WO2010021417A1

WO2010021417A1 - Noise cancelling on-ear headphone

Info

Publication number: WO2010021417A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/004838
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jong-Bae Lee
Original assignee: Cresyn Co., Ltd
Priority date: 2008-08-20
Filing date: 2008-08-20
Publication date: 2010-02-25
Also published as: KR20110011671A; KR101192293B1

Abstract

Headphones are disclosed that can cancel noise input from external sources. The headphone includes a microphone, an attenuation circuit, a speaker, a headphone housing and an ear pad whose buffering member is wrapped by an outer skin. The buffering member contains a plurality of micro-spaces to which air is permeated. The outer skin forms a plurality of audio sound through-holes. Since the buffering member fills the whole inside of the ear pad, it provides a user with a snug, comfortable fit when the user wears the earphones and can manually reduce external noise that flows in from the outside to the ear canal. Although the ear pads are subject to pressure from external environment factors, such as the user's hands, etc. and thus the air is compressed within the headphones, the buffering member can buffer the pressure through its plurality of micro-spaces into which air permeates. In addition, since the buffering member fills the whole inside of the ear pad, the headphone substantially extends the audio sound space and thus can reduce the generation of the acoustic feedback.

Description

Description NOISE CANCELLING ON-EAR HEADPHONE

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to headphones, and more particularly, to headphones that can cancel noise input from external sources. Background Art

[2] Headphones are used for listening to music, etc. without interference from peripheral noise. When users wear headphones in noisy areas, such as airplanes, trains, construction sites, etc., they cannot clearly hear the original audio sound, such as music, etc., from the speakers in their headphones due to peripheral noise. That is, users hear the original audio sound including peripheral noise.

[3] In order to resolve this problem closed-type headphones are worn by users to block external noise. Closed- type headphones are classified into supra- aural headphones, which cover the ear to block external noise, and in-ear headphones that are inserted into the ear canal. In particular, supra-aural headphones include around-ear headphones, which completely cover the ear to block external noise, and on-ear headphones that sit on the ears.

[4] The ear pad contacts the ear when a user wears the headphone and includes a buffering member that is covered by an outer skin, such as a synthetic resin, leather, cloth, etc. The ear pad wraps around a cover that densely forms audio sound through- holes which audio sounds pass through from the speaker to the ear.

[5] The buffering member is in general formed as a ring form so that audio sounds can easily flow into the ear canal from the speaker. For example, the ring-type buffering member functions as a passage for audio sounds from the speaker to flow into the ear canal. This type of speaker does not cause audio sound attenuation while the audio sound is flowing into the ear canal from the speaker and thus it provides a user with high quality audio sound.

[6] In Japanese Patent Publication No. 2006-333483 entitled HEADPHONES HAVING

NOISE CANCELLING FUNTION, the headphones are configured to include an ear pad having a ring-type sponge. However, the headphones are still disadvantageous in that their ring-type sponge as a buffering member allows external noise to flow into the ear canal when the audio sounds from the speaker are flowing into the ear. That is, external noise flows into the headphone through the headphone housing or the gap between the headphone housing and the ear pad, and the external noise within the headphone also flows into the ear canal through the passage formed by the buffering member while the audio sounds are flowing into the ear canal. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[7] The present invention solves the above problems, and provides noise canceling headphones having an ear pad that can block external noise that flows in from the outside to the ear canal. Technical Solution

[8] In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the present invention provides a noise canceling on-ear headphone including: a microphone for detecting external noise; an attenuation circuit for analyzing the detected external noise and generating an attenuation signal whose phase is opposite to that of the analyzed external noise; a speaker for outputting an attenuation sound according to the attenuation signal; a headphone housing for receiving the speaker; and an ear pad for contacting a user's ear, the ear pad completely covering the open front side of the headphone housing and having a buffering member wrapped by an outer skin. Here, the buffering member fills the inner space of the ear pad and contains a plurality of micro-spaces to which air is permeated. Also, the outer skin forms a plurality of audio sound through-holes in the front side thereof, through which an audio sound output from the speaker passes.

[9] Preferably, the buffering member caves in at least one side thereof.

[10] Preferably, the buffering member is open toward the speaker.

Advantageous Effects

[11] As described above, the noise canceling on-ear headphone according to the present invention is configured in such a way that a buffering member includes a plurality of micro-spaces into which air permeates and a plurality of audio sound through-holes are formed in the front side of a cover of the ear pad. It has the following advantages.

[12] First, since the buffering member fills the whole inside of the ear pad, it provides a user with a snug and comfortable fit when the user wears the earphones and can manually reduce external noise that flows in from the outside to the ear canal.

