FIELD

The described embodiments relate generally to headphones such as over-ear and on-ear headphones. More particularly, the various features help improve the overall user experience by incorporating an array of sensors and new mechanical features into the headphones.

BACKGROUND

Headphones have now been in use for many years. Consumers have become accustomed to regular, essentially yearly improvements in size, functionality and other design aspects of various electronic devices that consumers use in their day-to-day lives including devices such as smart phones, tablet and laptop computers, as well as listening devices such as earbuds and headphones. Accordingly, while numerous headphone designs exist in the market, new and improved designs are continuously being sought to satisfy consumer demands and preferences.

SUMMARY

This disclosure describes numerous improvements on circumaural and supra-aural headphone designs. The headphones can include space and weight saving components that enhance the comfort for the user when the user is wearing the headphones. The headphones can include a headband connected to an upper portion of earpieces. The earpieces can include a pivot mechanism that can allow for rotation of the earpieces relative to the headband with a constant application of force. The rotation of the earpieces can be measured by one or more sensors in the pivot mechanism to determine an orientation of the earpieces. The orientation of the earpieces can be used to determine whether the headphones should be changed between an operational mode and a standby mode.

The headphones can also include earpieces with cushions that have variable thickness. The variable thickness cushions can be more comfortable for a user and can provide a better seal between the cushions and the users head. The improved seal can reduce external noise that can reach the user. Various headphones can also include a headband with multiple pieces formed into a single headband. The headband can be optimized for a clamp force that provides a snug comfortable fit for the user and will not degrade over time. The headband can include a mesh component that can form to a user's head when the headphones are being warn.

Headphones described herein can include an antenna for receiving and transmitting radio frequency (RF) waves. The antenna can receive and transmit the RF waves across multiple frequency ranges using capacitive components. The antenna can include plating to increase the transmission of the RF emissions and can be oriented in the earpieces to direct the RF waves toward a user.

Headphones can include inputs that can be optimized for users. The resistance of the inputs to depressing and rotation can be optimized to allow a user to feel when the input has been pressed and/or rotated. Dampening material can also be positioned in the inputs to reduce noise that can be generated when to components come in contact with one another. For example, dampening material can be put between two metal components to reduce or prevent the components from making noise when they come in contact.

Headphones can include a detection system to determine when they have been donned or doffed. The detection system can emit light towards a user and detected the reflected light. The reflected light can be used to determine if a user is present and if their ear is positioned in the earpiece. If a user's ear is in the earpiece, the headphones can be put into operational mode.

A listening device is disclosed and includes the following: a first earpiece; a headband having a first end coupled to the first earpiece, the first earpiece comprising: an earpiece housing defining an interior volume; a speaker disposed within the interior volume; and a pivot mechanism coupled to the earpiece housing and operable to enable the earpiece housing to rotate separate from the headband along a first axis, the pivot mechanism comprising: an aperture sized and shaped to receive one of the first or second ends of the headband; first and second pivot rods; a first cylinder having a first channel and coupled to the first pivot rod; a first piston that fits within the first channel and is coupled to the second pivot rod; and a first compression spring at least partially surrounding the first piston and the first cylinder and positioned to compress relative to the aperture while opposing rotation of the pivot mechanism about the first axis.

An earpiece is disclosed and includes the following: an earpiece housing defining an interior volume; a speaker disposed within the interior volume; and a pivot mechanism disposed at a first end of the earpiece housing and operable to enable the earpiece housing to rotate along a first axis and comprising: an aperture sized and shaped to receive a first end of a headband; first and second pivot rods; a first cylinder having a first channel and a second cylinder having a second channel, the first and second cylinders coupled to the first pivot rod; a first piston positionable within the first channel and a second piston positionable within the second channel, the first and second pistons coupled to the second pivot rod; and a first compression spring at least partially surrounding the first piston and the first cylinder and a second compression spring at least partially surrounding the second piston and the second cylinder and positioned to compress relative to the aperture while opposing rotation of the pivot mechanism about the first axis.

