Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a headset that combines a microphone and an antenna. Specifically, the headset uses a connection for the microphone to serve as an antenna for a radio frequency identification functionality. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A headset allows a user to place an audio output device and an audio input device on the user&#39;s head to free the user&#39;s hands. When the headset is properly placed on the user&#39;s head, the audio output device such as a speaker is located on or around an ear of the user while the audio input device such as a microphone is located in the vicinity of a mouth of the user. The headset may be equipped with a boom that places the audio input device in the vicinity of the mouth of the user. The boom may include wiring to establish an electrical connection from the microphone to a sound device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a headset. The headset comprises an audio output device, an audio input device, and a wire. The audio output device plays outgoing audio data. The audio input device receives incoming audio data. The wire connects the audio input device to a sound device that interprets the incoming audio data. The wire is further configured to be an antenna to one of transmit and receive radio frequency signals. The wire is further connected to a transceiver. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a first perspective view of a headset according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a second perspective view of the headset of  FIG. 1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows electronic components of the headset of  FIGS. 1-2  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  shows a method of utilizing data transmitted over a common wire according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be further understood with reference to the following description and the appended drawings, wherein like elements are referred to with the same reference numerals. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention describe a headset that combines a microphone and a radio frequency identification (RFID) antenna. Specifically, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention may utilize a wiring connecting the microphone to a sound device as the RFID antenna for an RFID functionality. Thus, according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the audio system and the RFID system of the headset are combined as a single system providing functionalities of both systems. The headset, the microphone, and the wiring/RFID antenna will be discussed in more detail below. Those skilled in the art will understand that while the exemplary embodiments describe an RFID antenna, the exemplary embodiments may be modified to include an antenna that operates in other frequency spectra. 
       FIG. 1  shows a first perspective view of a headset  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The headset  100  may be any device that includes an audio output component and/or an audio input component. The headset  100  may be a stand alone unit or may be used in conjunction with other electronic devices. For example, the headset  100  may be electrically connected to a mobile unit (MU) so that data may be exchanged between the headset  100  and the MU. The electrical connection may be, for example, a wired connector from the headset  100  with a jack that plugs into a port of the MU. The headset  100  may include a head band  105 , a cushion  110 , an audio output  115 , a boom  120 , and an audio input  125 . 
     The head band  105  may be a supporting mechanism to allow the headset  100  to be used hands-free. The head band  105  may rest on a top surface of a user&#39;s head. The head band  105  may be partially elastic so that the head band  105  may flex to conform to the top surface of the user&#39;s head. The head band  105  may be manufactured, for example, of a semi-elastic polymer with a spring metal interior. The cushion  110  may be a padding disposed at a first end of the head band  105 . The padding may provide a comfortable end to the head band  105 . Because the ends of the head band  105  partially squeeze (e.g., to securely hold the head set  100  on the user&#39;s head), the cushion  110  may allow the comfortable use of the headset  100 . It should be noted that the headset  100  including the head band  105  and the cushion  110  is only exemplary. The headset  100  may include an ear clip so that the headset  100  may be worn on a user&#39;s ear. In such an embodiment, the head band  105  and the cushion  110  may be unnecessary. 
     The audio output  115  may be, for example, a speaker. The audio output  115  may be disposed at a second end of the head band  105 . The audio output  115  may include a cushion substantially similar to the cushion  110 . Again, because the ends of the head band  105  partially squeeze, the cushion of the audio output  115  may provide the comfortable wearing of the headset  100 . When the headset  100  is placed in a proper orientation on the user&#39;s head, the audio output  115  may be disposed around a user&#39;s ear. Furthermore, the cushion  110  may be disposed slightly above a user&#39;s other ear. The audio output  115  may be electrically connected to a sound device. The sound device will be explained in further detail below with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
     The boom  120  may be a flexible extension that includes a wiring. A first end of the boom  120  may be attached to the second end of the head band  105 . A second end of the boom  120  may be attached to the audio input  125 . The wiring within the boom  120  may electrically connect the audio input  125  to the sound device. The audio input  125  may be, for example, a microphone. The flexibility of the boom  120  may allow a user to orient the headset  100  so that the audio input  125  is disposed in the vicinity of a user&#39;s mouth. The audio input  125  may include a foam coat so that sounds received by the audio input  125  may be filtered. 
