I 1111111111111111 1111111111 1111111111 1111111111 1111111111 lll111111111111111
`USO 10206025B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Koss et al.
`
`(IO) Patent No.: US 10,206,025 B2
`*Feb.12,2019
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`(54) SYSTEM WITH WIRELESS EARPHONES
`
`(71) Applicant: Koss Corporation, Milwaukee, WI
`(US)
`
`(72)
`
`Inventors: Michael J. Koss, Milwaukee, WI (US);
`Michael J. Pelland, Princeton, WI
`(US); Michael Sagan, Fairfield, CA
`(US); Steven R. Reckamp, Crystal
`Lake, IL (US); Gregory J. Hallingstad,
`Deforest, WI (US); Jeffery K. Bovee,
`Sterling, IL (US); Morgan J. Lowery,
`Deforest, WI (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: KOSS CORPORATION, Milwaukee,
`WI (US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by O days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis(cid:173)
`claimer.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 15/962,305
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Apr. 25, 2018
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2018/0249240 Al
`
`Aug. 30, 2018
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(63) Continuation of application No. 15/650,362, filed on
`Jul. 14, 2017, now Pat. No. 9,986,325, which is a
`(Continued)
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04R 1110
`H04M 1102
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(Continued)
`
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`CPC ............. H04R 111041 (2013.01); H03G 3102
`(2013.01); H03K 1719622 (2013.01);
`(Continued)
`
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`CPC ............................... H04R 5/033; H04W 92/18
`(Continued)
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,784,685 A
`6,389,463 B2
`
`7/1998 Stanford et al.
`5/2002 Bolas
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`JP
`WO
`
`11/2004
`2004-320597
`5/2006
`WO 2006/047724 A2
`(Continued)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Supplementary European Search Report for European Application
`No. 09731146.8 dated Jun. 10, 2011, 7 pages.
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner - Kiet M Doan
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm - K&L Gates LLP
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`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(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`tent received from remote digital audio source, and the
`multiple acoustic transducers output the audio content
`received from the remote digital audio source.
`
`56 Claims, 16 Drawing Sheets
`
`Page 1 of 31
`
`KOSS-2014
`IPR2021-00680
`
`

`

`US 10,206,025 B2
`Page 2
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`continuation of application No. 15/293,785, filed on
`Oct. 14, 2016, now Pat. No. 9,729,959, which is a
`continuation of application No. 15/082,040, filed on
`Mar. 28, 2016, now Pat. No. 9,497,535, which is a
`continuation of application No. 14/695,696, filed on
`Apr. 24, 2015, now Pat. No. 9,438,987, 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. 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.
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2009.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2008.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2018.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2009.01)
`(2009.01)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04R 3/00
`H04R 51033
`H04R 5104
`H04W 48120
`H03G 3102
`H03K 17196
`H04R 1102
`H04H 20195
`H04L 29112
`H04W 4180
`H04R 25/00
`H04W 84/18
`H04W 84/12
`U.S. Cl.
`CPC ......... H04H 20195 (2013.01); H04L 61/6068
`(2013.01); H04M 110254 (2013.01); H04R
`1102 (2013.01); H04R 111091 (2013.01);
`H04R 3/00 (2013.01); H04R 51033 (2013.01);
`H04R 5104 (2013.01); H04W 4180 (2018.02);
`H04W 48120 (2013.01); H03K 2217/960785
`(2013.01); H04R 25/554 (2013.01); H04R
`2201/103 (2013.01); H04R 2201/107
`(2013.01); H04R 2225/55 (2013.01); H04R
`2420/07 (2013.01); H04W 84/12 (2013.01);
`H04W 84/18 (2013.01)
`Field of Classification Search
`USPC ............ 455/456.1, 41.2, 3.05, 573; 381/301,
`381/380, 74, 151
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
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`
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`6,674,864 Bl
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`3/2009 Jannard et al.
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`1/2010 Bailey
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`7,861,312 B2
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`1/2012 Jerlhagen
`8,102,836 B2
`5/2012 Pelland et al.
