PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9131309-B2
Application Number: US-201414463483-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Wired headset with integrated switch

Abstract:
Headsets are provided with integrated switch assemblies. An integrated switch assembly can include a switch hidden from view by a housing. The switch can be activated when a user applies pressure to the housing. The housing may include a flexible housing cover that, when depressed, may engage the switch contained within the housing. When engaged, the switch may move or snap to a switch activation position within the housing.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device capable of being controlled by a switch assembly of a headset when coupled to the headset, the electronic device comprising:
 an interface that connects to the headset, the headset comprising:
 a switch; 
 a microphone; 
 a top housing cover free of an opening; and 
 a bottom housing cover coupled with the top housing cover, wherein:
 the top housing cover and the bottom housing cover fully cover the switch and the microphone, 
 the top housing cover extends a length of the switch assembly, and the switch assembly is free of a discrete element protruding through the top housing cover; and 
 
 
 a software program configured to detect a signal from a microphone section of the interface when a switch in the headset is in a closed position, wherein when the switch is in an open position the software program turns off a microphone function within the electronic device, and wherein a force applied to at least one of the top housing cover and the bottom housing cover actuates the switch. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is configured to transmit a sound received by the microphone to a second electronic device over a connection between the electronic device and the second electronic device, and wherein the bottom housing cover includes a single opening. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is selected from a portable media device, cellular telephone, and digital music player. 
     
     
       4. The electronic device as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an audio signal stored on a memory circuit, wherein the electronic device is configured to transmit the audio signal to the headset. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the software program is configured to process the signal and determine the microphone of the headset is activated. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a processor configured to run the software program; and 
 a memory circuit configured to store the software program. 
 
     
     
       7. The electronic device as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising communications circuitry configured to couple the electronic device to the switch assembly. 
     
     
       8. A system, the system comprising:
 an electronic device; 
 a headset coupled to the electronic device, the headset having an integrated switch assembly comprising:
 a top cover and a bottom cover combining to define a flexible housing cover having a first end, a second end, and a central portion between the first end and the second end; 
 a switch located at the central portion configured to change a function of the electronic device; 
 a microphone at the first end; 
 a housing core extending from the first end to the second end, the housing core receiving the switch and the microphone; and 
 a circuit board assembly coupled to the switch and the microphone, 
 
 wherein the electronic device is configured to receive sound from the microphone, and wherein the switch is in a closed switch position when the flexible housing cover is depressed. 
 
     
     
       9. The system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the electronic device is a cellular telephone and where the function is selected from a group consisting of a volume increase, a volume decrease, a speaker mute, media playback function, a dial, and a hang-up. 
     
     
       10. The system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the switch is configured to activate or deactivate the microphone. 
     
     
       11. The system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the microphone is capable of receiving a sound and sending the sound to the electronic device. 
     
     
       12. The system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the headset is coupled to the electronic device via a wireless channel. 
     
     
       13. The system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the headset receives an audio signal from the electronic device via the wireless channel. 
     
     
       14. The system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the integrated switch assembly is positioned between a first cover and a second cover. 
     
     
       15. The system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein when the first cover is depressed, the switch is in an activation position. 
     
     
       16. The system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein when the first cover is free of depression, the switch returns to a standby position different from the activation position. 
     
     
       17. A method for controlling an electronic device using a headset having a switch, the method comprising:
 receiving a top cover and a bottom cover to define a housing cover of the headset to enclose all contents associated with the switch, wherein the housing cover receives a first wire at a first end and a second wire at a second end opposite the first end; 
 depressing only the housing cover to cause the switch to be in a closed switch configuration; and 
 changing a function of the electronic device based upon the closed switch configuration, wherein the top cover is a unitary body free of a through-hole and the bottom cover includes a single through-hole that is free of a discrete element protruding through the bottom cover. 
 
     
     
       18. The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the function is selected from a group consisting of a volume increase, a volume decrease, and media playback function. 
     
     
       19. The method as recited in  claim 18 , further comprising upon depressing the housing cover, actuating the switch, wherein actuating the switch changes the function of the electronic device. 
     
