USOO9497535B1
`
`(12) United States Patent
`US 9,497,535 B1
`(10) Patent N0.:
`Koss et al.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`*Nov. 15, 2016
`
`(54)
`
`(71)
`
`(72)
`
`(73)
`
`SYSTEM WITH WIRELESS ACOUSTIC
`SPEAKERS
`
`(56)
`
`Applicant: Koss Corporation, Milwaukee, WI
`(US)
`
`Inventors: Michael J. Koss, Milwaukee, WI HIS);
`Michael J. Pelland, Princeton, WI (US)
`
`References Cited
`U. S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
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`6,389,463 B2
`
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`(Continued)
`
`
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`Assignee: Koss Corporation, Milwaukee, WI
`(US)
`
`JP
`WC
`
`2004-320597
`WO 2006/047724 A2
`
`11/2004
`5/2006
`
`(*)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis-
`claimer.
`
`(21)
`
`Appl. N0.: 15/082,040
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Mar. 28, 2016
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`(63)
`
`Continuation of application No. 14/695,696, filed on
`Apr. 24, 2015, which is a continuation of application
`No. 13/609,409, filed on Sep. 11, 2012, now Pat. No.
`9,049,502, which is a continuation of application No.
`13/459,291, filed on Apr. 30, 2012, now Pat. No.
`(Continued)
`
`Int. Cl.
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`H04R 1/10
`H04R 25/00
`US. Cl.
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`CPC ......... H04R 1/1091 (2013.01); H04R 2420/07
`(2013.01)
`
`Field of Classification Search
`CPC ............... H04R 2201/103; H04R 5/033
`
`USPC
`381/398, 77, 74, 379, 381, 309, 17,
`381/111; 345/8; 455/306, 436, 570, 412.2,
`455/5531, 569.1, 575.2
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(Continued)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Supplemenmry European Search Report for European Application
`No. 097311468 mailed Jun. 10, 2011, 7 pages.
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner 7 Kiet Doan
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm 7 K&L Gates LLP
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Apparatus comprises adapter and speaker system. Adapter is
`configured to plug into port of personal digital audio player.
`Speaker system is in communication with adapter, and
`comprises multiple acoustic transducers, programmable pro-
`cessor circuit, and wireless communication circuit. In first
`operational mode, processor circuit receives, via adapter,
`and processes digital audio content from personal digital
`audio player into which adapter is plugged, and the multiple
`acoustic transducers output the received audio content from
`the personal digital audio player. In second operational
`mode, wireless communication circuit receives digital audio
`content from a remote digital audio source over a wireless
`network, processor circuit processes the digital audio con-
`tent received from remote digital audio source, and the
`multiple acoustic transducers output
`the audio content
`received from the remote digital audio source.
`
`12 Claims, 16 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`DATA
`SOURCE
`
`Bose Exhibit 1089
`
`Bose v. Koss
`
`

`

`US 9,497,535 B1
`Page 2
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`8,571 ,544, which is a continuation of application No.
`12/936,488, filed as application No. PCT/US2009/
`039754 on Apr. 7, 2009, now Pat. No. 8,190,203.
`
`(60) Provisional application No. 61/123,265, filed on Apr.
`7, 2008.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
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`7,734,055
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`7,805,210
`7,861,312
`7,962,482
`8,023,663
`8,027,638
`8,102,836
`8,190,203
`8,295,516
`8,335,312
`8,401,202
`8,478,880
`8,553,865
`8,571,544
`8,655,420
`8,792,945
`
`31
`31
`32
`32
`31
`32
`32
`32
`32
`32
`32
`32
`32
`32
`32
`32
`32
`32 *
`
`32
`32
`32
`32
`32
`32
`32
`32
`32
`32
`32
`32
`32
`32
`32
`31
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`
`12/2003 James
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`2009/0063703
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`2010/0290642
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`>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>3»>>Ud
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`6/2015 Pelland et a1.
`6/2004 Ahn et a1.
