Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7995746?dq=6377161
Timestamp: 2014-09-20 21:14:32
Document Index: 323373427

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 24', 'art 24', 'art 6', 'art 6', 'art 18', 'art 18', 'Application No. 583018']

Patent US7995746 - Headset - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsCommunication unit comprising a housing (1) in which at least one transducer is placed, and on which a microphone arm (2) is suspended. The housing also has an ear hook (6) for fastening the communication unit to the head of a user. The microphone arm (2) is pivotally connected to the housing (1) by...http://www.google.com/patents/US7995746?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7995746 - HeadsetAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7995746 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 12/136,464Publication dateAug 9, 2011Filing dateJun 10, 2008Priority dateMay 9, 2000Also published asCA2406609A1, CA2406609C, CN1222149C, CN1428038A, DE60107415D1, DE60107415T2, DE60107415T9, EP1282974A1, EP1282974B1, US7110535, US7130419, US7146004, US7391862, US8630406, US20020021800, US20040028218, US20040052362, US20040052363, US20040052364, US20080260198, US20120082334, WO2001086923A1Publication number12136464, 136464, US 7995746 B2, US 7995746B2, US-B2-7995746, US7995746 B2, US7995746B2InventorsKlaus Rath, Charles L. PedersenOriginal AssigneeGn Netcom A/SExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (42), Non-Patent Citations (2), Referenced by (3), Classifications (23) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetHeadsetUS 7995746 B2Abstract Communication unit comprising a housing (1) in which at least one transducer is placed, and on which a microphone arm (2) is suspended. The housing also has an ear hook (6) for fastening the communication unit to the head of a user. The microphone arm (2) is pivotally connected to the housing (1) by a hinge link (3, 4, 5) at an outer area of the housing, and so that the microphone arm (2) can be moved between a position in which it lies up against the housing (1), and a position in which it extends away from the housing. The microphone arm has a length, which in the main is less than or of the same order as the greatest extent of the housing, so that in the folded-in state the microphone arm does not project out over the circumference of the housing. The communication unit can be used on both the right and the left side of the head, in that the ear hook (6) can be suspended in two different positions.
1. A communication unit comprising a housing which includes at least one transducer, and on which a microphone arm is suspended, said communication unit being secured to the head of a user by an ear hook, and in that the microphone arm is pivotally connected to the housing by a hinge link at an outer area of the housing, said hinge link having a pivot connecting said earhook to the microphone arm and upon which both the ear hook pivots relative to the microphone arm said pivot located toward the edge of the housing and the microphone arm pivot relative to the earhook and such that the microphone arm can be moved between a first position in which it lies adjacent the housing, and a second position in which it extends away from the housing passing through a position orthogonal to the housing, and wherein said pivot is adjacent a peripheral edge of the housing.
2. Communication unit according to claim 1, wherein the microphone arm is pivotally connected to the housing in such a manner that an axis of rotation for the microphone arm is lying in a plane which is substantially parallel with at least a part of a side surface for the housing.
3. Communication unit according to claim 1, wherein the microphone arm extends outwardly away from the periphery in its open state.
4. Communication unit according to claim 1, wherein the microphone arm extends substantially tangentially away from the housing when in an opened state.
5. Communication unit according to claim 1, wherein the microphone arm is connected to the housing by at least one hinge pin which extend out from a side surface of the housing, and that a first end part of the microphone arm has a hinge part which corresponds to and is disposed between at least one hinge pin.
6. Communication unit according to claim 1, wherein the ear hook, the ear ring is pivotally connected to the microphone arm.
7. Communication unit according to claim 1, wherein the earhook of said communication unit to the head of a user can be pivotally connected to the housing in at least two positions, whereby the communication unit can be worn by a user on either the right or the left side of the head.
8. Communication unit according to claim 1, wherein it further comprises a signal arrangement for optical signaling.
9. Communication unit according to claim 1, wherein the ear hook is configured integral with a bridge part which extends through the hinge pins and the hinge part, and is in engagement with the hinge pins.
10. Communication unit according to claim 1, wherein said pivot is at least a partial shaft from said microphone arm to said ear hook.
11. Communication unit according to claim 1, wherein a microphone is built into the communication unit and wherein the electrical connections to this microphone pass thru the hinge link.
12. Communication unit according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit is configured for wireless communication, and that the communication unit supports an antenna for wireless communication, which antenna is supported by the housing.
13. Communication unit according to claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises a coating on a surface on the housing.
14. Communication unit according to claim 13, wherein the electrical connection to the antenna is effected via the hinge link via electrically conductive coatings on at least one hinge pin and the hinge part of the microphone arm, respectively.
