CLIP-WORN DEVICE WITH DON/DOFF SENSOR

• US 20100109895A1
• Filed: 11/06/2008
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Plantronics, Inc. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Rosener, Douglas K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,760,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/686.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Abstract

Clip-worn apparatuses having sensor clips configured to detect whether electronic devices, such as communications headsets, are being worn (i.e., “donned” or “DON'"'"'d”) or are not being worn (i.e., “doffed” or “DOFF'"'"'d”) by a user. An exemplary clip-worn apparatus includes a DON/DOFF sensor clip having a clip with a first end and an opposing second end. The first end includes a source (e.g., a light source). The opposing second end includes a detector (e.g., a light detector). When the clip-worn apparatus is DOFF'"'"'d, a detection path between the source and the detector is clear and unobstructed. When the clip-worn apparatus is DON'"'"'d (by clipping the DON/DOFF sensor clip to a target object, e.g., a user'"'"'s ear), the target object becomes positioned between the source and the detector, thereby obstructing the detection path between the source and the detector.

Claims

1. A clip-worn apparatus, comprising:

an electronic device; and

a DON/DOFF sensor clip coupled to said electronic device, said DON/DOFF sensor clip including a clip having first and second opposing ends, the first end of said first and second opposing ends including a detector configured to detect whether a target object is positioned between the first and second opposing ends.

2. The clip-worn apparatus of claim 1 wherein said clip provides a tensile force such that when the target objects is not positioned between the first and second opposing ends of the clip, the clip brings the first and second opposing ends in proximity to each other.

3. The clip-worn apparatus of claim 1, further comprising sense electronics, configured to receive a sense signal from an output of said detector indicating whether said electronic device is being worn.

4. The clip-worn apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electronic device comprises a headset.

5. The clip-worn apparatus of claim 1 wherein the target object comprises a user'"'"'s ear.

6. The clip-worn apparatus of claim 1 wherein said detector is physically positioned at the first end of said clip so said detector is physically isolated from the environment when said DON/DOFF sensor clip is configured in both DON'"'"'d and DOFF'"'"'d states.

7. The clip-worn apparatus of claim 1 wherein said detector comprises a mechanical switch configured to detect a presence of the target object.

8. The clip-worn apparatus of claim 1 wherein said detector comprises a capacitive sensor configured to detect contact with the target object.

9. The clip-worn apparatus of claim 1 wherein said detector comprises a temperature sensor configured to detect a surface temperature of the target object.

10. The clip-worn apparatus of claim 1 wherein said detector comprises a coil inductor circuit configured to measure inductance in a coil.

11. The clip-worn apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second opposing end of said clip includes a source.

12. The clip-worn apparatus of claim 11 wherein said source comprises a light source and said detector comprises a light detector.

13. The clip-worn apparatus of claim 11 wherein said source comprises a first electrode and said detector comprises a second electrode coupled to a current meter.

14. The clip-worn apparatus of claim 11 wherein said source comprises a sound transducer and said detector comprises a sound detector.

15. The clip-worn apparatus of claim 11 wherein said source comprises a heat source and said detector comprises a heat sensor.

16. The clip-worn apparatus of claim 11 wherein said source comprises a permanent magnet and said detector comprises a magnetometer.

17. The clip-worn apparatus of claim 11 wherein said source is physically positioned at the second opposing end of said clip so that said source is physically isolated from the environment when said DON/DOFF sensor clip is configured in both DON'"'"'d and DOFF'"'"'d states.

18. The clip-worn apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a source included in the first end of said clip.

19. The clip-worn apparatus of claim 18 wherein said source is configured to emit a source signal and said detector is configured to detect reflections of the emitted source signal from the target object when the target object is positioned between the first and second ends of said clip.

20. The clip-worn apparatus of claim 1 wherein said clip comprises:

a first rocker arm;

a second rocker arm; and

a pivot coupling said first rocker arm to said second rocker arm.