CN111213388A

CN111213388A - Eyeglasses-receiving headset with adaptive and variable ear support

Info

Publication number: CN111213388A
Application number: CN201880066278.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 理查德·库拉维克; 托马斯·M·舍尼; 戴维·泽普; 于尔根·斯塔克
Original assignee: Voyetra Turtle Beach Inc
Current assignee: Voyetra Turtle Beach Inc
Priority date: 2017-08-31
Filing date: 2018-07-17
Publication date: 2020-05-29
Also published as: EP3677045A4; EP3677045A1; WO2019045893A1; CN117156342A

Abstract

Systems and methods for eyewear receiving headphones with adaptive and variable ear supports are provided. An exemplary headset may include an ear cup having two or more different portions that differ in one or more characteristics. The first portion is adaptively configured to receive a temple of a pair of eyeglasses of a wearer of the headset, and the second portion is configured to remain in contact with a temple of the wearer of the headset. The different portions may comprise different foams (or different portions of foam, each portion having different characteristics). The characteristics may include hardness and/or density. Another exemplary headset may include an ear cup with a pocket that receives an eyeglass temple.

Description

Eyeglasses-receiving headset with adaptive and variable ear support

Priority requirement

This patent application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application No. 14/931,915 filed on day 4/11/2015, a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application No. 14/726,667 filed on day 1/6/2015, a continuation application of U.S. patent application No. 14/458,366 (now U.S. patent No. 9,049,512) filed on day 13/8/2014, which claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/908,802 (now expired) filed on day 26/11/2013.

Each of the above references is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Technical Field

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to audio technology, and more particularly, to headphones. More particularly, certain embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods and systems for eyeglass-receiving headsets with adaptive and variable ear support.

Background

Conventional approaches to headphones may suffer from various problems. In this regard, conventional systems and methods for housing eyeglasses in a headset (if present) may be expensive and/or inefficient. Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional headsets will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention, as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

Disclosure of Invention

A system and method for an eyeglass-receiving headset with adaptive and variable ear support, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.

These and other advantages, aspects, and novel features of the present disclosure and details of illustrated embodiments thereof will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1 depicts a first view of a headset configured to receive eyeglasses;

fig. 2 depicts a second view of the headset of fig. 1;

FIG. 3 depicts one ear cup (ear cups) of the headset of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate adjusting the tightness of the band earmuff shaper of the first embodiment of the headset to adjust the amount of space created for the glasses;

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate adjusting the tightness of the strap earmuff shaper of the second embodiment of the headset to adjust the amount of space created for the glasses;

fig. 6A and 6B illustrate cross-sectional views of the embodiment of the headset shown in fig. 5B;

FIG. 7 shows how the temples (temple pieces) of the glasses fit into the depressions created by the band earmuff formers;

fig. 8 depicts a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a headset having an eyeglass receptacle;

9A-9D depict exemplary embodiments in which a telescoping structure located inside the earmuff foam enables the headset to accommodate the temple of eyeglasses;

10A-10D depict exemplary embodiments in which the headset has an opening that receives a temple of the eyeglasses;

FIG. 11A is a flow diagram illustrating a first example process for adjusting audio settings based on a state of a earmuff shaper;

FIG. 11B is a flow diagram illustrating a second example process for adjusting audio settings based on the state of an earmuff shaper;

FIG. 12 depicts a headset configured in accordance with an exemplary embodiment wherein the earmuffs have portions with different foams for receiving temples of eyeglasses;

fig. 13A-13B depict an exemplary embodiment in which the headset has a recess (divot) that receives the temple of the eyeglasses.

Detailed Description

As used herein, the terms "circuit" and "circuitry" refer to physical electronic components (e.g., hardware) as well as any software and/or firmware ("code") that may configure, be executed by, and/or be associated with the hardware. As used herein, for example, a particular processor and memory (e.g., volatile or non-volatile memory device, general purpose computer-readable medium, etc.) can include a first "circuit" when executing a first line or lines of code and a second "circuit" when executing a second line or lines of code. Further, the circuitry may include analog and/or digital circuitry. Such circuitry may operate on analog and/or digital signals, for example. It should be understood that the circuitry may be in a single device or chip, on a single motherboard, in a single chassis, in multiple enclosures at a single geographic location, in multiple enclosures distributed across multiple geographic locations, etc. Similarly, the term "module" may refer, for example, to a physical electronic component (e.g., hardware) and any software and/or firmware ("code") that may configure, be executed by, and/or be associated with the hardware.