15. A wearable headset communication unit comprising a housing, a pivot, a microphone arm pivotally connected to the housing by a hinge link rotatable on said pivot, said pivot located generally proximate the edge of the housing and the microphone arm being oriented substantially adjacent the housing in a closed position and away from the housing in an open position passing through a position generally orthogonal to the housing therebetween, said ear hook being pivotally connected to said microphone arm by a hinge link rotatable on said same pivot with said pivot extending through the housing at least from the earhook to the microphone arm, such that the ear hook and microphone are movable between a first position in which the inner surface lies adjacent the housing, and a second position in which it extends away from the housing.
16. A communications unit according to claim 15 wherein the microphone arm is of a length such that, when said microphone arm is in said folded position, a compact unit is formed with the microphone is not substantially longer than said longitudinal dimension.
17. Communication unit according to claim 15, wherein face of the housing lies generally in one plane, and wherein the microphone arm is pivotally connected to the housing in such a manner that the microphone arm is capable of rotating on said hinge link through a plane which is generally orthogonal to said one plane as it is moved from a closed to an open position. Description
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/275,788, filed 12 Jun. 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,391,862, which is a national stage entry of PCT/DK01/00288, filed Apr. 30, 2001. The application is incorporated herein by reference.
The invention concerns a communication unit which comprises a housing in which at least one transducer is placed, and on which a microphone arm is suspended, said housing also having means for securing the communication unit to the head of a user.
It is thus an object of the invention to provide a communication unit which, when it is not in use, only occupies very little space, which is easy to use, also for a user who is not familiar with the communication unit, and which is of a robust and operationally reliable construction.
With the embodiment as disclosed in claim 2, use is made of a particularly expedient hinging of the microphone arm to the housing, in that the microphone arm hereby moves in a plane which stands substantially at right-angles to or at an obtuse angle in relation to a side plane for the housing. The hinging can hereby be configured as a particularly robust construction. For example, it can be configured as disclosed in claim 3, by which embodiment it is achieved that the movement of the microphone arm is guided in an especially good manner, and that the hinging will be resistant to influences arising externally, such as shock, impact, jolting and the like.
As disclosed in claim 4, it can be expedient for a switch arrangement to be associated with the movement of the microphone arm, which can be used, for example, for coupling the communication unit electrically when the microphone arm is folded out, and conversely for switching off the communication unit when the microphone arm is folded in against the housing. This will be an advantage especially when the communication unit functions in a wireless manner, in that here it is especially necessary to prevent unnecessary current consumption, which can be achieved precisely with the disclosed configuration, where the current consumption will be cut off when the microphone arm is folded in, e.g. when it is taken off the user's head. It will thus not be necessary for the user to have to remember to switch off the communication unit by operating a separate switch button.
With a particularly expedient embodiment, such as disclosed in claim 5, a lock- or safety-arrangement can be associated with the microphone arm. It can hereby be ensured that the microphone arm will not unintentionally be moved away from the folded-together state, e.g. while it is being kept in a pocket, a bag, the glove compartment of a car or similar places of storage, which could otherwise have the effect that it will consume current, which as mentioned is a disadvantage, especially in connection with wireless configurations. The release arrangement can consist of a purely mechanical device which secures the microphone arm, and which when activated results in the fact that the microphone arm can be folded out. At the same time herewith, the microphone arm can thus activate a switch arrangement as mentioned above. However, the release arrangement can also consist of a mechanical device, which at the same time is coupled to a changeover switch or contact, so that an activation of the release arrangement not only releases the microphone arm but also couples the electrical circuits. Finally, the lock- or safety arrangement can consist of a bi-stable construction of the microphone arm and its suspension, so that the microphone arm, e.g. against a spring pressure, must be forced or moved away from the two stable positions, for example the fully folded-in and the fully folded-out position. It is not until the passage of an unstable point that the movement of the microphone arm becomes easier or possibly completely influenced, e.g. by a spring force, towards the second of the two stable positions. In this way it is similarly ensured that the microphone arm is not unintentionally moved away from the in-active state.
As characterised in claim 6, the communication unit can contain a microphone which can be placed either in the housing or in the microphone arm, in which latter case the electrical connections to a microphone built into the microphone arm can expediently be effected via the hinge link, in that parts of the hinge can possibly constitute or support electrical connections.
