Wireless headset apparatus and operation method thereof

• US 20060165243A1
• Filed: 01/20/2006
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Chang-Ho
• Application Number:
  US11/336,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20060165243A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/74
• 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 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083

Abstract

Disclosed is a wireless headset apparatus and an operation method thereof. A separate earphone is connected to a wireless headset so that the user can listen to a voice through both the earphone and a built-in speaker included in the wireless headset. When the connected earphone includes a microphone, the function of a built-in microphone included in the wireless headset is interrupted, and a voice is received through the microphone included in the connected earphone, so that the user can smoothly communicate even when the user moves to a noisy area where the communication environment is poor.

Claims

1. A wireless headset apparatus comprising:

an earphone connection unit including an earphone connection hole, to which an earphone can be connected, so as to output a sense signal when the earphone is connected to the earphone connection hole;

a route establishment unit for establishing one of a first route to output a voice to only a built-in speaker and a second route to output a voice to both the built-in speaker and the earphone connection unit depending on a control signal, and for interrupting a function of a built-in microphone and establishing a third route to receive a voice signal through a microphone included in the earphone when the earphone has the microphone attached thereto;

an audio processing unit for processing a voice signal output and a voice signal input; and

a headset controller for controlling operations of the units, and outputting the control signal according to a sense signal output from earphone connection unit.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the earphone connection unit includes an earphone-jack sensor, which senses that an earphone jack is connected.

3. An operation method of a wireless headset, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing if an earphone is connected during a communication mode;

outputting a voice signal through a built-in speaker, when it is sensed that an earphone is not connected; and

outputting a voice signal through both the built-in speaker and an earphone when it is sensed that the earphone is connected.

4. An operation method of a wireless headset, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing if an earphone is connected during a communication mode;

determining if the earphone includes a microphone, when it is sensed that the earphone is connected; and

outputting a voice signal through both a built-in speaker and the earphone, interrupting a function of a built-in microphone included in the wireless headset, and receiving a voice signal through the microphone included in the earphone, when it is determined that the earphone includes the microphone.