Patent Publication Number: US-2022225012-A1

Title: Remote Speaker Microphone Unit For Use With Headset

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Priority is claimed from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/846,860, filed Apr. 13, 2020, and entitled “Remote Speaker Microphone Unit For Use With Headset”, which in turn claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/835,911, filed Apr. 18, 2019, titled “Remote Speaker Microphone Unit For Use With Headset”. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     First responders, military, and other emergency personnel often use radios to communicate with other personnel. Two basic types of radio communication systems are in use. 
     First is a system that includes a remote speaker microphone (RSM, or collar mic) unit, which is often seen being used by a police officer as one example. The user carries a radio (transceiver) on the belt. The RSM unit plugs into the radio and is basically a speaker on a cable, with a microphone and a push to talk (PTT) button on the unit. When the PTT button is not pushed, the RSM unit functions as a speaker, by which the officer can hear incoming radio communications. When the PTT button is pushed, the speaker is disabled and the microphone in the unit is enabled. 
     The second type of communication system that is sometimes used includes a headset. The headset includes earcups (or similar) and a boom microphone. The headset works with a stand-alone push to talk (PTT) device that is connected inline between the radio (on the user&#39;s belt) and the headset, replacing the RSM unit. The PTT can transmit both incoming and outgoing signals. The PTT unit does not include a speaker or a microphone. The PTT unit normally transmits incoming signals to the user&#39;s headset for hearing by the user. When the user wishes to talk over the radio, the user pushes the PTT button, which turns off the incoming signal and turns on the headset microphone. 
     There are some environments in which neither one of these systems is optimal. One such environment is a firefighting environment. A firefighter must wear a helmet in such a situation. To conform with helmet safety regulations, it is not feasible to incorporate a headset directly into the firefighter&#39;s helmet. It is, however, possible to wear a headset under the helmet, connected to a PTT unit that is inline between the radio and the headset. But the vast majority of the time when on duty, the firefighter does not wear a helmet but simply wears and uses an RSM unit, which is much more convenient and enables constant communication. When an emergency does arise, and if the firefighter wants to use the headset instead, the firefighter would need to unplug the RSM unit from the radio, locate and find a PTT unit and plug the radio into it, locate and find a headset, and plug the headset into the PTT unit. This series of tasks is often not feasible in an urgent situation. So, the firefighter typically continues with use of the RSM system. 
     However, tests have shown that a firefighter, when wearing a helmet and using an RSM system, in a quiet environment can only hear and comprehend at most about 90% of the radio input. In a noise intensive firefighting environment, perhaps with a fire hose running, the firefighter may only hear and comprehend about 25% of the radio input. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention enables a user, such as a firefighter, to quickly and easily use a headset in conjunction with a helmet. As a result, the firefighter can hear incoming radio communications well, even in the noisy environment of fighting a fire. 
     In accordance with the invention, the remote speaker microphone (RSM) unit is modified to include connectors that enable the user to plug in a headset or an in-ear speaker. When neither the headset nor the in-ear speaker is plugged into the unit, the speaker and microphone(s) of the unit are active as normal. The PTT button on the unit works as normal. 
     When a headset is plugged into the RSM unit, that action automatically (1) disables the speaker and microphone in the unit, (2) enables the speakers in the headset, and (3) enables use of the headset microphone upon pressing the PTT button on the unit. The RSM unit becomes simply the push-to-talk mechanism for the headset. 
     When an in-ear speaker is plugged into the RSM unit, that action automatically (1) disables the speaker in the unit, and (2) enables the in-ear speakers. The RSM unit becomes the push-to-talk mechanism for the in-ear speaker system. 
     With either of these scenarios, the firefighter can hear incoming radio communications well, even in the noisy environment of fighting a fire. 
     In one embodiment, the invention is a remote speaker microphone unit (RSM) adapted for use as part of a radio communication system by a user carrying a radio, to enable the user to use either a headset having a first plug for connection with the RSM unit or an in-ear speaker having a second plug for connection with the RSM unit. The RSM unit comprises a built in speaker, a built in microphone, a push to talk button, a first jack adapted for receiving the first plug of the headset, and a second jack adapted for receiving the second plug of the in-ear speaker. 
