Abstract:
An audio communications system enables a person using an stereophonic audio headset to selectively communicate simultaneously with two or more persons. The system includes a headset having a first earphone for reproducing a first voice communication in response to a received first audio communication signal and a second earphone for reproducing a second voice communication in response to a received second audio communication signal. Control means located for use by a person wearing the headset selectively enable the first voice communication to be reproduced by the first earphone and/or the second voice communication to be reproduced by the second earphone. Attention signals associated with the respective earphones are received and processed by the control means. A microphone output signal produced by a microphone on the headset can be selectively provided to a plurality of output terminals and an attention signal can be selectively provided with the microphone output signal to selected output terminals. A distinctive audio pattern is produced in one of the earphones to help a person wearing the audio headset to distinguish between the reproduced voices of two different persons that are respectively reproduced during the same interval by the different earphones.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains to electronic communications and is particularly directed to audio communications systems utilizing an audio headset. 
     A typical audio headset includes a pair of earphones and may further include a microphone. In a monophonic headset, each earphone reproduces the same audio communication, such as a voice sound or music, in response to a received audio communication signal. In a stereophonic headset, a first earphone reproduces a first audio communication in response to a received first audio communication signal and a second earphone reproduces a second audio communication in response to a received second audio received audio communication signal, wherein the first and second communication signals are received from the same source as components of a stereo audio signal. A microphone detects sounds, such as voice sounds, and produces a microphone output signal in response to the detected sounds. The microphone output signal may be provided to a plurality of output terminals and thereby communicated simultaneously to audio speakers used by a plurality of persons. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, a person wearing a stereophonic audio headset, including a pair of earphones that are respectively connected for receiving voice communication signals from microphones used by two other persons, and a microphone that is coupled to speakers used by the two other persons, can communicate by voice simultaneously with both of the other persons. 
     Problems that occur that occur when so using a stereophonic headset to communicate simultaneously with two or more persons include difficulty in excluding one of the other persons from a conversation when privacy is desired; and difficulty in distinguishing between the reproduced voices of two different persons that are respectively reproduced simultaneously by the different earphones. 
     The present invention provides communication apparatus for enabling a person wearing a headset including first and second audio earphones to selectively communicate with two other persons, comprising an input circuit for connection to the first and second earphones for separately providing first and second audio communication signals separately received from different sources to the first and second earphones respectly, a and input switching means connected to the input circuit for selectively enabling the input circuit to provide either (a) the first audio communication signal to the first earphone, (b) the second audio communication signal to the second earphone, or (c) the first and second audio communication signals simultaneously and separately to the first and second earphones respectively. 
     The present invention also provides an audio communications headset, comprising first and second audio earphones; input circuit means connected to the first and second earphones for separately providing first and second audio communication signals separately received from different sources to the first and second earphones respectively; and input switching means connected to the input circuit means for selectively enabling the input circuit means to provide either (a) the first audio communication signal to the first earphone, (b) the second audio communication signal to the second earphone, or (c) the first and second audio communication signals simultaneously and separately to the first and second earphones respectively. 
     The present invention additionally provides communication apparatus for enabling a person wearing a headset including first and second audio earphones to communicate with two other persons, comprising an input circuit for connection to the first and second earphones for separately providing first and second audio communication signals separately received from different sources to the first and second earphones respectively; and means for generating a distinctive audio pattern signal; and means coupled to the input circuit for causing the generated distinctive audio pattern signal to be provided exclusively to the first earphone whenever the first audio communication signal is being provided to the first earphone. 
     The present invention still further provides a method of selectively communicating with two other persons by a person wearing a headset including first and second audio earphones, the method comprising the steps of: 
     (a) separately receiving a first audio communication signals from a first person and a second audio communication signal from a second person; and 
     (b) selectively providing at different times (i) the first audio communication signal to the first earphone, (ii) the second audio communication signal to the second earphone, and (iii) the first and second audio communication signals simultaneously and separately to the first and second earphones respectively. 
     Additional features of the present invention are described with reference to the detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the audio communications system of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of a portion of the control circuit for the headset in the communication system shown in FIG. 1 that is adapted for selectively enabling an audio communication to be reproduced by an earphone in response to a received audio communication signal. 
     FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of an alternative preferred embodiment of the portion of the control circuit shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of another alternative preferred embodiment of a portion of the control circuit for the headset in the communication system shown in FIG. 1 that is adapted for selectively enabling an audio communication to be reproduced by an earphone in response to a received audio communication signal. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of a portion of the control circuit for the headset in the communication system shown in FIG. 1 that is adapted for providing a microphone output signal and an attention signal to selected output terminals. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of an audio communications system according to the present invention includes a first set of communication apparatus  10 , a second set of communication apparatus  12  and a third set of communication apparatus  14 . The first set of communication apparatus  10  includes a microphone  16 , a speaker  18 , a signal generator  20 , a control circuit  22 , and a transceiver  24 . The second set of communication apparatus  12  includes a microphone  16 ′, a speaker  18 ′, a signal generator  20 ′, a control circuit  22 ′, and a transceiver  24 ′. The third set of communication apparatus  14  includes a headset  26 , a signal generator  28 , a control circuit  32  and a transceiver  34 . 
     The headset  26  includes a microphone  36 , a first earphone  38  and a second earphone  40 . The microphone  36  is attached to the second earphone  40  by an arm  42 . A first control unit  44  is attached to the first earphone  38 , a second control unit  46  is attached to the second earphone  40 , and a third control unit  48  is attached to the arm  42  adjacent the second earphone  38 . The first control unit  44  includes a first control button  50 , the second control unit  46  includes a second control button  52 , and the third control unit  48  includes a third control button  54 , a fourth control button  56  and a fifth control button  58 . A first display light  60 , such as a light emitting diode, is attached to the arm  42  at one side of the microphone  36 , and a second display light  62  is attached to the arm  42  at the other side of the microphone  36 . 
     In the first set of communication apparatus  10 , the microphone  16  produces a first voice communication signal  17 , which is conditioned by the control circuit  22  to provide a first audio communication signal  23  that is transmitted by the transceiver  24  to the transceiver  34  for the headset  26  of the third set of communication apparatus  14 . When it is desired to alert a person wearing the headset  26  that an audio communication signal  17  is being sent from the first set of communication apparatus  10 , the signal generator  20  of the first set of communication apparatus  10  is actuated to generate a first attention signal  21 , which is combined with the first voice communication signal  17  by the control circuit  22  while providing the first audio communication signal  23 . 
     In the second set of communication apparatus  12 , the microphone  16 ′ produces a second voice communication signal  17 ′, which is conditioned by the control circuit  22 ′ to provide a second audio communication signal  23 ′ that is transmitted by the transceiver  24 ′ to the transceiver  34  for the headset  26  of the third set of communication apparatus  14 . The headset transceiver  34  is coupled to the transceiver  24  of the first set of communication apparatus and the transceiver  24 ′ of the second set of communication apparatus by radio links, wire and/or fiber optics. When it is desired to alert a person wearing the headset  26  that an audio communication signal  17 ′ is being sent from the second set of communication apparatus  12 , the signal generator  20 ′ of the second set of communication apparatus  12  is actuated to generate a second attention signal  21 ′, which is combined with the second voice communication signal  17 ′ by the control circuit  22 ′ while providing the second audio communication signal  23 ′. 
     The transceiver  34  for the headset  26  provides both the received first audio communication signal  23  and the received second audio communication signal  23 ′ to the control circuit  32 , which processes the received first audio communication signal  23  to derive a received first voice communication signal  17  and a received first attention signal  21 , which is shown in FIGS. 2,  2 A and  3 , and processes the received second audio communication signal  23 ′ to derive a received second voice communication signal  17 ′ and a received second attention signal. The control circuit  32  also processes the received first voice communication signal  17  and the received second voice communication signal  17 ′ in order to condition such signals for causing the first earphone  38  and the second earphones  40  to reproduce voice sounds in response thereto. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, a portion of the control circuit  32  that selectively enables the first voice communication to be reproduced by the first earphone  38  of the headset  26  in response to the received first voice communication signal  17  includes a switch  64 , a signal generator  66 , and a signal combining unit  68 . The switch  64  is operated by a person wearing the headset  26  pressing the first control button  50  on the first control unit  44  attached to the first earphone  38 . The first control button  50  contacts a circuit element (not shown) in the first earphone control unit  44  that is connected to the switch  64  by a wire  51  contained in a sleeve (not shown) extending between the first earphone control unit  44  and the control circuit  32 . By operating the first control button  50 , a person wearing the headset  26  can selectively enable the received first voice communication signal  17  to be provided to the first earphone  38 . The signal generator  66  generates a distinctive audio pattern signal  67 , to which the first earphone  38  responds by producing a distinctive audio pattern, such as a humming sound or a light melody that usually does not distract a person&#39;s attention from voice sounds. The signal combining unit  68  combines the distinctive audio pattern signal  67  with the received first voice communication signal  17  to provide a first composite audio communication signal  69  that is provided to the first earphone  38 . The first earphone  38  responds to the first composite signal  69  by reproducing a first voice communication in response to the received first voice communication signal  17  and by producing the distinctive audio pattern in response to the distinctive audio pattern signal  67 . The switch  64  responds whenever a first attention signal  21  is received by causing the received first audio communication signal  17  to be provided to the first earphone  38  notwithstanding whether or not the switch  64  had been set by operation of the control button  50  to enable the received first audio communication signal  17  to be provided to the first earphone  38 . 
