Pneumatic cell phone speaker assembly

• US 6,631,279 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2001
• Issued: 10/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Adrian Rivera
• Original Assignee: Adrian Rivera
• Inventors: Rivera, Adrian
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUC M
• Application Number:
  US09/823,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20020055374A1
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 455/568, 455/569, 455/575, 455/90, 379/430, 379/431, 379/429, 379/437, 379/440, 379/433, 381/150, 381/370, 381/380, 381/189, 381/183
• US Class Current: 455/575.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3838 Arrangements for reducing RF exposure to the user, e.g. by changing the shape of the transceiver while in use
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• 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

Abstract

A cellular phone speaker and microphone assembly that permits the use of cellular phones in a manner that limits the user'"'"'s exposure to electromagnetic radiation. The assembly comprises a speaker, a microphone, a first enclosure containing the microphone, a separate second enclosure containing the speaker, and a connecting member, which connects the first and second enclosures in a manner such that an air gap is introduced between the first and second enclosures. Furthermore, the assembly comprises a first air tube extending between the user'"'"'s mouth and the enclosure containing the microphone so as to transmit sound therebetween and a second air tube extending between the user'"'"'s ear and the enclosure containing the speaker so as to transmit sound therebetween. The speaker and microphone are individually encapsulated within separate enclosures so as to reduce noise interference between the two devices.

Claims

1. A speaker and microphone assembly for a cellular telephone, comprising:

a speaker;

a microphone;

a first enclosure containing the microphone and a second enclosure containing the speaker;

a connecting member joined to the first and second enclosures in a manner such that the connecting member is interposed between the first and second enclosures to inhibit sound transmission between the microphone and speaker;

a first air tube having a first end positioned near the user'"'"'s mouth for transmitting sound therefrom and a second end positioned adjacent the microphone in the first enclosure for transmitting sound thereto;

a second air tube having a first end positioned within the user'"'"'s ear for transmitting sound thereto and a second end positioned adjacent the speaker in the second enclosure for transmitting therefrom; and

a plug electrically connected to the speaker and microphone wherein the plug is adapted to plug into the cellular phone so as to transmit and receive audio signals directly to and from the cellular telephone,

wherein each of the first and second air tubes are connected to the same side of an enclosure.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the connecting member comprises a first and second surface separated by an air gap therebetween, the connecting member is joined to the first and second enclosures in a manner such that the air gap is interposed between the first and second enclosures to inhibit transmission of sound between the speaker and the microphone.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the connecting member comprises a first and second circular disk and a plurality of legs extending therebetween to separate the first and second disks by a first distance.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the first distance between the first and second disks is approximately 0.2 inch.

5. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the connecting member comprises a rubber material.

6. The assembly of claim 1 further comprises a first and second capsule wherein the first capsule substantially encapsulates the microphone inside the first enclosure and the second capsule substantially encapsulates the speaker inside the second enclosure wherein the first and second capsules inhibit sound transmission between the microphone and the speaker.

7. The assembly of claim 6 further comprises an insulating material that encloses the first and second capsules so as to attenuate vibration of the capsules and thereby reduce any noise interference that may result.

8. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the first capsule has a first opening that is adapted to receive the second end of the first air tube in a manner such that substantially all sound transmitted from the user'"'"'s mouth via the first air tube is channeled to the microphone.

9. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the second capsule has a second opening that is adapted to receive the second end of the second air tube in a manner such that substantially all sound transmitted from the speaker is channeled into the second air tube.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first end of the first air tube is coupled to a mouthpiece.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the mouthpiece comprises a stethoscope type funnel wherein the mouthpiece suspends freely while the user speaks into the mouthpiece.

12. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first end of the second air tube is coupled to an ear piece.

13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the ear piece comprises an acoustical piece and a support piece wherein the acoustical piece is positioned inside the user'"'"'s ear and the support piece is coupled to the acoustical piece and configured to fit over the outside of the ear so as to provide support for the ear.

14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the acoustical piece and the support piece are coupled in a manner so as to be substantially perpendicular to each other so that when the acoustical piece is placed inside the user'"'"'s ear, the support piece is adjacent the earlobe of the user.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the acoustical piece is substantially mushroom shaped and has an opening configured to transmit sound to the user'"'"'s ear.

16. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second air tubes extend from the user'"'"'s head to a location sufficiently far so as to reduce electromagnetic radiation exposure to the user'"'"'s head.

17. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second air tubes comprise a polyvinylchloride material.

18. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second air tubes each comprises an outer wall wherein the outer walls of the air tubes are connected together for a first distance extending from the first enclosure to a region near the user'"'"'s head, wherein the outer walls of the first and second air tubes are separated from each other in the region near the user'"'"'s head so that the first air tube can extend to an area adjacent the user'"'"'s mouth and the second air tube can extend to the user'"'"'s ear.

19. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second enclosures comprise a plastic material.

20. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second enclosures are substantially dome shaped.

21. The assembly of claim 20 wherein the combined volume of the first and second enclosures is less than 9 cm³.

22. The assembly of claim 21 wherein the combined weight of the first and second enclosure containing the speaker and microphone is less than 0.3 ounce.

23. The assembly of claim 22 wherein the assembly weighs less than 0.9 ounce.

24. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first air tube is approximately sixteen (16) inches long.

25. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the second air tube is approximately twenty-four (24) inches long.

