WO2021165234A1

WO2021165234A1 - Wireless earbud comprising ear protection facilities

Info

Publication number: WO2021165234A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/053725
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tom AUSTAD
Original assignee: International Business To Business As
Priority date: 2020-02-17
Filing date: 2021-02-16
Publication date: 2021-08-26
Also published as: CN115211139A; EP4107970A1

Abstract

A wireless earbud device (10) is disclosed, wherein an earbud device body comprises an air-channel (24) arranged running through the earbud body (10) from a loudspeaker (26) side to an end surface of the earbud device body (10) facing towards an ear opening when inserted into a human ear canal, wherein an air-channel shutter (21) is located inside the air-channel (24) being operable to open or closing the air-channel (21) dependent on an electronic signal transmitted from a configured electronic circuitry (22).

Description

Wireless earbud comprising ear protection facilities

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved wireless earbud device comprising ear protection facilities.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wireless earbuds used in communication with smart phones is very common. Use of earbuds communicating wirelessly with hearing aid systems is less common. Hearing loss or reduced hearing ability can be a complicated condition for example being related only to certain frequency ranges of sound. Therefore, hearing aid systems usually require more sophisticated electronic circuitry configured to compensate a reduced hearing capability within a specific frequency range or ranges, for example. Most hearing aid systems comprises a system body having electronic circuitry adapted to a specific patient ^'s hearing condition attachable around an upper part of the outer ear, wherein the hearing system supports and is communicating with a loudspeaker facing the ear canal opening leading sound waves towards the ear drum of the ear.

Typical earbuds used in connection with smart phones comprises a body configured to fastens itself to an ear via insertion of a soft earbud cushion surrounding a loudspeaker opening. Only a small part of the earbud cushion is inserted into the ear canal. The rest of the body protrudes outside the ear opening. A common experience with such earbuds is that they may easily fall out of an ear opening. There are also examples of earbuds that do not use earbud cushions and the fastening is achieved by the earbud body shape being adapted to the outer anatomy of the ear, but experience is that they still quite often may fall out of the ear.

Earbuds used in connection with hearing aid systems usually fits better to an ear opening because the earbud shape is usually tailor made to the outer ear anatomy. However, the improved stationary behavior of loudspea kers of hearing aid systems is mostly due to how the system body supports the attached loudspeaker.

A beneficial solution could be to insert an earbud inside the ear canal and allow for example a wireless antenna to protrude out of the ear opening enabling wireless communication to configured wireless communication electronics inside the inserted earbud device.

WO 2019199705 disclose an embodiment of the technology that includes Tri-Ear Buds for a wireless in-ear utility device with in-ear frequency filtering which can also offer a horn that increases the wireless in-ear utility device's ability to deliver sound. The horn effect can provide higher sound levels while consuming lower battery power. Embodiments of the technology can include accommodation for a balance between the wearable in-ear devices and hearing aids, such as to accommodate the wearable device requiring more sealing in the ear canal for better sound quality, to accommodate the hearing aid seals requiring more leakage for allowing for the user's voice to have an increased naturalness in sound, where the balance between the both can be frequency leakage in the 50Hz to 300Hz, which can allow for the seal to produce high quality performance for the two platforms.

US 2019103661 disclose an electronic device such as a wireless earbud which may have antenna structures that are configured to form one or more antenna portions or antennas for transmitting and receiving wireless signals. The device may include control circuitry that is configured to selectively activate one or more antennas or antenna portions to transmit and receive wireless signals for the device. The device may include sensor circuitry that provide sensor data to the control circuitry. The control circuitry may use the sensor data to select and activate an optimal antenna based on the orientation of the earbud or the environment of the device. The antennas may be formed on opposing sides of a housing for the device. By providing configurable antenna structures, the device may be configured to adapt to the current environment and efficiently perform communications operations.

US 2017347177 A1 disclose a wireless in-ear utility device that rests in the user's ear canal near the user's eardrum. The in-ear utility device may be configured in a variety of ways, including a smart in-ear utility device, a flexible personal sound amplification product, a personal music player, a "walkie-talkie" and the like.

