Modular wireless headset system for hands free talking

• US 6,078,825 A
• Filed: 02/20/1998
• Issued: 06/20/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Advanced Mobile Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Advanced Mobile Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Jetter, Robert, Hishinuma, David S., Baek, Sung Kee, Yegiazaryan, Genrik, Hahn, Stan S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jama, Isaak R.
• Application Number:
  US09/027,163
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 455/568, 455/11.1, 455/41, 455/66, 455/74, 455/90, 455/550, 455/569, 379/430, 379/185, 381/370, 381/385
• US Class Current: 455/569.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• 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 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• 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

Abstract

A wireless headset system for use with, e.g. mobile phones, and which incorporates a wireless headset which communicates with a base station via magnetic inductive coupling or radio frequency signals to dial and send or receive calls via a conventional phone, e.g. a mobile phone, attached to the base station. In one embodiment, the mobile phone is carried in the base station which is worn by the user.

Claims

1. A wireless headset system for wirelessly communicating between a base station and a wireless headset worn by a user, wherein:

the wireless headset includes;

an ear piece;

an ear hook attached to the ear piece and which fits over the ear of a user;

a speaker mounted in the ear piece and positioned to reproduce sounds into the ear of the user;

a boom having one end mounted to one end of the ear piece;

a microphone mounted on another end of the boom;

a first transceiver mounted to another end of the ear hook and electrically connected to the speaker and the microphone for wirelessly communicating signals representative of audio signals between the wireless headset and the base station; and

a battery pack detachably mounted on the first transceiver; and

the base station includes;

a power interface for releasably coupling the base station to an external source of electrical power;

a phone interface for electronically coupling the base station to a mobile phone that is physically proximate to the base station to allow the base station to communicate with the mobile phone;

a second transceiver for wirelessly communicating with the first transceiver;

a battery pack interface for interfacing with a battery pack capable of powering the base station when it is not connected to an external power source and capable of being recharged when the base station is connected to an external power source; and

wherein the ear hook is hinged to the ear piece to allow the ear hook to be moved toward the speaker and the speaker is non-pivotally mounted on the ear piece, whereby the ear hook can be moved to clamp the pinna of a user'"'"'s ear between the ear hook and the speaker.

2. The wireless headset system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless headset includes a power on/off switch for the first transceiver which is mounted on the first transceiver.

3. The wireless headset system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless headset includes an antenna for the first transceiver which is mounted within the ear piece.

4. The wireless headset system according to claim 1, wherein the boom is flexible.

5. The wireless headset system according to claim 1, wherein the battery pack includes externally accessible contacts allowing it to be charged even while mounted on the first transceiver.

6. A wireless headset system for wirelessly communicating between a base station and a wireless headset worn by a user, wherein:

the wireless headset includes;

an ear piece;

an ear hook attached to the ear piece and which fits over the ear of a user;

a speaker mounted in the ear piece and positioned to reproduce sounds into the ear of the user;

a boom having one end mounted to one end of the ear piece;

a microphone mounted on another end of the boom;

a first transceiver mounted to another end of the ear hook and electrically connected to the speaker and the microphone for wirelessly communicating signals representative of audio signals between the wireless headset and the base station; and

a battery pack detachably mounted on the first transceiver; and

the base station includes;

a power interface for releasably coupling the base station to an external source of electrical power;

a phone interface for electronically coupling the base station to a mobile phone that is physically proximate to the base station to allow the base station to communicate with the mobile phone;

a second transceiver for wirelessly communicating with the first transceiver;

a battery pack interface for interfacing with a battery pack capable of powering the base station when it is not connected to an external power source and capable of being recharged when the base station is connected to an external power source; and

wherein the speaker is fixedly mounted to the ear piece and is bidirectional so that it can be heard in the ear of the user regardless of which of the user'"'"'s ears supports the wireless headset.