Modular wireless headset and/or headphones

• US 20050037823A1
• Filed: 05/28/2004
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Seshadri, Nambirajan, Bennett, James D.
• Application Number:
  US10/856,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20050037823A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.600
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0256 wherein the modules are operable in the detached state, e.g. one module for the user interface and one module for the transceiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones

Abstract

The modular wireless headset includes at least one wearable earpiece and at least one wearable microphone, where the earpiece is physically separate from the microphone. The wearable earpiece is operably to render inbound radio frequencies received from a host device audible. To do this, the wearable earpiece includes, at least, a receiver module, a data recovery module, and a speaker module. The receiver module is operably coupled to convert the inbound RF signals into low intermediate frequency (IF) signals. The data recovery module is operably coupled to recover audio signals from the low IF signals. The speaker module is operably coupled to render the audio signals audible. The wearable microphone is operable to convert received audio signals into outbound RF signals, where the outbound RF signals are transmitted to the host device. The wearable microphone includes, at least, an audio input module and a transmitter module. The audio input module is operably coupled to convert received analog audio signals into digital audio signals. The transmitter module is operably coupled to convert the digital audio signals into the outbound RF signals.

Claims

1. A modular wireless headset comprises:

at least one wearable earpiece operable to render inbound radio frequency (RF) signals received from a host device audible, wherein the at least one wearable earpiece includes;

receiver module operably coupled to convert the inbound RF signals into low intermediate frequency (IF) signals;

data recovery module operably coupled to recover audio signals from the low IF signals; and

speaker module operably coupled to render the audio signals audible;

at least one wearable microphone operable to convert received audio signals into outbound RF signals, wherein the at least one wearable microphone transmits the to the outbound RF signals to the host device, wherein the at least one wearable microphone includes;

audio input module operably coupled to convert the received audio signals into digital audio signals; and

transmitter module operably coupled to convert the digital audio signals into the outbound RF signals, wherein the at least one wearable earpiece is physically separate from the at least one wearable microphone.

2. The modular wireless headset of claim 1, wherein the at least one wearable earpiece module further comprises:

a first wearable earpiece operable to render at least a first portion of the inbound RF signals into first audible signals; and

a second wearable earpiece operable to render at least a second portion of the inbound RF signals into second audible signals, wherein the first wearable earpiece is physically separate from the second wearable earpiece.

3. The modular wireless headset of claim 2 further comprises:

the first wearable earpiece receiving the first portion of the inbound RF signals via a first RF link, wherein the first audible signals correspond to left channel stereo signals; and

the second wearable earpiece receiving the second portion of the inbound RF signals via a second RF link, wherein the second audible signals correspond to right channel stereo signals.

4. The modular wireless headset of claim 2 further comprises:

the first wearable earpiece receiving the first portion of the inbound RF signals via an RF link, wherein the first audible signals correspond to left channel stereo signals; and

the second wearable earpiece receiving the second portion of the inbound RF signals via the RF link, wherein the second audible signals correspond to right channel stereo signals.

5. The modular wireless headset of claim 1, wherein the at least one wearable earpiece module further comprises:

earpiece transmitter module operably coupled to convert digital command messages into outbound RF command signals, wherein the outbound RF command signals are transmitted to at least one of the host device and the at least wearable microphone module.

6. The modular wireless headset of claim 5, wherein the at least one wearable earpiece module further comprises:

an input module operably coupled to the earpiece transmitter module, wherein the input module converts user input commands into the digital command messages.

7. The modular wireless headset of claim 5, wherein the digital command messages further comprises at least one of:

packet size, synchronization information, frequency hopping initiation information, time slot allocation information, link establishment information, piconet address information, fast forward, play, pause, volume adjust, record, stop, and rewind.

8. The modular wireless headset of claim 1, wherein the at least one wearable earpiece module further comprises:

display module operably coupled to the receiver module for displaying at least one of;

configuration messages and video data contained with the inbound RF signals.

9. The modular wireless headset of claim 1, wherein the at least one wearable earpiece module further comprises:

separable connection module operable to couple the at least one wearable earpiece to at least one of the host device and the at least one microphone module prior to transmission of the outbound RF signals or reception of the inbound RF signals for configuring the modular headset with the host device.