     
       20. The method as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising:
 forming a through-hole in the housing cover; and 
 positioning a microphone within the housing cover, wherein the electronic device is capable of receiving a sound from the microphone and transmitting the sound to a second electronic device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 13/429,876 filed Mar. 26, 2012, which is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 11/824,031 filed Jun. 28, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,144,915 issued Mar. 27, 2012, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/879,155, filed Jan. 6, 2007, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention can relate to headsets and, more particularly, to wired headsets including an integrated switch. 
     Electrical switches for controlling functions of electronic devices are well known. For example, some known media and communication devices include switches that are used to activate particular functions of the device (e.g., on/off, play, pause, select, or volume). To provide control of functions at a location remote from the media or communication device, switches that are electrically connected to and incorporated in wires attached to the device have been developed (e.g., switches in wired headsets plugged into a jack of an audio device). For example, a headset can include a wheeled switch for controlling the volume of music provided by an electronic device (e.g., a portable music player). As another example, a headset can include several buttons for controlling playback of music (e.g., play, next, last, fast forward, and rewind buttons). 
     A drawback of such switches that have been implemented in headset wires is that they tend to be bulky and have limited control functions. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a partial exploded view of a wired peripheral assembly system; 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates an electrical diagram of an embodiment of a simplified schematic diagram of a headset system having a switch assembly configured such that a switch can change a function of a microphone; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded view showing top and bottom housing covers positioned around a core, a pair of leads, and a shroud, in accordance with the described embodiments; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates the embodiment of the headset shown in  FIG. 2 , rotated 180 degrees; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the embodiment of the headset shown in  FIG. 2  with the top and bottom housing covers removed to illustrate the core assembled with the shroud; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates the embodiment of the headset shown in  FIG. 2 , with the components fully assembled; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates the embodiment of the headset shown in  FIG. 5 , rotated 180 degrees to show a through-hole for the microphone; 
         FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate cross sectional views of an embodiment of a headset showing internal components; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a cross sectional view of a headset showing an integrated switch assembly crimped inside top and bottom cover housings; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a partial exploded view of a wired monaural headset with an integrated switch assembly in accordance with a described embodiment; and 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a perspective view of a media device according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate and understand that, according to common practice, various features of the drawings discussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale, and that dimensions of various features and elements of the drawings may be expanded or reduced to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention described herein. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Switches that can be incorporated in wires, that can feature small and unobtrusive profiles, and that can control one or more functions of devices coupled to the wires, are provided. Switches that can be easy to use without requiring users to look at the switches are also provided. 
     A wired peripheral assembly with an integrated switch assembly is provided. The integrated switch assembly can include a switch hidden from view by a housing. The switch can be activated when the user applies pressure to the housing. The housing may include a flexible housing cover that, when depressed, engages a switch contained within the housing. When engaged, the switch may move or “snap” to a switch activation position within the housing. When housing is no longer squeezed, the switch may return to a standby position within the housing, as the housing cover may no longer be depressed, and no longer engages the switch. 
     Incorporating the switch within the switch housing advantageously can eliminate the need to provide a discrete switch member that is visible (e.g., that protrudes from the housing), thus providing a more aesthetically pleasing housing with switch functionality. In addition, the relative ease in activating the switch in accordance with embodiments of the invention may be greater than that of peripheral assemblies (e.g., headsets) having discrete switch members because there may be no need to discern where the switch is located in order to activate the switch. The user can merely squeeze the housing of the integrated switch assembly to activate the switch. 
