Patent ID: 8498428

Claim:
A wireless headset device comprising: a first ear piece; a second ear piece; connecting means having a first end connected to the first ear piece and a second end connected to the second ear piece; and ear piece-to-ear piece communication means for communicating audio information from circuitry in the first ear piece to circuitry in the second ear piece, wherein: the first ear piece comprises: a first speaker; a first ear bud, wherein the first ear bud houses the first speaker such that the first speaker will fit into an ear canal when worn by a user; a first battery; a power management unit connected to receive unregulated power from the first battery and to supply regulated power at a power management unit output; a short-range radio for receiving first digital audio information intended for reproduction by the first speaker, and second digital audio information intended for reproduction by the second speaker; a first codec for converting one or both of the first and second digital audio information into at least one of first analog audio information and second analog audio information; and means for supplying the first analog audio information to the first speaker; and the second ear piece comprises: a second speaker; a second ear bud, wherein the second ear bud houses the second speaker such that the second speaker will fit into another ear canal when worn by a user; and a second battery, wherein the connecting means includes first and second wires that are configured to convey unregulated power from the second battery to circuitry in the first ear piece, and wherein the first and second batteries are connected in parallel.