`3/2005 Radpour
`
`*
`
`9/2005 Manchester
`* 10/2005 Nishiguchi
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`H04W88/02
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`
`.............. G11C7/16
`700/94
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`
`*
`
`G06F17/30056
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`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`
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`
`11/2007
`12/2007
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`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
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`for International
`International Preliminary Examination Report
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`“LTB 802.11 WiFi Headphones” http://itreview.
`IT Review,
`belprojectconv’item’1536 accessed on Mar. 13, 2008 (4 pages).
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 15, 2016
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`Sheet 1 of 16
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`US 9,497,535 B1
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`Fig.1B
`
`10
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 15, 2016
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`Sheet 2 of 16
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`US 9,497,535 B1
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`Fig.1C
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`NOV. 15, 2016
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`Sheet 3 of 16
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`US 9,497,535 B1
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 15, 2016
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`Sheet 4 of 16
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`US 9,497,535 B1
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`20
`
`
`SOURCE
` DATA
`
`Network
`
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`
`Fig.2A
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
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`NOV. 15, 2016
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`Sheet 5 of 16
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`US 9,497,535 B1
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`NOV. 15, 2016
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`US 9,497,535 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 15, 2016
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`US 9,497,535 B1
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 15, 2016
`
`Sheet 10 0f16
`
`US 9,497,535 B1
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`CURRENT
`DATA RATE
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`
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`SIZE OF
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`TRANSMIT
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`UPDATE
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` 51
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 15, 2016
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`Sheet 11 of 16
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`U.S. Patent
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`NOV. 15, 2016
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`US 9,497,535 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`NOV. 15, 2016
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 15, 2016
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`Sheet 15 0f16
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`US 9,497,535 B1
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 15, 2016
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`Sheet 16 0f 16
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`US 9,497,535 B1
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`
`

`

`US 9,497,535 B1
`
`1
`SYSTEM WITH WIRELESS ACOUSTIC
`SPEAKERS
`
`PRIORITY CLAIM
`
`The present application claims priority as a continuation
`to US. nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 14/695,
`696, filed Apr. 24, 2015, which is a continuation of US.
`patent application Ser. No. 13/609,409, filed Sep. 11, 2012,
`now US. Pat. No. 9,049,502, issued Jun. 2, 2015, which is
`a continuation of US. patent application Ser. No. 13/459,
`291, filedApr. 30, 2012, nowU.S. Pat. No. 8,571,544, issued
`Oct. 29, 2013, which is a continuation of US. patent
`application Ser. No. 12/936,488, filed Dec. 20, 2010, now
`US. Pat. No. 8,190,203, issued May 29, 2012, which is a 15
`national stage entry of PCT/USO9/39754, filed Apr. 7, 2009,
`which claims priority to US. provisional patent application
`Ser. No. 61/123,265, filed Apr. 7, 2008, all of which are
`incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
`
`10
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`Digital audio players, such as MP3 players and iPods, that
`store and play digital audio files, are very popular. Such
`devices typically comprise a data storage unit for storing and 25
`playing the digital audio, and a headphone set that comlects
`to the data storage unit, usually with a 1/21" or a 3.5 mm jack
`and associated cord. Often the headphones are in-ear type
`headphones. The cord, however, between the headphones
`and the data storage unit can be cumbersome and annoying 30
`to users, and the length of the cord limits the physical
`distance between the data storage unit and the headphones.
`Accordingly, some cordless headphones have been pro-
`posed, such as the Monster iFreePlay cordless headphones
`from Apple Inc., which include a docking port on one of the 35
`earphones that can connect directly to an iPod Shuffle.
