IP Library Granted Patent US 9,679,551
Granted Patent B1
US 9,679,551 · App. 15/094,748 · Granted Jun 13, 2017

Noise reduction headphone with two differently configured speakers

Inventors: Daniel C. Wiggins (Port Hueneme, CA); Thomas Ezekiel Burgess (North Hollywood, CA); Matthew Fumio Yamamoto (Moorpark, CA)
Assignee: Baltic Latvian Universal Electronics, LLC
G10K11/178H04R5/033G10K2210/1081G10K2210/3046H04R2460/01
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,679,551
App. No.
15/094,748
Granted
Jun 13, 2017
Kind
B1
Abstract

There is disclosed a noise reducing headphone including a headphone housing, a microphone generate an ambient audio signal representative of ambient noise, a processor to generate an anti-sound signal based on the ambient audio signal. A first speaker is disposed within the headphone housing to convert the anti-sound signal into anti-sound. A second speaker is disposed within the headphone housing to convert an audio input signal into high fidelity sound. At least one characteristic of the second speaker is different from a corresponding characteristic of the first speaker.

Claims (74)

1. A noise reducing headphone, comprising:

a headphone housing;

a microphone to generate an ambient audio signal representative of ambient noise external to the headphone housing;

a processor to generate an anti-sound signal based on the ambient audio signal;

a first speaker disposed within the headphone housing to convert the anti-sound signal into anti-sound; and

a second speaker disposed within the headphone housing to convert an audio input signal into high fidelity sound, wherein

the first speaker is configured to convert the anti-sound signal into the anti-sound and the second speaker is differently configured to convert the audio input signal into the high fidelity sound, a moving mass of the first speaker greater than or equal to twice a moving mass of the second speaker, and

the first speaker is dedicated to converting the anti-sound signal into the anti-sound and the second speaker is dedicated to converting the audio input signal into the high fidelity sound.

2. The noise reducing headphone of claim 1 , wherein

the first speaker is configured to provide a maximum sound pressure level at least 3 dB higher than a maximum sound pressure level of the second speaker.

3. A method of operating a noise reducing headphone, comprising:

generating an ambient audio signal representative of ambient noise;

generating an anti-noise signal based on the ambient audio signal;

converting the anti-sound signal into anti-sound using a first speaker; and

converting an audio input signal into high fidelity sound using a second speaker, wherein

the first speaker is configured to convert the anti-sound signal into the anti-sound and the second speaker is differently configured to convert the audio input signal into the high fidelity sound, a moving mass of the first speaker greater than or equal to twice a moving mass of the second speaker, and

the first speaker is dedicated to converting the anti-sound signal into the anti-sound and the second speaker is dedicated to converting the audio input signal into the high fidelity sound.

4. The method of operating a noise reducing headphone of claim 3 , wherein

the first speaker is configured to provide a maximum sound pressure level at least 3 dB higher than a maximum sound pressure level of the second speaker.

5. A stereographic noise canceling headphone, comprising:

a first headphone comprising:

a first microphone to generate a first ambient audio signal representative of ambient noise external to the first headphone;

a first noise reduction speaker to convert a first anti-sound signal into anti-sound; and

a first audio reproduction speaker to convert a first audio input signal into high fidelity sound;

a second headphone comprising:

a second microphone to generate a second ambient audio signal representative of ambient noise external to the second headphone;

a second noise reduction speaker to convert a second anti-sound signal into anti-sound; and

a second audio reproduction speaker to convert a second audio input signal into high fidelity sound;

a first processor to generate the first anti-sound signal based on the first ambient audio signal; and

a second processor to generate the second anti-sound signal based on the second ambient audio signal, wherein

the first and second noise reduction speakers are configured to convert the first and second anti-sound signals into the anti-sound and the first and second audio speakers are differently configured to convert the first and second audio input signals into the high fidelity sound, a moving mass of each of the first and second noise reduction speakers being greater than or equal to twice a moving mass of each of the first and second audio reproduction speakers, and

the first and second noise reduction speakers are dedicated to converting the first and second anti-sound signals into the anti-sound and the first and second audio speakers are dedicated to converting the first and second audio input signals into the high fidelity sound.

6. The stereographic noise canceling headphone of claim 5 , wherein

the first processor is located within the first headphone, and

the second processor is located within the second headphone.