     The integrated switch assembly can be placed anywhere along a cord assembly that may physically and electrically interconnect one or more peripheral assemblies via wires to a plug or port that may communicate with an electronic device. The switch assembly can be used to control any suitable function of any suitable electronic device and/or any suitable peripheral assembly thereof. The electronic device may be of a variety of suitable electronic device forms, including, but not limited to, computers, media systems, portable media devices (e.g., portable music players, such as iPods™ available by Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), cellular telephones, personal media devices that may include telephone communication and digital music player capabilities, or combinations thereof. The one or more peripheral assemblies may each be of a variety of suitable peripheral assembly forms, including, but not limited to, acoustic assemblies or transducers (e.g., speakers, earbuds, or microphones), visual assemblies (e.g., cameras, video recorders, etc.), or combinations thereof. The functions that the switch assembly can be used to control may be any of a variety of suitable functions, including, but not limited to, microphone or speaker mute, volume control, media playback functions (e.g., next, previous, pause, play), dial, hang-up, or combinations thereof. 
     In certain headset embodiments, for example, having a single peripheral assembly (e.g., a monaural headphone having a single speaker or earbud), the integrated switch assembly may be placed along the cord assembly relatively near that single peripheral assembly. In certain other headset embodiments having two or more peripheral assemblies (e.g., stereo headphones having left and right speakers or earbuds), the integrated switch assembly may be generally associated with and placed along the cord assembly in relative proximity to one or the other peripheral assembly. For example, when the peripheral assembly is placed in a position of its intended use (e.g., placed in or near the ear or ears of the user), the integrated switch assembly can be positioned along the cord assembly such that the user can relatively easily locate the switch housing (as opposed to having the user fumble around for a switch located far away from the peripheral assembly). 
     Additionally, in some headset embodiments, for example, a switch assembly can include a microphone incorporated therein. When a peripheral assembly of such a headset is placed in a position of its intended use (e.g., placed in or near the ear or ears of the user), the integrated switch assembly and its microphone may be positioned along the cord assembly in relative proximity to an appropriate source of acoustic signals (e.g., the vocal chords of a user). 
     In certain embodiments, a microphone can be contained within the switch housing of a switch assembly and hidden from view. A housing cover can include a through-hole for enabling acoustic signals to be received by the microphone. The microphone can include two leads that are electrically and physically coupled to a circuit board (e.g., a printed wiring board). The circuit board can be electrically and physically coupled to wires (e.g., a MIC wire and a ground wire) that may extend along the cord assembly to a plug connected thereto. The circuit board can serve as a bridge for electrically coupling the leads from the microphone to the wires extending along the cord assembly to the plug. The circuit board can electrically interact with the switch when the switch is depressed and placed in a switch activation position. For example, when the switch is activated, the switch can short the two microphone leads by applying a conductive member to the circuit board, thereby activating or de-activating the microphone). 
     The integrated switch assembly can include cord assembly fasteners or crimps that securely fix the switch assembly to the cord assembly. For example, a first fastener can secure a plug portion of the cord assembly and a second fastener can secure a peripheral portion of the cord assembly. Wires of the cord assembly (e.g., positive and ground wires) can be routed through the switch assembly without interfering with the switch, and in some embodiments the microphone. In addition, the fasteners can be located within the switch housing, thereby making the cord assembly appear integrated with the switch housing, thereby making the cord assembly appear integrated with the switch housing. This can provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance and also can make the switch assembly appear as a relatively non-descript and seamless extension of the cord assembly. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Switches are provided that can be incorporated in wires to have small and unobtrusive profiles, and that can control one or more functions of devices coupled to the wires, and are described below with reference to  FIGS. 1-10 . 
       FIG. 1  shows a partial exploded view of a wired peripheral assembly system  100 . System  100  can be a wired stereo headset with an integrated switch assembly and two peripheral acoustic assemblies in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Headset system  100  can include cord assembly  110 , integrated switch assembly  120 , and left and right acoustic assemblies  140  and  160 .  FIG. 10  shows a partial exploded view of a wired monaural headset  1000  with an integrated switch assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Headset  1000  can include substantially all of the same components as stereo headset  100 , with the exception that there is only one acoustic assembly instead of two. Thus, because there is a duplication of like components between headsets  100  and  1000 , the following detailed discussion of components of headset  100 , such as the cord assembly, switch assembly, and one of the acoustic assemblies, can be equally applicable to such similar components of headset  1000 . 
     Cord assembly  110  can include plug  112  and the one or more wires (not shown) that can electrically couple plug  112  to integrated switch assembly  120 , and right and left acoustic assemblies  140  and  160 . The wires can be enclosed within a shroud (shown as elements  114 ,  116 ,  118 , and  119 ) that may protect the wires from external elements, such as water and dirt. For example, shroud  114  may contain all wires electrically coupled to plug  112 , whereas shroud  116  may contain only the wires for right acoustic assembly  160  and shrouds  118  and  119  may contain only the wires for switch assembly  120  and left acoustic assembly  140 . Shroud interconnector  115  can interconnect shrouds  114 ,  116 , and  118 , while switch assembly  120  can interconnect shrouds  118  and  119 . 
