Wireless stereo headset

• US 8,542,845 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2006
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Cho, Min-Won
• Primary Examiner(s): Mei, Xu
• Application Number:
  US11/406,967
• Publication Number:
  US 20060251277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,715 Days
• Field of Search: 381/309, 381370-384, 381/74, 381/11, D14/205, 379/430, 455/575.1, 455/575.2, 455/569.1, 455/3.01, 455/3.05, 455/3.06, 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 381/74
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1008 Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/105 Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

Disclosed is a wireless stereo headset. The wireless stereo headset includes a first headset including a speaker unit and a Bluetooth® enabled module, for converting sound signals received from a device, transmitting the sound signals into sounds and outputting the sounds, and a second headset including a speaker unit and a Bluetooth® enabled module, for selectively receiving a portion of the sound signals which are converted into sounds and outputting the sounds, thereby accomplishing mono sound by using the first headset according to a user'"'"'s request or achieving stereo sound by using the first and second headsets. The wireless stereo headset can perform voice communication by using only the first headset, while accomplishing stereo sounds by using both the first and second headsets, thereby using the wireless stereo headset to enjoy an improved sound quality.

Claims

1. A wireless stereo headset system comprising:

a first headset including a speaker unit and a Bluetooth®

enabled module, for receiving a first portion of a sound signal directly from a device through Bluetooth®

enabled communication, converting the first portion of the sound signal to a first sound, and outputting and playing the first portion of the sound signal;

a second headset including a speaker unit and a Bluetooth®

enabled module, for receiving a second portion of the sound signal directly from the device through Bluetooth®

enabled communication, converting the second portion of the sound signal to a second sound, and outputting and playing the second portion of the sound signal to a user; and

the device, for transmitting the first portion of the sound signal through Bluetooth®

enabled communication to the first headset, and for transmitting the second portion of the sound signal through Bluetooth®

enabled communication to the second headset, thereby achieving stereo sound by using the first and second headsets,

wherein the first and second portions of the sound signals correspond to right and left channels of a music file, respectively.

2. The wireless stereo headset system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second headsets each include a housing containing the speaker unit and a wearable frame surrounding at least a portion of and spaced apart from a periphery of the housing and having one end connected to the housing.

3. The wireless stereo headset system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first headset performs functions for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the device through the Bluetooth®

enabled module.

4. The wireless stereo headset system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device includes an audio device for playing sound media and the first headset further includes at least one key for playing the sound media, stopping the playing of the sound media, controlling volume of the sound media and selecting the sound media while performing a communication function with the audio device.

5. The wireless stereo headset system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second headsets each include an interior battery and a jack connector for connection to an electric source for charging the interior battery.

6. The wireless stereo headset system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device includes a portable terminal providing a voice communication function, and the first headset includes a microphone unit for converting the user'"'"'s voice into electric signals and can enable voice communication by transmitting the electric signals to the portable terminal through the Bluetooth®

enabled module.

7. The wireless stereo headset system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first headset includes a housing containing the speaker unit and a transmitter extending from an outer peripheral surface of the housing, the microphone unit being disposed in the transmitter.

8. The wireless stereo headset system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the transmitter extends retractably from the housing.

9. The wireless stereo headset system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first headset further includes an on/off key for starting and ending the voice communication.

10. The wireless stereo headset system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first headset further includes a luminous element that flickers according to an extent of reception of signals transmitted and received to and from the portable terminal.

11. A wireless stereo headset system comprising:

a first headset including a Bluetooth®

enabled module and a speaker unit, for outputting and playing a first sound signal if only the first sound signal is received, and transmitting a second sound signal through Bluetooth®

enabled communication if first and second sound signals are received;

a second headset including a Bluetooth®

enabled module and a speaker unit, for outputting and playing the second sound signal received from the first headset; and

a portable terminal for transmitting the first and second sound signals corresponding to right and left channels, respectively, of a music file through the Bluetooth®

enabled communication to the first headset according to a user'"'"'s request, while playing the music file, stopping the playing of the music file when an incoming call is received, and transmitting the first sound signal corresponding voice signals through the Bluetooth®

enabled communication to the first headset during a voice communication,

wherein the first and second headsets each include a housing containing the speaker unit and a wearable frame surrounding at least a portion of and spaced apart from a periphery of the housing and having one end connected to the housing.

12. A wireless stereo headset system comprising:

a first headset including a Bluetooth®

enabled module and a speaker unit, for receiving a first sound signal directly from a portable terminal and outputting and playing the first sound signal;

a second headset including a Bluetooth®

enabled module and a speaker unit, for receiving a second sound signal directly from the portable terminal and outputting and playing the second sound signal; and

a portable terminal for transmitting the first sound signal corresponding to a right channel of a music file through Bluetooth®

enabled communication to the first headset according to a user'"'"'s request, and transmitting the second sound signal corresponding to a left channel of the music file through the Bluetooth®

enabled communication to the second headset, while playing the music file.