As used herein, a circuit or module is "operable" to perform a function, whether the execution of the function is disabled or not enabled (e.g., by user-configurable settings, factory adjustments, etc.), as long as the circuit or module includes the hardware and code necessary to perform the function (if necessary).

As used herein, "and/or" means any one or more of the items in the list connected by "and/or". As an example, "x and/or y" represents any element of the three-element set { (x), (y), (x, y) }. In other words, "x and/or y" means "one or both of x and y". As another example, "x, y, and/or z" represents any element of the seven-element set { (x), (y), (z), (x, y), (x, z), (y, z), (x, y, z) }. In other words, "x, y, and/or z" means "one or more of x, y, and z. As used herein, the term "exemplary" means serving as a non-limiting example, instance, or illustration. As used herein, the terms "for example" and "such as" list one or more non-limiting examples, instances, or illustrations.

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, two views of an example headset 100 are shown, which example headset 100 may present audio received from a connected device (e.g., a game console) to a listener. The headset 100 includes a headband 102, a microphone boom 106 with a microphone 104,

earmuffs

108a and 108b attached to

housings

119a and 119b that

house speakers

116a and 116b, an earmuff shaper in the form of

straps

118a and 118b for housing eyeglasses, a connector 110, a connector 114, and a user control 112.

For example, the connector 110 may be a 3.5mm headphone jack for receiving analog audio signals (e.g., receiving chat audio via an Xbox "talk over" cable).

The microphone 104 converts sound waves (e.g., the voice of a person wearing the headset) into electrical signals for processing by circuitry of the headset and/or output to a device (e.g., a game console, a smartphone, etc.) in communication with the headset.

The

speakers

116a and 116b convert the electrical signals into sound waves.

The user controls 112 may include dedicated and/or programmable buttons, switches, sliders, wheels, etc. for performing various functions. Example functions that the controller 112 may be configured to perform include: turning on/off power to headset 100, muting/unmuting microphone 104, controlling gain/volume of chat audio and/or effects applied to chat audio by audio processing circuitry of headset 100, controlling gain/volume of game audio and/or effects applied to game audio by audio processing circuitry of headset 100, enabling/disabling/enabling pairing with another computing device (e.g., via bluetooth, direct Wi-Fi, etc.), and so forth.

For example, the connector 114 may be a USB port. Connector 114 may be used to download data from another computing device to headset 100 and/or upload data from headset 100 to another computing device. Such data may include, for example, parameter settings. Additionally or alternatively, the connector 114 may be used to communicate with another computing device, such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or the like.

Each

housing

119a and 119b may comprise a rigid plastic and/or metal for providing shape and support for the headset 200. Each

ear cup

108a and 108b is attached to a respective one of the

shells

119a and 119 b. As shown in fig. 6A and 6B, each shell 119a and 119B may provide a support structure that may be used to apply tension to a respective one of the straps 118a and 118B.

The

earmuffs

108a and 108b are configured to surround the ears of the wearer/listener and press against the head of the wearer/listener to create a closed acoustic environment, thereby improving sound quality. As shown in fig. 6A and 6B, the ear cups 108a and 108B may include, for example, foam that compresses the listener's head to form a seal, an outer cushion (e.g., breathable fabric that draws heat and/or moisture away from the listener's head), and an adjustable band for deforming the foam to accommodate the temples of a pair of eyeglasses worn by the wearer/listener.

Fig. 3 depicts one ear cup of the headset of fig. 1. In fig. 3, the foam and liner of earmuff 108a deform due to the tension applied to strap 118a, creating space for the temple of a pair of eyeglasses. Also shown in fig. 3 is a microphone 302, for example, microphone 302 may be used for automatic noise cancellation and/or for characterizing the acoustic environment within ear cup 108a, as described below with reference to fig. 11B.

In the embodiment of fig. 4A and 4B, the strap 118a is on the outside of the earmuff liner. This may be the case, for example, where

straps

118a and 118b are sold as after-market add-ons. In the embodiment of fig. 5A and 5B, the strap is on the inside of the earmuff liner (e.g., sewn to the inside of the liner), as shown in phantom. The wearer/listener can adjust the tension of strap 118a by pulling (e.g., directly or via a ratchet, dial, or other mechanical component) tab end 402.

