Headset and headphone

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10141494-B2
Application number	US-201013384027-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 16, 2010
Priority date	Jul 17, 2009
Publication date	Nov 27, 2018
Grant date	Nov 27, 2018

Abstract

There is provided a headset having at least one microphone for detecting ambient noises, at least one electroacoustic reproduction transducer and a control unit for controlling the headset. The headset also has a digital active noise reduction unit for performing digital active noise reduction based on the ambient noises recorded by the microphone. The headset further has a data interface for receiving data and/or parameters for the headset and for outputting data and/or parameters stored in the headset.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A headset comprising:
at least one microphone configured to detect ambient noises;
at least one electroacoustic reproduction transducer configured to output an audio signal to be reproduced;
a control unit configured to control the headset;
a digital active noise reduction unit having an adjustable functionality and having a digital hardware; and
a data interface configured to:
couple the headset, via a bi-directional data communication, with an external media player; and
receive at least one functionality adjustment for the digital active noise reduction unit from a user via the external media player, wherein the functionality adjustment comprises adjustable parameters of the digital active noise reduction unit;
wherein the control unit is connected with the digital active noise reduction unit and the data interface;
wherein the control unit is further configured to adjust the functionality of the digital active noise reduction unit according to the received functionality adjustment, the control unit selecting a mode of digital active noise reduction of the digital active noise reduction unit according to the received functionality adjustment;
wherein the digital active noise reduction unit is configured to perform active noise reduction based at least on the ambient noises recorded by the microphone and the received functionality adjustment.

2. The headset as set forth in claim 1 ;
wherein the data interface is adapted to update a firmware of the digital active noise reduction unit.

3. The headset as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:
a wireless data interface configured to transmit and receive audio data and configuration parameters from or for the headset.

4. An earphone comprising:
at least one microphone configured to detect ambient noises;
at least one electroacoustic reproduction transducer configured to output an audio signal to be reproduced;
a control unit configured to control the earphone;
a digital active noise reduction unit having an adjustable functionality and having a digital hardware; and
a data interface configured to:
couple the earphone, via a bi-directional data communication, with an external media player; and
receive at least one functionality adjustment for the digital active noise reduction unit from a user via the external media player, wherein the functionality adjustment comprises adjustable parameters of the digital active noise reduction unit;

wherein the control unit is connected with the digital active noise reduction unit and the data interface;
wherein the control unit is further configured to adjust the functionality of the digital active noise reduction unit according to the received functionality adjustment, the control unit selecting a mode of digital active noise reduction of the digital active noise reduction unit according to the received functionality adjustment; and
wherein the digital active noise reduction unit is configured to perform active noise reduction based at least on the ambient noises recorded by the microphone and the received functionality adjustment.

5. The headset as set forth in claim 2 , further comprising:
a wireless data interface configured to transmit and receive audio data and configuration parameters from or for the headset.

6. The headset as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:
a multiplexer unit configured to:
forward audio signals to the control unit; and
forward data signals to the data interface.

7. The headset as set forth in claim 1 ;
wherein the adjustable parameters include at least one of a compensation factor, right/left balance, and a customer-specific hearing curve.

8. The headset as set forth in claim 1 ;
wherein the adjustable parameters enable a personalized adjustment of the headset.

9. The headset as set forth in claim 1 ;
when the power supplied for the digital active noise reduction unit is not available, the control unit deactivates the digital noise reduction unit, but enables the reproduction of audio signals by the at least one electroacoustic reproduction transducer.

10. A system comprising:
the headset as set forth in claim 1 ; and
the external media player,
wherein the external media player comprises a parameter adjustment unit configured to adjust parameters of the digital active noise reduction unit according to a user input.

11. A system comprising:
the headset as set forth in claim 6 ; and
the external media player,
wherein the external media player comprises a parameter adjustment unit configured to adjust parameters of the digital active noise reduction unit according to a user input.

12. A system comprising:
the headset as set forth in claim 7 ; and
the external media player,
wherein the external media player comprises a parameter adjustment unit configured to adjust parameters of the digital active noise reduction unit according to a user input.

13. A system comprising:
the headset as set forth in claim 8 ; and
the external media player,
wherein the external media player comprises a parameter adjustment unit configured to adjust parameters of the digital active noise reduction unit according to a user input.

14. A system comprising:
the headset as set forth in claim 9 ; and
the external media player,
wherein the external media player comprises a parameter adjustment unit configured to adjust parameters of the digital active noise reduction unit according to a user input.

15. A system comprising:
the earphone as set forth in claim 4 ; and
the external media player,
wherein the external media player comprises a parameter adjustment unit configured to adjust parameters of the digital active noise reduction unit according to a user input.

16. The headset as set forth in claim 1 ;
wherein the data interface is further configured to:
output data and/or parameters stored in the headset.

17. The earphone as set forth in claim 4 ;
wherein the data interface is further configured to:
output data and/or parameters stored in the earphone.

18. The earphone as set forth in claim 4 ;
wherein the adjustable parameters comprise at least one of a compensation factor, left/right balance, and a customer-specific hearing curve.

19. The headset as set forth in claim 1 ;
wherein the at least one functionality adjustment comprises controlling an adaption of the digital active noise reduction.

20. The headset as set forth in claim 1 ;
wherein the at least one functionality adjustment comprises storing a profile of the digital active noise reduction.

21. The earphone as set forth in claim 4 ;
wherein the at least one functionality adjustment comprises controlling an adaption of noise reduction.

22. The earphone as set forth in claim 4 ;
wherein the at least one functionality adjustment comprises storing a profile of the digital active noise reduction.

23. A headset comprising:
a microphone configured to detect ambient noises;
an electroacoustic reproduction transducer configured to output an audio signal to be reproduced;
a control unit configured to control the headset;
a digital active noise reduction unit having adjustable parameters and an adjustable functionality and having a digital hardware; and
a data interface configured to:
couple the headset, via a bi-directional data communication, with an external media player; and
receive at least one functionality adjustment selected from the group consisting of selecting a

Assignees

• Kuhtz Jan Peter
• Streitenberger Martin
• Grandt Andre
• Schulze Elmar
• Foudhaili Hatem
• Sennheiser Electronic Gmbh & Co Kg

Inventors

• Kuhtz Jan Peter
• Streitenberger Martin
• Grandt André
• Schulze Elmar
• Foudhaili Hatem

Classifications

• H04R2420/09

  Applications of special connectors, e.g. USB, XLR, in loudspeakers, microphones or headphones · CPC title

• G10K2210/1081

  Earphones, e.g. for telephones, ear protectors or headsets · CPC title

• B01J2219/0009

  Coils · CPC title

• G10K11/178

  by electro-acoustically regenerating the original acoustic waves in anti-phase · CPC title

• C01B35/023

  Boron · CPC title