DE19926552B4 - Headphones with microphone - Google Patents

Abstract

Headphone (1) with two shells (2), each sheath (2) each having a microphone (4) is assigned, wherein by means of the microphone (4) acoustic signals in environment (11) of the shells (2) are receivable, each Shell (2) has at least one reproduction transducer (3) by means of which audio signals (9) can be reproduced by an audio data source (8), and wherein means (6) coupled to the microphones (4) are provided, by means of which the reproduction of the Audio signals (9) from the audio data source (8) and the acoustic signals in the environment (11), wherein the user of the headset can adjust this so that for the user at the same time the audio signals (9) from the audio data source (8) and the audible signals in the environment (11) are audible around it.

Description

The invention relates to a headphone with a microphone. Earphones with microphones are already known, with the microphones being used to record the background noise in the vicinity of the headphones. Such headphones always have active noise compensation circuits that generate on the principle of phase-inverse sound to the noise by 180 ° phase-shifted sound wave, with the result that noise and phase inverse sound wave cancel each other approximately. The principle of such headphones with active noise compensation is off DE-PS 30 25 391 known.

Furthermore, it is off JP-A 09130885 a headphone is known in which the playback volume for the audio signals is automatically adjusted to the volume of the external environment of the headphone.

For all headphones with active noise compensation, the ambient sound is suppressed in the lower frequency band, so that the headphone user can receive the audio signal from an external data source (user signal source) with better intelligibility. External data source may in this case be any audio data source, for example an audio data memory such as a CD or a telecommunication connection to another subscriber, in which case the headphone is provided with its own speech microphone. Typical examples of headphones of the aforementioned type are Sennheiser active noise control pilot headsets sold under the model name HMEC 25-CA, MEC 45-CA.

All headphones have headphone shells, the shells are either supraaural - this is also called open principle - or circumaural are - also referred to as a closed principle -. This means that each headphone shields the user more or less acoustically from the outside world, with the "open headphones" the isolation from the environment is lower than the closed principle. By reproducing the useful signal and its relatively high level, however, the user is rarely able to perceive the acoustics from his surroundings in an attentive and understandable manner. For example, having a conversation with a person wearing headphones while listening to music at the same time becomes virtually impossible.

Out DE 19733373 A1 is a headphone known by means of which the reproduction of audio signals from an external data source is possible. Out DE 29902223 U1 An electronic ear protection system is known in which, as in a hearing aid, quiet external noise is amplified, while loud external noise, on the other hand, is limited in terms of volume.

It is an object of the invention to avoid the disadvantages described, so that a conversation with a person wearing a headset is enabled or improved.

The object is achieved with a headphone with a microphone according to claim 1. An advantageous development is described in claim 2.

The invention is based on the recognition that so far in all headphones natural acoustic events around the user of this can hardly be perceived. The greatest suppression of the external acoustics is given for headphones with active noise compensation. But even with headphones without active noise compensation includes the headphones depending on the adjusted signal level of the useful signal suppression of the external acoustics such that acoustic events such as telephone rings, doorbells, etc. or other signals can not be heard.

The fact that when wearing a known headphone of any kind is always created an artificial acoustics for the user, the wearing of headphones is generally rejected by many.

The invention proposes a headphone which overcomes the aforementioned problems and gives each user the opportunity to perceive the outside noise at a desired level. Thus, the user can adjust his headphones so that he can hear a useful signal (eg music) and the acoustic outside world around him at the same time. It is also possible for the user to suppress the signals picked up by the microphone or to amplify the ambient acoustic signals picked up by the microphone while at the same time suppressing the signal level of the external useful signal source.

Conveniently, the microphone input of the headphone, an electrical amplifier downstream, so that the adjustment of the signal level for the external signal of the acoustic environment (external acoustics) can be performed at the desired height.

If every headphone shell has a microphone, the user can also perceive the external acoustics stereophonically, so that a very natural hearing perception is possible. With suitable integration of the microphones in the earphone clusters, it is possible that the signals have the circumaural levels and delay differences that allow the listener to be completely natural Listening experience of his outside world with all direction information darzubieten.

Preferably, the headphone according to the invention is equipped with an actuator in the manner of a "balance controller", so that the user can set the ratio of the desired signal and the external signal individually. In moments that require increased attention, you can perceive the amplification of the external signals (ie the acoustics of the outside world) even better than without headphones, without having to remove the handset.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing illustrated embodiment:
This shows the 1 in cross-section a headphone shell ( 2 ) of a headphone ( 1 ). In the illustration is the headphone shell ( 2 ) of the circumaural type, but it is also possible to use an earphone shell of the supraaural type. Like any headphone shell, this one has a playback transducer ( 3 ), by means of which usually the audio user signals ( 9 ) (eg stereo left) from an external data source. The external audio data source ( 8th ) may be, for example, an amplifier, a CD player or any other audio player. External data source can also be realized by an audio data transmission system, so that the user as usual in a pilot headset, acoustic information from external, z. B. airport tower gets transmitted. That from the external audio data source ( 8th ) audio signal is subsequently uniform as a useful signal ( 9 ) designated.