[13] Second, although the ear pads are subject to pressure from external environment factors, such as the user's hands, etc. and thus the air is compressed within the headphones, the buffering member can buffer the pressure through its plurality of micro-spaces into which air permeates. In addition, since the buffering member fills the whole inside of the ear pad, the headphone substantially extends the audio sound space and thus can reduce the generation of the acoustic feedback. Brief Description of Drawings

[14] The features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [15] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a noise canceling on-ear headphone according to an embodiment of the present invention; [16] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the noise canceling on-ear headphone of Figure 1 ; and [17] Figures 3A to 3C are cross-sectional views illustrating the on-ear headphone of

Figure 2 according to the various structures of the buffering member. [18] <Brief Description of Symbols in the Drawings>

[19] 100, 100a, 100b, 100c: headphone

[20] 110: headphone housing

[21] 120: speaker plate

[22] 130: microphone

[23] 140: attenuation circuit

[24] 150: speaker

[25] 160: ear pad

[26] 162: outer skin

[27] H: a plurality of audio sound through-hole

[28] 164, 164a, 164b, 164c: buffering member

[29] S: a plurality of micro-spaces

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention [30] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. [31] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a noise canceling on-ear headphone according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a cross- sectional view illustrating the noise canceling on-ear headphone of Figure 2. [32] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the headphone includes a headphone housing 110, a speaker plate 120, a microphone 130, an attenuation circuit board 140, a speaker 150, and an ear pad 160. [33] The headphone housing 110 forms a receiving space whose front is opened there within and is coupled to the rear side of the speaker plate 120. [34] The speaker plate 120 serves to mount the speaker 150 into the receiving space of the headphone housing 110. The speaker plate 120 also forms at least one or more holes in a part thereof to pass the audio sound from the speaker 150 to the outside. It should be understood that the holes may be variously formed in terms of shape and structure. [35] The microphone 130 is fixedly mounted to the speaker plate 120 and detects sounds, i.e., external noise, input from the outside of the headphone. It is generally mounted as close as possible to the front of the speaker 140. [36] The attenuation circuit board 140 including an attenuation circuit is placed at the rear side of the speaker 150. The attenuation circuit analyzes the external noise detected by the microphone 130 and generates an attenuation signal to cancel the external noise received by the headphone. The generated attenuation signal has a phase opposite to that of the analyzed external noise.

[37] The speaker 150 is mounted in the receiving space of the headphone housing 110 through the speaker plate 120. The speaker 150, placed at the rear side of the microphone 130, outputs an audio sound according to an input electrical signal. In particular, the speaker 150 outputs: an audio sound according to electrical signals input thereinto, respectively; and an attenuation sound according to an attenuation signal generated in the attenuation circuit.

[38] The ear pad 160 is shaped as an elliptical form and contacts the ear when a users the headphone. It covers the whole opened front side of the headphone housing 110. A buffering member is covered by an outer skin 162, such as a synthetic resin, leather, cloth, etc. The buffering member fills the inner space of the ear pad 160 except for the direction of the speaker 150. The ear pad 160 forms a plurality of audio sound through- holes H in the front center portion of the outer skin 162, so that the audio sound can pass through the audio sound through-holes H from the speaker 150.

[39] <Mode 1>

[40] As the buffering member fills wholly the inner space of the ear pad 160, the ear pad

160 provides the user with a comfortable cushioned feeling while the user wears the headphone as constructed above. That is, the headphone according to the present invention provides the user with comfortable snug fit which is superior to the conventional headphone whose ear pad includes a ring-type of buffering member. Therefore, it can block the inflow of external noise from the outside as much as possible.

[41] The buffering member is formed in such a way as to cover the whole ear and fills the inner space of the ear pad 160. Therefore, in terms of manual mode, the headphone according to the present invention can block the external noise more effectively than the conventional headphone whose ear pad includes a ring-type of buffering member.

[42] That is, the headphone blocks the passage through which the external noise, flowed in the headphone, flows into the ear canal 200. Therefore, it can minimize the inflow of external noise from the outside to the ear canal 200. That is, the headphone of the present invention can reliably cancel external noise therein.

[43] <Mode 2>

[44] The speaker 150 of the headphone outputs audio sounds ranging from low frequency band to high frequency band. An audio sound in a low frequency band has a relatively large amount of energy and thus can easily permeate the ear pad 160, i.e., a buffering member. Therefore, a user does not have a difficulty hearing an audio sound in a low frequency band.

[45] An audio sound in a high frequency band, however, does not effectively permeate the buffering member of the ear pad, as a blocking element, mounted in front of the speaker 150.

[46] When the headphone, whose ear pad has a ring-type buffering member, outputs an audio sound from its speaker to the ear canal, the ring-type buffering member does not function as a blocking element but forms a passage allowing the audio sound to pass therethrough. Therefore, it does not cause a user to hear an audio sound in a high frequency band. However, since the buffering member is mounted in front of the speaker 150 of the headphone according to the present invention, it reduces the audio sound in a high frequency band, output from the speaker 150.

