Abstract:
A wireless headphone device has a first elongate portion having first and second opposite ends with an attachment interface at the first end, the first portion comprising an on-board power supply and a transceiver with functional circuitry, and a second elongate portion coupled pivotally to the first portion at the second end, and having an ear bud and a microphone at an end away from the pivotal coupling. The functional circuitry enables receiving and playing of audio from an MP3 player through the ear bud, and use as speaker and microphone for a wirelessly coupled telephone.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED DOCUMENTS 
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 12/193,402, filed Aug. 18, 2008, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 11/927,079, filed Oct. 29, 2007, which is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 11/473,638, filed Jun. 22, 2006, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 11/009,329, filed on Dec. 9, 2004 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,070,425, which is a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 10/903,412, filed on Jul. 29, 2004 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,979,210, which claims priority to provisional application No. 60/528,645 filed Dec. 10, 2003. The disclosures of the prior applications are incorporated in their entirety by reference, and priority is claimed for the disclosures as of their filing dates. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention is in the field of headsets and charging devices, and pertains more particularly to headsets enabled for wireless transmission and reception. 
         [0004]    2. Discussion of the State of the Art 
         [0005]    In the computer arts there continues to be motivation for increased density and ease-of-use in mass storage devices. A solid state device known now in the art as a thumb drive was relatively recently introduced advancing the standard for both density and ease-of-use, and such hot-plug drives are made by several manufacturers. A common feature of thumb drives as known in the art is a male USB connector, and functionality to hot-plug and remove, that is, without turning off the computer to which the drive is connected and disconnected. Another common feature is a plastic protective cover for the male USB connector. 
         [0006]    Although the advance in the mass storage art with the advent of thumb drives is dramatic, there are still some problems with such a system. For example, the plastic covers for use on the male USB connectors are not very secure, and tend to come loose and be lost. As a remedy, many manufacturers provide two and sometimes three plastic covers with each device sold, often with different colors. Still another problem is that USB ports on computers are not universally easily visible and accessible. Some such ports are on the back of tower cases which are often placed under desks or other furniture, so finding an unused USB female port for connecting the male USB connector of a thumb drive is often not trivial. When a female port is out of sight or in a darkened area, the connection must often be made by feel alone. Still further, when the thumb drive is connected to a computer, the plastic protective cover is removed, and is easily misplaced. 
         [0007]    Another problem in the art related to thumb drives that are enabled for wireless communication is that there is a relative dearth of headsets, and flexibility and functionality of headsets. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In an embodiment of the invention a wireless headphone device is provided comprising a first elongate portion having first and second opposite ends with an attachment interface at the first end, the first portion comprising an on-board power supply and a transceiver with functional circuitry, and a second elongate portion coupled pivotally to the first portion at the second end, and having an ear bud and a microphone at an end away from the pivotal coupling. The functional circuitry enables receiving and playing of audio from an MP3 player through the ear bud, and use as speaker and microphone for a wirelessly coupled telephone. 
         [0009]    Also in one embodiment the attachment interface comprises a flexible rubber, synthetic rubber or plastic loop for engaging an arm of a headset frame. In another embodiment the attachment interface comprises a strap for folding over an arm of a headset frame, and fastening back to the first elongate portion. In yet another embodiment the attachment interface comprises a hinged mechanism with a fold-over element for engaging an arm of a headset frame. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment the device is configurable as either a left-side or a right-side device, wherein for a left side device the speaker is enabled and the microphone muted with the second elongate portion positioned rotationally to one side of the first elongate portion, and for a right-side device the speaker is enabled and the microphone muted with the second elongate portion positioned rotationally to the opposite side of the first elongate portion. In some embodiments rotating the second elongate portion to a position to extend away from a user&#39;s ear causes the circuitry in the first elongate portion to send a signal to answer an incoming telephone call on a telephone device coupled by a Bluetooth™-compatible wireless protocol. 
         [0011]    In some embodiments there is a pushbutton on a surface of the first elongate portion enabled for sending a signal when pressed to answer an incoming telephone call on a telephone device coupled by a Bluetooth™-compatible wireless protocol. Also in some embodiments the first elongate portion comprises on one surface an interface for charging the on-board power supply. In some cases the interface for charging is a female connector for engaging a male connector of a charging cable from either a USB port or from a transformer engaged in a wall outlet. In some other embodiments the interface for charging is a pair of electrodes implemented on a surface of the first elongate portion for engaging similar electrodes connector for engaging a male connector of a charging cable from either a USB port or from a transformer engaged in a wall outlet. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment the attachment interface comprises an ear hangar loop for engaging over a user&#39;s ear to position the device to place the ear bud in the user&#39;s ear. 
