Automatically controllable sound accessory

• US 9,961,430 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2015
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Chang, Juhee, Kim, Sukgyong, Kim, Taeeon, Park, Cheolyong, Jeong, Sunghoon, Kim, Juntai, Lee, Sunyoung
• Primary Examiner(s): Kurr, Jason R
• Application Number:
  US14/596,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20150201267A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,203 Days
• Field of Search: 381 58, 381 74, 381123, 381370, 381374, 381384
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/03 Aspects of the reduction of energy consumption in hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/00 Monitoring arrangements; Testing arrangements for hearing aids H04R25/30; detection of loudspeaker connection H04R5/04; sound-field adaptation dependent on speaker detection H04S7/308
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S

Abstract

A headset includes a first speaker; a second speaker; a connector connecting the first speaker and the second speaker; and a switch configured to generate different electrical signals according to states in which the first speaker and the second speaker move close to and away from each other, wherein the electrical signals are used to selectively control an output of contents that is being output from the headset.

Claims

1. A headset comprising:

a first speaker;

a second speaker; and

a connector that is at least partially rigid and including a hollow, enclosing a switch and coupling the first speaker and the second speaker,

wherein the switch includes an upper member and a lower member disposed in the hollow and is configured to generate different electrical signals according to different states, the states including;

bending of the connector such that the first speaker and the second speaker move towards one other, causing contact between the upper member and the lower member within the hollow, and

straightening of the connector such that the first speaker and the second speaker move away from one other, causing separation between the upper member and the lower member within the hollow, and

wherein the electrical signals are used to selectively control an output signal from the headset.

2. The headset of claim 1, wherein the switch comprises a passive element.

3. The headset of claim 2, wherein the passive element comprises a dome switch.

4. The headset of claim 3, wherein the dome switch is short-circuited when the first speaker and the second speaker move close to each other and is opened when the first speaker and the second speaker move away from each other.

5. The headset of claim 4, wherein one end of the switch is coupled to an external device and other end of the switch is coupled to the headset, and the electrical signals are transmitted to the external device through the other end of the switch.

6. The headset of claim 5, wherein when being short-circuited, the dome switch generates a low level signal and transmits the low level signal to the external device.

7. The headset of claim 5, wherein when being opened, the dome switch generates a high level signal and transmits the high level signal to the external device.

8. The headset of claim 5, wherein the electrical signals are transmitted to the external device to execute preset functions of the external device.

9. The headset of claim 8, wherein the preset functions comprise two functions selected from among a play, stop, fast forward, and rewind function.

10. The headset of claim 1, wherein the electrical signals are classified into a low level signal and a high level signal.