EP4106344A1 - Headphones with structure borne noise decoupling - Google Patents

Abstract

Headphones comprising: a housing 14, an electroacoustic sound generator inside the housing 14 configured to radiate sound, a connection element 16 configured to receive an electrical signal associated with sound to be radiated by the electroacoustic sound generator, and an elastic element 18 arranged between a wall 13 of the housing 14 and the connection element 16, wherein the elastic element 18 is configured to attenuate vibrations transitioning from the connection element 16 into the wall 13 of the housing 14.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD
• Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to headphones.
BACKGROUND
• In a typical design, headphones comprise a housing which contains an electroacoustic sound generator. The sound generator contains an active area, sometimes referred as a membrane, which is deflected when electrical signals are applied to it, so that a sound is generated.
• In some examples, headphones can be on-ear headphones or over-ear headphones. These headphones comprise one or two earcups which can have an ear pad ring which surrounds or lies over the ear of a user during normal use of the headphones. In other examples, headphones can be in-ear headphones which are at least partially inserted into the ear of a user. Headphones can be open to their environment or closed.
• Sound is generated by the the headphones due to an electrical signal which may be transferred from a cable inside the headphones. However, vibrations coming from structure-born noise may be fed through the cable into the headphones causing unwanted vibration and sound.
• Therefore, further improvements are necessary.
SUMMARY
• In light of the above, headphones and a system including headphones and a cable are suggested. The invention is defined by the appended claims. Further aspects, advantages, and features are apparent from the dependent claims, the description, and the accompanying drawings.
• Headphones are suggested comprising: a housing, an electroacoustic sound generator inside the housing configured to radiate sound, a connection element configured to receive an electrical signal associated with sound to be radiated by the electroacoustic sound generator, and an elastic element arranged between a wall of the housing and the connection element, wherein the elastic element is configured to attenuate vibrations transitioning from the connection element into the wall of the housing. In particular, the elastic element has a spring constant which forms together with a mass of the connection element a natural frequency configured to attenuate the ingress of vibrations from the connection element into the wall of the housing.
• Headphones are suggested comprising: a housing, an electroacoustic sound generator inside the housing configured to radiate sound, a connection element configured to receive an electrical signal associated with sound to be radiated by the electroacoustic sound generator, and an elastic element arranged between a wall of the housing and the connection element, wherein the elastic element is configured to attenuate vibrations traveling from the connection element into the wall of the housing. In particular, vibrations may be attenuated at a transition from the connection element into the wall by reflecting or absorbing the vibrations.
• Headphones are suggested comprising: a housing, an electroacoustic sound generator inside the housing configured to radiate sound, a connection element configured to receive an electrical signal associated with sound to be radiated by the electroacoustic sound generator, and an elastic element arranged between a wall of the housing and the connection element, wherein the elastic element is configured to decouple vibrations in the connection element from vibrations in the wall of the housing.
• The elastic element is preferably configured to prevent or inhibit the ingress of vibrations coming from structure-born noise into the housing. In other words, the elastic element decouples vibrations in the connection element from vibrations in the wall of the housing.
• In particular, the elastic element is preferably configured to attenuate vibrations in the human hearing range, which is commonly given as about 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. For example, the elastic element can be configured to define an oscillation system together with the connection element having a natural frequency of 100 Hz or lower. This creates a low-pass filter for vibrations traveling from the connection element into the housing.
• The elastic element can also be described as a mechanical isolation between the connection element and the wall of the housing. Specifically, the transmission of vibrations from the connection element into the housing is significantly reduced or prevented. Preferably, the elastic element can reduce vibrations like a low pass filter, so that vibrations having a frequency above a threshold frequency are reflected and/or absorbed.
• Mechanical vibrations in cables of head phones are produced if the cable has contact to its environment, for example, if the cable touches the body of a user wearing the headphones. The vibrations are known as structure born noise. The resulting vibrations travel through the cable into the headphones and produce unwanted sound at the user's ear. With the present invention the vibrations are significantly reduced and the sound experience of the user is increased.
• The elastic element is arranged between a wall of the housing and the connection element and can be described as a vibration barrier.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• A more particular description of the disclosure, briefly summarized above, is given below. The accompanying drawings relate to embodiments of the disclosure and are described in the following:

