WO2016090066A1

WO2016090066A1 - Tissue conduction audio glasses

Info

Publication number: WO2016090066A1
Application number: PCT/US2015/063575
Authority: WO
Inventors: Karl SPRENTALL; Robert Daigle
Original assignee: Rogers Corp
Current assignee: Rogers Corp
Priority date: 2014-12-04
Filing date: 2015-12-03
Publication date: 2016-06-09
Anticipated expiration: 2017-06-04

Abstract

A pair of glasses that includes a piezoelectric actuator and a driver circuit for the actuator.

Description

TISSUE CONDUCTION AUDIO GLASSES

BACKGROUND

[0001] This invention relates to audio devices and, more particularly, audio devices formed from at least the frames of a pair of glasses.

[0002] There are several manners in which sound may be delivered to a human. For example, a speaker may reproduce a sound based on electrical inputs. The speakers can be located away from the listener or may be included, for example, in on-ear or in-ear head phones. Another way to conduct sound is through bone conduction. Bone conduction refers to the transmittal of sound waves through the bones in person's skull. The vibrations reach the cochlea, or inner ear, which converts them to electrical impulses that travel the auditory nerve to the brain. Typical bone conduction devices utilize electromagnetic actuators. Such devices typically have a flat, consistent frequency response but are large, bulky, and consume a significant amount of power.

SUMMARY

[0003] Disclosed herein is a bone conduction device that may be used to provide the vibrations to the bones of person skull. These vibrations, as described above, reach the cochlea where they are converted to electrical impulses that are ultimately interpreted by the brain as sound.

[0004] According to an embodiment, a piezoelectric actuator is utilized to generate the vibrations. The vibrations may be provided to a user's skull in any manner but as disclosed herein, the vibrations may be provided to the user's skull via a pair of glasses and, in particular, by one or more of the temple pieces of a pair of glasses. To that end, a high voltage driver is provided that drives a piezoelectric driver mounted on the glasses. The high voltage driver may provide the required high voltage from a low voltage supply.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Referring now to the exemplary drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several FIGURES:

[0006] FIG. 1 shows a first view of a pair of glasses according to an embodiment.

[0007] FIG. 2 shows a second view of a pair of glasses according to an embodiment.

[0008] FIG. 3 shows a third view of a pair of glasses according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] With reference to FIGs. 1-3, a pair of glasses 5 includes one or more temple pieces or arms 3. The glasses may be of any type, for example sunglasses, glasses for vision correction, or simply contain clear glass as the lens. On at least one of these arms is disposed an actuator 2, preferably a piezoelectric actuator. The actuator 2 is driven by a driver circuit 1. The driver circuit 1, in general, receives input signals and provides a high voltage version of the input to the actuator 2. This causes the actuator 2 to form vibrations that are transmitted to the arms 3. These vibrations reach the user's skull and, via bone conduction, may be interpreted as sound. The driver circuit 2 may be powered by a battery 4. The battery 4 may be disposed on the arm that does not contain the actuator, as shown in FIG. 3, or may be disposed on the same arm as the actuator. Alternatively, the batter may be dispose elsewhere on the glasses, for example an inside rim of the lens-holding portion.

[0010] It shall be understood that the glasses 5 may include an actuator 2 on both arms of the glasses 5. The actuators may be powered by a single driver circuit or a separate one may be provided for each actuator. Glasses 5 may include a battery 4 on both arms of the glasses 5. Furthermore, while the actuator 2, driver circuit 1 , and battery 4 are shown as aligned on arms 3, it is also possible to vary the shape of arms 3 to provide, for example, a greater contact area with the head of the wearer, or to accommodate other sizes or shapes of the actuator or other components.

[0011] Examples of the driver circuit 1 that may be used are described in more detail in U.S. Patent No. 8,536,906 and U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 13/836641, both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

[0012] The input to the driver 1 may be received in any manner. For instance, a wired connection from an audio source may provide an analog input signal to the driver circuit 1. In another embodiment, the input may be wirelessly transmitted (e.g., via

Bluetooth) to a receiver on the glasses 5 that is converted to an analog input and then provided to the driver circuit 1.

[0013] Accordingly, an embodiment is a pair of glasses that includes a piezoelectric actuator and a driver circuit for the actuator. Optionally, the glasses further include a battery for powering the driver circuit.

[0014] In another embodiment, the piezoelectric actuator and the driver circuit are disposed on an arm of the glasses. Optionally in this embodiment, the glasses further include a battery for powering the driver circuit. [0015] The singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. All references are incorporated herein by reference. As used herein and throughout, "disposed," "contacted," and variants thereof refers to the complete or partial physical contact between the respective materials, substrates, layers, films, and the like. Further, the terms "first," "second," and the like herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another.

[0016] While typical embodiments have been set forth for the purpose of illustration, the foregoing descriptions should not be deemed to be a limitation on the scope herein. Accordingly, various modifications, adaptations, and alternatives can occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope herein.

Claims

1. A pair of glasses that includes a piezoelectric actuator and a driver circuit for the actuator.

2. The glasses of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric actuator and the driver circuit are disposed on an arm of the glasses.

3. The glasses of claims 1 or 2, wherein the glasses further include a battery for powering the driver circuit.