DK176704B1 - Headphone with alternating earplug - Google Patents

Description

Technical Invention 5 The invention relates to a headset comprising a housing with a housing wall surrounding a housing cavity, a movable earplug adapted to be inserted into a user's ear, and a switch for changing the headset's condition located in the housing cavity and operably connected to the earplug so that the switch is activated and changes the state of the headset as the earplug is moved relative to the housing, the earplug extending from the housing along a first axis and the housing extending along a second axis,

Background Art 15

Communication headphones are being used increasingly. In particular, small Bluetooth headphones for use with mobile phones have become increasingly popular in recent years.

20 A modern headphone is a small compact unit with small controls on the surface. To change the headset state, e.g. turning the headset on or off or answering a call, the user typically presses a small torque button. Since the headset is a small device, the button is often very small and it can be difficult to press it correctly. Thus, it is desirable to provide a switching function for a headphone without this disadvantage.

WO 00/21264 discloses a headset comprising a housing and an earpiece pivotally mounted to the housing and adapted for insertion into a user's 30th ear. According to the description of WO 00/21264, three advantages of the earbud's ability to rotate relative to the housing are obtained. First, adjustability is achieved so that the headphone can be adjusted to comfortably fit in a variety of ears. Second, the headphone can be made of more durable materials, such as hard plastic, since it remains sufficiently flexible for convenient use. Third, the swivel provides 5 different configurations for storage. The electrical connection between the speaker unit in the earbud and the housing ("housing" is called "shaft" in WO 00/21264) is achieved through external metallic surfaces in contact with each other on the earbud and housing. It is mentioned that the electrical connection between the housing and the speaker can only be functional when the earmold is in one or 10 more selected positions, or can be functional over the entire range of possible earplugs. WO 00/21264 thus indirectly describes how the speaker can be switched on or off by turning the earmold. One problem with this way of providing switching is that the outer metallic contacts shown in WO 00/21264 are vulnerable and subject to wear and noise generation.

WO 02/11492 A2 denotes a headset comprising a speaker element and a support element. The headset is attached to the user's ear or head by means of the support member, which may be, for example, a ring 20 designed to surround the outer ear. The speaker element can be moved between a resting position where it is at a distance from the ear and a communication position where it is located in front of the ear. The headphone according to WO 02/11492 may be provided with a switching function that automatically accepts an incoming call when the speaker element is moved to the communication position.

US 2005/0249372 A1 indicates a hearing aid with headphone functionality. The hearing aid may include an otoplasty for insertion into the ear. When rotating the microphone in relation to the otoplasty, the device can be switched between two 30 operating modes. US 2002/0118825 A1 indicates a headphone with microphone and speaker that can switch between two modes by rotating the microphone and the speaker in relation to the headphone housing.

EP 1761001 A2 denotes Bluetooth headset with a speaker element connected to a telescopic element. The headphone can change state between 5 two resting positions by moving the speaker element along an axis exiting the housing relative to the headphone housing.

DE 19961158 A1 indicates a headset with microphone and speaker element, where the headphone can change state by moving the speaker element relative to the headphone housing. The speaker element has a hopper which can actuate a switch inside the headphone housing so that the headphone condition can be changed.

A headset with this type of activation is more prone to unwanted activation when the headset is not used, e.g. when the headset is in a pocket or in a bag.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide a headset with improved switching functionality.

The headphone according to the invention is characterized in that the earplug is rotatable about the first axis. Such a headphone is more protected against unwanted activation of the headphone when the headphone is not used, as it requires a pivotal motion to activate the headphone.

According to one embodiment, the earplug is movable between a first position and a second position and can rest in these two positions. In this case, the user can determine the condition simply by looking at the headphone since the condition depends on the position of the earbud relative to the housing. The earbud 4 DK 176704 B1 can therefore be functionally connected to the switch in such a way that the headset is switched on when the earbud is in the first position and switches off when the earbud is in the second position.

According to another embodiment, the earplug is displaced to a single resting position. In this case, the switch may be a torque push-button switch. A torque switch is a switch where the actuator returns to its normal position when a force is no longer exerted on its actuator. Examples of torque switches are push-to-make, push-to-break switches. In addition, a "pressure-pressure" switch can be used. A "push-to-press" switch is similar to a torque switch, but it is a standard on / off switch: press once to switch on, press again to switch off, a locking effect allows this.