Headphones are disclosed and include the following: a first earpiece comprising a first earpiece housing defining a first interior volume and a first pivot mechanism coupled to the first earpiece housing and operable to enable the first earpiece to rotate about a first axis, the first pivot mechanism comprising: a first aperture sized and shaped to receive a first end of a headband; first and second pivot rods; a first cylinder having a first channel and coupled to the first pivot rod; a first piston that fits within the first channel and is coupled to the second pivot rod; and a first compression spring at least partially surrounding the first piston and the first cylinder and positioned to compress relative to the first aperture while opposing rotation of the first pivot mechanism about the first axis; and a second earpiece comprising a second earpiece housing defining a second interior volume and a second pivot mechanism coupled to the second earpiece housing and operable to enable the second earpiece to rotate about a second axis, the second pivot mechanism comprising: a second aperture sized and shaped to receive a second end of a headband; third and fourth pivot rods; a second cylinder having a second channel and coupled to the third pivot rod; a second piston that fits within the second channel and is coupled to the fourth pivot rod; and a second compression spring at least partially surrounding the second piston and the second cylinder and positioned to compress relative to the second aperture while opposing rotation of the second pivot mechanism about the second axis.

Headphones are disclosed and include the following: a headband; and an earpiece coupled with one end of the headband, the earpiece comprising: an earpiece housing defining an aperture; a button assembly positionable in the aperture and comprising: a button housing having an upper portion and a lower portion and defining a channel having a central axis; a crown axially aligned with the central axis and configured to move into engagement with the button housing; a damper positioned between the upper portion of the button housing and the crown and configured to dampen vibrations caused when the crown engages the button housing; a hub coupled with the crown and positioned in the channel and translatable along and rotatable about the central axis, the hub comprising one or more markings and configured to engage a compressible dome when the hub is translated toward an interior of the earpiece housing; and seals positioned between the hub and the button housing, one of the seals having a variable diameter and contacts the hub and the button housing with only a portion of the seal.

An earpiece is disclosed and includes the following: an earpiece housing defining an aperture; a button assembly positionable in the aperture and comprising: a button housing having an upper portion and a lower portion and defining a channel having a central axis; a crown axially aligned with the central axis and configured to move into engagement with the upper portion of the button housing; a first damper positioned between the button housing and the crown and configured to dampen vibrations caused when the crown engages the button housing; a hub coupled with the crown and positioned in the channel and translatable along and rotatable about the central axis, the hub comprising one or more markings and configured to move between engaging the lower portion of the button housing and engaging a compressible dome when the hub is translated toward an interior of the earpiece housing; and a second damper positioned between the hub and the lower portion of the button housing and configured to dampen vibration when the hub engages the lower portion of the button housing.

A listening device is disclosed and includes the following: an earpiece having an earpiece housing defining an aperture; a button assembly positionable in the aperture and comprising: a button housing having an upper and a lower portion and defining a channel having a central axis; a crown axially aligned with the central axis and configured to move into engagement with the upper portion of the button housing; a hub coupled with the crown and positioned in the channel and translatable along and rotatable about the central axis, the hub comprising one or more markings and configured to engage a compressible dome when the hub is translated toward an interior of the earpiece housing; and seals positioned between the hub and the button housing, a first seal positioned adjacent to the upper portion of the button housing and configured to form a watertight seal and a second seal positioned between the hub and the compressible dome and having a variable diameter to contact the hub and the button housing with only a portion of the seal.

Headphones are disclosed and include the following: a headband assembly; and a first earpiece coupled to a first end of the headband assembly and a second earpiece coupled to a second end of the headband assembly, each of the first and second earpieces comprising an earpiece housing, an acoustic driver disposed within the earpiece housing and an earpiece cushion assembly coupled to the earpiece housing to cooperatively define a cavity sized to accommodate an ear of a user, the earpiece cushion assembly comprising: an annular earpiece cushion; and a support structure disposed between the annular earpiece cushion and the earpiece housing, the support structure comprising cantilevered support members distributed along a periphery of the cavity and protruding into the cavity.

An earpiece suitable for use with over-ear headphones is disclosed and includes the following: an earpiece housing; an earpiece cushion assembly coupled to the earpiece housing to cooperatively define a cavity sized to accommodate an ear of a user, the earpiece cushion assembly comprising an annular earpiece cushion and a support structure disposed between the annular earpiece cushion and the earpiece housing, the support structure comprising cantilevered support members distributed around the cavity and protruding into the cavity; and an acoustic driver.

Headphones are disclosed and include the following: a first earpiece and a second earpiece, each of the earpieces comprising an earpiece housing, an acoustic driver disposed within the earpiece housing, and an earpiece cushion assembly coupled to the earpiece housing, wherein each earpiece cushion assembly comprises: an annular earpiece cushion; and a support structure disposed between the annular earpiece cushion and the earpiece housing, the support structure comprising cantilevered support members distributed around and supporting the annular earpiece cushion; and a headband assembly mechanically coupling the first and second earpieces.

