Earphone and sound channel control method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016014539-A1
Application number	US-201514663820-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 20, 2015
Priority date	Jul 9, 2014
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An earphone is provided. The earphone includes a first speaker, an audio processor, a sensor, and a controller. The audio processor provides a left sound channel signal and a right sound channel signal according to a stereo signal. The sensor senses a movement path of the earphone. The controller selectively provides one of the left sound channel signal and the right sound channel signal to the first speaker according to the movement path.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An earphone, comprising:
a first speaker; an audio processor, providing a left sound channel signal and a right sound channel signal according to a stereo signal; a sensor, sensing a movement path of the earphone; and a controller, selectively providing one of the left sound channel signal and the right sound channel signal to the first speaker according to the movement path.

2 . The earphone as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
a second speaker; and a switching unit coupled to the first speaker, the second speaker, the controller and the audio processor, providing the one of the left sound channel signal and the right sound channel signal to the first speaker and providing the other of the left sound channel signal and the right sound channel signal to the second speaker according to a control signal from the controller, wherein the controller generates the control signal according to the movement path.

3 . The earphone as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a gravity sensor, a gyroscope, or an E-compass, and the movement path comprises a movement direction and a movement distance of the earphone.

4 . The earphone as claimed in claim 3 , wherein when the movement direction is a specific direction or the movement distance is shorter than a specific distance, the controller continues providing the one of the left sound channel signal and the right sound channel signal to the first speaker.

5 . The earphone as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
a wireless module, receiving the stereo signal from a wireless device, and providing the stereo signal to the audio processor.

6 . The earphone as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the earphone is a circumaural-type earphone, and the first speaker is disposed on an earflap of the circumaural-type earphone, and the sensor further detects an opening angle of the earflap to determine whether a user is wearing the earphone.

7 . A sound channel control method for an earphone, comprising:
providing a left sound channel signal and a right sound channel signal according to a stereo signal; sensing a movement path of the earphone; and selectively providing one of the left sound channel signal and the right sound channel signal to a first speaker of the earphone according to the movement path.

8 . The sound channel control method as claimed in claim 7 , further comprising:
providing the other of the left sound channel signal and the right sound channel signal to a second speaker of the earphone according to the movement path.

9 . The sound channel control method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the earphone comprises a gravity sensor, a gyroscope, or an E-compass for sensing the movement path of the earphone, and the movement path comprises a movement direction and a movement distance of the earphone.

10 . The sound channel control method as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising:
continuing providing the one of the left sound channel signal and the right sound channel signal to the first speaker when the movement direction is a specific direction or the movement distance is shorter than a specific distance.

11 . The sound channel control method as claimed in claim 7 , further comprising:
receiving the stereo signal from a wireless device via a wireless module of the earphone.

12 . The sound channel control method as claimed in claim 7 , further comprising:
detecting an opening angle of an earflap of the earphone, to determine whether a user is wearing the earphone, wherein the earphone is a circumaural-type earphone, and the first speaker is disposed on the earflap of the circumaural-type earphone.

Assignees

• Acer Inc

Inventors

• Yeh Neng-Wen

Classifications

• H04R1/10

  Earpieces; Attachments therefor {; Earphones; Monophonic headphones (H04R1/28 takes precedence; stereophonic headphones H04R5/033)} · CPC title

• H04S7/00 Primary

  Indicating arrangements; Control arrangements, e.g. balance control · CPC title

• H04R2420/03

  Connection circuits to selectively connect loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers · CPC title

• H04R1/1041

  Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements (switches in general H01H) · CPC title

• H04R5/033 Primary

  Headphones for stereophonic communication {(details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10)} · CPC title