Cup-in-a-cup structure and assembly method for active-noise-reduction headsets
OwnerMichael Jon Wurtzinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Some workers wear headsets to protect their hearing from loud persistent noises, such as airplane engines and construction equipment. These headsets are generally passive or active, with the active ones including ear speakers and automatic noise-reduction (ANR) circuitry to cancel or suppress certain types of loud persistent noises. One problem with active headsets the concerns the difficulty of salvaging headsets that fail performance testing. Accordingly, the inventor devised a unique a unique cup-in-cup structure for the earcups of active headsets as well as related assembly and testing methods. The unique structure not only allows for pretesting of the ANR circuitry prior to assembly, but also enhances performance of the resulting headsets.
Claims20
An active-noise-reduction headset comprising:
- a first earcup for defining a first air cavity when engaged with a head of a user;
- and
- an enclosure defining a second air cavity within the first air cavity;
- and
- an air passage coupling the second air cavity to an environment exterior to the first earcup when engaged with the head of the user.
An active-noise-reduction headset comprising:
- a first for defining a first air cavity when engaged with a head of a user;
- an enclosure defining a second air cavity within the first air cavity;
- and
- means for equalizing pressure within the second air cavity and pressure external to the first earcup when engaged with the head of the user.
An active-noise-reduction headset comprising:
- a first earcup for defining a first air cavity when engaged with a head of a user;
- and
- an enclosure defining a second air cavity within the first air cavity;
- and
- means for reducing pressure in the second air cavity when the first earcup is engaged with the head of the user.
A method of making an active-noise-reduction headset, comprising:
- providing a headset having at least one earcup for defining a first air cavity against the head of a user;
- and
- mounting an active-noise-reduction module into the one earcup, the active-noise-reduction module comprising an enclosure defining a second air cavity, with at least a surface portion of the enclosure formed by an active-noise-reduction driver and another surface portion of the enclosure formed by a printed circuit board carrying acoustic-noise-reduction circuitry.
An active-noise-reduction module for use in headsets, the module comprising:
- an enclosure defining an air cavity;
- a printed circuit board including electronic circuitry and forming a surface portion of the enclosure;
- and
- an active-noise-reduction driver forming another surface portion of the enclosure.
An active-noise-reduction module for installation in an earcup of a headset, the module comprising:
- a structure carrying active-noise-reduction circuitry;
- an active-noise-reduction driver;
- means for holding the structure and the active-noise-reduction driver and defining an acoustic cavity therebetween;
- and
- means for equalizing pressure within the acoustic cavity and pressure external to the earcup when engaged with a user's head.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.