The ability to insert an earbud inside an ear canal solves problems like the ones discussed above. However, inserting an earbud into an ear canal may also result in an insertion that may damage ear canal walls. A possible problem may also be not to push the earbud too far inside the ear canal thereby avoiding damaging the ear drum itself. Also, when an earbud is located close to an ear drum, the energy of soundwaves activating the ear drum should be controllable avoiding damage to the ea rdrum.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an earbud device that can be insertable into an ear canal thereby making the earbud device easier to fasten as well as providing improved sound wave propagation towards an ear drum.

Therefore, there is a need of an improved earbud device comprising ear protection facilities.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an alternative to the prior art.

In particular, it may be seen as an object of the present invention to provide an earbud device having a variable outer dimension providing secure fastening and release of the earbud device from a human ear canal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, the above-described object and several other objects are intended to be obtained in a first aspect of the invention by providing a wireless earbud device comprising at least a closable air-channel running through the body of the earbud device.

The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, advantageous for obtaining a wireless earbud device comprising: an earbud body with a head body section comprising at least a loudspeaker located in front of the head body section, the loudspeaker facing an ear drum when the earbud body is inserted into a human ear canal, the earbud body comprises a system body section attached to a back end of the head body section comprising at least a configured electronic circuit enabling wireless communication of sound signals, data signals and command signals to the earbud device from external wireless devices, wherein the configured electronic circuit is adapted to control playback of sound signals on the loudspeaker, wherein an air-channel arranged running through the earbud body from the loudspeaker side through the head body section and the system body section to an end surface of the system body section facing towards an ear opening when inserted into a human ear canal, an air-channel shutter located inside the air-channel operable to open or closing the air-channel depending on an electronic signal transmitted from the configured electronic circuitry.

Respective aspects of the present invention may each be combined with any of the other aspects. These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described herein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The earbud device according to the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures. The attached figures illustrate an example of embodiment of the present invention and is not to be construed as being limiting to other possible embodiments falling within the scope of the attached claim set.

Figure la illustrates a cross sectional view of an example of embodiment of the present invention.

Figure lb illustrates an example of an antenna used in the example illustrated in Figure la.

Figure 2 illustrates an example of fastening the example of embodiment illustrated in Figure la.

Figure 3 illustrates another example of embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 illustrates another example of embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 illustrates another example of embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6a illustrates further details of the example of embodiment illustrated in Figure 5.

Figure 6b illustrates further details of the example of embodiment illustrated in Figure 5.

Figure 7 illustrates an example of an insertion tool according to the present invention.

Figure 8 illustrates another example of an insertion tool according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

Although the present invention has been described in connection with the specified embodiments, it should not be construed as being in any way limited to the presented examples. The scope of the present invention is set out by the accompanying claim set. In the context of the claims, the terms "comprising" or "comprises" do not exclude other possible elements or steps. Further, the mentioning of references such as "a" or "an" etc. should not be construed as excluding a plurality. The use of reference signs in the claims with respect to elements indicated in the figures shall also not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Furthermore, individual features mentioned in different claims, may possibly be advantageously combined, and the mentioning of these features in different claims does not exclude that a combination of features is not possible and advantageous.

An earbud device insertable into an ear canal may be moveable forward or backwards inside the ear canal since the diameter of the earbud device must be smaller than the diameter of the ear canal itself. A human ear canal is not a uniform canal. The ear canal is usually curved and has a variable diameter along the ear canal length towards an ear drum. Ear canal dimensions may also be age related. Infants has smaller ear canal dimensions than adult people for example.

The result of such considerations is that an insertable earbud device may be manufactured with average dimensions suitable for different groups of adults, infants, teenagers etc. If an earbud fits well inside an ear canal, there is no space left between the earbud body and the walls of the ear canal. When a membrane of a loudspeaker of the earbud device moves back and forth, when reproducing sound, air in front of the earbud is moved back and forth thereby moving the ear drum which the human brain can interpret as the communicated sound (speech, music etc.). The acoustical problem that may arise is that when the earbud is tightly fit and fastened inside the ear canal the space between the loudspeaker and the ear drum is a closed space. Thereby the closed space influences the quality of the sound providing a "box" like sound. This is a known problem.