7. The stereographic noise canceling headphone of claim 5 , wherein

the first and second processors are implemented, at least in part, by a single processor device located in one of the first and second headphones.

8. A noise reducing headphone, comprising:

a headphone housing;

a microphone to generate an ambient audio signal representative of ambient noise external to the headphone housing;

a processor to generate an anti-sound signal based on the ambient audio signal;

a first speaker disposed within the headphone housing to convert the anti-sound signal into anti-sound; and

a second speaker disposed within the headphone housing to convert an audio input signal into high fidelity sound, wherein

the first speaker is configured to convert the anti-sound signal into the anti-sound and the second speaker is differently configured to convert the audio input signal into the high fidelity sound, a maximum stroke of the first speaker greater than or equal to twice a maximum stroke of the second speaker, and

the first speaker is dedicated to converting the anti-sound signal into the anti-sound and the second speaker is dedicated to converting the audio input signal into the high fidelity sound.

9. The noise reducing headphone of claim 8 , wherein

the first speaker is configured to provide a maximum sound pressure level at least 3 dB higher than a maximum sound pressure level of the second speaker.

10. A method of operating a noise reducing headphone, comprising:

generating an ambient audio signal representative of ambient noise;

generating an anti-noise signal based on the ambient audio signal;

converting the anti-sound signal into anti-sound using a first speaker; and

converting an audio input signal into high fidelity sound using a second speaker, wherein

the first speaker is configured to convert the anti-sound signal into the anti-sound and the second speaker is differently configured to convert the audio input signal into the high fidelity sound, a maximum stroke of the first speaker greater than or equal to twice a maximum stroke of the second speaker, and

the first speaker is dedicated to converting the anti-sound signal into the anti-sound and the second speaker is dedicated to converting the audio input signal into the high fidelity sound.

11. The method of operating a noise reducing headphone of claim 10 , wherein

the first speaker is configured to provide a maximum sound pressure level at least 3 dB higher than a maximum sound pressure level of the second speaker.

12. A stereographic noise canceling headphone, comprising:

a first headphone comprising:

a first microphone to generate a first ambient audio signal representative of ambient noise external to the first headphone;

a first noise reduction speaker to convert a first anti-sound signal into anti-sound; and

a first audio reproduction speaker to convert a first audio input signal into high fidelity sound;

a second headphone comprising:

a second microphone to generate a second ambient audio signal representative of ambient noise external to the second headphone;

a second noise reduction speaker to convert a second anti-sound signal into anti-sound; and

a second audio reproduction speaker to convert a second audio input signal into high fidelity sound;

a first processor to generate the first anti-sound signal based on the first ambient audio signal; and

a second processor to generate the second anti-sound signal based on the second ambient audio signal, wherein

the first and second noise reduction speakers are configured to convert the first and second anti-sound signals into the anti-sound and the first and second audio speakers are differently configured to convert the first and second audio input signals into the high fidelity sound, a maximum stroke of each of the first and second noise reduction speakers being greater than or equal to twice a maximum stroke of each of the first and second audio reproduction speakers, and

the first and second noise reduction speakers are dedicated to converting the first and second anti-sound signals into the anti-sound and the first and second audio speakers are dedicated to converting the first and second audio input signals into the high fidelity sound.

13. The stereographic noise canceling headphone of claim 12 , wherein

the first processor is located within the first headphone, and

the second processor is located within the second headphone.

14. The stereographic noise canceling headphone of claim 12 , wherein

the first and second processors are implemented, at least in part, by a single processor device located in one of the first and second headphones.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2020
From: BALTIC LATVIAN UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS, LLC
To: LOGITECH EUROPE S.A.,
Reel/Frame 053809/0964 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 30, 2018
From: TREE LINE DIRECT LENDING, LP, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BALTIC LATVIAN UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS, LLC
Reel/Frame 046748/0335 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 8, 2017
From: BALTIC LATVIAN UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS, LLC
To: TREE LINE DIRECT LENDING, LP, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 043531/0484 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2016
From: WIGGINS, DANIEL C; BURGESS, THOMAS EZEKIEL; YAMAMOTO, MATTHEW FUMIO
To: BALTIC LATVIAN UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS, LLC
Reel/Frame 038291/0329 →