         [0013]    Also in one embodiment a light-emitting device implemented on a surface of the device configured to change color according to charge level of the on-board power supply. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0014]      FIG. 1   a  is a perspective view of a thumb drive according to an embodiment of the present invention, with the connector retracted. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1   b  is a perspective view of the thumb drive of  FIG. 1   a  with the connector partly extended. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1   c  is a perspective view of the thumb drive of  FIG. 1   a  with the connector fully extended. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a thumb drive according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3   a  is an exploded view of the thumb drive of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 3   b, c,  and  d  show details for detenting in an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  are a diagrams showing one way a protective cover may be implemented. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a thumb drive according to yet another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a thumb drive associated with a Bluetooth™ headset in yet another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7   a  is a side elevation view of a single speaker/microphone device in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7   b  is a front elevation view of the device of  FIG. 7   a.    
           [0025]      FIG. 7   c  is a back elevation view of the device of  FIG. 7   a.    
           [0026]      FIG. 8   a  is a side elevation view of two devices  701  attached to a headset frame  801  in an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 8   b  is a top plan view of the same assembly as  FIG. 8   a.    
           [0028]      FIG. 9  is an elevation view of a headset frame with a device attached adjusted to have the microphone forward toward a user&#39;s mouth. 
           [0029]      FIG. 10   a  is a front elevation view of a charging bay for devices. 
           [0030]      FIG. 10   b  is a side elevation view of the charging bay of  FIG. 10   a.    
           [0031]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a headset frame in another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 12  is a side elevation view of a device comprising an ear hangar strap for use without a headset frame. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0033]    In one embodiment of the invention a thumb drive has a manually extendable and retractable male USB connector.  FIG. 1   a  is a perspective view of such a drive  101  according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         [0034]    Drive  101  has in this example a physical opening  102  generally rectangular in shape, matching the rectangular cross section of a male USB connector. Port  102  is closed, when the connector is withdrawn within a body of the thumb drive, by a retractable physical closure, such as a flap gate  103 , which may be hinge mounted in one embodiment to allow passage of a male USB connector. 
         [0035]    It will be apparent to the skilled artisan that there are a variety of ways a closure may be implemented for opening  102 . Such a closure may be made of a number of different materials, such as rubber or plastic materials, and may be implemented in a number of different ways. For example, the gate could be a solid metal or rigid plastic material, and a mechanism for opening and closing may be provided also in a number of different ways. 
         [0036]    Further to the above description, a sliding button  104  is implemented through an opening in a wall of a case for the drive. This button in one embodiment has two functions. Firstly the button is implemented in a manner to turn on a flashlight element  105  when the button is depressed. Secondly, the button is detented in a way that when depressed it may be pushed forward, causing an internal mechanism to translate forward, urging a male USB connector to extend through port  102 , and to lock in place as extended. The locking in place in one embodiment is a function of the detenting of the button mechanism. 
         [0037]    It will also be apparent to the skilled artisan that such a manual operator for translation of a mechanism to extend the male connector through opening  102  may be implemented in several ways as well, such as by a knob or a slide. In one embodiment, for example, the retractable connector is spring-loaded into the case of the thumb drive with a detent for keeping it retracted until a user trips the detent. A similar detent keeps the connector in an extended position until the user pushes the connector back into the case. 
         [0038]    Light  105  in one embodiment is offset to one side of the thumb drive as shown, and is provided for aiding in finding a USB port on a candidate computer. The light may also be used as a utility flashlight for a number of other purposes. The skilled artisan will understand that there are a variety of ways control for the light may be provided in addition to the slide button  104 , such as by a separate switch implemented through the body of the thumb drive. 
         [0039]      FIG. 1   b  is a perspective view of the thumb drive of  FIG. 1  with a USB male connector extended part way through port  102 . It may be seen that the relative position of slide button  104  corresponds to the relative extension of the USB port  106 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 1   c  is a perspective view of the thumb drive of  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  with male connector  106  fully extended and locked into place. In some embodiments of the invention a connection ring  107  may be provided to facilitate attachment to a neck cord or key ring. 
