# US 2019/0356979 A1 · System with wireless earphones > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0356979 A1 - Document ID: US20190356979A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/528,703 - Filed: 2019-08-01 - Published: 2019-11-21 - Earliest claimed: 2008-04-07 - Assignees: Koss Corporation - Applicants: Koss Corporation - Inventors: Michael J. Koss; Michael J. Pelland; Michael Sagan; Steven R. Reckamp; Gregory J. Hallingstad; Jeffery K. Bovee; Morgan J. Lowery - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190356979A1 ## CPC - H04R 1/1041: {Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements (switches in general H01H)} - G06F 3/04847: Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials - G06F 8/65: Updates (security arrangements therefor G06F21/57) - G06F 8/654: using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories - H03G 3/02: Manually-operated control {(H03G3/001 and H03G3/002 take precedence)} - H03K 17/9622: {using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard} - H04H 20/95: characterised by a specific format, e.g. an encoded audio stream - H04M 1/0254: {comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules} - 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 1/1083: {Reduction of ambient noise (active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06)} - H04R 1/1091: {Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083} - H04R 3/00: Circuits for transducers (arrangements for producing a reverberation or echo sound G10K15/08; amplifiers H03F) - H04R 3/04: for correcting frequency response - H04R 5/033: Headphones for stereophonic communication {(details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10)} - H04R 5/04: Circuit arrangements, {e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments (combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S)} - H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication - H04W 48/20: Selecting an access point - H04W 76/20: Manipulation of established connections - H03K 2217/960785: with illumination - H04L 2101/668: Internet protocol [IP] address subnets - H04R 25/554: {using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils} - H04R 2201/103: Combination of monophonic or stereophonic headphones with audio players, e.g. integrated in the headphone - H04R 2201/107: Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication - H04R 2225/55: Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange - H04R 2420/07: Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones - H04W 84/12: WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] - H04W 84/18: Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks - H04W 84/22: with access to wired networks - 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) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H03G: CONTROL OF AMPLIFICATION - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) - H04H: BROADCAST COMMUNICATION (multiplex communication H04J; pictorial communication aspects of broadcast systems H04N) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Apparatus comprises adapter and speaker system. Adapter is configured to plug into port of personal digital audio player. Speaker system is in communication with adapter, and comprises multiple acoustic transducers, programmable processor circuit, and wireless communication circuit. In first operational mode, processor circuit receives, via adapter, and processes digital audio content from personal digital audio player into which adapter is plugged, and the multiple acoustic transducers output the received audio content from the personal digital audio player. In second operational mode, wireless communication circuit receives digital audio content from a remote digital audio source over a wireless network, processor circuit processes the digital audio content received from remote digital audio source, and the multiple acoustic transducers output the audio content received from the remote digital audio source. ## Claims ### Claim 1 (canceled) ### Claim 2 Headphones comprising: a pair of first and second wireless earphones to be worn simultaneously by a user, wherein the first and second earphones are separate such that when the headphones are worn by the user, the first and second earphones are not physically connected, wherein each of the first and second earphones comprises: a body portion; an earbud extending from the body portion that is inserted into an ear of the user when worn by the user; a curved hanger bar connected to the body portion, wherein the curved hanger bar comprises a portion that rests upon an upper external curvature of an ear of the user behind an upper portion of an auricula of the ear of the user; a wireless communication circuit for receiving and transmitting wireless signals; a processor circuit connected the wireless communication circuit; at least one acoustic transducer for producing audible sound from the earbud; a microphone for picking up utterances of a user of the headphones; an antenna connected to the wireless communication circuit; and a rechargeable power source. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The headphones of claim 2, wherein: the wireless communication circuits are for receiving, wirelessly, streaming audio content; the at least one acoustic transducers are for playing the streaming audio content; and each of the first and second earphones comprises a buffer for caching the streaming audio content prior to being played by the at least one acoustic transducer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The headphones of claim 2, wherein the processor circuit for the first earphone is for, upon activation of a user control of the headphones, initiating transmission of a request to a remote network server that is remote from the headphones. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The headphones of claim 4, wherein the processor circuit of the first earphone is further for receiving a response to the request. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The headphones of claim 2, further comprising a docking station for holding at least the first earphone, wherein the docking station comprises a power cable for connecting to an external device for charging the at least one earphone when the docking station is connected to the external device via the power cable. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The headphones of claim 2, wherein the processor circuits are configured to transition from playing streaming audio content received wirelessly from a first digital audio source via a first communication link to playing streaming audio content received wirelessly from a second digital audio source via a second communication link based on, at least in part, a signal strength for the second wireless communication link. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The headphones of claim 2, the processor circuits of the headphones are configured to receive firmware upgrades transmitted from a remote network server. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The headphones of claim 2, wherein the processor circuit of the first earphone is configured to: process audible utterances by the user picked by the microphone in response to activation of the microphone by the user; and transmit a communication based on the audible utterances via the Bluetooth wireless communication links. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The headphones of claim 2, wherein the rechargeable power source comprises wirelessly chargeable circuit components. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The headphones of claim 2, wherein the rechargeable power source comprises a passive, wireless rechargeable power source. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The headphones of claim 2, wherein the processor circuit of each of the first and second earphones comprises: a digital signal processor that provides a sound quality enhancement for the audio content played by the at least one acoustic transducers of the earphone; and a baseband processor circuit that is in communication with the wireless communication circuit of the earphone. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The headphones of claim 8, wherein the headphone are configured to receive the firmware upgrades wirelessly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The headphones of claim 13, wherein the processor circuits are configured to transition from playing streaming audio content received wirelessly from a first digital audio source via a first communication link to playing streaming audio content received wirelessly from a second digital audio source via a second communication link based on, at least in part, a signal strength for the second wireless communication link. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The headphones of claim 14, wherein the processor circuit of each of the first and second earphones comprises: a digital signal processor that provides a sound quality enhancement for the audio content played by the at least one acoustic transducers of the earphone; and a baseband processor circuit that is in communication with the wireless communication circuit of the earphone. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The headphones of claim 15, further comprising a docking station for holding at least the first earphone, wherein the docking station comprises a power cable for connecting to an external device for charging the at least one earphone when the docking station is connected to the external device via the power cable. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The headphones of claim 15, wherein: the wireless communication circuits are for receiving, wirelessly, streaming audio content; the at least one acoustic transducers are for playing the streaming audio content; and each of the first and second earphones comprises a buffer for caching the streaming audio content prior to being played by the at least one acoustic transducer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The headphones of claim 13, wherein: the wireless communication circuits are for receiving, wirelessly, streaming audio content; the at least one acoustic transducers are for playing the streaming audio content; and each of the first and second earphones comprises a buffer for caching the streaming audio content prior to being played by the at least one acoustic transducer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 7) The headphones of claim 7, wherein: the wireless communication circuits are for receiving, wirelessly, streaming audio content; the at least one acoustic transducers are for playing the streaming audio content; and each of the first and second earphones comprises a buffer for caching the streaming audio content prior to being played by the at least one acoustic transducer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The headphones of claim 19, wherein the processor circuit of each of the first and second earphones comprises: a digital signal processor that provides a sound quality enhancement for the audio content played by the at least one acoustic transducers of the earphone; and a baseband processor circuit that is in communication with the wireless communication circuit of the earphone. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The headphones of claim 20, wherein the rechargeable power source comprises a passive, wireless rechargeable power source.