Abstract:
A headset comprising a communications device, a sensor coupled to the communications device and operative to detect the proximity of a user&#39;s body to the sensor, a detachable ear cushion coupled to the communications device; and wherein the detachable ear cushion comprises a conductive ear cushion flange to be interposed between the sensor and the user&#39;s body for extending the detection range of the sensor.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to communications headsets, and more particularly, to an apparatus, system and method for extending the detection range of a sensor in a communications device. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Communications headsets in general can be used in a diversity of applications and are particularly effective for telephone operators, office administrators, and other individuals for whom it is desirable to have “hands free” operation of communication systems. 
         [0003]    Communications headsets may either be monaural or binaural. Binaural headsets are communications headsets which have two audio receivers situated near each ear of a wearer and are generally worn with a headband and ear cushions. Monaural headsets are communications headsets which have only a single audio receiver situated near one ear. Monaural headsets may be worn in either one of three styles: 1) in the ear 2) over the ear with an ear bud and ear loop or 3) headband with an ear cushion. 
         [0004]    Some communications headsets may further be equipped with donned/doffed sensors that detect whether the communications headset has been “donned”, i.e., placed on the head of a wearer for communications purposes, or “doffed”, i.e., removed from the wearer&#39;s head. 
         [0005]    In cases where an individual with a monaural communications device equipped with donned/doffed sensors desires to convert from an in the ear or over the ear with an ear bud and ear loop wearing style to a headband with an ear cushion wearing style, may experience false detections or no detections from the donned/doffed sensors. This problem may arise when the donned/doffed sensors are positioned in close proximity to the ear and tuned, for example, for an in the ear bud and ear loop wearing style so that the donned/doffed sensors fall out of range and no longer detect the presence of the ear when the user converts to a headband with an ear cushion wearing style. Conversely, if the donned/doffed sensors are tuned to function in the headband with the ear cushion wearing style, they will be far too sensitive when a user converts to the in the ear or over the ear with an ear bud and ear loop wearing styles such that the sensors will give too many false detections to be meaningful and valuable. 
         [0006]    Therefore it is desirable to have a monaural communications headset equipped with donned/doffed sensors that may be converted from an in the ear or over the ear with an ear bud and ear loop wearing style to a headband and ear cushion wearing style that provides more accurate results in detecting the presence of the wearer&#39;s ear. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    According to one embodiment of the invention, a headset comprising a communications device, a sensor coupled to the communications device and operative to detect the proximity of a user&#39;s body to the sensor, a detachable ear cushion coupled to the communications device, and wherein the detachable ear cushion comprised a conductive ear cushion flange to be interposed between the sensor and the user&#39;s body for extending the detection range of the sensor. The conductive ear cushion flange may comprise an electrostatic charge dissipative material, thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer (TEO) having a volume resistivity of from about 1.0E2 to about 9.9E9 ohm.cm, or an elastomer containing particles of an electrically conductive material. The communication device may comprise a first sensor and a second sensor wherein the first sensor is positioned to detect the proximity of a user&#39;s cavum and the second sensor is positioned to detect the proximity of a user&#39;s tragus. The ear cushion flange may be interposed between the first sensor and the user&#39;s eavum and may also be interposed between the second sensor and the user&#39;s tragus. The sensor of the headset may be a capacitive sensor or a DON/DOFF sensor. The communications device of the headset may comprise a microphone and a speaker for providing audio to a user&#39;s ear. The ear cushion of the headset may also comprise a headband. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment of the invention, a system for extending the detection range of a sensor in a headset comprises a communications device, a sensor coupled to the communications device and operative to detect the proximity of a user&#39;s body to the sensor, a detachable ear cushion coupled to the communications device, and wherein the detachable ear cushion comprises a conductive ear cushion flange to be interposed between the sensor and the user&#39;s body for extending the detection range of the sensor. The conductive ear cushion flange may comprise an electrostatic charge dissipative material, thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer (TEO) having a volume resistivity of from about 1.0E2 to about 9.9E9 ohm.cm, or an elastomer containing particles of an electrically conductive material. The communication device may comprise a first sensor and a second sensor wherein the first sensor is positioned to detect the proximity of a user&#39;s cavum and the second sensor is positioned to detect the proximity of a user&#39;s tragus. The ear cushion flange may be interposed between the first sensor and the user&#39;s cavum and may also be interposed between the second sensor and the user&#39;s tragus. The sensor of the system may be a capacitive sensor or a DON/DOFF sensor. The communications device of the system may comprise a microphone and a speaker for providing audio to a user&#39;s ear. The ear cushion of the system may also comprise a headband. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment of the invention, a method for extending the detection range of a sensor in a headset, the headset includes a communication device, a sensor coupled to the communications device and operative to detect the proximity of a user&#39;s body to the sensor, the method comprising coupling a detachable ear cushion to the communications device and wherein the detachable ear cushion comprises a conductive ear cushion flange to be interposed between the sensor and the user&#39;s body for extending the detection range of the sensor. The conductive ear cushion flange may comprise an electrostatic charge dissipative material, thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer (TEO) having a volume resistivity of from about 1.0E2 to about 9.9E9 ohm.cm, or an elastomer containing particles of an electrically conductive material. The communication device may comprise a first sensor and a second sensor wherein the first sensor is positioned to detect the proximity of a user&#39;s cavum and the second sensor is positioned to detect the proximity of a user&#39;s tragus. The ear cushion flange may be interposed between the first sensor and the user&#39;s cavum and may also be interposed between the second sensor and the user&#39;s tragus. The sensor coupled to the communications device may be a capacitive sensor or a DON/DOFF sensor. The communications device may comprise a microphone and a speaker for providing audio to a user&#39;s ear. The ear cushion of the communications device may also comprise a headband. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0010]    The present invention will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates a communication device  100 , according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  shows a cross sectional view of the communications device  100  attached to an ear cushion  200 , according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  shows a top perspective cross sectional view of the communications device  100  attached to ear cushion  200  without the ear pad  210 , according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  shows a top perspective views of the communications device  100  attached to ear cushion  200  without the ear pad  210 , according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  shows top perspective views of the communications device  100  attached to ear cushion  200 , according to one embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Systems, methods, and apparatuses for extending the detection range of a sensor in a communications device are disclosed. The following description is presented to enable an ordinarily skilled person in the art to make and use the invention. Descriptions of specific embodiments and applications are provided only as examples and various modifications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is to be accorded the widest scope encompassing numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. For the purpose of clarity, material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention has not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates a communication device  100 , according to one embodiment of the invention. The communications device  100  comprises an ear bud  105 , sensors  110  A and  110  B, a speaker  115 , an ear bud stem  120 , and a microphone  130 . 