Furthermore, the communication unit can expediently be configured as disclosed in claim 7, whereby in connection with a wireless embodiment an antenna is established in association with the housing or in association with the microphone arm, so that it is avoided that a fixed antenna will project outside the extent of the housing when the communication unit is not in use. As disclosed in claim 8, the antenna can expediently consist of a coating on a surface in or on the housing or the microphone arm, for example on a side of the microphone arm, whereby a suitable antenna can be established in a relatively simple manner.
As disclosed in claim 9, the electrical connection to the antenna can be effected via the hinge link, for example by means of an electrically conductive coating on the hinge parts which abut up against each other or lie against each other in the position of use.
Moreover, means for the securing of the communication unit, such as disclosed in claim 10, can consist of an ear hook, an ear ring or the like, which is connected to the housing in such a way that it can be turned out from the housing, so that the ear hook or ear ring can easily grip around behind the ear when the communication unit is placed against the outer ear. When not in the position of use, the ear hook or the ear ring can also be turned in towards the housing where it can be disposed in a cut-out or recess, so that neither the ear hook nor the ear ring will project substantially outside the extent of the housing in the unused state. Thus, neither the means for securing the communication unit on the head of the user will constitute any hindrance to an easy storing of the communication unit in, for example, a pocket, a bag or similar places when it is not in use.
The communication unit can also be configured as disclosed in claim 11, so that there is free choice whether the communication unit is to be worn on the right or on the left ear, in that the user can carry out a changeover to the position in which the communication unit is desired to be worn in a relatively simple manner.
When the unit according to the invention is configured as disclosed and characterised in claim 12, it can signal whether a conversation is in progress or, alternatively, whether the unit is switched on or off. If use is made of a miniature light diode as light source, the current consumption is minimised. It can be of particular advantage if the unit is configured as disclosed and characterised in claim 13, in that it is hereby possible to position the signal device in the vicinity of the sound opening for the microphone or sound tube.
Moreover, when the unit according to the invention is configured as disclosed and characterised in claim 14, the light source will be protected and can illuminate or shine through the item when use is made of a transparent or partly transparent rubber, whereby a greater signal effect is achieved. At the same time herewith, the item can constitute a �soft� stop for the microphone arm when it is folded in.
Finally, the unit according to the invention can be configured as disclosed and characterised in claim 15. A more stable hinging of the ear hook is hereby achieved, and at the same time herewith an increased acoustic distance between the transducer and receiver is achieved, so that coupling is avoided.
In the following, the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings, where
FIG. 6 shows the same embodiment seen from above,
FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the invention seen in perspective and on a scale corresponding to FIGS. 3-6,
FIG. 8 shows the same embodiment as in FIG. 7, but seen from the opposite side,
FIG. 9 shows the same embodiment as in FIG. 7, but seen directly from the side,
FIG. 10 shows the same embodiment as in FIG. 7, but with ear hook and microphone arm folded in, and
FIG. 11 shows a plane section in the microphone arm in FIG. 7, seen in the direction IX-IX and on a much larger scale.
An embodiment of a communication unit according to the invention is shown in perspective and in its state of use in FIG. 1, and as will be seen the unit consists of a housing, which is indicated in general by the reference FIG. 1. This housing is configured as a flat capsule with slightly convex side surfaces, i.e. an inner side surface 1 a and an outer side surface 1 b, and with an annular edge surface 1 c, which is similarly slightly convex. The extent of the side surfaces of the housing is of the same order as or less than an ear, so that the housing can easily be worn by a user without any inconvenience.
Moreover, an ear hook 6 is secured to the housing 1, in that this ear hook can be secured to the housing in a pivotal manner by means of the hinge pin 4. The ear hook can thus be turned at an angle out from the side surface 1 a, so that the communication unit can be placed on the ear of a user. Finally, it will be seen in FIG. 1 that in the side surface 1 a openings 8 are provided, which stand in connection with a transducer or loudspeaker in the housing 1.
FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of a communication unit according to the invention on a slightly smaller scale and of a slightly changed embodiment. As will be seen, the housing is made up of two-shells, i.e. an outer shell 11 and an inner shell 12. Between these two shells an intermediate plate 13 is placed, which can support electrical circuits and components. A transducer 14 is placed between this plate 13 and the inner shell 12, and a battery 15 is placed on the other side of the intermediate plate 13. Components other than those shown or described can naturally be placed in the same manner on or between the shells and the intermediate plate. Similarly, in or on the housing 1 an antenna (not shown) can be placed for use in the wireless transmission of signals to or from the communication unit. This antenna can be placed on a print board in the housing 1 or can be configured as an electrically conductive coating on another part of the housing, for example on the inner side or the outer side of the outer shell 11 or the inner shell 12.
