WO2006076916A2

WO2006076916A2 - A headset with an exchangeable battery

Info

Publication number: WO2006076916A2
Application number: PCT/DK2006/000020
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mette Brink
Original assignee: Gn Netcom A/S
Priority date: 2005-01-18
Filing date: 2006-01-12
Publication date: 2006-07-27
Also published as: DK200500021U4; WO2006076916A3

Abstract

A headset with a wearing device, which may be a headband, a neckband or an earpiece, is provided with at least one capsule, which has contacts for connecting a battery as well as contacts for connecting a housing with electronics and operating buttons and optionally a microphone. Further, the capsule may have a charging outlet which is adapted to be connected to a charging device in a base unit.The base unit is also configured as a holder for the headset and has an extra connection which is intended to be connected to an extra loose battery. The invention provides a very flexible headset, where the parts of the headset may be exchanged in case of defects thereof, or if new designs of the individual parts become attractive to the users.

Description

A headset with a wearing device

The invention relates to a headset with a wearing device, said wearing device being provided with at least one exchangeable battery.

Headsets of this type are used in many connections, and in step with the electronic development it becomes ever more common to manufacture the headsets as so-called wireless headsets, where communication between a headset and one or more stationary or portable units, be it fixed line tele- phones, mobile telephones, base units, adapters and the like, takes place wirelessly, so that a user may move about in an area when he communicates and moreover need not use his hands to operate the headset.

Since, in connection with the IT development, the headsets are provided with ever more sophisticated electronics which are developed currently, this requires, of course, that the electronics may be powered from a battery.

Normally, the electronics are provided in a housing which is placed on a headband or a neckband or is connected with an earpiece, which may be configured as an open hook or a closed ring. The housing may moreover have a small space for a battery which powers the electronics.

Although the space requirements of the electronics are constantly reduced, the space which the battery occupies after all, may be utilized since the headsets are developed with more and more functions.

Further, it will be expedient if the battery need not be exchanged just because new electronics in a new housing are provided to the headset.

US Patent No. 4 882 745 discloses a headset, where an exchangeable battery is arranged in extension of the headband of the headset. This posi- tion of the battery may be inexpedient, if the headset has two capsules with speakers, or if the headset is configured with an earpiece instead of a headband.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a headset, where the battery of the headset is positioned more expediently.

The object of the invention is achieved by a headset of the type defined in the introductory portion of claim 1 , which is characterized in that the wear- ing device comprises a headband which is terminated by a capsule at least at its one end, and that the capsule contains the battery, or that the wearing device comprises an earpiece which is connected at its one end with a capsule containing the battery.

A flexible headset is achieved in this manner, where the exchangeable battery, which is used in connection with a headband, may also be used in connection with an earpiece and vice versa.

The flexibility of the headset is enhanced additionally, if, as stated in claim 2, the capsule has a contact for the connection of a housing for electronics, which additionally contains operating buttons, or, as stated in claim 3, the battery is provided with contacts which may be connected to contacts on the wearing device, as the headset is hereby composed of units in the form of modules which may be replaced independently, and such that some of the modules that are used in connection with a headband may also be used in connection with an earpiece and vice versa.

This modular structure is even more flexible, if, as stated in claim 4, a speaker is incorporated in the capsule.

Expediently, as stated in claim 5, the capsule is provided with a charging outlet adapted to be connected to a charging device in a base unit, which is configured as a holder for the headset.

Further, it is advantageous, if, as stated in claim 6, the base unit has an extra charging outlet for charging a battery which is disengaged from the headset, as a user then always has access to a fresh charged power supply for the headset.

Further expedient embodiments are defined in claims 7 and 8.

The invention will now be explained more fully with reference to the drawing, in which

fig. 1 shows a headset with a headband of the mono type,

fig. 2 shows a headset with a headband of the duo type,

fig. 3 shows a headset with an earpiece,

fig. 4 shows a headset with a neckband of the duo type,

fig. 5 shows an accessory for the headset of fig. 4,

fig. 6 shows another accessory for the headset of fig. 4, while

fig. 7 shows a base unit for the headsets shown in figures 1 - 4.

