Field of the Embodiments
The embodiments relate generally to optimizing audio through audio headsets. More particularly, the embodiments related to optimizing audio to counter the negative effects on audio which may result from changes in the physical configuration of the audio headset, e.g., open to closed configuration.
Description of the Related Art
Conventional headphones are formed from two loudspeakers, shrunken in size, which are assembled together by a headband and worn over the ears of the wearer. Heavy and large in the past, headphones today feature modem designs that are lighter and smaller. Additionally, headphone designs have been modified in accordance with intended use thereof and may include open-back and closed-back configurations.
Further, the evolution of gaming has created the need for more advanced audio and communication solutions. A gamer wishing to utilize a personal headset during game play wants a better audio experience without the need to be physically tethered to a gaming console. Moreover, serious gamers require the ability to converse with other gamers at remote locations or in tournament gaming situations and listen to game audio simultaneously through the use of a headset.
The conventional open-back wired headphone option which is optimal for many listening situations may not be practical for a gamer wishing to operate a game console controller from a distance farther than the wired headphone may reach or for a gamer who wishes to move around a room unrestrained. Moreover, many gamers already own a preferred wired headset, and these individuals either may not be able to afford, or may not wish to purchase, a different wireless headset for each gaming system at great personal expense. One solution developed by the present applicant, Astro Gaming, Inc., to facilitate use of generic open-back wired headphones in wireless situations and with different consoles includes the use of a MixAmp™ with the open-back wired headphones which can communicate in a wired or wireless fashion with the gaming console and/or game controller to facilitate game and network chat audio communication to/from the headset. A detailed description of the various headset and MixAmp™ configurations is found in U.S. Pat. No. 8,491,386 (Systems and methods for remotely mixing multiple audio signals) and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/926,015 (Wireless Game/Audio System and Method), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
But while conventional open-back wired (or wireless) headphones (with or without use of a MixAmp™) may be useful and even optimal for many audio situations, in a particularly noisy environment, such as game tournaments, the background noise of, e.g., other teams and spectators, etc., can simply overwhelm the open-back headphones. In these situations, closed-back headphones may be contemplated. Such closed-back headphones are either unique to a particular system or require additional components, such as a MixAmp™, to massage the incoming audio signals and compensate for the distortion caused by shutting out the air to the internal mechanics, i.e., diaphragms, of the headphones. Such closed-back headphones are not optimized for use outside of the unique system and environment for which they are specially designed. Consequently, a user may need to purchase multiple types of headsets for each different audio environment.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a system that facilitates use of stock open-back headsets in audio environments ranging from wired, single output listening with minimal background noise (e.g., home television or computer listening) to multiple output (game and chat) wired or wireless listening with high background noise (e.g., tournament gaming environment).
In a first exemplary embodiment, an audio compensation system comprises: a convertible headset including a left earphone configured to convert electrical energy into sound waves; a right earphone configured to convert electrical energy into sound waves; a first removable and interchangeable noise plate configured to selectively attach to one of the right and left earphones; a second removable and interchangeable noise plate configured to selectively attach to the other of the right and left earphones; a first removable air-tight pad inserted between a first of the left and right earphones and the first removable and interchangeable noise plate when the convertible headset is in a closed configuration; a second removable air-tight pad inserted between a second of the left and right earphones and the second removable and interchangeable noise plate when the convertible headset is in a closed configuration; wherein both the left earphone and the right earphone include components to facilitate mechanical and audible coupling with a removable microphone with or without one or both of the first and second noise plates and first and second removable air tight pads attached thereto, the components including a receiver component for receiving the connector portion of the removable microphone therein directly or after the connector portion passes through the aperture when the first noise plate is attached to one of the right and left earphones; wherein the first and second noise plates and first and second removable air tight pads insulate a user of the headset from noise produced externally when one or both are attached to the convertible headset in the closed configuration; and an audio profile controller connected to the convertible headset and one or more audio sources, the audio profile controller including one or more audio equalizer profiles programmed therein to compensate for negative audio effects resulting from the closed configuration of the convertible headset.
In a second exemplary embodiment a convertible headset comprises: an assembly of parts configured to convert electrical energy into sound waves, the assembly including earphones and removable and interchangeable components for physically altering the configurable headset from an open to a closed configuration, wherein altering the convertible headset from an open to closed configuration produces negative audio effects for a user of the convertible headset; the assembly of parts further including an audio profile controller connected to the convertible headset and one or more audio sources, the audio profile controller including one or more audio equalizer profiles programmed therein to compensate for the negative audio effects.