     The portion of the control circuit  32  that selectively enables the second voice communication to be reproduced by the second earphone  40  of the headset  26  in response to the received second voice communication signal  17 ′ is the same as shown in FIG. 2, except that the signal generator  66  and the signal combining unit  68  are omitted so that a distinctive audio pattern is not produced by the second earphone  40 . The switch  64  in this portion of the control circuit  32  is operated by a person wearing the headset  26  pressing the second control button  52  on the second control unit  46  attached to the second earphone  40 . The second control button  52  contacts a circuit element (not shown) in the second earphone control unit  46  that is connected to the switch  64  by a wire  53  contained in a sleeve (not shown) extending between the second earphone control unit  46  and the control circuit  32 . By operating the second control button  52 , a person wearing the headset  26  can selectively enable the received second voice communication signal  17 ′ to be provided to the second earphone  40 . The second earphone  40  reproduces a second voice communication in response to the second voice communication signal  17 ′. 
     Although a distinctive audio pattern that differs from the distinctive audio pattern produced in the first earphone  38  could be produced in the second earphone  40 , a distinctive audio pattern is produced in combination with a reproduced voice sound in only one of the two earphones  38 ,  40  in a preferred embodiment of the headset  26  that is designed for use by a person who prefers to associate the voice sounds reproduced in only one of the earphones  38 ,  40  with a distinctive audio pattern. 
     When it is desired that neither earphone  38 ,  40  produces a distinctive audio pattern in combination with the voice sound reproduced by the earphone  38 ,  40 , two identical portions of the control circuit  32  as shown in FIG. 2, except for the omission of the signal generator  66  and the signal combining unit  68 , are used respectively to selectively enable provision of the received first voice communication signal  17  to the first earphone  38  and to selectively enable provision of the received second voice communication signal  17 ′ to the second earphone  40 . 
     An alternative preferred embodiment of the portion of the control circuit  32  shown in FIG. 2 is shown in FIG.  2 A. The alternative preferred embodiment of FIG. 2A differs from the embodiment of FIG. 2 only in that the switch  64  is located after rather than before the signal combining unit  68  so that the distinctive audio pattern signal  67  is provided to the first earphone  38  only when the switch  64  is operated to enable the first voice communication signal  17  to be provided to the first earphone  38 . A portion of the control circuit  32  identical to that shown in FIG. 2A is used for selectively enabling provision of the second voice communication signal  17 ′ to the second earphone  40  of the headset  26 , except that different distinctive audio pattern signals  67  are generated by the signal generators  66  of the respective portions of control circuit  32  for provision to the first and second earphones  38 ,  40 . Accordingly, a first distinctive audio pattern, such as a light melody, is produced in the first earphone  38  only when the received first audio communication signal  17  is provided to the first earphone  38  and a second distinctive audio pattern, such as a humming sound, is produced in the second earphone  40  only when the received second audio communication signal  17 ′ is provided to the second earphone  40 , so that a person wearing the headset  26  can readily determine to which of the first and second earphones  38 ,  40  provision of the respective first and second audio communications signals  17 ,  17 ′ has been enabled, by listening for the first and distinctive audio patterns. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, an alternative embodiment of the portion of the control circuit  32  that selectively enables the first voice communication to be reproduced by the first earphone  38  of the headset  26  in response to the received first voice communication signal  17  includes a switch  64 , a first signal generator  66 , a second signal generator  70  and a signal combining unit  72 . The switch  64  is operated by a person wearing the headset  26  pressing the first control button  50  on the first control unit  44  attached to the first earphone  38 . The first control button  50  contacts a circuit element (not shown) in the first earphone control unit  44  that is connected to the switch  64  by a wire  51  contained in a sleeve (not shown) extending between the first earphone control unit  44  and the control circuit  32 . By operating the first control button  50 , a person wearing the headset  26  can selectively enable the received first voice communication signal  17  to be provided to the first earphone  38 . The first signal generator  66  