Donned and doffed headset state detection

• US 20080080705A1
• Filed: 10/02/2006
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Khamashta, Robert M., Gerhardt, John F., Reuss, Edward L., Johnston, Timothy P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,335,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/430
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/10 Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones H04R1/28 takes precedence; stereophonic headphones H04R5/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• 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

An apparatus and method are provided for determining the donned or doffed state of a headset. In one example, a headset includes a processor, an acoustic transducer, and a detector operably coupled to the processor, the detector providing an output charge pattern corresponding to a state selected from the group consisting of the headset being donned and doffed. Advantageously, the present disclosure provides for reliably determining a donned or doffed state of a headset for efficiently routing calls, text messages, and/or otherwise being used for notifications and requests in a system.

Claims

1. A headset, comprising:

a processor;

an acoustic transducer; and

a detector operably coupled to the processor, the detector providing an output charge pattern corresponding to a state selected from the group consisting of the headset being donned and doffed.

2. The headset of claim 1, wherein the detector is a motion detector.

3. The headset of claim 2, wherein the motion detector transforms kinetic energy of the headset into an output charge.

4. The headset of claim 2, wherein the motion detector includes a magnet and a coil moving relative to one another.

5. The headset of claim 2, wherein the motion detector includes an acceleration sensor having a mass affixed to a piezoelectric crystal.

6. The headset of claim 2, wherein the motion detector includes a movable conductive element and a contact of an open circuit that is closed upon contact with the conductive element.

7. The headset of claim 2, wherein the motion detector includes a light source, a photosensor, and a movable surface therebetween.

8. The headset of claim 1, wherein the detector is a non-motion detector.

9. The headset of claim 8, wherein the non-motion detector includes one selected from the group consisting of an infra-red detector, a pyroelectric sensor, a capacitance circuit, a micro-switch, an inductive proximity switch, and a skin resistance sensor.

10. The headset of claim 8, wherein the non-motion detector includes at least two pyroelectric sensors for determining a difference in temperature readings from the two pyroelectric sensors.

11. The headset of claim 8, wherein the non-motion detector provides an output charge based upon one selected from the group consisting of temperature and capacitance.

12. The headset of claim 1, wherein the detector includes a motion detector and a non-motion detector.

13. The headset of claim 1, wherein the detector is operably coupled to a circuit for determining whether the output charge pattern corresponds to a state selected from the group consisting of the headset being donned and doffed.

14. The headset of claim 13, wherein the circuit compares the output charge pattern to at least one predetermined profile corresponding to a state selected from the group consisting of the headset being donned and doffed.

15. A headset, comprising:

a processor;

an acoustic transducer;

a detector operably coupled to the processor, wherein the detector provides an output charge pattern, and further wherein the detector is selected from the group consisting of a motion detector and a non-motion detector; and

a circuit operably coupled to the detector for determining whether the output charge pattern corresponds to a state selected from the group consisting of the headset being donned and doffed.

16. The headset of claim 15, wherein the motion detector transforms kinetic energy of the headset into an output charge.

17. The headset of claim 15, wherein the motion detector includes a magnet and a coil moving relative to one another.

18. The headset of claim 15, wherein the motion detector includes an acceleration sensor having a mass affixed to a piezoelectric crystal.

19. The headset of claim 15, wherein the motion detector includes a movable conductive element and a contact of an open circuit that is closed upon contact with the conductive element.

20. The headset of claim 15, wherein the motion detector includes a light source, a photosensor, and a movable surface therebetween.

21. The headset of claim 15, wherein the non-motion detector includes one selected from the group consisting of an infra-red detector, a pyroelectric sensor, a capacitance circuit, a micro-switch, an inductive proximity switch, and a skin resistance sensor.

22. The headset of claim 15, wherein the non-motion detector includes at least two pyroelectric sensors for determining a difference in temperature readings from the two pyroelectric sensors.

23. The headset of claim 15, wherein the non-motion detector provides an output charge based upon one selected from the group consisting of temperature and capacitance.

24. A method of determining a headset state, the method comprising:

providing a headset including a processor, a detector operably coupled to the processor, and a donned-doffed recognition circuit operably coupled to the detector;

detecting a headset characteristic selected from the group consisting of kinetic energy, temperature, and capacitance;

transforming the detected headset characteristic into an output charge; and

processing a plurality of output charges to determine an output charge pattern corresponding to a state selected from the group consisting of the headset being donned and doffed.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the detector is selected from the group consisting of a motion detector and a non-motion detector.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising comparing the pattern to at least one predetermined profile corresponding to a state selected from the group consisting of the headset being donned and doffed.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising sending the state of the headset to a headset server for use in one of routing messages and notification for volume control.