Wireless ear-piece with conductive case

• US 7,079,664 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2003
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Shary Nassimi
• Inventors: Nassimi, Shary
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HUYEN D
• Application Number:
  US10/355,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20040151337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,265 Days
• Field of Search: 381/338, 381/370, 381/371, 381380-382, 381/328, 381/330, 381/331, 379/430, 379/431, 455/90.2, 455/90.3, 455/575.1, 455/575.6, 455/575.7, 455/344, 455/351
• US Class Current: 381/380
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency

Abstract

The present invention teaches a wireless ear-piece headset forming an antenna with the interior of a human ear, especially the ear canal. An antenna in operative connection with such interior of such human ear greatly improves reception and transmission of the device. The antenna may be comprised of a conductive plastic forming the lower body of the ear-piece headset, a sound tube projecting from the body or only a part thereof. The antenna may form an efficient capacitive connection with the body or may form a direct electrical connection. The wireless ear-piece headset comprises a headset body; a microphone, a transceiver, a receiver and a battery within the headset body, and a sound tube projecting from the headset body. A mini-speaker disposed within the headset body passes sound from the mini-speaker out and into the interior of a human ear.

Claims

1. A wireless ear-piece headset for use with the interior of a human ear, the wireless ear piece headset comprising:

a headset body;

a microphone;

circuitry for transmitting and receiving radio waves disposed within the headset body;

a battery disposed within the headset body;

a sound tube projecting from the headset body and having an aperture;

a mini-speaker disposed within the headset body so as to pass sound from the mini-speaker out of the headset body through the aperture and into such interior of such human ear; and

an antenna adapted for operable connection with the interior of said human ear, wherein the antenna further comprises a conductive material formed as a portion of the sound tube.

2. The wireless ear-piece headset of claim 1, wherein the operative connection further comprises one member selected from the group consisting of:

direct electrical connection, capacitance connection, and combinations thereof.

3. The wireless ear-piece headset of claim 1, wherein the antenna further comprises a conductive material formed as the sound tube.

4. The wireless ear-piece headset of claim 1, wherein the antenna further comprises a conductive contact located on the sound tube.

5. The wireless ear-piece headset of claim 1, wherein the antenna is disposed within sound tube, and further wherein the sound tube is thin walled.

6. The wireless ear-piece headset of claim 1, wherein the sound tube is dimensioned and configured to fit within the interior of said ear.

7. The wireless ear-piece headset of claim 6, wherein the sound tube is frictionally engaged to the interior of said ear, and further wherein the wireless ear-piece headset is light weight, whereby the wireless ear-piece headset may be maintained in position.

8. The wireless ear-piece headset of claim 1, further comprising a removable sheath disposed on the sound tube.

9. The wireless ear-piece headset of claim 8, wherein the removable sheath further comprises one member selected from the group consisting of a compliant polymer material, silicon based materials, silicon compounds, elastomeric materials, flexible materials, rubbers, gums, gels, liquids, liquids encased in a compliant shell, and combinations thereof.

10. The wireless ear-piece headset of claim 8, wherein the removable sheath is a conductive material, whereby direct electrical connection between the antenna and the interior of said ear may be established.

11. The wireless ear-piece headset of claim 8, wherein the removable sheath is a dielectric material, whereby direct electrical connection and capacitive connection between the antenna and the interior of said ear may be established.

12. The wireless ear-piece headset of claim 8, wherein the removable sheath is a nonconductive material, whereby capacitive connection between the antenna and the interior of said ear may be established.

13. A wireless ear-piece headset for use with the interior of a human ear, the wireless ear piece headset comprising:

a headset body;

a microphone;

circuitry for transmitting and receiving radio waves disposed within the headset body;

a battery disposed within the headset body;

a sound tube projecting from the headset body and having an aperture;

a mini-speaker disposed within the headset body so as to pass sound from the mini-speaker out of the headset body through the aperture and into such interior of such human ear; and

an antenna adapted for operable connection with the interior of said human ear, wherein the antenna further comprises a conductive polymer material formed as the headset body.