15 The earplug can extend from the housing along a first axis.

According to one embodiment, the housing is elongated and extends along another longitudinal axis.

The second axis may be substantially perpendicular to the first axis.

According to one embodiment, the earplug is movable along the first axis. The headset may be adapted in terms of the power required to move the earpiece so that the user can change the state of the headset 25 while the user is wearing the headset simply by pressing the side of the housing facing away from the head and located opposite the earpiece.

According to another embodiment, the earplug is rotatable about the first axis.

According to a particular embodiment, the earplug comprises an earplug surface, B1 facing the ear canal in use, which is not perpendicular to the first axis. This allows for a clear visual indication of the condition of the headphone as the front facing in different directions at different modes of the headphone. Thus, when the headset is on a table, the user can clearly see if it is e.g. is on or off. This is especially the case if the earplug is moved above 45 - 180 degrees, preferably approximately 90 degrees between the first and second positions.

According to another embodiment, the earplug is rotatable about a third axis 10 which is substantially perpendicular to the first axis and the second axis.

The earmould may have a circular circumference. In this case, the orientation of the housing and thus the microphone can be adjusted while the earplug remains well fitted in the ear.

15

The microphone and earplug are preferably located at opposite ends of the housing.

The shape and dimensions of the earplug and the force required to move the earplug relative to the housing are selected such that the earplug can be inserted and moved inside the ear without changing condition. Thus, the user must e.g. be able to turn on the headset by pushing or turning the earbud, inserting the earbud into the ear and then adjusting the headphone position so that the microphone points in the direction of the mouth without unintentionally switching off the headphone.

25 On the side facing the housing, the earplug may include an earplug shaft. As the shaft extends through the incisura intertragica between the tragus and the antitragus in use, a better fit is ensured in the lower concha of the ear.

The earplug shaft is preferably cylindrical and is movably accommodated in a corresponding dimensioned circular opening in the wall of the housing. In this way, it is possible to make the movable connection between the earplug and the housing robust and tight.

5 If the circular aperture is surrounded by a cylindrical tubular projection extending from the wall of the housing, a particularly strong and tight connection can be obtained. The inner parts of the headphone and especially the switch parts can be well protected from penetrating dirt and dust in this embodiment.

10 A circuit board, battery, microphone and transmitter / receiver electronics may be located in the housing cavity.

According to one embodiment, the switch is an electronic component attached to the circuit board.

15

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing which illustrates various embodiments of the invention, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a headset according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a side view of the first embodiment; FIG. Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the first embodiment showing the main components; 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is another embodiment, FIG. 6 and 7 are side views of a third embodiment; 8 is a side elevational view of a fourth embodiment; FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a fifth embodiment; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment, and FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a sixth embodiment.

10

The following reference numerals are used in the figures and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment.

In headphone 15 2 housing 3 earplug 4 speaker openings 5 earplug 6 microphone housing 20 7 microphone 8 circuit board 9 battery 10 speaker II Bluetooth chip 25 12 switch 13 switch actuator 14 protrusion on shaft 15 switch 16 switch actuator 30 17 through hole in shaft 18 front70 on earplug 4 B1 8 19 recess 20 speaker cord 21 earplug cavities 22 cavities in housing 5 23 cavities in earplug shaft 24 free space 25 housing wall 26 earplug wall 27 wall in earplug shaft 10 28 housing protrusions 29 compression spring 30 snap tab on earplug shaft wall (of snap fit) 31 housing first end 32 housing second end 15 33 switch 34 switch actuator A1-A6 arrows X first axis Y second axis 20 Z third axis Ways of practicing the invention

The figures and the following description indicate various embodiments 25 of a headphone according to the invention. All the headphones listed are wireless communication headphones, which are mainly used in connection with modern mobile phones.

FIG. 1 - 3 show a first embodiment of a headset 1 according to the invention. The headphone comprises a headphone housing 2 with a microphone opening 6 located at a first end 31 of the housing 2 and an earplug 9 located at a second end 32 of the housing 2. Speaker openings 4 are located in the front surface 18 of the earpiece 3. The earpiece 3 is arranged to be placed in the lower concha of the human ear so that the front face 18 faces the opening in the ear canal. The earplug 3 comprises an earplug 5 and protrudes from one side of the housing 2 along a first axis X.