       FIG. 2  shows a second perspective view of the headset  100  of  FIG. 1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, the second perspective view of the headset  100  shows a head-on view of a right side of the headset  100  of  FIG. 1 . The second perspective view shows the head band  105 , the audio output  115 , the boom  120 , and the audio input  125 . As discussed above, the audio output  115  and the first end of the boom  120  may be disposed at the second end of the head band  105 . The audio input  125  may be disposed at the second end of the boom  120 . The audio output  115  may be substantially circular in cross section to, for example, cover most of the user&#39;s ear. The boom  120  illustrates the flexibility so that the audio input  125  may be oriented in an appropriate location to receive audio input from the user. 
       FIG. 3  shows electronic components of the headset  100  of  FIGS. 1-2  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The electronic components of  FIG. 3  will be described with reference to the components of the headset  100 . It should be noted that the electronic components of the headset  100  may also apply to the headset with no head band  105  and/or the cushion  110 . With reference to the electronic components, the headset  100  may include a processor  130 , a sound device  135 , a transceiver  140 , a splitter  145 , wires  150 , a microphone  155 , and a speaker  160 . 
     The processor  130  may be a central computing unit. As discussed above, the headset  100  may be a stand alone unit or may be electrically connected to an electronic device. Thus, the processor  130  may be a unit of the headset  100  (e.g., when the headset  100  is a stand alone unit) or may be a unit of the electronic device (e.g., when the headset  100  is an accessory). 
     The sound device  135  may be, for example, a sound card for a computing device. The sound device  135  may relay audio data to the speaker  160  so that the audio output  115  may play the audio data. The sound device  135  may also receive audio data. The reception of audio data will be discussed with reference to the microphone  155 . The transceiver  140  may transmit and/or receive, for example, radio frequency data such as radio frequency identification (RFID) data. Those skilled in the art will understand that the transceiver  140  works in conjunction with an antenna. The antenna will be discussed with reference to the wires  150 . The microphone  155  may include circuitry to enable reception of audio data from the audio input  125 . Thus, the received audio data may be forwarded to the sound device  135 . The microphone  155  may be connected to the electronic components discussed above via the wires  150 . 
     The wires  150  serve to connect the microphone  155  to the sound device  135 . The wires  150  may be located within the boom  120 . According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the wires  150  may also serve as the antenna for the transceiver  140 . The wires  150  may be manufactured of a conducting metal. It should be noted that the use of wires is only exemplary. The wires  150  may also be embodied using a flex circuit, a ribbon cable, copper tape, etc. Those skilled in the art will understand that when an antenna is mounted on or near other electrically conductive material, resonance frequency is in part a function of the metallic, electrically conductive surface in which the antenna is mounted. Thus, because the wires  150  are connected to the microphone  155 , the microphone  155  may serve as an end-loading capacitor for the wires  150  when serving as the antenna for the transceiver  140 . 
     The boom  120  may be, for example, about six inches long. The six inches may allow the audio input  125  to be oriented in an appropriate position relative to the user&#39;s mouth. Inherent to the six inch length of the boom  120  is a six inch length of the wires  150 . Thus, the antenna for the transceiver  140  is six inches. Those skilled in the art will understand that the six inch length of the antenna is an optimum length for the antenna, in particular for RFID functionalities. 
     In other exemplary embodiments, the boom  120  may be shorter or longer. For example, the boom  120  may be about three inches long or nine inches long. Inherent to these lengths of the boom  120  is a three inch length or nine inch length of the wires  150 . Thus, the antenna for the transceiver  140  may be three inches or nine inches, respectively. Those skilled in the art will understand that a three inch length or a nine inch length of the antenna are also optimum lengths for the antenna, in particular for RFID functionalities. 
