System and Method for a Headset Combining a Microphone and an Antenna

• US 20090074223A1
• Filed: 09/14/2007
• Published: 03/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: BELLOWS, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,488,804 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/375
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/083 Special constructions of mouthpieces
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• 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 5/0335 Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests for monophonic headphones H04R1/105

Abstract

A headset comprises an audio output device, an audio input device, and a wire. The audio output device plays outgoing audio data. The audio input device receives incoming audio data. The wire connects the audio input device to a sound device that interprets the incoming audio data. The wire is further configured to be an antenna to one of transmit and receive radio frequency signals. The wire is further connected to a transceiver.

Claims

1. A headset, comprising:

an audio output device playing outgoing audio data;

an audio input device receiving incoming audio data; and

a wire connecting the audio input device to a sound device that interprets the incoming audio data, the wire further being configured to be an antenna to one of transmit and receive radio frequency signals, the wire further being connected to a transceiver.

2. The headset of claim 1, further comprising:

a head band holding the headset on a head of a user.

3. The headset of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency signals include radio frequency identification data.

4. The headset of claim 1, further comprising:

an ear clip.

5. The headset of claim 1, further comprising:

a boom housing the wires, the audio input device being disposed on a first end of the boom.

6. The headset of claim 5, wherein the boom is flexible to orient the audio input device substantially near a mouth of a user.

7. The headset of claim 1, wherein a length of the wire is substantially one of three inches, six inches, and nine inches.

8. The headset of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency signal is transmitted through the wire at an operating frequency between 902 MHz and 928 MHz.

9. The headset of claim 1, wherein the incoming audio data is transmitted through the wire at an operating frequency between 20 Hz and 20 kHz.

10. The headset of claim 1, wherein the incoming audio data and the radio frequency identification data are transmitted through the wire concurrently.

11. The headset of claim 1, wherein the audio input device acts as an end-loading capacitor when the wire is used as the antenna.

12. A method, comprising:

receiving data through a wire, the wire connecting an audio input device to a sound device that interprets incoming audio data, the wire further being configured to be an antenna to one of transmit and receive radio frequency identification data, the wire further being connected to a transceiver, the data including at least one of the incoming audio data and the radio frequency identification data;

determining a first portion of the data relating to the incoming audio data and a second portion of the data relating to the radio frequency identification data; and

forwarding the first portion to the sound device and the second portion to the transceiver.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the incoming audio data is transmitted through the wire at an operating frequency between 20 Hz and 20 kHz.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the radio frequency identification data is transmitted through the wire at an operating frequency between 902 MHz and 928 MHz.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a length of the wire is substantially one of three inches, six inches, and nine inches.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the incoming audio data and the radio frequency identification data are transmitted through the wire concurrently.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the audio input device acts as an end-loading capacitor when the wire is used as the antenna.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining if the radio frequency identification data originated from the transceiver.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

propagating signals relating to the radio frequency identification data through the wire.

20. A headset, comprising:

an audio output means for playing outgoing audio data;

an audio input means for receiving incoming audio data; and

a connecting means connecting the audio input means to a sound device that interprets the incoming audio data, the connecting means further being configured to be an antenna to one of transmit and receive radio frequency signals, the connecting means further being connected to a transceiver.