In fig. 4A and 5A, the tension on strap 118a is less relative to the tension on the strap in fig. 4B and 5B. Thus, in fig. 4A and 5A, there is a shorter tag end 402 and an accompanying smaller deformation d1 (e.g., 0) in the earmuff as compared to the longer tag end and larger deformation d2 in fig. 4B and 5B. As shown in fig. 6A and 6B, the tension may be maintained by a retainer 408 that clamps the strap 118a and bracket to the housing 119 a.

In an exemplary embodiment, the strap tension may be fixed and the retention device 408 may simply be the two ends of the strap sewn together. In another exemplary embodiment, the retaining means may be retaining means on a garment belt, for example. In another exemplary embodiment, the retaining means may be a button or Velcro or the like. In another exemplary embodiment, the retaining device may use a gearing action, for example, on a snow sports boot and/or a binding.

Also shown in fig. 4A and 4B is a sensor (e.g., a hall effect sensor) that generates an electrical signal indicative of the configuration (i.e., tension or position) of the strap.

Figure 7 shows how the temple of the spectacles fits into the depression created by the strip. As can be seen in the figures, a larger depression (e.g., d2 of fig. 4B) may be desirable for larger temples (e.g., thick plastic frames), while a smaller depression (e.g., d1 of fig. 4A) may be desirable for smaller temples (e.g., thin wire frames). As shown, one result of the accommodation of the glasses may be a gap between the head of the wearer and the air cap, which may affect the hearing experience of the wearer. For example, air leakage caused by such gaps can reduce the perceived loudness of low frequency audio (i.e., reduce the perceived "bass response").

Accordingly, the headphone 100 is operable to compensate for such variations in the acoustic environment of the earmuffs by adjusting the audio settings applied to the audio signals output via the

speakers

116a and 116 b.

Fig. 8 depicts a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a headset having an eyeglass receptacle. In addition to the connector 110, user control 112, connector 114, microphone 104, microphone 302, and

speakers

116a and 116b already discussed, a radio 820, a CPU 822, a storage device 824, a memory 826, an audio processing circuit 830, and an earmuff shaper sensor 832 are shown.

The radio 820 includes circuitry operable to communicate in accordance with one or more standards (e.g., the IEEE 802.11 family of standards, the bluetooth family of standards, etc.) and/or proprietary wireless protocols (e.g., proprietary protocols for receiving audio from an audio base station such as the base station 300).

CPU 822 includes circuitry operable to execute instructions for controlling/coordinating the overall operation of headphone 100. These instructions may be part of an operating system or state machine of the headset 100 and/or part of one or more software applications running on the headset 100. In some embodiments, for example, CPU 822 may be a programmable interrupt controller, state machine, or the like.

Storage 824 includes, for example, FLASH or other non-volatile memory for storing data that may be used by CPU 822 and/or audio processing circuit 830. Such data may include, for example, parameter settings that affect audio signal processing in the headphone 100 and parameter settings that affect functions performed by the user controls 112. For example, the one or more parameter settings may determine, at least in part, the gain of one or more gain elements of the audio processing circuit 830. As another example, the one or more parameter settings may determine, at least in part, a frequency response of one or more filters operating on the audio signal in the audio processing circuit 830.

As another example, one or more parameter settings may determine, at least in part, whether and which sound effects were added to the audio signal in audio processing circuit 830 (e.g., which effects were added to the microphone audio to change the user's voice). Example parameter settings that affect Audio processing are described in co-pending U.S. patent application 13/040,144 entitled "Gaming Headset with Programmable Audio" and publication No. US2012/0014553, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The particular parameter settings may be autonomously selected by the headset 100 according to one or more algorithms, based on user input (e.g., via the controller 112), and/or based on input received via one or more of the

connectors

110 and 114.

Memory 826 includes volatile memory used as program memory by CPU 822 and/or audio processing circuit 830 for storing runtime data and the like.

The ear cup shaper sensor 832 comprises circuitry operable to detect the position of one or both ear cup shapers of the two

ear cups

108a and 108 b. For example, in the case of the band-

type earmuff shapers

118a and 118b, the sensor 832 may sense tension on one or both of the

straps

118a and 118b, the amount of deformation of foam due to one or both of the

straps

118a and 118b, and/or the presence (e.g., as measured by heat and/or skin conductance) or size (e.g., as measured by sound pressure) of an air gap between one or both of the earmuffs 108a and 108b and the wearer's head due to the straps 118a and/or 118 b.

