Wireless headset with automatic power control

• US 7,010,332 B1
• Filed: 02/21/2000
• Issued: 03/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unwired Planet LLC (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Wakefield, I. Nelson, Irvin, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord, Marceau
• Application Number:
  US09/507,586
• Time in Patent Office: 2,206 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.2, 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/569.1, 455/426.1, 455/420, 455/74, 455/550.1, 455/557, 455/575.1, 379/433.02
• US Class Current: 455/575.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3866 carried on the head
• 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 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wireless headset for use with a separate communications device, such as a cellular telephone, includes automatic on/off capabilities to maximize battery life. By detecting a user'"'"'s interaction, such as picking up the headset or placing it upon the user'"'"'s body, the wireless headset automatically transitions from an inactive state to an active state. Techniques for automatic headset enabling include but are not limited to motion sensors, attitude or position sensors, proximity sensors, and contact sensors. These techniques may be used individually or in any combination. An internal timer allows the wireless headset to return to its inactive state a defined interval after cessation of movement or removal of the wireless headset. Including an optional sleep state further optimizes battery life. In the sleep state, only a portion of the wireless headset circuitry is enabled. Rather than transitioning from inactive to active, the headset transitions from inactive to sleep. In sleep, the headset periodically monitors for a signal from the separate communications device. Upon detection of such a signal, the wireless headset transitions to its active state, thereby providing full functionality to the user.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a wireless headset including a control circuit and a communications circuit, said communications circuit having a wireless communications interface and an audio interface, comprising the steps of:

placing said communications circuit in an inactive state via said control circuit;

detecting a predetermined condition via a sensor disposed in said wireless headset and associated with said control circuit while said headset circuit is in said inactive state;

transitioning, via said control circuit, said headset circuit from said inactive state to a sleep state in response to said detection, wherein at least a portion of said communications circuit is enabled in said sleep state;

detecting, via said enabled portion of said communications circuit, an activity signal from a base unit while said communications circuit is in said sleep state; and

transitioning, via said control circuit, said communications circuit from said sleep state to an active state in response to said activity signal, wherein all of said communications circuit is enabled in said active state.

2. The method of claim 1 further including continuing to monitor, via said control circuit and said associated sensor, for said predetermined condition while said communications circuit is in said sleep state and while said communications circuit is in said active state.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of transitioning said communications circuit from said inactive state to said sleep state includes starting a timer defining a time-out interval.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said control circuit transitions said communications circuit from said active state or said sleep state back to said inactive state upon expiration of said timer.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said control circuit resets said timer, thereby preventing its expiration, in response to detecting said predetermined condition during said continued monitoring.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined condition is a movement of said wireless headset and said sensor is a motion sensor.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined condition is a positioning of said wireless headset in one or more physical orientations and said sensor is an attitude sensor.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined condition is proximity of said wireless headset to a user'"'"'s body and said sensor is a proximity sensor.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined condition is contact between said wireless headset and a user'"'"'s body and said sensor is a contact sensor.