, the Bluetooth family of standards, and/or the like
- proprietary wireless protocol(s) e.g., a proprietary protocol for receiving audio from an audio basestation such as the basestation 300.
- the CPU 822 comprises circuitry operable to execute instructions for controlling/coordinating the overall operation of the headset 100. Such instructions may be part of an operating system or state machine of the headset 100 and/or part of one or more software applications running on the headset 100. In some implementations, the CPU 822 may be, for example, a programmable interrupt controller, a state machine, or the like.
- the storage device 824 comprises, for example, FLASH or other nonvolatile memory for storing data which may be used by the CPU 822 and/or the audio processing circuitry 830.
- data may include, for example, parameter settings that affect processing of audio signals in the headset 100 and parameter settings that affect functions performed by the user controls 1 12.
- one or more parameter settings may determine, at least in part, a gain of one or more gain elements of the audio processing circuitry 830.
- one or more parameter settings may determine, at least in part, a frequency response of one or more filters that operate on audio signals in the audio processing circuitry 830.
- one or more parameter settings may determine, at least in part, whether and which sound effects are added to audio signals in the audio processing circuitry 830 (e.g., which effects to add to microphone audio to morph the user's voice).
- Example parameter settings which affect audio processing are described in the co-pending United States patent application 13/040,144 titled “Gaming Headset with Programmable Audio” and published as US2012/0014553, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
- Particular parameter settings may be selected autonomously by the headset 100 in accordance with one or more algorithms, based on user input (e.g., via controls 1 12), and/or based on input received via one or more of the connectors 1 10 and 1 14.
- the memory 826 comprises volatile memory used by the CPU 822 and/or audio processing circuit 830 as program memory, for storing runtime data, etc.
- the ear cup shaper sensor 832 comprises circuitry operable to detect the position of one or both of the ear cup shapers of the two ear cups 108a and 108b.
- the sensor 832 may sense tension on one or both of the straps 1 18a and 1 18b, amount of deformation in the foam as a result of one or both of the straps 1 18a and 1 18b, and/or the presence (e.g., through thermal and/or skin conductance measurements) or size (e.g., through sound pressure measurement) of an air-gap between one or both of the ear cups 108a and 108b and the wearer's head as a result of the straps 1 18a and/or 1 18b.
- the sensor 832 may sense whether the plunger is extended or depressed, amount of deformation in the foam as a result of one or both of the plungers 902a and 902b, and/or presence and/or size of an air-gap between one or both of the ear cups 108a and 108b and the wearer's head as a result of the plungers 902a and 902b.
- the senor 832 may comprise, for example, a magnet with hall effect sensor for each strap (i.e., the voltage produced on the hall element varies with position of the strap).
- the sensor 832 may comprise, for example, a wheel or track ball that rolls as the strap is tightened or loosened.
- the sensor 832 may comprise, for example, a potentiometer, a simple binary (on/off) switch or contact, and/or the like.
- the measurement(s) from the sensor 832 may be fed to the CPU 822 and/or audio processing circuitry 830 and processing of audio may be adjusted based on the measurements. For example, phase, amplitude, frequency, and/or some other characteristics of audio signals being output to the speakers 1 16a and 1 16b may be adjusted to compensate for the acoustic environment corresponding to the current measurement(s). For example, to account for an air gap between the ear cup 108a and the wearer's head created by an ear cup shaper, the bass of the audio signal being output the speaker 1 16a may be boosted to maintain a desired bass loudness.
- a DSP tuning correction factor applied to the output audio signals by audio processing circuitry 830 may be enabled or disabled.
- the state of the ear cup shaper may be used for identifying a wearer of the headset (e.g., where two siblings share the headset but only one of them wears glasses, which may be stored in user profile/settings).
- the audio processing circuit 830 may comprise circuitry operable to perform audio processing functions such as volume/gain control, compression, decompression, encoding, decoding, introduction of audio effects (e.g., echo, phasing, virtual surround effect, etc.), and/or the like. As described above, the processing performed by the audio processing circuit 830 may be determined, at least in part, by one or more measurements from the sensor 832. The processing may be performed on game, chat, and/or microphone audio that is subsequently output to speaker 1 16a and 1 16b. Additionally, or alternatively, the processing may be performed on chat audio that is subsequently output to the connector 1 10 and/or radio 820.