In FIGS. 3,4,5 and 6, the communication unit shown in FIG. 2 is shown in the assembled state and from various angles. As will be seen, the housing in this configuration is slightly oval when seen from the side, but it is obvious that other suitable configurations can be chosen, such as circular, egg-shaped, partly linear or compositions of these shapes. The essential factor in this connection is that the shape is such that the communication unit is easily stored, and such that the microphone arm 2 and the ear hook 6 can lie closely up against the housing.
The communication unit can be configured as an ordinary earset provided with an electrical connection, but can in particular be configured as a wireless unit which contains the necessary circuits and components, such as an antenna as mentioned, for the necessary communication with a base station, a telephone network, a mobile telephone, a PC or similar equipment, with which speech and sound are exchanged. By this communication, use can be made, for example, of known short-distance forms of communication, such as e.g. the so-called �Bluetooth� technology. For use in a wireless manner, it is important to limit the current consumption, so that the built-in battery 15 can supply the communication unit with current for an adequate length of time between battery replacements or recharging. For this purpose, the activation part 24 discussed in connection with FIG. 2 can serve instead of or in addition to an ordinarily used switch (not shown) which can be placed on the housing 1, and which must be operated manually. The activation part 24 can thus serve to cause a disconnection of the current supply when the microphone arm 2 is folded in against the housing 1, and conversely to connect the current supply when the microphone arm is folded out when the communication unit is taken into use. It is hereby prevented that a commonly known switch, which can be placed e.g. on the housing, can be activated accidentally e.g. when the unit is placed in a pocket, whereby current will be consumed. Because of the length of the microphone arm and the way in which the arm is folded out, with the arrangement described an accidental connection can arise only when there is sufficient room in the relevant storage place for the microphone arm 2 to fold out.
Another embodiment of the invention is seen in FIGS. 7-11 of the drawing, where for the parts, which are unchanged in relation to FIGS. 1-6, the same reference numbers are used. It is seen in FIGS. 7-10 that the sound openings 8 a to the built-in transducer or loudspeaker are placed in a slightly different manner, and that a cavity 9 for acoustic adjustment is displaced slightly rearwards in comparison with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6. Apart from these differences, the housing 1 is configured in substantially the same way as in the embodiment in FIGS. 1-6.
On the other hand, the ear hook 6 has been changed, in that via a connection part 6 a it is configured as an integral part of a bridge part 6 b, so that in this way the ear hook 6 can enter into engagement with both of the hinge pins, i.e. it can enter into engagement on both sides of the hinge 5. This results in a more rigid construction and a longer acoustic path from the sound openings a from the transducer in the housing 1 to the sound opening 7 in the microphone arm for microphone or sound tube. The risk of coupling is hereby minimised.
The most important changes in comparison with the embodiment in FIGS. 1-6 involve the microphone arm 2, and in this connection reference is made especially to FIGS. 8, 9 and 11. The changes namely involve the addition of a signal device in the form of a miniature light diode 26 or the like, which via leads 27 can be made to signal whether a conversation is in progress, or whether the unit is switched on or off. It is preferred that use is made of a miniature light diode 26, in that such a device has minimal current consumption, but there is naturally nothing to prevent use being made of other forms of light sources. The light diode 26 can be placed in an item 25 of rubber as shown in FIG. 11, e.g. of transparent or partly transparent rubber material which the light diode can illuminate or shine through. Hereby an illuminating surface 28 appears, e.g. in the vicinity of the sound opening 7 for the microphone or sound tube on the outside of the microphone arm 2. From FIG. 11 it will be seen that an opening 30 is provided in the microphone arm 2, and an opening 31 in the shell part 18, and that the item 25 is configured in such a manner that it sits firmly with a clamping effect in the cavity between the two parts. On the inwardly-facing side of the microphone arm 2, i.e. on the outwardly-facing side of the shell part 18, by suitable configuration of the item 25 a forwardly-facing surface 29 can be provided which can expediently serve as a soft stop when the microphone arm 2 is folded all the way in as shown in FIG. 10. In FIG. 11 it is shown how the light diode 26 can be placed inside the rubber item 25 itself. It will be obvious to those familiar with the art that this positioning is only an example of how the light source can be configured. In the example shown, the direction of the light emission from the diode 26 will be towards the surface 28, so that the whole of the surface will be illuminated when the light diode is activated. In this way, the light diode sits well protected inside the rubber item.
Finally, it is obvious that the parts, which constitute the communication unit, can be configured from materials suitable for the purpose, such as synthetic and plastic materials, and that certain parts can be made of suitable metals.
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