3919results about "Earpiece/earphone mechanical/electrical switches" patented technology

An electronic translator translates input speech into multiple streams of data that are simultaneously delivered to the user, such as a hearing impaired individual. Preferably, the data is delivered in audible, visual and text formats. These multiple data streams are delivered to the hearing-impaired individual in a synchronized fashion, thereby creating a cognitive response. Preferably, the system of the present invention converts the input speech to a text format, and then translates the text to any of three other forms, including sign language, animation and computer generated speech. The sign language and animation translations are preferably implemented by using the medium of digital movies in which videos of a person signing words, phrase and finger spelled words, and of animations corresponding to the words, are selectively accessed from databases and displayed. Additionally the received speech is converted to computer-generated speech for input to various hearing enhancement devices used by the deaf or hearing-impaired, such as cochlear implants and hearing aids, or other output devices such as speakers, etc. The data streams are synchronized utilizing a high-speed personal computer to facilitate sufficiently fast processing that the text, video signing and audible streams can be generated simultaneously in real time. Once synchronized the data streams are presented to the subject concurrently in a method that allows the process of mental comprehension to occur. The electronic translator can also be interfaced to other communications devices, such as telephones. Preferably, the hearing-impaired person is also able to use the system's keyboard or mouse to converse or respond.

A detector located on or near an ear piece may automatically detect whether a left or right ear or neither ear is wearing the ear piece. A signal mixer may automatically apply a correct configuration to signals transmitted to or from the ear piece according to whether the left or right ear or neither ear is determined to be wearing the ear piece. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

An active headset system is provided with compatibility with existing socket configurations in a way that minimizes the number of electrical connections. The number of connections between the active headset and the remote noise cancellation circuitry is reduced through the use of a common contact, having a controlled impedance, that serves as an input connection to corresponding terminals of the two earphones of the active headset. According to another aspect of the present invention, the transients associated with plugging in or unplugging stereo jack plugs or up to a seven pin connector into an active headset may be overcome by a transient detector in the noise cancellation circuitry. Yet another aspect of the present invention concerns the powering of the noise cancellation circuitry whether the noise cancellation circuitry is placed inside the active headset or at least partially internal to a remote external device.

A wearable wireless audio device includes a support, an electronics circuit, and a speaker. The support includes a first ear stem and an orbital, and is configured to support at least one lens in a wearer's field of view. The electronics circuit is supported by the support and is configured to receive at least one digital audio file and generate an audio signal indicative of the at least one digital audio file. The speaker is supported by the support, and is directed toward at least one of the wearer's ears. The speaker is configured to convert the audio signal into sound. The speaker has a speaker face, and the speaker is configured to rotate from a first position in which the speaker face is substantially parallel to a yz-plane to a second position in which the speaker is inclined at an angle with respect to the yz-plane. The speaker is coupled to the support with a speaker pivot, and is configured to rotate about the speaker pivot while maintaining the speaker face substantially parallel to a yz-plane. The speaker is configured to move along an axis substantially parallel to a z-axis with respect to the support.

Capacitive touch sensors are integrated with a head-mounted display (HMD) device or other video eyewear devices to create a more reliable and more intuitive user interface. The sensors, which may be implemented as an array, control various aspects of a left and right channel multimedia presentation, such as interpupillary distance or stereoscopic convergence, brightness, volume, or power mode.

An apparatus comprising a pair of headphones which have selective port connections formed in their housings allowing connection with an auxiliary audio appliances such as an AM / FM radio, CD player, cassette players, MP3 player as well as a cellular telephone. The apparatus specifically has one port for connection to a cellular telephone which is connected to a switching circuit which when activated by the occurrence a telephonic connection interrupts the audio from the auxiliary audio appliance.

Embodiments include an eye cover adapted to be removeably mounted on a head-worn computer with a see-through computer display where the eye cover includes a flexible audio headset mounted to the eye cover. The flexibility of the audio headset provides the user of the head-worn computer with a mechanism to align the audio headset with an ear of the user.

An information presentation apparatus is provided presenting an interface suitable for selecting desired information from a plurality of information. The apparatus has three methods of presenting information. The first method is to present information by sequentially playing and presenting a plurality of audio information related to the information in turn. The second method is to present the plurality of audio information at the same time wherein each sound has its directivity. The third method is a combination of the first and second methods wherein user can select desired method between the two depending on kinds of information presented.

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for providing audio enhancement to a user of a listening device. The technique includes reproducing a first audio stream, such as an audio stream associated with a media player. The technique further includes detecting a voice trigger. The voice trigger may be associated with a name of a user of the listening device. The technique further includes pausing or attenuating the first audio stream and reproducing a second audio stream associated with ambient sound in response to detecting the voice trigger.

A mechanism is provided for automatically controlling the operation of a media device based at least in part upon whether a portable presentation device coupled to the media device is currently being worn by a user. A portable presentation device may be any device that is meant to be worn by a user and that is capable of presenting media content to the user (e.g. earphones, headphones, goggles or faceplates with video / audio capability, etc.). With this mechanism, a user can affect the operation of the media device by simply putting on or taking off the portable presentation device. The user does not need to manually manipulate the controls of the media device. By automatically controlling the operation of the media device in this manner, use of the media device and the portable presentation device as a unit is made much simpler and more convenient.

The invention relates to an energy saving headset that comprises a power management unit operable to reduce the power consumption of the headset when a user is not present. The power management unit uses capacitive sensing to detect the presence of the user. Capacitive sensing is advantageous since it provides a flexible and reliable sensor that can accurately detect the presence or absence of a user either by detecting user proximity or user contact. Moreover, in various embodiments, the sensitivity of a capacitive sensor may be adjusted to account for user movement or changes in environmental conditions, such as, for example, the presence of water, or sweat, on the headset to further improve sensing reliability. The invention further relates to headsets using user presence signals based on capacitive sensing to control other functions of the headset or to control external devices to which the headset is connected, either wirelessly or by wires.

