Patent Application
20240357274
The present disclosure generally relates to earbuds and/or headsets. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to microphones for personal listening devices for earbuds and/or headsets.
Todays quality headsets will often include a microphone for two-way communication. The microphone is positioned so that when the headset is arranged on a user, there is a microphone in front of, or in close proximity to, the user's mouth. In a headset that includes a head band, the microphone may be attached to a rod that is oriented toward a user's mouth. In earplug type headsets that do not have a headband, such as the type that was used with older smartphones (and some current smartphones), the microphone is attached to one of the earplug wires at a location proximal to the earplugs, so that the microphone is in located in front of, or in close proximity to, the user's mouth to capture the user's voice.
However, more recent smartphones include wireless ear buds that may communicate with a smartphone by Bluetooth to receive the sound signals. The microphone used for speaking is arranged in part of at least one of the ear buds, which is much further from the user's mouth than wired earplugs and/or headsets with head bands. As a result of the increased distance between the microphone and the user's mouth, there is a much greater tendency for background noise to be picked up by the microphone. This background noise can drown out the user's voice in a loud environment. While the wireless earbuds provide for more freedom as they are not tethered to the smartphone by a wire and USB or lightning plug, the sound quality of the user's voice is often lower than if a wired headset were used.
In one embodiment, a headset includes a body, and at least one earpiece is connected to the body. The at least one earpiece includes a speaker. An extendable rod is arranged on an inner or an outer surface of the main body, the extendable rod having a first end and a second end. A microphone is proximally arranged at a second end of the extendable rod. A sensor is arranged in the body, the sensor is configured to detect an incoming signal. An actuator is attached proximal to the first end of the extendable rod. The actuator is configured to extend and/or retract the extendable rod in response to an output signal from the sensor.
In an embodiment, wherein at least some of which can be combined with the proceeding embodiment, the sensor detects the incoming signal from a wirelessly coupled device.
In an embodiment, wherein at least some of which can be combined with the proceeding embodiments, the sensor detects the incoming signal in a wireless signal transmitted in one of Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (LE), 802.11(a) to end, WiFi 1 to WiFi 7, or near-field communication (NFC).
In an embodiment, wherein at least some of which can be combined with the proceeding embodiments, the sensor includes a voice activated sensor that outputs a signal to the actuator to control the extendable rod to extend and/or retract based on voice commands.
In an embodiment, wherein at least some of which can be combined with the proceeding embodiments, the actuator is a motor configured to control the extendable rod.
In an embodiment, wherein at least some of which can be combined with the proceeding embodiments, the actuator is an air pump configured to pneumatically control the extendable rod.
In an embodiment, wherein at least some of which can be combined with the proceeding embodiments, the actuator is a hydraulic pump configured to control the extendable rod.
In an embodiment, wherein at least some of which can be combined with the proceeding embodiments, the actuator is a solenoid configured to control the extendable rod.
In an embodiment, wherein at least some of which can be combined with the proceeding embodiments, an optical sensor is arranged in the extendable rod, the optical sensor is configured to detect a user's mouth and output a signal to the actuator.
In an embodiment, wherein at least some of which can be combined with the proceeding embodiments, the extendable rod includes a plurality of telescopically connected portions.
In an embodiment, wherein at least some of which can be combined with the proceeding embodiments, a headphone includes at least one earpiece having a speaker. A rod is connected to earpiece, the rod having a first end and a second end. A microphone is telescopically attached proximal to the second end of the rod. A sensor is arranged in the rod, the sensor is configured to detect an incoming signal; and an actuator is coupled to the first rod, the actuator is configured to extend and retract the telescopically attached microphone in response to an output signal from the sensor.
In an embodiment, wherein at least some of which can be combined with the proceeding embodiments, a method of manufacturing a headset with an automatic handsfree extendable microphone includes providing at least one earpiece to a body. A telescoping rod is connected to the body, the rod having a first end and a second end, and the rod is operative to extend and retract. A microphone is attached proximal to the second end of the rod. A sensor is arranged in the rod, the sensor is operative to detect an incoming signal. An actuator is coupled to the rod, the actuator is operative to extend and retract the rod having the microphone attached, in response to an output signal received by the sensor.
In an embodiment, wherein at least some of which can be combined with the proceeding embodiments, the actuator is a motor, and the method includes attaching a shaft to the motor and to the rod to extend and retract the rod.
In an embodiment, wherein at least some of which can be combined with the proceeding embodiments, the actuator is an air pump, and the method further includes attaching an air powered piston to the air pump and to the rod to extend and retract the rod.
In an embodiment, the method includes coupling an antenna to the sensor.
The drawings presented herein show illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. They do not illustrate all embodiments. Other embodiments may be used in addition to or instead of the illustrative embodiments. Details that may be apparent or unnecessary may be omitted to save space or for more effective illustration. Some embodiments may be practiced with additional components or steps and/or without all the components or steps that are illustrated. When the same numeral appears in different drawings, it refers to the same or like components or steps. The drawings are not intended to depict every feature of every implementation nor relative dimensions of the depicted elements, and are not drawn to scale.
In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to clearly describe various specific embodiments disclosed herein. One skilled in the art, however, will understand that the subject matter of the present disclosure may be practiced without all of the specific details discussed below. In other instances, well-known features may not have been described so as not to obscure the invention with unnecessary detail regarding known features.
