# US 11,445,281 B2 · Acoustic output apparatus

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- Number: US 11,445,281 B2
- Document ID: US11445281B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/141,264
- Filed: 2021-01-05
- Published: 2021-04-29
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2019-04-30
- Assignees: Shenzhen Shokz Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Shenzhen Shokz Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Lei Zhang; Junjiang Fu; Bingyan Yan; Fengyun Liao; Xin Qi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11445281B2

## CPC

- H04R 1/1016: {Earpieces of the intra-aural type}
- G02C 11/00: Non-optical adjuncts; Attachment thereof (G02C7/16 takes precedence)
- G02C 11/10: {Electronic devices other than hearing aids}
- G06F 3/16: Sound input; Sound output (speech processing G10L)
- G06F 3/162: {Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs}
- G06F 3/165: {Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path}
- G06F 3/167: {Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback}
- G10L 21/0208: Noise filtering
- G10L 21/038: using band spreading techniques
- H04M 1/03: Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets
- H04M 1/035: {Improving the acoustic characteristics by means of constructional features of the housing, e.g. ribs, walls, resonating chambers or cavities}
- H04M 1/6016: {in the receiver circuit}
- H04M 1/78: Circuit arrangements in which low-frequency speech signals proceed in one direction on the line, while speech signals proceeding in the other direction on the line are modulated on a high-frequency carrier signal
- H04R 1/02: Casings; Cabinets {; Supports therefor;} Mountings therein (H04R1/28 takes precedence {; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075})
- H04R 1/026: {Supports for loudspeaker casings}
- H04R 1/028: {associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles}
- H04R 1/10: Earpieces; Attachments therefor {; Earphones; Monophonic headphones (H04R1/28 takes precedence; stereophonic headphones H04R5/033)}
- H04R 1/1008: {Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type}
- H04R 1/1025: Accumulators specially adapted for earpieces; Arrangements specially adapted for charging thereof
- H04R 1/1041: {Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements (switches in general H01H)}
- 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 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 1/22: for obtaining desired frequency characteristic only {(circuit for combining transducers having different responses H04R3/00; for hearing aids H04R25/407)}
- H04R 1/24: Structural combinations of separate transducers or of two parts of the same transducer and responsive respectively to two or more frequency ranges
- H04R 1/245: {of microphones}
- H04R 1/26: Spatial arrangements of separate transducers responsive to two or more frequency ranges
- H04R 1/28: Transducer mountings or enclosures modified by provision of mechanical or acoustic impedances, e.g. resonator, damping means {(combinations of transducers with horns, i.e. front-loaded horns H04R1/30)}
- H04R 1/2803: {for loudspeaker transducers}
- H04R 1/2807: {Enclosures comprising vibrating or resonating arrangements (for the reduction of undesired resonances or vibrations H04R1/2869)}
- H04R 1/2811: {for loudspeaker transducers}
- H04R 1/2842: {for loudspeaker transducers}
- H04R 1/2857: {for loudspeaker transducers}
- H04R 1/2896: {for loudspeaker transducers}
- H04R 1/34: by using a single transducer with sound reflecting, diffracting, directing or guiding means {(specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/402)}
- H04R 1/342: {for microphones}
- H04R 1/345: {for loudspeakers}
- H04R 1/347: {for obtaining a phase-shift between the front and back acoustic wave}
- H04R 1/38: in which sound waves act upon both sides of a diaphragm and incorporating acoustic phase-shifting means, e.g. pressure-gradient microphone
- H04R 1/44: Special adaptations for subaqueous use, e.g. for hydrophone
- H04R 3/00: Circuits for transducers (arrangements for producing a reverberation or echo sound G10K15/08; amplifiers H03F)
- H04R 3/005: {for combining the signals of two or more microphones (specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407)}
- H04R 3/02: for preventing acoustic reaction {, i.e. acoustic oscillatory feedback (specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/453)}
- H04R 3/12: for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers {(specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407)}
- H04R 3/14: Cross-over networks
- H04R 5/02: Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers
- H04R 5/033: Headphones for stereophonic communication {(details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10)}
- H04R 5/0335: {Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests (for monophonic headphones H04R1/105)}
- H04R 9/06: Loudspeakers
- H04S 7/304: {For headphones}
- H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
- G02C 11/06: Hearing aids (construction of electric hearing aids H04R25/00)
- G10L 2021/02166: {Microphone arrays; Beamforming}
- H04M 1/6058: {involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone}
- H04R 1/2873: {for loudspeaker transducers}
- H04R 3/04: for correcting frequency response
- H04R 2201/103: Combination of monophonic or stereophonic headphones with audio players, e.g. integrated in the headphone
- H04R 2201/401: 2D or 3D arrays of transducers
- H04R 2410/05: Noise reduction with a separate noise microphone
- H04R 2420/07: Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
- H04R 2430/03: Synergistic effects of band splitting and sub-band processing
- H04R 2430/21: Direction finding using differential microphone array [DMA]
- H04R 2430/23: Direction finding using a sum-delay beam-former
- H04R 2460/13: Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
- H04R 2499/11: Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
- H04S 2400/11: Positioning of individual sound objects, e.g. moving airplane, within a sound field (H04S2420/13 takes precedence)
- 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)
- G02C: SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES (trial frames for testing the eyes A61B3/04; goggles or eyeshields not having the same features as spectacles A61F9/00)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G10L: SPEECH ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES OR SPEECH SYNTHESIS; SPEECH RECOGNITION; SPEECH OR VOICE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES; SPEECH OR AUDIO CODING OR DECODING
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)
