TWS headphone assembly capable of selectively performing TES treatment function

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a TWS headphone assembly capable of selectively performing a TES treatment function. The TWS headset assembly may include a Bluetooth communication module, a memory, a decoder, a digital-to-analog converter, an audio amplifier, a speaker unit, and a controller controlled by a user interface configured as a circuit housed in each of housings of a pair of left and right headsets electrically separated from each other, the assembly further including: a frequency generator coupled to the Bluetooth communication module, the memory, the decoder, the digital-to-analog converter, the audio amplifier, the speaker unit, and the user interface; the TES signal generator is configured to generate a low-frequency signal of TES treatment; a TES signal amplifier configured to amplify the generated low frequency signal, the frequency generator and the TES signal amplifier being disposed on one of the pair of left and right earphones; an electrode provided on an outer surface of a housing of each of the pair of left and right earphones for electrically contacting a skin of an ear of a user; and a pair of female connectors disposed in housings of the pair of left and right earphones and a connection cable electrically and selectively connecting and disconnecting the pair of female connectors, whereby a sound listening function and a TES treatment function can be selectively or together performed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a true wireless stereo (TWS) headphone assembly that selectively performs a TES treatment function. More specifically, the present disclosure provides a TWS headphone assembly configured to be capable of performing a TES treatment function according to a user's selection by including an accessory as a component member, the accessory cooperating with a TWS headphone assembly in which a pair of left and right earphones are completely electrically separated from each other. Background Art

[0002] A TWS headphone assembly provides sound units in the form of a pair of left and right earphones, and there is no need for a separate wire between these earphones, and it mainly receives and plays from an audio device according to the Bluetooth communication protocol. Due to its convenience, compactness, and portability, the TWS headphone assembly has become the mainstream in the headphone market.

[0003] Traditionally, improvements have been made to TWS headphone assemblies, focusing on improving the sound of the earphones themselves, improving the driver units to improve additional functions such as noise cancellation and ambient sound listening functions, and improving the sound signal processing circuit.

[0004] Mainstream TWS headphone assemblies are in the form of a pair of left and right earphone parts with housings that are completely separated from each other. Although neckband headphone assemblies (where a pair of earphone parts with housings are connected to each other by various types of neckbands made of elastic wires or injection molding) or sports headphone assemblies (where a pair of left and right earphone parts are connected to each other by flexible wires) are also produced, in the preferred type of TWS headphone assembly, a pair of left and right earphones are completely separated from each other.

[0005] In addition to the concept of TWS headphone assemblies based on their functional configurations, as a major recent trend, various health-related electronic and electrical application products are being produced with the theme of human physical and mental health.

[0006] This trend is an inevitable requirement on the technology development roadmap towards the future and people-oriented, and is forming a very important industrial field.

[0007] From the perspective of mental health in modern society, problems such as insomnia, depression, ADHD, neurasthenia, decreased concentration, and fatigue are becoming serious problems for modern people. In particular, in countries with long winters such as Russia and the Nordic regions, many efforts and attempts have been made to improve the symptoms of climate-related mental health pathologies by applying electrical or magnetic stimulation to the human body.

[0008] Recently, through a large number of papers and clinical trials, it has been theoretically and experimentally proven that treatment techniques using transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) provide significant effects.

[0009] TMS and TES stimulation devices have been widely used in many psychiatric hospitals in Korea. In particular, due to its non-pharmacological, non-invasive, and non-addictive characteristics, TES treatment has an extremely low risk of medical accidents, and there has been a demand for its active introduction.

[0010] However, conventional TES and TMS devices for treating these mental health diseases are equipped with a chair-shaped seat on which a patient sits and receives treatment, multiple attachment pads as electrodes, an electrical stimulation circuit, a fine control panel, etc. in a single device. Therefore, these devices are very expensive, and as a result, these devices can only be used in medium-sized or larger hospitals. In addition, there is also a problem that it is very troublesome to attach electrode pads, etc. to a patient and actually perform the treatment procedure, and the cost of this procedure is high due to being excluded from the medical insurance coverage.

[0011] In addition, there is also transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) as a treatment method for TES. Since TENS also has the same concept as TES, that is, it has a treatment function that generates neuropsychological effects, TENS and TES will be collectively referred to as "TES" hereinafter.

[0012] The TES treatment function as a means of mental health treatment can be applied to commonly used earphones, headphones, etc. In addition to the functions of sound listening and calling, it may also become the default function for the treatment of headphones and earphones, and has a very wide range of applications.

[0013] In order to apply these TES treatment functions to devices such as headphones and earphones instead of fixed devices installed in hospitals, etc., so as to widely distribute these devices to the public in an inexpensive and easily portable form, the present inventor submitted a patent application named "Bone Conduction Device with TES Treatment Function" for the device shown in the circuit diagram of Figure 2 and the external configuration view of Figure 1 and this application was granted the patent right of Korean Patent No. 2194226.