For example, in the case of plunger-

type earmuff shapers

902a and 902b (fig. 9A-9D below), the sensor 832 may sense whether the plunger is extended or depressed, the amount of deformation of the foam due to one or both of the

plungers

902a and 902b, and/or the presence and/or size of an air gap between one or both of the earmuffs 108a and 108b and the wearer's head due to the

plungers

902a and 902 b.

For a band earmuff shaper, the sensors 832 may comprise, for example, magnets, each band having a hall effect sensor (i.e., the voltage generated across the hall element varies with the position of the band). For a band-type earmuff shaper, the sensor 832 may comprise, for example, a wheel or trackball that rolls as the band is tightened or loosened. For a plunger-type earmuff shaper, the sensor 832 may comprise, for example, a potentiometer, a simple binary (on/off) switch or contact, or the like.

Measurements from sensor 832 may be fed to CPU 822 and/or audio processing circuit 830, and audio processing may be adjusted based on the measurements. For example, the phase, amplitude, frequency, and/or some other characteristic of the audio signals output to the

speakers

116a and 116b may be adjusted to compensate for the acoustic environment corresponding to the current measurement. For example, to account for the air gap between the earmuffs 108a and the wearer's head created by the earmuff shaper, the bass of the audio signal output to the speaker 116a may be increased to maintain a desired bass loudness.

For example, DSP tuning correction factors applied to the output audio signal by the audio processing circuit 830 may be enabled or disabled based on the state of the ear cup shaper (e.g., whether the plunger shaper is depressed or extended, or whether the ribbon shaper is tight or loose). In one exemplary embodiment, the state of the ear cup shaper may be used to identify the wearer of the headset (e.g., two siblings share the headset, but only one of them wears glasses, which may be stored in the user profile/settings).

The audio processing circuit 830 may include circuitry operable to perform audio processing functions, such as volume/gain control, compression, decompression, encoding, decoding, introduction of audio effects (e.g., echo, phasing, virtual surround effects, etc.), and/or the like. As described above, the processing performed by audio processing circuit 830 may be determined, at least in part, by one or more measurements from sensor 832. This processing may be performed on game, chat, and/or microphone audio that is then output to

speakers

116a and 116 b. Additionally or alternatively, the processing can be performed on chat audio that is then output to connector 110 and/or radio 820.

Fig. 9A-9D depict exemplary embodiments in which a flexible rigid structure located inside the fill material (e.g., foam) of the earmuff enables the headset to comfortably receive the temple of the eyeglasses.

Fig. 9A shows the entire headphone 100, the headphone 100 having

recesses

904a and 904b in the

ear cups

108a and 108b, respectively, the

recesses

904a and 904b being created by

plungers

902a and 902b in the

ear cups

108a and 108b, respectively. As shown in fig. 9B, when the plunger 902a is in the extended position, there is no deformation 904 a. Fig. 9C shows the user retracting the plunger 902a by pressing the plunger 902 a. Figure 9D shows the structure in a retracted position such that there is a deformation 904a to accommodate the temple of a pair of eyeglasses.

In an exemplary embodiment, the

members

906a and 908a include a magnet 906a and a magnetic contact 908a such that the plunger 902a is held in the retracted position by magnetic force. In such embodiments, the plunger 902a may be returned to the extended position by squeezing the ear cup 108a to apply an extension force that overcomes the magnetic force. In another exemplary embodiment,

members

906a and 908a may comprise a mechanical latch in a retractable ball point pen. In such an embodiment, a first push of the plunger 902a compresses the foam and engages the mechanical latch, and a second push of the plunger compresses the foam beyond the retracted position and disengages the mechanical latch, allowing the foam to decompress (possibly with the assistance of a spring) and return the plunger to the extended position.

In an exemplary embodiment, the

components

906a and 908a include a magnet and a semiconductor hall element that work together as a hall effect sensor such that the voltage generated across the hall element varies with the position of the plunger 902. In one exemplary embodiment, the

members

908a and 906a include electrical contacts such that when the plunger 902a is retracted, the circuit is completed, but when it is opened, the circuit is broken. In an exemplary embodiment, one or both of the

members

908a and 906a may include a normally open switch that is closed, otherwise the plunger 902a retracts and opens.

