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Integrated passive and active communications system

  • US 5,991,637 A
  • Filed: 04/19/1996
  • Issued: 11/23/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A hands-free integrated passive and active communications system (IPAC), comprising:

  • at least one shared I/O device;

    a passive communications device;

    an active communications device which is a telephone, further comprising;

    at least one audio input device; and

    means to communicate with a remote location; and

    a switch device, further comprising;

    a controller, the controller having means to control access to the shared I/O device, having means to control the passive communications device, and means to control the active communications device;

    gating means to control access to the shared I/O by the passive communications device and the active communications device; and

    means to automatically deactivate the passive communications device when the active communications device detects an incoming communication, and automatically activate the active communication device;

    a head set having a head strap which supports the audio input device the shared I/O device, the passive communications device, the active communications device, and the switch device;

    the shared I/O device is a first speaker and a second speaker, at least one speaker for each user'"'"'s ear;

    a flexible headset strap, the flexible headset strap connected to a first speaker at one end and connected to a second speaker at the other end; and

    at least one of the speakers is attached to the flexible headset strap by a hinge, the hinge having a closed position in which the speaker is adjacent to user'"'"'s ear and an open position in which the speaker is hingedly moved away from the user'"'"'s ear such that at least one ear can hear ambient noise when the other speaker is used for a telephone call;

    whereby the IPAC controls active communications and passive communications with a reduced set of shared I/O devices, and automatically interrupts the passive communications device when an incoming transmission is received for the active communications device and whereby a user can place a telephone call while maintaining the ability to hear sounds not coming from the telephone.

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