`8,190,203 B2
`10/2012 Kondo et al.
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`3/2013 Brooking
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`10/2013 Pelland et al.
`8,571,544 B2
`8,655,420 Bl
`2/2014 Pelland et al.
`8,792,945 B2
`7/2014 Russell et al.
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`6/2015 Pelland et al.
`2004/0107271 Al
`6/2004 Ahn et al.
`2005/0064853 Al
`3/2005 Radpour
`2005/0198233 Al
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`2006/0212442 Al
`9/2006 Conrad
`2006/0212444 Al
`9/2006 Handman et al.
`2006/0238878 Al * 10/2006 Miyake .
`
`2006/0268830 Al
`2007 /0008984 Al
`2007/0037615 Al
`2007/0049198 Al
`2007/0053543 Al
`2007/0154050 Al*
`
`11/2006 Evans
`1/2007 Phillips
`2/2007 Glezerman
`3/2007 Walsh et al.
`3/2007 Lee
`7/2007 Kim .
`
`G02B 27/0176
`359/630
`
`H04R 1/1041
`381/382
`
`2007/0165875 Al
`2007 /0253603 Al
`2007/0297618 Al
`2008/0019557 Al
`2008/0031470 Al
`2008/0062939 Al
`2008/0076489 Al
`2008/0167088 Al *
`
`7/2007 Rezvani
`11/2007 Kimura et al.
`12/2007 Nurmi et al.
`1/2008 Bevirt et al.
`2/2008 Angelhag
`3/2008 Van Horn
`3/2008 Rosener et al.
`7/2008 Rabu ..................... G06F 1/1632
`455/573
`
`10/2008 Paulson et al.
`2008/0242312 Al
`12/2008 Johnson et al.
`2008/0298606 Al
`2008/0311852 Al* 12/2008 Hansen .
`
`H04W 88/06
`455/41.2
`
`2009/0116678 Al
`2009/0129605 Al*
`
`5/2009 Bevirt et al.
`5/2009 Camp, Jr ............. Gl0H 1/0058
`381/77
`
`2009/0248178 Al
`2010/0290642 Al
`2013/0039510 Al
`2013/0099507 Al
`2015/0237439 Al
`2017/0318378 Al
`
`10/2009 Paulson et al.
`11/2010 Haseagawa
`2/2013 Pelland et al.
`4/2013 Moriya et al.
`8/2015 Koss et al.
`11/2017 Koss et al.
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`
`WO 2007/136620 A2
`WO 2007/139578 Al
`WO 2008/033478 Al
`WO 2008/054985 A2
`WO 2009/086555 Al
`
`11/2007
`12/2007
`3/2008
`5/2008
`7/2009
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`International Search Report for International Application No. PCT/
`US09/39754 dated Jun. 11, 2009, 2 pages.
`International Preliminary Examination Report for International Appli(cid:173)
`cation No. PCT/US09/39754 dated Oct. 28, 2010, 8 pages.
`
`Page 2 of 31
`
`KOSS-2014
`IPR2021-00680
`
`

`

`US 10,206,025 B2
`Page 3
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority for Inter(cid:173)
`national Application No. PCT/US09/39754 dated Jun. 11, 2009, 5
`pages.
`IT Review, "LTB 802. 11 WiFi Headphones", http:/ /itreview.belproject.
`corn/itern/1536 accessed on Mar. 13, 2008 (4 pages).
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Page 3 of 31
`
`KOSS-2014
`IPR2021-00680
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.12,2019
`
`Sheet 1 of 16
`
`US 10,206,025 B2
`
`10
`
`\
`
`FIG. 1A
`
`14
`
`FIG. 1B
`
`Page 4 of 31
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`KOSS-2014
`IPR2021-00680
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.12,2019
`
`Sheet 2 of 16
`
`US 10,206,025 B2
`
`FIG. 1 C
`
`Page 5 of 31
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`KOSS-2014
`IPR2021-00680
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.12,2019
`
`Sheet 3 of 16
`
`US 10,206,025 B2
`
`10
`
`\
`
`106-A
`
`FIG.1D
`
`------.......:
`
`17
`
`106-8
`
`106-A
`FIG.1E
`
`Page 6 of 31
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`KOSS-2014
`IPR2021-00680
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.12,2019
`
`Sheet 4 of 16
`
`US 10,206,025 B2
`
`<(
`N .