- audio processing functions such as volume/gain control, compression, decompression, encoding, decoding, introduction of audio effects (e.g., echo, phasing, virtual surround effect, etc.), and/or the like.
- the processing performed by the audio processing circuit 830 may be determined, at least in part, by one or more measurements from the sensor 832.
- the processing may
- FIGs. 9A-D depict an example implementation where retractable rigid structures positioned inside filler material of the ear cups (e.g., foam) enable the headset to comfortably accommodate temple pieces of eyeglasses.
- the ear cups e.g., foam
- FIG. 9A shows the entire headset 100 with depressions 904a and 904b in ear cups 108a and 108b, respectively, created by plunger 902a and 902b, respectively, which are within the ear cups 108a and 108b.
- FIG. 9B when the plunger 902a is in an extended position such that deformation 904a is not present.
- FIG. 9C shows a user retracting the plunger 902a by pressing on it.
- FIG. 9D shows the structure in a retracted position such that deformation 904a is present to accommodate the temple piece of a pair of eyeglasses.
- the components 906a and 908a comprise a magnet 906a and a magnetic contact 908a such that the plunger 902a is held in a retracted position by magnetic force.
- the plunger 902a may be returned to the extended position by squeezing the ear cup 108a to exert an extension force that overcomes the magnetic force.
- the components 906a and 908a may comprise a mechanical latch as is found in retractable ballpoint pens.
- a first push of the plunger 902a compresses the foam and engages the mechanical latch
- a second push of the plunger compresses the foam beyond the retracted position and disengages the mechanical latch allowing the foam to decompress (possibly aided by a spring) and return the plunger to the extended position.
- the components 906a and 908a comprise a magnet and a semiconductor hall element together operating as a hall effect sensor such that a voltage produced on the hall element varies with the position of the plunger 902.
- the components 908a and 906a comprise electrical contacts such that when the plunger 902a is retracted a circuity is completed but when it is open the circuit is broken.
- one or both of the components 908a and 906a may comprise a normally open switch that is closed the plunger 902a is retracted and open otherwise.
- FIGs. 10A-D depict an example implementation in which the ear pieces have openings (e.g., slits) to accommodate temple pieces of eyeglasses.
- the slits/openings may be such that, when no glasses are being worn by a wearer of the headset, as shown in FIGs. 10A and 10C, the elastic nature of the filler material of the ear cups (e.g., foam) closes the slits/openings.
- the filler material is pushed aside by the temple piece of the eyeglasses while creating little or no additional pressure on the temples of the wearer as compared to when the headset is worn without the eyeglasses.
- the slits are such that, when eyeglasses are being worn concurrently with the headset, the foam of the headset is between temple pieces of the eyeglasses and the temple of the wearer.
- the filler material e.g., foam
- the filler material is compressed mostly in the vertical direction such that any additional pressure resulting from the presence of the temple pieces (relative to when the headset is worn without the eyeglasses) is exerted in the vertical directions on the temple pieces, rather than in the horizontal direction on the temples of the wearer.
- FIG. 1 1 A is a flowchart illustrating a first example process for adjusting audio settings based on a state of an ear cup shaper.
- a change in state of an ear cup shaper of ear cup 108a is detected.
- a retraction or extension of a plunger-type ear cup shaper is detected by sensor 832, or a tightening or loosening of a strap-type ear cup shaper is detected by sensor 832.
- different audio settings are selected for processing the audio signal being output to speaker 1 16a. This may comprise, for example, increasing gain applied to low frequency components of the audio signal such that bass loudness is approximately the same before and after the change in state of the ear cup shaper.
- FIG. 1 1 B is a flowchart illustrating a second example process for adjusting audio settings based on a state of an ear cup shaper.
