# US 10,872,592 B2 · Noise-canceling headphones including multiple vibration members and related methods

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- Number: US 10,872,592 B2
- Document ID: US10872592B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/843,821
- Filed: 2017-12-15
- Published: 2019-06-20
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2017-12-15
- Assignees: Skullcandy, Inc.
- Applicants: Skullcandy, Inc.
- Inventors: Randall J. Hull; Branden Sheffield; John Timothy
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10872592B2

## CPC

- G10K 11/17823: {Reference signals, e.g. ambient acoustic environment}
- G10K 11/17853: {of the filter}
- H04R 1/1008: {Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type}
- H04R 1/105: {Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks (for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335)}
- H04R 1/1058: {Manufacture or assembly}
- H04R 1/1083: {Reduction of ambient noise (active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06)}
- H04R 19/04: Microphones (H04R19/01 takes precedence)
- G10K 2210/1081: Earphones, e.g. for telephones, ear protectors or headsets
- G10K 2210/3026: Feedback
- G10K 2210/3027: Feedforward
- G10K 2210/3028: Filtering, e.g. Kalman filters or special analogue or digital filters
- G10K 2210/3056: Variable gain
- H04R 1/26: Spatial arrangements of separate transducers responsive to two or more frequency ranges
- H04R 3/02: for preventing acoustic reaction {, i.e. acoustic oscillatory feedback (specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/453)}
- H04R 5/033: Headphones for stereophonic communication {(details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10)}
- H04R 2201/003: Mems transducers or their use
- H04R 2205/022: Plurality of transducers corresponding to a plurality of sound channels in each earpiece of headphones or in a single enclosure
- H04R 2410/05: Noise reduction with a separate noise microphone
- H04R 2460/01: Hearing devices using active noise cancellation
- H04R 2460/13: Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
- G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- 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

Noise-canceling headphones may include a headband, an audio input, and earcups supported proximate ends of the headband. A first vibration member operatively connected to the audio input, a second vibration member operatively connected to the audio input, and a microphone may be supported by a housing of at least one of the earcups. A feedback, noise-cancelation circuit configured to reduce a user's perception of an undesirable audible response of the second vibration member may be operatively connected to the microphone. The feedback, noise-cancelation circuit may be configured to modify an audio signal from the audio input at least in part based on a signal from the microphone and send the modified audio signal to the first vibration member. The modified audio signal may be configured to at least partially cancel at least a portion of an audible response of the second vibration member.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A noise-canceling headphone, comprising:
a headband;
an audio input; and
earcups supported proximate ends of the headband, at least one of the earcups operatively connected to the audio input and comprising:
a housing;
a first vibration member operatively connected to the audio input and supported at least partially within the housing;
a second vibration member operatively connected to the audio input and supported at least partially within the housing;
a microphone supported by the housing; and
a feedback, noise-cancelation circuit configured to reduce a user's perception of an undesirable audible response of the second vibration member, the feedback, noise-cancelation circuit operatively connected to the microphone, the feedback, noise-cancelation circuit configured to compare a signal from the microphone to a predetermined sound pressure level profile for the noise-canceling headphone in a range of frequencies between about 20 Hz and about 60 Hz, the feedback, noise-cancelation circuit configured to generate a noise-canceling signal of a same amplitude as a portion of the signal from the microphone corresponding to the undesirable audible response of the second vibration member, the noise-canceling signal having inverted phase relative to the portion of the signal from the microphone, the feedback, noise-cancelation circuit configured to modify an audio signal from the audio input at least in part by combining the audio signal with the noise-canceling signal, a modified audio signal generated by the feedback, noise-cancelation circuit configured to at least partially cancel at least a portion of an audible response of the second vibration member, the feedback, noise cancelation circuit configured to output the modified audio signal to the first vibration member responsive to comparing the signal from the microphone to the predetermined sound pressure level profile.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The noise-canceling headphone of claim 1, wherein the first vibration member comprises an audio driver and the second vibration member comprises a tactile vibrator.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The noise-canceling headphone of claim 2, wherein the feedback, noise-cancelation circuit is configured to at least partially reduce undesirable audible noise produced by the tactile vibrator at least at frequencies between about 20 Hz and about 100 Hz.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The noise-canceling headphone of claim 2, further comprising a low-pass filter operatively connected between the audio input and the tactile vibrator, the low-pass filter configured to remove a treble component of the audio signal from passage to the tactile vibrator and pass a bass component of the audio signal to the tactile vibrator.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The noise-canceling headphone of claim 4, further comprising a gain stage operatively connected between the audio input and the low-pass filter, the gain stage configured to increase a voltage of the signal from the audio input before the signal from the audio input reaches the tactile vibrator.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The noise-canceling headphone of claim 5, wherein the gain stage comprises an operational amplifier.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The noise-canceling headphone of claim 5, wherein the gain stage comprises a diode limiter configured to at least reduce clipping resulting from gain produced by the gain stage.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The noise-canceling headphone of claim 4, wherein the low-pass filter comprises a diode limiter configured to reduce instability of the low-pass filter.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The noise-canceling headphone of claim 1, wherein the first vibration member comprises a first audio driver and the second vibration member comprises a second audio driver.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The noise-canceling headphone of claim 1, wherein the microphone is located between the second vibration member and an ear of the user when the noise-canceling headphone is worn by the user.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The noise-canceling headphone of claim 10, wherein a line passing through a geometric center of the first vibration member in a direction at least substantially parallel to a direction of intended movement of the first vibration member intersects with the microphone and the microphone is positioned on a side of the first vibration member proximate the ear of the user when the noise-canceling headphone is worn by the user.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The noise-canceling headphone of claim 11, wherein the microphone comprises a microelectro-mechanical system (MEMS) microphone.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The noise-canceling headphone of claim 1, further comprising:
another microphone exposed at an exterior of the housing; and
a feed-forward, noise-cancelation circuit operatively connected to at least the first vibration member and the other microphone, the feed-forward, noise-cancelation circuit configured to reduce a user's perception of environmental noise, the feed-forward, noise-cancellation circuit configured to modify the audio signal from the audio input at least in part based on a signal from the other microphone and send the modified audio signal to the first vibration member, the modified audio signal configured to at least partially cancel at least a portion of the environmental noise.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The noise-canceling headphone of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the earcups comprises:
a first acoustic cavity located proximate the ear of the user when the noise-canceling headphone is worn by the user, the first vibration member located in the first acoustic cavity;
a second acoustic cavity located adjacent to the first acoustic cavity and distal from the ear of the user when the noise-canceling headphone is worn by the user, the second vibration member located in the second acoustic cavity; and
a driver plate located between the first acoustic cavity and the second acoustic cavity, the driver plate including at least one passage extending between the first acoustic cavity and the second acoustic cavity, a greatest diameter of the at least one passage being between about 5% and about 10% of a greatest diameter of the housing.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The noise-canceling headphone of claim 14, further comprising at least one port extending from the first acoustic cavity, through the housing of the earcup, to an exterior of the housing, a greatest diameter of the at least one port being between about 5% and about 10% of the greatest diameter of the housing.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The noise-canceling headphone of claim 14, wherein the second vibration member comprises a tactile vibrator and further comprising a compressible material secured to the driver plate and configured to delimit movement of the second vibration member of the tactile vibrator in a first direction, the compressible material located on a side of the tactile vibrator proximate the ear of the user when the noise-canceling headphone is worn by the user.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The noise-canceling headphone of claim 16, wherein a portion of the housing located on a side of the tactile vibrator distal from the ear of the user when the noise-canceling headphone is worn by the user is positioned to delimit movement of the second vibration member of the tactile vibrator in a second, opposite direction.

