US Patent 9584896 Ambient noise headphones

The ambient noise headphone is a pair of headphones or a pair of earbuds that have an integral external microphone. The external microphone picks up the ambient noise external to the user and mixes this ambient noise with the primary audio source being listened to by the user. The external microphone circuitry has a volume control that allows the user to set the volume level of the ambient noise that is heard. This arrangement allows the user to monitor his external environment by controlling the amount of noise that the user can hear when listening to the pair of headphones or to the pair of earbuds. The ambient noise headphone comprises a pair of headphones, an external microphone, and a mixing circuit.