Beamforming output audio using open headphones
US12356163B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 30, 2022 |
| Grant date | Jul 8, 2025 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 18, 2042 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04R2460/09
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
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 audio leakage into the environment, the floating audio component may include two audio transducers and perform beamforming to target the output audio toward the listener's ear and cancel the output audio in other directions. For example, the beamforming may cause constructive interference in one direction and destructive interference in all other directions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.