Headset position sensing, reporting, and correction

• US 9,913,059 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2016
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Rosener, Douglas K, Villasenor, Luis
• Primary Examiner(s): Mei, Xu
• Application Number:
  US15/051,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20170245075A1
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 381 26, 381 74, 381362, 381370, 381374, 381375, 381379, 381384, 381390, 381 91, 381 92, 381122, 379430, 4555752
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1008 Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• 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 29/004 for microphones H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

A headset having corresponding computer-readable media comprises: a first portion, wherein the first portion comprises a microphone; a second portion, wherein the second portion is rotatably coupled with the first portion; one or more sensors, wherein at least one of the sensors is configured to sense a current difference angle between the first portion and the second portion; a controller configured to generate a message responsive to the current difference angle being outside a range of difference angles, wherein the range of difference angles is associated with acceptable performance of the microphone; wherein the headset is configured to provide the message responsive to the controller generating the message.

Claims

1. A headset comprising:

a first portion, wherein the first portion comprises a microphone;

a second portion, wherein the second portion is rotatably coupled with the first portion;

one or more sensors, wherein at least one of the sensors is configured to sense a current difference angle between the first portion and the second portion;

a controller configured to generate a message responsive to the current difference angle being outside a range of difference angles, wherein the range of difference angles is associated with acceptable performance of the microphone;

wherein the headset is configured to provide the message responsive to the controller generating the message.

2. The headset of claim 1, further comprising:

a speaker configured to render the message.

3. The headset of claim 1, further comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit the message from the headset.

4. The headset of claim 1, further comprising:

a motor configured to rotate the first portion with respect to the second portion;

wherein the controller is further configured to operate the motor responsive to the current difference angle being outside the range of difference angles.

5. The headset of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the sensors is configured to sense a current angle of the first portion with respect to gravity;

the controller is further configured to generate a message responsive to the current angle of the first portion with respect to gravity being outside a range of angles of the first portion with respect to gravity, wherein the range of angles of the first portion with respect to gravity is associated with acceptable performance of the microphone; and

the headset is configured to provide the message responsive to the controller generating the message.

6. The headset of claim 1 wherein:

subsequent to providing the message and responsive to user input, the headset is further configured to modify the range of boom angles in accordance with the current angle of the boom.

7. The headset of claim 1, wherein the message is a first message, and wherein the first portion further comprises:

a proximity sensor configured to sense a current proximity of a wearer'"'"'s head;

wherein the controller is further configured to generate a second message responsive to the current proximity being outside a range of proximities associated with acceptable performance of the microphone; and

wherein the headset is further configured to provide the second message responsive to the controller generating the second message.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable media embodying instructions executable by a computer in a headset to perform functions comprising:

receiving sensor data;

determining, based on the sensor data, a current difference angle between a first portion of the headset and a second portion of the headset, wherein the first portion comprises a microphone, and wherein the second portion is rotatably coupled with the first portion;

generating a message responsive to the current difference angle being outside a range of difference angles, wherein the range of difference angles is associated with acceptable performance of the microphone; and

causing the headset to provide the message.

9. The computer-readable media of claim 8, wherein the functions further comprise:

causing a speaker of the headset to render the message.

10. The computer-readable media of claim 8, wherein the functions further comprise:

causing a transmitter of the headset to transmit the message from the headset.

11. The computer-readable media of claim 8, wherein the functions further comprise:

causing a motor of the headset to rotate the first portion with respect to the second portion responsive to the current difference angle being outside the range of difference angles.

12. The computer-readable media of claim 8, wherein the functions further comprise:

determining, based on the sensor data, an angle of the first portion with respect to gravity;

generating a message responsive to the current angle of the first portion being outside a range of angles of the first portion, wherein the range of angles of the first portion is associated with acceptable performance of the microphone; and

causing the headset to provide the message.

13. The computer-readable media of claim 8, wherein the functions further comprise:

subsequent to providing the message and responsive to user input, modifying the range of boom angles in accordance with the current angle of the boom.

14. The computer-readable media of claim 8, wherein the message is a first message, and wherein the functions further comprise:

determining, based on the sensor data, a current distance between a wearer'"'"'s head and the first portion of the headset;

generating a second message responsive to the current distance being outside a range of distance associated with acceptable performance of the microphone; and

providing the second message.

15. A headset comprising:

a microphone;

a boom, wherein the microphone is disposed within the boom;

a sensor configured to sense a current angle of the boom with respect to gravity; and

a controller configured to generate a message responsive to the current angle of the boom being outside a range of boom angles, wherein the range of boom angles is associated with acceptable performance of the microphone;

wherein the headset is configured to provide the message responsive to the controller generating the message.

16. The headset of claim 15, further comprising:

a speaker configured to render the message.

17. The headset of claim 15, further comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit the message from the headset.

18. The headset of claim 15, further comprising:

an earpiece, wherein the earpiece is rotatably coupled with the boom; and

a motor configured to rotate the boom with respect to the earpiece;

wherein the controller is further configured to operate the motor responsive to the current angle of the boom being outside the range of boom angles.

19. The headset of claim 15, wherein:

subsequent to providing the message and responsive to user input, the headset is further configured to modify the range of boom angles in accordance with the current angle of the boom.

20. The headset of claim 15, wherein the message is a first message, and wherein the boom further comprises:

a proximity sensor configured to sense a current proximity of a wearer'"'"'s head;

wherein the controller is further configured to generate a second message responsive to the current proximity being outside a range of proximities associated with acceptable performance of the microphone; and

wherein the headset is further configured to provide the second message responsive to the controller generating the second message.