Open headphones with active noise cancellation
A wearable audio output device (e.g., headphones) having an open design that allows ambient noise to pass to a listener without physically isolating the listener from a surrounding environment. The device may include an open earcup design that may partially or completely surround the listener's ear, and in some examples a portion of the listener's head may be uncovered by the open earcup. To improve comfort, the device includes a floating audio component configured to generate output audio in a direction of the listener's ear without contacting the listener's ear. To reduce an amount of ambient noise, the device may be configured to perform active noise cancellation (ANC) processing using feedforward and/or feedback microphones. The device may include an acoustic structure configured to direct the output audio in the direction of the listener's ear and/or position the feedback microphone(s) closer to the listener's ear.
1. A wearable apparatus comprising:
a first structure configured to contact a head at a first location, wherein the first structure at least partially surrounds a first ear when the wearable apparatus is worn;
a second structure configured to contact the head at a second location, wherein the second structure at least partially surrounds a second ear when the wearable apparatus is worn;
a third structure linking the first structure to the second structure; and
a housing coupled to the first structure such that a first edge of the first structure and a second edge of the housing are separated by a first distance, the housing including an audio transducer, at least one microphone, and a component configured to perform active noise cancellation using the at least one microphone, wherein:
the audio transducer is configured to output audio in a first direction towards the first ear, and
a portion of the head is visible between the first edge and the second edge.
2. The wearable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises an acoustic structure having a funnel shape and configured to direct the output audio towards the first ear.
3. The wearable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises:
an acoustic structure extending from the audio transducer towards the first ear; and
a microphone coupled to the acoustic structure.
4. The wearable apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first acoustic structure having a first funnel shape that extends in the first direction from the audio transducer; and
a second acoustic structure having a second funnel shape that extends from the housing in a second direction opposite the first direction.
5. The wearable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the first structure is associated with a first plane;
the housing is coupled to the first structure at a first location; and
the housing is associated with a second plane, the second plane intersecting the first plane at the first location.
6. The wearable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the first structure defines a first oval, the first oval oriented along a first plane parallel to the first ear; and
the first structure includes an opening, the opening defining a second oval that is smaller than the first oval, the opening allowing ambient noise to reach the first ear.
7. The wearable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the wearable apparatus includes fabric extending from at least the first edge to the second edge; and
the fabric allows external audio to reach the first ear.
8. A wearable apparatus comprising:
a first structure configured to contact a head at a first location and at least partially surround a first ear;
a second structure configured to contact the head at a second location and at least partially surround a second ear;
a third structure linking the first structure to the second structure; and
a housing coupled to the first structure such that a first edge of the first structure and a second edge of the housing are separated by a first distance, the housing including(i) an audio transducer configured to generate output audio, (ii) an acoustic structure having a funnel shape and configured to direct the output audio towards the first ear, and (iii) a microphone coupled to the acoustic structure, wherein a wide opening of the acoustic structure faces the audio transducer and a narrow opening of the acoustic structure faces the first ear.
9. The wearable apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising:
at least one microphone; and
a component configured to perform active noise cancellation,
wherein a portion of the head is visible between the first edge and the second edge.
10. The wearable apparatus of claim 8 , wherein:
the first structure is associated with a first plane;
the housing is coupled to the first structure at a first location; and
the housing is associated with a second plane, the second plane intersecting the first plane at the first location.
11. The wearable apparatus of claim 8 , wherein:
the first structure defines a first oval, the first oval oriented along a first plane parallel to the first ear; and
the first structure includes an opening, the opening defining a second oval that is smaller than the first oval, the opening allowing ambient noise to reach the first ear.
12. The wearable apparatus of claim 8 , wherein:
the wearable apparatus includes fabric extending from at least the first edge to the second edge; and
the fabric allows external audio to reach the first ear.
13. A wearable apparatus comprising:
a first structure configured to contact a head at a first location and at least partially surround a first ear;
a second structure configured to contact the head at a second location and at least partially surround a second ear;
a third structure linking the first structure to the second structure;
a housing coupled to the first structure such that a first edge of the first structure and a second edge of the housing are separated by a first distance, the housing including(i) an audio transducer configured to generate output audio, (ii) an acoustic structure extending from the audio transducer in a first direction towards the first ear, and (iii) a microphone coupled to the acoustic structure; and
fabric extending from at least the first edge to the second edge, wherein the fabric allows external audio to reach the first ear.
14. The wearable apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising:
at least one microphone; and
a component configured to perform active noise cancellation,
wherein a portion of the head is visible between the first edge and the second edge.
15. The wearable apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the acoustic structure has a funnel shape and is configured to direct the output audio towards the first ear.
16. The wearable apparatus of claim 13 , wherein:
the first structure is associated with a first plane;
the housing is coupled to the first structure at a first location; and
the housing is associated with a second plane, the second plane intersecting the first plane at the first location.
17. The wearable apparatus of claim 13 , wherein:
the first structure defines a first oval along a first plane parallel to the first ear; and
the first structure includes an opening, the opening defining a second oval that is smaller than the first oval, the opening allowing ambient noise to reach the first ear.