GB2300782A - Headset having loudspeakers spaced apart from the wearer's ears - Google Patents

Abstract

A headset 10 is provided in which earphones 12 and 12A are mounted so as to be spaced from the wearer's head in advance of his ears. The headset 10 exemplified is for virtual reality applications, the front portion 11 containing an optical system to present computer-generated images to the wearer's eyes. The accompanying sound is presented by the earphones 12 and 12A without the fatigue which is caused by earphones pressed against or penetrating the ear and without isolating the headset wearer from ambient sounds.

Description

"HEDSET" This invention relates to a headset, by which is meant a device adapted to be worn on the head so as to present sound emitting means such as earphones or loudspeakers to the ears of the wearer.

Traditional headsets comprise a springy arch which in use passes over the top of the wearer's head having at each extremity an inwardly presented earphone, which consists of a loudspeaker the diaphragm of which is surrounded by a muffler ring of soft material such as rubber. In use each rtuffler is located over a respective ear, thereby cutting out ambient sounds. Mbre modern headsets may lack the muffler rings but are designed so that each diaphram assembly is placed at the entrance of or even enters the cavum concha of the respective ear, ("in-the-ear" headsets) thus also isolating the wearer from ambient sound.

This isolation of the wearer from ambient sound is advantageous if the wearer wishes to listen to music or the sound track of a film shown on an aircraft, for example, without being distracted by his surroundings. It also is advantageous if other persons in proximity to the wearer and not listening to the same broadcast or recording are not to be subjected to low volume noise nuisance. For exanple one occupant of a bed can sleep while the other listens to a broadcast.

However there are numerous situations in which the isolation of the wearer fram ambient sound is disadvantageous. He may for instance have to listen for instructions or announcements not coming to him via the headset. In these circumstances the wearer tends to place only one earphone over one ear and wears the headset crookely. A headset has been proposed in which the earphones are pivotally mounted so that one or both can be moved away from the respective ear.

It is clearly disadvantageous if a headset has to be improperly worn so that the user d does s not receive sound in the intended way. Stereophonic effects, for example, will be impaired or lost. Moreover the use of headsets which isolate the user from ambient sound is found to be fatiguing, and the sound quality at least of the cheaper "in-the-ear" headsets in general use leaves nuch to be desired. It is believed that the fleshy auricle of the ear prevents the "colouration" of ambient sound which is characteristic of sound emitted by such headsets, giving it a "tinny", artificial quality.

Recent years have seen the evolution of virtual reality, in the various applications of which a headset is worn to present computer-generated images to the eyes while accompanying sound is presented to the ears. Typically a headset used for virtual reality encircles the head in a horizontal plane.

In a frontal portion an optical system is mounted to present images to the eyes and in lateral portions earphones are mounted to cover the ears. In at least the majority of situations in which virtual reality is, or is likely to be, experienced it is unnecessary totally to isolate the wearer of the headset from ambient sound. Other persons will not be inconvenienced but in particular the wearer is less likely to experience fatigue and will receive better quality sound if earphones are not pressed against his ears.

Principal objects of the present invention are therefore to avoid drawbacks of prior art proposals and to provide a safe and economical solution to the problem of the foregoing paragraph.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a headset comprising a pair of sound emitting means adapted, in use, to be presented respectively to the ears of a wearer of the headset, characterised in that the sound emitting means have fixed locations on the headset such that in use each will be approximately parallel with and spaced from the auricle of the respective ear.

The fixed locations of the sound emitting means are preferably such that in use each will be in advance of the respective ear and presented generally toward the respective temple of the user.

Each sound emitting means is preferably an earphone or loudspeader the median plane of which will, in use, be generally parallel with the median plane of the auricle of the respective ear of the wearer.

The headset may be adapted wholly or partially to encircle the head of the wearer generally in a horizontal plane, in use, comprising front and rear portions, lateral portions joining the front and rear portions and lobes extending rearwardly of the front portion adjacent the lateral portions in which the sound emitting means are respectively mounted, each said lobe being shaped and positioned such that it will be spaced frcm the wearer's temples, in use, and terminating rearwardly at a position spaced from the rear portion of the headset such that in use a gap will exist in the region of the helix of each of the user's ears through which ambient sound may be heard.