[0014] The above patent discloses a configuration that includes a pair of earphones, in which a bone conduction unit for sound conduction is provided in a pair of earphone-shaped earphone parts, and this configuration includes a TES treatment signal generation circuit in a metal electrode and a Bluetooth circuit for conducting the TES treatment signal to a pair of left and right earphone parts, so as to achieve the TES treatment function by passing low-frequency waves through the human body (especially the head) between a pair of left and right earphones.

[0015] With this configuration, a means is provided that allows a user to actively and inexpensively listen to music or enjoy the TES treatment function by selectively or simultaneously using a bone conduction unit, a TES generation circuit, and electrodes.

[0016] [Prior art documents]

[0017] [Patent documents]

[0018] (Patent Document 0001) Korean Patent No. 2194266 (December 16, 2020)

[0019] (Patent Document 0002) US Patent No. 9,686,603 (June 20, 2017)

[0020] (Patent Document 0003) US Patent Application Publication No. 2009 / 0185699 (July 23, 2009)

[0021] (Patent Document 0004) US Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0382115 (December 31, 2015)

[0022] (Patent Document 0005) US Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0368329 (December 28, 2017) Summary of the Invention

[0023] In the prior art, headphones or headsets having the above-described TES or TES treatment function are known.

[0024] Specifically, US Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0382115 (December 31, 2015) of Patent Document 4 and US Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0368329 (December 28, 2017) of Patent Document 5 disclose configurations for implementing TMS or TES in sound-emitting headphones and a configuration in which patches are separately attached to the skin from the headphones, which is the technical idea closest to the present disclosure, but is different from the present disclosure in terms of purpose, effect, and specific configuration.

[0025] The above-mentioned Korean Patent No. 2194266 of the inventor provides a headset having a desired TES treatment function using bone conduction, but it has been found that its practicality is limited due to the fact that sound conduction is limited to the type of bone conduction-based headset, resulting in a lack of versatility.

[0026] The above configuration is inevitably used in the following areas: in order to implement the TES treatment function, the human head must be clamped between a pair of separate left and right headphones of a TWS headphone assembly, and an electrical signal must be applied to penetrate the head in a specific area or a larger area.

[0027] Reference will be made to the inventor's Korean Patent No. 2194266 and Figure 1 and Figure 2 to describe the technical idea of a TWS headphone assembly capable of selectively performing the TES treatment function of the present disclosure and the technical problems to be solved by the present disclosure.

[0028] The configuration disclosed in the inventor's Korean patent includes a Bluetooth communication module 110, a memory 115, a decoder 120, a digital-to-analog converter 125, an audio amplifier 130, bone conduction units 141 and 142, a frequency generator 150, a TES signal amplifier 160, electrodes 171 and 172, a user interface 180, and a controller 190, as circuits housed in one of the bone conduction earphone housings 400.

[0029] Since the audio data received through the Bluetooth communication protocol or stored in the memory 115 is generally compressed digital data, the decoder 120 decodes the audio data input through the Bluetooth communication module 110 or stored in the memory 115, and sends the decoded audio data to the digital-to-analog converter 125, and the digital-to-analog converter 125 converts the digital audio data from the decoder 120 into an analog signal and outputs the analog audio signal to drive the left bone conduction unit 141 and the right bone conduction unit 142, thereby transmitting sound to the human body.

[0030] With the above configuration, a frequency generator 150 is provided, and for the TES treatment function, low-frequency waves between 1 Hz and 150 Hz are generated and amplified by the TES signal amplifier 160, and the TES signal is applied to the human body through the electrodes 171 and 172 mounted on the earphone housing. By operating the user interface 180, sound listening and treatment using the TES signal can be selectively or jointly activated.

[0031] In the above Korean patent of the inventor, the implementation is limited to an earphone-type sound device, and the devices for Bluetooth communication and sound reproduction, the frequency generator 150, and the TES signal amplifier 160 are only provided in a specific housing 400 of one of the bone conduction earphones and do not have the function of a TWS headphone assembly.

[0032] To perform the TES treatment function, the low-frequency signal should pass through a certain area of the human skin from both ends (transcutaneously), and as Figure 2 shown, the TES signal amplifier 160 should be connected to the electrodes 171 and 172 of the housing via signal conduction cables C1 and C2 respectively, which is not applicable to a TWS headphone assembly in which a pair of headphone units are completely electrically separated. Therefore, the above configuration of the earphone is inevitably adopted, and the disclosed technology is limited to the bone conduction unit rather than a general speaker unit for sound generation.