According to an aspect of the present invention wireless earbud devices may comprise an earbud body wherein a head body section comprises at least a loudspeaker in front of the head body section, wherein the loudspeaker is facing an ear drum when the earbud devices is inserted into a human ear canal.

The earbud body may also comprise a system body section housing for example electronic circuits supporting wireless communication. The problem of "box" like sounds may be mitigated with an air-channel arranged inside the earbud body running through the earbud body from the loudspeaker side through the head body section and the system body section to an end surface of the system body section facing towards an ear canal opening when inserted into a human ear canal.

However, if a sudden sound burst with high signal energy is received by the earbud device configured with an air channel as disclosed above, the ear drum will be exposed to high energy sound wave(s) since the earbud device is located closer to the ear drum inside the ear canal. Therefore, an air-channel shutter is located inside the air-channel operable to open or closing the air-channel dependent on a control signal generated by electronics inside the system body section of the earbud device.

The air-channel shutter can be operated by a wearer of the earbud thereby providing a safety measure when the wearer is entering areas with a high degree of noise, for example by sending a command from an application specific program running in a smart phone.

According to an example of embodiment of the present invention a configured electronic circuit inside the earbud device is configured to compare the signal levels of the sound signals being transmitted to the loudspeaker system with a predefined signal level, and whenever the signal level exceeds the predefined signal level the electronic circuitry is configured to close the air-channel shutter.

The configured electronic circuitry may also comprise an adapted playback control of sound signals comprising comparing sound signal levels with an upper threshold level, and when a sound signal level exceeds the upper threshold level the playback control can be configured to close the air-channel shutter as discussed above. The upper threshold level can be set by a wireless signal submitted from an external device comprising data signifying a command of setting the upper threshold level with a value embedded in the received data signal. It is also within the scope of the present invention that the adapted playback control can reduce an amplification factor of a pre-amplifier of the configured electronics receiving wireless signals sent to the earbud device from external devices.

The example of embodiment illustrated in figure la comprises an earbud device body 10 having a head body section 28 connected to a system body section 30. In front of the head body section there is a loudspeaker 26 which is in communication with configured electronic circuitry 15, 22, which is in communication with an antenna 20 extending outside a backend surface of the system body section 30. Thereby the system is adaptable to control play-back of acoustical sound received by the earbud device according to the present invention.

An air channel shutter 21 is located inside the air channel 24 running from the front of the earbud device body to the back end of the earbud device body.

The problem of adapting a circumference of an earbud device body to a specific ear canal geometry may be solved according to an aspect of the present invention by letting the system body section 30 having a smaller diameter and adapting the head body section 28 to a specific ear canal geometry. In examples of embodiments of the present invention, this problem may be solved by dressing the head body section with a removable earbud cushion made for example of silicon rubber. Inside the earbud cushion there is arranged for example an actuator enabling increasing or decreasing the diameter of the earbud cushion. With reference to Figure la, the illustrated example comprises an accordion bellows 23 wherein extending the accordion bellows 23 reduces the diameter 27 of the earbud cushion, while compressing the accordion bellows increases the diameter 27 of the earbud cushion. Fastening the earbud device 10 inside an air canal is achieved by compressing the accordion bellows and release the earbud device is achieved when the accordion bellows is extended.

It is within the scope of the present invention to use any flexible circular shaped object like a tire shaped object as an earbud cushion.

Figure 2 illustrates how the outer diameter of the earbud cushion changes diameter dependent on the direction of movement indicated by the arrow 31.

The operation of compressing or extending the accordion bellows can be under control of the configured electronic circuitry 15, 22 activating a micromotor, for example a motor as disclosed in the article "Development of electromagnetic MEMS motor without winding wire and application to microrobot" by Minami Takato et. al. 2016 IEEE International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics (AIM).

