Electrical audio signal processing systems and devices – Electro-acoustic audio transducer – Plural or compound reproducers
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-11
2001-10-09
Kuntz, Curtis A. (Department: 2743)
Electrical audio signal processing systems and devices
Electro-acoustic audio transducer
Plural or compound reproducers
C002S209000, C379S430000, C381S370000, C381S371000, C381S374000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06301367
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to portable entertainment and personal communication and information systems, particularly wearable audio systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are many situations where it is desirable to provide audio output for personal use to be worn or carried near the body. This audio output could be used for portable entertainment, personal communications, information and the like. These personal and portable communication and entertainment products include, for example, cellular and portable radios, tape players, CD players and audio portions of portable video systems and personal monitors.
The audio output for many of these systems is typically directed to the wearer through the use of transducers physically positioned in the ear or covering the ear, such as earphones and headphones. Earphones and headphones, however, are often uncomfortable to use for long periods of time. Also, they can block or attenuate environmental sounds causing the wearer to lose contact with the surroundings. This can compromise safety considerations if the wearer is engaging in activities such as jogging, driving a vehicle, or operating machinery. Further, the feeling of being partially disconnected from one's audio environment often adds to the discomfort of conventional headphones and earphones.
One common use of audio systems with earphones and headphones involves exercise and athletic events. It is quite common to see people jogging or exercising with headphones or earphones positioned in or covering their ears. Not only is this dangerous since the person often loses contact with external sounds and surroundings, but the earphones and headphones are subject to being dislodged as a result of the activity.
It is commonly desired to provide stereo audio output from these portable entertainment and personal communication systems. Also, a stereo audio output may be provided without earphones or headphones by arranging small loud speakers (a/k/a transducers) on the body. These small speakers, however, are not able to create broad-band high fidelity sound, particularly in the low frequency ranges, and furthermore will radiate a substantial amount of sound into the wearer's surroundings, which can be unacceptably annoying to others in the vicinity. In this regard, loud speaker transducers are usually mounted in enclosures to confine the acoustic radiation from the rear portions of the transducer so that the radiation does not combine with out-of-phase radiation from the front portions of the transducer. Without such an enclosure, there is a significant reduction of net radiated intensity, especially in the low frequency audio ranges.
For wearable speakers, the requirement of an enclosure creates a problem. In general, the volume of the enclosure will be quite small and its acoustic stiffness will dominate the speaker behavior. The result will be a high resonance frequency and consequently a poor low frequency response.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved audio system for portable entertainment and personal communication systems. It is another objective of the present invention to provide a portable audio system which provides high quality sound, particularly at low audio frequencies.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a non-occluding wearable audio system which can be easily worn and does not interfere with the person's activity, whether sports related or otherwise. It is a still further objective of the present invention to provide a wearable audio system which does not require the speakers to be contacting, positioned in, or covering the wearer's ears and thus overcome a number of the problems and drawbacks with present systems.
The present invention fulfills these objects and overcomes the problems with known systems by providing a personal audio system which provides high quality sound and a wearable configuration which does not interfere with the person's activity and does not block environmental sounds. In accordance with the present invention, portable acoustic modules are provided which are wearable on the person's head and provide sounds to the ears without the necessity of actually being positioned in, touching, or covering the ears.
The present invention utilizes one or more speakers positioned on opposite sides of the wearer's head, each emitting sounds which can be heard primarily by the adjacent ears. The invention uses the unique combination of the radiation characteristics of dipole (doublet) sources with certain placement of the transducers on the head.
The speakers are contained in acoustic modules positioned adjacent each of the wearer's ears. The modules also each have an acoustic outlet port and an acoustic vent port. Each outlet port is located in close proximity to the wearer's ears, especially the entrance to the ear canal, while the vent port is located a substantial distance away from the ear canal. One or more transducers (a/k/a speakers) are mounted in each module, and positioned between the two ports. The transducers are sealed into a wall or structural member forming a pair of chambers (ducts) in the modules which are vented as described. The ducts add acoustic mass, which lowers the resonant frequencies of the system, extending the bass response.
Since the outlet port and vent port are positioned on each module at substantially different distances from the ear and ear canal of the wearer when the module is worn, this minimizes the cancellation of sound from the two sources which are nominally 180° out of phase at low frequencies. The ratio of the distance of the vent port from the ear canal of the wearer to the distance of the outlet port from the ear canal is at least 2:1, and preferably 3:1, 4:1, or higher.
The acoustic modules or enclosures can be hollow or filled with an acoustically transparent material, such as an open cell foam. They can also be filled or partially filled with an acoustic damping material, for example Dacron fibers. Preferably, the acoustic modules are part of a headset and attached to a headband or headbands which are worn on the wearer's head. The modules also could be integrated into or clipped onto one of the various types of head gear worn today, such as caps, helmets, headbands, hats, and the like. The modules could also be adapted to be clipped on, or attached to, the wearer's glasses or sunglasses, or an active personal display device. It is also possible to combine the headset with a microphone for two-way communication. The wearer could choose the desired mode of use and apparel based on a number of factors, such as the needs of fashion, or the type of activity involved. As evident, the invention has a wide variety of business, social, and personal uses.
The audio signal could be generated by any of the conventional music or communication systems known today, such as a radio, CD player, cellular telephone, portable telephone, cassette tape, solid-state audio player, computer (desktop or portable), personal information device, or the like. The audio signal could be transmitted to the wearable device by either a wired or wireless system. The modules themselves, or the headband, cap, hat, etc., could contain the necessary electronic module, batteries, antenna(s), and other electronic components, or they could be contained in a stationary or portable structure, such as a Walkman-type device.
For a clip-on audio system, a single acoustic device or two acoustic devices (left and right) can be provided which are adapted to be attached to a conventional hat, cap, helmet, or other headgear. With such a system, the openings (outlet ports) in the devices which provide the primary audio component of the system to the wearer are adapted to be positioned adjacent to, or in close proximity to, the wearer's ears. Also, regardless of whether the audio system is self-contained or a clip-on device, preferably the orientation and positioning of the acoustic modules are adjustable.
Boyden James H.
Burdick Wayne
Gatrall Simon
Hebert Daniell
Ross-Brook Lorna
Harvey Dionne
Interval Research Corporation
Kuntz Curtis A.
Sierra Patent Group Ltd.
LandOfFree
Wearable audio system with acoustic modules does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Wearable audio system with acoustic modules, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Wearable audio system with acoustic modules will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2559597