Fig. 1

shows a schematic drawing of headphones;

Fig. 2

shows a schematic connection element arrangement;

Fig. 3

shows a detailed cross section view of a connection element arrangement of headphones; and

Fig. 4

shows the connection element arrangement ofFig. 3 from another perspective.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
• Reference will now be made in detail to the various embodiments, one or more examples of which are illustrated in each figure. Each example is provided by way of explanation and is not meant as a limitation.
• Within the following description of the drawings, the same reference numbers refer to the same or to similar components. Generally, only the differences with respect to the individual embodiments are described. Unless specified otherwise, the description of a part or aspect in one embodiment can apply to a corresponding part or aspect in another embodiment as well.
• Headphones comprise ahousing 14, an electroacoustic sound generator inside thehousing 14 configured to radiate sound, and aconnection element 16 configured to receive an electrical signal associated with sound to be radiated by the electroacoustic sound generator.
• Anelastic element 18 arranged between awall 13 of thehousing 14 and theconnection element 16, wherein theelastic element 18 is configured to attenuate vibrations transitioning from the connection element into the wall of the housing. In particular, theelastic element 18 together with theconnection element 16 has a natural frequency configured to attenuate the ingress of vibrations from theconnection element 16 into thewall 13 of thehousing 14.
• Fig. 1 exemplary shows over-earheadphones 1. However, headphones may as well be in-ear headphones or on-ear-headphones.
• With exemplary reference toFig. 1,headphones 1 are shown.Headphones 1 comprise with at least oneearcup 10. InFig. 1,headphones 1 comprise twoearcups 10, 20. At least one of theearcups 10, 20 comprises: ahousing 14 , an electroacoustic sound generator configured to radiate sound (not shown inFig. 1), and aconnection element 16 configured to receive an electrical signal associated with sound to be radiated by the sound generator.
• Housing 14 can comprise acavity 15, wherein at least a portion of theconnection element 16 is arranged in thecavity 15, wherein anelastic element 18 is arranged between awall 14 of thecavity 15 and theconnection element 16. Theelastic element 18 is configured to prevent or inhibit the ingress of acoustic sound waves from theconnection element 16 into the wall of thecavity 15 of thehousing 14.
• Headphones 1 can have exactly twoearcups 10, 20 and aband 2 as shown inFig. 1, wherein theband 2 is connected to the twoearcups 10, 20 and carries theearcups 10, 20 when the headphones are used. The twoearcups 10 can each have a sound generator, a membrane,housing 14, 24, and abaffle 12, 22 as shown inFig. 1.
• In some examples,headphones 1 comprise acable 30 which is permanently attached toheadphones 1 viaconnection element 16. In other examples,connection element 16 is configured to releasable attached to acable 30.Connection element 16 can be a plug or a jack andcable 30 can have a corresponding jack or a plug. Jack or plug of the headphones and the plug or jack of thecable 30 can be 3.5 mm headphone jack and 3.5 mm jack plug. In general,connection element 16 can be male or female or a combination, for example, a female jack with one or more inner male or female pins or pin connectors.
• Fig. 2 shows a schematic connection element arrangement.Connection element 16 is connected thewall 13 of thehousing 14 at least at two points by theelastic element 18. The volume betweenwalls 13 is defined as acavity 15 ofhousing 14.Connection element 16 is placed at least partially insidecavity 15.Elastic element 18 is illustrated as springs. In some examples, elastic element can be a mechanical spring. In other examples, elastic element can be formed by an elastic material.
• Figs. 3 and 4 show a detailed schematic cross section view of a connection element arrangement of headphones.Fig. 2 shows a cut through the line A-A shown inFig. 4. Figs. 3 and 4 show anelastic element 18 and aconnection element 16 which is configured to releasable attached to acable 30. A plug of a cable could be inserted from the top right inFig. 3. An electrical connection between the electroacoustic sound generator and theconnection element 16 is not shown in the figures.
• In some examples,housing 14 comprises ahollow tube 19.Cavity 15 ofhousing 14 can be at least partially formed byhollow tube 19 as shown inFigs. 3 and 4. The rest ofhousing 14 is not shown inFigs. 3 and 4.Hollow tube 19forms wall 13 of housing and may also form an inner wall ofcavity 15. The outer wall ofhollow tube 19 can be permanently attached tohousing 14.
• Connection element 16 can be at least partially surrounded byelastic element 18. In particular,elastic element 18 can circumferentially isolate theconnection element 16 from the wall ofcavity 15 to prevent or inhibit the ingress of acoustic sound waves from theconnection element 16 into thehousing 14. In some examples,connection element 16 comprises a tube-like housing with conductors arranged in the tube-like housing, for example 4 pin connectors.Fig. 4. shows a tube in tube arrangement, wherein outer tube ishollow tube 19 and inner tube isconnection element 16.Connection element 16 andhollow tube 19 are separated byelastic element 18.