An alternative is to use a pure mechanical activation. In the example of embodiment depicted in Figure la, an antenna 14 is connected to a backside surface of the accordion bellows 23 via a ball joint 13. The antenna extends outside a backside of the system body section 30. The other end of the antenna 14 is protruding outside the body of the system body section 30. Therefore, it is possible to push the antenna forward thereby compressing the accordion bellows 23 which results in increasing the distance 27 of the accordion bellows, which reduces the distance 25, which is pushing the inside of the earbud cushion outwardly and the earbud cushion is fastened to the ear canal walls. If the accordion bellows 23 is extended, which increases the distance 25, the distance 27 is decreasing and the earbud device body will be releasable from the ear canal walls.

With reference to Figure la, the antenna 14 is running through a device 17 comprising a lock as used in ball pens. Such locks are known for their toggling effect. Therefore, when pushing the antenna 14 forward the ball pen lock device 17 locks the antenna for example in the forward position achieved when the locking takes place. Pushing the antenna forward one more time will then toggle the ball pen lock device 17 to release the locking of the antenna from the forward position and the attached accordion bellows will return to its starting position. An arranged spring inside the pen lock device 17 may achieve this.

Figure lb illustrates some more details of an example of embodiment of an antenna 14 according to the present invention. As disclosed above, the antenna serves dual purpose, i.e., being an antenna as well as a tool for activating the accordion bellows 23 as discussed above. Therefore, the antenna 14 is divided in two parts - a forward part 20 that extends outside the system body section 30, which is the actual antenna. Inside the ball pen lock device 17 there is arranged an electric gliding contact that transfers received signals 16 in the antenna to the configured electronic circuitry 15. The other part of the antenna 14 is electrically insulated from the forward part 20 by the insulator part 29.

Since the human ear exists with different geometry and sizes, an embodiment of the earbud cushion as discussed above may have increases and decreases that are different form one exemplar to another.

In figure la, there is illustrated a pressure sensitive sensor 12 inside the accordion bellows 23, for example inside the space 11, that measures the pressure achieved when the accordion bellows is compressed. The signal from the pressure sensitive sensor can then be used in a feedback control loop stopping for example an electromagnetic MEMS motor from compressing the accordion bellows further. Thereby any damage or pain from the earbud device inserted into the ear canal is mitigated.

According to an example of embodiment of the present invention, the earbud device may be in initialized with a threshold level overriding any pressure level reading thereby providing a safety level the system never can pass. This security level can be initialized by transmitting a command with an embedded pressure level in the submitted data.

When operating a mechanical attenuator, like the antenna discussed above, the ball pen lock 17 may be arranged with a breaking device, or a clutch like device, that breaks the movement forward of the antenna 14 before the locking of the ball pen lock 17 is achieved when the pressure level is detected to pass the safety level. When an earbud device according to the present invention is removed, feedback from the pressure sensitive sensor may indicate safe removal when the measured pressure is below a certain defined level i.e., the earbud device is small enough in diameter to pass out of the ear canal.

According to an example of embodiment of the present invention, the earbud device may be initialized with a defined pressure signal level for secure removal of the earbud.

According to an example of embodiment of the present invention, a configured pressure sensitive sensor can be arranged inside the earbud cushion, wherein the pressure sensor provides feed-back signals to the configured electronic circuitry, wherein a feed-back signal level above a first predefined pressure level is configured to mitigate an actuator signal fastening the earbud body.

When a feed-back signal from the pressure sensitive sensor is below a second predefined pressure level, the configured electronic is configured to enable an actuator signal releasing the earbud body.

With reference to the mechanical solution disclosed in Figure la, the relative position of the ball pen lock device 17 inside the system body section 30 can be adjusted, for example by a screw accessible from the backside surface of the system body section 30 (not illustrated). If the relative position of the ball pen lock device 17 is moved forward towards the accordion bellows, the antenna 14 has to be moved further forward to achieve the locking by the ball lock device 17. Hence, the accordion bellows will be compressed further relative to the compression achieved before the position change of the ball lock device 17. The opposite is also possible when moving the position of the ball lock device 17 backwards towards the backend surface of the system body section 30. Then the antenna 14 needs to be pushed forward a less distance to achieve a locking of the antenna 14 and hence a less compression of the accordion bellows. In this manner it is possible to control the pressure from the earbud cushion when the earbud is fastened.