Fig. 1 shows a wearing device of the mono type, where the numeral 1 designates a headband, at whose one end a capsule 3 is secured, and at whose other end a support part 4 is secured. In addition, the headband has provided thereon an adjustment mechanism 2 with a channel into which and out of which the headband 1 may be moved, so that the headset may be adjusted to the size of the individual user's head.

A battery (not shown) may be integrated in the wearing device, e.g. be mounted on the capsule. This mounting is expediently provided such that an outlet connection is arranged in the capsule which fits an outlet connection in the battery, so that the battery may be removed, e.g. for exchange or recharging.

Optionally, a speaker (not shown) and a housing containing electronics are also connected on the capsule.

Fig. 2 shows an alternative wearing device, but this time of the duo type. This wearing device, too, has a headband 1 and an adjustment mechanism 2. In this duo version, a capsule 3, which, as explained in connection with fig. 1 , may be connected to a battery and optionally a speaker, is arranged at both ends of the headband 1/adjustment mechanism 2.

In addition, a housing 5 is arranged on the capsules 3, said housing containing electronics, which may e.g. be transmitter/receiver circuits which are of a short range type, such as Bluetooth® or DECT.

The housing 5 may moreover be provided with adjustment buttons to adapt sound strength, to activate menus and the like.

If the capsule 3 is not provided with a speaker, such an element may also be incorporated in the housing 5.

Fig. 3 shows a wearing device in the form of an earpiece 6 to which a car- rier ring 7 is secured. The same components as explained in connection with the capsule in figs. 1 and 2, may be secured to the carrier ring, i.e. a battery and optionally a speaker and a housing for electronics may be clipped on to it.

It is also possible to configure the ring like the capsule 3 shown in figs. 1 and 2.

A variant of the wearing device duo, which is shown in fig. 2, is shown in fig. 4, where the wearing device has a neckband instead of the headband 1 in fig. 2. The other parts are the same as shown in fig. 2, just designed slightly differently, as the battery, see fig. 6, which is designated 11 , is non-circular, which is also the case with the housing which, cf. fig. 5, is designated 9. As will be seen, this housing is covered by a cover 10.

Fig. 7 shows a base unit which as a whole is designated 12. This base unit has an upstanding holding part 11 which, at its bottom, is combined with a flat round part 14, which contains various forms of electronic components and optionally a display as well as operating buttons. The holding part is adapted to receive one of the headsets, which are shown in figures 1 - 4, in a receiving opening 13, where the capsule of the headset with battery, speaker and housing may be placed. Contact means (not shown) are arranged inside the opening 13, which are connected to a charging circuit such that when a headset is placed in the opening 13 of the holding part, contact means (not shown) on the capsule of the headset will be connected to the contact means in the opening 13.

Optionally, a further set of contact means is arranged on the base unit so that an extra battery may be charged.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. A headset with a wearing device, said wearing device being provided with at least one exchangeable battery, ch a ra cte ri zed in that the wearing device comprises a headband (1) which is terminated by a capsule (3) at least at its one end, and that the capsule contains the battery, or that the wearing device comprises an earpiece (6) which is connected at its one end with a capsule containing the battery.

2. A headset according to claim 1, ch a ra cte rized in that the capsule has a contact for the connection of a housing for electronics, which additionally contains operating buttons.

3. A headset according to claims 1-2, c h a ra cte rized in that the battery is provided with contacts which may be connected to contacts on the wearing device.

4. A headset according to claims 1-3, c h a ra cte r i ze d in that a speaker is incorporated in the capsule (3).

5. A headset according to claims 1-4, c h a ra cte ri ze d in that the capsule (3) is provided with a charging outlet adapted to be connected to a charging device in a base unit (12), which is configured as a holder for the headset.

6. A headset according to claim 5, cha racterized in that the base unit (12) has an extra charging outlet for charging a battery which is disengaged from the headset.

7. A headset according to claims 1-6, c h a ra cte ri ze d in that the headband (1) is terminated by a capsule at both of its ends.

8. A headset according to claims 1-7, characterized in that the headband (1) is configured as a neckband.