10. The modular wireless headset of claim 1, wherein the at least one wearable microphone further comprises:

microphone receiver module operably coupled to convert inbound RF command signals into digital command messages, wherein the inbound RF command signals are received from at least one of the host device and the at least wearable microphone module.

11. The modular wireless headset of claim 10, wherein the at least one wearable microphone further comprises:

display module operably coupled to the microphone receiver module for displaying at least one of;

configuration messages and video data contained with the inbound RF signals.

12. The modular wireless headset of claim 1, wherein the at least one wearable microphone further comprises:

an input module operably coupled to the transmitter module, wherein the input module converts user input commands into digital command messages.

13. The modular wireless headset of claim 1, wherein the at least one wearable microphone further comprises:

separable connection module operable to couple the at least one wearable microphone to at least one of the host device and the at least one wearable earpiece module prior to transmission of the outbound RF signals or reception of the inbound RF signals for configuring the modular headset with the host device.

14. The module wireless headset of claim 1, wherein the inbound RF signals and the outbound RF signals are in accordance with one or more versions a Bluetooth specification.

15. A method for wireless communications within a piconet of a modular wireless headset and a host device, wherein the modular wireless headset includes at least one earpiece module and at least one microphone module, wherein the at least one earpiece module is physically separate from the at least one microphone module, the method comprises:

establishing the piconet to include the host device, the at least one earpiece module and the at least one microphone module;

transmitting outbound radio frequency (RF) signals from the at least one microphone module to the host device via a first wireless communication resource of the piconet; and

transmitting inbound RF signals from the host device to the at least one earpiece module via a second wireless communication resource of the piconet.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprises:

the first wireless communication resource including at least one time slot of a synchronous connection orientated link of a Bluetooth compliant piconet; and

the second wireless communication resource including at least one other time slot of the synchronous connection orientated link of the Bluetooth compliant piconet.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprises:

the first wireless communication resource including a synchronous connection orientated link of a Bluetooth compliant piconet; and

the second wireless communication resource including a second synchronous connection orientated link of the Bluetooth compliant piconet.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the establishing the piconet further comprises:

exchanging configuration information via a physical connection between the host device, the at least one earpiece module, and the at least one microphone module prior to the transmitting of the inbound and outbound RF signals; and

configuring the piconet in accordance with the configuration information, wherein one of the host device, the at least one microphone module, and the at least one earpiece module functions as a master for the piconet.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprises:

determining whether the physical connection between the at least one earpiece module and the host device is broken;

when the physical connection between the at least one earpiece module and the host device is broken, transmitting the inbound RF signals from the host device to the at least one earpiece module via the first wireless communication resource, wherein the inbound RF signals are derived from first baseband signals;

when the physical connection between the at least one earpiece module from the host device is not broken, transmitting the first baseband signals from the host device to the at least one earpiece module via the physical connection;

determining whether the physical connection between the at least one microphone module from the host device is broken;

when the physical connection between the at least one microphone module from the host device is broken, transmitting the outbound RF signals from the at least one earpiece module to the host device via the second wireless communication resource, wherein the outbound RF signals are derived from second baseband signals; and

when the physical connection between the at least one microphone module from the host device is not broken, transmitting the second baseband signals from the at least one earpiece module to the host device via the physical connection.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the establishing the piconet further comprises:

exchanging configuration information via the first and second wireless communication resources between the host device, the at least one earpiece module, and the at least one microphone module prior to the transmitting of the inbound and outbound RF signals, wherein the at least one earpiece module and the at least one microphone module exchange at least a portion of the configuration information via a physical connection; and

configuring the piconet in accordance with the configuration information, wherein one of the host device, the at least one microphone module, and the at least one earpiece module functions as a master for the piconet.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the establishing the piconet further comprises:

transmitting, by a master of the piconet, a configuration request to slaves of the piconet, wherein one of the host device, the at least one microphone module, and the at least one earpiece module functions as the master and remaining ones of the host device, the at least one microphone module, and the at least one earpiece module function as the slaves;

providing, by each of the slaves, a response to the master; and

establishing the piconet in accordance with the configuration request and the responses from the slaves.

