U.S. patent number RE43,872 [Application Number 13/462,937] was granted by the patent office on 2012-12-25 for headset for use with a communication and/or multimedia device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Sony Mobile Communications AB. Invention is credited to Barteld Trip, Tjapko Uildriks, Erwin Weinans.
United States Patent |
RE43,872 |
Trip , et al. |
December 25, 2012 |
Headset for use with a communication and/or multimedia device
Abstract
A headset is proposed for use with a communication and/or
multimedia device, said headset comprising an interface for
receiving input data, a processing unit for processing said input
data to generate audio output signals, a speaker for outputting
said audio output signals in a mono mode and connecting means for
connecting the headset to a power supply in order to charge a
battery or an accumulator being provided within said headset. Said
connecting means are also connectable to an additional speaker
device forming alone or together with said speaker of said headset
a stereo headphone wherein said processing unit processes the input
data to generate stereo output signals when said speaker device is
connected to said headset.
Inventors: |
Trip; Barteld (Emmen,
NL), Uildriks; Tjapko (Anderen, NL),
Weinans; Erwin (Klijndijk, NL) |
Assignee: |
Sony Mobile Communications AB
(Lund, SE)
|
Family
ID: |
37402631 |
Appl.
No.: |
13/462,937 |
Filed: |
May 3, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
60778703 |
Mar 3, 2006 |
|
|
|
Reissue of: |
11278682 |
Apr 5, 2006 |
7616760 |
Nov 10, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
379/430;
381/370 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M
1/6066 (20130101); H04B 2001/3866 (20130101); H04M
1/6058 (20130101); H04M 1/72442 (20210101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04M
1/00 (20060101); H04M 9/00 (20060101); H04R
25/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;379/430 ;381/370,384
;455/556.1,569.1,3.06 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Nguyen; Tuan
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Renner, Otto, Boisselle &
Sklar, LLP
Parent Case Text
.Iadd.CLAIM FOR BENEFIT OF EARLIER U.S. PROVISIONAL APPLICATION(S)
UNDER 35 U.S.C. 119(e).Iaddend.
.Iadd.This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/778,703, filed Mar. 3, 2006..Iaddend.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A headset for use with a communication and/or multimedia device,
said headset comprising a) an interface for receiving input data,
b) a processing unit for processing said input data to generate
audio output signals, c) a speaker for outputting said audio output
signals in a mono mode, and d) connecting means for connecting said
headset to a power supply in order to charge a battery or an
accumulator being provided within said headset, wherein said
connecting means are also connectable to a speaker device forming
alone or together with said speaker a stereo headphone and wherein
said processing unit processes said input data to generate stereo
output signals when said speaker device is connected to said
headset.
2. The headset of claim 1, wherein said interface is adapted to
wirelessly receive said input data.
3. The headset of claim 2, wherein said interface is a Bluetooth
interface.
4. The headset of claim 1, wherein said speaker device comprises a
single speaker which forms together with said speaker of said
headset said stereo headphone.
5. The headset of claim 1, wherein said speaker device is a stereo
headphone.
6. The headset of claim 1, wherein said headset comprises a
microphone.
7. The headset of claim 6, wherein said speaker device comprises
additionally a microphone.
8. The headset of claim 1, wherein said speaker device is
represented by another headset.
9. The headset of claim 1, wherein said headset comprises a
necklace to be worn by a user.
10. The headset of claim 1, wherein said headset comprises a volume
adjustment button which is also used to adjust the volume of the
stereo headphone when said speaker device is connected to said
headset.
11. The headset of claim 10, wherein said volume adjustment button
can be further used as a navigation element in order to navigate
through a song/play list.
12. The headset of claim 1, wherein said headset comprises a
display which is used to show information on an actually played
song in case the stereo headphone is used for listening music.
13. A combination of a headset and an additional speaker device for
use with a communication and/or multimedia device, said headset
comprising a) an interface for receiving input data, b) a
processing unit for processing said input data to generate audio
output signals, c) a speaker for outputting said audio output
signals in a mono mode, and d) connecting means for connecting said
headset to a power supply in order to charge a battery or an
accumulator being provided within said headset, said speaker device
being connectable to said headset via said connecting means and
forming alone or together with said speaker a stereo headphone,
wherein said processing unit of said headphone processes said input
data to generate stereo output signals when said speaker device is
connected to said headset.
14. The combination of claim 13, wherein said interface is adapted
to wirelessly receive said input data.
15. The combination of claim 14, wherein said interface is a
Bluetooth interface.
