Wireless headset for communications device

• US 20060073787A1
• Filed: 11/02/2005
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Freelinc Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Radeum, Inc.
• Inventors: Sutera, Anthony J., Lair, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,818,036 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a communications system implementing a headset wirelessly connected to a half-duplex communications device, such as a two-way radio or a radio-simulating cellular phone. The headset may incorporate a transmit/receive switch wherein a transmit signal is wirelessly transmitted from the headset to the communications device to direct the communications device to enter into a transmit mode. Alternatively, a wireless transmit/receive switch may be implemented separately from the wireless headset, where the wireless transmit/receive switch may be positioned in the proximity of the communications device and the headset and may be engaged by a user to direct the communications device to enter a transmit mode.

Claims

1. A wireless headset for communicating audio information to and from a half-duplex communications device, the headset comprising:

a speaker assembly adapted to be worn on a user'"'"'s head and to output audio information to the user;

a microphone assembly adapted to receive audio information from the user;

a switch; and

an induction transceiver adapted to wirelessly transmit a signal through a magnetic induction link to the half-duplex communications device, the signal representative of an engagement of the switch, the signal for causing the half-duplex communications device to enter a half-duplex transmission mode.

2. The wireless headset as in claim 1, wherein the switch is positioned on the microphone assembly.

3. The wireless headset as in claim 1, wherein the magnetic induction link is a near field magnetic induction link operating over a short range, thus forming a small operational bubble.

4. The wireless headset as in claim 3, wherein the short range is about two meters.

5. The wireless headset as is in claim 3, wherein the induction transceiver is adapted to indicate that the magnetic induction link is broken.

6. The wireless headset as in claim 5, where in the induction transceiver indicates that the magnetic induction link is broken by causing the speaker assembly to output an audible indication.

7. The wireless headset as in claim 3, wherein the magnetic induction link is used to transmit at least a portion of the audio information from the user.

8. The wireless headset as in claim 1, wherein the magnetic induction link operates at a frequency from 10 MHz to 15 MHz.

9. The wireless headset as in claim 1, wherein the magnetic induction link is used to transmit at least a portion of the audio information from the user.

10. The wireless headset as in claim 9, wherein the at least a portion of the audio information from the user is transmitted as packetized digital information.

11. The wireless headset as in claim 10, further comprising:

an encoder adapted to convert an analog signal representative of the audio information from the user to a digital signal; and

a processor operably connected to the encoder and the induction transceiver, the processor adapted to packetize the digital signal;

wherein the induction transceiver is further adapted to wirelessly transmit the packetized digital signal.

12. The wireless headset as in claim 9, wherein the packetized digital signal is encrypted.

13. The wireless headset as in claim 1, further comprising:

a processor operably connected to the induction transceiver, the processor adapted to store a security code, the processor enabling the induction transceiver only where a matching security code is stored at the half-duplex communications device.

14. The wireless headset as in claim 1, wherein the speaker assembly includes an earbud speaker.

15. The wireless headset as in claim 1, further comprising an earclip.

16. The wireless headset as in claim 15, wherein the speaker assembly includes an ear insert for insertion into the user'"'"'s ear canal.

17. The wireless headset as in claim 16, wherein the ear insert comprises a conformable material.

18. The wireless headset as in claim 16, wherein the switch is positioned substantially coaxially with the ear insert.

19. The wireless headset as in claim 1, further comprising a headband.

20. The wireless headset as in claim 1, further comprising a body supporting the speaker assembly.

21. The wireless headset as in claim 20, wherein the switch is positioned on the body.

22. The wireless headset as in claim 20, wherein the switch is connected to the body via a wire lead.

23. The wireless headset as in claim 1, wherein the signal representative of an engagement of the switch includes a signal transmitted during at least a portion of a period that the switch is engaged.

24. The wireless headset as in claim 1, wherein the signal representative of an engagement of the switch includes an absence of a signal during at least a portion of a period that the switch is engaged.

25. The wireless headset as in claim 1, further comprising an indicator for indicating that the magnetic induction link is established with the half-duplex communications device.