generates a distinctive pattern audio signal  67 , to which the first earphone  38  responds by producing a distinctive audio pattern, such as a humming sound or a light melody that usually does not distract a person&#39;s attention form voice sounds. The second signal generator  70  responds to the received attention signal  21  by generating an attention audio signal  71  that causes the first earphone  38  to produce a distracting sound, such as a momentary buzz. The signal combining unit  72  combines the pattern audio signal  67  and the attention audio signal  71  (whenever such is generated) with the received first voice communication signal  17  to provide a first composite audio communication signal  73  that is provided to the first earphone  38 . The first earphone  38  responds to the first composite signal  73  by reproducing a first voice communication in response to the received first voice communication signal  17 , by producing the distinctive audio pattern in response to the distinctive audio pattern signal  67 , and by producing the distracting sound in response to the attention audio signal  71 . If, upon the distracting sound being produced by the first earphone  38 , the switch  64  had not been set to enable the received first audio communication signal  17  to be provided to the first earphone  38 , the person wearing the headset  26  can press the first control button  50  on the first control unit  44  attached to the first earphone  38  to enable the received first audio communication signal  17  to be provided to the first earphone  38 . 
     In this alternative embodiment, the portion of the control circuit  32  that selectively enables the second voice communication to be reproduced by the second earphone  40  of the headset  26  in response to the received second voice communication signal  17 ′ is the same as shown in FIG. 3, except that the signal generator  66  is omitted so that a distinctive audio pattern is not produced by the second earphone  40 . The switch  64  in the portion of the control circuit  32  that selectively provides the received second voice communication signal  17 ′ to the second earphone  40  is operated by a person wearing the headset  26  pressing the second control button  52  on the second control unit  46  attached to the second earphone  40 . The second earphone  40  reproduces a second voice communication in response to the second voice communication signal  17 ′ and produces the distracting sound in response to the attention audio signal  71 . 
     In another alternative preferred embodiment, reproduction of first voice communication by the first earphone  38  in response to the received first voice communication signal  17  is enabled by enabling operation of the first earphone  38  by operating a switch (not shown) in the first control unit  44  by pressing the first control button  50  on the first control unit  44  attached to the first earphone  38 ; and reproduction of second voice communication by the second earphone  40  in response to the received second voice communication signal  17 ′ is enabled by enabling operation of the second earphone  40  by operating a switch (not shown) in the second control unit  46  by pressing the second control button  52  on the second control unit  46  attached to the second earphone  40 . 
     The control circuit  32  also provides the first attention signal  21  received from the first set of communication apparatus  10  to the first display light  60  and provides the second attention signal  21 ′ received from the second set of communication apparatus  12  to the second display light  62 . The first display light  60  responds to the first attention signal  21  by flashing on and off for a short duration to provide a visual indication of receipt by the headset  26  of an attention signal from the first set of communication apparatus  10 ; and the second display light  62  responds to the second attention signal  21 ′ by flashing on and off for a short duration to provide a visual indication of receipt by the headset  26  of an attention signal from the second set of communication apparatus  12 . The display light  60 ,  62  that responds to an attention signal  21 ,  21 ′ from a given set of communication apparatus  10 ,  12  is on the same side of the headset  26  as the earphone  38 ,  40  that responds to an audio communication signal  17 ,  17 ′ from the same given set of communication apparatus  10 ,  12  so that a person wearing the headset  26  can readily associate the visual indication with a given earphone  38 ,  40 . In some embodiments, the display lights  60 ,  62  are mounted on a display panel in from the person wearing the headset  26  rather than adjacent the microphone  36  on the arm  42  of the headset  26 . 
     The headset microphone  36  detects sounds and produces a microphone output signal  37  in response to the detected sounds. The signal generator  28  produces an attention signal  29  in response to being actuated by pressing the third control button  54  on the third control unit  48 . 