`(9
`LL.
`
`Page 7 of 31
`
`KOSS-2014
`IPR2021-00680
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.12,2019
`
`Sheet 5 of 16
`
`US 10,206,025 B2
`
`r----------------------------------------
`
`1
`I
`
`I
`I
`t
`t
`!
`!
`!
`!
`!
`!
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`
`Page 8 of 31
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`KOSS-2014
`IPR2021-00680
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.12,2019
`
`Sheet 6 of 16
`
`US 10,206,025 B2
`
`~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - A
`
`' ' ' ' I
`
`I
`i
`i
`i
`i
`I
`I
`I
`
`u
`N
`(9
`LL
`
`Page 9 of 31
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`KOSS-2014
`IPR2021-00680
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.12,2019
`
`Sheet 7 of 16
`
`US 10,206,025 B2
`
`I----------------------------
`
`!
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I 1-=
`I~
`,:.:;,-
`<.~ ,-:
`I
`I
`i
`i
`I
`
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
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`I
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`I
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`I
`; _ __ _________________________ i
`
`LLl
`-r.:eU
`t····=
`<a::= =o U)
`
`0
`N
`(9
`LL.
`
`I ---------------------------1
`
`I
`I
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`I
`j
`i
`i
`i
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`i
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`
`l ____________________ ~
`
`=
`
`Page 10 of 31
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`KOSS-2014
`IPR2021-00680
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.12,2019
`
`Sheet 8 of 16
`
`US 10,206,025 B2
`
`10
`
`I
`
`100
`
`102
`
`POWER SOURCE
`
`103
`
`POWER SOURCE
`CONTROL
`
`USB
`
`130
`
`124
`
`120
`
`122
`
`NON(cid:173)
`VOLAT!LE
`MEMORY
`
`104
`
`BASEBAND
`PROCESSOR
`
`RF
`
`110
`
`ANTENNA
`\
`108
`
`128
`
`125
`
`TRANSDUCER(S)
`
`106
`
`FIG. 3
`
`Page 11 of 31
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 12, 2019
`
`Sheet 9 of 16
`
`US 10,206,025 B2
`
`10
`✓
`
`200
`
`FIG.4A
`
`D
`0 210
`
`10
`
`I
`I H __ ./
`
`FIG. 4B
`
`Page 12 of 31
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`KOSS-2014
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.12,2019
`
`Sheet 10 of 16
`
`US 10,206,025 B2
`
`CURRENT
`DATA RATE
`
`SIZE OF
`UPDATE
`
`50
`
`YES
`
`TRANSMIT
`UPDATE
`WIRELESSLY
`
`52
`
`TRANSMIT UPDATE TO
`EARPHONE VIA HOST
`COMPUTER
`
`51
`
`FIG. 5
`
`Page 13 of 31
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.12,2019
`
`Sheet 11 of 16
`
`US 10,206,025 B2
`
`61
`
`NO
`
`EXCHANGE DATA REGARDiNG LOCAL
`INFRASTRUCTURE NETWORKS
`
`63
`' ,
`------------------'---------------~
`' ' ' ' ' I
`
`I
`I
`
`n = n + 1 - - - - - - - - .
`
`' ' ' ' ' I ' ' ' ' ' ' I
`
`I
`I
`I
`
`' ' ' I
`' I
`' ' ' ' ' I
`' ' ' I
`' ' '
`:
`.............. J
`
`I
`I
`I
`
`I
`
`l
`
`COMMUNICATE VIAnlh
`INFRASTRUCTURE WIRELESS NETWORK
`
`YES
`
`64
`
`65
`
`-... .... ...,
`
`............
