US3891810A - Headphone - Google Patents

Headphone Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3891810A
US3891810A US392370A US39237073A US3891810A US 3891810 A US3891810 A US 3891810A US 392370 A US392370 A US 392370A US 39237073 A US39237073 A US 39237073A US 3891810 A US3891810 A US 3891810A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
headphone
ear
sound
transducer
electro
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US392370A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Naotake Hayashi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3891810A publication Critical patent/US3891810A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

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
    • H04R1/1008—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
    • H04R5/00—Stereophonic arrangements
    • H04R5/033—Headphones for stereophonic communication
    • H04R5/0335—Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A headphone set held over the cars by a band worn on the head of a user comprises a sound box surrounding each ear and mounting in its front, an electro-acoustic transducer. This electro-acoustic transducer has its axis inclined by a small angle from the vertical to a line connecting each ear.
  • Headphone sets can be used to listen to high-fidelity recordings in a relatively easy manner irrespective of a listeners position and attitude. As a result, various improvements have been proposed to such headphones for hearing stereo recordings.
  • a bare headphone is merely a kind of electro-acoustic transducer which can transmit communication signals, so that it is basically unsuitable for hearing stereo or binaural mu- SIC.
  • the headphone has been screened from outside noises with the aid of a sound box and so constructed that the sound produced by the electroacoustic transducer is not leaked out of the box.
  • Such an open type headphone has the advantage that outside sound can enter into the headphone or the sound reproduced can be leaked out to a certain degree, and as a result, natural and excellent high-fidelity sound can be reproduced and heard compared to a closed type headphone.
  • the inventor has found out that in case of hearing a musical performance, for example, the music is picked up by a set of microphones arranged at the left and right sides of a listener and transmitted through left and right channels to electro-acoustic transducers by which the music is reproduced. In hearing such music with both cars at once, it is best to locate the speakers on lines met at the position of the listener and making an angle of about 60.
  • the invention is based on such recognition.
  • a feature of the invention is the provision of a headphone held over the ear by a band worn on the head of a user comprising a sound box open at its front and surrounding each ear, and an electro-acoustic transducer set into the open front of the sound box, the axis of the electro-acoustic transducer being inclined outwardly by a small angle from the vertical to a line connecting each ear.
  • Such an such improved headphone has a number of advantages.
  • the axial direction of the external earpath is approximately perpendicular to the incident direction of the sound waves so that the listener can catch the sound waves transmitted from the front.
  • Third, the frequency characteristics, phase characteristics, etc. of the sound wave can be perceived by the ear in response to the complex configuration of the ear, and as a result, the listener can hear the sound in an extremely natural aural sense from acoustic, physiological and psychological points of view.
  • an ideal stereo sound can be heard without the disadvantage that the sound passes through a line connecting each ear.
  • FIG. 1 is a front view showing a headphone held over the ear by a band worn on the head of a user according to the invention, partly in section;
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1, partly in section;
  • FIG. 3 is a front view showing a sound box of the headphone according to the invention in an enlarged scale
  • FIG. 4 is a section along line IVIV in FIG. 3.
  • a sound box 1 has such dimensions that it can surround each ear 2 with spaces remaining around the ear 2 so as not to deform the ear.
  • the sound box I is comprised of upper and lower walls 3, 4, a side wall 5 and a rear wall 6.
  • the opposite side of the side wall 5 is opened so as to insert the ear 2 into the sound box I and make the end edges of the respective walls contact the head and cheek of a user.
  • the user's ears are not subjected to any disagreeable sound pressure.
  • the front side which is in opposition to the rear wall 6 is opened, and to this open front is secured an electro-acoustic transducer 7.
  • the box I is constructed as described above, some sound can leak out of the box with the frequency characteristics of the eIectro-acoustic transducer 7 well matched to the incident signal, and the low frequency band is adjustable.
  • the box I is provided with a lining 8 made of some suitable sound absorbing material to prevent the high frequency band from being irregularly reflected.
  • the present invention makes use of some suitable electro-acoustic transducer 7.
  • the eIectro-acoustic transducer 7 is comprised of an electrostatic type flat plate shaped electro-acoustic transducer comprising a diaphragm 9 and fixed electrodes 11 arranged at each side of the diaphragm 9 and spaced apart by means of spacers 10.
  • Reference numbers I2, 13 and 14 designate lead wires connected to the diaphragm 9 and fixed electrodes 11, respectively.
  • the electro-acoustic transducer 7 is so dimensioned that a plane sound wave can arrive at the ears 2 as a whole from the front.
  • the electro-acoustic transducer 7 is not limited to the above described electrostatic type, but an electromagnetic type can also be used. In this case, it is preferable to use a velocity type, for example, an elliptic dynamic speaker.
  • the electro-acoustic transducer 7 is set into the front of the sound box 1 such that the axis of the electro-acoustic transducer 7 is inclined by a relatively small angle 8, for example, 20 to 30 from the vertical line against a line connecting each ear 2 as shown in FIG. 2.
  • a relatively small angle 8 for example, 20 to 30 from the vertical line against a line connecting each ear 2 as shown in FIG. 2.
  • the rear wall 6 and its lining 8 may be provided with an aperture 18 for passing waves sound wave produced by the transducer 7.
  • the provision of the aperture 18 results in an increase of the loss in the low frequency band, however, it prevents the sound from being con fined in the box 1. If the frequency characteristics of the transducer 7 were flat in the open field, the sound box 1 would not be required. But, the amplitude of the sound wave is liable to become constant at a frequency lower than about 100 Hz. As a result, in order to correct for such low frequency characteristics, a totally enclosed type headphone is preferable. But, the use of such a transducer makes it difficult to eliminate the reaction of the sound pressure since the low frequency band causes resonation in the sound box cavity. As a result, it is necessary to provide a number of small holes in the box 1 or to provide the aperture 18 in the rear wall so that very low frequency sound waves leak out and any resonance is dampened.
  • the sound path 19 can be provided along or inside of a head band 20.
  • the coupling of the boxes through the sound path 19 enables the obtention of a time difference and sound pressure difference simultaneously in each box, thereby improving the stereo performance of the headphone. If it is desired to listen to a binaural performance, the sound path 19 must be closed.
  • the headphone according to the invention may be formed in a conventional manner so as to damp the high frequency band.
  • a portion of the lining 8 which is near the transducer 7 can then be removed and a tweeter element, that is, a small loudspeaker responsive only to the higher frequency band, may be set there so as to secure almost the same effect by adjusting the sound pressure.
  • a transducer 7 can also be set into the rear wall 6 so as to provide a four channel headphone.
  • a headphone set including a pair of headphones adapted to fit over the ears of a user and connected by a head band, each headphone comprising:
  • a sound box having a front wall defining an opening therein, upper and lower walls, an outer side wall, and a rear wall, the sound box being adapted to fit over the ear of a user such that the inner peripheral edges of the front wall, the rear wall, and the upper and lower walls make intimate contact with the head and cheek of a user, and
  • a generally planar electro-acoustic transducer mounted within the front wall opening and having a perforated exterior face
  • said electro-acoustic transducer having an axis generally perpendicular to the plane of the transducer inclined outwardly from the front-rear axis of the users head at an angle of between 20 to 30.
  • a headphone set as defined in claim 2 further comprising a layer of acoustically absorbent material covering the inner surfaces of the upper, lower, outer, and rear walls, and an aperture defined in the rear wall and extending through the layer of material.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Headphones And Earphones (AREA)
US392370A 1972-09-01 1973-08-28 Headphone Expired - Lifetime US3891810A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP8762372A JPS5410853B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-09-01 1972-09-01