     Referring to FIG. 4, a portion of the control circuit  32  that selectively enables the microphone output signal  37  from the headset  26  and the attention signal  29  from the signal generator  28  to be selectively provided to different output terminals for transmission to the first set of communication apparatus  10  and the second set of communication apparatus  12  includes a first output terminal  76 , a second output terminal  78 , a signal combining unit  80 , a first switch  82  and a second switch  84 . The signal combining unit  80  combines the microphone output signal  37  with the attention signal  29  that is produced by the signal generator  28  whenever the person wearing the headset  26  actuates the signal generator  28  by operating the third control button  54 . The third control button  54  contacts a circuit element (not shown) in the third control unit  48  that is connected to the signal generator  28  by a wire  55 . The output of the signal combining unit  80  is connected through the first switch  82  to the first output terminal  76  and is connected through the second switch  84  to the second output terminal  78 . 
     The first switch  82  is operated by a person wearing the headset  26  pressing the fourth control button  56  on the third control unit  48 . The fourth control button  56  contacts a circuit element (not shown) in the third control unit  48  that is connected to the first switch  82  by a wire  57  contained in the sleeve extending between the third control unit  48  and the control circuit  32 . By operating the first switch  82 , a person wearing the headset  26  can selectively cause the received microphone output signal  37  and any attention signal  29  produced by the signal generator  28  to be provided to the first output terminal  76  for transmission to the first set of communication apparatus  10 . The second switch  84  is operated by a person wearing the headset  26  pressing the fifth control button  58  on the third control unit  48 . The fifth control button  58  contacts a circuit element (not shown) in the third control unit  48  that is connected to the second switch  84  by a wire  59  contained in the sleeve extending between the third control unit  48  and the control circuit  32 . By operating the second switch  84 , a person wearing the headset  26  can selectively cause the received microphone output signal  37  and any attention signal  29  produced by the signal generator  28  to be provided to the second output terminal  78  for transmission to the second set of communication apparatus  12 . 
     The headset control circuit  32  conditions the signal provided at the first output terminal  76  to provide an audio communication signal  35  that is transmitted by the headset transceiver  34  to the transceiver  24  of the first set of communication apparatus  10 ; and control circuit  32  conditions the signal provided at the second output terminal  78  to provide an audio communication signal  35 ′ that is transmitted by the headset transceiver  34  to the transceiver  24 ′ of the second set of communication apparatus  12 . 
     In the first set of communication apparatus  10 , the transceiver  24  provides the received audio communication signal  35  to the control circuit  22 , which processes the received audio communication signal  35  to derive a received microphone output signal  37  and a received attention signal  29 . The control circuit  22  also processes the received microphone output signal  37  and any received attention signal  29  in order to condition such signals for causing the speaker  18  to reproduce sounds in response thereto. The speaker  18  reproduces a voice communication in response to the received microphone output signal  37  and produces a distracting sound in response to any received attention signal  29 . 
     In the second set of communication apparatus  12 , the transceiver  24 ′ provides the received audio communication signal  35 ′ to the control circuit  22 ′, which processes the received audio communication signal  35 ′ to derive a received microphone output signal  37  and a received attention signal  29 . The control circuit  22 ′ also processes the received microphone output signal  37  and any received attention signal  29  in order to condition such signals for causing the speaker  18 ′ to reproduce sounds in response thereto. The speaker  18 ′ reproduces a voice communication in response to the received microphone output signal  37  and produces a distracting sound in response to any received attention signal  29 . 
     The respective microphones  16 ,  16 ′ and/or speakers  18 ,  18 ′ of the first and second set of communication apparatus  10 ,  12  may be embodied in headsets, such as the headset  26  of the third set of communication apparatus  14 , and/or they may be embodied in telephone handsets and/or in other combinations of detached microphones and speakers. 
     The communications system and headset  26  described herein are particularly well suited for military and police operations, and may be used by any person wearing a headset for conversing with two or more persons, such by a radio or television broadcast director, or by an athletic coach at one location while conversing with other coaches at other locations during an athletic contest, or by a stockbroker while conversing with clients at different remote locations, or by air traffic controllers while conversing with pilots and/or each other, or by a car driver while conversing with persons at different remote locations. 
     The advantages specifically stated herein do not necessarily apply to every conceivable embodiment of the present invention. Further, such stated advantages of the present invention are only examples and should not be construed as the only advantages of the present invention. 
     While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the present invention, but rather as examples of the preferred embodiments described herein. Other variations are possible and the scope of the present invention should be determined not by the embodiments described herein but rather by the claims and their legal equivalents.