`Because they have the docking port, however, the Monster
`iFreePlay cordless headphones from Apple are quite large
`and are not in-ear type phones. Recently, cordless head-
`phones that connect wirelessly via IEEE 802.1 1 to a WLAN— 40
`ready laptop or personal computer (PC) have been proposed,
`but such headphones are also quite large and not in-ear type
`phones.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`45
`
`In one general aspect, the present invention is directed to
`a wireless earphone that comprises a transceiver circuit for
`receiving streaming audio from a data source, such as a
`digital audio player or a computer, over an ad hoc wireless 50
`network. When the data source and the earphone are out of
`range via the ad hoc wireless network, they may transition
`automatically to a common infrastructure wireless network
`(e. g., a wireless LAN). If there is no common infrastructure
`wireless network for both the data source and the earphone, 55
`the earphone may connect via an available infrastructure
`wireless network to a host server. The host server may, for
`example, broadcast streaming audio to the earphone and/0r
`transmit to the earphone a network address (e.g., an Internet
`Protocol
`(IP) address) for a network-connected content 60
`server that streams digital audio. The earphone may then
`c01mect to the content server using the IP address. The
`content server may be an Internet radio server, including, for
`example, an Internet radio server that broadcasts streaming
`audio from the data source or some other content.
`
`65
`
`2
`
`computing device, both of which are communicable with a
`host server via the Internet. The host server stores configu-
`ration parameters for the wireless earphone set that are
`transmittable to the wireless earphone set via the Internet,
`and that are configurable by an authenticated user of the
`client computing device via the host server to generate
`updated configuration parameters for the wireless earphone
`set. The updated configuration parameters for the wireless
`earphone set are transmitted by the host server to the
`wireless earphone set via the Internet.
`In another general aspect, the present invention is directed
`to an apparatus comprising an adapter and a speaker system.
`The adapter is configured to plug into a port of a personal
`digital audio player. The speaker system in communication
`with the adapter, and comprises multiple acoustic transduc-
`ers, a programmable processor circuit, and a wireless com-
`munication circuit. In a first operational mode, the processor
`circuit receives, via the adapter, and processes digital audio
`content from the personal digital audio player into which the
`adapter is plugged, and the multiple acoustic transducers
`output the received audio content from the personal digital
`audio player. In a second operational mode, the wireless
`communication circuit receives digital audio content from a
`remote digital audio source over a wireless network, the
`processor circuit processes the digital audio content received
`from the remote digital audio source, and the multiple
`acoustic transducers output the audio content received from
`the remote digital audio source.
`These and other advantageous, unique aspects of the
`wireless earphone are described below.
`
`FIGURES
`
`invention are
`Various embodiments of the present
`described herein by way of example in conjunction with the
`following figures, wherein:
`FIGS. 1A-1E are views of a wireless earphone according
`to various embodiments of the present invention;
`FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate various communication modes for
`
`a wireless earphone according to various embodiments of
`the present invention;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a wireless earphone accord-
`ing to various embodiments of the present invention;
`FIGS. 4A-4B show the wireless earphone connected to
`another device according to various embodiments of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 5 is a diagram of a process implemented by a host
`server according to various embodiments of the present
`invention;
`FIG. 6 is a diagram of a process implemented by the
`wireless earphone to transition automatically between wire-
`less networks according to various embodiments of the
`present invention;
`FIGS. 7, 8 and 10 illustrate communication systems
`involving the wireless earphone according to various
`embodiments of the present invention;
`FIG. 9 is a diagram of a headset including a wireless
`earphone and a microphone according to various embodi-
`ments of the present invention; and
`FIG. 11 is a diagram of a pair of wireless earphones with
`a dongle according to various embodiments of the present
`invention.
`
`DESCRIPTION
`
`In another general aspect, the present invention is directed
`to a system comprising a wireless earphone set and a client
`
`In one general aspect, the present invention is directed to
`a wireless earphone that receives streaming audio data via ad
`
`

`

`US 9,497,535 B1
`
`4
`
`10
`
`3
`hoc wireless networks and infrastructure wireless networks,
`and that transitions seamlessly between wireless networks.