     In another embodiment, the invention relates to a remote speaker microphone unit (RSM) adapted for use as part of a radio communication system by a user carrying a radio, to enable the user to use either a headset having a first connection connectable with the RSM unit or an in-ear speaker having a second connection connectable with the RSM unit, the RSM unit comprising a built in speaker, a built in microphone, and a push to talk button. The RSM unit also includes a first RSM connection for communicating and connectable with the first connection of the headset, and a second RSM connection for communicating and connectable with the second connection of the in-ear speaker. 
     In another embodiment, the invention is a radio communication system adapted for use by a user carrying a radio, to enable the user to use either a headset that has a microphone or an in-ear speaker system. The system includes a remote speaker microphone (“RSM”) unit for electrical connection with the radio; headset having a first plug for connection to the RSM unit; and an in-ear speaker system having a second plug for connection to the RSM unit. The RSM unit includes a built in speaker, a built in microphone, and a PTT button. The RSM unit includes a first jack adapted for receiving the first plug of the headset, and a second jack adapted for receiving the second plug of the in-ear speaker system. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a remote speaker microphone unit in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an in-ear speaker system that can be used as a part of a radio communication system together with the unit of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a headset that can be used as a part of a communication system together with the unit of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a wireless ear speaker that can be used as a part of a communication system together with the unit of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram of the remote speaker microphone unit in accordance with the invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is an electrical schematic diagram of the remote speaker microphone unit. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
     Description will now be given with reference to the attached  FIGS. 1-6 . It should be understood that these figures are exemplary in nature and in no way serve to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims appearing hereinbelow. 
     The present invention relates to a remote speaker microphone (“RSM”) unit that enables a user, such as a firefighter, to quickly and easily use a either a headset or an in ear speaker in conjunction with a helmet. The invention is applicable to various and different RSM units. As representative of the invention, the Figures illustrate a unit  10  that is a first embodiment of the invention. 
     The unit  10  is configured for use with a standard user-carried radio illustrated schematically at  12  ( FIG. 5 ) to which it may be connected by a standard radio interface cable  14 . 
     The unit  10  has a socket or other connection  16  for connection with the radio interface cable  14 . 
     The unit  10  includes power, microphone, speaker, push to talk, and panic emergency activation features. Specifically, the RSM unit  10  has a built in microphone  22 . In addition, the RSM unit  10  has a second microphone  24 , in parallel with the first microphone  22 , as a backup. When the first microphone  22  is enabled, the second microphone  24  is enabled also. The RSM unit  10  also includes a built in speaker  26 . 
     The RSM unit  10  has an automatic circuit using digital and mechanical switches and a processor  30  to mute and unmute speakers and microphones as the headset or the in-ear speaker are connected. These are illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
       FIG. 6  is an electrical schematic diagram of the unit  10 , in a known fashion. The left side is the input/output from the radio, and the right side is the input/output to the radio. A connection that is identified by a number then letter is a pin number and then function name. A connection that is identified by a letter and then number would reference as component number. VCC is power. M=Microphone, S=speaker, P=PTT, E=emergency switch, H=headphone, MHP=main headphone. + or − is the polarity of the same function name. 
     The unit  10  has a push-to-talk (PTT) button  40 . In this embodiment, the button  40  activates two sets of contacts in parallel, with one set of contacts as a backup to the other set of contacts. The unit  10  has a single emergency push button  41  which operates in a known way to send an emergency signal out over the radio  12 . All these elements of the  10  are electrically connected with the processor  30 . 
     The unit  10  is usable with an in-ear speaker such as the speaker  42  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The in-ear speaker  42  may be of the type commonly used with a smartphone. The in-ear speaker  42  includes one or more speaker buds  44  or the like and is electrically connectable to the RSM unit by a cable  46  that terminates in a plug or other connector  48 . 
     The unit  10  has an HP+/HP− connection or jack  50  for connection with the in-ear speaker  42  via the connector  48 . In the illustrated embodiment, the connection  50  is an HP+/HP− connection. Any other known type of connector may be employed for this connection, including a wireless connection such as Bluetooth or near field communication (NFC). 