An earpiece for a pair of headphones is disclosed and includes the following: a conductive earpiece housing defining an interior volume having a central region and an outer region surrounding the central region, wherein the conductive earpiece housing includes a portion that defines a ground plane element for an antenna and has an elongated slot formed through the ground plane element; and a slot antenna disposed within the outer region of the interior volume and electrically coupled to the ground plane element, the slot antenna comprising a frame formed from a radio frequency transparent material and defining an enclosed interior cavity within the interior volume, wherein the frame includes a tongue having first and second opposing surfaces protruding away from the interior cavity and a distal end facing the elongated slot and extending between the first and second opposing surfaces, and wherein a distal end of the tongue allows radio frequency waves to enter the interior cavity through the elongated slot and a remainder of an exterior of the frame is plated with one or more layers of metal that prevents radio frequency waves from entering the interior cavity.

An earpiece for a pair of headphones is disclosed and includes the following: a conductive earpiece housing defining an interior volume having a central region and an outer bulbous region surrounding the central region, wherein the conductive earpiece housing includes a portion that defines a ground plane element for an antenna and has an elongated rectangular slot formed through the ground plane element; wireless circuitry disposed within the interior volume; audio processing circuitry disposed within the interior volume and operatively coupled to the wireless circuitry; a microphone disposed within the interior volume and operatively coupled to the audio processing circuitry; a speaker disposed within the central region of the interior volume and operatively coupled to the audio processing circuitry; a slot antenna disposed within the bulbous region of the interior volume and operatively coupled to the wireless circuitry, the slot antenna comprising a frame formed from a rigid radio frequency transparent material and defining an interior cavity within the interior volume, wherein the frame includes a tongue having first and second opposing surfaces protruding away from the interior cavity and a distal end facing the elongated rectangular slot and extending between the first and second opposing surfaces, and wherein a distal end of the tongue allows radio frequency waves to enter the interior cavity through the elongated slot and a remainder of an exterior of the frame is plated with one or more layers of metal that prevents radio frequency waves from entering the interior cavity; and a grounding connection between the slot antenna and the ground plane element of the conductive earpiece housing.

An earpiece for a pair of headphones is disclosed and includes the following: an earpiece housing defining an interior volume having a central region and an outer region surrounding the central region, wherein the earpiece housing includes an elongated slot and an acoustic opening proximate the elongated slot formed through the earpiece housing; a slot antenna disposed within the outer region of the interior volume and comprising a frame formed from a radio frequency transparent material and defining an enclosed interior cavity within the interior volume, wherein the frame includes a support structure extending into the interior cavity and a tongue, the tongue having first and second opposing surfaces protruding away from the interior cavity and a distal end facing the elongated slot and extending between the first and second opposing surfaces, and wherein a distal end of the tongue allows radio frequency waves to enter the interior cavity through the elongated slot and a remainder of an exterior of the frame is plated with one or more layers of metal that prevents radio frequency waves from entering the interior cavity; and an acoustic pathway at least partially defined by an acoustic vent having an opening aligned with the acoustic opening, the acoustic pathway acoustically coupling the acoustic opening with the interior volume.

An earpiece for a pair of headphones is disclosed and includes the following: an earpiece housing defining an interior volume, the earpiece housing having an interior sidewall surface extending around a central opening of the earpiece housing at a first angle and a first aperture formed through the interior sidewall surface; an earpiece cover coupled to the earpiece housing and covering the central opening, the earpiece cover having a plurality of sound openings formed through a central region of the earpiece cover, an outer sidewall surface extending around the central region and aligned with and extending over the interior sidewall surface of the earpiece housing, and a second aperture formed through the outer sidewall surface and aligned with the first aperture; an annular earpiece cushion coupled to the earpiece housing surrounding an ear-receiving region of the earpiece; a speaker disposed within the interior volume and positioned to direct acoustic energy through the plurality of sound openings in the earpiece cover into the ear-receiving region of the earpiece; a carrier coupled to the earpiece housing and disposed over the first and second apertures, the carrier having a body formed between first and second opposing major surfaces, the first major surface facing the ear-receiving region and the second major surface including a mounting portion disposed at a second angle relative to the earpiece housing different than the first angle; an optical sensor comprising an optical emitter and an optical receiver and coupled to the mounting portion of the carrier, the optical sensor aligned to emit radiation through the body of the carrier and through the first and second apertures into the ear-receiving region and receive reflected radiation back through the first and second apertures and through the body of the carrier.