Fig. 10A-10D depict exemplary embodiments in which the headset has openings (e.g., slots) to accommodate the temples of the eyeglasses. The slits/openings may be such that when the headphone wearer is not wearing glasses, as shown in fig. 10A and 10C, the resilient nature of the filler material (e.g., foam) of the earmuffs closes the slits/openings. On the other hand, when the eyeglasses are worn as shown in fig. 10B and 10D, the fill material is pushed aside by the temple of the eyeglasses while creating little or no additional pressure on the wearer's temples as compared to when the headphones are worn without the eyeglasses.

In fig. 10A and 10B, the slits are such that when the eyeglasses are worn simultaneously with the headset, the foam of the headset is located between the temples of the eyeglasses and the temple of the wearer. In fig. 10C and 10D, the filling material (e.g., foam) is pushed away so that the temple arm is in contact with the wearer's temple.

Desirably, in the embodiment of fig. 10A-10D, the fill material is compressed primarily in the vertical direction so that any additional pressure generated by the presence of the temple (relative to when the headset is worn without the eyeglasses) is exerted on the temple in the vertical direction, rather than on the wearer's temple in the horizontal direction. To this end, for example, there may be a hollow area in the foam adjacent the slit for receiving the foam pushed aside by the temple.

Fig. 11A is a flow diagram illustrating a first example process for adjusting audio settings based on a state of a earmuff shaper. In block 1102, a change in state of the ear cup shaper of ear cup 108a is detected. For example, retraction or extension of a plunger earmuff former is detected by sensor 832, or tightening or loosening of a band earmuff former is detected by sensor 832. In block 1104, in response to the detection in block 1102 (e.g., sensor 832 sends a signal to the audio processing circuit indicating a change in state), a different audio setting is selected to process the audio signal output to speaker 116 a. This may include, for example, increasing the gain applied to the low frequency components of the audio signal so that the bass loudness is approximately the same before and after the state change of the earmuff shaper.

Fig. 11B is a flow diagram illustrating a second example process for adjusting audio settings based on the state of an earmuff shaper. In block 1110, calibration of the audio signals output to the

speakers

116a and 116b of the headset 100 is triggered. The audio calibration may be triggered, for example, periodically in response to an adjustment to the earcup shaper (e.g., detected by sensor 832), or in response to the glasses being put on or taken off (e.g., detected by sensor 832).

In block 1112, the sound produced by the earmuffs and the wearer's head within the cavity is measured. This may include audio signals of known characteristics output to the

speakers

116a and 116b and corresponding sound waves captured by the microphone 302. Based on the measured acoustic response, the audio settings (e.g., gain and/or phase shifts applied to various frequency bands) may be adjusted to achieve the desired actual response. For example, the measured response may reveal that bass is quieter than expected (e.g., due to gaps formed by the earmuff shaper), and the gain applied to the low frequency components of the audio signal may be increased accordingly.

According to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, a headset (e.g., 100) includes an earmuff (e.g., 100), at least one speaker (e.g., 116a), an adjustable earmuff shaper (e.g., strap 118a or plunger 902a), and circuitry (e.g., 302, 822, 824, 826, 830, and/or 832).

The earmuff shaper is adjustable to at least two configurations, wherein a first configuration produces no depressions or a first number of depressions in the earmuff (e.g., as shown in fig. 4A or 5A) and a second configuration produces a second number of depressions in the earmuff (e.g., as shown in fig. 4B or 5B), the second number being greater than the first number. The circuitry is operable to determine which configuration the ear cup shaper is configured to, and to set an audio setting applied to an audio signal output to the speaker based on the determined one configuration.

For a band earmuff shaper, the first configuration may correspond to a first amount of tension on the band and the second configuration may correspond to a second amount of tension on the band, wherein the second amount of tension is greater than the first amount of tension. For a band-type earmuff shaper, the circuit may include a sensor (e.g., 832) operable to sense tension on the band, and a configuration may be determined based on the tension. For a plunger-type earmuff former, the first configuration may correspond to a retracted position of the plunger and the second configuration may correspond to an extended position of the plunger.