`The earphone may comprise one or more in-ear, on-ear, or
`over-ear speaker elements. Two exemplary in-ear earphone
`shapes for the wireless earphone 10 are shown in FIGS. 1A 5
`and 1B, respectively, although in other embodiments the
`earphone may take different shapes and the exemplary
`shapes shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B are not intended to be
`limiting. In one embodiment, the earphone transitions auto-
`matically and seamlessly, without user
`intervention,
`between communication modes. That is, the earphone may
`transition automatically from an ad hoc wireless network to
`an infrastructure wireless network, without user interven-
`tion. As used herein, an “ad hoc wireless network” is a
`network where two (or more) wireless-capable devices, such 15
`as the earphone and a data source, communicate directly and
`wirelessly, without using an access point. An “infrastructure
`wireless network,” on the other hand, is a wireless network
`that uses one or more access points to allow a wireless-
`capable device, such as the wireless earphone, to connect to 20
`a computer network, such as a LAN or WAN (including the
`Internet).
`FIGS. 1A and 1B show example configurations for a
`wireless earphone 10 according to various embodiments of
`the present invention. The examples shown in FIGS. 1A and 25
`1B are not limiting and other configurations are within the
`scope of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1A and
`1B, the earphone 10 may comprise a body 12. The body 12
`may comprise an ear canal portion 14 that is inserted in the
`ear canal of the user of the earphone 10. In various embodi- 30
`ments, the body 12 also may comprise an exterior portion 15
`that is not inserted into user’s ear canal. The exterior portion
`15 may comprise a knob 16 or some other user control (such
`as a dial, a pressure-activated switch, lever, etc.) for adjust-
`ing the shape of the ear canal portion 14. That is, in various 35
`embodiments, activation (e.g. rotation) of the knob 16 may
`cause the ear canal portion 14 to change shape so as to, for
`example, radially expand to fit snugly against all sides of the
`user’s ear canal. Further details regarding such a shape-
`changing earbud earphone are described in application PCT/ 40
`USO8/88656, filed 3] Dec. 2008, entitled “Adjustable Shape
`Earphone,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its
`entirety and which was published as WO 2009/086555. The
`earphone 10 also may comprise a transceiver circuit housed
`within the body 12. The transceiver circuit, described further 45
`below, may transmit and receive the wireless signals, includ-
`ing receive streaming audio for playing by the earphone 10.
`The transceiver circuit may be housed in the exterior portion
`15 of the earphone 10 and/or in the ear canal portion 14.
`Although the example earphones 10 shown in FIGS. 1A 50
`and 1B include a knob 16 for adjusting the shape of the ear
`canal portion 14, the present invention is not so limited, and
`in other embodiments, different means besides a knob 16
`may be used to adjust the ear canal portion 14. In addition,
`in other embodiments, the earphone 10 may not comprise a 55
`shape-changing ear canal portion 14.
`In various embodiments, the user may wear two discrete
`wireless earphones 10: one in each ear. In such embodi-
`ments, each earphone 10 may comprise a transceiver circuit.
`In such embodiments, the earphones 10 may be connected 60
`by a string or some other cord-type comiector to keep the
`earphones 10 from being separated.
`In other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1C, a headband
`19 may connect the two (left and right) earphones 10. The
`headband 19 may be an over-the-head band, as shown in the 65
`example of FIG. 1C, or the headband maybe a behind-the-
`head band. In embodiments comprising a headband 19, each
`
`002%
`
`earphone 10 may comprise a transceiver circuit; hence, each
`earphone 10 may receive and transmit separately the wire-
`less communication signals. In other embodiments compris-
`ing a headband 19, only one earphone 10 may comprise the
`transceiver circuit, and a wire may run along the headband
`19 to the other earphone 10 to connect thereby the trans-
`ceiver circu t to the acoustic transducerin the earphone that
`does not co nprise the transceiver circuit. The embodiment
`shown in FIG. 1C comprises on-ear earphones 10; in other
`einbodimen s, in-ear or over-ear earphones may be used.
