Headset with auxiliary input jack(s) for cell phone and/or other devices

• US 7,215,766 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2003
• Issued: 05/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lightspeed Aviation Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Lightspeed Aviation Incorporated
• Inventors: Wurtz, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harold; Jefferey F.
• Application Number:
  US10/624,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20040136522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 379/430, 379/420.04, 455/569.1, 455/575.1, 455/575.2, 381/66, 381/357
• US Class Current: 379/430
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• 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 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

Headsets are used in variety of applications to facilitate one- or two-way audio communications between users and/or devices. The present inventor recognized that conventional headsets lack means for successfully integrating more than one audio source, despite their use in proximity to multiple sources of audio signals, such as cell phones, laptops, aircraft radios, and so forth. Accordingly, the present inventors devised one or more devices, circuits, and methods related to connection of at least two audio input signals to a headset. For example, in one embodiment, an active-noise-reduction (ANR) headset includes at least one auxiliary port for connection to an output of at least one device, such as a personal communications, computing, and/or entertainment device. This exemplary headset also includes a primary port for connection to a two-radio or public-address system and circuitry for automatically suppressing or muting the volume of an auxiliary input signal relative to that of a primary input signal.

Claims

1. A headset or headset assembly comprising:

first input means for electrically coupling the headset to receive audio signals from a two-way radio;

second input means for electrically coupling the headset to receive audio signals from a mobile telephone;

a battery terminal;

a boom microphone coupled to a preamplifier; and

means, responsive to coupling of the second input means to the mobile telephone, for coupling the preamplifier to receive power via the battery terminal.

2. The headset of claim 1, wherein the two-way radio comprises an aircraft two-way radio, and the mobile telephone comprises a cellular telephone.

3. A headset comprising:

means for receiving first and second electrical signals from respective first and second audio sources;

means for comparing one of the first and second electrical signals to a threshold;

means, responsive to the means for comparing, for changing relative amplitude of the received first and second electrical signals;

a battery terminal;

a boom microphone coupled to a preamplifier; and

means, responsive to coupling of the headset to the second source, for coupling the preamplifier to receive power via the battery terminal.

4. The headset of claim 3, wherein the first source is a two-way radio, and the second source is a personal listening device or a mobile telephone.

5. A headset comprising:

first input jack for electrically coupling the headset to receive audio signals from a first source;

second input jack for electrically coupling the headset to receive audio signals from a second source, distinct from the first source;

a microphone preamplifier;

a battery terminal;

a circuit for coupling the microphone preamplifier to the battery terminal in response to electrical connection of the second input jack to the second source.

6. The headset of claim 5, further comprising means for changing relative amplitude of the received first and second electrical signals.

7. The headset of claim 5, wherein the first source is a two-way radio, and the second source is an entertainment device or a mobile telephone.

8. A method of operating a headset, the method comprising:

receiving first and second audio signals from respective first and second independent audio sources;

attenuating the first audio signal in response to comparing the second audio signal to a reference;

mixing the attenuated first audio signal and the second audio signal to provide a mixed audio signal; and

acoustically transducing the mixed audio signal.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the headset includes a battery terminal and a microphone preamplifier, and the method further comprises:

detecting connection of the first audio source to the headset; and

in response to detecting connection of the first audio source, coupling the battery terminal to the microphone preamplifier.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising outputting the mixed audio signal to automatic-noise-reduction circuitry.

11. A headset for coupling to an aircraft two-way radio, the headset comprising:

an earpiece including an audio transducer;

a boom microphone coupled to a microphone preamplifier;

a battery terminal; and

a circuit for selectively coupling the microphone preamplifier to receive power via the battery terminal.

12. The headset of claim 11, further comprising

a first input jack for electrically coupling the headset to receive audio signals from the aircraft two-way radio;

and

a second input jack for electrically coupling the headset to receive audio signals from a mobile telephone or personal music player, wherein the circuit is configured to selectively couple the microphone preamplifier to receive power via the battery terminal in response to a microphone bias signal from the mobile telephone.

13. The headset of claim 12, wherein the circuit comprises means for selectively coupling the microphone preamplifier to receive power via the battery terminal.

14. The headset of claim 12, further comprising:

circuitry for attenuating audio signals from the mobile telephone or personal music player in response to audio signals from the aircraft radio exceeding a threshold.

15. The headset of claim 12 comprising:

a mixer coupled to receive audio signals from the aircraft two-way radio and audio signals from the mobile telephone or personal music player and produce a mixed audio signal; and

acoustically transducing the mixed audio signal.

16. The headset of claim 15, further comprising:

acoustic-noise-reduction circuitry coupled to receive the mixed audio signal.

17. A headset comprising:

first input jack for electrically coupling the headset to receive audio signals from an aircraft radio;

second input jack for electrically coupling the headset to receive audio signals from a mobile telephone or personal music player; and

a mixer for producing a mixed audio signal based on audio signals from the aircraft two-way radio and audio signals from the mobile telephone or personal music player.

18. The headset of claim 17, further comprising:

a microphone preamplifier;

a battery terminal; and

a circuit for coupling the microphone preamplifier to the battery terminal in response to electrical connection of the second input jack to the mobile telephone.

19. The headset of claim 17, further comprising:

circuitry for attenuating audio signals from the mobile telephone or personal music player in response to audio signals from the aircraft radio exceeding a threshold.

20. The headset of claim 17, further comprising:

acoustic-noise-reduction circuitry coupled to receive the mixed audio signal.