Headset comprising heart rate measurement unit

• US 9,961,436 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2016
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gn Audio A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Original Assignee: Gn Audio A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Inventors: Kann, Peter Ulrik
• Primary Examiner(s): Eason, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dang, Julie X
• Application Number:
  US15/373,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20170171658A1
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 381 74, 381380, 381374
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6815 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/105 Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1066 Constructional aspects of the interconnection between earpiece and earpiece support earpiece support for monophonic headphones H04R1/105; earpiece support for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083

Abstract

Disclosed are an earpiece and a headset comprising an earpiece, where the earpiece is configured to be arranged at least partly in an ear of a user. The earpiece comprising a heart rate measurement unit for measuring the heart rate in/at the ear of the user; a receiving member configured for accommodating and/or receiving a detachable speaker unit of the headset; and a detachable speaker unit which is configured to be inserted and/or attached and removed and/detached from the receiving member of the earpiece.

Claims

1. A headset comprising a first earpiece, where the earpiece is configured to be arranged at least partly in an ear of a user, where the earpiece comprises:

a heart rate measurement unit for measuring the heart rate at the ear of the user;

a receiving member configured for accommodating a detachable speaker unit of the headset; and

a detachable speaker unit which is configured to be attached and detached from the receiving member of the earpiece, and configured to be usable separately from the receiving member;

wherein the receiving member has an inner periphery which includes a plurality of first electrical connectors spaced around the inner periphery and wherein the speaker unit includes an outer periphery with second electrical connectors spaced around said outer periphery, and wherein the inner periphery and outer periphery are sized to engage and maintain the receiving member and speaker unit mechanically engaged while said first and second electrical connectors are aligned and electrically engaged.

2. The headset according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrical connectors are spaced around their respective peripheries so that they align and connect when said receiving member and speaker unit are brought together.

3. The headset according to claim 1, wherein the second electrical connectors on said speaker unit extend radially from the periphery.

4. The headset according to claim 1, wherein the heart rate measurement unit is located on said receiving member and is electrically detachable from said speaker unit when said speaker unit is removed.

5. The headset according to claim 1, wherein the receiving member includes a microphone and wherein the heart rate measurement unit and microphone are located on said receiving member and are electrically separable from said speaker unit when said speaker unit is removed.

6. The headset according to claim 1, wherein an inner periphery of the receiving member comprises electrical connectors which are configured to be arranged facing each other, when the speaker unit is attached in the receiving member thereby providing an electrical connection between the speaker unit and the earpiece.

7. The headset according to claim 6, wherein at least two of the electrical connectors on the receiving member and at least two of the electrical connectors on the speaker unit are arranged to be rotationally symmetrical.

8. The headset according to claim 6, wherein the electrical connectors on the receiving member and the electrical connectors on the speaker unit are spaced equidistant around the respective peripheries and are arranged to be rotationally symmetrical.

9. The headset according to claim 1, wherein the earpiece comprises an earwing unit for retaining the earpiece in the ear of the user.

10. The headset according to claim 1, wherein the speaker unit comprises a replaceable eargel unit.

11. The headset according to claim 1, wherein the receiving member is formed at least in part, of a membrane capable of transmitting air and sound therethrough.

12. The headset according to claim 1, wherein the heart rate measurement unit is arranged in a first end of an earhook configured to be arranged behind the ear of the user.

13. The headset according to claim 1, wherein the earpiece comprises a microphone, and wherein the microphone is arranged in a housing of the earpiece.

14. The headset according to claim 1, wherein the earpiece comprises a microphone, and wherein the microphone is arranged in the speaker unit.

15. An earpiece for use in a headset, where the earpiece is configured to be arranged at least partly in an ear of a user, where the earpiece comprises:

a heart rate measurement unit for measuring the heart rate at the ear of the user;

a microphone;

a receiving member configured for accommodating a detachable speaker unit of the headset; and

a detachable speaker unit which is configured to be attached and detached from the receiving member of the earpiece

said heart rate measurement unit and said microphone being located on said receiving member and electrically connected and electrically detachable from said speaker unit when said receiving member and speaker unit are separated from each other.