In a third exemplary embodiment a convertible headset for facilitating communication from and to a user of the headset during a multiplayer game and optimizing game audio quality comprises: a left earphone including left audio circuitry, a removable left noise plate and a removable left air-tight pad; a right earphone including right audio circuitry, a removable right noise plate and a removable left air-tight pad; a microphone attached to one of the left and right earphones for generating internal communications; wherein the left noise plate, left air-tight pad, the right noise plate and the right air-tight pad isolate internal communications between the user and other players in the multiplayer game by insulating the user of the headset from external communications when the left noise plate, left air-tight pad, the right noise plate and the right air-tight pad are attached to the headset in a closed headset configuration; further wherein the user can remove the left noise plate, left air-tight pad, the right noise plate and the right air-tight pad in order to facilitate receipt of internal and external communications in an open headset configuration; and an audio profile controller connected to the convertible headset and receiving therein one or more audio signals, including a game audio signal, the audio profile controller including one or more audio equalizer profiles programmed therein to compensate for negative audio effects experiences by the user resulting from the closed headset configuration of the convertible headset.
The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of the embodiments herein will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
In competitive gaming environments, modern headsets are connected to an audio exchange with boom assemblies that support microphones, easing communications among teammates without the need to shout to be heard. In various embodiments herein, earphones, which convert electrical energy into sound waves, are designed with an externally facing air-permeable grille and ear-facing air-permeable cloth or foam pads in a first open-back configuration. The headset in this first open-back configuration is optimized for use in nearly all listening environments and is usable with a MixAmp™ to facilitate wireless headset use with different gaming consoles and to balance game audio and chat volume to the headset.
In a second configuration, the open-back headset is physically modified with attachable components as discussed further herein to essentially produce a closed-back headset, but audio distortion that is necessarily produced by the restricted air flow to the headphones is compensated for the MixAmp™ prior to the audio signals reaching the headset. The following is instructive.
Further, as discussed below the removable tags or noise plates 110 may be provided in two different structures. In a first structure, the tags 110 are plastic or composite plates, having multiple magnetic members 110A-110D for attaching the tags 110 to a gasket 202 (see
In a second structure, removable noise plates 110′ include an air tight gasket seal 120 to seal the air gap from the first structure. Accordingly, when using the headset in the closed-back configuration, the user swaps out the tags 110 or the noise plates 110′. The noise plates 110′ provide insulation against distracting noise that is produced in a competitive environment, such as during gaming tournaments. The tags or noise plates 110 or 110′ are easily removed by exerting a force greater than the magnetic coupling that fastens them to the earphone 101a, 101b.
The tags or noise plates 110 or 110′ may include in one or both (left/right) an aperture 112 that guides a jack 116 of a boom assembly 114 to mate with a female port (not shown) of the earphone 101a, 101b. When connected, the wearer of the headset 100 may audibly communicate via utterances that are received by the microphone screen 118 for transmission to audio circuitry components (not shown).
The earphones 101a, 101b are mechanically coupled to the band 108a, 108b via hollowed cylinders 120a, 120b. Protected by these cylinders 120a, 120b are audio wires that transmit audio communication to the earphones 101a, 101b. These audio wires also receive audio communication received from the boom assembly 114 for transmission to other audio processing circuitry (not shown).
The earphone 100 includes a grille 204 that is characterized by perforation forming a screen through which ambient sound may readily enter the earphone 100 in the open-back configuration when such ambient sound is not attenuated or eliminated by the noise plate 110′. The grille 204 includes a number of hollowed cylinders 204a-204d for accommodating a number of magnetic members 210a-210d to magnetically couple an assembly of the tags or noise plates 110 or 110′, the gasket 202, and the grille 204 to the remaining assembled parts of the earphone 100. A hollowed, projected cylinder 204e protrudes into the aperture 202e of the gasket 202 which terminates at the aperture 112 of the tags or noise plates 110 or 110′ to further help guide the jack 116 of the boom assembly 114 to mate with audio circuitry (not shown) of the earphone 100.
The earphone 100 includes a frame 106 characterized by its U-shaped racetrack form. Protruding at an angle from one side of either arm of the U-shaped frame 106 is a hollowed cylinder 206a, 206b that engages openings 208a, 208b of the earphone 100 to allow the frame 106 to cradle at various angles, hence adding comfort to the wearer of the earphone 100.
The earphone 100 includes the shell 104 having two open ends. The diameter of a proximal end of the shell 104 tapers gradually to a distal end of the shell 104 to form a neck. Two openings 208a, 208b on either side of the neck of the shell 104 mate with projected hollowed cylinders 206a, 206b of the frame 106, thus allowing the frame 106 to cradle against the shell 104. A notch 208c located at the distal end of the shell 104 is configured to receive speaker wire for transmitting audio information into the earphone 100.
The earphone 100 includes a bezel 210 on which electrical, electronic, and mechanical parts of a speaker system are assembled. The earphone 100 includes a pliant, annular member 212, whose center opening permits audio sound reproduced by the speaker system housed by the bezel 210 to be projected. Multiple holes 212a-212d couple the annular member 212 to the bezel 210. The magnetically removable pad 102 is a component of the earphone 100 that envelops the ear of the wearer of the earphone 100. As discussed above, pads 102a, 102b may be formed of air-permeable materials in the open-back configuration and may be switched out for pads 102a′, 102b′ formed of air tight material such as synthetic leather when using the earphone 100 in the closed-bag configuration.