26. The wireless headset as in claim 1, wherein the wireless headset shuts down after the magnetic induction link is broken for a predetermined period of time.

27. The wireless headset as in claim 1, wherein the wireless headset receives operational power over the magnetic induction link.

28. The wireless headset as in claim 27, further comprising a battery and wherein at least a portion of the operational power received over the magnetic induction link is stored in the battery.

29. An apparatus comprising:

an interface for operable connection to a half-duplex communications device;

a induction transceiver adapted to receive signals from a wireless headset through a magnetic induction link;

a processor connected to the transceiver for receiving a first transmit mode signal indicating engagement of a switch, the processor connected to the interface for providing a second transmit mode signal to the half-duplex communications device to direct the half-duplex communications device to switch to a half-duplex transmit mode.

30. The apparatus as in claim 29, wherein the processor is adapted to receive audio information via the induction transceiver and provide the audio information to the half-duplex communications device via the interface.

31. The apparatus as in claim 30, wherein the audio information is transmitted from the wireless headset.

32. The apparatus as in claim 29, wherein the magnetic induction link is a near field magnetic induction link operating over a short range, thus forming a small operational bubble.

33. The apparatus as in claim 32, wherein the short range is about two meters.

34. The apparatus as in claim 29, further comprising an indicator for indicating that the magnetic induction link is established with the half-duplex communications device.

35. The apparatus as in claim 29, wherein the processor is adapted to receive audio information from the half-duplex communications device via the interface and transmit at least a portion of the audio information via the induction transceiver.

36. The apparatus as in claim 29, wherein the magnetic induction link operates at a frequency from 10 MHz to 15 MHz.

37. The apparatus as in claim 29, wherein the first transmit mode signal is received from the wireless headset over the magnetic induction link.

38. The apparatus as in claim 29, wherein the first transmit mode signal is received from a wireless transmit switch assembly.

39. The apparatus as in claim 29, wherein the apparatus is integrated with the half-duplex communications device.

40. The apparatus as in claim 29, wherein the apparatus is separate from the half-duplex communications device.

41. The apparatus as in claim 29, wherein the processor is adapted to store a security code, the processor enabling the apparatus only where a matching security code is stored at the wireless headset.

42. The apparatus as in claim 29, wherein the apparatus draws operational power from the half-duplex communications device.

43. The apparatus as in claim 29, further comprising a mechanism for disabling the apparatus, the mechanism configuring the apparatus such that the half-duplex communications device operates as if the apparatus is not present.

44. The apparatus as in claim 29, further comprising a switch for causing the half-duplex communications device to function without the wireless headset.

45. The apparatus as in claim 29, wherein the induction transceiver is adapted to provide operational power to the wireless headset.

46. A system comprising:

a half-duplex communications device; and

a headset wirelessly connected through a magnetic induction link to the half-duplex communications device;

wherein the headset is adapted to wirelessly transmit a transmit mode signal to the half-duplex communications device through the magnetic induction link, the transmit mode signal causing the half-duplex communications device to enter a half-duplex transmission mode; and

wherein the half-duplex communications device is adapted to transmit in the half-duplex transmission mode audio information based at least in part upon receipt of the transmit mode signal.

47. The system as in claim 46, wherein the headset includes a switch operable by a user and wherein the transmit mode signal is transmitted when the switch is engaged by the user.

48. The system as in claim 47, wherein the transmit mode signal includes a signal transmitted during at least a portion of a period that the switch is engaged.

49. The system as in claim 47, wherein the transmit mode signal includes an absence of a signal during at least a portion of a period that the switch is engaged.

50. The system as in claim 46, wherein the magnetic induction link is a near field magnetic link operating over a short range, thus forming a small operational bubble.

51. The system as in claim 50, wherein the short range is about two meters.

52. The system as in claim 46, wherein the apparatus is adapted to indicate that the magnetic induction link is broken.

53. The system as in claim 52, wherein the wireless headset indicates that the magnetic induction link is broken by outputting an audible indication.

54. The system as in claim 46, wherein the apparatus is adapted to indicate that the magnetic induction link is established.

55. The system as in claim 46, wherein the headset is further adapted to wirelessly transmit the audio information for reception by the half-duplex communications device through the magnetic induction link.