- H04S: STEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an acoustic output apparatus. The acoustic output apparatus comprising: at least one low-frequency acoustic driver that outputs sound from at least two first sound guiding holes; at least one high-frequency acoustic driver that outputs sound from at least two second sound guiding holes; and a controller configured to cause the low-frequency acoustic driver to output sound in a first frequency range, and cause the high-frequency acoustic driver to output sound in a second frequency range, wherein the second frequency range includes frequencies higher than the first frequency range.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An acoustic output apparatus, comprising:
at least one low-frequency acoustic driver that outputs sound from at least two first sound guiding holes;
at least one high-frequency acoustic driver that outputs sound from at least two second sound guiding holes; and
a controller configured to cause the low-frequency acoustic driver to output sound in a first frequency range, and cause the high-frequency acoustic driver to output sound in a second frequency range, wherein the second frequency range includes frequencies higher than the first frequency range; and
a supporting structure configured to carry the at least one high-frequency acoustic driver and the at least one low-frequency acoustic driver, wherein the at least two first sound guiding holes and the at least two second sound guiding holes are located on the supporting structure.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The acoustic output apparatus of claim 1, wherein there is a first distance of the two first sound guiding holes, there is a second distance of the two second sound guiding holes, and the first distance is greater than the second distance.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The acoustic output apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first distance is not greater than 40 mm, and the second distance is not greater than 7 mm.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The acoustic output apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first distance is at least two times greater than the second distance.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The acoustic output apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first frequency range includes frequencies below 650 Hz, and the second frequency range includes frequencies above 1000 Hz.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The acoustic output apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first frequency range and the second frequency range overlap.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The acoustic output apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller comprising:
an electronic frequency division module, configured to divide a frequency of a sound source signal to generate a low-frequency signal corresponding to the first frequency range and a high-frequency signal corresponding to the second frequency range; wherein the low-frequency signal drives the at least one low-frequency acoustic driver to generate sound, and the high-frequency signal drives the at least one high-frequency acoustic driver to generate sound.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The acoustic output apparatus of claim 7, wherein the electronic frequency division module comprises at least one of a passive filter, an active filter, an analog filter, or a digital filter.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The acoustic output apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one low-frequency acoustic driver includes a first transducer, and the at least one high-frequency acoustic driver includes a second transducer; wherein the first transducer and the second transducer have different frequency response characteristics.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The acoustic output apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first acoustic route is formed between the at least one low-frequency acoustic driver and the at least two first sound guiding holes; a second acoustic route is formed between the at least one high-frequency acoustic driver and the at least two second sound guiding holes, and the first acoustic route and the second acoustic route have different frequency selection characteristics.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The acoustic output apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first acoustic route includes an acoustic resistance material, an acoustic impedance of the acoustic resistance is in a range from 5 MKS Rayleigh to 500 MKS Rayleigh.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The acoustic output apparatus of claim 1, wherein
the at least two first sound guiding holes and the at least two second sound guiding holes are positioned away from a user's ear.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The acoustic output apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least two second sound guiding holes are located closer to the user's ear than the at least two first sound guiding holes.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The acoustic output apparatus of claim 1, wherein the low-frequency acoustic driver is packaged by a casing, the casing form a front chamber and a rear chamber of the low-frequency acoustic driver.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The acoustic output apparatus of claim 14, wherein the front chamber of the low-frequency acoustic driver is acoustically coupled to one of the at least two first sound guiding holes; the rear chamber is acoustically coupled to another one of the at least two first sound guiding holes.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The acoustic output apparatus of claim 1, wherein the high-frequency acoustic driver is packaged by a casing, the casing form a front chamber and a rear chamber of the high-frequency acoustic driver.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The acoustic output apparatus of claim 16, wherein the front chamber of the high-frequency acoustic driver is acoustically coupled to one of the at least two second sound guiding holes; the rear chamber of the high-frequency acoustic driver is acoustically coupled to another one of the at least two second sound guiding holes.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The acoustic output apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sound output from the at least two first sound guiding holes is in opposite phases.

### Claim 19

An acoustic output method, comprising:
obtaining a sound source signal;
dividing frequency of the sound source signal to generate at least one set of high-frequency signals and at least one set of low-frequency signals;
outputting sound from at least two first sound guiding holes by at least one low-frequency acoustic driver based on the at least one set of low-frequency signals; and
outputting sound from at least two second sound guiding holes by at least one high-high-frequency acoustic driver based on the at least one set of high-high-frequency signals, wherein there is a first distance of the two first sound guiding holes, a second distance of the two second sound guiding holes, and the first distance is greater than the second distance.