An earpiece is disclosed and includes the following: an earpiece housing defining an interior volume, the earpiece housing having an interior sidewall surface extending around a central opening of the earpiece housing at a first angle and a first aperture formed through the interior sidewall surface; an annular earpiece cushion coupled to the earpiece housing surrounding an ear-receiving region of the earpiece; a speaker disposed within the interior volume and positioned to direct acoustic energy into the ear-receiving region of the earpiece; a carrier coupled to the earpiece housing and disposed over the first aperture, the carrier having a body formed between first and second opposing major surfaces, the first major surface facing the ear-receiving region and the second major surface including a mounting portion disposed at a second angle relative to the earpiece housing different than the first angle; an optical sensor comprising an optical emitter and an optical receiver and coupled to the mounting portion of the carrier, the optical sensor aligned to emit radiation through the body of the carrier and through the first aperture into the ear-receiving region and receive reflected radiation back through the first aperture and through the body of the carrier.

An earpiece is disclosed and includes the following: an earpiece housing defining an interior volume, the earpiece housing having an interior sidewall surface extending around a central opening of the earpiece housing at a first angle and a first aperture formed through the interior sidewall surface; an annular earpiece cushion coupled to the earpiece housing surrounding an ear-receiving region of the earpiece; a speaker disposed within the interior volume and positioned to direct acoustic energy into the ear-receiving region of the earpiece; an optical sensor coupled to the interior sidewall surface of the earpiece housing, the optical sensor comprising an optical emitter and an optical receiver and aligned to emit radiation through first aperture into the ear-receiving region and receive reflected radiation back through the first aperture.

A headphone earpiece is disclosed and includes the following: a housing defining an interior volume; an earpiece cover disposed in the interior volume and comprising a first magnet and a metal shunt, the metal shunt positioned between the earpiece cover and the first magnet; and an earpiece cushion assembly removably coupled to the housing and comprising an annular earpiece cushion coupled to a frame and a magnetic element disposed between the earpiece cushion and the frame, the magnetic element magnetically coupled with the first magnet when the earpiece cushion assembly is coupled to the housing, wherein the first magnet is configured to direct magnetic flux through the magnetic element to secure the earpiece cushion assembly to the housing.

An earpiece is disclosed and includes the following: a housing defining an interior volume; an earpiece cover coupled with the housing and comprising a central portion disposed in the interior volume, an annular shelf surrounding the central portion, a sidewall extending around the central opening of the earpiece cover between the central portion and the annular shelf, and a first magnet and a metal shunt positioned on the annular shelf, the metal shunt positioned between the earpiece cover and the first magnet; a speaker disposed within the interior volume and positioned to direct acoustic energy through the central portion of the earpiece cover; and an earpiece cushion assembly removably coupled to the earpiece cover and comprising a frame having a central portion, an annular surface surrounding the central portion of the frame, a sidewall extending around the central portion of the frame between the central portion and the annular surface, an earpiece cushion coupled with the annular surface of the frame, and a magnetic element disposed on the annular surface between the earpiece cushion and the frame, the magnetic element magnetically coupled with the first magnet when the earpiece cushion assembly is coupled to the housing, wherein the first magnet is configured to direct magnetic flux through the magnetic element to secure the earpiece cushion assembly to the housing.

An earpiece is disclosed and includes the following: a housing defining an interior volume; an earpiece cover coupled with the housing and comprising a central portion disposed in the interior volume, an annular shelf surrounding the central portion, a sidewall extending around the central opening of the earpiece cover between the central portion and the annular shelf, and a first magnet positioned on the annular shelf; an earpiece cushion assembly removably coupled to the earpiece cover and comprising a frame having a central portion, an annular surface surrounding the central portion of the frame, a sidewall extending around the central portion of the frame between the central portion and the annular surface, an earpiece cushion coupled with the annular surface of the frame, and a magnetic element disposed on the annular surface between the earpiece cushion and the frame, the magnetic element magnetically coupled with the first magnet when the earpiece cushion assembly is coupled to the housing, wherein the first magnet is configured to direct magnetic flux through the magnetic element to secure the earpiece cushion assembly to the housing.

Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the described embodiments.