     The unit  10  is also usable with a headset such as the headset  60  that is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The headset  60  may be of any known type and as illustrated includes left and right earcups  62  and a boom microphone  64 . The headset  60  is connectable to the RSM unit  10  by a headset cable  66  that terminates in a plug or other connector  68 . 
     The unit  10  has a connection or jack  70  for connection with the headset  60  via the headset connector  68 . In the illustrated embodiment, the connection  70  is a TJST-600-9 connection. Any other known type of connector may be employed for this connection, including a wireless connection such as Bluetooth or NFC. 
     When neither the headset  60  nor the ear speaker  42  is plugged into the RSM unit  10 , the RSM unit  10  operates like a normal RSM unit. The radio interface cable  14  is plugged in to the radio  12  and into the RSM unit  10 . Incoming radio signals are routed through the cable  14  to the RSM unit&#39;s speaker  26 , to be made audible to the user. When the user wishes to transmit through the radio  12 , the user presses the PTT button  40 . This action disables the speaker  26  and enables the microphone  22 . The backup microphone  24  is available should the main microphone  22  fail. Releasing the PTT button  40  enables the speaker  26  again. 
     If the user plugs the headset  60  into the jack  70 , the processor  30  senses that connection, and in response automatically disables the built-in speaker  26  and the built-in microphone  22 . Incoming radio signals are automatically routed to the headset  60  via the jack  70 . The connection via the jack  70  also enables the headset microphone  64 . As a result, the user is able to both hear and speak via the headset  60  and the radio  12 , in those circumstances in which such operation is preferred by the user. 
     When the headset  60  is thereafter unplugged from the jack  70 , the processor  30  senses that action and automatically re-enables the built-in speaker  26  and the built-in microphone  22 . 
     Alternatively, the user can use the in-ear speaker  42 . To do that, the user plugs the in-ear speaker connector  48  into the jack  50  on the RSM unit  10 . The processor  30  senses that action, and in response both (1) automatically disables the built-in speaker  26 , and (2) routes incoming radio signals to the in-ear speaker  42  via the jack  50 . In this way, the user can use the in-ear speaker  42  in those circumstances in which such operation is preferred by the user. 
     When the in-ear speaker  42  is thereafter unplugged from the jack  50 , the processor  30  senses that action, and in response automatically enables the built-in speaker  26 . 
     The emergency push button  41  works in the normal manner regardless of how the RSM unit  10  is set up and connected. 
     The unit  10  includes one or more wireless options. This option enables the user to wear one or more wireless earpieces  80 . As indicated at  82  in  FIG. 5 , appropriate circuitry is included in the RSM unit  10  to enable this feature; the design of such circuitry is within the skill of a person of ordinary skill in the art. As such, the RSM unit  10  is usable with a wireless earpiece, as indicated schematically in  FIG. 4 . 
     It can be seen that the present invention enables a user, such as a firefighter, to quickly and easily replace a headset with an in-ear speaker when donning a helmet, because the RSM unit  10  does not have to be swapped out. When an in-ear speaker is plugged into or otherwise connects with the RSM unit  10 , that action automatically (1) disables the speaker in the RSM unit, and (2) enables the in-ear speakers. The RSM unit  10  becomes the push-to-talk mechanism for the in-ear speaker. 
     Because of the ease of replacing the headset  60  with the in-ear speaker  42 , the user can enjoy significantly increased hearing and comprehension even in a very noisy environment. This advantage is available without the user needing to replace the RSM unit  10 . 
     As a result, the present invention can increase the firefighter&#39;s ability to hear incoming radio communications well even in the noisy environment of fighting a fire. 
     The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. For example, both of the headset and the in-ear speaker are described as having wired connections that are physically pluggable into the RSM unit. However, one or both of those can utilize wireless technology, e.g., such as Bluetooth or near field communication (NFC) protocols, so as to eliminate the wired connection and make the device easier to use, especially in emergencies such as those typically required of first responders, military, and other emergency personnel. 
     Having described certain embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the above description or the attached exemplary drawings. Rather, the scope of the invention is defined by the claims appearing hereinbelow and includes any equivalents thereof as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.