It is also within the scope of the present invention to use a tool when inserting or removing an earbud device according to the present invention. With reference to Figure la, there is arranged an open conical shaped object 18 on the backend surface of the system body section 30. In the centre of the smaller end of the open conical shaped object a hole is adapted to let the antenna 14 move forward and backwords as discussed above. A tweezer like object may be used to grip around the outer surface 18 of the conical shaped object 18. In figure 7 and 8 there is depicted a tweezer type of tool 45, 46 comprising a claw type of gripping ends 43, 44 adapted to each other facilitating a secure gripping around the conical shaped object 18.

The example of embodiment illustrated in Figure 8 has a centrally located rod 48 inside an arranged canal 47 running through a longitudinal inner arranged canal 47 that will engage the knob 19 of the antenna 14 as illustrated in Figure la when the claws 43, 44 of the tweezers instruments 46 engages around the protruding conical shaped object 18. When an earbud device according to the present invention has been inserted into an ear canal, the rod 48 can be pushed forward pushing the antenna 14 and the antenna is eventually locked in a defined position by the ball lock device 17 as discussed above.

When an earbud device according to the present invention is to be removed, the tweezers instrument 46 is inserted into the ear canal until it is interrupted by the earbud located inside the ear canal. Then the tweezers instrument 46 is closed again around the protruding conical shaped object 18 and the rod 48 is pushed forward and the ball pen lock is toggled releasing the earbud device from inside the ear canal.

The embodiment illustrated in Figure 8 has also an activation push button 49 that will toggle between closing the claw 43,44 and respectively open the claws 43, 44.

Figure 3 illustrates another example of an actuator that can be arranged inside the earbud cushion of the head body section 28. The actuator comprises an open ring 34, for example made from silicon rubber, that has a diagonally fitted extendable/ retractable rod 32 inside the ring. A control signal 33 originating from the configured electronic circuits 15 can respectively extend or retract the length of the rod 32.

When the rod 32 is extended in length the outer diameter of the earbud cushion is extended while the outer diameter of the earbud cushion is reduced when the length of the rod 32 is reduced. Figure 4 illustrates another example of embodiment of an actuator arranged inside the earbud cushion of the head body section. The head body section 28 is connected to the system body section by a pair of telescopic rods 37 controllable by electrical signals originating from the configured electronic circuitry 15.

Figure 5 illustrates another example of an antenna configuration 38 that may be used with an earbud device according to the present invention.

With respect to the example illustrated in Figure la, the antenna 14 of this example may not always provide very good reception quality. In applications of the earbud requiring more effective communication between an earbud and a transmitter a transparent antenna as illustrated in Figure 5, Figure 6a and 6b may be used. The transparent surface of the antenna 38 can be arranged with for example a dipole antenna as depicted in Figure 6a and 6b respectively. In Figure 6a a pair of transparent electrodes 39 and 40 forms a dipole antenna that is connected in the centre to respective contacts in communication with the system body section of the earbud device of the present invention. A pair of holes 41 is arranged around the centre of the transparent antenna enabling air to flow freely in and out the ear canal.

Figure 6b illustrates another example of an antenna comprising a spiral shaped dipole antenna.

Another aspect of having a dipole antenna arranged outside the ear opening is the ability to support contactless charging of the connected earbud without the need of removing the earbud from the ear canal. For example, a headset may be arranged with centrally located charging antennas protruding out from the inside of the earmuffs. When the headset is placed over the ears the charging can take place from for example a battery backup carried by the user.

The charging signals can be embodied with frequencies following standardized contactless charging as known from smart phones. In addition, the headphones may be arranged with antennas receiving ordinary signals destined for the earbud communication. Such signals can be transmitted together with the charging signal and be split by a filter section in a configured electronic circuit section inside the system body section 30. It is also within the scope of the present system that a wireless communication system of the earbud device is configured to distinguish between at least two different signal frequencies, wherein one of the frequencies is reserved for communication of emergency messages.

The ability to support different antenna designs in examples of embodiments of the present invention allows respective earbuds to be used in different application areas like factories, on board ships, outdoor activities, auditoriums, sport activities, etc.

The benefit is that no one needs to wear a clumsy headset that risks to accidently be ripped off the head of a user.

Besides different antennas, the receiving electronic circuits may be adapted to different wireless communications standards.

