# US 11,451,922 B1 · Head-mounted speaker array

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,451,922 B1
- Document ID: US11451922B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 16/902,102
- Filed: 2020-06-15
- Granted: 2022-09-20
- Earliest claimed: 2020-06-15
- Assignees: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
- Applicants: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
- Inventors: Robert Wadia Moses; Jan Aage Abildgaard Pedersen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11451922B1

## CPC

- H04R 5/033: Headphones for stereophonic communication {(details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10)}
- H04S 7/304: {For headphones}
- G02B 27/0176: {characterised by mechanical features}
- H04R 1/403: {loud-speakers}
- H04R 5/0335: {Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests (for monophonic headphones H04R1/105)}
- H04R 2460/13: Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
- H04S 7/301: {Automatic calibration of stereophonic sound system, e.g. with test microphone}
- 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)
- H04S: STEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

The described implementations of a head-mounted speaker array apparatus (“HMSAA”) include speaker arrays having one or more speakers that, when the HMSAA is worn on the head of a listener, are positioned forward of the pinna of each ear of the listener. For example, the HMSAA may include a first speaker array that is coupled to a frame that, when worn by a listener, positions the first speaker array forward of a first pinna of a first ear of the listener. A second speaker array may also be coupled to the frame at a position that, when the frame is worn by the listener, the second speaker array is positioned forward of a second pinna of the second ear of the listener.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus, comprising:
a frame to be worn on a head of a listener;
a first speaker array, coupled to the frame, and positioned to be forward of a face of the listener and forward of a first pinna of a first ear of the listener when the frame is worn by the listener, wherein the first speaker array includes a first adjustment mechanism that couples the first speaker array to the frame such that the first speaker array may be moved closer or farther from the face of the listener when the apparatus is worn by the listener; and
a second speaker array, coupled to the frame, and positioned to be forward of the face of the listener and forward of a second pinna of a second ear of the listener when the frame is worn by the listener.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
the first speaker array is positioned to be a first distance from the first pinna of the first ear of the listener and a second distance from the second pinna of the second ear of the listener, wherein the second distance is at least twice the first distance.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first distance is less than approximately six inches in front of the face of the listener.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
the first speaker array includes a first plurality of speakers; and
the second speaker array includes a second plurality of speakers.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a microphone included in the first speaker array.

### Claim 6

An apparatus, comprising:
a first speaker array including a first plurality of speakers, coupled to a frame, and positioned to be forward of a face of a listener and forward of a first pinna of a first ear of the listener when the frame is worn by the listener such that audio output by the first plurality of speakers of the first speaker array is primarily received and reflected by the first pinna of the first ear of the listener, wherein the first speaker array includes a first adjustment mechanism that couples the first speaker array to the frame such that the first speaker array may be moved closer or farther from a face of the listener when the apparatus is worn by the listener; and
a second speaker array including a second plurality of speakers, coupled to the frame, and positioned to be forward of the face of the listener and forward of a second pinna of a second ear of the listener when the frame is worn by the listener such that the audio output by the second plurality of speakers of the second speaker array is primarily received by the second pinna of the second ear of the listener.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:
a virtual reality projection system coupled to the frame to present visual information to the listener, wherein the visual information is correlated to a perceived point source of a sound output by the first speaker array and the second speaker array such that the sound is perceived by the listener to originate from an object represented in the visual information.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:
a first microphone included in the first speaker array; and
a second microphone included in the second speaker array.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:
a first latch included on the first speaker array that detachably couples the first speaker array to the frame; and
a second latch included on the second speaker array that detachably couples the second speaker array to the frame.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:
a second adjustment mechanism that couples the second speaker array to the frame such that the second speaker array may be moved closer or farther from the face of the listener when the apparatus is worn by the listener.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:
an adjustment measurement sensor operable to determine an amount of an adjustment of the first speaker array by the first adjustment mechanism.

### Claim 12 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:
the first speaker array is positioned to be a first distance from the first pinna of the first ear of the listener and a second distance from the second pinna of the second ear of the listener, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

### Claim 13

An apparatus, comprising:
a frame configured to be worn on a head of a listener;
a first speaker coupled to the frame and operable to produce a first sound, wherein at least a first portion of the first sound is received and reflected by a first pinna of a first ear of the listener and a second portion of the first sound is received and reflected by a second pinna of a second ear of the listener; and
a first adjustment mechanism that couples the first speaker to the frame such that the first speaker is positioned forward of the face of the listener and may be moved closer or farther from the first pinna of the listener when the apparatus is worn by the listener.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:
a battery included in the frame;
a second speaker coupled to the frame, powered by the battery, and positioned forward of the second pinna of the second ear of the listener when the frame is worn by the listener and oriented to produce a second sound, wherein a first portion of the second sound is received by the first pinna of the first ear of the listener and a second portion of the second sound is received by the second pinna of the second ear of the listener; and
wherein the first speaker is coupled to the frame, powered by the battery, and positioned forward of the first pinna of the first ear of the listener when the frame is worn by the listener.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:
a first waveguide included in the frame and having a first output;
a second waveguide included in the frame and having a second output; and
wherein:
when the frame is worn by the listener, the first output is positioned forward of the first pinna of the first ear of the listener and the second output is positioned forward of the second pinna of the second ear of the listener;
the first waveguide channels the first sound toward and out of the first output; and
the second waveguide channels the first sound toward and out of the second output.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:
a transmitter included in the frame and operable to receive, from a source external to the apparatus, audio data that is output by the first speaker.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:
a virtual reality projection system coupled to the frame to present visual information to the listener, wherein the visual information is correlated to a point source of the first sound output by the first speaker such that the first sound is perceived by the listener to originate from an object included in the visual information.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein:
the first speaker is positioned forward of the first pinna of the first ear of the listener, at a first distance from the first pinna of the first ear of the listener, and a second distance from the second pinna of the second ear of the listener, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.