In-ear headphones
View Patent ↗An earphone is disclosed that is used in connection with reproducing audio sounds that are supplied from an audio-frequency source. The earphone includes a housing that includes a boot assembly positioned in the housing. A first audio driver is positioned in the boot assembly such that a first output of the first audio driver is in acoustic communication with a mixing chamber. A second audio driver is also positioned in the boot assembly such that a second output of the second audio driver is in acoustic communication with a chamber in the boot assembly. A tubular needle is positioned in the boot assembly having a first end in acoustic communication with the chamber and a second end in acoustic communication with the mixing chamber.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a chassis comprising a first boot connected with a second boot, wherein said first boot defines an audio chamber;
a first audio driver positioned in said first boot, said first audio driver having a first output port positioned in said audio chamber;
a tube having a first end positioned in said audio chamber and a second end positioned in a combining chamber, where said tube is positioned generally perpendicular in relation to said first output port;
a second audio driver positioned in said second boot, said second audio driver having a second output port positioned in said combining chamber; and
an acoustic damper in audio communication with said combining chamber.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , where said tube extends through a first aperture in said first boot to said audio chamber and a second aperture in said second boot such that said second end is in audio communication with said combining chamber.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , where said first and second boots comprise a shock absorbent material.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , where at least a portion of said acoustic damper is positioned in a nozzle.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising an ear bud connected with an end of said nozzle.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , where said tube includes an acoustic passageway running through said tube.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , where said acoustic passageway has a diameter of about 0.33 millimeters.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , where said tube has an outside diameter of about 0.7 millimeters.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 , where said tube has a length of about 4-4.5 millimeters.
10. The apparatus of claim 7 , where said tube is configured to have a crossover point of about 1.0-1.5 kHz.
11. An apparatus, comprising:
a first audio driver having a first output in audio communication with a chamber;
a tube having a first end in audio communication with said chamber and a second end in audio communication with a combining chamber, where said tube is positioned generally perpendicular in relation to said first output; and
a second audio driver having a second output in audio communication with said combining chamber.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a boot assembly defining said chamber.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising a housing defining at least a portion of said combining chamber and enclosing said boot assembly.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a housing having an extension protruding outwardly from a portion of said housing.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a hook assembly protruding outwardly from said housing extension.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , where said hook assembly includes a flexible wire.
17. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a housing forming at least a portion of said combining chamber, where said housing includes an aperture for receiving said second end of said tube and a port in communication with said combining chamber.
18. The apparatus of claim 11 , where said combining chamber is in audio communication with an acoustic damper.
19. A method of manufacturing an audio device for an ear, comprising:
arranging a first audio driver such that a first audio output is in audio communication with a chamber;
placing a tube in audio communication with said chamber and a combining chamber, where said tube is positioned in a general perpendicular orientation in relation to said first audio output; and
arranging a second audio driver such that a second audio output is in audio communication with said combining chamber.
20. The method of claim 19 , where said first audio driver and said second audio driver are secured in a boot assembly.
21. The method of claim 19 , where said first output comprises a spout and said first audio driver is positioned in a boot defining said chamber such that an opening of said spout is sealed in said chamber.
22. The method of claim 19 , further comprising forming said combining chamber in a housing of said audio device.
23. The method of claim 19 , further comprising placing an acoustic damper in audio communication with said combining chamber.
24. The method of claim 19 , where said tube is tuned to roll off frequencies above approximately 1.0-1.5 KHz.
25. The method of claim 19 , further comprising connecting a low pass crossover to said first audio driver and a high pass crossover to said second audio driver.
26. An audio device for an ear, comprising:
a first audio driver positioned in a body in a first orientation having a first output positioned in an acoustic channel defined in said body;
a tube positioned in said body having a first end positioned in said acoustic channel defined in said body and a second end extending into a combining chamber defined in said body; and
a second audio driver positioned in said body in a second orientation in relation to said first audio driver having a second output connected with said combining chamber.
27. The audio device of claim 26 , further comprising at least one cylinder positioned in said acoustic channel.
28. The audio device of claim 26 , further comprising at least one acoustic damper positioned in said acoustic channel.
29. The audio device of claim 26 , further comprising at least one baffle positioned in said acoustic channel.
30. The audio device of claim 26 , further comprising at least one constriction member positioned in said acoustic channel.
31. An earphone, comprising:
a housing;
a boot assembly positioned in said housing;
a first audio driver positioned in said boot assembly such that a first output of said first audio driver is in audio communication with a chamber in said boot assembly;
a second audio driver positioned in said boot assembly such that a second output of said second audio driver is in audio communication with a combining chamber in said boot assembly; and
a tube positioned in said boot assembly having a first end in audio communication with said chamber and a second end in audio communication with said combining chamber.
32. The earphone of claim 31 , further comprising an acoustic damper in audio communication with said combining chamber.
33. The earphone of claim 31 , where said housing includes a nozzle protruding outwardly from a surface of said housing and a detachable ear tip is connected to an end of said nozzle.
34. The earphone of claim 31 , where said tube is configured to act as a low pass filter.
35. The earphone of claim 34 , where said low pass filter passes audio frequencies as a function of a length of said tube and a diameter of an aperture running through said tube.
36. The earphone of claim 31 , further comprising a low pass crossover connected with a first input of said first audio driver and a high pass crossover connected with a second input of said second audio driver.
37. The earphone of claim 31 , where said first audio driver comprises a dual balanced armature.