[0033] It is believed that the most preferred embodiment of the TWS headphone assembly capable of performing the TES treatment function is mainly to use the TWS headphone assembly for listening to music and making voice calls during walking, exercise, and work, which occupies most of the time when users use the TWS headphone assembly, and is configured in the form of an optional additional device to enable the user to switch to the TES treatment function only within a specific predetermined time (e.g., 15 minutes or 30 minutes).

[0034] In view of the above, the present disclosure provides a TWS headphone assembly capable of selectively performing the TES treatment function. The TWS headphone assembly may include a Bluetooth communication module, a memory, a decoder, a digital-to-analog converter, an audio amplifier, a speaker unit, and a controller controlled by a user interface, which are configured as circuits in each of the housings of a pair of left and right headphones housed separately from each other. The TWS headphone assembly further includes: a frequency generator configured to generate a low-frequency signal for TES treatment, and a TES signal amplifier configured to amplify the generated low-frequency signal, the frequency generator and the TES signal amplifier being provided on one of the pair of left and right headphones; electrodes provided on the outer surfaces of the housings of each of the pair of left and right headphones for making electrical contact with the skin of the user's ears; and a pair of female connectors provided in the housings of the pair of left and right headphones, and a connection cable electrically and selectively connecting and disconnecting the pair of female connectors, wherein when the connection cable is released from the pair of headphones, the pair of headphones can play sound as TWS headphones, or when the connection cable electrically connects the pair of headphones, according to the user's selection, the pair of headphones can conduct the generated low-frequency signal between the separated electrodes, thereby only performing the TES treatment function or simultaneously performing the TES treatment function and the sound playback function.

[0035] A TWS headphone assembly may include a Bluetooth communication module, a memory, a decoder, a digital-to-analog converter, an audio amplifier, a speaker unit, and a controller controlled by a user interface as circuit configurations in each of a pair of left and right earphones housed in housings that are electrically separated from each other. The TWS headphone assembly further includes: a pair of female connectors provided in the housings of the pair of left and right earphones, and a connection cable that electrically and selectively connects and disconnects the pair of female connectors; electrodes further provided on an outer surface of the housing of each of the pair of left and right earphones for making electrical contact with the skin of a user's ear; and a housing that houses a frequency generator configured to generate a low-frequency signal for TES treatment and a TES signal amplifier configured to amplify the generated low-frequency signal, and the frequency generator and the TES signal amplifier are separated from the circuit of one of the pair of left and right earphones. The housing is provided on the connection cable, wherein when the connection cable is released, the pair of left and right earphones play sound as TWS earphones, or when the connection cable is connected, according to a user's selection, the pair of earphones conduct the generated low-frequency signal between the separated electrodes, thereby performing only the TES treatment function or performing both the TES treatment function and the sound playback function simultaneously.

[0036] The TWS headphone assembly capable of selectively performing the TES treatment function according to the present disclosure can be easily applied to a conventional TWS headphone assembly, and provides a means for simply and inexpensively performing mental health treatment.

[0037] In addition, the present disclosure provides a TWS headphone assembly capable of maximizing the treatment effect by increasing portability and usability. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] From the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent, wherein:

[0039] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a conventional earphone known in the prior art;

[0040] Figure 2 is a circuit diagram known in the art, which can be applied to Figure 1 the earphone;

[0041] Figure 3 is a block diagram of the circuit of a conventional TWS headphone assembly;

[0042] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a conventional TWS headphone assembly;

[0043] Figure 5 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of a TWS headphone assembly capable of selectively performing the TES treatment function according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0044] Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an exemplary TWS headphone assembly implementing the Figure 5 circuit configuration of the first embodiment of the present disclosure therein;

[0045] Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the appearance of another exemplary TWS headphone assembly implementing the Figure 5 circuit configuration of the first embodiment of the present disclosure therein;

[0046] Figure 8 is a flowchart showing Figure 5 the operation mode of the first embodiment of the present disclosure therein.

[0047] Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the appearance of another exemplary TWS headphone assembly of a variant of the first embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0048] Figure 10 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of a TWS headphone assembly capable of selectively performing a TES treatment function according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0049] Figure 11 is a block diagram of a circuit configuration of a variant of the second embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0050] Figure 12 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an exemplary TWS headphone assembly implementing the circuit configuration of the second embodiment and Figure 11 a variant of the present disclosure therein. Detailed Description of the Embodiments

[0051] Hereinafter, the configurations and operations of a wireless headphone assembly capable of selectively performing a TES treatment function according to an embodiment of the present disclosure and a wireless headphone assembly of a variant according to the embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0052] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the circuit of a conventional TWS headphone assembly, and Figures 4 to 12 shows the embodiments and variants of the present disclosure, which will be described together sequentially below.

