Gaming headset with integrated microphone and adapted for olfactory stimulation

• US 8,295,529 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2007
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BCInet, Inc.
• Original Assignee: BCInet, Inc.
• Inventors: Petersen, Ryan M., Schuette, Franz Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Huyen D
• Application Number:
  US11/845,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20080049960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,883 Days
• Field of Search: 381/370, 381/371, 381/374, 381/375, 381/376, 381/382, 381/384, 379/430, 181/128, 181/129, 128/200.28, 128/201.19, 128/201.24, 128/204.18, 128/206.12
• US Class Current: 381/374
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/083 Special constructions of mouthpieces

Abstract

A gaming headset adapted for precise delivery of chemical substances capable of olfactory stimulation, such as odorants, fragrances, pheromones, etc. The headset includes at least one earpiece containing a speaker, a feature for securing the earpiece to the person'"'"'s head while positioning the speaker over one of the person'"'"'s ears when the headset is worn, an armature disposed relative to the earpiece so as to extend toward the person'"'"'s mouth, a microphone located on the armature so as to be located in front of the person'"'"'s mouth, and a feature supported by and extending along the armature for delivering at least one chemical substance to the person'"'"'s nostril'"'"'s when the headset is worn.

Claims

1. A headset adapted to be worn by a person, the headset comprising:

at least one earpiece containing a speaker;

means for securing the earpiece to the person'"'"'s head while positioning the speaker over one of the person'"'"'s ears when the headset is worn;

an armature disposed relative to the earpiece so as to extend toward the person'"'"'s mouth when the headset is worn;

a microphone located on the armature so as to be located in front of the person'"'"'s mouth when the headset is worn;

means supported by and extending along the armature for delivering at least one chemical substance to the person'"'"'s nostril'"'"'s when the headset is worn;

a reservoir housed within the earpiece, storing the chemical substances, and enabling the chemical substances to be drawn therefrom and flow through the substance delivering means; and

means for mixing the chemical substances after being drawn from the reservoir, the mixing means comprising a MEMS device.

2. The headset according to claim 1, wherein the armature is attached to the earpiece.

3. The headset according to claim 1, wherein the substance delivering means comprises a duct located within the armature and extending to a distal end of the armature.

4. The headset according to claim 1, wherein the substance delivering means comprises an orifice located at a distal end of the armature.

5. The headset according to claim 1, wherein the substance delivering means comprises an orifice located above the microphone when the headset is worn so as to directly release the chemical substances toward the person'"'"'s nostrils.

6. The headset according to claim 1, further comprising means for delivering air simultaneously with the chemical substances through the substance delivering means.

7. The headset according to claim 6, wherein the air delivering means is integrated into the headset.

8. The headset according to claim 6, wherein the air delivering means is within the earpiece.

9. The headset according to claim 6, further comprising a mixing chamber adapted to receive the chemical substances from the reservoir and the air from the air delivering means and deliver a mixture of the chemical substances and the air to the substance delivering means.

10. The headset according to claim 6, further comprising means for delivering water simultaneously with the chemical substances and the air through the substance delivering means.

11. The headset according to claim 6, further comprising means for electrically connecting the headset to a computer gaming system.

12. A headset adapted to be worn by a person and electrically connectable to a computer gaming system, the headset comprising:

at least one earpiece containing a speaker;

means for securing the earpiece to the person'"'"'s head while positioning the speaker over one of the person'"'"'s ears when the headset is worn;

an armature disposed relative to the earpiece so as to extend toward the person'"'"'s mouth when the headset is worn;

a microphone located on the armature so as to be located in front of the person'"'"'s mouth when the headset is worn;

means for electrically connecting the speaker and the microphone to the computer gaming system;

an orifice located above the microphone on the armature when the headset is worn; and

a duct within and extending along the armature for delivering at least one chemical substance to the orifice so as to directly release the chemical substances toward the person'"'"'s nostril'"'"'s when the headset is worn;

a reservoir adapted to store the chemical substances and from which the chemical substances are drawn and flow through the duct and the orifice; and

means for mixing the chemical substances after being drawn from the reservoir and before flowing through the duct and the orifice.

13. The headset according to claim 12, wherein the microphone and the orifice are located at a distal end of the armature.

14. The headset according to claim 12, wherein the mixing means comprises a MEMS device.

15. The headset according to claim 12, further comprising means for delivering air simultaneously with the chemical substances through the duct and the orifice.

16. The headset according to claim 12, further comprising means for delivering water simultaneously with the chemical substances through the substance delivering means.