         [0041]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a thumb drive  208  in yet another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment a body shape is implemented that provides a more comfortable and secure grip when using the drive. Many of the elements for the embodiment shown by  FIG. 2  are the same as for the embodiment shown by  FIGS. 1   a - 1   c . There is a molded body that, in this case, is made in two separate parts  213  and  214 , joining along a line  215 . A raised portion  209  of the upper section  213  provides a housing for a light  216 , which may be one or a cluster of high-intensity LEDs or an incandescent bulb, for example. A spring-loaded button  211  is implemented through an opening  210  in section  213  for on-off input for the light  216  and slide operation for a male USB connector that may be caused to extend through door  212  by urging button  211  forward. Detents implemented in opening  210  provide for restraining the USB connector in extended or retracted position, as further described below. 
         [0042]      FIG. 3   a  is a partially exploded perspective view of thumb drive  208  of  FIG. 2 , showing some further detail of inner components. Section  213  is shown disconnected from section  214  and raised to show additional inner detail. Within the thumb drive a module  301  comprises flash memory, in quantity of perhaps 256 Mbytes, or more. Module  301  also comprises button  211  implemented in a structure  302  that allows the button to be depressed and to make electrical contact to energize light  216  through a connection path  303  from an on-board battery source  304 . The battery can be any one of many sorts, such as a rechargeable battery. 
         [0043]    The internal flash memory of module  301  is coupled to I/O contacts of a USB male connector  305  which is built into module  301 . Internal connections, microprocessor, and firmware applying the microprocessor to functions of the apparatus are not shown, but will be apparent to those with skill in the art, as these mostly exist in the commercial arena at the time of filing the present application. 
         [0044]    Module  301  in this an some other embodiments is implemented within the shell of portions  213  and  214  restrained between molded-in tracks, such that the module may be translated from a position wherein USB male connector  305  is fully withdrawn, to a position wherein the USB connector is fully extended, and back again. Detents molded into upper portion  213  in conjunction with opening  210  provide for retention at the fully withdrawn and near the fully extended positions, in concert with depressing button  211 . To extend or withdraw one may depress button  211  and release it at the end of the movement. When USB connector  305  extends, door  212  is urged aside in a manner that when the USB connector is again withdrawn, the door closes again. 
         [0045]      FIG. 3   b  shows one edge  306  of opening  210  of portion  213  in elevation. This edge of the opening is formed into lands at two elevations, these being lands  308  and  310  at a lower level and lands  309  and  311  at a higher level. 
         [0046]      FIG. 3   c  shows button  211  and structure  302  implemented on module  301 . As previously described, structure  302  allows button  211  to be depressed to make electrical contact to illuminate light  216 . Button  211  further has a land  312 , also seen in  FIG. 3   a  in perspective that engages one of lands  308 - 311  in assembly, depending on the relative extension of connector  305 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 3   d  shows edge  306  with lands  308 - 311  with button  211  superimposed at four different positions (a) through (d) representing four different extensions of connector  305 . With button  211  in position (a) the male USB connector is fully retracted within the body of the thumb drive. Because button  211  is spring-loaded upward, this provides a detent that holds the connector retracted until a specific action by the user. 
         [0048]    To move the connector forward, that is, to extend the connector, a user depresses button  211  such that land  312  of the button is below land  310  of edge  306 . This depressing of button  211  makes electrical contact turning on light  216 . Now module  301  may be moved forward by urging button  211  forward to extend USB connector  305 . Land  310  ensures that the light stays on if the button is released. 
         [0049]    Land  308  allows the user to move connector  305  to a maximum forward position, passing land  309 , at which point the light will stay lit. This allows for the user to release the button while looking for a female USB port for connection, and keeps the light on. 
         [0050]    When the female USB port is found and male connector  305  is inserted, the action of insertion will retract the male connector in the thumb drive until the spring-loaded button clicks up to land  309 , providing a detent near the fully extended poison with the light off and the thumb drive connected to the appliance having the female USB port. 
         [0051]    The skilled artisan will be aware that the detent mechanisms described above with reference to  FIGS. 3   b - 3   d  are exemplary of one such mechanism that might be used, and that are there are a variety of other ways the detents may be provided. 
         [0052]    One simple rendition of a door  112  or  212  is shown in  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b . In this example a rubber-like panel  112  is affixed behind an opening between upper and lower portions  113  and  114 . As connector  305  is extended from the poison shown in  FIG. 4   a  the rubber-like panel is simply urged aside, until with full extension, panel  112  is positioned as shown in  FIG. 4   b . When connector  305  is again withdrawn panel  112  springs back to an upright position as shown in  FIG. 4   a , closing the opening to dust and debris, for example. 