For a plunger-type ear cup shaper, the circuit may include a switch or electrical contact (e.g., 906a and/or 908a) operable to sense whether the plunger-type ear cup is retracted or extended. The circuit may include a hall effect sensor, and the determination may be based on an output of the hall effect sensor. The audio settings may include a gain applied to the audio signal. When the earmuff shaper is in the first configuration, the gain may be set to a first, higher gain, and when the earmuff shaper is in the second configuration, the gain may be set to a second, lower gain.

The audio settings include bass boost settings (i.e., configurations of gains applied to various frequency bands that increase the perceived loudness of bass frequencies). The basic enhancement setting may be disabled when the adjustable earmuff shaper is in the first configuration and enabled when the adjustable earmuff shaper is in the second configuration. The earmuff can include foam that is compressed a first amount when the adjustable earmuff shaper is in the first configuration and a second amount when the adjustable earmuff shaper is in the second configuration, wherein the second amount is greater than the first amount. The headset may include a microphone (e.g., 302) configured to capture sound waves within a cavity formed by the earmuffs, and the determination may be based on the sound waves captured by the microphone.

Fig. 12 depicts a headset configured in accordance with an example embodiment, wherein the earmuffs have portions with different foams for receiving temples of the eyeglasses. A headset 1200 is shown in fig. 12.

The headset 1200 may be substantially similar to the headset 100, as described with reference to the previous figures. However, the headset 1200 may be configured to accommodate the temples of the eyeglasses in multiple sections, portions or components based on the use of a filler material (e.g., foam) having different characteristics, arranged in a manner that optimizes the quality of the temple contact with the wearer of the headset 1200, particularly when the wearer is using the eyeglasses.

For example, as shown in fig. 12, the headset 1200 may include an ear cup 1208 (e.g., similar to the

ear cups

108a and 108b described above). In this regard, the ear muffs 1208 may be configured to surround the ears of the wearer/listener and press against the head of the wearer/listener to create a closed acoustic environment for improved sound quality. The ear cup 1208 can include components, portions, and/or sections having different filler material (e.g., foam) profiles (e.g., different filter materials, the same filler material but with different characteristics, etc.). For example, as shown in the exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 12, the earmuff 1208 may include

different earmuff regions

1210 and 1212. In this regard, the regions can be arranged, for example, with region 1212 at the top and bottom of the ear cup 1208 and region 1210 at the side.

The lateral area 1210 may be where the glasses (or in particular the temples or strips thereof) pass. Thus, region 1210 is designed or implemented to allow easier passage of the eyeglasses (or related portions thereof), but also to ensure contact with the wearer's head and/or to prevent compression of earmuffs 1208. In an exemplary embodiment, the earmuff may be filled with foam, and thus

regions

1210 and 1212 may include foam of different characteristics (e.g., different hardness, density, etc.).

For example, a region 1210 of the ear cup 1208 includes foam 1220 that is different (e.g., different hardness and/or density) than the foam 1222 used in the other regions 1212. The two

foams

1220 and 1222 can be bonded together to form a filling with different characteristics within the ear cup 1208. The foam 1220 can be, for example, stiffer and/or denser than the foam 1222, so that when the eyewear is used, the area 1210 can compress more easily, allowing the temple or strap to pass through, while the area 1212 prevents the headset 1200 from compressing, and the softer area allows the eyewear to pass through more easily.

In an exemplary embodiment, the durometer (hardness) ratio of the foam 1222 used in the component 1212 to the foam 1220 used in the component 1210 may be substantial (e.g., greater than 4: 1). For example, foam 1222 may include 6030FR and foam 1220 may include 3015 foam from Bergad. However, a ratio of foam hardness with a hard to soft ratio greater than 4:1 is merely one example, and other hardness values and ratios are possible and contemplated.

Fig. 13A-13B depict exemplary embodiments in which the headset has a pocket to receive the temple of the eyeglasses. As shown in the exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 13A-13B, the headset has a recess (e.g., cut-out or notch) to accommodate the temple of the eyeglasses. In this regard, the pocket may be configured such that when a headphone wearer wears the eyewear while wearing the headphones, the filler material (e.g., foam) of the headphones remains closed or pushes open such that the temples of the eyewear are in contact with the temples of the wearer.

The pocket may be configured to be fixed, i.e., may be pre-cut based on the desired depth required to accommodate the temple. Thus, when the wearer of the headset wears the glasses as shown in fig. 13B, the temples of the glasses may occupy only the space created by the dimples between the headset and the wearer's temples.

