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US 10,708,703 B1Granted
Switching binaural sound
OwnerPhilip Scott Lyren, Glen A. Norrisinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method provides binaural sound to a person through electronic earphones. The binaural sound localizes to a sound localization point (SLP) in empty space that is away from but proximate to the person. When an event occurs, the binaural sound switches or changes to stereo sound, to mono sound, or to altered binaural sound.
Claims20
Headphones, comprising:
- one or more microphones that capture environmental sound;
- and
- speakers that play music and the environmental sound to a listener wearing the headphones,
- wherein sound being played through the speakers in the headphones automatically switches to a silent mode when the listener is standing such that while in the silent mode the headphones play the music but mute the environmental sound from passing through to the listener, and
- wherein the sound being played through the speakers in the headphones automatically switches to a mix mode when the listener is moving such that while in the mix mode the headphones play both the music and voices in the environmental sound but mute sounds of non-voices in the environmental sound from passing through to the listener.
2 more elements
A method, comprising:
- capturing, with one or more microphones in headphones worn on a head of a listener, environmental sound;
- detecting, with a smartphone in wireless communication with the headphones, when the listener is walking and when the listener is not moving;
- automatically switching, in response to the smartphone detecting that the listener is walking, the headphones to a first mode of operation that plays both the music and the environmental sound captured with the one or more microphones;
- and
- automatically switching, in response to the smartphone detecting that the listener is not moving, the headphones to a second mode of operation that plays music to the listener but mutes the environmental sound.
2 more elements
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that one or more electronic devices execute as a method comprising:
- capturing, with one or more microphones in headphones worn on a head of a listener, sound in an environment of the listener;
- detecting when the listener wearing the headphones is not moving, walking, and on an airplane;
- switching, in response to detecting the listener is not moving, to a first mode of operation that plays through the headphones music but mutes the sound in the environment;
- and
- switching, in response to detecting the listener is walking, to a second mode of operation that plays through the headphones the music and the sound in the environment.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.