`In other embodiments, the earphone 10 may comprise a
`hanger bar 17 that allows the earphone 10 to clip to, or ha 1g
`on, the user’s ear, as shown in the illustrated embodiment of
`FIGS. lD-IE. FIG. 1D is a perspective View of the earpho e
`m
`and FIG. 1E is a side view according to one embodiment. A
`shown in the illustrated embodiment, the earphone 10 ma
`comprise dual speaker elements 106-A, 106-B. One of
`speaker elements (the smaller one) 106-A is sized to fit iit
`the cavum concha of the listener’s ear and the other element
`
`
`
`e
`(the larger one) 106-B is not. The listener may use
`hanger bar to position the earphone on the listener’s ear. In
`that connection, the hanger bar may comprise a horizon al
`section that rests upon the upper external curvature of
`listener’s ear behind the upper portion of the auricula (or
`pinna). The earphone may comprise a knurled knob t at
`allows the user to adjust finely the distance between
`e
`horizontal section of the hanger bar and the speaker ele-
`ments,
`thereby providing,
`in such embodiments, anotier
`measure of adjustability for the user. More details regard 1g
`such a dual element, adjustable earphone may be found in
`US. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/054,238,
`whichis incorporated herein by referencein its entirety. L S.
`Pat. Nos. 8,103,040 and 8,818, 012 claim priority to this
`United States provisional patent application.
`FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate various communication modes for
`
`a wireless data communication system involving the ear-
`phone 10 according to embodiments of the present inven-
`tion. As shown in FIG. 2A, the system comprises a data
`source 20 in communication with the earphone 10 via an ad
`hoc wireless network 24. The earphone 10, via its trans-
`ceiver circuit (described in more detail below), may com-
`municate wirelessly with a data source 20, which may
`comprise a wireless network adapter 22 for transmitting the
`digital audio wirelessly. For example, the data source 20
`may be a digital audio player (DAP), such as an mp3 player
`or an iPod, or any other suitable digital audio playing device,
`such as a laptop or personal computer, that stores and/or
`plays digital audio files. In other embodiments, the data
`source 20 may generate analog audio, and the wireless
`network adapter 22 may encode the analog audio into digital
`format for transmission to the earphone 10.
`The wireless network adapter 22 may be an integral part
`of the data source 20, or it may be a separate device that is
`connected to the data source 20 to provide wireless connec-
`tivity for the data source 20. For example,
`the wireless
`network adapter 22 may comprise a wireless network inter-
`face card (WNIC) or other suitable transceiver that plugs
`into a USB port or other port or jack of the data source 20
`(such as a TRS connector) to stream data, e.g., digital audio
`files, via a wireless network (e.g.,
`the ad hoc wireless
`network 24 or an infrastructure wireless network). The
`digital audio transmitted from the data source 20 to the
`earphone 10 via the wireless networks may comprise com-
`pressed or uncompressed audio. Any suitable file format
`maybe used for the audio, including mp3, lossy or lossless
`WMA, Vorbis, Musepack, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, AU, or any
`other suitable file format.
`
`

`

`US 9,497,535 B1
`
`5
`When in range, the data source 20 may communicate with
`the earphone 10 via the ad hoc wireless network 24 using
`any suitable wireless communication protocol,
`including
`Wi-Fi (e.g., IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n), WiMAX (IEEE 802.16),
`Bluetooth, Zigbee, UWB, or any other suitable wireless
`communication protocol. For purposes of the description to
`follow, it is assumed that the data source 20 and the earphone
`10 communicate using a Wi-Fi protocol, although the inven-
`tion is not so limited and other wireless communication
`
`5
`
`10
`
`protocols may be used in other embodiments of the inven-
`tion. The data source 20 and the earphone 10 are considered
`in range for the ad hoc wireless network 24 when the signal
`strengths (e.g., the RSSI) of the signals received by the two
`devices are above a threshold minimum signal strength
`level. For example, the data source 20 and the earphone 10 15
`are likely to be in range for an ad hoc wireless network when
`then are in close proximity, such as when the wearer of the
`earphone 10 has the data source 20 on his/her person, such
`as in a pocket, strapped to their waist or arm, or holding the
`data source in their hand.