     RFID functionalities generally operate between 902 MHz and 928 MHz. Thus, a single sine wave of the RFID wave is between 1.103×10 −9  seconds and 1.078×10 −9  seconds, respectively. Half a wavelength for the RFID wave at an ultra high frequency (UHF) band is thus between 5.543×10 −10  seconds and 5.388×10 −10  seconds, respectively. Because the waves are measured against the speed of light, an optimal length for these operating parameters is between 6.54 inches and 6.36 inches, respectively. It should be noted that the half a wavelength being a first optimal length is only exemplary. Other exemplary optimal lengths may include a quarter wavelength and a three-quarters wavelength. The quarter wavelength may correspond to 3.27 inches to 3.18 inches while the three-quarters wavelength may correspond to 9.81 inches to 9.54 inches. As discussed above, the boom  120  and thus the wires  150  may be shorter (e.g., three inches) or longer (e.g., nine inches). Thus, the shorter wires  150  (and thus the antenna length) may be used for the quarter wavelength while the longer wires  150  may be used for the three-quarters wavelength. 
     As explained above, the proper electrical length of the antenna for RFID functionalities operating between 902 MHz and 928 MHz is between 6.54 inches and 6.36 inches, respectively. Depending on the capacitive and inductive loading of the antenna, the physical length may be greater than or less than this range. For example, the presence of the microphone  155  itself is an end-loading capacitor and may change the necessary physical length of the wires  150  to create a functional RFID antenna. 
     In addition, the audio input  125  may receive audio data. The audio data may be transmitted by the microphone  155  across the wires  150  in an audio range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz. With the RFID antenna transmitting frequencies in the range of 902 MHz to 928 MHz and the audio data transmitting frequencies in the range of 20 Hz and 20 kHZ, those skilled in the art will understand that the bands are significantly apart enough to allow for both functions to operate simultaneously without any interference on each other. 
     The splitter  145  is an exemplary unit that receives any data from the wires  150 . Because both RFID data and audio data is transmitted through the wires  150 , the splitter  145  may appropriately forward data falling in predetermined ranges to go to an appropriate component. For example, audio data is received through the wires  150  between 20 Hz and 20 kHz. The splitter  145  may recognize this and forward the audio data to the sound device  135 . In another example, RFID data is received through the wires  150  between 902 MHz and 928 MHz. The splitter  145  may recognize this and forward the RFID data to the transceiver  140 . The splitter may include, for example, a filter or series of filters to separate and/or split the signals and forward the signals to the correct component. 
     It should be noted that the use of the splitter  145  is only exemplary. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include the wires  150  being connected to the processor  130 , directly (e.g., to a pin of the processor  130 ) or indirectly (e.g., to a pin on a printed circuit board in which the processor  130  is disposed). That is, the processor  130  may be responsible for forwarding the data to the appropriate component. In yet another embodiment, the wires  150  may be connected to either the sound device  135  or the transceiver  140 . Because the sound device  135  and the transceiver  140  are configured to interpret a type of data ranging in a particular frequency, any data not falling into the configured range may be forwarded to the other component. For example, if the data from the wire  150  includes audio data and RFID data, the data may first be sent to the sound device  135 . Any data ranging from 20 Hz to 20 kHz may be interpreted by the sound device  135 . All other data may be forwarded to the transceiver  140 . In another example, if the data from the wire  150  includes audio data and RFID data, the data may first be sent to the transceiver  140 . Any data ranging from 902 MHz to 928 MHz may be interpreted by the transceiver  140 . All other data may be forwarded to the sound device  135 . 
