UNILATERAL DUAL TRANSDUCER STEREO HEADPHONE

Abstract

A headphone in which both the left and right stereo channels are contained within a single earpiece (10) and separated by vertical positioning above (12) and below (14) the ear, rather than each ear receiving one stereo channel, as in traditional headphones. This allows the listener to hear the audio content of both stereo channels with a single ear, while still being able to distinguish between the two channels. The other earpiece of the headphone may be a “dummy” (20) which contains no speaker, and the headphone can be reversed depending on which ear the user wants to listen with. Optionally, the back of each earpiece can be opened, allowing the listener to experience stereo sound in one ear while listening to his/her surroundings with the other.

Claims

1. A circumaural audio headphone comprising: an earcup configured to overlie a pinna of a first ear of a user; a first transducer supported in the earcup to convert a first audio signal to first sound waves that are provided directly to the pinna of the first ear, wherein the first transducer is connected to receive the first audio signal from a left stereo channel of an external stereo audio playback device; and a second transducer supported in the earcup to convert a second audio signal to second sound waves that are provided directly to the pinna of the first ear, wherein the second transducer is connected to receive the second audio signal from a right stereo channel of the external stereo audio playback device; wherein the first transducer and second transducer are spatially displaced from one another in the earcup so that the first sound waves from the first transducer and the second sound waves from the second transducer are directly provided to the pinna of the ear via an unobstructed path and without occluding the ear canal of the first ear of the user; wherein the first and second sound waves produce stereo sound having left and right channel separation, stereo width, and side-to-side panning; and wherein the earcup comprises a removable backpiece to allow the user to configure the earcup as an open earcup to allow external sound to enter the earcup, or as a closed earcup configured to inhibit entry of external sound into the earcup.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of the device, showing an inside view of the functional earpiece;

[0011] FIG. 2a is an outside view of the functional earpiece when the back is closed with removable clip-on cover;

[0012] FIG. 2b is an outside view of the functional earpiece when the clip-on cover has been removed and thus the back is open; and

[0013] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the functional earpiece, showing the assembly and inside.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, one embodiment of the device is similar to standard circumaural (over-the-ear) headphones. However, rather than the acoustical drivers, speakers, or transducers 12, 14 being placed in opposite earpieces as in a standard headphone, they are placed in the same earpiece 10—one above the external ear opening 12 and one below it 14, allowing for the two channels to be distinguished, and sonic differences and movement between the two channels to be recognized. The shape of the outer ear, which normally allows us to vertically localize ambient sounds, will also allow the user to distinguish between the “left” and “right” channels, which are now effectively “top” and “bottom” channels. Wires 13 and 15 run from the upper and lower transducers, respectively (FIG. 3).

[0015] An optional two-way switch 16 (visible in FIGS. 2a, 2b, and 3) swaps the left and right channels, based on user preference (so the “left” channel can come through the top transducer and the “right” channel through the bottom, or vice versa). In the preferred embodiment, the transducers can be held in place via a circular mount 17 (FIGS. 1 and 3).

[0016] The earpiece on the opposite side 20 (see FIG. 1) can be a “dummy” earpiece which contains no transducers. This dummy earpiece 20 may look similar to the functional earpiece 10 from the outside, but may not require a switch 16, as it contains no audio components within. In the preferred embodiment, as seen in FIG. 1, a standard headband 18 connects the two earpieces, and the headphone may be “reversible”—i.e., can be worn with the functional earpiece 10 on either the left or the right ear-depending on the user's needs.

[0017] In the preferred embodiment, the back of each earpiece 10, 20 may be closed (as seen in FIG. 2a) or opened (as in FIG. 2b) via a removable clip-on cap 22 (visible in FIGS. 1, 2a, 2b, and 3). Other possible embodiments may omit the removable caps 22 and utilize either open or closed back earpieces. See also FIG. 1, in which the functional earpiece 10 is open and the dummy earpiece 20 is closed, for illustrative purposes. In the preferred embodiment, both earpieces 10, 20 (as well as the circular mount 17 within) have a cavity 24 (visible in FIGS. 1, 2b, and 3) which leads from one side of the earpiece to the other (i.e., each earpiece is essentially “donut-shaped”). A fixed protective screen 26 (visible in FIGS. 1, 2b, and 3) can be used to cover each cavity, letting sound through while providing a shield against foreign objects. The cavities and removable caps allow individuals with normal hearing to listen to music with one ear while attending to their surroundings with the other, and also permits listeners with unilateral deafness to decide whether they wish to monitor their surroundings (by opening the earpiece) or shut out external noise entirely (by closing it). In the preferred embodiment, a standard headphone cord 28 (seen in FIGS. 1, 2a, 2b, and 3) runs from the functional earpiece 10 and terminates in a standard 3.5 mm stereo plug (not pictured). Also in the preferred embodiment, each earpiece 10, 20 features standard earpads 30 for comfort (FIGS. 1, 2a, 2b, and 3). The transducers 12, 14 and mount 17 (i.e., the inside of the functional earcup 10) may also be covered with a protective screen (not pictured) underneath the earpad 30 to protect the transducers 12, 14; the dummy earcup 20 may have a similar screen.

[0018] From the description above, a number of advantages of some embodiments of this stereo headphone become evident:

[0019] (a) Users who are unilaterally deaf or choose to listen with only one ear may finally hear both left and right stereo channels.

[0020] (b) These listeners can perceive relative space and motion between stereo channels, since the two transducers are spatially separated.

[0021] (c) The two stereo channels sound better because they are each coming through a different transducer, rather than both coming through a single transducer.

[0022] (d) The optional channel switch allows the user to select which channel (left or right) is heard through which transducer (top or bottom).

[0023] (e) The optional removable clip-on caps allow the user the choice of either monitoring or blocking out his/her surroundings.

[0024] Above, it has been demonstrated that this embodiment of the headphones allows unilaterally deaf users and those who wish to listen with only one ear to hear higher quality, more complete audio in which the left and right channels can be both heard and distinguished. Listeners with unilateral deafness will finally be able to approximate true stereo sound and get the full experience of their music, games, etc. through a pair of headphones. Individuals with normal hearing can benefit from the invention when they want to keep one ear free to hear their surroundings while listening to music.

[0025] While the above description contains many specifics, these should be construed as suggestions of embodiment rather than limitations of scope. For example, a variant embodiment could utilize either a standard open- or closed-back earpiece, rather than a convertible earpiece with removable cap. Another embodiment could utilize two functional earpieces-rather than one functional and one dummy earpiece-either of which could be selectively turned off by means of a switch. A further embodiment could contain only one earpiece, as in a standard, single-sided headset. Furthermore, the earpieces of the headphone need not be embodied in an over-ear style, but could rest on the ear, or clipped over the ear.

[0026] Accordingly, the scope should be determined not by the embodiment described but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.