16. The combination of claim 13, wherein said speaker device
comprises a single speaker which forms together with said speaker
of said headset said stereo headphone.
17. The combination of claim 13, wherein said speaker device is a
stereo headphone.
18. The combination of claim 13, wherein said headset comprises a
microphone.
19. The combination of claim 18, wherein said speaker device
comprises additionally a microphone.
20. The combination of claim 13, wherein said speaker device is
represented by another headset.
21. The combination of claim 13, wherein said headset comprises a
necklace to be worn by a user.
22. The combination of claim 13, wherein said headset comprises a
volume adjustment button which is also used to adjust the volume of
the stereo headphone when said speaker device is connected to said
headset.
23. The combination of claim 22, wherein said volume adjustment
button can be further used as a navigation element in order to
navigate through a song/play list.
24. The combination of claim 13, wherein said headset comprises a
display which is used to show information on an actually played
song in case the stereo headphone is used for listening music.
25. A communication and/or multimedia device comprising a headset,
said headset comprising a) an interface for receiving input data,
b) a processing unit for processing said input data to generate
audio output signals, c) a speaker for outputting said audio output
signals in a mono mode, and d) connecting means for connecting said
headset to a power supply in order to charge a battery or an
accumulator being provided within said headset, wherein said
connecting means are also connectable to a speaker device forming
alone or together with said speaker a stereo headphone and wherein
said processing unit processes said input data to generate stereo
output signals when said speaker device is connected to said
headset.
26. The communication and/or multimedia device of claim 25, wherein
said interface is adapted to wirelessly receive said input data
from said communication and/or multimedia device.
27. The communication and/or multimedia device of claim 26, wherein
said interface is a Bluetooth interface.
28. The communication and/or multimedia device of claim 25, wherein
said communication and/or multimedia device is a phone.
29. The communication and/or multimedia device of claim 25, wherein
said communication and/or multimedia device is a mobile phone.
30. The communication and/or multimedia device of claim 25, wherein
said communication and/or multimedia device provides an audio
player application which audio player application is automatically
started when said speaker device is connected to said headset.
31. The communication and/or multimedia device of claim 30, wherein
said audio player application is an MP3 player.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a headset which is used in
connection with a communication and/or multimedia device as well as
to a combination consisting of a headset and an additional speaker
device. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a
communication and/or multimedia device comprising a headset.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
Headsets or headphones are commonly used in connection with
communication and/or multimedia devices in order to listen to audio
signals produced by or transferred from these devices. Examples of
such communication and/or multimedia devices are radio receivers,
portable music players like CD players and MP3 players as well as
mobile phones. The most recent generation of these headsets is
represented by so-called on-ear Bluetooth voice headsets which have
become more and more popular in the past. The reason is that these
on-ear headsets provide a very convenient way in order to wear the
headset for a hands-free communication.
A typical on-ear voice headset that is intended for use with a
mobile phone is shown in FIG. 1. The headset 101 comprises a main
body 102 which is connected to an arcuate mounting element 103
which allows to clamp the headset 101 to the ear of a user. In
order to allow a two-way communication between the user of the
headset 101 and another person via a base station, i.e., the mobile
phone, the headset further comprises a speaker 104 being located in
the rear part of the main body 102 as well as a microphone 105
which is provided at the front portion of the main body 102.
During operation, the headset 101 establishes a wireless
communication link via an interface 106 with the base station,
i.e., the mobile phone, in order to exchange digital communication
data. Preferably, said interface 106 is realised in the form of a
Bluetooth interface. Data transmitted from the phone and received
by said interface 106 are processed further by a processing unit
107 being also located within the main body 102 which processes
said data in order to generate audio output signals. Said output
signals are then transferred to the speaker 104 in order to output
the audio signals. Further, audio signals obtained by the
microphone 105 are processed by the processing unit 107 and
forwarded to the interface 106 in order to transmit said data to
the phone. In this way, a two-way communication is realised, i.e.,
the user of the headphone 101 is able to listen to audio signals
received from the mobile phone and to forward audio signals to said
phone.
In order to allow a wireless operation, the headset 101 further
comprises an internal power supply being represented by a battery
108 or an accumulator. Since this battery 108 or accumulator has to
be recharged regularly, connecting means 109 are provided which can
be used to connect the headset 101 to an external power supply in
the form of a docking station.
Headsets as shown in FIG. 1 are commonly used in connection with a
mobile phone since they allow a hands-free use. Thus, if a user of
said phone receives a call, he does not have to reach the mobile
phone in order to establish the communication link. In particular,
his hands are free during the call and can be used for other things
like taking notes or the like.
