Headphones

Abstract

 The invention operates in the field of teaching listening - known with the term audio-psycho-phonology - in accordance with the method developed by Alfred Tomatis, and in the technical field of devices for listening to audio signals. In particular, this invention relates to headphones, comprising: a first ear loudspeaker; a second ear loudspeaker; a bone vibrator; an electric circuit for connecting to each other the first and second ear loudspeakers and the bone vibrator, said electric circuit comprising a first selective input line for a first electric signal representative of audio information and a second selective input line for a second electric signal representative of audio information. The headphones comprise switching means for switching the electric circuit, acting, in an alternatable way, between a first operating state, called stereo, in which said means enable transmission of the first and of the second signal, respectively, to the first and to the second loudspeaker and exclude the bone vibrator, and a second operating state, called audio-psycho-phonological, in which said means exclude the first loudspeaker and enable transmission of the first signal to the bone vibrator and transmission of the second signal to both of the loudspeakers.

Description

Technical field

[0001] This invention relates to headphones.

[0002] The invention operates in the field of teaching listening - known with the term audio-psycho-phonology - in accordance with the method developed by Alfred Tomatis, also known simply as the "Tomatis Method". The invention also operates in the technical sector of devices for listening to audio signals. As is known, the Tomatis method is a sensory stimulation technique carried out using audio signals which are perceived by a user through suitable headphones which have a pair of ear pads connected to a headband, at the centre of which there is a bone vibrator.

[0003] The headphones are worn by a user, in such a way that the ear pads are positioned at the ears and the bone vibrator rests on the upper part of the skull. At this point, musical or vocal audio signals are sent to the ear pads and to the bone vibrator. The ear pads transmit the audio signals by aerial conduction, stimulating the membrane of the eardrum, whilst the bone vibrator transmits the audio signals by bone conduction, by means of vibrations on the upper part of the skull, stimulating contraction and relaxation of the stirrup and hammer muscles of the inner ear. In accordance with a known alternative solution, the bone vibrator may be fixed to one of the two ear pads, in such a way that it rests close to the temple or to a part of the jawbone of a user. In a further known alternative solution, there may be two bone transducers, each connected to a corresponding ear pad.

[0004] The audio signal is generated by vibrating elements of the known type, usually membranes, piezoelectric transducers or the like, present on the bone vibrator and in the ear pads, said vibrating elements converting into vibrations an electric signal containing data representative of sounds.

[0005] The electric signals intended for the ear pads and for the bone vibrator come from an electronic reproduction device, after being filtered by an electronic apparatus for auditory re-education, known with the term "electronic ear" or "brain activator", of the type described - for example - in document EP523222. In particular, the electric signal representative of sounds intended for the ear pads, known as the "aerial signal", and the electric signal representative of sounds intended for the bone vibrator, known as the "bone signal", are obtained by filtering the same electric signal input according to equalisation methods defined in accordance with the teachings of the Tomatis method. In more detail, the aerial signal is filtered according to an equalisation model which may be different to the equalisation model used to filter the bone signal. Moreover, the equalisation models may introduce variable time delays between the aerial signal and the bone signal, depending on the treatment to which the user must be subjected and in accordance with the teachings of the Tomatis method (learning foreign languages, development of the ability to concentrate, etc.).

[0006] In any case, one of the crucial aspects for operation of the Tomatis Method is that the audio signal input into the electronic ear - that is to say, before equalisation - is the same, although it may be perceived in an altered way, since it is equalised differently depending on whether it is intended for the ear pads - "aerial signal" - or the bone vibrator - "bone signal".

Background art

[0007] According to the background art in the Tomatis Method field, headphones are used which are equipped with a pair of ear pads and a bone vibrator which is positioned on the headband which connects the ear pads. The headphones are wired in such a way that they receive two separate electric signals at input representative of corresponding audio signals, known as the "aerial signal" and the "bone signal".

[0008] The headphones have a plug (usually called a "jack") for connection to the electronic device which reproduces the sounds processed by the electronic ear. In more detail, the earphone ear pads are wired in such a way that both receive a first signal, known as the aerial signal. In other words, the ear pads are connected to one another in mono mode. In this way, a user will listen to the same audio signals, both from the right ear pad positioned on the right ear, and from the left ear pad positioned on the left ear.

[0009] The bone vibrator is wired in such a way as to receive a second signal, known as the bone signal.

[0010] The distinctive wiring of the headphones briefly described above means that they can only be used with specific audio signals processed by electronic ears in accordance with the Tomatis Method.

[0011] This is a significant disadvantage, since it does not allow the use of a single type of headphones both for undergoing the Tomatis treatment and for listening to music or other audio signals.