[0053] In the following description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, when referring to components located at the same position and performing the same functions, the same component labels will be assigned even in different embodiments.

[0054] As Figure 3 the block diagram of the circuit configuration of Figure 4As shown in the exemplary external view, the conventional TWS headphone assembly TWS1 has a Bluetooth communication module 10, a memory 15, a decoder 20, a digital-to-analog converter 25, an audio amplifier 30, and speaker units 41 and 42, which are implemented as a circuit configuration on a circuit board CB. The circuit board CB is respectively housed in the housings H1 and H1' of a pair of left and right completely separated headphones RE1 and LE1.

[0055] In addition, under the control of a controller 90 operated and controlled by a user interface 80, a sound signal (including a call signal) from the decoder 20 is played to the speaker units 41 and 42 through the digital-to-analog converter 25 and the audio amplifier 30, where the user interface 80 is a multifunctional switch FS including a touch switch, a membrane switch, etc.

[0056] A user LS as a listener listens to the sound from the speaker units 41 and 42 of a pair of left and right headphones RE1 and LE1 of the stereo TWS headphone assembly TWS1. The left and right headphones RE1 and LE1 are completely electrically separated, and with this configuration, the TES treatment function that can be achieved only when an electrical signal penetrates a specific area of the human body (especially the head) cannot be used.

[0057] In view of this, the present disclosure discloses a TWS headphone assembly as various forms of headphone assemblies, which is configured to additionally and selectively provide a TES treatment function so that the user LS can selectively use the TES treatment function.

[0058] [First Embodiment]

[0059] As shown in Figure 5 the block diagram and Figure 6 the external perspective view, the TWS headphone assembly TWS2 capable of selectively performing the TES treatment function according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a Bluetooth communication module 210; a memory 215; a decoder 220; a digital-to-analog converter 225; an audio amplifier 230; speaker units 241 and 242; a controller 290 operated by a user interface 280; and the speaker units 241 and 242 as a sound driving unit. The above components are circuits respectively housed in the housings H2 and H2' of a pair of left and right headphones RE2 and LE2 of a conventional headphone assembly TWS1.

[0060] As is well known to those skilled in the art, in addition to the above-mentioned voice data receiving and playing circuits, one of the circuits housed in the housings H2 and H2' of a pair of left and right earphones RE2 and LE2 further includes: a frequency generator 250, which is signal-connected to a controller 290. The controller 290 is operated and controlled by a user interface 280 and generates a low-frequency signal to implement the TES treatment function; and a TES signal amplifier 260, which amplifies the generated low-frequency signal. The TES signal amplifier 260 allows the user to change the amplification degree through the user interface 280, and the frequency generator can be configured as a separate circuit unit as described above, but the controller 290 can directly generate a low-frequency signal.

[0061] In addition to including speaker units 241 and 242 in the housings H2 and H2 of a pair of left and right earphones RE2 and LE2 as shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7 a pair of left and right earphones RE2 and LE2 can be products designed to have various shapes such as ear-hook earphones TWS2-1 or ear clips TWS2-2 mounted on the earlobes, as shown in Figure 6 shown.

[0062] In the present disclosure, in order to facilitate connection to the skin of the outer ear and inner ear in the ear ER of the user LS and further achieve a complete electrical connection, electrodes M1 and M2 having various shapes and materials and connected to a partial skin surface of the ear ER of the user LS are further provided on the outer surface of each of the housings H2 and H2' of the earphones.

[0063] The electrodes M1 and M2 can have shapes suitable for connecting to the skin of the outer ear and inner ear of the user's ear ER (for example, electrodes M1 and M2 (CM) having partial contact areas, or annular electrodes M1 and M2 (RM) as shown in the left part of Figure 6 and Figure 7 ), and can be metal electrodes plated with various materials that are harmless to the human body, corrosion-resistant, and have high electrical conductivity (for example, stainless steel, chromium, and gold).

[0064] As described above, only when the low-frequency signal for the TES treatment function from the frequency generator 250 and the TES signal amplifier 260 that generates low-frequency waves is electrically connected to the electrodes M1 and M2 of the housings H2 and H2' of a pair of left and right earphones RE2 and LE2 can the above low-frequency signal take effect in its treatment function.

[0065] To implement the selective and intentional TES treatment function intentionally selected by the user LS, the electrical signal from the TES signal amplifier 260 in one of the housings H2 or H2' of a pair of left and right earphones RE2 and LE2 housed in electrically separated from each other should be connected to the electrode M1 or M2 of the other of the earphones RE2 and LE2.

[0066] To achieve this and provide the complete TWS earphone assembly TWS2, as Figures 5 to 7 shown, in the first embodiment of the present disclosure, female connectors FC2 and FC2' selected from various types of connectors are respectively provided on the housings H2 and H2' of a pair of left and right earphones RE2 and LE2, and a connection cable LC1 for electrically and selectively connecting the pair of female connectors FC2 and FC2' is configured as an assembly provided together with the pair of earphones RE2 and LE2.