     Acoustic assemblies  140  and  160  may be speakers that produce acoustic signals in response to signals transmitted through cord assembly  110 . Acoustic assemblies  140  and  160  may be earbuds as shown, or may be some other in-the-ear, cover-the-ear, or over-the-ear type of speaker assemblies. Acoustic assembly  160 , shown as an exploded view, can include jacket  162 , housing  163 , pressure sensitive adhesive  164 , damper  165 , and driver unit  166 . Pressure sensitive adhesive  164 , damper  165 , and driver unit  166  can be fixed to housing  163 , and wires  169  from shroud  116  can be coupled to driver unit  166 . Jacket  162  can also be connected to housing  163 . 
     Switch assembly  120  can be integrated anywhere along cord assembly  110 . In some embodiments, such as that shown in  FIG. 1 , switch assembly  120  may be integrated with the wires and shroud associated with one of the acoustic assemblies. That is, as shown in  FIG. 1 , switch assembly  120  can appear to be incorporated into shroud  118  existing between left acoustic assembly  140  and interconnector  115 . In other embodiments (not shown), switch assembly  120  can be generally associated with right acoustic assembly  160  and incorporated into shroud  116 , or switch assembly  120  can be generally associated with plug  112  and incorporated into shroud  114 . 
     The actual position of switch assembly  120  can be such that it is placed a predetermined distance away from acoustic assembly  140  to provide a user with relatively easy access to switch assembly  120  when assembly  140  is located in the user&#39;s ear. For example, a switch located near an acoustic assembly may be more readily accessible than a switch located near plug  112  when headset  100  is in use. Moreover, in embodiments where switch assembly  120  includes a microphone, such as microphone  132 , switch assembly  120  may be positioned a predetermined distance away from the acoustic assembly (e.g., assembly  140 ) to maximize reception of a user&#39;s voice. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3  in exploded view, for example, switch assembly  120  can be integrated into shroud  118  existing between left acoustic assembly  140  and interconnector  115 . Switch assembly  120  can be constructed such that various assembly components (e.g., snap  124 , insulator  126 , switch  128 , circuit board assembly  130 , and microphone  132 ) can be packaged substantially within housing core  134 . Housing core  134  can protect the components from damage and may securely retain them therein. 
     As shown, integrated switch assembly  120  can also include top housing cover  122  and bottom housing cover  136  that may substantially enclose housing core  134  and components  124 ,  126 ,  128 ,  130 , and  132 . Illustrations of an assembled switch assembly  120  may be seen, for example, in  FIGS. 5-8 , which show perspective top, perspective bottom, perspective cross-sectional, and horizontal cross-sectional views of an assembled switch assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. As shown, for example, top cover  122  can have one or more protrusions  121  that may snap tightly into passes in snap  124  and core  134 , while bottom cover  136  can have one or more protrusions  135  that may snap tightly into passes in core  134  for encapsulating the other components of assembly  120  between covers  122  and  136 . Top and bottom housing covers  122  and  136  can hide the components contained within switch assembly  120 , thereby providing an integrated switch assembly with a switch (e.g., switch  128  of  FIGS. 1-3 ) hidden from view. 
     In certain embodiments, microphone  132  can be contained within the housing of switch assembly  120  and can be hidden from view like switch  128 . As shown in FIGS.  3  and  6 - 8 , for example, housing cover  136  can include a through-hole  137  for enabling acoustic signals to be received by microphone  132 . The microphone can include two leads (see, e.g., leads  131  and  133 ) that can be electrically and physically coupled to circuit board  130  (e.g., a printed wiring board). Circuit board  130  can be electrically and physically coupled to wires (e.g., a MIC wire  131 A and a ground wire  133 A) that may extend along cord assembly  110  towards plug  112  connected thereto. Circuit board  130 , therefore, can serve as a bridge for electrically coupling leads  131  and  133  from microphone  132  to wires  131 A and  133 A that can extend within shroud  118  along cord assembly  110  from assembly  120  towards shroud interconnector  115  (and, eventually, plug  112 ). 
     Furthermore, in certain embodiments, circuit board  130  can be configured to electrically interact with switch  128  when the switch is depressed and placed in a switch activation position. For example, when switch  128  is activated, the switch can short the two microphone leads (e.g. leads  131  and  133 ) by applying one or more conductive members to circuit board  130  via one or more contacts  129  in the board. Therefore, in certain embodiments, switch  128  of assembly  120  can activate or de-activate microphone  132 . Alternatively, switch  128  can change another function of microphone  132  (e.g., changing the sensitivity of the microphone). It is to be understood that two or more switches  128  can be provided to interact with circuit board  130 , such that multiple switches may be used by a user to switch various functions of microphone  132  jointly. 
     An advantage of switch assembly  120  is that the assembly itself can be squeezed by a user to execute a switch activation event (which may be performed when switch  128  is depressed). That is, there may be no need to provide a discrete switch that protrudes, for example, from a housing to enable a user to execute a switch activation event. Thus, incorporating switch  128  within housing covers  122  and  136  can provide a switch assembly that is easy to use and that is aesthetically pleasing. 