In the illustrated embodiment, the housing is elongated and extends between the first end 31 and the second end 32 along a second axis Y which is substantially perpendicular to the first axis X. To turn on and off the headset, the user rotates the earpiece 3 approximately 90 degrees 10 about the first axis X as indicated by arrow A1. As shown in FIG. 2 and 3, the front surface 18 of the earpiece 3 is inclined so that it is not perpendicular to the first axis X. This inclination gives a clear visual indication of whether the headset is on or off. FIG. 2 and 3 show the headset 1 in a state in which it is turned on.

15

FIG. 3 schematically shows some of the main components of the headset. The earpiece 3 contains essentially just one speaker 10, while the housing contains all the electronics. A circuit board 8 is thus arranged along a side wall of the housing 2. A microphone 7, a battery 9, a transmitter / receiver chip 11 20 and an on / off switch 12 are mounted on the circuit board 8. The on / off switch is a micro switch 12 which comprises a arm 13 as actuator. When the earplug is rotated, a projection 14 on the earplug shaft 5 moves the arm 13 such that the microswitch is closed. This turns the headset on or off. The receiver / transmitter chip may be a chip according to the Bluetooth standard or another radio standard.

The function of the switch mechanism is shown schematically in FIG. 4.1 fig. 4, the protrusion 14 on the earpiece shaft 5 does not engage the arm of the microswitch 12. When turning the shaft 5 of the earpiece approximately 90 degrees in the clockwise direction, the protrusion 14 engages the arm 13 and closes the microswitch 12. The reference numeral 17 indicates the through hole in 10 earplug shaft 5.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the headphone according to the invention.

This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the movement of the earplug. In this case, the earbud can be shifted in the direction of arrow A2 to turn the headset on and off. Thus, a linear movement of the earplug 3 takes place, and not a rotary movement, as in the first embodiment. The front of the earplug in this embodiment is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing.

10

FIG. 6 and 7 show a third embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the earplug is designed as a push button which can be displaced in the direction of arrow A3. The earpiece shaft 5 activates a switch 15 actuator 16. The headset is turned on in FIG. 6 and turned off in FIG. 7. As shown, the 15 earplug shaft is partially displaced into the housing in the off position.

FIG. 8 shows a fourth embodiment which is a variant of the third embodiment. The fourth embodiment comprises a recess 19 for fully accommodating the earpiece 3 in the off position. However, the earpiece 3 and recess 19 could also be designed such that the earpiece protrudes partially from the recess in the off position. Arrow A4 indicates the direction of movement of the earplug. The dotted line indicates the lighted position.

FIG. 9 shows a fifth embodiment in which the earpiece shaft 5 is hinged 25 to the housing 2 and can be rotated in the direction of arrow A5. As with the other embodiments, the earpiece 3 - in the lighted position - extends along a first axis X and the housing along a second axis Y which is substantially perpendicular to the first axis X. The hinge axis coincides with a third axis Z which is perpendicular to the first and second axis X, Y. Thus, the earpiece 3 extends only along the first axis X in the on position, extending along the second axis Y in the off position.

11 DK 176704 B1

FIG. 10 is a cross-section through the first embodiment of the headphone 1. The wall 25 of the housing surrounds a housing cavity 22, the earpiece wall 26 surrounds an earpiece cavity 21, and the earpiece shaft wall 27 surrounds a cavity 23 in the earpiece shaft. The earpiece cavity 21 contains substantially only 5 the speaker 10 and a portion of a conduit 20 connecting the speaker 10 to the circuit board 8, which along with all the other electronics is arranged in the cavity 22. The earpiece shaft 5 is cylindrical and is enclosed by the wall of a cylindrical housing protrusion 28.

The earpiece wall 26 and the shaft wall 27 are a unit. Snap tabs 30 on the outside of the earpiece shaft wall 27 abut the inner side of the housing wall 25 around the housing projections 28 so that the earpiece shaft 5 and the earpiece 3 remain connected to the housing 2.

FIG. 11 shows a sixth embodiment of the headphone according to the invention.