[0067] Of course, as Figure 6 shown, the pair of earphones RE2 and LE2 can have various external shapes such as a hanging earphone TWS2-1 or an ear clip TWS2-2 mounted on the earlobe.

[0068] The connection cable (LC1) can be a flexible, conventional synthetic resin-coated or fiber-coated cable for conducting electricity, and if necessary, it can be configured in the form of a steel strip, synthetic resin strip, or rubber strip that houses one or more wires along its longitudinal direction.

[0069] In addition, the connection cable can be a neckband produced by injection molding into a predetermined form, as shown in a variant described later and Figure 9 another embodiment.

[0070] At opposite ends of the connection cable LC1, a pair of male connectors MC2 and MC2' are provided as means for forming an electrical connection with the pair of female connectors FC2 and FC2' according to the user's selection.

[0071] As Figure 6 shown in the right part, the female connectors FC2 and FC2' and the male connectors MC2 and MC2' can be in the form of a typical plug A as a connection element for electrical connection and disconnection, and can be terminal connectors corresponding to the commonly used USB-C type terminals C and magnetic contact terminals, and can adopt any configuration capable of achieving electrical connection through a mechanical device.

[0072] The TWS earphone assembly TWS2 of the first embodiment can adopt various operating modes in the conversion between normal sound and voice listening functions and the TES treatment function.

[0073] For example, when playing music with the multifunctional switch FS while the connection cable LC1 is inserted into the earphones RE2 and LE2, the TES treatment function is automatically activated, or even if the connection cable LC1 is inserted into the earphones RE2 and LE2, the earphones RE2 and LE2 can be activated to enter the TES treatment function by manipulating the user interface 280 which is the multifunctional switch FS.

[0074] Various types of operations can be programmed into the controller 90, and the operation settings can be made through the multifunctional switch FS of the user interface 80 on either the right earphone RE2 or the left earphone LE2 (e.g., the right earphone RE2) as follows: Touching twice activates the TES treatment function, touching the multifunctional switch FS twice during operation stops the TES treatment function, short-pressing the multifunctional switch FS of the right earphone RE2 increases the volume, long-pressing the multifunctional switch FS of the right earphone RE2 increases the level of the TES signal, short-pressing the multifunctional switch FS of the left earphone LE2 decreases the volume, long-pressing the multifunctional switch FS of the left earphone LE2 decreases the level of the TES signal, and so on.

[0075] In addition, according to whether the connection cable LC1 is inserted into the earphones RE2 and LE2, the appropriate operation modes of the earphones RE2 and LE2 can be automatically or manually controlled.

[0076] As Figure 8 shown, the earphones RE2 and LE2 of the TWS earphone assembly TWS2 are placed in the user LS usage mode, that is, the general usage mode in which the earphones RE2 and LE2 of the TWS earphone assembly are used for listening to music or waiting for call sounds and voice listening phases S10R and S10E.

[0077] According to the sound and voice listening step S10 of this general usage mode, in order to use the TES treatment function, when the user LS connects the male connectors MC2 and MC2' on the opposite ends of the connection cable LC1 to the female connectors FC2 and FC2' of a pair of left and right earphones RE2 and LE2 to use the TES treatment function, the controller 90 detects this situation and determines whether the connection cable LC1 is inserted in the connection cable LC1 insertion determination step S11. And when it is determined that the connection cable LC2 is not inserted into the earphones RE2 and LE2 (No), the controller 90 returns to the sound and voice listening step S10 in which the TWS earphone assembly is in the general usage mode.

[0078] When it is determined that the connection cable LC1 is inserted into a pair of left and right earphones RE2 and LE2 (Yes), the controller 90 enters the TES treatment mode (S12), and executes the interface operation step S13-1 of the user interface 80 for the TES treatment function of the user LS operating the earphones RE2 and LE2 (i.e., operating the multifunctional switch FS of one of the left and right earphones RE2 and LE2), or the application execution operation step S13-1' of running the application installed on the smartphone by using Bluetooth, so as to use the TES treatment function.

[0079] When it is desired to terminate the TES treatment, after the step of terminating the TES treatment by the user LS manipulating the multifunctional switch FS, the step S14-1 of removing the connection cable LC1 from the earphones RE2 and LE2, the step of terminating the application by manipulation, or the step S14-1' of receiving the connection cable LC2 from the earphones RE2 and LE2, the process returns to the sound and voice listening step S10.

[0080] The above control modes are only examples, and of course various complex controls can be performed.

