USB PROGRAMMABLE DUAL ANTENNA COMMUNICATIONS HEADSET SYSTEM

• US 20160286019A1
• Filed: 06/05/2016
• Published: 09/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonetics Holdings Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonetics Holdings Inc.
• Inventors: Broadley, Simon, VanderPloeg, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 9,917,940 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1008 Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1083 Reduction of ambient noise active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/023 Transducers incorporated in garment, rucksacks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2410/05 Noise reduction with a separate noise microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/09 Applications of special connectors, e.g. USB, XLR, in loudspeakers, microphones or headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

A communications headset having an antenna on each earpiece and having an RF switch for determining which antenna is receiving the superior signal and selecting that signal for amplification and distribution to headset speakers. A cable, supported and secured to a headband of the headset, connects the two earpieces for signal and power transfer. An illustrated embodiment has a transceiver and a speaker in an earpiece, with the RF switch, switching logic, and audio processor in one earpiece. Other configurations are within the scope of the invention. The RF switch selects the superior signal responsive to signal strength, signal to noise ratio, and/or similar figures of merit. Monitoring for signal superiority is at a high bandwidth to prevent granularity in the switching becoming noticeable to the user. The antenna corresponding to the superior signal is also used for transmitting from the headset.

Claims

1. A USB programmable dual antenna communications headset system comprising a USB programmable dual antenna communications headset further comprising:

a. first and second ear pieces;

b. at least one communication system mounted to at least one of said first and second ear pieces;

c. first and second antennas of said communication system mounted in said first and second ear pieces, respectively;

d. a microphone of said communications system coupled to one of said first and second earpieces;

e. an electronic signal cable of said communication system in communication between said first and second ear pieces;

f. a push-button power switch mounted on one of said first and second earpieces;

g. a push-to-talk button of said communication system mounted on one of said first and second earpieces;

h. a USB socket mounted in one of said first and second earpieces, wherein said USB socket is in electronic communication with a programmable digital signal processor of said communication system within said earpiece; and

i. wherein said programmable digital signal process is programmable to change communications parameters of said communications system and change control parameters of said dual antenna communications headset.

2. The USB programmable dual antenna communications headset system of claim 1, comprising a personal computer that is adapted to:

a. be connectable to said USB socket;

b. host data representing said dual antenna communications headset; and

c. host a software program comprising;

i. a headset programming software having access to said data; and

ii. a user interface.

3. The USB programmable dual antenna communications headset system of claim 1, comprising a Bluetooth®

transceiver of said communications system, wherein said push-button power switch and said push-to-talk button are adapted to pair said dual antenna communications headset to a separate Bluetooth device in response to concurrent activation of both said push-button power switch and said push-to-talk button for between five and seven seconds.

4. The USB programmable dual antenna communications headset system of claim 1, wherein said push-button power switch is adapted to turn off said dual antenna communications headset in response to only said push-button power switch being pressed for at least three hundred milliseconds.

5. The USB programmable dual antenna communications headset system of claim 1, comprising first and second audio speakers in said first and second ear pieces, respectively, wherein an audio processor of said communications system is adapted to communicate a processed audio signal input to said first and second audio speakers.

6. The USB programmable dual antenna communications headset system of claim 5, wherein said processed audio signal is adapted to be communicated to one of said first and second audio speakers via said electronic signal cable.

7. The USB programmable dual antenna communications headset system of claim 1, wherein one of said first antenna and said second antenna, determined to be receiving a superior signal, is adapted to be selected for transmitting wireless communications from said headset.

8. The USB programmable dual antenna communications headset system of claim 6, wherein said electronic signal cable comprises an RF coaxial cable.

9. The USB programmable dual antenna communications headset system of claim 1, comprising first and second ear cups within said first and second ear pieces, wherein said first and second ear cups are made of a plastic that is substantially transparent at a communications frequency band of said communications system.

11. The USB programmable dual antenna communications headset system of claim 1, comprising a Bluetooth®

transceiver.

