Cable-connectable stereo headset

• US 20060262949A1
• Filed: 04/19/2006
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Hwangbo, Sang-Moo, Cho, Min-Won
• Application Number:
  US11/406,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20060262949A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/309
• 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: H04R 1/1008 Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1033 Cables or cables storage, e.g. cable reels cord reels per se H02G11/02; arrangements for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of conductors or cables B65H75/34; extensible conductors or cables, e.g. self-coiling cords H01B7/06
• 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 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

Disclosed is a cable-connectable stereo headset. The cable-connectable stereo headset includes a first headphone containing a Bluetooth® enabled module and a second headphone connected to the first headphone by a cable. In a voice communication mode, the second headphone may be kept separate from the first headphone while only the first headphone is used, thereby providing for convenient voice communication. Further, in a music listening mode, the second headphone is connected to the first headphone again to provide stereo sound. The first headphone has a communication on/off key which can enable voice communication even when the portable terminal is not being directly operated when answering a call. The first headphone further includes function keys for replaying and stopping sound medium, controlling volume of the sound medium and selecting music. Thus, a multimedia device including a portable terminal can be conveniently operated by using the first headphone even if the multimedia device is not being directly operated.

Claims

1. A cable-connectable stereo headset comprising:

a first headphone for converting sound signals received from a device for playing a sound medium into sounds and outputting the sounds, the first headphone including a speaker unit; and

a second headphone for outputting a portion of the sounds, the second headphone including a speaker unit and connectable to the first headphone by a cable, so that mono sound is generated by use of the first headphone and stereo sound is generated by use of the first and second headphones.

2. The cable-connectable stereo headset as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second headphones includes a housing containing the speaker unit and a headphone frame having a first end coupled to the housing and surrounding at least a part of an outer peripheral surface of the housing with the headphone frame spaced from the housing.

3. The cable-connectable stereo headset as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cable extends from the second headphone and further includes a jack plug installed at an end of the cable and a jack hole is formed in the first headphone, the jack plug being insertable into the jack hole.

4. The cable-connectable stereo headset as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a jack plug installed at first and second ends of the cable, respectively, and a jack hole formed in each of the first and second headphones, the jack plugs being inserted into the jack holes, respectively.

5. The cable-connectable stereo headset as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first headphone is provided with an internal battery and a jack connector for connecting the first headphone to an electric source unit to charge the battery.

6. The cable-connectable stereo headset as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first headphone includes a Bluetooth®

enabled module for performing wireless communication with the device for playing a sound medium.

7. The cable-connectable stereo headset as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device for playing the sound medium is an audio component, and the first headphone further includes at least one key for playing and stopping the sound medium, controlling a volume of the sound medium and selecting music in the audio component, and a Bluetooth®

enabled module for performing wireless local area communication with the audio component.

8. The cable-connectable stereo headset as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device for playing the sound medium is a portable terminal providing a voice communication function, and the first headphone further includes a microphone and a Bluetooth®

enabled module and converts a user'"'"'s voice into electric signals by means of the microphone so as to transmit the electric signals through the Bluetooth®

enabled module to the portable terminal.

9. The cable-connectable stereo headset as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first headphone includes a housing which contains the speaker unit and a transmitter extending from an outer peripheral surface of the housing, with a microphone being located in the transmitter.

10. The cable-connectable stereo headset as claimed in claim 9, wherein the transmitter extends retractably from the housing.

11. The cable-connectable stereo headset as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first headphone further includes an on/off key for starting and ending voice communication.

12. The cable-connectable stereo headset as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first headphone further includes a luminous element which flickers according to an extent of reception of signals transmitted to and received from the portable terminal.