The illustrated headphones ( 1 ) is also equipped with a microphone ( 4 ) and this microphone is an adjustable amplifier 5 downstream. The gain can be adjusted to a desired value, with the means for adjusting the headset ( 2 ) or on the headphones ( 1 ) are arranged and can be operated manually or in infrared transmission and wirelessly via a remote control. With the microphone ( 4 ), the acoustic signals in the environment ( 11 ) of the headphone. These acoustic signals are subsequently referred to as external signals ( 10 ) designated.

The headphone shell further comprises a circuit unit ( 6 ) on which the useful signal ( 9 ) as well as the external signal ( 10 ) is supplied. This circuit unit ( 6 ) operates in the manner of a "balance controller", so that the level ratio of the external signal ( 10 ) to the useful signal ( 9 ) (or vice versa) can be adjusted. Also, the balance setting of the circuit unit ( 6 ) can be done manually or by remote control.

It may also be appropriate to include in the signal path of the external signal a filter ( 7 ), by means of which only certain frequencies of the external signal are transmitted and amplified. Because, for example, headphones ( 2 ) cause a passive switching suppression of the closed type, especially in higher frequency ranges, it may be appropriate that the external signal ( 10 ) is reproduced amplified only in the frequency range in which it is passively suppressed by the headphone clam.

It is also possible in the signal path of the external signal, a noise compensation circuit ( 7 ) (as is customary for open headphones) and to provide a corresponding adjustment unit so that the user can, if desired, switch from amplified external signal reproduction to suppression of external signal reproduction. It is also appropriate that the user can set the phase shift between the external signal and the sound wave of the playback signal of the outdoor signal individually.

It is also possible to use the illustrated headphones as a sound amplifier, in which case an external audio signal is not fed. For this the amplifier must 5 have a correspondingly high gain, which is readily possible. It is obvious that the height of the gain can be adjusted by the user by means of a corresponding actuator (not shown), the actuator being connected to the amplifier 5 is coupled.

Another very advantageous use of the headset is to use the headset as a "headphone", by means of which a stereo recording is possible. For this purpose, the microphone amplifier 5 an additional output, so that the microphone recording signal output via this can be transmitted to a corresponding recording device.

It is also possible that the headset itself has a memory device by means of which the signals recorded by the microphone and / or supplied by the external audio data source can be stored and reproduced. So should the user of the headset receive a signal which has come either from the external audio data source and / or which via the microphone 4 was recorded, not clearly understood, so it can cause by the activation of the memory a repetition (replay), so that it the recorded sound signals, as often as he would like to play.

All settings on the headphones can be made by means of a remote control, which can be operated by the headphone user himself. The coupling of the remote control to headphones can be done by means of a corresponding line connection or wirelessly, for example, infrared. Since the remote control may be held very close to the headphone (maximum distance is the arm length of the user), a very simple remote control transmitter can be provided to which only small demands are made because of the short distance.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Headphones (left part)

2

Ear cup

3

Headphone playback transducer

4

microphone

5

microphone amplifier

6

balance control

7

filter

8th

external data source (CD)

9

payload

10

external signal

11

Outdoor acoustics)

Claims (2)

Headphone ( 1 ) with two shells ( 2 ), each shell ( 2 ) one microphone each ( 4 ), wherein by means of the microphone ( 4 ) acoustic signals in environment ( 11 ) of mussels ( 2 ) are receivable, each shell ( 2 ) via at least one playback converter ( 3 ), by means of the audio signals ( 9 ) from an audio data source ( 8th ) are reproducible, and where with the microphones ( 4 ) coupled funds ( 6 ) are provided by means of which simultaneously the playback of the audio signals ( 9 ) from the audio data source ( 8th ) and the acoustic signals in the environment ( 11 ), whereby the user of the headset can adjust it so that the audio signals ( 9 ) from the audio data source ( 8th ) and the acoustic signals in the environment ( 11 ) are audible around him. Headphone according to claim 1, characterized in that the means ( 6 ) are formed for adjusting the audio signal reproduction by an actuator, by means of the manner of a balance controller, the ratio of the signal level of the audio signal from the data source ( 8th ) and the ambient signals ( 11 ) is adjustable and that the microphone ( 4 ) an amplifier ( 5 ), the gain of which is adjustable to a desired value, the means for adjusting the gain on the shells ( 2 ) or on the headphones ( 1 ) are arranged and are manually operated.

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