12. The USB programmable dual antenna communications headset system of claim 11, wherein said push-button power switch and said push-to-talk button are adapted to pair said dual antenna communications headset to a separate Bluetooth device in response to concurrent activation of both said push-button power switch and said push-to-talk button for between five and seven seconds.

13. The USB programmable dual antenna communications headset system of claim 1, wherein said push-button power switch is adapted to turn off said dual antenna communications headset in response to only said push-button power switch being pressed for at least three hundred milliseconds.

14. The USB programmable dual antenna communications headset system of claim 1, wherein one of said first antenna and said second antenna, determined to be receiving a superior signal, is adapted to be selected for transmitting wireless communications from said headset.

15. The USB programmable dual antenna communications headset system of claim 14, wherein said processed audio signal is adapted to be communicated to one of said first and second audio speakers via said electronic signal cable.

16. The USB programmable dual antenna communications headset of claim 1, comprising a microphone of said communications system coupled to one of said first and second earpieces.

17. The USB programmable dual antenna communications headset system of claim 1, comprising a headgear adapted to:

a. connect and support said first and second ear pieces; and

b. support and secure said electronic signal cable.

18. The USB programmable dual antenna communications headset system of claim 1, comprising first and second ear cups within said first and second ear pieces, respectively, wherein said first and second ear cups are made of a plastic that is substantially transparent at a communications frequency band of said transceiver.

10. a USB programmable dual antenna communications headset system comprising:

a. a USB programmable dual antenna communications headset further comprising;

i. first and second ear pieces;

ii. at least one communication system mounted to at least one of said first and second ear pieces;

iii. first and second antennas of said communication system mounted in said first and second ear pieces, respectively;

iv. an electronic signal cable of said communication system in communication between said first and second ear pieces;

v. a push-button power switch mounted on one of said first and second earpieces;

vi. a push-to-talk button of said communication system mounted on one of said first and second earpieces;

vii. a USB socket mounted in one of said first and second earpieces, wherein said USB socket is in electronic communication with a programmable firmware device of said communication system within said earpiece; and

viii. wherein said programmable firmware device is programmable to change communications parameters of said communications system and change control parameters of said dual antenna communications headset; and

b. a personal computer that is adapted to;

i. be connectable to said USB socket;

ii. host data representing said dual antenna communications headset; and

iii. host a software program comprising;

1. a headset programming software having access to said data; and

2. a user interface.

19. a USB programmable dual antenna communications headset system comprising a USB programmable dual antenna communications headset further comprising:

a. first and second ear pieces;

b. at least one communication system mounted to at least one of said first and second ear pieces;

c. first and second antennas of said communication system mounted in said first and second ear pieces, respectively;

d. a microphone of said communications system coupled to one of said first and second earpieces;

e. an electronic signal cable of said communication system in communication between said first and second ear pieces;

f. a push-button power switch mounted on one of said first and second earpieces;

g. a push-to-talk button of said communication system mounted on one of said first and second earpieces;

h. a USB socket mounted in one of said first and second earpieces, wherein said USB socket is in electronic communication with a programmable firmware device of said communication system within said earpiece;

i. wherein said programmable firmware device is programmable to change communications parameters of said communications system and change control parameters of said dual antenna communications headset; and

j. an RF switch adapted to;

i. receive first and second input signals from said first and second antennas;

ii. compare said first and second input signals;

iii. determine a superior signal as between said first and second input signals; and

iv. communicate said superior signal to a transceiver of the communications system.

20. The USB programmable dual antenna communications headset system of claim 19, comprising:

a. one of said first antenna and said second antenna, determined to be receiving said superior signal, adapted to be selected for transmitting wireless communications from said headset;

b. said electronic signal cable further comprising an RF coaxial cable;

c. a headgear adapted to;

i. connect and support said first and second ear pieces; and

ii. support and secure said electronic signal cable; and

d. first and second ear cups within said first and second ear pieces, respectively, wherein said first and second ear cups are made of a plastic comprising substantial transparency at a communications frequency band of said communications system.