- block 1 1 10 calibration of the audio signals being output to the speakers 1 16a and 1 16b of the headset 100 is triggered. Audio calibration may, for example, be triggered periodically, in response to an adjustment of an ear cup shaper (e.g., detected by sensor 832), or in response to the putting on, or taking off, of glasses (e.g., detected by sensor 832).
- the acoustics inside the chamber created by an ear cup and the wearer's head are measured.
- This may comprise audio signals of known characteristics being output to speakers 1 16a and 1 16b and the corresponding acoustic waves being capture by microphones 302.
- audio settings e.g., gain and/or phase shift applied to various frequency bands
- the measured response may reveal that bass is quieter than expected (e.g., due to a gap formed by the ear cup shaper) and the gain applied to low frequency components of the audio signal may be accordingly increased.
- a headset (e.g., 100) comprises an ear cup (e.g., 100), at least one speaker (e.g., 1 16a), an adjustable ear cup shaper (e.g., strap 1 18a or plunger 902a), and circuitry (e.g., 302, 822, 824, 826, 830, and/or 832).
- ear cup e.g., 100
- speaker e.g., 1 16a
- an adjustable ear cup shaper e.g., strap 1 18a or plunger 902a
- circuitry e.g., 302, 822, 824, 826, 830, and/or 832
- the ear cup shaper is adjustable into at least two configuration, wherein a first of the configurations creates no depression or a first amount of depression in the ear cup (e.g., as in FIG. 4A or FIG. 5A) and a second of the configurations creates a second amount of depression in the ear cup (e.g., as in FIG. 4B or FIG. 5B), the second amount being greater than the first amount.
- the circuitry is operable to determine which one of the configurations the ear cup shaper is configured into, and set an audio setting applied to an audio signal output to the speaker based on the determined one of the configurations.
- the first of the configurations may correspond to a first amount of tension on the strap, and the second of the configurations may correspond to a second amount of tension on the strap, where the second amount of tension is greater than the first amount of tension.
- the circuitry may comprise a sensor (e.g., 832) operable to sense tension on the strap, and the determination of configuration may be based on the tension.
- the first of the configurations may correspond to a retracted position of the plunger, and the second of the configurations may correspond to an extended position of the plunger.
- the circuitry may comprises a switch or electrical contact (e.g., 906a and/or 908a) operable to sense whether the plunger is retracted or extended.
- the circuitry may comprise a hall effect sensor, and the determination may be based on an output of the hall effect sensor.
- the audio setting may comprises a gain applied to the audio signal. The gain may be set to a first, higher gain when the ear cup shaper is in the first configuration and to a second, lower gain when the ear cup shaper is in the second configuration.
- the audio setting comprises a bass boost setting (i.e., configuration of the gains applied to various frequency bands that increases the perceived loudness of the bass frequencies).
- the base boost setting may be disabled when the adjustable ear cup shaper is in the first configuration and enabled when the adjustable ear cup shaper is in the second configuration.
- the ear cup may comprise foam that is compressed a first amount when the adjustable ear cup shaper is in the first configuration and compressed a second amount when the adjustable ear cup shaper is in the second configuration, where the second amount is greater than the first amount.
- the headset may comprise a microphone (e.g., 302) configured to capture acoustic waves inside a cavity formed by the ear cup, and the determination may be based on the acoustic waves captured by the microphone.
- FIG. 12 depicts a headset configured in accordance with example implementation in which the ear cups have parts with different foam for accommodating temple pieces of eyeglasses. Shown in FIG. 12 is headset 1200.
- the headset 1200 may be substantially similar to the headset 100, as described with respect to the previous figures. However, the headset 1200 may be configured for accommodating temple pieces of eyeglasses based on use of filler material (e.g., foam) with different characteristics, in a plurality of sections, portions or parts, arranged in a manner to optimize quality of contact with the temple of a wearer of the headset 1200, particularly when the wearer is utilizing eyeglasses.
- the headset 1200 may comprise ear cups 1208 (similar to the ear cups 108a and 108b described above, for example).
