Headset

• US 20040028218A1
• Filed: 06/12/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GN Netcom A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Original Assignee: GN Netcom A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Inventors: Pedersen, Charles L, Rath, Klaus
• Granted Patent: US 7,391,862 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/430
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/083 Special constructions of mouthpieces
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1008 Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/105 Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1058 Manufacture or assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1066 Constructional aspects of the interconnection between earpiece and earpiece support earpiece support for monophonic headphones H04R1/105; earpiece support for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/109 Arrangements to adapt hands free headphones for use on both ears
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones

Abstract

Communication unit comprising a housing (1) in which at least one transducer is placed, and on which a microphone arm (2) is suspended. The housing also has an ear hook (6) for fastening the communication unit to the head of a user. The microphone arm (2) is pivotally connected to the housing (1) by a hinge link (3, 4, 5) at an outer area of the housing, and so that the microphone arm (2) can be moved between a position in which it lies up against the housing (1), and a position in which it extends away from the housing. The microphone arm has a length, which in the main is less than or of the same order as the greatest extent of the housing, so that in the folded-in state the microphone arm does not project out over the circumference of the housing. The communication unit can be used on both the right and the left side of the head, in that the ear hook (6) can be suspended in two different positions.

Claims

1. Communication unit comprising a housing (1) In which at least one transducer (14) is placed, and on which a microphone arm (2) is suspended, said housing also having means for securing the communication unit to the head of a user, characterized in that the microphone arm (2) is pivotally connected to the housing (1) by a hinge link at an outer area of the housing, said hinge link having a pivot axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the microphone arm, and such that the microphone arm (2) can be moved between a first position in which it lies up against the housing (1), and a second position in which it extends away from the housing, and that the microphone arm is of a length which in the main is less than or of the same order as the greatest extent of the housing.

2. Communication unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the microphone arm (2) is pivotally connected to the housing (1) in such a manner that an axis of rotation for the microphone arm (2) is lying in a plane which is substantially parallel with at least a part of a side surface (1a, 1b) for the housing.

3. Communication unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the microphone arm (2) is connected to the housing by means of two hinge pins (3,4) which extend out from a side surface (1a) of the housing, and that a first end part of the microphone arm has a hinge part (5) which corresponds to and is disposed between the two hinge pins (3,4).

4. Communication unit according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that a contact arrangement is associated with the microphone arm (2), for example a changeover switch, so that this contact arrangement is activated by the movement of the microphone arm from the first position to the second position and/or vice versa.

5. Communication unit according to one or more of the claims 1-4, characterized in that a locking or securing device is associated with the microphone arm (2), so that the microphone arm is released from the first position by means of a release arrangement, and that the release arrangement possibly also activates a changeover arrangement, for example a switch.

6. Communication unit according to one or more of the claims 1-5, characterized in that a microphone (19) is built into the communication unit, either in the housing (1) or in the microphone arm (2), in which case the electrical connections to this microphone are effected via the hinge link.

7. Communication unit according to one or more of the claims 1-6, characterized in that the communication unit is configured for wireless communication, and that the communication unit supports or contains an antenna for wireless communication, which antenna is either contained in or supported by the housing (1), or is contained in or supported by the microphone arm (2).

8. Communication unit according to claim 7, characterized in that the antenna comprises a coating on a surface in or on the housing (1) or the microphone arm (2), for example on a side surface of the microphone arm, preferably an inner side surface (20).

9. Communication unit according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the electrical connection to the antenna is effected via the hinge link, possibly via electrically conductive coatings on one or both hinge pins (3,4) and the hinge part (5) of the microphone arm, respectively.

10. Communication unit according to one or more of the claims 3-9, characterized in that the means for fastening the communication unit to the head of a user consist of an ear hook (6), an ear ring or the like, which is pivotally connected to the housing by means of a securing part (23), preferably by means of the hinge pins (3,4) on the housing, and that the housing preferably has a recess (16) corresponding to the ear hook (6) or the ear ring.

11. Communication unit according to claim 10, characterized in that the means for fastening the communication unit to the head of a user can be pivotally connected to the housing (1) in at least two positions (3 and 4 respectively), whereby the communication unit can be worn by a user on either the right or the left side of the head.

13. Communication unit according to claim 2 characterised in that the signal arrangement is placed on or in the microphone arm (2).

14. Communication unit according to claim 13, characterised in that the signal arrangement (26) is encapsulated in an item (25) of relatively soft material, e.g. soft plastic or rubber, said item reaching out to the upper surface of the microphone arm via at least one opening (30, 31), and possibly extending a slightly further distance out over the surface (29).

15. Communication unit according to claim 10 or 11, characterised in that the ear hook (6, 6a) is configured integral with a bridge part (6b) which extends over the hinge pins (4) and the hinge part (5), and is in engagement with the hinge pins (4).

12. Communication unit according to claim 12, characterised in that it further comprises a signal arrangement (25, 26, 28) with means for optical signalling, e.g. in the form of a miniature light emitter.