### Claim 18

A method of making a noise-canceling headphone, comprising:
placing a first vibration member operatively connected to an audio input at least partially within a housing of an earcup;
placing a second vibration member operatively connected to the audio input at least partially within the housing;
supporting a microphone from the housing;
supporting a feedback, noise-cancelation circuit configured to reduce a user's perception of audible noise generated by the second vibration member, the feedback, noise-cancelation circuit operatively connected to the microphone within the housing, the feedback, noise-cancelation circuit configured to compare a signal from the microphone to a predetermined sound pressure level profile for the noise-canceling headphone in a range of frequencies between about 20 Hz and about 60 Hz, the feedback, noise, cancelation circuit configured to generate a noise-canceling signal of a same amplitude as a portion of the signal from the microphone corresponding to an undesirable audible response of the second vibration member, the noise-canceling signal having inverted phase relative to the portion of the signal from the microphone, the feedback, noise-cancelation circuit configured to modify an audio signal from the audio input at least in part by combining the audio signal with the noise-canceling signal, a modified audio signal generated by the feedback, noise-cancelation circuit configured to at least partially cancel at least a portion of an audible response of the second vibration member, the feedback, noise-cancelation circuit configured to output the modified audio signal to the first vibration member responsive to comparing the signal from the microphone to the predetermined sound pressure level profile; and
supporting the earcup proximate an end of a headband.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the second vibration member comprises a tactile vibrator and further comprising supporting a low-pass filter operatively connected between the audio input and the tactile vibrator within the housing, the low-pass filter configured to remove a treble component of the audio signal from passage to the tactile vibrator and pass a bass component of the noise-canceled signal to the tactile vibrator.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, further comprising:
supporting another microphone on the housing, the other microphone exposed at an exterior of the housing; and
supporting a feed-forward, noise-cancelation circuit operatively connected to at least an audio driver and the other microphone within the housing, the feed-forward, noise-cancellation circuit configured to reduce a user's perception of environmental noise, the feed-forward, noise-cancellation circuit configured to modify the audio signal from the audio input at least in part based on a signal from the other microphone and send the modified audio signal to the first vibration member, the modified audio signal configured to at least partially cancel at least a portion of the environmental noise.