A single prong, multiple signal conducting plug and plug detection circuitry is provided. The plug may be electrically coupled to a stereo headset including a microphone. The plug may include four signal conducting regions arranged in a predetermined order along the length of the prong. Detection circuitry may be operative to determine whether a microphone type of plug (e.g., a four region plug including a microphone region and two audio regions, or a three region plug including microphone region and only one audio region) or a non-microphone type of plug (e.g., stereo plug) is inserted into the jack of an electronic device (e.g., mobile phone). Detection circuitry may also detect user activated functions performed in response to user activation of one or more switches included with the headset. For example, the headset may include a single switch for performing a function with respect to a microphone (e.g., end-call function).

A headset having game, chat and microphone audio signals is provided with a programmable signal processor for individually modifying the audio signals and a memory configured to store a plurality of user-selectable signal-processing parameter settings that determine the manner in which the audio signals will be altered by the signal processor. The parameter settings collectively form a preset, and one or more user-operable controls can select and activate a preset from the plurality of presets stored in memory. The parameters stored in the selected preset can be loaded into the signal processor such that the sound characteristics of the audio paths are modified in accordance with the parameter settings in the selected preset.

Headset connector systems and headset engaging connector systems are provided. Headset connector systems can include two or more headset connector contact regions. Headset engaging connector systems can include two or more headset engaging contact regions to provide at least one of power and data. The headset connector system or the headset engaging connector system can include switching circuitry electrically coupled to the respective contact regions. The switching circuitry can be operative to determine an interface orientation between the headset connector contact regions and the headset engaging contact regions. The switching circuitry can also be operative to selectively route received signals based on the determined interface orientation. At least a portion of the headset connector system or the headset engaging connector system can be magnetically attractive.

Devices and methods of detecting a predetermined audio signal in audio signals are provided. A device includes a processor coupled to a clock signal generator, a power controller and an audio detector. The power controller controls a clock rate provided to the processor by the clock signal generator, to control the device to operate in a low power mode having a relatively low power consumption or in a normal power mode having a relatively high power consumption. The audio detector receives audio signals and detects, in the low power mode, probable presence of a predetermined audio signal in the audio signals. The power controller controls the device to switch from the low power mode to the normal power mode responsive to the detected presence of the predetermined audio signal by the audio detector.

A system and method for automatically changing a state of a device coupled to a headphone device is provided. The system comprises a means for detecting if at least one earpiece of the headphone device is activated or deactivated. Based on an activation state or a change in an activation state of the at least one earpiece, a state change may occur in the device. The state change is determined by a preset of a control module.

The present invention provides an audio headset (1) comprising a resilient headband (2) adapted to extend partially around and grip a wearer s head, the resilient headband (2) having first and second end portions (4),and first and second earphones (6) attached by pliable members (8) to the first and second end portions (4), respectively, wherein the resilient headband is arranged to conduct an audio signal from an audio signal generator to the earphones. The resilient headband can be worn around the back of the head. The audio headset is particularly suitable for use during sports and may be provided in a waterproof version for use whilst swimming. The audio headset may be used with a removable audio player (110) having an integral USB plug (118). The removable audio player (110) may be adapted to receive digital audio signals and power to recharge an internal battery through the USB plug in a first operating mode, and to output analogue audio signals 17 through the USB plug, to the audio headset, in a second operating mode.

A bone conducting headset apparatus (10) that includes a pair of speaker / microphone members (30) (30) mounted at the juncture of a head strap (21) and a neck strap (22) provided with a spring biasing member (23) wherein, the speaker / microphone members (30) (30) are operatively connected to an electronic control member (40) that is provided with means (46) for selectively attaching the electronic control member (40) to a desired article of the user's clothing wherein, the electronic control member (40) is provided with PTT technology, as well as, high noise cut-off (44) directional hearing (48) (48) and selective communication features (42).

Systems and methods for a wireless stereo headset are disclosed. The system generally includes a first headset component and a second headset component. Both the first headset component and the second headset component may be wireless devices.

Methods and apparatuses for headset wearing mode based operation are presented. A headset system includes a first earbud and a second earbud. One or both earbuds have a detector which indicates whether the earbud is donned or doffed. Operation of the headset is modified based on the donned or doffed status of the earbuds.

An audio headset usable for conducting a voice call through a phone, and for playing audio, such as music, from a streaming audio device, by means of a speaker. The headset comprises a signal transceiver, wirelessly connectable to a plurality of devices, including a voice call device and an audio device. A control unit in the headset can be controlled by means of a switch, which is operable to selectively set the control unit to a single point connection setting, in which only audio signals received from a first device are relayed to the speaker, or to a multiple point connection setting, in which audio signals received from the first device or from a second device are relayed to the speaker. The first device is typically a mobile phone, and priority is preferably always given to voice call signals from mobile phone even in the multipoint connection setting.

A system, method and wireless earpieces for managing power utilized by a pair of wireless earpieces. A signal strength is determined between the pair of wireless earpieces. Signal activity is determined for the pair of wireless earpieces. A low power mode is activated in response to determining the signal activity is below an activity threshold. The low power mode is activated for the one or more of the pair of wireless earpieces in response to the signal strength exceeding one or more signals thresholds.

A device (120) for processing data for a wearable apparatus (100, 110), the device (120) comprising an input unit (122) adapted to receive input data, means (124, 116, 117) for generating information, referred to as wearing information (WI), which is based on sensor information and indicates a state, referred to as wearing state, in which the wearable apparatus (100) is worn, and a processing unit (121) adapted to process the input data on the basis of the wearing information (WI), thereby generating output data.