[0012] In fact, nowadays, to guarantee high listening quality and satisfy the ever increasing demands of consumers for high fidelity sound, music is normally recorded, or broadcast in real time, using a stereo audio signal, that is to say, overall represented by two different electric signals (representative of different sounds), each of which is intended for a corresponding right or left ear pad of the headphones. In that way, the right ear of the user perceives different sounds to those perceived by the left ear, giving the user a three-dimensional sound sensation, precisely as happens when one is actually present where the music is made.

[0013] Headphones traditionally intended for the Tomatis Method do not allow stereo reproduction of the audio signal, since their wiring is such that it causes the transmission of a first electric signal (representative of a first audio signal) to both ear pads and the transmission of a second electric signal (representative of a second audio signal) to the bone vibrator. Therefore, one of the two different electric signals of which a stereo signal is composed is sent to both ear pads of the headphones - thereby compromising the three-dimensional effect - whilst the other is sent to the bone vibrator, making it impossible for the user to listen to it.

[0014] Therefore, disadvantageously, users must equip themselves with two types of headphones, one for application of the Tomatis Method and one for listening to music and stereo sounds.

[0015] That disadvantage is even more obvious with the use of mobile devices which, by their very nature, allow the benefit of the Tomatis Method even when one is travelling and outside the home. Disadvantageously, the need for two different types of headphones makes use inconvenient, due to problems of the bulkiness of and the need to transport two different types of headphones, unless one decides to give up - even more disadvantageously - practising the Tomatis Method or listening to music when outside the home or travelling.

Disclosure of the invention

[0016] In this context, the technical purpose which forms the basis of this invention is to provide headphones which overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, the aim of this invention is to provide headphones which can be used in any circumstance, that is to say, both for application of the Tomatis Method and for listening to music and stereo sounds.

[0017] A further aim of this invention is to provide headphones able to operate both with specific Tomatis Method equipment and with common stereo Hi-Fi systems.

[0018] Another aim of this invention is to provide headphones which are reliable and easy to use.

[0019] A further aim of this invention is to provide headphones which allow adjustment of the volume of the audio signal sent to one of the two ears of the user.

[0020] The technical purpose indicated and the aims specified are substantially achieved by headphones comprising the technical features described in one or more of the appended claims.

[0021] Further features and advantages of this invention are more apparent in the detailed description below, with reference to a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of headphones, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 illustrates a wiring diagram of the headphones according to the invention, in a first operating state defined stereo;
• Figure 2 illustrates a wiring diagram of the headphones according to the invention, in a second operating state defined audio-psycho-phonological ("Tomatis").

Description of the preferred embodiment

[0022] With reference to the accompanying drawing, the numeral 100 denotes in its entirety an example of headphones in accordance with the invention.

[0023] The headphones 100 comprise a first ear loudspeaker 1, a second ear loudspeaker 2 and a bone vibrator 3, all inserted in an electric circuit 101 having a first selective input line 1 a for a first electric signal representative of audio information and a second selective input line 2a for a second electric signal representative of audio information. The electric signals are converted into audio signals by the ear loudspeakers and by the bone vibrator by means of vibrating elements of the known type, usually membranes, piezoelectric transducers or the like, which are present in the ear loudspeakers and in the bone vibrator. Alternatively, the electric signals may be an electric current or an electric voltage.

[0024] According to the preferred embodiment, the ear loudspeakers 1, 2 are inserted in respective ear pads (not illustrated), which are connected by a headband (not illustrated) which can be adapted to the top of the skull of a user, when the headphones are worn. The bone vibrator 3 is fixed to the headband, preferably at the centre of it.

[0025] The headphones 100 comprise switching means 4 for switching the electric circuit 101 acting, in an alternatable way, between a first operating state, called stereo, in which said means enable transmission of the first and of the second signal, respectively, to the first and to the second loudspeaker 1, 2, excluding the bone vibrator 3, and a second operating state, called audio-psycho-phonological, in which said means 4 enable transmission of the first signal to the bone vibrator 3 and transmission of the second signal to both of the loudspeakers 1, 2, excluding transmission of the first signal to the first loudspeaker 1. In other words, the switching means 4 act on the wiring of the headphones, allowing the activation of two separate operating configurations of the headphones, specifically:

• a stereo operating state, in which the bone vibrator 3 is not active and in which the first and second electric signals are transmitted, respectively, to the first and to the second ear loudspeaker 1, 2 (Figure 1);
• an audio-psycho-phonological ("Tomatis") operating state, in which the bone vibrator 3 is activated and receives the first electric signal, whilst the two ear loudspeakers both receive the second electric signal (Figure 2). According to the preferred alternative embodiment, the first electric signal corresponds to the so-called "left signal", whilst the second electric signal corresponds to the so-called "right signal" of typical stereo headphones according to the prior art. According to the invention, in the audio-psycho-phonological ("Tomatis") operating configuration the "left signal" is usually substituted with the so-called "bone signal", whilst the "right signal" is substituted with the so-called "aerial signal".