22. The method of claim 15 further comprises:

receiving the outbound RF signals by the at least one earpiece module; and

converting the outbound RF signals into audible signals when a microphone feedback mode is enabled.

23. A modular communication device comprises:

host module; and

detachable earpiece module, wherein the host module generates inbound RF signals from playback baseband signals, wherein, when the detachable earpiece module is coupled to the host module via a physical connection, the host module provides the playback baseband signals to the detachable earpiece module via the physical connection and when the detachable earpiece module is not coupled to the host module via the physical connection, the host module provides the inbound RF signals to the detachable earpiece module via a wireless communication resource.

24. The modular communication device of claim 23 further comprises:

detachable microphone module, wherein the detachable microphone module generates outbound RF signals from audio record baseband signals, wherein, when the detachable microphone module is coupled to the host module via a second physical connection, the detachable microphone module provides the audio record baseband signals to the host module via the physical connection and when the detachable microphone module is not coupled to the host module via the second physical connection, the detachable module provides the outbound RF signals to the host module via a second wireless communication resource.

25. The modular communication device of claim 24 further comprises:

the first wireless communication resource including at least one time slot of a synchronous connection orientated link of a Bluetooth compliant piconet; and

the second wireless communication resource including at least one other time slot of the synchronous connection orientated link of the Bluetooth compliant piconet.

26. The modular communication device of claim 24 further comprises:

the first wireless communication resource including a synchronous connection orientated link of a Bluetooth compliant piconet; and

the second wireless communication resource including a second synchronous connection orientated link of the Bluetooth compliant piconet.

27. The modular communication device of claim 23, wherein the detachable earpiece module further comprises:

a first earpiece operable to render at least a first portion of the inbound RF signals into first audible signals; and

a second earpiece operable to render at least a second portion of the inbound RF signals into second audible signals, wherein the first wearable earpiece is physically separate from the second wearable earpiece.

28. The modular communication device of claim 27 further comprises:

the first earpiece receiving the first portion of the inbound RF signals via a first RF link, wherein the first audible signals correspond to left channel stereo signals; and

the second earpiece receiving the second portion of the inbound RF signals via a second RF link, wherein the second audible signals correspond to right channel stereo signals.

29. The modular communication device of claim 27 further comprises:

the first earpiece receiving the first portion of the inbound RF signals via an RF link, wherein the first audible signals correspond to left channel stereo signals; and

the wearable earpiece receiving the second portion of the inbound RF signals via the RF link, wherein the second audible signals correspond to right channel stereo signals.

30. The modular communication device of claim 23, wherein the host module further comprises at least one of:

a cordless telephone, a cellular telephone, a compact disc player, a DVD player, a computer, a personal digital assistant, and a digital audio playback device.

31. A modular wireless headphones comprises:

first wearable earpiece operable to render first inbound radio frequency (RF) signals received from a host device audible, wherein the first wearable earpiece includes;

first receiver module operably coupled to convert the first inbound RF signals into first low intermediate frequency (IF) signals;

first data recovery module operably coupled to recover first audio signals from the first low IF signals; and

first speaker module operably coupled to render the first audio signals audible; and

second wearable earpiece operable to render second inbound radio frequency (RF) signals received from the host device audible, wherein the second wearable earpiece includes;

second receiver module operably coupled to convert the second inbound RF signals into second low IF signals;

second data recovery module operably coupled to recover second audio signals from the second low IF signals; and

second speaker module operably coupled to render the second audio signals audible, wherein the first wearable earpiece is physically separate from the second wearable earpiece.

32. The modular wireless headphones of claim 31 further comprises:

the first wearable earpiece receiving the first inbound RF signals via a first RF link, wherein the first audio signals correspond to left channel stereo signals; and

the second wearable earpiece receiving the second inbound RF signals via a second RF link, wherein the second audio signals correspond to right channel stereo signals.

