Don doff controlled headset user interface

• US 9,590,680 B1
• Filed: 08/22/2007
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Plantronics, Inc. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Reuss, Edward L., Elabidi, Diane
• Primary Examiner(s): Sorowar, Golam
• Application Number:
  US11/895,054
• Time in Patent Office: 3,485 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.2, 379/430
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/10 Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones H04R1/28 takes precedence; stereophonic headphones H04R5/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/03 Aspects of the reduction of energy consumption in hearing devices

Abstract

A headset includes a detector providing an output indicating a donned or doffed condition and a processor for executing a user interface control application. The user interface control application enables or disables a user interface responsive to detection of the donned or doffed condition.

Claims

1. A headset comprising:

a detector providing an output indicating a donned or doffed condition;

a memory storing a user interface control application;

a user interface comprising a display;

a rechargeable battery; and

a processor for executing the user interface control application, wherein the user interface control application enables the display upon detection of a doffed condition and disables the display upon detection of a donned condition.

2. The headset of claim 1, wherein the detector comprises a motion detector.

3. The headset of claim 2, wherein the motion detector includes a magnet and a coil moving relative to one another.

4. The headset of claim 2, wherein the motion detector includes an acceleration sensor having a mass affixed to a piezoelectric crystal.

5. The headset of claim 2, wherein the motion detector includes a light source, a photosensor, and a movable surface therebetween.

6. The headset of claim 1, wherein the detector comprises one selected from the group consisting of an infra-red detector, a pyroelectric sensor, a capacitance circuit, a micro-switch, an inductive proximity switch, a skin resistance sensor, and at least two pyroelectric sensors for determining a difference in temperature readings from the two pyroelectric sensors.

7. A headset comprising:

a detector means for providing an output indicating a donned or doffed condition;

a memory means;

a battery powered display means for displaying information;

a display control means for enabling or disabling the battery powered display means responsive to the output indicating the donned or doffed condition; and

a processing means for controlling headset operations.

8. The headset of claim 7, wherein the detector means comprises a motion detecting means for detecting headset movement.

9. A method for locking a headset user interface comprising:

providing a headset with one or more user input devices;

detecting a headset characteristic;

processing the headset characteristic to determine a donned or doffed condition; and

locking one or more user input devices upon determination of a doffed condition, wherein locking one or more user input devices comprises ignoring a command received from a locked user input device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more user input devices comprise a button or key.

11. A headset comprising:

a detector means for providing an output indicating a donned or doffed condition;

a memory means;

a battery powered display means for displaying information;

a display control means for enabling or disabling the battery powered display means responsive to the output indicating the donned or doffed condition; and

a user input means for receiving user actions; and

a user input control means for locking or unlocking the user input means responsive to the output indicating the donned or doffed condition wherein locking the user input means comprises ignoring a command received from the user input means; and

a processing means for controlling headset operations.

12. The headset of claim 11, wherein the detector means comprises a motion detecting means for detecting headset movement.

13. The headset of claim 11, wherein the battery powered display means is powered off upon detection of a donned condition.

14. The headset of claim 11, wherein the user input means is locked upon detection of a doffed condition.