[0026] With reference to Figure 1, the electric circuit 101 comprises:

• a first circuit branch 1 b in which the first ear loudspeaker 1 is inserted;
• a second circuit branch 2b branching directly from the second input line 2a and in which the second ear loudspeaker 2 is inserted;
• a third circuit branch 3b in which the bone vibrator 3 is inserted.

[0027] The electric circuit 101 also comprises a return circuit branch 5 connected to said first 1 b, second 2b and third 3b circuit branches.

[0028] The headphones 100 comprise a plug 102 on which the first and second selective input lines 1 a, 2a are integrated. The plug also comprises an earthing line 5a connected to the return branch 5 of the electric circuit 101.

[0029] Therefore, preferably, the plug is a three-channel "jack".

[0030] With reference to Figure 1, the switching means 4 interact, on one side, with the first and the second input lines 1 a, 2a and, on the other side, with the first and the third circuit branches 1b, 3b. In particular, the switching means 4, in the stereo state, enable transmission of the first signal, between the first input line 1 a and the first circuit branch 1 b, excluding the third circuit branch 3b; in contrast, in the audio-psycho-phonological state, the switching means 4 enable transmission of the first signal, between the first input line 1 a and the third circuit branch 3b and between the second input line 2a and the first circuit branch 1b. Advantageously, such a topography of the electric circuit 101 significantly simplifies the electrical connections between the selective input lines 1 a, 2a and the electric components of the headphones, that is to say, the ear loudspeakers 1, 2 and the bone vibrator 3.

[0031] In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the switching means 4 comprise a first circuit switch 6 operatively interposed between the first input line 1 a, on one side, and the first and the third circuit branches 1b, 3b, on the other side, for enabling/excluding the passage of the first signal. The switching means 4 also comprise a second circuit switch 7 operatively interposed between the second input line 2a and the first circuit branch 1b, for enabling/excluding the passage of the second signal. The circuit switches 6, 7 switch simultaneously and are preferably associated in a single actuator. Advantageously, it is therefore possible to activate the circuit switches 6, 7 by means of a single control.

[0032] The headphones comprise means 8 for adjusting the intensity of the electric signal transmitted to the loudspeakers 1, 2 independently for each loudspeaker, for independently adjusting the volume of the audio signal sent to the user. Advantageously, the above-mentioned means 8 for adjusting the intensity of the signal allow people whose hearing is not symmetrical to adjust the volume to suit them, depending which ear is the weakest, left or right. Even more advantageously, the above-mentioned means 8 for adjusting the intensity of the signal allow the right ear and the left ear to be trained differently, in accordance with the teachings of the Tomatis method. Preferably, the means 8 for adjusting the intensity of the signal comprise a variable electrical resistor inserted in at least one of the first or second circuit branches 1b, 2b, for varying the volume of the sound received by at least one of said loudspeakers 1, 2. Even more preferably, the variable resistor is obtained by means of a plurality of resistors R connected in series and which are part of the first or the second circuit branch 1b, 2b. In particular, the number of resistors through which an electric current passes depends on the position adopted by a selector S which enables the electrical connection between a terminal of a predetermined resistor, for example terminal R1, and a terminal A1 of the ear loudspeaker. In other words, the plurality of electric resistors R and the selector S together act as a potentiometer.

[0033] The operation of this invention is derived directly from the combination of technical features described above and is illustrated below.

[0034] In the stereo operating state (Figure 1), corresponding to the situation in which a user wants to listen to - for example - stereo music, the circuit switch 6 enables the passage of the first signal, for example the so-called "left signal", between the first selective input line 1 a and the first circuit branch 1b, in such a way that the first electric signal can reach the ear loudspeaker 1, for example the left loudspeaker. In this stereo operating state, the position of the circuit switch 6 is therefore such that it excludes sending of the first electric signal to the bone vibrator 3. Simultaneously with activation of the circuit switch 6, the circuit switch 7 is activated, in such a way as to prevent the passage of the second electric signal, for example the so-called "right signal", between the second selective input line 2a and the first circuit branch 1 b. In this way, the second electric signal only reaches the ear loudspeaker 2, through the second circuit branch 2b which branches directly from the second selective input line 2a.