56. The system as in claim 55, wherein the half-duplex communications device is adapted to wirelessly transmit audio information for reception by the headset through the magnetic induction link.

57. The system as in claim 56, wherein the audio information from the headset and the audio information from the half-duplex communications device is transmitted as packetized digital information.

58. The system as in claim 46, wherein the magnetic induction link operates at frequency from 10 MHz to 15 MHz.

59. The system as in claim 46, wherein the half-duplex communications device is selected from one of a group comprising:

a two-way radio and a cellular phone.

60. The system as in claim 46, wherein a security code is stored at the headset and the magnetic induction link is established upon a determination that a matching security code is stored at the half-duplex communications device.

61. The system as in claim 46, wherein the wireless headset shuts down after the magnetic induction link is broken for a predetermined period of time.

62. The system as in claim 46, wherein the headset receives operational power from the half-duplex communications device over the magnetic induction link.

63. The system as in claim 62, wherein at least a portion of the operational power received over the magnetic induction link is stored in a battery at the headset.

64. The system as in claim 46, wherein the half-duplex communications device includes a mechanism that shuts down the magnetic induction link and activates a microphone and speaker in the half-duplex communications device.

65. A system comprising:

a half-duplex communications device;

a transmit switch assembly wirelessly connected to the half-duplex communications device through a magnetic induction link; and

a headset wirelessly connected to the half-duplex communications device through the magnetic induction link;

wherein the transmit switch assembly is adapted to wirelessly transmit a transmit mode signal for reception by the half-duplex communications device, the transmit mode signal causing the half-duplex communications device to enter a half-duplex transmission mode; and

wherein the half-duplex communications device is adapted to transmit in the half-duplex transmission mode audio information received from the headset based at least in part upon receipt of the transmit mode signal.

66. The system as in claim 65, wherein the magnetic induction link as a near field magnetic link operating over a short range, thus forming a small operational bubble.

67. The system as in claim 66, wherein the short range is about two meters.

68. The system as in claim 65, wherein the system is adapted to indicate that the magnetic induction link is broken.

69. The system as in claim 68, wherein the headset indicates that the magnetic link is broken by outputting an audible indication.

70. The system as in claim 65, wherein the system is adapted to indicate that the magnetic induction link is established.

71. The system as in claim 65, wherein the transmit switch assembly includes a switch operable by a user and wherein the transmit mode signal is transmitted when the switch is engaged by the user.

72. The system as in claim 71, wherein the transmit mode signal includes a signal transmitted during at least a portion of a period that the switch is engaged.

73. The system as in claim 71, wherein the transmit mode signal includes an absence of a signal during at least a portion of a period that the switch is engaged.

74. The system as in claim 65, wherein the transmit switch assembly includes a speaker for outputting audio information received from the half-duplex communications device.

75. The system as in claim 65, wherein the transmit switch assembly includes a microphone for receiving audio information for communication to the half-duplex communications device.

76. The system as in claim 65, wherein the transmit switch assembly receives operational power through the magnetic induction link.

77. The system as in claim 65, wherein the headset is adapted to wirelessly transmit the audio information for reception by the half-duplex communications device through the magnetic induction link.

78. The system as in claim 77, wherein the half-duplex communications device is adapted to wirelessly transmit audio information for reception by the headset through the magnetic induction link.

79. The system as in claim 78, wherein the audio information from the headset and the audio information from the half-duplex communications device is transmitted as packetized digital information.

80. The system as in claim 65, wherein the magnetic induction link operates at frequency from 10 MHz to 15 MHz.

81. The system as in claim 65, wherein a security code is stored at the headset and the magnetic induction link is established upon a determination that a matching security code is stored at the half-duplex communications device.

82. The system as in claim 65, wherein the half-duplex communications device is selected from one of a group comprising:

a two-way radio and a cellular phone.

83. The system as in claim 65, wherein the wireless headset shuts down after the magnetic induction link is broken for a predetermined period of time.

84. The system as in claim 65, wherein the headset receives operational power from the half-duplex communications device over the magnetic induction link.