Earphone device with optical sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016249133-A1
Application number	US-201315027595-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 7, 2013
Priority date	Oct 7, 2013
Publication date	Aug 25, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An earphone device ( 1 ) to be worn in the ear, which earphone device ( 1 ) comprising a main body ( 18 ) to be arranged in the concha ( 19 ) of the outer ear ( 14 ) of a user and an optical sensor ( 35 ), which optical sensor ( 35 ) comprises a light emitter ( 16 ) and a light detector ( 17 ). The earphone device ( 1 ) comprises window means ( 8, 9 ) through which light emitted by the light emitter ( 16 ) can be transmitted. The window means ( 8, 9 ) comprises an end face ( 31 ) adapted to abut a conchal wall ( 37 ) at a sensing position ( 36 ). The main body ( 18 ) comprises a speaker protrusion ( 26 ) to be inserted into to ear canal ( 15 ). The distance between the speaker protrusion ( 26 ) and the end face ( 31 ) is adjustable.

First claim

1 . An earphone device to be worn in the ear, comprising:
a main body to be arranged in the concha of the outer ear of a user and an optical sensor, which optical sensor comprises a light emitter and a light detector, and a window through which light emitted by the light emitter can be transmitted, which window includes an end face adapted to abut a conchal wall at a sensing position, wherein the earphone device is adapted to be positioned in the outer ear, so that the end face is abutting the conchal wall in the lower end of the concha adjacent the antitragus, and wherein the main body includes a speaker protrusion to be inserted into to ear canal and that the distance between the speaker protrusion and the end face is adjustable.

2 . An earphone device according to claim 1 , wherein the optical sensor is a heart rate sensor.

3 . An earphone device according to claim 1 , wherein the earphone device furthermore comprises a fitting member adapted to be detachably attached to the outer side of the main body, and wherein the fitting member comprises the window.

4 . An earphone device according to claim 3 , wherein the fitting member is of resilient material.

5 . An earphone device according to claim 3 , wherein the end face is provided at the end of a protruding sensor protrusion with a certain length.

6 . An earphone device according to claim 3 , wherein the fitting member comprises a first window for transmitting light emitted from the light emitter to the skin of the ear and a second window for transmitting light from the skin of the ear to the light detector.

7 . An earphone device according to claim 6 , wherein the first window and second window are divided by a wall of material, which is non-transparent for the light emitted by the light emitter.

8 . An earphone device according to claim 3 , wherein the fitting member comprises a protruding conchal wall stabilizer adapted to engage the conchal wall at a second position at the crus of helix.

9 . A headphone comprising an earphone device according to claim 3 comprising a number of replaceable fitting members of different sizes, whereby the distance between the speaker protrusion and the end face can be adjusted by replacing one of the fitting members with another fitting member.

10 . An earphone device according to claim 1 , wherein the end face is provided at the end of an adjustable end face member.

11 . An earphone device according to claim 1 , wherein the optical sensor is provided at the end of an adjustable sensor member.

12 . (canceled)

13 . An earphone device according to claim 1 comprising a resilient earbud detachably attached to the speaker protrusion.

14 . An earphone device according to claim 1 , wherein the main body and the speaker protrusion are embodied as a unitary non-resilient body.

15 . An earphone device to be worn in the ear, comprising:
a main body to be arranged in the concha of the outer ear of a user and a sensor, which a sensor-comprises an emitter and a detector capable of transmitting a signal between said emitter and detector, and a window through which the beam can be transmitted, which window includes an end face adapted to abut a conchal wall at a sensing position, wherein the earphone device is adapted to be positioned in the outer ear, so that the end face is abutting the conchal wall in the lower end of the concha adjacent the antitragus, and wherein the main body includes a speaker protrusion to be inserted into to ear canal and that the distance between the speaker protrusion and the end face is adjustable.

16 . An earphone device to be worn in the ear, comprising:
a main body to be arranged in the concha of the outer ear of a user and a sensor, which a sensor comprises an emitter and a detector capable of transmitting a signal between said emitter and detector, and an aperture through which the beam can be transmitted, which aperture includes an end face adapted to abut a conchal wall at a sensing position, wherein the earphone device is adapted to be positioned in the outer ear, so that the end face is abutting the conchal wall in the lower end of the concha adjacent the antitragus, and wherein the main body-includes a speaker protrusion to be inserted into to ear canal and that the distance between the speaker protrusion and the end face is adjustable.

Assignees

• Gn Netcom As

Inventors

• Sørensen Michael

Classifications

• H04R1/1033

  Cables or cables storage, e.g. cable reels (cord reels per se H02G11/02; arrangements for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of conductors or cables B65H75/34; extensible conductors or cables, e.g. self-coiling cords H01B7/06) · CPC title

• H04R1/1058

  Manufacture or assembly · CPC title

• A61B5/02416

  using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation (A61B5/14552 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04R1/1041

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

• H04R1/105

  Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks (for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335) · CPC title