[0081] In the above embodiment, the TWS earphone assembly TWS2 of the present disclosure can be mainly used to receive YouTube or self-stored sound sources from various devices (smartphones, PCs, etc.) through Bluetooth communication according to the Bluetooth communication protocol.

[0082] In this case, the user must select the sound source and then use the TES treatment function when playing music, which may cause inconvenience to those who are not good at operating machines. Therefore, when performing control in combination with the application, a sound source file (healing music with a healing effect, etc.) is provided to the application by default. When the application is installed, the FS button is manipulated, or when performing control through the application, the TES treatment function is executed using the music provided in the application.

[0083] It is desired to create a music source for the application so that the user can add or delete his / her favorite music.

[0084] Of course, by setting sound source files such as MP3 (healing music with a healing effect, etc.) in the remaining storage space of the built-in memory 215 or a separate sound source memory (not shown) when initially shipped from the factory, the user can listen to music for healing without using a separate external device when using the treatment function.

[0085] In addition, the user LS can also be allowed to download sound source files such as MP3 stored in the memory from a website provided by the manufacturer.

[0086] [Variant of the First Example]

[0087] As Figure 9 shown, in a variant of the first embodiment of the present disclosure, the TWS earphone assembly TWS2-1 is configured to accommodate the connection cable LC1-1 instead of the connection cable LC1 of the first embodiment inside the injection-molded bracket-shaped neckband NB.

[0088] A pair of left and right earphones RE2-1 and LE2-1 of the earphone assembly TWS2-1 of the variant of the first embodiment have substantially the same actual configuration as the configuration of the first embodiment.

[0089] As circuits respectively housed in the housings H2-1 and H2'-1 of a pair of earphones RE2-1 and LE2-1, a Bluetooth communication module 210, a memory 215, a decoder 220, a digital-to-analog converter 225, an audio amplifier 230, speaker units 241, 242, a controller 290 operated by a user interface 280, and the speaker units 241 and 242 as sound driving units are arranged in the same manner as Figure 5 shown in the first embodiment.

[0090] In the housings H2-1 and H2'-1 of a pair of left and right earphones RE2-1 and LE2-1, in addition to the speaker units 241 and 242, electrodes M1 and M2 are mounted on the outer surfaces of the housings H2-1 and H2'-1 in the same manner as in the first and second embodiments so as to contact the skin of the outer and inner ears of the user LS.

[0091] In one of the above pair of left and right earphones RE2-1 and LE2-1, a frequency generator 250 for generating low-frequency waves for the TES treatment function and a TES signal amplifier 260 for amplification on its circuit are provided.

[0092] In the TWS earphone assembly TWS2-1 which is a variant of the first embodiment, a pair of left and right earphones RE2-1 and LE2-1 include housing-shaped brackets capable of selectively accommodating the earphones respectively, and each bracket is molded and arranged to be suspended on the left and right ears of the user LS by a neckband NB including a connection cable LC2-1 therein.

[0093] As Figure 9 shown, the neckband NB can be an injection-molded product having a suspension portion HP bent to be suitable for placement and suspension on the left and right ears of the user LS, or can be a cable-shaped product having a spring SR covered with an injection-molded flexible synthetic resin or rubber sheath so as to be freely bent into any shape by the user, as Figure 9 shown in the enlarged view of the component A adjacent to the earphone LE2-1 of the left ear ER of the user LS.

[0094] As Figure 9 shown in the left part of [], the neckband NB is provided with one or more rotatable engagement portions R1 and R2 at one or more positions (preferably at two positions on the end sides of the neckband NB), whereby the small earphones ET extending from the housings H2-1 and H2'-1 of the pair of left and right earphones RE2-1 and LE2-1 can be inserted into the correct positions in the ears ER of the user LS.

[0095] Alternatively, as Figure 9As shown in the enlarged view of component A on the right side, the neckband NB has a spring covered with an injection-molded flexible synthetic resin or rubber sheath, which can be freely bent into any shape, allowing the earphones to be inserted into the ears ER of user LS in the optimal shape and at the optimal position.

[0096] The earphone holders CR1 and CR2, which accommodate a pair of left and right earphones RE2-1 and LE2-1 respectively, are provided at opposite ends of the neckband NB in the shape of a housing. As Figure 9 shown, the earphone holders CR1 and CR2 can be hollow bodies, in which the earphones RE2-1 and LE2-1 are fixed by one or more engaging members RB, and the engaging members RB are geometrically adapted to the mating grooves ID, which are notches, provided on the earphones RE2-1 and LE2-1.

[0097] The earphones RE2-1 and LE2-1 can be provided with various shapes and numbers of mating grooves ID, and the earphone holders CR1 and CR2 can be provided with various shapes and numbers of engaging members RB. Alternatively, magnets (not shown) can be provided on the earphones RE2-1 and LE2-1 and the earphone holders CR1 and CR2 respectively.