26. A speaker and microphone assembly for a cellular telephone, comprising:

a speaker;

a microphone;

a first enclosure containing the microphone wherein the first enclosure has an opening that is adapted for transmitting sound through air from the user'"'"'s mouth to the microphone without a tube;

a second enclosure containing the speaker;

a connecting member joined to the first and second enclosures in a manner such that the first and second enclosures are adjacent in a single case and the connecting member is interposed between the first and second enclosures to inhibit sound transmission between the speaker and microphone;

an air tube having a first end wherein the first end is positioned within the user'"'"'s ear for transmitting sound thereto and a second end wherein the second end is positioned in the second enclosure for transmitting sound therefrom; and

a plug electrically connected to the speaker and microphone wherein the plug is adapted to plug into the cellular phone so as to transmit and receive audio signals directly to and from the cellular telephone.

27. The assembly of claim 26 wherein the connecting member comprises a first and second surface separated by an air gap therebetween, the connecting member is joined to the first and second enclosures in a manner such that the air gap is interposed between the first and second enclosures to inhibit transmission of sound between the speaker and the microphone.

28. The assembly of claim 26 wherein the connecting member comprises a substantially solid cylindrical disk that is approximately 0.3 inch high.

29. The assembly of claim 26 wherein the combined volume of the first and second enclosures is less than 9 cm³.

30. The assembly of claim 29 wherein the combined weight of the first and second enclosures is less than 0.4 ounces.

31. A speaker and microphone assembly for a cellular telephone, comprising:

a speaker;

a microphone;

a first enclosure containing the microphone wherein the first enclosure has a first cavity therein, the first cavity is configured to seat and firmly hold the microphone inside the first enclosure and to channel substantially all sound entering an upper opening of the first enclosure to the microphone;

a second enclosure containing the speaker wherein the second enclosure has a second cavity therein, the second cavity is configured to seat and firmly hold the speaker inside the second enclosure and to channel substantially all sound from the speaker toward an upper opening in the second enclosure;

a connecting member joined to the first and second enclosures in a manner such that the connecting member is interposed between the first and second enclosures to inhibit sound transmission between the speaker and microphone, the first enclosure, second enclosure and connecting member together defining a total volume of less than about 9 cm³;

a first air tube having a first end wherein the first end is positioned near the user'"'"'s mouth for transmitting sound therefrom and a second end wherein the second end is positioned adjacent the upper opening of the first enclosure for transmitting sound thereto;

a second air tube having a first end wherein the first end is positioned within the user'"'"'s ear for transmitting sound thereto and a second end wherein the second end is positioned adjacent the second enclosure for transmitting sound therefrom; and

a plug electrically connected to the speaker and microphone wherein the plug is adapted to plug into the cellular phone so as to transmit and receive audio signals directly to and from the cellular telephone,

wherein both of the first and second air tubes are connected to a same side of an enclosure.

32. The assembly of claim 31 wherein the first and second cavities are funnel-shaped.

33. The assembly of claim 31 wherein the connecting member comprises a first and second surface separated by an air gap therebetween, the connecting member is joined to the first and second enclosures in a manner such that the air gap is interposed between the first and second enclosures to inhibit transmission of sound between the speaker and the microphone.

34. A speaker and microphone assembly for a cellular telephone, comprising;

a speaker;

a microphone;

a first enclosure containing the microphone;

a second enclosure containing the speaker wherein the second enclosure is coupled to the first enclosure;

a first air tube having a first end positioned near the user'"'"'s mouth for transmitting sound therefrom and a second end positioned adjacent the microphone in the first enclosure for transmitting sound thereto;

a second air tube having a first end positioned within the user'"'"'s ear for transmitting sound thereto and a second end positioned adjacent the speaker in the second enclosure for transmitting therefrom; and

a plug electrically connected to the speaker and microphone wherein the plug is adapted to plug into the cellular phone so as to transmit and receive audio signals directly to and from the cellular telephone;

wherein both of the first air tube and the second air tube are connected to a same one of the first and second enclosures.

35. The assembly of claim 34 wherein the first and second enclosures comprise a plastic material.

36. The assembly of claim 34 wherein the first and second enclosures are substantially dome-shaped.

37. The assembly of claim 36 wherein the combined volume of the first and second enclosures is less than 9 cm³.

38. The assembly of claim 37 wherein the assembly weighs less than 0.9 ounce.

39. The assembly of claim 34 wherein the first enclosure has a first cavity therein, and the first cavity is configured to seat and firmly hold the microphone inside the first enclosure and to channel substantially all sound entering an upper opening of the first enclosure to the microphone.

40. The assembly of claim 34 wherein the second enclosure has a second cavity therein, and the second cavity is configured to seat and firmly hold the speaker inside the second enclosure and to channel substantially all sound from the speaker toward an upper opening in the second enclosure.

41. The assembly of claim 34 wherein the first enclosure has a first circular base and the second enclosure has a second circular base where the first and second circular bases are joined together.

42. A speaker and microphone assembly for a cellular telephone, comprising

a speaker;

a microphone;

a first enclosure containing the microphone wherein the first enclosure has an opening that is adapted for transmitting sound directly from the user'"'"'s mouth to the microphone without an air tube;

a second enclosure containing the speaker;

a connecting member joined to the first and second enclosures in a manner such that the first and second enclosures are adjacent in a single case and the connecting member is interposed between the first and second enclosures;

an air tube having a first end wherein the first end is positioned adjacent the user'"'"'s ear for transmitting sound thereto and a second end wherein the second end is positioned in the second enclosure for transmitting sound therefrom; and

a plug electrically connected to the speaker and microphone wherein the plug is adapted to plug into the cellular telephone so as to transmit and receive audio signals directly to and from the cellular telephone.

43. The assembly of claim 42 wherein the first end of the air tube is coupled to an airpiece.

44. The assembly of claim 42 wherein the combined volume of the first and second enclosures is less than 9 cm³.

45. The assembly of claim 44 wherein the combined weight of the first and second enclosures is less than 0.4 ounces.

46. The assembly of claim 42 wherein the combined weight of the first and second enclosures is less than 0.4 ounces.