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3891810A true US3891810A (en) 1975-06-24

Family

ID=13920087

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US392370A Expired - Lifetime US3891810A (en) 1972-09-01 1973-08-28 Headphone

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3891810A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS5410853B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2343818C3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2335117A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1430260A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USD247433S (en) 1977-03-04 1978-03-07 F.D.B. Productions Headphone
US4173715A (en) * 1978-01-13 1979-11-06 Gosman Theodore D Acoustical device
US4297535A (en) * 1977-07-18 1981-10-27 Hehemann Guenter Stereo headset
USD291690S (en) 1985-03-04 1987-09-01 Talbot Toys Ltd. Headphone
US20080304683A1 (en) * 2007-06-05 2008-12-11 Hsin-Yuan Kuo Stereo Sound Image Forward Headphone
US20120308067A1 (en) * 2011-06-01 2012-12-06 Wai Hung Ip Headphone 3D Hearing technology
US20180206013A1 (en) * 2015-05-13 2018-07-19 Vie Style, Inc. Headphone
USD826897S1 (en) * 2017-04-27 2018-08-28 Tianbo Wang Headphone
USD856972S1 (en) * 2017-08-21 2019-08-20 Bluecom Co., Ltd. Neckband wireless headset
USD896201S1 (en) * 2019-04-04 2020-09-15 Flashbay Electronics Hong Kong Limited Wireless headphones
USD902177S1 (en) * 2019-01-09 2020-11-17 Shenzhen Grandsun Electronic Co., Ltd. Wireless speaker
USD934198S1 (en) * 2019-12-03 2021-10-26 Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation Headphones
USD968358S1 (en) * 2020-12-14 2022-11-01 Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. Headphone
USD968359S1 (en) * 2020-12-14 2022-11-01 Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. Headphone
USD970468S1 (en) * 2021-02-09 2022-11-22 Bose Corporation Set of headphones
USD978826S1 (en) * 2020-08-01 2023-02-21 Bang & Olufsen A/S Headset