`
`66
`
`67
`
`CONNECT TO HOST SERVER
`
`HOST SERVER SENDS
`!PADDRESS
`
`EARPHONE CONNECT TO STREAMING
`DIGiTALAUDIO CONTENT SERVER USING
`IP ADDRESS
`
`68
`
`NO
`
`FIG. 6
`
`59
`
`Page 14 of 31
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`KOSS-2014
`IPR2021-00680
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.12,2019
`
`Sheet 12 of 16
`
`US 10,206,025 B2
`
`er::
`LU
`&:
`
`U..i
`<F.,
`I-(cid:173)
`a:>
`
`0 =
`
`Page 15 of 31
`
`KOSS-2014
`IPR2021-00680
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.12,2019
`
`Sheet 13 of 16
`
`US 10,206,025 B2
`
`(\'"j
`
`g-~-:
`
`~
`
`' ' ' ' '
`' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '
`
`: ____________________________________ ,
`'
`'
`
`~
`LLJ
`(/)
`
`= LU
`I--= c:, =
`
`Page 16 of 31
`
`KOSS-2014
`IPR2021-00680
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.12,2019
`
`Sheet 14 of 16
`
`US 10,206,025 B2
`
`FIG. 9
`
`Page 17 of 31
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`KOSS-2014
`IPR2021-00680
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.12,2019
`
`Sheet 15 of 16
`
`US 10,206,025 B2
`
`10b
`
`FIG. 10
`
`Page 18 of 31
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`KOSS-2014
`IPR2021-00680
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.12,2019
`
`Sheet 16 of 16
`
`US 10,206,025 B2
`
`10
`
`FIG. 11
`
`Page 19 of 31
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`

`

`US 10,206,025 B2
`
`1
`SYSTEM WITH WIRELESS EARPHONES
`
`PRIORITY CLAIM
`
`5
`
`2
`digital audio player or a computer, over an ad hoc wireless
`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,
`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/or
`10 transmit to the earphone a network address (e.g., an Internet
`Protocol (IP) address) for a network-connected content
`server that streams digital audio. The earphone may then
`connect to the content server using the IP address. The
`content server may be an Internet radio server, including, for
`15 example, an Internet radio server that broadcasts streaming
`audio from the data source or some other content.
`These and other advantageous, unique aspects of the
`wireless earphone are described below.
`
`FIGURES
`
`The present application claims priority as a continuation
`to U.S. nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 15/650,
`362, filed Jul. 14, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,986,325, issued
`May 29, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. nonprovi(cid:173)
`sional patent application Ser. No. 15/293,785, filed Oct. 14,
`2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,729,959, issued Aug. 8, 2017,
`which is a continuation of U.S. nonprovisional patent appli(cid:173)
`cation Ser. No. 15/082,040, filed Mar. 28, 2016, now U.S.
`Pat. No. 9,497,535, issued Nov. 15, 2016, which is a
`continuation of U.S. nonprovisional patent application Ser.
`No. 14/695,696, filed Apr. 24, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No.
`9,438,987, issued on Sep. 6, 2016, which is a continuation
`of U.S. nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 13/609,
`409, filed Sep. 11, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,049,502, issued
`Jun. 2, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S. nonprovisional
`patent application Ser. No. 13/459,291, filed Apr. 30, 2012, 20
`now U.S. Pat. No. 8,571,544, issued Oct. 29, 2013, which is
`a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/936,
`488, filed Dec. 20, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,190,203,
`issued May 29, 2012, which is a national stage entry of
`PCT/US2009/039754, filed Apr. 7, 2009, which claims 25
`priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.
`61/123,265, filed Apr. 7, 2008, all of which are incorporated
`herein by reference in their entireties.
`
`Various embodiments of the present invention are
`described herein by way of example in conjunction with the
`following figures, wherein:
`FIGS. lA-lE are views ofa 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(cid:173)
`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-
`40 less networks according to various embodiments of the
`present invention;
`FIGS. 7, 8 and 10 illustrate communication systems
`involving the wireless earphone according to var10us
`embodiments of the present invention;
`FIG. 9 is a diagram of a headset including a wireless
`earphone and a microphone according to various embodi(cid:173)
`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
`50 invention.