The clutch 214 is housed by the bezel 210. The bezel 210 is one part in an assembly of parts, including the pad 102 and the annular member 212, which together comprise another fitting of manufactured parts of the earphone 100. Specifically, the clutch 214 comprises three fingers 214a-214c that grip a jack collar 402 to seize the boom assembly 114 firmly while allowing the jack 116 to be in electrical communication with the wire form 216 and other assembled parts of the bezel 210 as well as allowing the boom assembly 114 to be coaxially rotated (in the direction where the jack 116 is inserted into the clutch 214). Multiple magnetic members 210a-210d are shown floating in the illustration to illustrate its fastening function to magnetically couple the bezel 210 to the other parts of the earphone 100.
The bezel 210 includes a driver protector 608 that is characterized by its annular shape including two wings 608a, 608b. The driver protector 608 is fastened to the bezel 210 using a suitable fastening agent, such as glue. The wings of the driver protector 608 mate with two C-shaped members 614a-614b to prevent slippage of the driver protector 608. Two fingers 610a-610b, preferably formed from aluminum, are mounted to the bezel 210 at a proximal end while their distal ends are finished with dome-like members that are projected away from each other to mate with holes 208a, 208b, allowing the frame 106 to cradle against the shell 104, as previously discussed in other figures, such as
As discussed to this point, at base, the headset described herein is in an open-back configuration, wherein the components are designed so as to optimize audio input when the pads 102 and tags 110 are air-permeable. Referring to
More particularly, as described above, the stock open back configuration (with or without the decorative tags 110) is the preferred configuration for most all listening environments. The open back configuration optimizes sound provided to the user by allowing maximum air to pass, generally unimpeded, through the earphones and to interact with the mechanical diaphragms therein to produce the clearest sound (
As described in the '386 Patent, exemplary properties of the audio signals which may be controlled include, but are not limited to, balance and/or volume of a game audio and/or a network chat audio stream, as well as a base boost. Representative circuitry and programmable hardware components of the audio mixer are described and illustrated in the '386 Patent. Such a system, which includes at least the audio profile controller and the headphones, is particularly useful in gaming scenarios, including on-line and in-person tournament games. Depending on the particular use and/or environment, the headset and audio profile controller may communicate in a wired or wireless configuration with each other and/or with the audio source(s), e.g., game console, computer, personal device. In certain configurations, the audio profile controller may include a portable component in wired communication with the wireless headset and in wireless communication with a base station component. Descriptions of various configurations are found in the '386 Patent and are incorporated herein by reference. Exemplary schematics for particular multi-player game scenarios which may incorporate the headset and audio profile controller system described herein and implement the associated processes are shown in
But as discussed above, the in-person tournament games present a unique problem, wherein the external noise generated by spectators and other gamers in the venue can overwhelm the internal headset audio. In a preferred embodiment, a novel system includes (1) the stock open-back headset modified with the noise plates 110′ and air-tight pads 102a′, 102b′ so as to effectively create a closed-back configuration (
Alternatively, the application of the Compensation EQ may be triggered by a sensor configuration which senses the physical changes or effects of the physical changes to the headset. By way of example, contact sensors at the magnetic couplings of the noise plates 110′ and air-tight pads 102a′, 102b′ may trigger automatic application of the Compensation EQ by the audio profile controller when contact is confirmed at all points of contact. In another example, an external noise sensor within the headset may trigger automatic application of the Compensation EQ by the audio profile controller when the external noise sensor sensing a predetermined drop in external noise within the headset. In a still further example, application of the Compensation EQ by the audio profile controller may be voice activated with a particular command by the user received through the microphone of the headset. One skilled in the art recognizes the numerous ways that such sensing and detecting of the physical change to the headset or effects thereof may be communicated to the audio profile controller to trigger the application of the Compensation EQ responsive thereto. Similarly, when reverse physical changes are made, the sensors, detectors, and different voice activation may trigger removal of the Compensation EQ.
In yet a further embodiment, an add-on component is not required as the signal processing circuitry of the audio profile controller may be incorporated within the headset itself. Like the add-on audio profile controller, the signal processing circuitry may respond either manually, by a switch on the headset, or automatically, responsive to one or more of the detecting, sensing and/or voice commands as discussed above, in order to apply the Compensation EQ to the incoming signal when the stock open-back headset is physically modified to a closed-back configuration.
Accordingly, the system described herein and the associated processes of implementation solve numerous problems known in the art including how to compensate for audio distortion caused by impeding, albeit unintentionally, the air flow to the diaphragm drivers internal to the headset when air access is limited by the physical structure of the headset. The system and associated processes of the embodiments remedy the expensive requirement for different headsets depending on the type of use. A stock open-back headset can be transformed with minor physical changes and resulting audio distortion is corrected by application of predetermined Compensation EQ programmed into an audio profile controller connected to the headset.
While illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
The present application claims of the benefit of priority to similar titled U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/210,380 filed Aug. 26, 2017 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This application incorporates herein by reference the following co-owned patents and patent applications: U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,139,807; 8,335,335; 8,491,386; 8,602,892; and Ser. No. 13/926,015.
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