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AT355646B (de) * 1977-02-02 1980-03-10 Akg Akustische Kino Geraete Kopfhoerer zum verbesserten raeumlichen hoeren
DE3904194C2 (de) * 1989-02-13 1994-09-15 Bergische Stahlindustrie Bremszange für Scheibenbremsen

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2603724A (en) * 1948-10-30 1952-07-15 Rca Corp Sound translating device arranged to eliminate extraneous sound
US3098307A (en) * 1961-09-01 1963-07-23 Acoustron Corp Language instruction apparatus
US3586794A (en) * 1967-11-04 1971-06-22 Sennheiser Electronic Earphone having sound detour path
US3592978A (en) * 1969-04-21 1971-07-13 David H Hess Stereo earphones

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AT295618B (de) * 1969-04-25 1972-01-10 Akg Akustische Kino Geraete Kopfhörer, insbesondere zur stereophonischen Wiedergabe von Schallereignissen

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2603724A (en) * 1948-10-30 1952-07-15 Rca Corp Sound translating device arranged to eliminate extraneous sound
US3098307A (en) * 1961-09-01 1963-07-23 Acoustron Corp Language instruction apparatus
US3586794A (en) * 1967-11-04 1971-06-22 Sennheiser Electronic Earphone having sound detour path
US3592978A (en) * 1969-04-21 1971-07-13 David H Hess Stereo earphones

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USD247433S (en) 1977-03-04 1978-03-07 F.D.B. Productions Headphone
US4297535A (en) * 1977-07-18 1981-10-27 Hehemann Guenter Stereo headset
US4173715A (en) * 1978-01-13 1979-11-06 Gosman Theodore D Acoustical device
USD291690S (en) 1985-03-04 1987-09-01 Talbot Toys Ltd. Headphone
US20080304683A1 (en) * 2007-06-05 2008-12-11 Hsin-Yuan Kuo Stereo Sound Image Forward Headphone
US20120308067A1 (en) * 2011-06-01 2012-12-06 Wai Hung Ip Headphone 3D Hearing technology
US10306345B2 (en) * 2015-05-13 2019-05-28 Vie Style, Inc. Headphone
US20180206013A1 (en) * 2015-05-13 2018-07-19 Vie Style, Inc. Headphone
USD826897S1 (en) * 2017-04-27 2018-08-28 Tianbo Wang Headphone
USD856972S1 (en) * 2017-08-21 2019-08-20 Bluecom Co., Ltd. Neckband wireless headset
USD902177S1 (en) * 2019-01-09 2020-11-17 Shenzhen Grandsun Electronic Co., Ltd. Wireless speaker
USD896201S1 (en) * 2019-04-04 2020-09-15 Flashbay Electronics Hong Kong Limited Wireless headphones
USD934198S1 (en) * 2019-12-03 2021-10-26 Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation Headphones
USD978826S1 (en) * 2020-08-01 2023-02-21 Bang & Olufsen A/S Headset
USD968358S1 (en) * 2020-12-14 2022-11-01 Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. Headphone
USD968359S1 (en) * 2020-12-14 2022-11-01 Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. Headphone
USD970468S1 (en) * 2021-02-09 2022-11-22 Bose Corporation Set of headphones

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2343818B2 (de) 1977-10-27
FR2335117A1 (fr) 1977-07-08
JPS5410853B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1979-05-10
DE2343818A1 (de) 1974-03-21
DE2343818C3 (de) 1978-06-08
GB1430260A (en) 1976-03-31
JPS4944733A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-04-27
FR2335117B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1978-05-12

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3891810A (en) Headphone
US3798393A (en) Headphone construction
US4037064A (en) Stereo microphone apparatus
US3985960A (en) Stereophonic sound reproduction with acoustically matched receiver units effecting flat frequency response at a listener's eardrums
US3586794A (en) Earphone having sound detour path
US4088849A (en) Headphone unit incorporating microphones for binaural recording
US5022486A (en) Sound reproducing apparatus
US6062337A (en) Audio system that can be mounted on the body of a user
JP3267973B2 (ja) 二要素ヘッドホン
US4158753A (en) Headphone of circumaural design
US4347405A (en) Sound reproducing systems utilizing acoustic processing unit
US4809811A (en) Ear pad construction for earphones
JPH1032892A (ja) 開放型ヘッドホン
JP2019145962A (ja) イヤホン
JPH01117599A (ja) 収音装置
JP4184283B2 (ja) ヘッドホン
US3749853A (en) Hearing aid with directional microphone system
US10721549B2 (en) Direct-radiating earphone drivers
EP3200476B1 (en) Headphone
US20080199035A1 (en) In-Ear Phone
US3609240A (en) Stereophonic headphones
US3790711A (en) Sterophony - simulating earphone
EP3788795B1 (en) An electroacoustic earcup for open-back headphones
JPS6386997A (ja) ヘツドホン
CN110062317A (zh) 一种多发声单元组合结构、耳塞以及耳机设备