For example, Qualcomm APTX is a standard that enables high quality transfer of music and speech over Bluetooth channels. The open 2,6 GHZ system can also be used.

Modern electronics can integrate semiconductor devices with up to 2 nm resolution. This enables integration of complex chips on very small chip areas. An example of an advanced controller is the chip ESP8285 providing user friendly access to Internet and Wi-Fi applications. This chip is possible to implement inside the system body section of the earbud device according to the present invention.

ASIC chips (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) and SOC chips (System on a Chip circuits) embodying a complete computer system is also possible to design and integrate inside the system body section of the earbud device. Many types of SOC systems are supported by Linux operating system, for example.

Therefore, communications standards like the Qualcomm APTX often used in existing hearing aid products to advanced Internet and WIFI communication standards is possible to implement in an earbud device according to the present invention.

Regardless of a specific wireless communication standard an external device may send sound signals, data signals, command signals etc. to an earbud device. According to an example of the present invention, respective earbud devices may be initialized with a unique address code simplifying addressing respective earbud devices over a larger geographical area when communicating from external devices.

According to an example of embodiment of the present invention, a wireless earbud device comprises: an earbud body with a head body section comprising at least a loudspeaker located in front of the head body section, the loudspeaker facing an ear drum when the earbud body is inserted into a human ear canal, the earbud body comprises a system body section attached to a back end of the head body section comprising at least a configured electronic circuit enabling wireless communication of sound signals, data signals and command signals to the earbud device from external wireless devices, wherein the configured electronic circuit is adapted to control playback of sound signals on the loudspeaker, wherein an air-channel arranged running through the earbud body from the loudspeaker side through the head body section and the system body section to an end surface of the system body section facing towards an ear opening when inserted into a human ear canal, an air-channel shutter located inside the air-channel operable to open or closing the air-channel depending on an electronic signal transmitted from the configured electronic circuitry.

According to the example of embodiment disclosed above wherein an external wireless signal received by the configured electronic circuitry comprising at least command data signifying a respective opening or closing command of the air-channel shutter.

According to the example of embodiment disclosed above, wherein the adapted playback control of sound signals comprises comparing sound signal levels with an upper threshold level,

- when a sound signal level exceeds the upper threshold level the playback control is configured to close the air-channel shutter. According to the example of embodiment disclosed above, wherein a wireless data signal submitted from an external device comprises data signifying a command of setting the upper threshold level with a value embedded in the received data signal.

According to the example of embodiment disclosed above, wherein the head body section comprises a removable earbud cushion, wherein an outer diameter of the earbud cushion is adjustable by operating a configured attenuator inside the head body section,

- wherein increasing the diameter of the earbud cushion provides a secure fastening of the earbud device inside an ear canal,

- wherein decreasing the diameter of the hearing earbud cushion provides a secure release of the earbud device inside an ear canal.

According to the example of embodiment disclosed above, wherein a wireless data signal submitted from an external device comprises data signifying a command of activating the actuator, either to fasten the earbud body or releasing the earbud body.

According to the example of embodiment disclosed above, wherein a configured pressure sensitive sensor arranged inside the earbud cushion provides feed-back signals to the configured electronic circuitry, wherein a feed-back signal level above a first predefined pressure level is configured to mitigate an actuator signal fastening the earbud body.

According to the example of embodiment disclosed above, wherein a feed-back signal from the pressure sensitive sensor below a second predefined pressure level enables an actuator signal releasing the earbud body.

According to the example of embodiment disclosed above, wherein a wireless communication system of the earbud device comprises an antenna body configured to protrude outside an opening of an ear canal when the earbud device is inserted inside the ear canal,

- wherein the antenna body is arranged movable and attached to an inside part of the earbud cushion such that movements inwards or outwards relative to the earbud body of the movable antenna body provides a respective increase or decrease of the diameter of the earbud cushion.

According to the example of embodiment disclosed above, wherein a lock similar to a ballpen lock is arranged connected to the antenna body such that movement inwards of the antenna body locks the antenna body in a forward position relative to the earbud cushion, and when the antenna body is pushed further inwards, the lock toggles releasing the antenna body enabling a retraction of the antenna body back to an initial position of the antenna body relative to the earbud cushion.