Besides the basic functionality of allowing telephone conversation,
mobile phones nowadays often present additional multimedia
applications to a user. One multimedia application which has become
extremely popular recently is the possibility to use mobile phones
as portable music players. Since the internal storage capacity of
mobile phones has been considerably increased in the past, it is
now possible to store audio data for example as MP3 data and to
reproduce them in order to generate audio signals. In this way, a
user can use his mobile phone also to listening to music.
The headset according to the prior art and as shown in FIG. 1 is,
however, unsuitable for use with an MP3 multimedia application. The
reason is that the headset has only a single speaker and is
therefore only able to reproduce mono audio signals. The quality of
this mono signals, however, is obviously not good enough for
listening to music.
SUMMARY
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
new solution for a headset which can be used in connection with a
communication and/or multimedia device and which allows to listen
to audio signals either in a mono mode, which is sufficient for
telephone communication, or in a stereo mode, which is desired for
listening to music.
In accordance with the present invention, a headset is proposed for
use with a communication and/or multimedia device, said headset
comprising an interface for receiving input data, a processing unit
for processing said input data to generate audio output signals, a
speaker for outputting said audio output signals in a mono mode and
connecting means for connecting the headset to a power supply in
order to charge a battery or an accumulator being provided within
said headset. Said connecting means are also connectable to an
additional speaker device forming alone or together with said
speaker of said headset a stereo headphone wherein said processing
unit processes the input data to generate stereo output signals
when said speaker device is connected to said headset.
Accordingly, the present invention is based on the idea of allowing
a headset to be connected with an additional speaker device which
speaker device alone or in connection with said first speaker of
the headset forms a stereo headphone. Based on the application of
the multimedia/communication device the user of the device intends
to use, the headset can now be used in order to reproduce mono
audio signals or stereo audio signals. Instead of replacing the
headphone by a new apparatus being able to produce stereo signals,
the headset can now be connected to an additional accessory device
which allows to listen to high quality, i.e., stereo audio
signals.
An advantage of the present invention is that the additional
speaker device which is used in order to build the stereo headphone
can be formed as a relatively simple device. The reason is that the
stereo headphone makes use of the internal resources of the
headset, in particular of the interface used to exchange data with
the basis, e. g., the mobile phone, as well as of the processing
unit used for processing the input data received from the mobile
phone in order to generate the audio output signals. Thus, starting
from the original headset which is only able to produce mono audio
signals, a high quality stereo headphone can be obtained in a very
easy and cheap way.
Another advantage of the present invention is that no additional
connecting means are required in order to connect the additional
speaker device to the headset since the already available
connecting means which are used to charge the internal power supply
of the headset are used. In this way, the present invention differs
from a solution disclosed in US 2003/0073460 A1 which discloses a
modular headset comprising a first unit that has first and second
operational modes wherein the first unit is in a second mode
connected to a second unit which has processing power on board for
generating stereo audio. In this known solution, an additional
connector is necessary in order to connect both units to form the
stereo headphone. Further, the second unit also requires specific
processing means in order to generate and reproduce the audio
signals. In contrast to this, the present invention provides a new
solution that allows to form a stereo headphone in a much easier
way.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
interface of the headset for receiving input data is adapted to
wirelessly receive said data. In particular, said interface may be
represented by a Bluetooth interface. Alternatively, other wireless
technologies can be used such as e.g. DECT or a communication via
infrared (IR).
As already mentioned above, two variations of the inventive concept
are possible in order to form the stereo headphone. In a first
embodiment, the additional speaker device comprises a single
speaker which forms together with the speaker of the headset the
stereo headphone. In this case, the speaker device could for
example be represented by another headset. Alternatively, however,
it would also be possible that said additional speaker device alone
already forms a stereo headset. In this case, the speaker and
microphone of the speaker is not used during this mode and might be
put e.g. in an idle position. For this, the headset preferably
comprises a necklace or a comparable element. Nevertheless, also in
this second alternative the internal resources of the headset like
the interface and the processing unit are still used in order to
receive data and generate the stereo audio signals.
In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the additional
speaker device and/or the headset comprises a microphone. Thus, the
headset can in particular be used in connection with a mobile
phone.
The headset of the present invention preferably comprises a volume
adjustment button which is also used to adjust the volume of the
stereo headphone when the speaker device is connected to said
headset. Further, said volume adjustment button could additionally
be used as a navigation element in order to navigate through a
song/play list. In this way, the headset forms a remote control for
a music player application. Said headset could further comprise a
display which is used to show information on an actually played
song in case the stereo headphone is used for listening music.