As used herein, the term “and/or” is to be interpreted broadly is to be understood to refer to all or some of the elements. For example, “at least one of (a) and/or (b) means the teaching pertains only to element (a), or only to element (b), or to both element (a) and element (b). In another example, “at least one of (a), (b), and/or (c), means the teaching pertains to only element (a), or only to element (b), or only element (c), or to elements (a) and (b), elements (a) and (c), elements (b) and (c), or to all of (a), (b) and (c).
In addition, it should be understood that embodiments of the present disclosure include both hardware and electronic components or modules that, for purposes of discussion, may be illustrated and described as if the majority of the components were implemented solely in hardware. However, one of ordinary skill in the art, and based on a reading of this detailed description, would recognize that, in at least one embodiment, the electronic-based aspects of the invention may be implemented in software. As such, it should be noted that a plurality of hardware and software-based devices, as well as a plurality of different structural components may be utilized to implement the subject matter of the present disclosure. Furthermore, and as described in subsequent paragraphs, the specific mechanical configurations illustrated in the drawings are intended to exemplify embodiments of the subject matter of the present disclosure.
With reference to
The extendable rod 101 shown in
According to some embodiments, there is an ear clip 130 that includes an ear plug 135 and/or a speaker 140. The speaker 140, which may be installed in, or on, the ear clip 130, may receive audio carried by wireless signals received by an antenna 121 using, for example, Near Field Communication (NFC), Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (LE), WiFi, etc., or similar wireless protocols. It should be noted that the antenna, or antenna array, is shown extending from the stationary portion 110 for illustrative purposes. The antenna 121 may be arranged within the headset, for example, in/on the stationary portion 110 of the extendable rod 101.
The wireless signals received by the antenna are transduced into voltages detected by a sensor 120, and the volage signals may be forwarded to the speaker 140 or earplug 135, which are transduced into sound by the speaker 140 or earplug 135.
An actuator 115 receives signals from the sensor, and extends or retracts the extendable portion 101 to/from the stationary portion 110 in the direction shown by the arrows. According to the present disclosure, the actuator 115 may be realized in a many different forms. For example, the actuator 115 may be an air pump, a motor, or a solenoid. If the actuator 115 is an air pump, air pressure is used to move the extendable portion 105 away from the stationary portion, and vacuum to retract the extendable portion 105.
For example, with continued reference to
In some embodiments, the actuator 115 may be an air pump that may push and pull a piston connected to the extendable portion 105 by air pressure and vacuum.
The sensor 120 may be configured to detect the difference between a two-way communication such as a phone call, versus receiving music, or a voicemail, that may not require the microphone to be extended.
The sensor 120 may be detect incoming signals received via a wired connection, wireless, such as via Bluetooth, Bluetooth LE, NFC, WiFi. The sensor may be voice-activated. In response to the user saying a particular word or phrase (e.g., “answer”) the sensor 120 may provide an output signal to the actuator 115 to extend the extendable portion 105 of the rod 101 so that the microphone is closer to the user's mouth in a handsfree operation.
With the foregoing overview of the example architecture, it may be helpful now to consider a discussion of an example method of manufacturing process. To that end,
At operation 405, an extendable rod is arranged on an inner or an outer surface of a main body, the extendable rod having a first end and a second end. The extendable rod may be a telescopically constructed rod with an extendable portion 105 and a stationary portion 110 as shown in
At operation 410, a microphone 104 is arranged proximal to a second end of the extendable portion 105. The microphone 104 may be housed within the extendable portion 105, or protruding from the extendable portion. In some illustrative embodiments, there may be sound channels 103 (shown in
At operation 415, a sensor 120 is arranged in the body of the headset, such as in the stationary portion 110. The sensor is configured to detect an incoming signal, and may be coupled to an antenna 121.
At operation 420, an actuator 115 is arranged proximal to the first end of the extendable rod 101 (such as in the extendable portion 105), the actuator 115 is configured to extend and/or retract the extendable rod in response to an output signal from the sensor 120. The actuator 115 may be constructed in one of the non-limiting illustrative examples disclosed hereinabove.
While several illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, numerous variations and alternative embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Such variations and alternative embodiments are contemplated, and can be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure as defined in the appended claims.
As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,’ ‘an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. The term plurality” includes two or more referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosure pertains.
The foregoing detailed description of exemplary and preferred embodiments is presented for purposes of illustration and disclosure in accordance with the requirements of the law. It is not intended to be exhaustive nor to limit the invention to the precise form(s) described, but only to enable others skilled in the art to understand how the invention may be suited for a particular use or implementation. The possibility of modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. No limitation is intended by the description of exemplary embodiments which may have included tolerances, feature dimensions, specific operating conditions, engineering specifications, or the like, and which may vary between implementations or with changes to the state of the art, and no limitation should be implied therefrom. Applicant has made this disclosure with respect to the current state of the art, but also contemplates advancements and that adaptations in the future may take into consideration of those advancements, namely in accordance with the then current state of the art. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims as written and equivalents as applicable. Reference to a claim element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated. Moreover, no element, component, nor method or process step in this disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112, paragraph (f), unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for. and no method or process step herein is to be construed under those provisions unless the step, or steps, are expressly recited using the phrase “step(s) for . . . ”