     For example, in certain embodiments, switch  128  of integrated switch assembly  120  can be activated when the housing is squeezed. For example, top cover housing  122  can be a flexible housing cover that, when depressed, can engage switch  128  (in certain embodiments, via snap  124 ) contained within housing core  134 . When engaged, switch  128  can move or “snap” to a switch activation position within assembly  120 . When the housing of assembly  120  is no longer squeezed, switch  128  (and in certain embodiments, snap  124 ) can return to a standby position within assembly  120 , as flexible top housing cover  122  may no longer be depressed, and therefore may no longer engage switch  128 . Thus, the housing of assembly  120  can hide switch  128  from view of the user, thereby providing a small and aesthetically pleasing switch assembly with an unobtrusive profile for an electronic device. 
     In certain embodiments, integrated switch assembly  120  can include cord assembly fasteners or crimps  170  that securely fix the switch assembly to the cord assembly. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  7 - 9 , a first fastener  170 A can secure shroud  18  to assembly  120  and a second fastener  170 B can secure shroud  119  to assembly  120 . In addition, fasteners  170  can be located within the housing of switch assembly  120 , thereby making cord assembly  110  appear integrated with the switch housing. This can provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance and also can make switch assembly  120  appear as a relatively non-descript and seamless extension of cord assembly  110 . 
     For example, as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  7 - 9 , certain wires of cord assembly  110  (e.g., positive wire  141  and ground wire  143 ) can be routed from left acoustic assembly  140  and shroud  119 , through switch assembly  120  via fasteners  170 A and  170 B, and into shroud  118  towards shroud interconnector  115  and plug  112  without interfering with switch  128  or any other component of assembly  120 . In other embodiments, however, one or more wires routed from plug  112  towards left acoustic assembly  140  (e.g., wires  141  and  143 ) can be electrically and physically coupled to board  130 , such that, when switch  128  is activated, the switch can change a function of left acoustic assembly  140 . In yet another embodiment, switch  128  of assembly  120  can change another function of the device coupled to plug  112  by shorting other leads running from board  130  towards plug  112  that are independent of microphone  132  and left acoustic assembly  140 . 
       FIG. 1A  is an illustrative simplified schematic diagram of headset system  100  having switch assembly  120  configured such that switch  128  can change a function of microphone  132 . System  100  can be implemented with any suitable electronic device, such as, for example, an audio and/or video device (e.g., a portable music player, such as an iPod™ available by Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), a communication device (e.g., a cellular telephone), a personal media device that may include telephone communication and digital music player capabilities, or any other electronic device that can operate in connection with a switch. System  100  will now be described in the context of a circuit coupled to a cellular telephone, but it will be understood that this is merely illustrative and that system  100  can be coupled to any other suitable device. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1A , for example, and as described above, system  100  can include plug  112 , left acoustic assembly  140 , right acoustic assembly  160 , and microphone  132  that can be activated by switch  128  of switch assembly  120 . Plug  112 , which can be plugged into a cellular telephone (not shown), includes four sections: left channel section L, right channel section R, microphone section MIC, and ground section GND. Wires can connect right acoustic assembly  160  to right channel section R and ground section GND. Wires (e.g., wires  141  and  143 ) can connect left acoustic assembly  140  to left channel section L and ground GND. Wires (e.g., wires  131 A and  133 A) can connect microphone  132  to microphone section MIC and ground GND via switch  128 . In some embodiments, switch  128  can be coupled to each of the wires connecting microphone  132  to plug  112  (not shown). 
     The cellular telephone coupled to circuit  100  can respond to signals that are provided by switch  128  in any suitable manner. For example, when switch  128  is in a closed switch position, software implemented on the cellular telephone may detect the presence of a signal provided through microphone section MIC of plug  112 . The software may process the signal and determine that microphone  132  has been activated. The cellular telephone can then transmit the sounds (e.g. the voices) picked up by microphone  132  over the cellular connection to another cellular telephone. As another example, when switch  128  is in the open switch position, the software implemented on the cellular telephone may determine that no signals are received in microphone section MIC and turn off the microphone function of the cellular telephone. A more detailed description of how the cellular telephone responds to actuation of a switch can be found in commonly assigned U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0149417 published Jun. 26, 2008, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a media device  1100  according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention. The media device  1100  includes a housing  1102 , a first housing portion  1104 , a second housing portion  1106 , a display  1108 , a keypad  1110 , a speaker housing aperture  1112 , a microphone housing aperture  1114 , and a headphone jack  1116 . The housing  1102  also includes various gaps  1118  that may include openings, separations, vents, or other pathways between elements of the housing  1102  that enable the passage of air or sound through the housing  1102 . 