         [0053]    It will be apparent to those with skill in the art that the door for the opening through which the male USB connector protrudes, such as panel  112  in  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b , is not in and of itself the patentable feature of the invention, but a convenience to protect the internal details of the novel thumb drive when the connector is withdrawn. Simple examples of such a door have been provided, but there are a further variety of ways such a protective door might be implemented. There might be, for example, a rigid door hinged in some manner, and the door may or may not be closed by a spring detent. There are many other possibilities as well. 
         [0054]    In embodiments of the invention described above there is no need for a protective plastic cap for the male USB connector as is common in the art at the time of filing the present application, and the light integrated into the thumb drive in some embodiments provides real aid to a user in finding and connecting to unused USB ports. The light has other uses as a simple utility flashlight as well. 
         [0055]    In another embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in  FIG. 5 , further enhancement is provided such that a thumb drive  501  may also operate as a music repository and player, such as an MP3player. In this embodiment the memory capacity of the thumb drive is controlled in the same manner that is done in the art for MP3 players and the like, so that music and other audio material may be downloaded to the unique thumb drive from a computer device, and may be played back to a user. For this purpose a display  502  is provided, which may be an LED (light-emitting diode) or an LCD (liquid crystal display) is provided, and additional firmware for internal microprocessor control is provided to manage storage of audio files, such as MP3 files, for songs, and to display and render the songs at a user&#39;s command. 
         [0056]    Appropriate controls, such as buttons  503  for scrolling through a playlist, are provided, and audio rendition is through line  504  to a set of ear-buds  505 . Earphones may be used as well, or any set of battery-powered or conversion unit powered speakers, such as those sorts of speakers used with PCs from a soundcard. In some embodiments a microphone  506  is also provided, and controls are provided for a user to record such as memorandums and notes, using the thumb drive as a personal digital recorder. A small, built-in speaker  507  may also be implemented in some embodiments. 
         [0057]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a thumb drive  601  associated with a Bluetooth™ headset in still another embodiment of the invention. Bluetooth™ is a well-known system and protocol for wireless transmission of audio and other date over relatively short distances, and information relative to same is easily accessible to the skilled artisan. In this embodiment thumb drive  601  comprises a Bluetooth™ transmitter, which transmits to left and right earpieces  603  adapted to a pair of glasses  602 , such as sunglasses. The controls for thumb drive  601  are essentially the same as described above for drive  501 . In alternative embodiments the Bluetooth™ earpieces may be worn separately from the glasses, or may be associated with a hat or a cap for example. 
         [0058]    In another aspect of the invention a system of headsets and speaker elements is provided with enhanced utility and functionality over what is available in the art at the time of filing. 
         [0059]      FIG. 7   a  is a side elevation view of a single speaker/microphone device  701  in an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 7   b  is a side elevation view of the same device, and  FIG. 7   c  is a back elevation view of the same device. Device  701  is provided to be combined in a variety of ways with carriers of various sorts that a user might employ, and also to provide a range of useful functions not presently available. 
         [0060]    Device  701  comprises in this embodiment a base element  702  having an attachment interface  706  for connecting to a carrier device, such as a headset frame or earpieces of a pair of glasses. A rotatably adjustable element  703  is pivotable about base element  702  at a pivot point  705 , and comprises an earbud  704  at the free end, as well as a microphone  707  on a side of the earbud. In addition in this embodiment there is a charging interface  708  for a male connector on one side of the base element  702 , and in some embodiments another charging interface  709  comprising two conductive strips on a backside of base element  702 . 
         [0061]    Device  701  comprises a transceiver  710  compatible with Bluetooth™ Protocol for receiving audio signals from remote devices, such as cellular telephones, MP3 players and a variety of other handheld devices, and for transmitting signals from input by a user via microphone  707  to remote devices. Device  701  also comprises a rechargeable power supply connected to one or both of interfaces  708  and  709 , and suitable circuitry connecting electrical and electronic elements, which will be clear to the skilled artisan given the disclosure herein. 
