HEADSET ACCESSORY DEVICE SYSTEM

• US 20100239115A1
• Filed: 03/17/2009
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Naturalpoint Incorporated (Leyard Optoelectronic Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Naturalpoint Incorporated (Leyard Optoelectronic Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Richardson, James D.
• Application Number:
  US12/405,851
• Publication Number:
  US 20100239115A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/384
• 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 system is provided. The headset system includes a speaker assembly to produce sound based on an audio signal, an attachment portion configured to orient the at least one speaker assembly proximate to an ear of a user such that the sound is directed substantially toward the ear of the user, and a mounting interface configured to interchangeably receive one of a plurality of accessory devices, wherein the plurality of accessory devices each have a mechanical coupling configuration compatible with the mounting interface.

Claims

1. A headset system comprising:

at least one speaker assembly to produce sound based on an audio signal;

an attachment portion configured to orient the at least one speaker assembly proximate to an ear of a user such that the sound is directed substantially toward the ear of the user; and

at least one mounting interface configured to interchangeably receive one of a plurality of accessory devices, wherein the plurality of accessory devices each have a mechanical coupling configuration compatible with the mounting interface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting interface includes an electrical power receptacle through which electrical power is supplied to the one of the plurality of accessory devices.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting interface includes a data connection receptacle through which data is transferred between the one of the plurality of accessory devices and a computing device in communication with the headset system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting interface includes a plurality of mounting ports, each of the plurality of mounting ports being configured to communicate with an accessory device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one of the plurality of accessory devices form part of a position sensing system configured to generate an output which varies in response to changes in position.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the one of the plurality of accessory devices includes at least one of a sensor and a sensed beacon to indicate the position of the accessory device relative to a predetermined position.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the sensed beacon includes a fixed array of at least three infrared light emitting diodes.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting interface includes a universal serial bus port to receive a universal serial bus plug of one of the plurality of accessory devices to facilitate communication between the one of the plurality of accessory devices and a computing device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the mounting interface is positioned on the at least one speaker assembly.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the mounting interface is positioned on the attachment portion.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a microphone coupled to the at least one speaker assembly.

12. A headset system comprising:

at least one speaker assembly to produce sound based on an audio signal;

an attachment portion configured to orient the at least one speaker assembly proximate to an ear of a user such that the sound is directed substantially toward the ear of the user; and

a positioning accessory device that forms part of a position sensing system configured to generate an output which varies in response to changes in position.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the positioning accessory device includes at least one of a sensor and a sensed beacon to indicate the position of the accessory device relative to a predetermined position.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a mounting interface configured to interchangeably receive one of a plurality of accessory devices.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the one of the plurality of accessory devices is selected from a group consisting of a lighting effect device, one or more external speakers, a haptic feedback device, a storage device, and a display device.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the one of the plurality of accessory devices includes at least one articulated region to facilitate rotation of the one of the plurality of accessory devices about the headset system.

17. An accessory device mounting apparatus comprising:

a frame;

a headset coupling interface configured to removably affix the frame to a headset wearable by a user; and

at least one mounting interface affixed to the frame and configured to interchangeably receive one of a plurality of accessory devices.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

at least one of a sensor and a sensed beacon to indicate a position of the headset relative to a predetermined position.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one mounting interface includes a data connection receptacle through which data is transfer between the one of the plurality of accessory devices and a computing device in communication with the accessory device mounting apparatus.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the data connection receptacle is further configured such that electrical power is supplied to the one of the plurality of accessory devices through the data connection receptacle.