• Connection element 16 can comprise a multi-pin connector having at least 2 pins, specifically at least 4 pins. The example ofFigs. 2 and3 shows a 4-pin connector, wherein two pins are used as ground conductors and each of the remaining two pins correspond to the sound of one of the two electroacoustic sound generator (left and right). In that case, the two stereo signals are transmitted independently from each other, each via a pair of signal and ground conductors.
• In the example shown inFigs 3 and 4,connection element 16 comprises a longitudinal groove as best seen inFig. 4. The corresponding connection element or plug 32 of thecable 30 may comprise a protrusion configured to extend into the groove. In other examples,connection element 16 comprises a protrusion and the connection element or plug 32 of thecable 30 comprises the groove. The groove and the protrusion limit a connection betweenconnection element 16 and connection element or plug 32 of thecable 30 to a single possible radial position. This is particularly helpful if theconnection element 16 is not radially symmetric, for example, if it comprises a multi-pin connector having at least 2 pins spaced from each other as shown best inFig. 4. It is also advantageous if theconnection element 16 and theelastic element 18 are not completely radial symmetric, so that a preferred radial position is defined to maximize the attenuation of vibrations transitioning from theconnection element 16 intowall 13 ofhousing 14.
• Connection element 16 is connected to wall 13 viaelastic element 18. Elastic element has a spring constant which forms together with a mass of connection element 16 a natural frequency. Said natural frequency is configured to attenuate the ingress of vibrations from the connection element into the wall of the housing. The natural frequency is preferably below the human hearing range, which is commonly given as 20 to 20,000 Hz. The oscillation system ofconnection element 16 and elastic element acts as a low-pass filter for hearable sound. Vibrations or noise created by a cable which physically contacts its environment is thereby reduced. The vibrations are known as structure born noise. The resulting vibrations travel through the cable into the headphones and produce unwanted sound at the user's ear. With the present invention the vibrations are significantly reduced and the sound experience of the user is increased.
• Housing 14 can comprise a firstmaterial forming wall 13 of housing andelastic element 18 can comprise a second material having a smaller rigidity than the first material. The second material ofelastic element 18 can, for example, comprise an elastomer.Housing 14 can comprise a metal or plastic material forming the wall. In cases in which the wall is formed by ahollow tube 19,hollow tube 19 can comprise a metal or a plastic or can consist of metal or plastic.
• The material ofelastic element 18 can comprises silicon rubber or ethylene-propylene rubber (EPDM). In some examples,elastic element 18 is formed by an overmold.Elastic element 18 may be formed by at least partially overmoldingconnection element 16.
• In some further examples, headphones may additionally further comprise anelastic ring element 17.Elastic ring element 17 can be arranged incavity 15 on or at an inner wall ofcavity 15.Elastic ring element 17 can be configured to act as a mechanical buffer between the inner wall ofcavity 15 and a plug or ofcable 30.Elastic ring element 17 can be spaced from theelastic element 18. Specifically,elastic ring element 17 can be arranged at an opening ofcavity 15 or closer to an opening thanelastic element 18 as shown inFig 3.
• Theelastic ring element 17 prevents a direct contact of the more rigid inner wall ofcavity 15 and/orhollow tube 19 and aconnection element 32 of acable 30. This prevents acoustic sound waves from propagating from theconnection element 32 of acable 30 into the wall ofcavity 15.
• Elastic ring element 17 can comprise an elastomer or silicon rubber.
• Elastic ring element 17 can be arranged partially in a groove in the inner wall of thecavity 15. The groove can be circumferential. If the cavity is formed by ahollow tube 19,hollow tube 19 can contain the groove at an inner wall as shown inFig. 3.
• A system can comprise headphones and acable 30 attached to theconnection element 16 of the headphones. Vibrations may be created due to mechanical contact ofcable 30 with its environment.Elastic element 18 can be configured to define an oscillation system together withconnection element 16 having a natural frequency of, for example, 200Hz or lower or 100 Hz or lower. This creates a low-pass filter for vibrations traveling from the connection element into the housing.Elastic element 18 can be configured to block higher frequencies according to a typical low pass filter characteristic.
• The low pass filter acts like an acoustic barrier for frequencies above the cutoff frequency. Low frequencies as described herein should be known as low in the frequencies of the human hearing range, which is commonly given as 20 to 20,000 Hz. Preferably, the low pass filter has a cutoff frequency of 200 Hz or lower or 100 Hz or lower, so that hearable frequencies of acoustic sound waves traveling along the cable into the headphones are significantly reduced when passing theelastic element 18 or blocked completely.

