US 10,950,217 B1Granted

Acoustic quadrupole system for head mounted wearable device

AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.

InventorsJianchun Dong, Xuan Zhong, Chun Sik Jeong, Zhen Xu, Chung-Ling Hsu, Jung Sik Yang

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Abstract

A head-mounted wearable device (HMWD) provides audio output using acoustic quadrupole units (AQU). The AQU produces an acoustic pattern having a first region and a second region. The first region has a first phase and the second region has a second phase that is opposite the first phase. A major axis extending through the regions is directed generally upwards from the ear canal of the user. The ear of the user is within the first region. The second region is directed upward. Bystanders are within an acoustically null region of the acoustic pattern. The acoustically null region is perpendicular to the major axis. Within the acoustically null region, the sound intensity is reduced due to destructive interference between the first phase and the second phase. As a result, the user wearing the HMWD is able hear audio output while audio amplitude perceived by the bystanders is significantly reduced.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A wearable device comprising:

a housing within the wearable device, the housing having an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, an interior surface, and an exterior surface;
an acoustic quadrupole unit within the housing, the acoustic quadrupole unit comprising:
one or more transducers;
a first outlet port to emit sound from the one or more transducers, the first outlet port through the housing at a first location on the interior surface or the exterior surface proximate to the upper surface of the housing;
a second outlet port to emit sound from the one or more transducers, the second outlet port through the housing at a second location on the interior surface or the exterior surface below the first location;
a third outlet port to emit sound from the one or more transducers, the third outlet port through the housing at a third location on the interior surface or the exterior surface below the second location;
a fourth outlet port to emit sound from the one or more transducers, the fourth outlet port through the housing at a fourth location on the interior surface or the exterior surface below the third location and proximate to the lower surface of the housing;
a first duct that extends from the one or more transducers to the first outlet port and the second outlet port;
and
a second duct that extends from the one or more transducers to the third outlet port and the fourth outlet port;
and
control circuitry within the housing, the control circuitry connected to the one or more transducers to provide electrical signals to cause at least a portion of the one or more transducers to move.

9 more elements

A method comprising:

accessing audio output data;
generating, based on the audio output data, a first electrical signal and a second electrical signal to drive one or more transducers of an acoustic quadrupole unit in a chassis of a wearable device, wherein:
the chassis comprises an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, an interior surface, and an exterior surface;
and
the acoustic quadrupole unit comprises:
a first outlet port at a first location on the interior surface or the exterior surface of the chassis proximate to the upper surface;
a second outlet port at a second location below the first location;
a third outlet port at a third location below the second location;
a fourth outlet port at a fourth location below the third location and proximate to the lower surface of the chassis;
a first duct that extends from the one or more transducers to the second outlet port and the third outlet port;
and
a second duct that extends from the one or more transducers to the first outlet port and the fourth outlet port;
driving a first transducer of the one or more transducers with the first electrical signal to produce sound from the second outlet port and the third outlet port exhibiting a first phase;
and
driving a second transducer of the one or more transducers with the second electrical signal to produce sound from the first outlet port and the fourth outlet port exhibiting a second phase that is opposite the first phase.

12 more elements

A device comprising:

a chassis having an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, an interior surface that is proximate to where a head of a user is expected to make contact with the device while the device is worn, and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface;
an acoustic quadrupole unit within the chassis, the acoustic quadrupole unit comprising:
a transducer;
a first outlet port to emit sound from the transducer, the first outlet port through the chassis at a first location on the interior surface or the exterior surface of the chassis proximate to the upper surface;
a second outlet port to emit sound from the transducer, the second outlet port through the chassis at a second location on the interior surface or the exterior surface that is below the first location;
a third outlet port to emit sound from the transducer, the third outlet port through the chassis at a third location on the interior surface or the exterior surface that is below the second location;
a fourth outlet port to emit sound from the transducer, the fourth outlet port through the chassis at a fourth location on the interior surface or the exterior surface that is below the third location and proximate to the lower surface;
a first duct that extends from a first side of the transducer to the second outlet port and the fourth outlet port;
and
a second duct that extends from a second side of the transducer to the first outlet port and the third outlet port;
and
control circuitry within the chassis, the control circuitry connected to the transducer to provide one or more electrical signals to cause at least a portion of the transducer to move.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.