     In yet another exemplary embodiment, data from the wire  150  may be forwarded to the splitter  145 . The splitter  145  may forward the data to the sound device  135  and the transceiver  140 . That is, the same data is forwarded to both components. The data from the wire  150  may be, for example, a signal so that the splitter  145  may send the signal to both components. In this exemplary embodiment, a filter may be disposed between the splitter  145  and the sound device  135  and between the splitter  145  and the transceiver  140 . The filter disposed before the sound device  135  may be configured to receive the signal from the splitter  145  and only transmit a portion of the signal that falls in the frequency range for audio data (e.g., frequency ranging from 20 Hz to 20 kHz). The filter disposed before the transceiver  140  may be configured to receive the signal from the splitter  145  and only transmit a portion of the signal that falls in the frequency range for RFID data (e.g., frequency ranging from 902 MHz to 928 MHz). It should be noted that in an embodiment where only a single type of data is included, the entire signal is transmitted to the respective component. For example, when only audio data is present, the filter disposed before the sound card  135  allows the entire signal to be transmitted while the filter disposed before the transceiver  140  blocks the entire signal. 
     In addition, as discussed above, the processor  130  may be part of the headset  100  (e.g., when the headset  100  is a stand alone unit) or may be part of an electronic device (e.g., when the headset  100  is an accessory). Substantially the same disposition of the sound device  135  and the transceiver  140  may be made. That is, the sound device  135  and the transceiver  140  may be disposed as part of the headset  100  (e.g., when the headset  100  is a stand alone unit) or may be part of an electronic device (e.g., when the headset  100  is an accessory). When the headset  100  is an accessory, the wires  150 , the microphone  155 , and the speaker  160  may be the only components of the headset  100 . 
     It should be noted that the above description of the wires  150  pertains to when data is transmitted from the microphone  155  to the sound device  135  or, when the wires  150  is an antenna, from the antenna to the transceiver  140 . However, those skilled in the art will understand that the transceiver  140  may forward signals to the antenna for propagation of the signals. Thus, data may also flow in an opposite directions on the wires  150 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a method  200  of utilizing data transmitted over a common wire according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The method  200  will be described with reference to the headset  100  of  FIGS. 1-2  and the electronic components of the headset  100  of  FIG. 3 . The method  200  may also apply to the embodiment described above in which the headset  100  does not include the head band  105  and the cushion  110 . 
     In step  205 , data is received through the wire  150 . Specifically, audio data is received by the audio input  125  and the microphone  155  and transmitted through the wire  150 . RFID data is also received by the wire  150  acting as the antenna for the transceiver  140 . The audio data and/or the RFID data may be received, for example, by the splitter  155 , the processor  130 , the sound device  135 , or the transceiver  140 . 
     In step  210 , a determination is made if more than one type of data exists from the received data via the wire  150 . Since audio data and RFID data may be transmitted simultaneously through the wire  150 , this determination aids in a subsequent forwarding of the data to the appropriate component. The determination may be made by any of the possible components that receive the data. For example, the splitter  145  or the processor  130  may determine frequencies of the data. In another example, the sound device  135  may determine the data by interpreting only audio data and forwarding the other data. In yet another example, the transceiver  140  may determine the data by interpreting only RFID data and forwarding the other data. 
     If step  210  determines that more than one type of data exists, the method  200  continues to step  215 . In step  215 , the portions of the received data pertaining to audio data and RFID data are determined. In step  220 , the data is separated. That is, the audio data and the RFID data is separated so that the appropriate portions may be forwarded to the respective components (i.e., step  225 ). 
     As discussed above, data may be transmitted in an opposite direction on the wires  150 . Thus, the method  200  may include additional steps to incorporate this opposite flow of data. For example, a step may include determining a direction in which data is traveling on the wire. If the direction of the data is toward a receiving component such as the splitter  145 , the processor  130 , the sound device  135 , or the transceiver  140 , the method  200  may follow the steps described above. If the direction of the data is away from the transceiver  140 , then a step may be included to propagate the signals originating from the transceiver  140 . 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the present invention, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Technology Category: h