         [0062]      FIG. 8   a  is a side elevation view of two devices  701  attached to a headset frame  801  in an embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 8   b  is a top plan view of the same assembly as  FIG. 8   a . In this particular example the devices  701  are attached to simple plastic headband  801 , which a user places around the back of the head and over and behind the ears. Devices  701  are attached in this example to the band each by a simple rubber ring  706 . Interface  706  in different embodiments may take any one of several forms, including a rubber ring, a snap over plastic fastener, a metal hook device, and other devices. In some embodiment body  702  may rotate around a pivot that is a part of the attachment interface, which will allow body  702  to be adjusted to be more vertical than shown in  FIG. 8   a , or to be angled in the opposite direction. Similarly element  703  may be rotated, as described above, around the point of attachment to body  702 , so the ear bud at the end of element  703  may be comfortably placed in the user&#39;s ear on each side. A rough approximation of a user&#39;s ear is shown as element  711  in  FIG. 8   a.    
         [0063]    It will be apparent that the two devices  701  in  FIG. 8   b  are not the same, but images of one another. However, in a preferred embodiment one design may be adapted to both sides by adjusting body  702  and element  703  rotationally. 
         [0064]    In preferred embodiments devices  701  also have alternate functionality depending on positioning of element  703  relative to body  702 .  FIG. 9  illustrates an instance wherein a user has pivoted element  703  to extend away from the ear toward the front of the user&#39;s face, that is, toward the mouth. This would be a user&#39;s response in the case of an incoming telephone call, which in one embodiment will initiate a ring tone in one or both earbuds. Contacts within the juncture of body  702  and element  703  in this situation as the user rotates element  703  will turn off the speaker in the device thus manipulated, and will enable instead the microphone  707 , as well as sending a signal to answer the call in coupled telephone. This will work regardless of which side the user elects to rotate, and the other ear bud will continue to work for the telephone incoming audio. 
         [0065]    In another embodiment a pushbutton  712  is functional for placing or answering a telephone call through a coupled telephone. In this situation, pushing button  712  accesses voice dialing when placing a call. In the event of telephone use, audio from an MP3 device is silenced until button  712  is again pressed, or element  703  is rotated back to the user&#39;s ear. 
         [0066]    In some embodiments the outside surface of body  702  or a light-emitting device implemented on that surface is functional to change color in response to charge level of the on-board power supply. For example, the color may change from green to red at some predetermined threshold of battery discharge. Recharging may be done by connecting a charging cord having two outputs, one for each device, to female connector  108 . The source may be a USB connector at the other end of the charging cord, or a power supply transformer plugged into a wall socket. 
         [0067]    In another embodiment a charging docking bay  1001  as shown in  FIG. 10  may be employed to recharge devices  701 . Bay  1001  has two receptacles  1002  shaped to accept devices  701 , and the indention of the receptacles is fashioned so that the devices may snap in place and be held until intentionally removed. There are in ach receptacle two contact strips (not shown) located to contact strips  709  on device  701  (see  FIG. 7   c ). The docking bay connects either to a transformer plugged into a wall socket or a USB cable to a computer (not shown) for primary power. 
         [0068]    In yet another embodiment a headset frame  1101  as shown in  FIG. 11  is provided with internal wiring such that devices like devices  701  may be charged while attached to the headset frame. In this embodiment the headset frame has interface areas  1106  each having a set of contacts  1102  facing inward, such that devices  701  may be attached with contact between contacts  1102  and contacts  709  (see  FIG. 7   c ). Primary power is provided by a cable  1103  connecting to a socket under the frame and engaged either with a USB port or a transformer plugged into a wall outlet. Optionally there is also a pivot adjustment  1104  allowing a user to adjust the frame for different head sizes. 
         [0069]      FIG. 12   a  illustrates a device  701  according to an embodiment of the invention adapted to an ear hangar  1201  to be used without a headset frame. Device  1201  is adapted to attach to the device  701  at the same interface used for attachments  706  (see  FIG. 7   a, b, c ).  FIG. 12   b  shows the same device engaged behind a user&#39;s ear. In this embodiment the user may rotate element  703  forward, just as described before, to enable the microphone, and the devices are still adapted to receive stereo channels broadcast from an MP3 player, and to answer and place telephone calls as described above. 
         [0070]    It will be apparent to the skilled artisan that there are a broad variety of changes that may be made in the embodiments of the invention described above without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, there are a broad variety of materials that may be used for various elements of the thumb drive in embodiments of the invention. The controls in those embodiments that provide audio playback can be done in several ways. There are various ways the extendable male connector may be implemented, and the like. There are a wide variety as well of ways the control functions may be implemented. Therefore the invention should only be limited by the claims which follow.