`
`20
`
`When the earphone 10 and the data source 20 are out of
`range for the ad hoc wireless network 24, that is, when the
`received signals degrade below the threshold minirmun
`signal strength level, both the earphone 10 and the data
`source 20 may transition automatically to conummicate over 25
`an infrastructure wireless network (such as a wireless LAN
`(WLAN)) 30 that is in the range of both the earphone 10 and
`the data source 20, as shown in FIG. 2B. The earphone 10
`and the data source 20 (e.g., the wireless network adapter
`22) may include firmware, as described further below, that 30
`cause the components to make the transition to a common
`infrastructure wireless network 30 automatically and seam-
`lessly, e.g., without user intervention. The earphone 10 may
`cache the received audio in a buffer or memory for a time
`period before playing the audio. The cached audio may be 35
`played after the comrection over the ad hoc wireless network
`is lost to give the earphone 10 and the data source 20 time
`to connect via the infrastructure wireless network.
`
`the infrastructure
`For example, as shown in FIG. 2B,
`network may comprise an access point 32 that is in the range 40
`of both the data source 20 and the earphone 10. The access
`point 32 may be an electronic hardware device that acts as
`a wireless access point for, and that is connected to, a wired
`and/or wireless data communication network 33, such as a
`LAN or WAN, for example. The data source 20 and the 45
`earphone 10 may both communicate wirelessly with the
`access point 32 using the appropriate network data protocol
`(a Wi-Fi protocol, for example). The data source 20 and the
`earphone 10 may both transition automatically to an agreed-
`upon WLAN 30 that is in the range of both devices when 50
`they cannot commtmicate satisfactorily via the ad hoc wire-
`less network 24. A procedure for specifying an agreed-upon
`infrastructure wireless network 30 is described further
`
`below. Alternatively, the infrastructure wireless network 30
`may have multiple access points 32a-b, as shown in FIG. 55
`2C. In such an embodiment, the data source 20 may com-
`municate wirelessly with one access point 32b and the
`earphone 10 may communicate wirelessly with another
`access point 32a of the same infrastructure wireless network
`30. Again, the data source 20 and the earphone 10 may 60
`transition to an agreed-upon WLAN.
`If there is no suitable common infrastructure wireless
`
`network over which the earphone 10 and the data source 20
`can communicate, as shown in FIG. 2D, the earphone 10
`may transition to communicate with an access point 32a for 65
`an available (first) wireless network (e.g., WLAN) 30a that
`is in the range of the earphone 10. In this mode, the earphone
`
`6
`10 may connect via the wireless network 30a to a network-
`enabled host server 40. The host server 40 may be connected
`to the wireless network 300 via an electronic data commu-
`nication network 42, such as the Internet. In one mode, the
`host server 40 may transmit streaming digital audio via the
`networks 33a, 42 to the earphone 10. In another mode, the
`host server 40 may transmit to the earphone 10 a network
`address, such as an Internet Protocol (IP) address, for a
`streaming digital audio content server 70 on the network 42.
`Using the received IP address, the earphone 10 may connect
`to the streaming digital audio content server 70 via the
`networks 30a, 42 to receive and process digital audio from
`the streaming digital audio content server 70.
`The digital audio content server 70 may be, for example,
`an Internet radio station server. The digital audio content
`server 70 may stream digital audio over the network 42 (e. g.,
`the Internet), which the earphone 10 may receive and
`process. In one embodiment,
`the streaming digital audio
`content server 70 may stream digital audio received by the
`streaming digital audio content server 70 from the data
`source 20. For example, where the data source 20 is a
`wireless-capable device, such as a portable DAP, the data
`source 20 may connect to the streaming digital audio content
`server 70 Via a wireless network 301) and the network 42.
`
`Alternatively, where for example the data source 20 is
`non-wireless-capable device, such as a PC, the data source
`20 may have a direct wired connection to the network 42.
`After being authenticated by the streaming digital audio
`content server 70, the data source 20 may stream digital
`audio to the streaming digital audio content server 70, which
`may broadcast the received digital audio over the network
`42 (e.g., the Internet). In such a manner, the user of the
`earphone 10 may listen to audio from the data source 20
`even when (i) the earphone 10 and the data source 20 are not
`in communication Via an ad hoc wireless network 24 and (ii)
`the earphone 10 and the data source 20 are not in commu-
`nication via a common local infrastructure wireless network
`30.
