# US 12,192,695 B1 · Open headphones with active noise cancellation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,192,695 B1 - Document ID: US12192695B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/708,607 - Filed: 2022-03-30 - Granted: 2025-01-07 - Earliest claimed: 2022-03-30 - Assignees: Amazon Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Amazon Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Andrew Jackson Stockton X; Mihir Dhananjay Shetye; Wontak Kim; Zhen Sun - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12192695B1 ## CPC - H04R 1/1075: {Mountings of transducers in earphones or headphones} - G10K 11/17823: {Reference signals, e.g. ambient acoustic environment} - G10K 11/17881: {the reference signal being an acoustic signal, e.g. recorded with a microphone} - H04R 1/021: {incorporating only one transducer} - H04R 1/1008: {Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type} - H04R 1/1041: {Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements (switches in general H01H)} - 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 2460/01: Hearing devices using active noise cancellation - 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) - 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 ## Abstract A wearable audio output device (e.g., headphones) having an open design that allows ambient noise to pass to a listener without physically isolating the listener from a surrounding environment. The device may include an open earcup design that may partially or completely surround the listener's ear, and in some examples a portion of the listener's head may be uncovered by the open earcup. To improve comfort, the device includes a floating audio component configured to generate output audio in a direction of the listener's ear without contacting the listener's ear. To reduce an amount of ambient noise, the device may be configured to perform active noise cancellation (ANC) processing using feedforward and/or feedback microphones. The device may include an acoustic structure configured to direct the output audio in the direction of the listener's ear and/or position the feedback microphone(s) closer to the listener's ear. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wearable apparatus comprising: a first structure configured to contact a head at a first location, wherein the first structure at least partially surrounds a first ear when the wearable apparatus is worn; a second structure configured to contact the head at a second location, wherein the second structure at least partially surrounds a second ear when the wearable apparatus is worn; a third structure linking the first structure to the second structure; and a housing coupled to the first structure such that a first edge of the first structure and a second edge of the housing are separated by a first distance, the housing including an audio transducer, at least one microphone, and a component configured to perform active noise cancellation using the at least one microphone, wherein: the audio transducer is configured to output audio in a first direction towards the first ear, and a portion of the head is visible between the first edge and the second edge. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The wearable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises an acoustic structure having a funnel shape and configured to direct the output audio towards the first ear. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The wearable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises: an acoustic structure extending from the audio transducer towards the first ear; and a microphone coupled to the acoustic structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The wearable apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a first acoustic structure having a first funnel shape that extends in the first direction from the audio transducer; and a second acoustic structure having a second funnel shape that extends from the housing in a second direction opposite the first direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The wearable apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the first structure is associated with a first plane; the housing is coupled to the first structure at a first location; and the housing is associated with a second plane, the second plane intersecting the first plane at the first location. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The wearable apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the first structure defines a first oval, the first oval oriented along a first plane parallel to the first ear; and the first structure includes an opening, the opening defining a second oval that is smaller than the first oval, the opening allowing ambient noise to reach the first ear. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The wearable apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the wearable apparatus includes fabric extending from at least the first edge to the second edge; and the fabric allows external audio to reach the first ear. ### Claim 8 A wearable apparatus comprising: a first structure configured to contact a head at a first location and at least partially surround a first ear; a second structure configured to contact the head at a second location and at least partially surround a second ear; a third structure linking the first structure to the second structure; and a housing coupled to the first structure such that a first edge of the first structure and a second edge of the housing are separated by a first distance, the housing including(i) an audio transducer configured to generate output audio, (ii) an acoustic structure having a funnel shape and configured to direct the output audio towards the first ear, and (iii) a microphone coupled to the acoustic structure, wherein a wide opening of the acoustic structure faces the audio transducer and a narrow opening of the acoustic structure faces the first ear. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The wearable apparatus of claim 8, further comprising: at least one microphone; and a component configured to perform active noise cancellation, wherein a portion of the head is visible between the first edge and the second edge. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The wearable apparatus of claim 8, wherein: the first structure is associated with a first plane; the housing is coupled to the first structure at a first location; and the housing is associated with a second plane, the second plane intersecting the first plane at the first location. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The wearable apparatus of claim 8, wherein: the first structure defines a first oval, the first oval oriented along a first plane parallel to the first ear; and the first structure includes an opening, the opening defining a second oval that is smaller than the first oval, the opening allowing ambient noise to reach the first ear. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The wearable apparatus of claim 8, wherein: the wearable apparatus includes fabric extending from at least the first edge to the second edge; and the fabric allows external audio to reach the first ear. ### Claim 13 A wearable apparatus comprising: a first structure configured to contact a head at a first location and at least partially surround a first ear; a second structure configured to contact the head at a second location and at least partially surround a second ear; a third structure linking the first structure to the second structure; a housing coupled to the first structure such that a first edge of the first structure and a second edge of the housing are separated by a first distance, the housing including(i) an audio transducer configured to generate output audio, (ii) an acoustic structure extending from the audio transducer in a first direction towards the first ear, and (iii) a microphone coupled to the acoustic structure; and fabric extending from at least the first edge to the second edge, wherein the fabric allows external audio to reach the first ear. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The wearable apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: at least one microphone; and a component configured to perform active noise cancellation, wherein a portion of the head is visible between the first edge and the second edge. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The wearable apparatus of claim 13, wherein the acoustic structure has a funnel shape and is configured to direct the output audio towards the first ear. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The wearable apparatus of claim 13, wherein: the first structure is associated with a first plane; the housing is coupled to the first structure at a first location; and the housing is associated with a second plane, the second plane intersecting the first plane at the first location. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The wearable apparatus of claim 13, wherein: the first structure defines a first oval along a first plane parallel to the first ear; and the first structure includes an opening, the opening defining a second oval that is smaller than the first oval, the opening allowing ambient noise to reach the first ear.