         [0018]    The communications device  100  provides audio signals to a user&#39;s ear. The communications device  100  includes an audio driver (not shown) to convert an audio signal received via cord or wirelessly, to an audible output via the speaker  115 . The speaker  115  is housed by the ear bud  105 . The ear bud  105  is supported by the ear bud stem  120 . The ear bud  105  and ear bud stem  120  may be used as attaching points for attaching the communications device  100  to an ear cushion such as ear cushion  200  shown in  FIG. 2 . The communications device  100  may also include sensors  110  A and  110  B. Sensors  110  A and  110  B may be capacitive sensors or more specifically donned/doffed sensors that detect whether the communications headset has been “donned”, i.e., placed on the head of a wearer for communications purposes, or “doffed”, i.e., removed from the wearer&#39;s head. According to one embodiment, sensor  110  A may be positioned in the communications device  100  to detect the proximity of a user&#39;s cavum, and sensor  110  B may be positioned in the communications device  100  to detect the proximity of a user&#39;s tragus. The sensitivity of sensor  110  A and  110  B may be tuned for when the communications device  100  is in close proximity to the eat such as when the communication device  100  is to be worn in the over the ear with an ear bud and earloop wearing style or in the ear wearing style. The communications device  100  also includes a microphone  130  located at the tip of the communications device  100 . The microphone  130  may comprise a noise cancelling microphone. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  shows a cross sectional view of the communications device  100  attached to an ear cushion  200 , according to one embodiment of the invention. The ear cushion  200  comprises an ear cushion flange  205  and an ear pad  210 . The ear cushion flange  205  further comprises an ear bud stem connector  215 , an ear bud attachment recess  220 , and an ear flange trumpet  225 . 
         [0020]    The ear bud  105  and the ear bud stem  120  of the communications device  100  can be attached to the ear cushion flange  205  of the ear cushion  200 . More specifically the ear bud  105  and the ear bud stein  120  can be attached at the ear bud stem connector  215  and ear bud attachment recess  220 . To connect the ear bud  105  and the ear bud stem  120  to the ear bud stem connector  215  and the ear bud attachment recess  220 , a user may push the ear bud  105  and ear bud stem  120  into the ear bud attachment recess  220  which causes the ear bud  105  and attachment recess  220  to act like a ball and socket with a friction fit. 
         [0021]    The ear cushion flange  205  may be made of a variety of partially conductive materials, including, for example, “ESD A 2800-75 A,” comprising a thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer (TEO) material manufactured by the RTP Company of Winona, Minn., having a volume resistivity of 1.0 E3-9.9E9 ohm.cm, a surface resistivity of 1.0E6-9.9E12 ohm/sq and a surface resistance of 1.0E5-9.9E11 ohm, The thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer material may also have a volume resistivity of 1.0 E2-1.0 E3 ohm.cm, Other partially conductive materials can be confected by “loading” elastomeric materials that are otherwise electrically insulative, such as rubber, polyurethane (PU), or the like, with particles of an electrically conductive material, e.g., carbon, silver or copper. 
         [0022]    Once the communications device  100  is attached to the ear cushion flange  205 , the inner surface of the ear bud attachment recess  220  is in contact with sensor  110  A and the surface of the ear stem connector  215  is in contact with sensor  110  B. The trumpet like geometry of the ear flange trumpet  225  of the ear cushion flange  205  allows the ear flange trumpet  225  to come into areas of the user&#39;s ear that will contact or become extremely close to the user&#39;s ear. The conductive material of the ear flange trumpet  225  provides the capacitive sensors  110  A and  110  B the means to extend its sensing of the ear when the ear cushion  200  is attached. More specifically, when the ear flange trumpet  225  contacts or come in close proximity of the ear, the conductive material of the ear flange trumpet  225  extends the proximity of the user&#39;s ear to capacitive sensors  110  A and  110  B to mimic the cavum and the tragus respectively. This allows the sensitivity of sensors  110  A and  110  B of the communication device  100  to be at one sensitivity level regardless if the communication device  100  is being worn by the user in one of the following wearing styles: 1) in the ear, 2) over the ear with an ear bud and ear loop or 3) headband. 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  shows a top perspective cross sectional view of the communications device  100  attached to ear cushion  200  without the ear pad  210 , according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  show top perspective views of the communications device  100  attached to ear cushion  200 , according to one embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 4  shows the ear cushion  200  without the ear pad  210  while  FIG. 5  show the ear cushion  200  with the ear pad  210 . 
         [0025]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof, these embodiments are merely illustrative, and not restrictive of, the present invention. Various modifications or changes to the specifically disclosed exemplary embodiments will be suggested to persons skilled in the art. In summary, the scope of the invention should not be restricted to the specific exemplary embodiments disclosed herein, and all modifications that are readily suggested to those of ordinary skill in the art should be included within the spirit and scope of the invention.