Ear Headphone Unit And A Computer System

• US 20080031484A1
• Filed: 06/21/2005
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Niklas Danielson
• Original Assignee: Niklas Danielson
• Inventors: Danielson, Niklas
• Application Number:
  US11/632,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20080031484A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/375
• 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 5/0335 Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests for monophonic headphones H04R1/105

Abstract

The invention concerns a unit (10) comprising a headset (11) having a curved flexible support member (50) for holding the headset (11) onto a user'"'"'s head. The support member (50) has a first (61) and a second (62) end portion which can be moved away from each other. The headset (11) has an ear-headphone part (14). The unit (10) has a switching member (20) with at least a first and a second switching state. In the first switching state, the unit (10) is connected for use such that said ear-headphone part (14) is active. The headset (11) has switching activating means (54) which are such that said first switching state is initiated by moving said first (61) and second (62) end portions away from each other. The invention also concerns a computer system comprising a unit (10) according to the above.

Claims

1-13. -13. (canceled)

14. An ear-headphone unit comprising a headset having a curved flexible support member which is configured to be able to extend around a part of a user'"'"'s head in order to hold the headset onto said head, the support member comprising a first and a second end portion which can be moved in a direction away from each other before the headset is attached to the head of the user, the headset comprising an ear-headphone part which is arranged on the headset such that when the headset is attached as intended to a user'"'"'s head, the ear-headphone part is arranged at at least one ear of the user, wherein said unit is arranged to be able to be connected to a computer such that sounds can be produced by said ear-headphone part with the help of the computer, wherein the computer is of the kind which at least also can be connected to a loudspeaker, which can be a desk or floor loudspeaker, or which has a built-in loudspeaker, said unit further comprising a switching member with at least a first and a second switching state, wherein the unit is arranged such that, when the unit is connected as intended to said computer and the switching member is in said first switching state, the unit is connected for use such that said ear-headphone part is active while said desk or floor loudspeaker or built-in loudspeaker is not active, wherein in said second switching state at least said ear-headphone part is not active while said desk or floor loudspeaker or built-in loudspeaker is active and wherein said headset comprises switching activating means which are such that said first switching state is initiated by moving said first and second end portions away from each other.

15. A unit according to claim 14, wherein said support member comprises a first part, which includes said first end portion, and a second part, which includes said second end portion, wherein said first and second parts are pivotally connected to each other in a connection area, wherein said switching activating means is located in said connection area and arranged such that when the first and second end portions are moved away from each other, a relative pivotal movement takes place between said first and second parts, wherein said relative pivotal movement causes the switching activating means to initiate said first switching state.

16. A unit according to claim 14, comprising a transmitter member arranged such that the unit can communicate in a wireless manner with said computer, wherein the transmitter member is arranged such that when said switching member is in or is being switched to said first switching state, the transmitter member transmits a control signal to a corresponding receiver member connected to the computer, such that the control signal ensures that when the switching member is in the first switching state, the computer is arranged such that the unit is connected for use together with the computer while said desk or floor loudspeaker or built-in loudspeaker is not active.

17. A unit according to claim 14, comprising a cable which on one hand is connected to or arranged to be connected to at least said ear-headphone part and on the other hand is arranged to be connected at least to said computer.

18. A unit according to claim 17, wherein said cable is provided with at least a first contact member and a second contact member, wherein the first contact member is arranged to be connected to the computer and the second contact member is arranged to, for example via a further cable, be connected to said desk or floor loudspeaker.

19. A unit according to claim 18, wherein said first contact member is a male contact of standard type which is configured to be plugged into a corresponding female contact which constitutes the loudspeaker input terminal of the computer, wherein said second contact member is a female contact of standard type which is configured to receive a corresponding male contact on a cable from said desk or floor loudspeaker.

20. A unit according to claim 14, wherein the headset also comprises a microphone part which is arranged on the headset such that when the headset is attached as intended to a user'"'"'s head, the microphone part is arranged near the user'"'"'s mouth.

21. A unit according to claim 20, arranged such that when the unit is connected to said computer and the switching member is in said first switching state, said microphone part is active while a possible built-in microphone of the computer or a separate microphone, with which the computer is connected, is not active, wherein when the switching member is in said second switching state, said microphone part is not active while said possible built-in microphone of the computer or said separate microphone, with which the computer is connected, is active.

22. A unit according to claim 20, wherein said cable is also connected to or arranged to be connected to said microphone part.

23. A unit according to claim 22, wherein said cable is provided also with a third contact member and a fourth contact member, wherein the third contact member is arranged to be connected to the computer and the fourth contact member is arranged to, for example via a further cable, be connected to said separate microphone.

24. A unit according to claim 23, wherein said third contact member is a male contact of standard type which is configured to be plugged into a corresponding female contact which constitutes the microphone input terminal of the computer and wherein said fourth contact member is a female contact of standard type which is configured to receive a corresponding male contact on a cable from said separate microphone.

25. A unit according to claim 20, wherein said unit is connectable to said computer in order to with the help of the unit enable conversational communication via a network for computers, for example the Internet, wherein the unit is arranged such that, when the unit is connected as intended to said computer and the switching member is in said first switching state, the unit is connected for use for conversational communication via the computer such that said microphone part and said ear-headphone part are active while said desk or floor loudspeaker or built-in loudspeaker is not active, wherein in said second switching state at least said ear-headphone part is not active while said desk or floor loudspeaker or built-in loudspeaker is active.

26. A computer system comprising a unit according to claim 14, said computer with at least one loudspeaker which can be a desk or floor loudspeaker or which can be built-in in the computer.