[0098] In addition to the mechanical adaptation and fixing methods of the earphones RE2-1 and LE2-1 and the earphone holders CR1 and CR2 as described above, the earphones RE2-1 and LE2-1 can be fixed in place inside the earphone holders CR1 and CR2 by detachably attaching a magnet group MG (e.g., neodymium magnet) with strong magnetic strength to each other, where the magnets are provided on the bottom surfaces of the earphones RE2-1 and LE2-1 and the inner surfaces of the earphone holders CR1 and CR2 respectively.

[0099] Inside the earphone holders CR1 and CR2, a plurality of connection pins CP and connection terminals CT, which are typical contact-type terminals, are used to electrically connect the connection cable LC1 accommodated inside the neckband NB to the earphones RE2-1 and LE2-1.

[0100] [Second Embodiment]

[0101] As Figure 10 shown, in the second embodiment and its variations of the present disclosure, in order to set up the TWS earphone assembly TWS3, as circuits respectively accommodated in the housings H3 and H3' of a pair of left and right earphones RE3 and LE3, a Bluetooth communication module 310, a memory 315, a decoder 320, a digital-to-analog converter 325, an audio amplifier 330, speaker units 341, 342, a controller 390 operated by a user interface 380, and the speaker units 341 and 342 as sound driving units are also set up in the same manner as in the conventional configuration.

[0102] In addition to the above configuration, the TWS earphone assembly TWS3 further includes a frequency generator 350 for generating low-frequency waves and a TES signal amplifier 360 for amplification. The frequency generator 350 and the TES signal amplifier 360 are separated and isolated from the circuits respectively housed in the outer shells H3 and H3' of a pair of left and right earphones RE3 and LE3, and are signal-connected to a controller 390 of the circuit housed in the outer shell H3 or H3' of one of the left and right earphones RE and LE.

[0103] In addition, in addition to the speaker units 341 and 342, in the outer shells H3 and H3' of a pair of left and right earphones RE3 and LE3 of the TWS earphone assembly TWS3, electrodes M1 and M2 are mounted on the outer surfaces of the outer shells H3 and H3' in the same manner as in the first embodiment to contact the skin of the outer ear and inner ear of the user LS.

[0104] In addition, female connectors FC3 and FC3' are respectively provided on the outer shells H3 and H3' of a pair of left and right earphones RE3 and LE3 of the TWS earphone assembly TWS3, and are provided as component members, wherein a plurality of internal cables C1, C2, C3, C4, and C5 (see Figure 11 ) are built into a single connection cable LC2 to electrically and selectively connect a pair of connectors CN3 and CN3'.

[0105] A pair of conductive male connectors MC3 and MC3' are provided at opposite ends of the connection cable LC2 in the same form as in the first embodiment.

[0106] The frequency generator 350 for generating low frequency and the TES signal amplifier 360 (both are signal-connected to a controller 390 of one of the circuits housed in the outer shells H3 and H3' of a pair of left and right earphones RE3 and LE3 of the TWS earphone assembly TWS3, and are separated and isolated from each other, and are provided outside the outer shell H3 or H3' of one of the pair of left and right earphones RE3 and LE3, as Figure 12 shown) can be provided on a separate circuit housed inside a cable housing CH in the form of a long housing provided at an appropriate position in the middle of the connection cable CL2.

[0107] As shown in Figure 12As shown on the left side, in one of the earphones RE3 and LE3 of the TWS earphone assembly TWS3, in addition to being connected to the cable housing CH that houses the frequency generator 350 and the TES signal amplifier 360, it is also connected to the user interface UF. And when it is recognized that the switch SW of the user interface UF has executed the TES treatment function, the user interface UF for controlling the playback of the sound source file (healing music with a healing effect, etc.) stored in the application of the mobile phone can also be set as the housing body. In addition to the user interface 380 for sound manipulation of the circuit outside the pair of earphones RE3 and LE3, the housing body also has an operation switch SW for controlling both the sound signal and the signal for the TES treatment function.

[0108] In this case, a component member for electrically connecting the pair of earphones RE3 and LE3 to a single connecting cable LC2 including a plurality of internal cables C1, C2, C3, C4, and C5 is provided.

[0109] In the above configuration, when the connecting cable LC2 is separated from the pair of left and right earphones RE3 and LE3 of the present embodiment using the above configuration, the frequency generator 350 for generating low-frequency waves for the TES treatment function and the TES signal amplifier 360 for amplification constitute a circuit completely separated from the pair of left and right earphones RE3 and LE3.

[0110] In this state, the user can use the earphone assembly (TWS3) as a TWS earphone, thereby ensuring miniaturization and weight reduction of the pair of earphones RE3 and LE3.

