Mobile communication unit with bone conduction speaker

• US 6,957,049 B1
• Filed: 12/27/1999
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Temco Japan Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Temco Japan Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Takeda, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cho, Un C
• Application Number:
  US09/762,202
• Time in Patent Office: 2,122 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/575.1, 455/575.6, 455/90.3, 455/569.1, 455/66.1, 455/74, 455/344, 455/350, 455/351, 381/151, 381/380, 381/370, 381/326, 381/328, 379/420.01, 379/420.02, 379/420.03, 379/420.04, 379/433.1
• US Class Current: 455/90.3
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/392 Determining battery ageing or deterioration, e.g. state of health
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1008 Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1033 Cables or cables storage, e.g. cable reels cord reels per se H02G11/02; arrangements for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of conductors or cables B65H75/34; extensible conductors or cables, e.g. self-coiling cords H01B7/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's

Abstract

A lightweight miniature mobile communication unit allows the user to listen sufficiently and talk quietly in a noisy place so that the user can make a call without disturbing nearby people in the crowd. The mobile communication unit uses a bone conduction speaker (1) separated from the main body (2) instead of a built-in speaker or an external earphone.

Claims

1. A mobile communication unit comprising:

a bone conduction speaker through which a user listens to a received voice sound;

a front surface of the bone conduction speaker formed flat for soft contact with a user'"'"'s forehead, temple, cheekbone or an area between the user'"'"'s eyes;

a main body having a microphone therein;

the bone conduction speaker being spaced apart from the main body and the microphone;

the bone conduction speaker having a vibrating portion with a rear surface;

a finger-mounted portion fixed on the rear surface;

wherein the finger-mounted portion has a cap shape or a ring shape; and

wherein the bone conduction speaker can be mounted on a finger tip of the user through said finger-mounted portion for contact with the user'"'"'s forehead, temple, cheekbone or an area between the user'"'"'s eyes.

2. The mobile communication unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein an electric connecting cord (4) for connecting said bone conduction speaker (1) with said main body (2) of said mobile communication unit can be withdrawn for storage into said main body (2) of said mobile communication unit by means of a take-up reel when not in use.

3. The mobile communication unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein a clip is provided in a rear side of the main body of said mobile communication unit enabling the main body to be mounted on a band (6) of a wrist watch of the user.