`
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the earphone 10 according to
`various embodiments of the present invention. In the illus-
`trated embodiment, the earphone 10 comprises a transceiver
`circuit 100 and related peripheral components. As shown in
`FIG. 3, the peripheral components of the earphone 10 may
`comprise a power source 102, a microphone 104, one or
`more acoustic transducers 106 (e.g., speakers), and an
`anterma 108. The transceiver circuit 100 and some of the
`
`peripheral components (such as the power source 102 and
`the acoustic transducers 106) may be housed within the body
`12 of the earphone 10 (see FIG. 1). Other peripheral com-
`ponents, such as the microphone 104 and the antenna 108
`may be external to the body 12 of the earphone 10. In
`addition, some of the peripheral components, such as the
`microphone 104, are optional in various embodiments.
`In various embodiments, the transceiver circuit 100 may
`be implemented as a single integrated circuit (IC), such as a
`system-on-chip (SOC), which is conducive to miniaturizing
`the components of the earphone 10, which is advantageous
`if the earphone 10 is to be relatively small in size, such as
`an in-ear earphone (see FIGS. 1A-1B for example). In
`altemative embodiments, however, the components of the
`transceiver circuit 100 could be realized with two or more
`
`discrete ICs or other components, such as separate ICs for
`the processors, memory, and RF (e.g., Wi-Fi) module, for
`example.
`The power source 102 may comprise, for example, a
`rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery (or batteries). In
`other embodiments, the power source 102 may comprise one
`
`

`

`US 9,497,535 B1
`
`7
`or more ultracapacitors (sometimes referred to as superca-
`pacitors) that are charged by a primary power source. In
`embodiments where the power source 102 comprises a
`rechargeable battery cell or an ultracapacitor, the battery cell
`or ultracapacitor, as the case may be, may be charged for use,
`for example, when the earphone 10 is connected to a
`docking station or computer. The docking station may be
`c01mected to or part of a computer device, such as a laptop
`computer or PC. In addition to charging the rechargeable
`power source 102, the docking station and/or computer may 10
`facilitate downloading of data to and/or from the earphone
`10.
`In other embodiments,
`the power source 102 may
`comprise capacitors passively charged with RF radiation,
`such as described in US. Pat. No. 7,027,311. The power
`source 102 may be coupled to a power source control
`module 103 of transceiver circuit 100 that controls and
`
`15
`
`5
`
`monitors the power source 102.
`The acoustic transducer(s) 106 may be the speaker ele-
`ment(s) for conveying the sound to the user of the earphone
`10. According to various embodiments, the earphone 10 may 20
`comprise one or more acoustic transducers 106. For embodi-
`ments having more than one transducer, one transducer may
`be larger than the other transducer, and a crossover circuit
`(not shown) may transmit
`the higher frequencies to the
`smaller transducer and may transmit the lower frequencies 25
`to the larger transducer. More details regarding dual element
`earphones are provided in US. Pat. No. 5,333,206, assigned
`to Koss Corporation, which is incorporated herein by ref-
`erence in its entirety.
`The antenna 108 may receive and transmit the wireless 30
`signals from and to the wireless networks 24, 30. A RF (e.g.,
`Wi-Fi) module 110 of the transceiver circuit 100 in com-
`munication with the antenna 108 may, among other things,
`modulate and demodulate the signals transmitted from and
`received by the antenna 108. The RF module 110 commu- 35
`nicates with a baseband processor 112, which performs other
`functions necessary for the earphone 10 to communicate
`using the Wi-Fi (or other communication) protocol.
`The baseband processor 112 may be in communication
`with a processor unit 114, which may comprise a micropro- 40
`cessor 116 and a digital signal processor (DSP) 118. The
`microprocessor 116 may control the various components of
`the transceiver circuit 100. The DSP 114 may, for example,
`perform various sound quality enhancements to the digital
`audio received by the baseband processor 112, including 45
`noise cancell