Speaker Capacitive Sensor

• US 20110007908A1
• Filed: 07/13/2009
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Peterson, Casey G., Rosener, Doug K
• Application Number:
  US12/501,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20110007908A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/74
• 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 2400/01 Transducers used as a loudspeaker to generate sound aswell as a microphone to detect sound
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for capacitive sensing are disclosed. In one example, a speaker includes a diaphragm and an electrically conductive material. The speaker electrically conductive material is adapted to form an electrode to measure capacitance.

Claims

1. A headset comprising:

a speaker comprising a diaphragm and an electrically conductive material adapted to form an electrode; and

a processor adapted to receive signals from the electrically conductive material to determine a measured capacitance using the electrically conductive material.

2. The headset of claim 1, wherein the processor is further adapted to process the measured capacitance to determine a headset donned state or a headset doffed state.

3. The headset of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive material forms a speaker yoke or a speaker cover.

4. The headset of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive material is copper and forms a speaker cover.

5. The headset of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive material forms a speaker pole piece, back cover, ring, frame, basket, or case.

6. The headset of claim 1, further comprising a dedicated capacitive sensor to measure an additional measured capacitance, wherein the processor is further adapted to process both the measured capacitance and the additional measured capacitance to determine a headset donned state or a headset doffed state.

7. The headset of claim 6, wherein the headset further comprises a housing having a spine portion wherein the dedicated capacitive sensor is disposed.

8. The headset of claim 1, wherein the electrode is operable to measure a capacitance associated with whether the speaker is in proximity to a user skin.

9. A speaker comprising:

a diaphragm;

a voice coil coupled to the diaphragm;

a yoke; and

a cover, wherein the yoke or the cover comprise an electrically conductive material and is adapted to form an electrode to measure capacitance.

10. The speaker of claim 9, further comprising a printed circuit board to receive a signal from the yoke or the cover.

11. The speaker of claim 9, wherein the cover comprises a crimp tab crimpable to the yoke, the speaker further comprising an electrical lead connected to the crimp tab.

12. The speaker of claim 9, wherein the electrically conductive material is copper.

13. The speaker of claim 9, wherein the cover is a front cover comprising a plurality of apertures through which sound waves generated by the diaphragm are output.

14. A method for determining a headset donned state or a headset doffed state:

receiving a signal from a headset speaker electrically conductive material;

processing the signal to determine a measured capacitance; and

processing the measured capacitance to determine a headset donned state or a headset doffed state.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the headset speaker electrically conductive material forms a speaker cover or yoke.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving an additional signal from a dedicated donned/doffed sensor and processing the additional signal together with the measured capacitance to determine a headset donned state or a headset doffed state.

17. A headset comprising:

a first sensor adapted to output a first signal associated with whether the headset is in a donned state or a doffed state;

a second sensor adapted to output a second signal associated with whether the headset is in a donned state or a doffed state; and

a processor adapted to receive the first signal and the second signal to determine a headset donned state or a headset doffed state.

18. The headset of claim 17, wherein the first sensor is a headset speaker adapted to measure a capacitance associated with whether the headset is in a donned state or a doffed state.

19. The headset of claim 18, wherein the second sensor is selected from the following group:

thermal or infrared sensor, skin resistivity sensor, capacitive touch sensor, inductive proximity sensor, magnetic sensor, piezoelectric-based sensor, and motion detector.

20. The headset of claim 18, wherein the headset speaker comprises an electrically conductive cover adapted to form an electrode.

21. The headset of claim 18, wherein the processor is adapted to output an audio prompt through the headset speaker responsive to determination of a headset donned state.