An optical system may be mounted in the front portion adapted in use to present images to the eyes of the wearer.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will nw be described with reference to the accompnaying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a top view, partially in section, and Figure 2 is a side elevation of a headset in accordance with the invention.

The headset 10 encircles the wearers head generally in a horizontal plane and has a frontal portion 11 which houses an optical system adapted to present computer generated images to the eyes of the wearer. Such an optical system is described in our co-pending British Patent Application No.

9416118.9 to which reference is made for a fuller understanding of the nature, purpose and manner of use of the headset 10. However the optical system and associated computer apparatus will not be further described herein as it forms no part of the present invention.

As is knawn per se the headset 10 additionally houses a pair of earphones or loudspeakers 12 and 12A located such that when the headset is worn each will be in proximity to a respective ear of the wearer. Circuitry (not shown) is provided whereby sound is presented to the ears to accompany the images being presented to the eyes.

The auricle or pinna of the ear extends rearwardly from the temple at an acute angle such that its median plane, illustrated by the line A-A in Figure 1, is typically at about 12" to the head. In accordance with the present invention the earphones 12 and 12A are fixedly mounted in the headset 10 in positions such that in use each will be spaced from the associated ear, its median plane, illustrated by the line B-B in Figure 1 in the case of the earphone 12, being generally parallel with the plane A-A or rearwardly convergent at a very small angle. The earphones 12 and 12A are mounted in respective lobes 13, 13A of the headset housing which extend rearwardly from the front portion 11 to lie laterally of and spaced from the head of the wearer.

The headset further includes a rear portion 14 and lateral portions, one of which is indicated at 15, which connect the front portion 11 to the rear portion 14 to provide an annular structure surrounding the head in a horizontal plane. The front and rear portions are cushioned as at 17 and 18, respectively, to locate the headset on the head. The lateral portions such as 15 do not touch the head.

Within this structure the lobes 13 and 13A extend rearwardly so that the earphones 12 and 12A are presented to the respective temples of the wearer of the headset slightly ahead of his ears. The e lobes 13 and 13A terminate rearwardly at 16, 16A so that there is a gap between each and the rear portion 14 of the headset. This gap provides an opening between the headset and each side of the head through which ambient sound can reach the ears of the wearer.

It will be understood that the invention may also be applied to a headset which lacks means to present visual images to the eyes of the wearer and to a headset which d does s not fully encircle the head. Alternative embodiments are envisaged in which the headset housing or like support extends over rather than around the head.

Claims (7)

CLAlIS:

1. A headset comprising a pair of sound emitting means adapted, in use, to be presented respectively to the ears of a wearer of the headset, characterised in that the sound emitting means have fixed locations on the headset such that in use each will be approximately parallel with and spaced from the auricle of the respective ear.

2. A headset as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixed locations of the sound emitting means are such that in use each will be in advance of the respective ear and presented generally toward the respective tile of the user.

3. A headset as claimed in either preceding claim wherein each sound emitting means is an earphone or loudspeaker the mean plane of which will, in use, be generally parallel or rearwardly convergent with the median plane of the auricle of the respective ear of the wearer.

4. A headset as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and adapted wholly or partially to encircle the head of the wearer generally in a horizontal plane, in use.

5. A headset as claimed in claim 4 and comprising front and rear portions, lateral portions joining the front and rear portions and lobes extending rearwardly of the front portion adjacent the lateral portions in which lobes the sound emitting means are respectively mounted, each said lobe being shaped and positioned such that it will be spaced from the wearer's temples, in use, and terminating rearwardly at a position spaced from the rear portion of the headset such that in use a gap will exist in the region of the helix of each of the user's ears through which ambient sound may be heard.

6. A headset as claimed in claim 5, wherein an optical system is mounted in the front portion adapted in use to present images to the eyes of the wearer.

7. A headset substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying Drawings.