In accordance with the present invention, also a combination of a
headset and an additional speaker device for use with a
communication and/or multimedia device is proposed, wherein said
headset comprises an interface for receiving input data, a
processing unit for processing said input data to generate audio
output signals, a speaker for outputting said audio output signals
in a mono mode and connecting means for connecting said headset to
a power supply in order to charge a battery or an accumulator being
provided within said headset, wherein said speaker device is
connectable to said headset via said connecting means and forms
alone or together with the first speaker a stereo headphone and
wherein the processing unit of said headphone processes said input
data to generate stereo output signals when said speaker device is
connected to said headset.
Finally, also a communication and/or multimedia device comprising a
headset is proposed, wherein said headset comprises an interface
for receiving input data, a processing unit for processing said
input data to generate audio output signals, a speaker for
outputting said audio output signals in a mono mode and connecting
means for connecting said headset to a power supply in order to
charge a battery or an accumulator being provided within said
headset, wherein said connecting means are also connectable to a
speaker device forming alone or together with said speaker a stereo
headphone and wherein said processing unit processes said input
data to generate stereo output signals automatically when said
speaker device is connected to said headset.
Said communication and/or multimedia device is preferably a mobile
phone, wherein according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention said device provides an audio player application which is
automatically started when said speaker device is connected to said
headset. In particular, said audio player application is an MP3
player.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the following, the invention will be explained in further detail
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a headset for use with a mobile phone which is known
from the prior art.
FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of a headset in accordance with the
present invention which is used in connection with a mobile
phone.
FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of a headset of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT
The first embodiment of a headset 1 in accordance with the present
invention shown in FIG. 2 again comprises a main body 2 with a
mounting element 3 used to clamp the headset 1 to the ear of a
user. On the rear part of the main body 2, a first speaker 4 is
provided. Further, a microphone 5 is located at the front portion
of the main body 2.
Similar to the headset shown in FIG. 1, also the headset 1
according to the present invention provides a processing unit 7
used to process data received via an interface 6 of the headset 1.
Preferably, said interface 6 is provided for wireless communication
and is in particular represented by a Bluetooth interface being
able to communicate with a corresponding Bluetooth interface
provided in a mobile phone 50. Said Bluetooth communication allows
a direct communication between the headset 1 and the mobile phone
50 in order to exchange data. Alternatively, however, also other
wireless communication interfaces could be used in order to
exchange said data. E.g., also a data exchange via DECT or via
infrared (IR) would be possible.
The data received by said interface 6 and processed by said
processing unit 7 are then forwarded to the speaker 4 in order to
reproduce audio signals. Furthermore, audio signals obtained via
the microphone 5 are processed by said processor 7 and then
transferred via said interface 6 to said mobile phone 50. In this
way, a hands-free communication is obtained.
Although only shown in FIG. 3, said headset further comprises a
volume select button 10 which is used in order to adjust the volume
of the speaker 4. During telephone conversation, the user can
easily increase or decrease the volume by actuating the button 10
in the desired way. Further, a small display 11 is located at the
upper side of the main body 2 which display 11 shows the phone
number of the other partner of the telephone conversation.
Finally, the headset 1 also has an internal power supply in the
form of a battery or an accumulator 8. Said battery or accumulator
8 has to be charged from time to time and therefore a connector 9
is provided which allows the connection of said headset 1 to a
docking station which is used to re-charge the battery 8.
The headset 1 as described so far is primarily used for telephone
conversation. In this application, the output of the audio signals
via said speaker 4 in a mono mode is sufficient in its quality.
However, modern communication devices like mobile phones now also
provide the possibility to use them as a music player, e.g. as an
MP3 player. If this MP3 player application is selected, the quality
of the mono signals would to poor. In this case, a stereo headphone
would be preferred in order to be able to listen to music with high
quality. In order to be still able to make use of the hands-free
solution, the headset 1 shown in FIG. 2 now provides the
possibility to connect an additional speaker device in the form of
a stereo headphone to said headset 1.
As shown in FIG. 2, said additional speaker device 20 comprises two
speakers 21 and 22 in order to form a stereo headphone. Both
speakers 21, 22 are connected via a cable 23 and a connector 24 to
the headset 1. In particular, the connector 24, which is preferably
a normal 3.5 mm audio plug, can be directly connected with the
connecting means 9 of the headset 1 which are usually used in order
to connect the headset 1 to a docking station for re-charging the
battery 8. Thus, additional connecting means are not required.
