Patent · US Active

Non-blocking dual driver earphones

US11190867B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
5References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 30, 2018
Grant dateNov 30, 2021
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 30, 2038

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04S2420/01
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A head-worn sound reproduction device is provided in the form of left and right earphones, which can either be clipped to each ear or mounted on other headgear. The earphones deliver high fidelity audio to a user's eardrums from near-ear range, in a lightweight form factor that is fully “non-blocking” (allows coupling in and natural hearing of ambient sound). Each earphone has a woofer component that produces bass frequencies, and a tweeter component that produces treble frequencies. The woofer outputs the bass frequencies from a position close to the ear canal, while the tweeter outputs treble frequencies from a position that is either close to the ear canal or further away. In certain embodiments, the tweeter is significantly further from the ear canal than the woofer, leading to a more expansive perceived “sound stage”, but still with a “pure” listening experience.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.