     In one embodiment, the housing  1102  includes a first housing portion  1104  and a second housing portion  1106  that are fastened together to encase various components of the media device  1100 . The housing  1102  and its housing portions  1104  and  1106  may include polymer-based materials that are formed by, for example, injection molding to define the form factor of the media device  1100 . In one embodiment, the housing  1102  surrounds and/or supports internal components such as, for example, one or more circuit boards having integrated circuit components, internal radio frequency (RF) circuitry, an internal antenna, a speaker, a microphone, a hard drive, a processor, and other components. The housing  1102  provides for mounting of a display  1108 , keypad  1110 , external jack  1116 , data connectors, or other external interface elements. The housing  1102  may include one or more housing apertures  1112  to facilitate delivery of sound, including voice and music, to a user from a speaker within the housing  1102 . The housing  1102  may include one or more housing apertures  1114  to facilitate the reception of sounds, such as voice, for an internal microphone from a media device user. 
     In certain embodiments, the housing  1102  includes one or more gaps  1118  associated with the housing  1102 . These gaps  1118  may result from the manufacturing and/or assembly process for the media device  1100 . For example, in certain circumstances, the mechanical attachment of the first housing portion  1104  with the second housing portion  1106  results in a crease  1120  or joint between the portions  1104  and  1106 . In certain media devices  1100 , the crease  1120  is not air tight, resulting in gaps  1118  along the crease. Other gaps may be formed during assembly between, for example, one or more keys of the keypad  1110  and the housing  1102  or the display  1108  and the housing  1102 , resulting in additional gaps  1118 . In other embodiments, the housing  1102  may include addition portions that are integrated to form the housing  1102  for the media device  1100 . 
     The media device  1100  may include a wireless communications device such as a cellular telephone, satellite telephone, cordless telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA), pager, portable computer, or any other device capable of wireless communications. In fact,  FIG. 1  shows an exemplary cellular telephone version of a broad category of media device  1100 . 
     The media device  1100  may also be integrated within the packaging of other devices or structures such a vehicle, video game system, appliance, clothing, helmet, glasses, wearable apparel, stereo system, entertainment system, or other portable devices. In certain embodiments, device  1100  may be docked or connected to a wireless enabling accessory system (e.g., a wi-fi docking system) that provides the media device  1100  with short-range communicating functionality. Alternative types of media devices  1100  may include, for example, a media player such as an iPod available by Apple Computer Inc., of Cupertino, Calif., pocket-sized personal computers such as an iPAQ Pocket PC available by Hewlett Packard Inc., of Palo Alto, Calif. and any other device capable of communicating wirelessly (with or without the aid of a wireless enabling accessory system). 
     In certain embodiments, the media device  1100  may synchronize with, for example, a remote computing system or server to receive media (using either wireless or wireline communications paths). Wireless syncing enables the media device  1100  to transmit and receive media and data without requiring a wired connection. Media may include, without limitation, sound or audio files, music, video, multi-media, and digital data, in streaming and/or discrete (e.g., files and packets) formats. 
     While there have been described headsets with integrated switches, it is to be understood that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, it is to be understood that, although switch assembly  120  has been described as being integrated into a wired headset  100  including one or more acoustic assemblies, switch assembly  120  of the present invention may be integrated into any suitable wired peripheral assembly system having any number of various types of peripheral assemblies, such as a camera. It will also be understood that various directional and orientational terms such as “top” and “bottom,” and the like are used herein only for convenience, and that no fixed or absolute directional or orientational limitations are intended by the use of these words. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments, which are presented for purposes of illustration rather than of limitation, and the invention is limited only by the claims which follow.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20140819
Publication Date: 20150908
Grant Date: 20150908
Priority Date: 20070106
Inventors: HANKEY M. EVANS
DANIELS ERIC B.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H04R1/1016", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1041", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H9/0228", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2003/007", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R5/033", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1041", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H9/0228", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R5/033", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2003/007", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H2003/007", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1016", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1016", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R5/033", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1041", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01H9/0228", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 39594328