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`30
`
`U.S. nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 14/031,
`938, filed Sep. 13, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,655,420,
`issued Feb. 18, 2014, is also a continuation of U.S. nonpro- 35
`visional patent application Ser. No. 13/609,409, filed Sep.
`11, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,049,502, mentioned above.
`
`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
`playing the digital audio, and a headphone set that connects
`to the data storage unit, usually with a¼" or a 3.5 mm jack 45
`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
`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(cid:173)
`posed, such as the Monster iFreePlay cordless headphones
`from Apple Inc., which include a docking port on one of the
`earphones that can connect directly to an iPod Shuffle.
`Because they have the docking port, however, the Monster 55
`iFreePlay cordless headphones from Apple are quite large
`and are not in-ear type phones. Recently, cordless head(cid:173)
`phones that connect wirelessly via IEEE 802.11 to a WLAN(cid:173)
`ready laptop or personal computer (PC) have been proposed,
`but such headphones are also quite large and not in-ear type 60
`phones.
`
`DESCRIPTION
`
`In one general aspect, the present invention is directed to
`a wireless earphone that receives streaming audio data via ad
`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. lA
`and lB, respectively, although in other embodiments the
`earphone may take different shapes and the exemplary
`shapes shown in FIGS. lA and lB are not intended to be
`limiting. In one embodiment, the earphone transitions auto-
`65 matically and seamlessly, without user
`intervention,
`between communication modes. That is, the earphone may
`transition automatically from an ad hoc wireless network to
`
`SUMMARY
`
`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
`
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`3
`an infrastructure wireless network, without user interven(cid:173)
`tion. As used herein, an "ad hoc wireless network" is a
`network where two ( or more) wireless-capable devices, such
`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(cid:173)
`capable device, such as the wireless earphone, to connect to
`a computer network, such as a LAN or WAN (including the
`Internet).
`FIGS. lA and 1B show example configurations for a
`wireless earphone 10 according to various embodiments of
`the present invention. The examples shown in FIGS. lA and
`1B are not limiting and other configurations are within the
`scope of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. lA 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(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`ing the shape of the ear canal portion 14. That is, in various
`embodiments, activation (e.g. rotation) of the knob 16 may
`cause the ear canal portion 14 to change shape so as to, for 25
`example, radially expand to fit snugly against all sides of the
`user's ear canal. Further details regarding such a shape(cid:173)
`changing earbud earphone are described in application PCT/
`US08/88656, filed 31 Dec. 2008, entitled "Adjustable Shape
`Earphone," which is incorporated herein by reference in its 30
`entirety. The earphone 10 also may comprise a transceiver
`circuit housed within the body 12. The transceiver circuit,
`described further below, may transmit and receive the wire(cid:173)
`less signals, including receive streaming audio for playing
`by the earphone 10. The transceiver circuit may be housed 35
`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. lA
`and 1B include a knob 16 for adjusting the shape of the ear
`canal portion 14, the present invention is not so limited, and 40
`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
`shape-changing ear canal portion 14.
`In various embodiments, the user may wear two discrete 45
`wireless earphones 10: one in each ear. In such embodi(cid:173)
`ments, each earphone 10 may comprise a transceiver circuit.
`In such embodiments, the earphones 10 may be connected
`by a string or some other cord-type connector to keep the
`earphones 10 from being separated.