[47] In order to resolve this problem, as shown in Figure 2, the buffering member is designed to form a plurality of micro-spaces S. That is, the ear pad is filled with the buffering member 164 having a plurality of micro-spaces S, such as a sponge, where the micro-spaces S is permeated with air.

[48] That is, the buffering member 164 allows the audio sound in a high frequency band output from the speaker 150 to pass through the micro-spaces S and thus the user can hear an audio sound close to the audio sound of a high frequency band output from the speaker 150, i.e., an audio sound of a high frequency band that undergoes less attenuation.

[49] Figures 3A to 3C are cross-sectional views illustrating the on-ear headphone of

Figure 2 according to the various structures of the buffering member. Referring to Figures 3 A to 3C, the structure of buffering members 164a, 164b, and 164c mounted in the ear pad 160 is explained in the following description.

[50] As shown in Figure 3 A, the buffering member 164a of an ear pad 160 is shaped in such a way as to cave in the front side thereof. That is, with respect to the ear canal 200 when a user wears the headphone, a part of front portion of the buffering member 164a is caved toward the speaker 150 located behind the buffering member 164a. Therefore, the buffering member 164a of the ear pad 160 forms a hollow portion corresponding to the concave portion. Here, the term front is defined as the direction close to the ear and rear as the direction away from the ear.

[51] When the audio sound enters from the speaker 150 to the ear canal 200, an audio sound in a high frequency band, as indicated by the arrows shown in Figure 3A, travels the path of the buffering member 164a including the hollow portion and thus its pure path passing through the buffering member 164a becomes shorter than the buffering member 164 of Figure 2 without an hollow portion.

[52] Therefore, the noise canceling on-ear headphone of the present invention can reduce the attenuation of an audio sound in a high frequency band, so that it provides the user with a higher quality audio sound than the conventional headphone 100 of Figure 2 that includes the buffering member 164 without a hollow portion.

[53] In addition, as shown in Figure 3 A, since the buffering member 164a forms the hollow portion in such a way as to cave in a portion except for a portion that the conch contacts with respect to the ear canal, the headphone of the present invention can provide a comfortable fit.

[54] The buffering member 164a filling the ear pad 160 as shown in Figure 3 A may be modified to buffering members 164b and 164c, as shown in Figures 3B and 3C, respectively. As shown in Figure 3B, the buffering member 164b may be formed in such a way to cave in its rear side that is concave toward the front direction. As shown in Figure 3C, the buffering member 164c may be formed in such a way to cave both front and rear sides.

[55] Since the headphones 100b and 100c whose ear pads 160 include the buffering member 164b and 164c, respectively, have the same function and operation as the headphone 100a of Figure 3 A, their detailed description is omitted.

[56] <Mode 3>

[57] The headphone may be pressed from the outside by an external force, such as a user's hand, and thus the air in the headphone may also be compressed.

[58] In that case, the general headphone having a microphone for canceling external noise causes a serious air pressure change therein when even a relatively small amount of pressure is applied to its ear pad. This occurs because it has a small closed space. In particular, it generates acoustic feedback when a pressure change is transferred to the microphone.

[59] On the contrary, as described above, the headphones 100, 100a, 100b and 100c of the present invention are configured to fill their ear pads 160 with the buffering members 164, 164a, 164b and 164c that contain a plurality of micro-spaces S to which air is permeated. Therefore, when the ear pads 160 receive external pressure, they extend their substantial audio space and thus receive less pressure than the conventional ear pad having a ring-type buffering member, thereby reducing the resonant effect and accordingly the generation of the acoustic feedback.

[60] Since the headphones 100, 100a, 100b and 100c form a plurality of audio sound through-holes H in the front central portion of the outer skin of each of the ear pads 160, although the ear pads 160 receive pressure from the outside and thus the air is compressed in the headphones 100, 100a, 100b and 100c, the air can flow out through the audio sound through-holes H to the outside of the headphones. Therefore, the headphones of the present invention can reduce the pressure change transferred to the microphone 130 and accordingly the generation of the acoustic feedback. [61] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. Industrial Applicability

[62] The present invention can be widely applied to audio systems and audio- system-related industrial fields.

Claims

[1] A noise canceling on-ear headphone comprising: a microphone for detecting external noise; an attenuation circuit for analyzing the detected external noise and generating an attenuation signal whose phase is opposite to that of the analyzed external noise; a speaker for outputting an attenuation sound according to the attenuation signal; a headphone housing for receiving the speaker; and an ear pad for contacting a user's ear, the ear pad completely covering the open front side of the headphone housing and having a buffering member wrapped by an outer skin, wherein: the buffering member fills the inner space of the ear pad and contains a plurality of micro-spaces to which air is permeated; and the outer skin forms a plurality of audio sound through-holes in the front side thereof, through which an audio sound output from the speaker passes. [2] The headphone according to claim 1, wherein the buffering member caves in at least one side thereof. [3] The headphone according to claim 2, wherein the buffering member is open toward the speaker.