33. The modular wireless headphones of claim 31 further comprises:

the first wearable earpiece receiving the first inbound RF signals via an RF link, wherein the first audio signals correspond to left channel stereo signals; and

the second wearable earpiece receiving the second inbound RF signals via the RF link, wherein the second audio signals correspond to right channel stereo signals.

34. The modular wireless headphones of claim 31, wherein at least one of the first and wearable earpieces further comprises:

earpiece transmitter module operably coupled to convert digital command messages into outbound RF command signals, wherein the outbound RF command signals are transmitted to the host device.

35. The modular wireless headphones of claim 34, wherein at least one of the first and second wearable earpiece module further comprises:

an input module operably coupled to the earpiece transmitter module, wherein the input module converts user input commands into the digital command messages.

36. The modular wireless headphones of claim 34, wherein the digital command messages further comprises at least one of:

packet size, synchronization information, frequency hopping initiation information, time slot allocation information, link establishment information, piconet address information, fast forward, play, pause, volume adjust, record, stop, and rewind.

37. The modular wireless headphones of claim 31, wherein at least one of the first and wearable earpieces further comprises:

display module operably coupled to the receiver module for displaying at least one of;

configuration messages and video data contained with the first or second inbound RF signals.

38. A method for wireless communications within a piconet of a modular wireless headset and a host device, wherein the modular wireless headphones includes a first earpiece module and a second earpiece module, wherein the first and second earpiece modules are physically separate from each other, the method comprises:

establishing the piconet to include the host device, the first earpiece module and the second earpiece module;

transmitting first inbound radio frequency (RF) signals from the host device to the first earpiece module via a first wireless communication resource of the piconet; and

transmitting second inbound RF signals from the host device to the second earpiece module via a second wireless communication resource of the piconet.

39. The method of claim 38 further comprises:

the first wireless communication resource including at least one time slot of a synchronous connection orientated link of a Bluetooth compliant piconet; and

the second wireless communication resource including at least one other time slot of the synchronous connection orientated link of the Bluetooth compliant piconet.

40. The method of claim 38 further comprises:

the first wireless communication resource including a synchronous connection orientated link of a Bluetooth compliant piconet; and

the second wireless communication resource including a second synchronous connection orientated link of the Bluetooth compliant piconet.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the establishing the piconet further comprises:

exchanging configuration information via a physical connection between the host device, the first earpiece module, and the second earpiece module prior to the transmitting of the first and second inbound RF signals; and

configuring the piconet in accordance with the configuration information, wherein one of the host device, the first microphone module, and the second earpiece module functions as a master for the piconet.

42. The method of claim 41 further comprises:

determining whether the physical connection between the first and second earpiece modules and the host device is broken;

when the physical connection between the first and second earpiece modules and the host device is broken, transmitting the first inbound RF signals from the host device to the first earpiece module via the first wireless communication resource and transmitting the second inbound RF signals from the host device to the second earpiece module via the second wireless communication resource, wherein the first inbound RF signals are derived from first baseband signals and the second inbound RF signals are derived from second baseband signals; and

when the physical connection between the first and second earpiece modules and the host device is not broken, transmitting the first baseband signals from the host device to the first earpiece module via the physical connection and transmitting the second baseband signals from the host device to the second earpiece module via the physical connection.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein the establishing the piconet further comprises:

exchanging configuration information via the first and second wireless communication resources between the host device, the first earpiece module, and the second earpiece module prior to the transmitting of the first and second inbound RF signals, wherein the first earpiece module and the second earpiece module exchange at least a portion of the configuration information via a physical connection; and

configuring the piconet in accordance with the configuration information, wherein one of the host device, the first earpiece module, and the second earpiece module functions as a master for the piconet.

44. The method of claim 38, wherein the establishing the piconet further comprises:

transmitting, by a master of the piconet, a configuration request to slaves of the piconet, wherein one of the host device, the first earpiece module, and the second earpiece module functions as the master and remaining ones of the host device, the first earpiece module, and the second earpiece module function as the slaves;

providing, by each of the slaves, a response to the master; and

establishing the piconet in accordance with the configuration request and the responses from the slaves.