# US 12,120,478 B2 · Open earphone

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

- Number: US 12,120,478 B2
- Document ID: US12120478B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/154,019
- Filed: 2023-01-12
- Published: 2023-06-01
- Granted: 2024-10-15
- 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/US12120478B2

## 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 a waterproof open earphone. The waterproof open earphone may include a housing, at least one button, at least one elastic pad, and at least one pair of speaker units. The housing may be placed on a head or at least one ear of a user while not blocking an ear canal of the user. The at least one button may be set on the housing, wherein each of the at least one button corresponds to a button hole. The at least one elastic pad may correspond to the at least one button, respectively, wherein each elastic pad prevents the corresponding button from moving relative to the button hole. Each pair of the at least one pair of speaker units may generate sound within a frequency range from two sound guiding holes through two sound guiding tubes.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A speaker device, comprising:
a housing, wherein the housing is placed on at least one ear of a user while not blocking an ear canal of the user;
a button that is set on a button hole on the housing;
an elastic pad connecting the button to the housing; and
a rigid pad disposed between the elastic pad and the housing;
a button circuit board disposed inside the housing, wherein when the button is pressed, the button contacts a button switch set on the button circuit board; and
at least one acoustic driver, each of which generates sound within a frequency range from two sound guiding holes, wherein
the at least one acoustic driver includes a low-frequency acoustic driver configured to generate sound within a first frequency range and a high-frequency acoustic driver configured to generate sound within a second frequency range, wherein
the second frequency range includes a frequency higher than the first frequency range,
the low-frequency acoustic driver includes a pair of first speaker units, the pair of first speaker units generate sound within the first frequency range from two first sound guiding holes through two first sound guiding tubes, and
the high-frequency acoustic driver includes a pair of second speaker units, the pair of second speaker units generate sound within the second frequency range from two second sound guiding holes through two second sound guiding tubes.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The speaker device of claim 1, wherein the elastic pad abuts the rigid pad.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The speaker device of claim 1, wherein the elastic pad prevents the button from moving relative to the button hole.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The speaker device of claim 1, wherein a first recessed area is set on the housing, and the button hole is set in the first recessed area.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The speaker device of claim 4, wherein the elastic pad is set on the first recessed area, and a second recessed area corresponding to the button hole is set on the elastic pad, the second recesses area extending to inside of the button hole.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The speaker device of claim 5, wherein a through hole is set on the rigid pad and the second recessed area of the elastic pad extends to the inside of the button hole through the through hole.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The speaker device of claim 5, wherein the button includes a button body and a button contact point, wherein the button body is disposed on a side of the elastic pad away from the housing and the button contact point extends to inside of the second recessed area.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The speaker device of claim 7, wherein the button includes at least two button single bodies disposed away from each other and a connecting portion connected to the at least two button single bodies.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The speaker device of claim 8, wherein the button contact point is set on each of the at least two button single bodies and an elastic bump for supporting the connecting portion is set on the elastic pad.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The speaker device of claim 7, wherein the button switch corresponds to the button hole, wherein when the button is pressed, the button contact point contacts and triggers the button switch.

### Claim 11 (depends on 4)

The speaker device of claim 4, wherein the housing further includes a main sidewall and an auxiliary sidewall connected to the main sidewall, wherein the first recessed area is set on an outer surface of the auxiliary side wall.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The speaker device of claim 1, further comprising: a housing casing covering periphery of the housing and periphery of the button.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The speaker device of claim 12, wherein the housing casing includes a bag-shaped structure with one end open and the housing and the button enter the inside of the housing casing through the open end.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The speaker device of claim 13, wherein an annular flange protruding inward is set on the open end of the housing casing, an end of the housing is set as a stair shape and forms an annular platform, wherein when the housing casing covers periphery of the housing, the annular flange is in contact with the annular platform.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The speaker device of claim 14, wherein a sealant is applied in a joint region of the annular flange and the annular platform to firmly connect the housing casing with the housing.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The speaker device of claim 1, wherein the two first guiding holes are spaced apart from each other by a first distance, the two second guiding holes are spaced apart from each other by a second distance, the first distance being greater than the second distance.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The speaker device of claim 1, wherein the sound generated by the pair of first speaker units or the pair of second speaker units are in opposite phases.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The speaker device of claim 1, wherein a center point of one of the first sound guiding holes or the second sound guiding holes is not greater than 10 cm from a center point of the ear canal of the user.