System and method for a headset combining a microphone and an antenna

• US 8,488,804 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2007
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Bellows, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Paul
• Application Number:
  US11/855,237
• Publication Number:
  US 20090074223A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,132 Days
• Field of Search: 381/74, 381/375, 381/370, 381/378, 455/562.1, 455/575.7, 343/702, 343/718
• US Class Current: 381/74
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/083 Special constructions of mouthpieces
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/0335 Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests for monophonic headphones H04R1/105

Abstract

A headset comprises an audio output device, an audio input device, and a wire. The audio output device plays outgoing audio data. The audio input device receives incoming audio data. The wire connects the audio input device to a sound device that interprets the incoming audio data. The wire is further configured to be an antenna to one of transmit and receive radio frequency signals. The wire is further connected to a transceiver.

Claims

1. A headset, comprising:

an audio input device operable to receive incoming audio signals; and

a single strand of wire electrically connecting the audio input device to a sound device;

the sound device operable to interpret the incoming audio signals, the same single strand of wire electrically-connected to the audio input device further being configured to be an antenna to one of transmit and receive radio frequency signals, the single strand of wire further being connected to a radio frequency transceiver;

wherein the radio frequency transceiver is a radio frequency identification transceiver, and wherein the radio frequency signals include radio frequency identification data; and

wherein the incoming audio signals and the radio frequency identification data are transmitted through the single strand of wire concurrently.

2. The headset of claim 1, further comprising:

a splitter connected in the single strand of wire such that the splitter couples audio signals from the audio input device to the sound device and couples RF data between the radio frequency transceiver and the single strand of wire.

3. The headset of claim 2, further comprising:

an audio filter coupled between the splitter and the sound device, the audio filter configured to pass signals in an audio frequency range; and

a radio frequency filter coupled between the splitter and the radio frequency transceiver, the radio frequency filter configured to pass signals in a radio frequency range.

4. The headset of claim 1, further comprising:

a boom housing the wire, the audio input device being disposed on a first end of the boom.

5. The headset of claim 4, wherein the boom is flexible to orient the audio input device substantially near a mouth of a user.

6. The headset of claim 1, wherein a length of the single strand of wire is substantially one of three inches, six inches, and nine inches.

7. The headset of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency signal is transmitted through the single strand of wire at an operating frequency between 902 MHz and 928 MHz.

8. The headset of claim 1, wherein the incoming audio signal is transmitted through the single strand of wire at an operating frequency between 20 Hz and 20 kHz.

9. The headset of claim 1, wherein the audio input device is a microphone that acts as an end-loading capacitor when the single strand of wire is used as the antenna.

10. A method, comprising:

receiving audio signals through a single strand of electrically-connected wire, the single strand of wire connecting an audio input device to a sound device that interprets incoming audio signals, the same single strand of wire electrically-connected to the audio input device further being configured to be an antenna to one of transmit and receive radio frequency data, the single strand of wire further being connected to a radio frequency transceivers;

further comprising splitting signals in the single strand of wire to couple audio signals from the audio input device to the sound device and to couple RF data between the radio frequency transceiver and the single strand of wire; and

further comprising;

filtering audio signals to pass audio signals in an audio frequency range from the audio input device to the sound device; and

filtering radio frequency data to pass radio frequency data in a radio frequency range between the radio frequency transceiver and the single strand of wire.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the incoming audio data is transmitted through the single strand of wire at an operating frequency between 20 Hz and 20 kHz.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the radio frequency identification data is transmitted through the single strand of wire at an operating frequency between 902 MHz and 928 MHz.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the incoming audio signals and the radio frequency identification data are transmitted through the single strand of wire concurrently.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the audio input device is a microphone that acts as an end-loading capacitor when the single strand of wire is used as the antenna.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining if the radio frequency identification data originated from the transceiver; and

propagating signals relating to the radio frequency identification data through the single strand of wire.