Wired headset with integrated switch

• US 8,144,915 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hankey, M. Evans, Daniels, Eric B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins, Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eason, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US11/824,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20080166003A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,734 Days
• Field of Search: 381/384, 381/370, 381/374, 381/375, 200/61.19, 200/504, 200/506, 200/508, 439/8, 439/32, 439/376, 439/578, 439/580, 439/582, 439/783
• US Class Current: 381/384
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/007 the contacts being actuated by deformation of a flexible housing
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0228 Line cord switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• 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 provided with integrated switch assemblies. An integrated switch assembly can include a switch hidden from view by a housing. The switch can be activated when a user applies pressure to the housing. The housing may include a flexible housing cover that, when depressed, may engage the switch contained within the housing. When engaged, the switch may move or snap to a switch activation position within the housing.

Claims

1. A wired headset comprising:

a cord assembly comprising at least a first wire; and

an integrated switch assembly integrated along the cord assembly, the switch assembly comprising;

a core including a switch retaining region, the core having a length and first and second core end regions;

a switch fixed to the switch retaining region;

a microphone;

a flexure element including first and second element end regions, the first element end region fixed to the first core end region and the second element end region fixed to the second core end region, the flexure element constructed to engage the switch for changing a function of the microphone; and

a bottom cover fixed to the core, wherein;

the bottom cover and the flexure element are constructed to enclose the core, the switch, and the microphone; and

the first wire passes through the switch assembly.

10. The wired headset of claim 1, wherein the switch assembly is integrated along the cord assembly between a first portion of the cord assembly and a second portion of the cord assembly, the wired headset further comprising:

a first crimp for fixing the first portion of the cord assembly to the switch assembly; and

a second crimp for fixing the second portion of the cord assembly to the switch assembly, wherein the bottom cover and the flexure element are constructed to enclose the first crimp and the second crimp.

11. The wired headset of claim 1, further comprising a snap positioned between the flexure element and the switch.

12. The wired headset of claim 1, wherein the bottom cover comprises a through-hole for enabling acoustic signals to be received by the microphone.

13. The wired headset of claim 1, wherein:

the switch assembly further comprises a circuit board comprising first and second contacts; and

when engaged, the first switch electrically couples the first and second contacts.

14. The wired headset of claim 13, wherein:

a first lead is coupled to the first contact and the microphone; and

a second wire of the cord assembly is coupled to the second contact.

21. The wired headset of claim 1, wherein the flexure element is constructed to be squeezed to engage the switch.

2. A wired headset comprising:

a plug;

an acoustic assembly;

a cord assembly connected to the plug and the acoustic assembly; and

a switch assembly integrated with the cord assembly, wherein the acoustic assembly is electrically coupled to the plug via a first wire of the cord assembly that passes through the switch assembly, the switch assembly comprising;

a core;

a housing cover coupled to the core;

a first switch that is within the core and that is activated in response to a housing cover depression event;

a microphone within the core; and

a circuit board comprising first and second contacts within the core, wherein;

the housing cover hides the first switch from the view of a user of the switch assembly;

the first switch electrically couples the first and second contacts during the housing cover depression event; and

a function of the microphone is changed when the first and second contacts are electrically coupled.

3. The wired headset of claim 2, wherein the acoustic assembly is a speaker.

4. The wired headset of claim 2, wherein the switch assembly splices a portion of the cord assembly.

5. The wired headset of claim 2, wherein the microphone is electrically coupled to the plug and the first switch.

6. The wired headset of claim 2, wherein the housing cover comprises:

a top cover fixed to a first side of the core; and

a bottom cover fixed to a second side of the core.

7. The wired headset of claim 6, wherein the top cover flexibly engages the first switch during the housing cover depression event.

8. The wired headset of claim 6, wherein the bottom cover comprises a hole located proximal to the microphone.

9. The wired headset of claim 2, wherein the switch assembly physically breaks continuity of a portion of the cord assembly, separating the cord assembly into a plug portion and an acoustic portion, the switch assembly further comprises:

a first crimp for electrically and physically coupling the plug portion to the switch assembly;

a second crimp for electrically and physically coupling the acoustic portion to the switch assembly; and

interconnecting media for electrically coupling the first and second crimps.

15. The wired headset of claim 2, further comprising a snap positioned between the housing cover and the first switch.

16. The wired headset of claim 2, wherein the housing cover comprises:

a top cover coupled to the core; and

a bottom cover coupled to the core.

17. The wired headset of claim 16, wherein the bottom cover and the top cover enclose the core, the first switch, the circuit board, and the microphone.

18. The wired headset of claim 2, wherein:

a first lead is coupled to the first contact and the microphone; and

a second wire of the cord assembly is coupled to the second contact.

19. The wired headset of claim 2, wherein the function is the active state of the microphone.

20. The wired headset of claim 2, wherein the function is the sensitivity of the microphone.

22. The wired headset of claim 2, wherein the housing cover depression event comprises the housing cover being squeezed.