As with the third embodiment shown in FIG. 6 and 7, the movement of the earplug is linear in the direction of arrow A6. However, the switch 33 is a so-called pressure-pressure switch which is switched off and closed successively by depressing the actuator: press once for breaking, press again for closing etc. Alternatively 20 a torque switch could be used if the electronics manage the change of state for each end of switch. As shown in FIG. 11, a compression spring 29 biases the earplug outwardly and away from the switch. A short push on the earpiece 3 in the direction of arrow A6 against the spring action results in abutment between the switch actuator 34 and a projection 14 on the shaft of the earpiece.

As shown in FIG. 10 and 11, the headphone according to the invention can be designed as a closed structure in which all the electronic components are arranged inside a closed cavity bounded by the wall 25 of the housing, the wall of the earpiece shaft 27 and the wall of the earpiece 26. This makes the device robust.

12 DK 176704 B1

The invention is not limited to the embodiments stated. Wired communication headphones and clean radio headphones without a microphone are also covered by the requirements.

It is stated in the claims that the earplug is adapted for insertion into the user's ear. To be more specific, the earplug is inserted into the ear's concha.

The headphones shown in the drawings are not provided with a carrier for attaching the headphone to the user's ear or head. The ear-10 plug is sized to rest in the ear's lower concha behind the tragus and antitragus so that the headphone stays in place. This is possible as the headphone housing is small and lightweight. Alternatively, the headset could be provided with a carrying device such as an ear hook, an earring placed around the ear muzzle, a headband or a collar. The carrier may be removably mounted on the housing or earplug.

The headset may include one or more LEDs and / or a display to display various information such as battery status, communication mode, "received call", etc.

20 Throughout this application, the term "earplug" has been used. However, this term may be replaced by other terms, such as "earpiece", "earphone" or "earpiece", which are also used for the portion of the headphone inserted in a user's ear ear.

Claims (19)

A headset (1) comprising a housing (2) with a housing wall (25) surrounding a housing cavity (22), wherein the headphone (1) further comprises a movable earplug (3) adapted to be inserted in a user's ear, characterized in that the headphone comprises a switch (12; 15; 33. for changing the mode of the headphone, the switch (12; 15; 33) being arranged in the housing cavity (22) and operably connected to the earplug (3 ) such that the switch is activated and changes the mode of the headphone 10 as the earbud (3) is moved relative to the headphone housing (2). The headset of claim 1, wherein the earplug (3) is movable between a first position and a second position and can rest in these two positions. The headset of claim 2, wherein the earpiece (3) is operably connected to the switch in such a way that the headset is switched on when the earpiece (3) is in the first position and goes off when the earpiece (3) is in the second position. . The headset of claim 1, wherein the earplug (3) is biased toward a single resting position. The headset of claim 4, wherein the switch is a torque push button switch (33). 25 Headphone according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the earplug (3) extends from the housing (2) along a first axis (X). The headset of claim 6, wherein the housing (2) is elongated and extends along a second longitudinal axis (Y). DK 176704 B1 The headset of claim 7, wherein the second axis (Y) is substantially perpendicular to the first axis (X). The headset of any of claims 6-8, wherein the earpiece 5 (3) is movable along the first axis (X). The headset of any one of claims 6-8, wherein the earplug (3) is rotatable about the first axis (X). The headset of claims 2 and 10, wherein the earplug (3) comprises an earplug face (18) facing the ear canal in use and not perpendicular to the first axis (X). The headset of claim 11, wherein the earplug is moved 45 to 180 degrees, preferably approximately 90 degrees between the first and second positions. The headset of claim 6, wherein the earplug (3) is rotatable about a third axis (2) substantially perpendicular to the first axis (X). 20 Headphone according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the earplug (3) has a circular circumference. Headphone according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the earplug (3) on the side facing the housing (2) comprises an earplug (5). The headset of claim 15, wherein the earpiece shaft (5) is cylindrical and is movably accommodated in a correspondingly sized circular aperture in the wall (25) of the housing. DK 176704 B1 The headset of claim 16, wherein the circular opening is surrounded by a cylindrical tubular projection (28) extending from the wall of the housing (25). A headset according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a circuit board (8), a battery (9), a microphone (7) and transmitter / receiver electronics (11) are arranged in the housing cavity (22). The headset of claim 18, wherein the switch (12; 15; 33) is an electronic component attached to the circuit board (8).