14. A wireless ear-piece headset for use with the interior of a human ear, the wireless ear piece headset comprising:

a headset body;

a microphone;

circuitry for receiving radio waves disposed within the headset body;

a battery disposed within the headset body;

a sound tube projecting from the headset body and having an aperture;

a mini-speaker disposed within the headset body so as to pass sound from the mini-speaker out of the headset body through the aperture and into such interior of such human ear; and

an antenna adapted for operable connection with the interior of said human ear, wherein the antenna further comprises a conductive material formed as a portion of the sound tube.

15. The wireless ear-piece headset of claim 14, wherein the operative connection further comprises one member selected from the group consisting of direct electrical connection, capacitance connection, and combinations thereof.

16. The wireless ear-piece headset of claim 14, wherein the antenna further comprises a conductive material formed as the sound tube.

17. The wireless ear-piece headset of claim 14, further comprising a removable sheath disposed on the sound tube.

18. The wireless ear-piece headset of claim 17, wherein the removable sheath further comprises one member selected from the group consisting of a compliant polymer material, silicon based materials, silicon compounds, elastomeric materials, flexible materials, rubbers, gums, gels, liquids, liquids encased in a compliant shell, and combinations thereof.

19. A wireless ear-piece headset for use with the interior of a human ear, the wireless ear piece headset comprising:

a headset body;

a microphone;

circuitry for receiving radio waves disposed within the headset body;

a battery disposed within the headset body;

a sound tube projecting from the headset body and having an aperture;

a mini-speaker disposed within the headset body so as to pass sound from the mini-speaker out of the headset body through the aperture and into such interior of such human ear; and

an antenna adapted for operable connection with the interior of said human ear wherein the antenna further comprises a conductive polymer material formed as a portion of the headset body.

20. The wireless ear-piece headset of claim 19, wherein the antenna further comprises a conductive polymer material formed as the headset body.

21. A wireless ear-piece headset for use with the interior of a human ear, the wireless ear piece headset comprising:

a headset body;

a microphone;

circuitry for receiving radio waves disposed within the headset body;

a battery disposed within the headset body;

a sound tube projecting from the headset body and having an aperture;

a mini-speaker disposed within the headset body so as to pass sound from the mini-speaker out of the headset body through the aperture and into such interior of such human ear; and

an antenna adapted for operable connection with the interior of said human ear, wherein the antenna further comprises a conductive contact located on the sound tube.

22. A wireless ear-piece headset for use with the interior of a human ear, the wireless ear piece headset comprising:

a headset body;

a microphone;

circuitry for receiving radio waves disposed within the headset body;

a battery disposed within the headset body;

a sound tube projecting from the headset body and having an aperture;

a mini-speaker disposed within the headset body so as to pass sound from the mini-speaker out of the headset body through the aperture and into such interior of such human ear; and

an antenna adapted for operable connection with the interior of said human ear, wherein the antenna is disposed within the sound tube, and further wherein the sound tube is thin walled.

23. The wireless ear-piece headset of claim 22, wherein the sound tube is dimensioned and configured to fit within the interior of said ear.

24. The wireless ear-piece headset of claim 23, wherein the sound tube is frictionally engaged to the interior of said ear, and further wherein the wireless ear-piece headset is light weight, whereby the wireless ear-piece headset may be maintained in position.

25. A wireless ear-piece headset for use with the interior of a human ear, the wireless ear piece headset comprising:

a headset body;

a microphone;

circuitry for receiving radio waves disposed within the headset body;

a battery disposed within the headset body;

a sound tube projecting from the headset body and having an aperture;

a mini-speaker disposed within the headset body so as to pass sound from the mini-speaker out of the headset body through the aperture and into such interior of such human ear; and

an antenna adapted for operable connection with the interior of said human ear; and

a removable sheath disposed on the sound tube, whereby direct electrical connection between the antenna and the interior of said ear may be established.

26. The wireless ear-piece headset of claim 25, wherein the removable sheath is a dielectric material, whereby direct electrical connection and capacitive connection between the antenna and the interior of said ear may be established.

27. The wireless ear-piece headset of claim 25, wherein the removable sheath is a nonconductive material, whereby capacitive connection between the antenna and the interior of said ear may be established.