Headset for receiving wireless power

• US 8,823,219 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2010
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Farahani, Shahin
• Primary Examiner(s): CAVALLARI, DANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US12/854,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20110062796A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,483 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104, 307/154, 343/724
• US Class Current: 307/154
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/248 provided with an AC/DC converting device, e.g. rectennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/276 for mounting on helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to device for selectively forming an open loop antenna or a closed loop antenna. A device may include a wireless power receiver and a receive antenna operably coupled to the wireless power receiver and having a portion for selectively forming an open loop antenna or a closed loop antenna.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a wireless power receiver; and

a receive antenna operably coupled to the wireless power receiver and having a portion configured to selectively form at least one of an open loop antenna and a closed loop antenna.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a headset, wherein the receiver is integrated within an ear element of the headset.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the ear element further includes an energy storage device integrated therein and coupled to the receiver.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a headset including a pair of ear elements, a retention element, and a microphone boom.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the antenna is integrated within each ear element of the pair of ear elements, the retention element, and the microphone boom.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the portion comprises a pair of connectors configured for coupling together to selectively form a closed loop antenna.

7. The device of claim 6, further comprising a headset, wherein a first connector of the pair of connectors is integrated at least partially within a first ear element of the device and a second connector of the pair of connectors is integrated at least partially within a microphone boom of the device.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the microphone boom is configured to rotate about a second ear element of the device to enable the second connector to contact the first connector.

9. The device of claim 6, further comprising a headset, wherein a first connector of the pair of connectors is integrated at least partially within a first ear element of the device and a second connector of the pair of connectors is integrated at least partially within a second ear element of the device.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first ear element and the second ear element are configured to move relative to a retention member coupled therebetween to enable the second connector and the first connector to couple together.

11. The device of claim 6, further comprising a wireless headset, wherein a first connector of the pair of connectors is integrated at least partially within an ear clip of the wireless headset and a second connector of the pair of connectors is integrated at least partially within a base of the wireless headset.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the ear clip is configured about the base to enable the second connector and the first connector to couple together.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the receiver and at least a portion of the receive antenna are integrated within a base of a wireless headset.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the base of the wireless headset comprises an energy storage device coupled to the receiver.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein at least another portion of the receive antenna is integrated in an ear clip of the wireless headset.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the ear clip comprises a flexible wire.

17. The device of claim 1, further comprising a headset, wherein the receive antenna is configured for receiving wireless power in a closed loop configuration.

18. The device of claim 1, further comprising a headset, wherein the receive antenna is in an open loop configuration to prevent receipt of wireless power while proximate an ear of a user.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the receive antenna comprises an air core.

20. A headset, comprising:

a first ear element, a second ear element, and a retention element coupled to each of the first ear element and the second ear element;

a receiver integrated within one of the first ear element and the second ear element; and

a receive antenna integrated within one of the first ear element and the second ear element, the receive antenna comprising a pair of connectors configured for coupling together to selectively form a closed loop antenna.

21. The headset of claim 20, wherein each of the receive antenna and the receiver are integrated within a same ear element.

22. The headset of claim 20, wherein at least a portion of the receive antenna and the receiver are integrated within different ear elements.

23. The headset of claim 20, wherein a first connector of the pair of connectors is integrated at least partially within the first ear element and a second connector of the pair of connectors is integrated at least partially within the second ear element.

24. A method, comprising:

selectively coupling a first portion of a receive antenna with a second portion of the receive antenna to form a closed loop receive antenna integrated within a headset; and

wirelessly receiving power at a receiver integrated within the headset and coupled to the closed loop receive antenna.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein selectively coupling a first portion of a receive antenna with a second portion of the receive antenna comprises coupling a first connector coupled to the first portion and integrated within a microphone boom of the headset to a second connector coupled to the second portion and integrated with an ear element of the headset.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein selectively coupling a first portion of a receive antenna with a second portion of the receive antenna comprises coupling a first connector coupled to the first portion and integrated within a first ear element of the headset to a second connector coupled to the second portion and integrated with a second ear element of the headset.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein selectively coupling a first portion of a receive antenna with a second portion of the receive antenna comprises coupling a first connector coupled to the first portion and integrated within an ear clip of the headset to a second connector coupled to the second portion and integrated with a base of the headset.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising selectively decoupling the first portion of the receive antenna from the second portion of the receive antenna prior to attaching the headset to a user.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein selectively decoupling the first portion of the receive antenna from the second portion of the receive antenna prior to attaching the headset to a user comprises forming an open loop antenna to prevent receipt of wireless power while the headset is attached to the user.

30. A device, comprising:

means for selectively coupling a first portion of a receive antenna with a second portion of the receive antenna to form a closed loop receive antenna integrated within a headset; and

means for wirelessly receiving power, the receiving means integrated within the headset and coupled to the receive antenna.