# US 10,484,779 B2 · Apparatus for controlling headphones > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,484,779 B2 - Document ID: US10484779B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/112,967 - Filed: 2018-08-27 - Published: 2019-02-28 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-28 - Assignees: Harman International Industries, Incorporated - Applicants: Harman International Industries, Incorporated - Inventors: Imran Anis Ansari - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10484779B2 ## CPC - H04R 1/1041: {Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements (switches in general H01H)} - H04R 1/1016: {Earpieces of the intra-aural type} - H04R 1/1033: {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)} - H04R 1/105: {Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks (for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335)} - H04R 1/1075: {Mountings of transducers in earphones or headphones} - H04R 2460/03: Aspects of the reduction of energy consumption in hearing devices - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) ## Abstract In at least one embodiment, a headphone system is provided. The system includes a first housing, a second housing, a flexible coated wire, a first loudspeaker, a second loudspeaker, and a magnet. The flexible coated wire is coupled to the first housing and the second housing. The first loudspeaker is positioned within the first housing for transmitting an audio signal. The second loudspeaker is positioned within the second housing for transmitting the audio signal. The magnet is embedded within the flexible coated wire for electrical coupling with a sensor positioned within the first housing to control an operation of playback of the audio signal based on a distance of the magnet in relation to the first housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A headphone system comprising: a first housing; a second housing; a flexible coated wire coupled to the first housing and the second housing; a first loudspeaker coupled to the first housing for transmitting an audio signal; a second loudspeaker coupled to the second housing for transmitting the audio signal; and a magnet embedded within the flexible coated wire for electrical coupling with a sensor positioned within the first housing to control an operation of playback of the audio signal based on a distance of the magnet in relation to the first housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The headphone system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to generate a first signal indicative of the magnet being positioned within a predetermined distance of the sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The headphone system of claim 2, wherein the predetermined distance is between 2 to 20 mm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The headphone system of claim 2 further comprising a microprocessor being configured to receive the first signal and to enable playback of the audio signal from the first loudspeaker and the second loudspeaker in response to the first signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The headphone system of claim 4, wherein the sensor is further configured to generate a second signal indicative of the magnet being positioned outside of the predetermined distance of the sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The headphone system of claim 5, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to receive the second signal and to disable playback of the audio signal from the first loudspeaker and the second loudspeaker in response to the second signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The headphone system of claim 1, wherein the flexible coated wire defines an ear hook for placement over an ear of a user. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The headphone system of claim 7, wherein the first housing is positioned on one end of the ear hook and the magnet is positioned on another end of the ear hook to position the magnet adjacent to the sensor in the first housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The headphone system of claim 7, wherein the flexible coated wire includes a looped portion to separate the magnet from the first housing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The headphone system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a Hall effect sensor. ### Claim 11 A headphone system comprising: a first housing; a second housing; a flexible coated wire coupled to the first housing and the second housing; a first loudspeaker coupled to the first housing for transmitting an audio signal; a second loudspeaker coupled to the second housing for transmitting the audio signal; a magnet for electrical coupling with a sensor positioned within the first housing to control playback of the audio signal; and a flexible coated wire including an ear hook having the first housing positioned on one end of the ear hook and the magnet positioned on another end of the ear hook to position the magnet adjacent to the sensor in the first housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The headphone system of claim 11, wherein the magnet is completely embedded within the flexible coated wire for electrical coupling with the sensor to control an operation of playback of the audio signal based on a distance of the magnet in relation to the first housing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The headphone system of claim 12, wherein the sensor is configured to generate a first signal indicative of the magnet being positioned within a predetermined distance of the sensor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The headphone system of claim 13, wherein the predetermined distance is between 2 to 20 mm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The headphone system of claim 13 further comprising a microprocessor being configured to receive the first signal and to enable playback of the audio signal from the first loudspeaker and the second loudspeaker in response to the first signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The headphone system of claim 15, wherein the sensor is further configured to generate a second signal indicative of the magnet being positioned outside of the predetermined distance of the sensor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The headphone system of claim 16, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to receive the second signal and to disable playback of the audio signal from the first loudspeaker and the second loudspeaker in response to the second signal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The headphone system of claim 11, wherein the flexible coated wire includes a looped portion to separate the magnet from the first housing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The headphone system of claim 11, wherein the sensor is a hall effect sensor. ### Claim 20 A headphone assembly comprising: a first housing; a second housing; a flexible coated wire coupled to the first housing and the second housing; a first loudspeaker positioned within the first housing for transmitting an audio signal; a second loudspeaker positioned within the second housing for transmitting the audio signal; and a magnet embedded within the flexible coated wire for electrical coupling with a sensor positioned within the first housing to control an operation of the headphone assembly based on a distance of the magnet in relation to the first housing.