`In other embodiments, as shown in FIG. lC, 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
`example of FIG. lC, or the headband may be a behind-the(cid:173)
`head band. In embodiments comprising a headband 19, each 55
`earphone 10 may comprise a transceiver circuit; hence, each
`earphone 10 may receive and transmit separately the wire(cid:173)
`less communication signals. In other embodiments compris(cid:173)
`ing a headband 19, only one earphone 10 may comprise the
`transceiver circuit, and a wire may run along the headband 60
`19 to the other earphone 10 to connect thereby the trans(cid:173)
`ceiver circuit to the acoustic transducer in the earphone that
`does not comprise the transceiver circuit. The embodiment
`shown in FIG. lC comprises on-ear earphones 10; in other
`embodiments, 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 hang
`
`4
`on, the user's ear, as shown in the illustrated embodiment of
`FIGS. lD-lE. FIG. lD is a perspective view of the earphone
`and FIG. lE is a side view according to one embodiment. As
`shown in the illustrated embodiment, the earphone 10 may
`5 comprise dual speaker elements 106-A, 106-B. One of the
`speaker elements (the smaller one) 106-A is sized to fit into
`the cavum concha of the listener's ear and the other element
`(the larger one) 106-B is not. The listener may use the
`hanger bar to position the earphone on the listener's ear. In
`10 that connection, the hanger bar may comprise a horizontal
`section that rests upon the upper external curvature of the
`listener's ear behind the upper portion of the auricula (or
`pinna). The earphone may comprise a knurled knob that
`allows the user to adjust finely the distance between the
`15 horizontal section of the hanger bar and the speaker ele(cid:173)
`ments, thereby providing, in such embodiments, another
`measure of adjustability for the user. More details regarding
`such a dual element, adjustable earphone may be found in
`U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/054,238,
`20 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
`FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate various communication modes for
`a wireless data communication system involving the ear(cid:173)
`phone 10 according to embodiments of the present inven(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`tivity for the data source 20. For example, the wireless
`network adapter 22 may comprise a wireless network inter(cid:173)
`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-
`50 pressed or uncompressed audio. Any suitable file format
`may be used for the audio, including mp3, lossy or lossless
`WMA, Vorbis, Musepack, FLAC, WAY, AIFF, AU, or any
`other suitable file format.
`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.lla/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
`protocols may be used in other embodiments of the inven(cid:173)
`tion. The data source 20 and the earphone 10 are considered
`65 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
`
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`US 10,206,025 B2
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`5
`level. For example, the data source 20 and the earphone 10
`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.
`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 minimum
`signal strength level, both the earphone 10 and the data
`source 20 may transition automatically to communicate over
`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 15
`and the data source 20 (e.g., the wireless network adapter
`22) may include firmware, as described further below, that
`cause the components to make the transition to a common
`infrastructure wireless network 30 automatically and seam(cid:173)
`lessly, e.g., without user intervention. The earphone 10 may 20
`cache the received audio in a buffer or memory for a time
`period before playing the audio. The cached audio may be
`played after the connection 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.
`For example, as shown in FIG. 2B, the infrastructure
`network may comprise an access point 32 that is in the range
`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 30
`and/or wireless data communication network 33, such as a
`LAN or WAN, for example. The data source 20 and the
`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 35
`earphone 10 may both transition automatically to an agreed(cid:173)
`upon WLAN 30 that is in the range of both devices when
`they cannot communicate satisfactorily via the ad hoc wire(cid:173)
`less network 24. A procedure for specifying an agreed-upon
`infrastructure wireless network 30 is described further 40
`below. Alternatively, the infrastructure wireless network 30
`may have multiple access points 32a-b, as shown in FIG.
`2C. In such an embodiment, the data source 20 may com(cid:173)
`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
`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 50
`can communicate, as shown in FIG. 2D, the earphone 10
`may transition to communicate with an access point 32a for
`an available (first) wireless network (e.g., WLAN) 30a that
`is in the range of the earphone 10. In this mode, the earphone
`10 may connect via the wireless network 30a to a network- 55
`enabled host server 40. The host server 40 may be connected
`to the wireless network 30a via an electronic data commu(cid:173)
`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.
`
`6
`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
`5 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
`10 source 20 may connect to the streaming digital audio content
`server 70 via a wireless network 30b 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(cid:173)
`nication via a common local infrastructure wireless network
`25 30.
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the earphone 10 according to
`various embodiments of the present invention. In the illus(cid:173)
`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
`antenna 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 im