After this additional speaker device 20 has been connected to the
headset 1, the audio data received via the interface 6 are
automatically processed by said processing unit 7 in order to
reproduce stereo data. These data are then forwarded to the speaker
device 20 via the connecting means 9. Thus, the stereo headphone 20
can now be used in order to listen to music in a stereo quality
while the resources of the headset 1 are still used in order to
allow a hands-free use. Accordingly, the headphone 20 has not to be
connected to the mobile phone 50.
As also shown in FIG. 2, said speaker device 20 may additionally
comprise a further microphone 25 replacing the first microphone 5
of the headset 1 in case that the speaker device 20 is connected to
the headset 1. Now, when a call is received or the user wants to
make a call, he can choose between two options. At first, the user
could disconnect the speaker device 20 with the microphone 25 and
use the original headset 1 being placed on his ear. Alternatively,
it would be possible to use the additional speaker device 20
together with the microphone 25 for a hands free communication.
During the use of the stereo headphone 20, the headset 1, in
particular the speaker 4, is of no further use and the headset 1
can therefore be placed in an idle position. For this, the headset
1 comprises a necklace 10.
There is further the additional option that in the case that the
stereo headphone 20 together with its microphone 25 is used for
making telephone conversation, the microphone 5 of the on-ear
headset 1 is used as a second microphone in order to do noise
cancelling to improve the voice quality. Further, when the
additional stereo headset 20 with its microphone 25 is connected to
the headset 1 and an incoming call is received, the speaker 4 of
the on-ear headset 1 could be used to play the ringtone loud. Thus,
the speaker 4 is now used as a ringer.
Accordingly, it is now possible for a user to connect an additional
stereo headphone 20 to the headset 1 which still makes use of the
internal resources of the headset 1 in order to allow a hands-free
mode. Thus, a user can now in a very convenient way also listen to
audio data in a high stereo quality.
According to a preferred embodiment, the headset 1 automatically
recognises the connection of the stereo headphone 20 and transmits
a corresponding information to the mobile phone 50. This
information then causes the mobile phone 50 to automatically start
the MP3 application. Thus, if a user connects the stereo headphone
to the headset 1, he can immediately start to listen to music.
In case the hands-free stereo headset built in accordance with the
present invention is used for listening music, the button 10
located at the upper surface of the main body 2 can again be used
in order to increase or decrease the volume. Further, it would also
be possible to use this button additionally in order to move
forward or backward in a song/play list. This could for example be
achieved by requiring the user to press the button for a specific
time in order to activate a play list navigation mode. In this
mode, the + or - options of the button 10 are used in order to move
one song forward or backward. In this way, the headset 1 not only
becomes a wireless link between the phone 50 and the stereo
headphone 20 but also works as a remote control for the MP3 player
application. As a further option, information on the actually
played song could be shown on the display 11 of the headset.
FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the headset of the
present invention. While in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 a
complete additional stereo headphone is connected to the headset 1,
in the second embodiment a speaker device 30 comprising only one
additional speaker 31 is connected to the headset 1. Together with
the first speaker 4 of the headset 1, now the additional speaker 31
of the speaker device 30 forms a stereo headphone. Again, said
additional speaker device 30 is connected via a cable 32 and a
connector 33 to the connecting means 9 of the headset 1.
Similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the processing unit 7
will automatically generate stereo audio signals in case the
additional speaker device 30 is connected to the headset 1.
Therefore, a user is again able to listen to high quality audio
signals by connecting the additional accessory device to the
headset 1. In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the headset 1
permanently remains to the ear of the user since the first speaker
4 is also used for reproducing stereo audio signals. Thus, the
second embodiment provides again a very convenient way in order to
form a new stereo headphone.
As a further variation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, two
headsets 1 could be interconnected by a cable comprising connectors
at both ends in order to form one stereo headphone. In case this
combination of two headsets is used to listening to music, a
connecting cable of approximately 0.2 m length would be sufficient.
However, it would then also be possible to use the two microphones
of the headsets for stereo recording. If in this case a connecting
cable of 1 to 3 m length is used, the two headsets could be placed
on a table in order to pick up stereo effects which might be
desired during e.g. a conference call. In this case were usually
many participants sit in one room around a table and one person is
calling into the meeting via telephone, this stereo functionally
might be desired for providing a better feedback to the person at
the other end of the communication link.
In summary, the present invention provides a new solution for
forming a wireless stereo headphone or headset for use with a
multimedia and/or communication device. A user is therefore now
able to form a stereo headphone in a very fast and convenient way
in order to listen to high quality audio signals.
* * * * *