- the ear cups 1208 may be configured for surrounding the wearer/listener's ears and compressing against the wearer/listener's head to create an enclosed acoustic environment for improved sound quality.
- the ear cups 1208 may comprise parts, portions and/or sections with different filler material (e.g., foam) profiles (e.g., different filter material, same filler material but with different characteristics, etc.).
- the ear cups 1208 may comprise distinct ear cup areas 1210 and 1212. In this regard, these areas may be arranged, for example, with areas 1212 being at the top and bottom of the ear cup 1208, and areas 1210 on the sides.
- the areas 1210 on the side may be where eyeglasses (or specifically temple pieces or straps thereof) pass.
- the areas 1210 are designed or implemented so as to allow the eyeglasses (or relevant parts thereof) to pass through more easily, but also to ensure maintaining of contact with the wearer's head and/or prevent compression of the ear cups 1208.
- the ear cups may be filled using foam, and as such the areas 1210 and 1212 may comprise foam of different characteristics (e.g., different hardness, density, etc.).
- the areas 1210 of the ear cup 1208 include foam 1220 that is different (e.g., different hardness and/or density) of foam 1222 used in the other areas 1212.
- the two foams 1220 and 1222 may be glued together, thus forming a filler with distinct characteristics within the ear cup 1208.
- the foam 1220 may be, for example, harder and/or more dense that the foam 1222, thus the areas 1210 may compress more easily when eyeglasses are used, allowing the temple pieces or straps to pass through, while areas 1212 keep the headset 1200 from compressing and the softer areas allow the glasses to pass through more easily.
- the ratio of durometer (hardness) of foam 1222 used in the parts 1212 to the foam 1220 used in the parts 1210 may be substantially large (e.g., greater than 4:1 ).
- foam 1222 may comprise 6030FR whereas foam 1220 may comprise 3015 foam, from Bergad.
- the ratio of the durometer of the foam, where the ratio is greater than 4:1 hard to soft, is simply an example however, and other durometer values and ratios are also possible and contemplated.
- FIGs. 13A-B depict an example implementation in which the ear pieces have divots to accommodate temple pieces of eyeglasses.
- the ear pieces have divots (e.g. cutoff parts or indentations) to accommodate temple pieces of eyeglasses.
- the divots may be configured such that, when eyeglasses are worn concurrently with a headset by a wearer of the headset, the filler material (e.g., foam) of the headset is kept off or is pushed out of the way such that the temple pieces of the eyeglasses contact the temples of the wearer
- the divots may be configured as fixed—that is, they may be pre-cut based on the anticipated depth required for accommodating the temple pieces. Thus, when glasses are worn by the wearer of the headset as shown in FIG. 13B, the temple pieces of the eyeglasses may simply occupy the space created by the divots between the ear pieces and the temples of the wearer.
- the divots may be implemented with at least some flexibility, such that when no glasses are being worn by the wearer of the headset, as shown in FIG. 13A, the elastic nature of the filler material of the ear cups (e.g., foam) closes at least some of the divots.
- the filler material is pushed aside by the temple piece of the eyeglasses while creating little or no additional pressure on the temples of the wearer as compared to when the headset is worn without the eyeglasses.
- the filler material is compressed mostly in the horizontal direction, away from the temples of the wearer, such that any additional pressure resulting from the presence of the temple pieces (relative to when the headset is worn without the eyeglasses) is exerted in the horizontal direction onto the temple pieces, to maintain contact.
- the ear pieces may be configured to accommodate the compression in the filter material resulting from expansion in the divots— e.g., incorporating hollow areas in the foam adjacent to the divots for receiving the foam that is pushed out of the way by the temple pieces.
- FIG. 1 may depict a non-transitory computer readable medium and/or storage medium, and/or a non-transitory machine readable medium and/or storage medium, having stored thereon, a machine code and/or a computer program having at least one code section executable by a machine and/or a computer, thereby causing the machine and/or computer to perform the processes as described herein.
- various embodiments in accordance with the present invention may be realized in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software.
- the present invention may be realized in a centralized fashion in at least one computing system, or in a distributed fashion where different elements are spread across several interconnected computing systems. Any kind of computing system or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein is suited.