According to the example of embodiment disclosed above, wherein the antenna body comprises a first body part constituting the antenna part which is in contact with a gliding electric contact inside the lock and extending outside the earbud body.

According to the example of embodiment disclosed above, wherein the actuator is connected to an accordion bellows, wherein extending the accordion bellows reduces the diameter of the earbud cushion, while compressing the accordion bellows increases the diameter of the earbud cushion.

According to the example of embodiment disclosed above, wherein the actuator comprises a rod along a diameter of the earbud cushion, wherein the rod is configured to be extendable in length or reduceable in length dependent on an electronic signal originating from the configured electronic circuitry.

According to the example of embodiment disclosed above, wherein the actuator comprises telescopic rods configured to extend or reduce a length of the head body section, wherein extending the length of the head body section reduces the diameter of the earbud cushion, while reducing the length of the head body section increases the diameter of the earbud cushion.

According to the example of embodiment disclosed above, wherein the end of the antenna protruding outside the ear canal opening comprises a ball shaped element facilitating gripping around the antenna end thereby facilitating pushing or retracting the antenna body part inside the earbud device body. According to the example of embodiment disclosed above, wherein a conical shaped open cylinder is arranged with a hole in the narrow end of the conical shaped cylinder, wherein the hole in the narrow end of the conical shaped cylinder is arranged around the opening of the earbud device body the antenna is protruding from.

According to the example of embodiment disclosed above, wherein a tweezers instrument is adapted to grip around the conical shaped cylinder thereby facilitating insertion or removal of an earbud device from an ear canal.

According to the example of embodiment disclosed above, wherein a tweezer instrument is adapted to grip around the ball element of the antenna enabling pushing or retracting the antenna inside the earbud device body.

According to the example of embodiment disclosed above, wherein a wireless communication system of the earbud device comprises a connected antenna of a flexible and transparent material comprising an integrated dipole antenna made of transparent material, wherein the antenna is configured to adapt to the outer ear- anatomy surface around an ear opening.

According to the example of embodiment disclosed above, wherein a communication system of the earbud device in communication with the antenna arranged outside the ear opening, wherein the communication system comprises a filter section distinguishing at least between two different received signals with different frequencies, wherein one of the signals is used for contactless charging of batteries inside the earbud device.

According to the example of embodiment disclosed above, wherein contactless charging is provided by a configured headphone set generating a charging signal of the selected frequency.

According to the example of embodiment disclosed above, wherein the headphone set retransmit received signals from external devices on a frequency not being used for charging purposes to the antenna of the earbud device. According to the example of embodiment disclosed above, wherein a wireless communication system of the earbud device is configured to distinguish between at least two different signal frequencies, wherein one of the frequencies is reserved for communication of emergency messages.

Claims

1. A wireless earbud device (10) comprising: an earbud body with a head body section (28) comprising at least a loudspeaker (26) located in front of the head body section, (28) the loudspeaker (26) facing an ear drum when the earbud body is inserted into a human ear canal, the earbud body comprises a system body section (30) attached to a back end of the head body section (28) comprising at least a configured electronic circuit (15, 22) enabling wireless communication of sound signals, data signals and command signals to the earbud device from external wireless devices, wherein the configured electronic circuit (15, 22) is adapted to control playback of sound signals on the loudspeaker (26), wherein an air-channel (24) arranged running through the earbud body from the loudspeaker side through the head body section (28) and the system body section (30) to an end surface of the system body section facing towards an ear opening when inserted into a human ear canal, an air-channel shutter (21) located inside the air-channel (24) operable to open or closing the air-channel (24) depending on an electronic signal transmitted from the configured electronic circuitry (22).

2. The device of claim 1, wherein an external wireless signal received by the configured electronic circuitry comprising at least command data signifying a respective opening or closing command of the air-channel shutter (21).

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the adapted playback control of sound signals comprises comparing sound signal levels with an upper threshold level,

- when a sound signal level exceeds the upper threshold level the playback control is configured to close the air-channel shutter (21).