[0035] In the audio-psycho-phonological operating state (Figure 2), corresponding to the situation in which a user wants to be subjected to the Tomatis method, the circuit switch 6 excludes the passage of the first electric signal, for example the so-called "left signal", between the first selective input line 1 a and the first circuit branch 1b, in such a way that the first electric signal cannot reach the ear loudspeaker 1, for example the left loudspeaker. In this audio-psycho-phonological operating state, the position of the circuit switch 6 is therefore such that it activates sending of the first electric signal to the bone vibrator 3. Simultaneously with activation of the circuit switch 6, the circuit switch 7 is activated, in such a way as to enable the passage of the second electric signal, for example the so-called "right signal", between the second selective input line 2a and the first circuit branch 1b. In this way, the second electric signal reaches both of the ear loudspeakers 1, 2 and therefore the user perceives the same audio signal from both ears. According to the invention, in the audio-psycho-phonological ("Tomatis") operating state, the "left signal" coincides with the so-called "bone signal", whilst the "right signal" coincides with the so-called "aerial signal". In the audio-psycho-phonological state, the user will therefore perceive the same aerial signal from both ears, in perfect agreement with the teachings of the Tomatis method.

[0036] The invention therefore fulfils the technical purpose specified and the preset aims. In particular, the headphones according to the invention can be used in any circumstance, that is to say, both for application of the Tomatis Method and for listening to music and stereo sounds. In fact, the presence of the switching means 4 allows the modification, as required, of the wiring of the headphones 100, in such a way that they operate either in stereo mode or in "Tomatis" mode.

[0037] Advantageously, the simple topography of the electric circuit 101 and the presence of one three-channel plug allows the headphones according to the invention to operate both with specific Tomatis Method equipment and with common stereo Hi-Fi systems.

Claims

1. Headphones (100), comprising:

a first ear loudspeaker (1);

a second ear loudspeaker (2);

a bone vibrator (3);

an electric circuit (101) for connecting to each other the first and second ear loudspeakers (1, 2) and the bone vibrator (3), said electric circuit (101) comprising a first selective input line (1a) for a first electric signal representative of audio information and a second selective input line (2a) for a second electric signal representative of audio information,

characterised in that they comprise switching means (4) for switching the electric circuit (101) acting, in an alternatable way, between a first operating state, called stereo, in which said means (4) enable transmission of the first and of the second signal, respectively, to the first and to the second loudspeaker (1, 2) and exclude the bone vibrator (3), and a second operating state, called audio-psycho-phonological, in which said means (4) exclude the first loudspeaker (1) and enable transmission of the first signal to the bone vibrator (3) and transmission of the second signal to both of the loudspeakers (1, 2).

2. The headphones according to claim 1, comprising means (8) for adjusting the intensity of the electric signal transmitted to the loudspeakers (1, 2) independently for each loudspeaker.

3. The headphones according to either one of the preceding claims, wherein said electric circuit (101) comprises:

a first circuit branch (1 b) comprising the first ear loudspeaker (1);

a second circuit branch (2b) branching directly from the second input line (2a) and comprising the second ear loudspeaker (2);

a third circuit branch (3b) comprising the bone vibrator (3);

a return circuit branch (5) connected to said first, second and third circuit branches (1 b, 2b, 3b),

said switching means (4) interacting, on one side, with said first and the second input lines (1a, 2a) and, on the other side, with said first and third circuit branches (1 b, 3b).

4. The headphones according to claim 3, wherein the switching means (4), in the stereo state, enable transmission of the first signal between the first input line (1 a) and the first circuit branch (1b), excluding the third circuit branch (3b), whilst, in the audio-psycho-phonological state, said switching means (4) enable transmission of the first signal between the first input line (1a) and the third circuit branch (3b) and between the second input line (2a) and the first circuit branch (1 b).

5. The headphones according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said switching means (4) comprise:

- a first circuit switch (6) operatively interposed between the first input line (1a) and the first and the third circuit branches (1b, 3b) for enabling/excluding transmission of the first signal;

- a second circuit switch (7) operatively interposed between the second input line (2a) and the first circuit branch (1 b), for enabling/excluding transmission of the second signal.

6. The headphones according to claim 5, wherein said circuit switches (6, 7) switch simultaneously and are associated in a single actuator.

7. The headphones according to claim 3, when it is dependent on claim 2, wherein said means (8) for adjusting the intensity of the signal comprise a variable electrical resistor (R) inserted in at least one out of said first or second circuit branches (1a, 1b), for varying the volume of the audio information received by at least one of said loudspeakers (1, 2).

8. The headphones according to claim 7, wherein said variable electrical resistor (R) is a potentiometer designed in such a way that it has a predetermined number of operating positions corresponding to as many electrical resistance values.

9. The headphones according to claim 3, comprising a plug (102) on which said first and second input lines (1a, 2a) are integrated, said plug (102) comprising an earthing line (5a) connected to said return branch (5) of the electric circuit (101).

10. The headphones according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bone vibrator (3) is fixed on a headband which connects said loudspeakers (1, 2).

Drawing