Telephone handset for mixed-mode voice-and-TDD communication

• US 20020097866A1
• Filed: 01/24/2001
• Published: 07/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Michaelis, Paul Roller
• Granted Patent: US 6,668,042 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/433.04
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/03 Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2155 Acoustic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2475 for a hearing impaired user

Abstract

A modular telephone handset (100) comprises an earpiece (102), a mouthpiece (104), and a handle (106) detachably attached at one end to the earpiece and at the other end to the mouthpiece. Attachment and detachment is effected by snap or twist joints (108,110). This allows one of the earpiece and the mouthpiece when detached to be used by a human user for listening or talking on a telephone call while simultaneously allowing the other of the earpiece and the mouthpiece to be used for receiving or transmitting data with an acoustic coupler (202) of a TDD device (200), thereby facilitating mixed-mode TDD-and-voice communication at any telephone that is equipped with the modular handset.

Claims

1. A telephone handset comprising:

an earpiece; and

a mouthpiece detachably attached to the earpiece, allowing one of the earpiece and the mouthpiece when detached to be used by a human user for listening or talking, respectively, on a telephone call while simultaneously allowing the other of the earpiece and the mouthpiece to be used for receiving or transmitting, respectively, data with an acoustic coupler.

2. The telephone handset of claim 1 for use with the acoustic coupler of a telecommunication device for the deaf (TDD).

3. The telephone handset of claim 1 wherein:

the earpiece and the mouthpiece are detachably attached by one of a twist joint and a snap joint.

4. The telephone handset of claim 1 wherein:

the mouthpiece includes a connector for connecting to a handset cord; and

the earpiece includes a speaker and a cord extending through the earpiece and the mouthpiece and connecting the speaker to the connector, the cord being long enough to allow one of the earpiece and the mouthpiece when detached to be used by a human user for listening or talking, respectively, on a telephone call while simultaneously allowing the other of the earpiece and the mouthpiece to be used for receiving or transmitting, respectively, data with an acoustic coupler, the cord being stored inside the earpiece and the mouthpiece when the earpiece and the mouthpiece are attached and form the telephone handset.

5. The telephone handset of claim 1 wherein:

the mouthpiece includes means for connecting to a telephone set; and

the earpiece includes a speaker and a wireless link connecting the speaker to one of the means and the telephone set.

6. The telephone handset of claim 1 wherein:

the mouthpiece includes a microphone; and

the earpiece includes a speaker and means connected to the speaker for preventing output of the microphone from reaching the speaker.

7. The telephone handset of claim 1 wherein:

the mouthpiece includes a handle extending from the mouthpiece and detachably attached at a far end from the mouthpiece to the earpiece.

8. The telephone handset of claim 7 wherein:

the mouthpiece includes a connector for connecting to a handset cord; and

the earpiece includes a speaker and a cord extending through the earpiece and the mouthpiece including through the handle to the connector, the cord being long enough to allow one of the earpiece and the mouthpiece when detached to be used by a human user for listening or talking, respectively, on a telephone call while simultaneously allowing the other of the earpiece and the mouthpiece to be used for receiving or transmitting, respectively, data with an acoustic coupler, the cord being stored inside the handle when the earpiece and the mouthpiece are attached and form the telephone handset.

9. The telephone handset of claim 1 wherein:

the earpiece includes means for mounting the earpiece to a head-mount.

10. A telephone handset comprising:

an earpiece;

a mouthpiece;

a handle detachably attached at one end to the earpiece and detachably attached at an opposite end to the mouthpiece, allowing one of the earpiece and the mouthpiece when detached to be used by a human user for listening or talking, respectively, on a telephone call while simultaneously allowing the other of the earpiece and the mouthpiece to be used for receiving or transmitting, respectively, data with an acoustic coupler.

11. The telephone handset of claim 10 for use with the acoustic coupler of a telecommunication device for the deaf (TDD).

12. The telephone handset of claim 10 wherein:

the earpiece and the handle are detachably attached by one of a twist joint and a snap joint; and

the handle and the mouthpiece also are detachably attached by one of a twist joint and a snap joint.

13. The telephone handset of claim 10 wherein:

the mouthpiece includes a connector for connecting to a handset cord; and

the earpiece includes a speaker and a cord extending through the earpiece, the handle, and the mouthpiece and connecting the speaker to the connector, the cord being long enough to allow one of the earpiece and the mouthpiece when detached to be used by a human user for listening or talking, respectively, on a telephone call while simultaneously allowing the other of the earpiece and the mouthpiece to be used for receiving or transmitting, respectively, data with an acoustic coupler, the cord being stored inside the handle when the mouthpiece, the handle, and the earpiece are attached together and form the telephone handset.

14. The telephone handset of claim 10 wherein:

the mouthpiece includes means for connecting to a telephone set; and

the earpiece includes a speaker and a wireless link connecting the speaker to one of the means and the telephone set.

15. The telephone handset of claim 10 wherein:

the mouthpiece includes a microphone; and

the earpiece includes a speaker and means connected to the speaker for preventing output of the microphone from reaching the speaker.

16. The telephone handset of claim 10 wherein:

the earpiece includes means for mounting the earpiece to a head-mount.