Patent ID: 8189803

Claim:
A noise reduction headset, comprising: active noise reduction signal processing circuitry for attenuating undesired ambient noise; electronic communication signal processing circuitry for processing communications signals that enter the headset through an electronic communications terminal to reach a wearer of the headset; talk-through signal processing circuitry for permitting a wearer of the headset to hear acoustic communication from the ambient environment, comprising at least one talk-through microphone separate from the electronic communication signal processing circuitry; and a switching element providing a first operating mode with the talk-through signal processing circuitry, the active noise reduction signal processing circuitry, and the electronic communication signal processing circuitry enabled; a second operating mode with the talk-through signal processing circuitry and the electronic communication signal processing circuitry enabled and the active noise reduction signal circuitry disabled; and a third operating mode with the talk-through signal processing circuitry disabled and the active noise reduction signal processing circuitry and the electronic communication signal processing circuitry enabled.