[0111] If necessary, as shown in the earphone RE3 on the right side in Figure 12 An auxiliary battery B for charging the pair of left and right earphones RE3 and LE3 can also be provided in the cable housing CH of the connecting cable LC3 to be used as a power source for controlling the frequency generator 350, the TES signal amplifier 360, and the TES interface for the TES treatment function, thereby realizing the simplest configuration of the TWS earphone assembly TWS3 with the TES treatment function.

[0112] Alternatively, the auxiliary battery B can be used to further increase the battery life of the earphones RE3 and LE3, or the earphones RE3 and LE3 can be charged by connecting the earphones RE3 and LE3 with the connecting cable LC.

Claims

1. A TWS headphone assembly, the TWS headphone assembly includes a Bluetooth communication module, a memory, a decoder, a digital-to-analog converter, an audio amplifier, a speaker unit, and a controller controlled by a user interface, which are circuit configurations housed in each of a pair of left and right headphones that are electrically separated from each other, and the TWS headphone assembly is configured to selectively perform a TES treatment function, and the TWS headphone assembly further includes: a frequency generator and a TES signal amplifier, the frequency generator is configured to generate a low-frequency signal for TES treatment, the TES signal amplifier is configured to amplify the generated low-frequency signal, and the frequency generator and the TES signal amplifier are provided on one of the pair of left and right headphones; electrodes, the electrodes are provided on the outer surface of the housing of each of the pair of left and right headphones for making electrical contact with the skin of the user's ear; and a pair of female connectors and a connection cable, the pair of female connectors are provided in the housings of the pair of left and right headphones, and the connection cable electrically and selectively connects and disconnects the pair of female connectors, wherein, when the connection cable is released from the pair of left and right headphones, the pair of left and right headphones play sound as TWS headphones, or when the connection cable electrically connects the pair of left and right headphones, according to the user's selection, the pair of left and right headphones conduct the generated low-frequency signal between the separated electrodes, so as to only perform the TES treatment function or perform both the TES treatment function and the sound playback function simultaneously.

2. A TWS headphone assembly, the TWS headphone assembly includes a Bluetooth communication module, a memory, a decoder, a digital-to-analog converter, an audio amplifier, a speaker unit, and a controller controlled by a user interface, which are circuit configurations housed in each of a pair of left and right headphones that are electrically separated from each other, and the TWS headphone assembly is configured to selectively perform a TES treatment function, and the TWS headphone assembly further includes: a pair of female connectors and a connection cable, the pair of female connectors are provided in the housings of the pair of left and right headphones, and the connection cable electrically and selectively connects and disconnects the pair of female connectors; electrodes, the electrodes are further provided on the outer surface of the housing of each of the pair of left and right headphones for making electrical contact with the skin of the user's ear; and a housing, the housing houses a frequency generator configured to generate a low-frequency signal for TES treatment and a TES signal amplifier configured to amplify the generated low-frequency signal, and the frequency generator and the TES signal amplifier are separated from the circuit of one of the pair of left and right headphones, and the housing is provided on the connection cable, wherein, when the connection cable is released, the pair of left and right headphones play sound as TWS headphones, or when the connection cable is connected, according to the user's selection, the pair of left and right headphones conduct the generated low-frequency signal between the separated electrodes, so as to only perform the TES treatment function or perform both the TES treatment function and the sound playback function simultaneously.

3. The TWS earphone assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, the connection cable is one of a flexible conductive synthetic resin-coated and fiber-coated cable, a steel strip containing electric wires therein, a synthetic resin strip, a rubber strip, and a spring wire strip.

4. The TWS earphone assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, when the connection cable is inserted into the earphone, the TWS earphone assembly automatically enters the TES treatment function activation mode, or the earphone is activated by manipulating the user interface as a multi-functional switch.

5. The TWS earphone assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, the TWS earphone assembly plays a sound source from a device, plays a sound source file incorporated in a connected application, or plays a sound source file stored in a memory built in the TWS earphone assembly according to a Bluetooth communication protocol.

6. The TWS earphone assembly according to claim 2, wherein, the connection cable further includes a user interface for the pair of left and right earphones, a user interface for operating the frequency generator to generate a low-frequency wave for the TES treatment function, and a TES signal amplifier for amplifying the low-frequency wave.

7. The TWS earphone assembly according to claim 2 or 6, wherein, a battery for driving the circuit built in the pair of left and right earphones, the frequency generator for the TES treatment of one of the pair of left and right earphones, and the TES signal amplifier for amplifying the generated low-frequency signal are separately accommodated in a housing separately provided in the connection cable, and the connection cable is electrically connected to each of the pair of left and right earphones for charging the battery for driving the pair of left and right earphones.

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