- a typical combination of hardware and software may be a general-purpose computing system with a program or other code that, when being loaded and executed, controls the computing system such that it carries out the methods described herein.
- Another typical implementation may comprise an application specific integrated circuit or chip.
- Various embodiments in accordance with the present invention may also be embedded in a computer program product, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation of the methods described herein, and which when loaded in a computer system is able to carry out these methods.
- Computer program in the present context means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following: a) conversion to another language, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different material form.
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
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- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Otolaryngology (AREA)
- Headphones And Earphones (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US15/693,104 US10327056B2 (en) | 2013-11-26 | 2017-08-31 | Eyewear accommodating headset with adaptive and variable ear support |
PCT/US2018/042396 WO2019045893A1 (en) | 2017-08-31 | 2018-07-17 | Eyewear accommodating headset with adaptive and variable ear support |
Publications (2)
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EP3677045A1 true EP3677045A1 (en) | 2020-07-08 |
EP3677045A4 EP3677045A4 (en) | 2021-05-05 |
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EP18851274.3A Pending EP3677045A4 (en) | 2017-08-31 | 2018-07-17 | Eyewear accommodating headset with adaptive and variable ear support |
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EP (1) | EP3677045A4 (en) |
CN (2) | CN117156342A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2019045893A1 (en) |
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CN111935586B (en) * | 2020-09-17 | 2021-01-08 | 深圳市科奈信科技有限公司 | Active noise reduction earphone and noise reduction method thereof |
Family Cites Families (14)
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US5706360A (en) | 1995-11-27 | 1998-01-06 | Khandekar; Pramod | Headset with spectacle temple accommodating openings |
US5920911A (en) * | 1997-11-17 | 1999-07-13 | Poiesis Research, Inc. | Earcup soft-seal with thinned lips and interleaving layers of damping materials |
JP2002101483A (en) * | 2000-09-26 | 2002-04-05 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Headphone |
US8879751B2 (en) | 2010-07-19 | 2014-11-04 | Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc. | Gaming headset with programmable audio paths |
DE202008016854U1 (en) * | 2008-12-22 | 2010-02-25 | Sennheiser Electronic Gmbh & Co. Kg | Earpiece, headset and earpads |
TW201101857A (en) * | 2009-06-18 | 2011-01-01 | yue-ming Cao | Open type ear muffs |
CN202261724U (en) * | 2011-07-01 | 2012-05-30 | 山东科技大学 | Headset |
JP6032499B2 (en) * | 2011-12-16 | 2016-11-30 | パナソニックIpマネジメント株式会社 | Sealed headphones |
DE102013216133A1 (en) | 2013-08-14 | 2015-02-19 | Sennheiser Electronic Gmbh & Co. Kg | Handset or headset |
US9813798B2 (en) * | 2013-11-26 | 2017-11-07 | Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc. | Eyewear accommodating headset with audio compensation |
US9049512B1 (en) | 2013-11-26 | 2015-06-02 | Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc. | Eyewear accommodating headset |
CN105516842B (en) * | 2014-09-24 | 2019-02-15 | 美律电子(深圳)有限公司 | Earmuff with composite cushion |
EP3188494A1 (en) * | 2015-12-29 | 2017-07-05 | GN Netcom A/S | A headphone with two ear cushions of different hardness |
CN205883516U (en) * | 2016-07-15 | 2017-01-11 | 北京爱德发科技有限公司 | Earmuff and headphone |
-
2018
- 2018-07-17 CN CN202311295484.2A patent/CN117156342A/en active Pending
- 2018-07-17 EP EP18851274.3A patent/EP3677045A4/en active Pending
- 2018-07-17 WO PCT/US2018/042396 patent/WO2019045893A1/en unknown
- 2018-07-17 CN CN201880066278.5A patent/CN111213388A/en active Pending
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EP3677045A4 (en) | 2021-05-05 |
WO2019045893A1 (en) | 2019-03-07 |
CN117156342A (en) | 2023-12-01 |
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