Automatic detection of the wearing style of a convertible headset

• US 8,948,412 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2010
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Barry, Shyu, Ching
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad F
• Assistant Examiner(s): FALEY, KATHERINE A
• Application Number:
  US12/911,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20120099738A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,562 Days
• Field of Search: 381/74, 381370-384, 381366-367, 379/420.01, 379/420.04
• US Class Current: 381/74
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/105 Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335

Abstract

A system for adjusting an audio setting for a headset, comprises a communications device, a detachable headband containing a detectable element that can be coupled to the communications device, a sensor coupled to the communications device configured to determine whether the headband is coupled to the communications device and a processor configured to adjust the audio setting for the headset to a headband mode when the headband is coupled to the communications device. The processor may also adjust the audio setting of the headset to a non-headband mode based on the sensor detecting the headband being disconnected from the communications device.

Claims

1. A system for adjusting an audio setting for a headset, comprising:

a communications device;

a detachable headband operable to be worn over a user head, wherein the detachable headband can be coupled to the communications device;

a sensor coupled to the communications device configured to determine a detachable headband connection state comprising a coupled state indicating the detachable headband is coupled to the communications device and a decoupled state indicating the detachable headband is decoupled from the communications device; and

a processor configured to adjust the audio setting for the headset to a headband mode responsive to detection of a change in the detachable headband connection state from the decoupled state to the coupled state, wherein the audio setting comprises a receive volume setting, a receive frequency response setting, a terminal coupling loss weighted setting, a side tone setting, a receive noise reduction setting, or a receive automatic level control setting.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the audio setting of the headset to a non-headband mode responsive to detection of a change in the detachable headband connection state from the coupled state to the decoupled state.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the detachable headband comprises at least one ear cushion.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a Hall Effect sensor.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprises a magnet coupled to the detachable headband to trigger the sensor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a reed switch.

7. A method of adjusting an audio setting for a headset, comprising:

receiving data from a sensor coupled to the headset indicating a connection status between a detachable headband and the headset; and

providing a first output signal to adjust the audio setting for the headset responsive to detecting a change in the connection status of the detachable headband to the headset, the audio setting comprising a receive volume setting, a receive frequency response setting, a terminal coupling loss weighted setting, a side tone setting, a receive noise reduction setting, or a receive automatic level control setting.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

detecting by the sensor that the detachable headband and the headset have become disconnected; and

providing a second output signal to adjust the audio setting of the headset based on the detachable headband being disconnected from the headset.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the detachable headband comprises at least one ear cushion.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the sensor is a Hall Effect sensor.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the sensor is a reed switch.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the detachable headband contains a magnet configured to trigger the sensor when the connection has been made.

13. A headset system comprising:

a detachable headband;

a detachable earbud;

a communications device coupled to the detachable headband, wherein the detachable earbud is configured to be coupled to the communications device in a non-headband mode when the detachable headband is decoupled from the communications device;

a sensor coupled to the communications device and configured to detect a connection state between the communications device and the detachable headband; and

a processor operably coupled to the sensor to adjust a setting of an audio equalizer to a headband mode from the non-headband mode when the sensor detects that the detachable headband has become connected to the communications device.

14. The headset of claim 13, wherein the processor further comprises adjusting the setting of the audio equalizer to the non-headband mode from the headband mode when the sensor detects that the detachable headband state has become disconnected from the communications device.

15. The headset of claim 13, wherein the detachable headband comprises one ear cushion arranged to be worn on a same ear as the communications device.

16. The headset of claim 13, wherein the communications device comprises:

a

speaker for providing audio directly to a user'"'"'s ear;

a microphone; and

the audio equalizer.

17. The headset of claim 13, wherein the sensor is a Hall Effect sensor.

18. The headset of claim 13, wherein the sensor is a reed switch.

19. The headset of claim 13, wherein the detachable headband contains a magnet to trigger the sensor.

20. The headset of claim 13, wherein the setting adjusted in the audio equalizer is a receive volume setting, a receive frequency response setting, a terminal coupling loss weighted setting, a side tone setting, a receive noise reduction setting, or a receive automatic level control setting.