Alternatively, the pockets may be implemented to have at least some flexibility such that when the headset wearer is not wearing eyeglasses, as shown in fig. 13A, the resilient nature of the fill material (e.g., foam) of the earmuffs encloses at least some of the pockets. On the other hand, when the eyeglasses are worn as shown in fig. 13B, the fill material is pushed aside by the temple of the eyeglasses while creating little or no additional pressure on the wearer's temple as compared to when the headphones are worn without the eyeglasses.

For example, as shown in the embodiment shown in fig. 13B, the fill material is compressed primarily in the horizontal direction, away from the wearer's temple, such that any additional pressure due to the presence of the temple (relative to when the headset is worn without eyeglasses) is applied to the temple in the horizontal direction to maintain contact. In some cases, the earpiece may be configured to accommodate compression of the filter material due to expansion in the pocket, e.g., including a hollow region in the foam adjacent the pocket for receiving the foam pushed aside by the temple.

Other embodiments of the invention may provide a non-transitory computer-readable and/or storage medium and/or non-transitory machine-readable and/or storage medium having stored thereon machine code and/or a computer program having at least one code segment executable by a machine and/or computer to cause the machine and/or computer to perform a process described herein.

Thus, various embodiments according to the present invention may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. The present invention can be realized in a centralized fashion in at least one computing system, or in a distributed fashion where different elements are spread across several interconnected computing systems. Any kind of computing system or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein is suited. A typical combination of hardware and software could be a general purpose computing system with a program or other code that, when being loaded and executed, controls the computing system such that it carries out the methods described herein. Another typical implementation may include an application specific integrated circuit or chip.

Various embodiments according to the present invention can also be embedded in a computer program product, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation of the methods described herein, and which when loaded in a computer system is able to carry out these methods. Computer program in the present context means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following: a) conversion to another language, code or notation; b) reproduced in different material forms.

While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a headset comprising at least one ear cup arranged in at least two distinct portions, wherein:

the earmuff comprises a filling material;

the at least two different portions are different from each other based on one or more different characteristics associated with the filler material;

a first of the at least two distinct portions configured to receive a temple of a pair of eyeglasses of the headset wearer;

a second of the at least two different portions is configured to remain in contact with a temple of the wearer of the headset; and is

The one or more different features facilitate or support one or both of the accommodation of a temple of the pair of eyeglasses of the headset wearer and the retention of temple contact with the wearer of the headset.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more different characteristics include a hardness and/or a density associated with the filler material.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first of the at least two different portions is disposed on one or both sides of the ear cup; and is

The second of the at least two different portions is disposed on a top and/or bottom portion of the earmuff.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the filler material comprises foam.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein, when the filler material comprises foam:

the first of the at least two different portions comprises a first type of foam;

the second of the at least two different portions comprises a second type of foam different from the first type of foam.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein a density and/or hardness of a first type of foam allows the temple of the pair of eyeglasses to pass between the earmuff and the temple of the headphone wearer at the first of the at least two different portions.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein a second type of foam has a density and/or hardness for maintaining contact between the earmuffs and the temples of the headphone wearer at the second of the at least two different portions.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein a hardness ratio of the second type of foam to the first type of foam is greater than a particular threshold.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the particular threshold is 4: 1.

10. A system, comprising:

a headset comprising at least one ear cup, wherein:

the earmuff is configured to maintain temple contact with the wearer of the headset; and is

The ear cup includes a pocket configured to receive a temple of a pair of eyeglasses of the headphone wearer.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the pocket is fixed based on a predetermined size corresponding to the temple of the pair of eyeglasses.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the pocket is flexible and adjustable to increase in size to accommodate the temple of the pair of eyeglasses.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the earmuff comprises a filling material; and is

The filling material compresses when the pair of eyeglasses is worn to allow the size of the pocket to increase.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the filler material comprises foam.

15. A system, comprising:

a headset comprising at least one ear cup, wherein:

the at least one ear cup includes a first filled portion having a first durometer;

the at least one ear cup includes a second filled portion having a second durometer; and is

The second durometer is larger than the first durometer.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first filled section contains a temple of a pair of eyeglasses worn by a wearer of the headset.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the second fill portion is adapted to maintain the at least one ear cup in contact with the temple of the headphone wearer.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the first fill portion comprises foam.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the second fill portion comprises foam.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein a ratio of the second durometer to the first durometer is greater than 4: 1.