Claims (15)

1. Headphones comprising:

   a housing (14),

   an electroacoustic sound generator inside the housing (14) configured to radiate sound,

   a connection element (16) configured to receive an electrical signal associated with sound to be radiated by the electroacoustic sound generator, and

   an elastic element (18) arranged between a wall (13) of the housing (14) and the connection element (16), wherein the elastic element (18) is configured to attenuate vibrations transitioning from the connection element (16) into the wall (13) of the housing (14).
2. Headphones according to claim 1, wherein the connection element (16) is connected to the wall (13) of the housing (14) at least at two points by the elastic element (18).
3. Headphones according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the connection element (16) is at least partially surrounded by the elastic element (18).
4. Headphones according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (14) comprises a cavity (15) and the wall (13) is an inner wall of the cavity (15).
5. Headphones according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the connection element (16) is a plug or a jack and is configured to releasable attached to a cable (30) having a jack or a plug.
6. Headphones according to claim 5, wherein the jack or plug (16) of the headphones and the plug or jack (32) of the cable (30) are 3.5 mm headphone jack and 3.5 mm jack plug.
7. Headphones according to any of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the connection element (16) is permanently attached to a cable (30).
8. Headphones according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the elastic element (18) comprises an elastic material.
9. Headphones according to claim 8, wherein the elastic material comprises an elastomer.
10. Headphones according claim 8 or 9, wherein the elastic material comprises silicon rubber or ethylene-propylene rubber (EPDM).
11. Headphones according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the elastic element (18) is formed by an overmold.
12. Headphones according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the wall (13) is an inner wall of a hollow tube (19).
13. Headphones according to any of the claims 2 to 12, further comprising an elastic ring element (17) spaced from the elastic element (18).
14. Headphones according to claim 13, wherein the housing (14) comprises a cavity (15) and the wall (13) is an inner wall of the cavity (15) or wherein the housing comprises a hollow tube (19) and the wall (13) is an inner wall of the hollow tube (19), and wherein the elastic ring element (17) is arranged at an opening of the cavity (15) or at an opening of the hollow tube (19).
15. A system comprising the headphones of any of the preceding claims and a cable (30) attached to the connection element (16) of the headphones.

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