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein a wireless data signal submitted from an external device comprises data signifying a command of setting the upper threshold level with a value embedded in the received data signal.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the head body section (28) comprises a removable earbud cushion, wherein an outer diameter of the earbud cushion is adjustable by operating a configured attenuator inside the head body section,

6. The device of claim 5, wherein a wireless data signal submitted from an external device comprises data signifying a command of activating the actuator, either to fasten the earbud body or releasing the earbud body.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein a configured pressure sensitive sensor (12) arranged inside the earbud cushion provides feed-back signals to the configured electronic circuitry (15,22), wherein a feed-back signal level above a first predefined pressure level is configured to mitigate an actuator signal fastening the earbud body.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein a feed-back signal from the pressure sensitive sensor below a second predefined pressure level enables an actuator signal releasing the earbud body.

9. The device of claim 5, wherein a wireless communication system of the earbud device comprises an antenna body (14) configured to protrude outside an opening of an ear canal when the earbud device is inserted inside the ear canal,

- wherein the antenna body (14) is arranged movable and attached to an inside part (13) of the earbud cushion such that movements inwards or outwards relative to the earbud body (30) of the movable antenna body (14) provides a respective increase or decrease of the diameter of the earbud cushion.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein a lock (17) similar to a ballpen lock is arranged connected to the antenna body (14) such that movement inwards of the antenna body (14) locks the antenna body in a forward position relative to the earbud cushion, and when the antenna body (14) is pushed further inwards, the lock (17) toggles releasing the antenna body (14) enabling a retraction of the antenna body (14) back to an initial position of the antenna body relative to the earbud cushion.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the antenna body (14) comprises a first body part constituting the antenna part (20) which is in contact with a gliding electric contact inside the lock (17).

12. The device of claim 5, wherein the actuator is connected to an accordion bellows (23), wherein extending the accordion bellows (23) reduces the diameter (27) of the earbud cushion, while compressing the accordion bellows (23) increases the diameter (27) of the earbud cushion.

13. The device of claim 5, wherein the actuator comprises a rod (32) along a diameter of the earbud cushion, wherein the rod (32) is configured to be extendable in length or reduceable in length dependent on an electronic signal (33) originating from the configured electronic circuitry (15).

14. The device of claim 5, wherein the actuator comprises telescopic rods (37) configured to extend or reduce a length of the head body section (28),

- wherein extending the length of the head body section (28) reduces the diameter of the earbud cushion, while reducing the length of the head body section increases the diameter of the earbud cushion.

15. The device of claim 9, and 10, wherein the end of the antenna body (20) protruding outside the ear canal opening comprises a ball shaped element (19) facilitating gripping around the antenna body end thereby facilitating pushing or retracting the antenna body (14) inside the earbud device body.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein a conical shaped open cylinder (18) is arranged with a hole in the narrow end of the conical shaped cylinder, wherein the hole in the narrow end of the conical shaped cylinder (18) is arranged around the opening of the earbud device body the antenna Body (14) is protruding from.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein a tweezers instrument (45) is adapted to grip around the conical shaped cylinder (18) thereby facilitating insertion or removal of an earbud device (10) from an ear canal.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein a tweezer instrument (45) is adapted to grip around the ball element (19) of the antenna body (14) enabling pushing or retracting the antenna body (14) inside the earbud device body.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein a wireless communication system of the earbud device comprises a connected antenna (38) of a flexible and transparent material comprising an integrated dipole antenna (39,40,42a,

42b) made of transparent material, wherein the antenna is configured to adapt to the outer ear-anatomy surface around an ear opening.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein a communication system of the earbud device in communication with the antenna arranged outside the ear opening, wherein the communication system comprises a filter section distinguishing at least between two different received signals with different frequencies, wherein one of the signals is used for contactless charging of batteries inside the earbud device.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein contactless charging is provided by a configured headphone set generating a charging signal of the selected frequency.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the headphone set retransmit received signals from external devices on a frequency not being used for charging purposes to the antenna of the earbud device.

23. The device of claim 1, wherein a wireless communication system of the earbud device is configured to distinguish between at least two different signal frequencies, wherein one of the frequencies is reserved for communication of emergency messages.