JP2006041787A - Headset unit for radio communication - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain multi-functionality by adding new functions other than radio communication and speech functions. <P>SOLUTION: The headset unit for radio communication having a radio transmission/reception section and a speaker and transmitting/receiving a signal to/from an external communication unit by a radio system, includes input output terminals 4 to be connected to peripheral devices, and when the headset unit for radio communication is connected to the peripheral device via the input output terminal 4, the radio transmission/reception section allows the peripheral device and the other peripheral device to carry out signal transmission/reception by the radio system. The input output terminal 4 is a universal serial bus terminal. Further, the headset unit for radio communication includes a storage means, and signal transmission/reception is carried out between the storage means and the peripheral device via the input output terminal 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a headset device for wireless communication that exchanges signals with an external communication device such as a mobile phone by a wireless method.

  For example, in order to further improve the usability of a mobile phone, it is desired to realize a so-called hands-free mobile phone. As a device that enables this hands-free call, a so-called headset device that incorporates a speaker and a microphone and is worn on the ear is known.

  Conventionally, as a form of a headset device, a so-called headphone style is often used, and a form in which a microphone is extended from one of the ear pads to the mouth is generally used. Microphones, speakers, wireless transmission / reception units, circuit boards, batteries, etc. are all housed in a case member sealed with a cover, and further miniaturization has been developed. In such a headset device, it is not necessary to extend the microphone to the mouth by using a highly directional microphone, and the usability is further improved.

  By the way, as described above, when performing a hands-free call of a mobile phone while moving in an automobile or the like, the wireless method is regarded as the most promising method for transmitting and receiving signals between the mobile phone and the headset device. Yes. In the wired communication system, the mobile phone and the headset device must be connected with a cable each time it is used, which forces the user to perform very troublesome work. No work is required, and the danger that the cable will interfere with the operation is eliminated.

There are various standards for the wireless system, but it is assumed that the mobile phone and the headset device are used without much distance in the case of a call while moving in an automobile or the like. Adopting Bluetooth is considered the most effective. Therefore, a headset device incorporating a module for performing Bluetooth communication has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-120313 A

  By the way, since the requirements for weight, size, etc. are very strict in a headset device for wireless communication, conventionally, only necessary minimum parts such as a speaker, a microphone, a transmission / reception module, etc. are mounted, and hands-free by a wireless system Functions other than calling have been excluded. However, due to various factors such as progress in technology for highly integrated wireless transmission / reception parts, adoption of Bluetooth capable of reducing the size of wireless transmission / reception modules, and downsizing of audio components such as speakers and microphones, It has been dramatically reduced in size and weight, and it is becoming possible to provide functions other than calling.

  Therefore, the present invention has an object to provide a wireless communication headset device having a new function other than wireless communication and telephone call, for example, a function as an external wireless transmission / reception device. An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication headset device that is used and has high added value.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a wireless communication headset device according to the present invention includes a wireless transmission / reception unit and a speaker, and transmits and receives signals to and from an external communication device by a wireless method. A set device having an input / output terminal to be connected to a peripheral device, and when the wireless communication headset device is connected to the peripheral device via the input / output terminal, It is characterized in that signals are exchanged between the device and other peripheral devices by a wireless method.

  The wireless communication headset device of the present invention is capable of transmitting and receiving signals to and from a peripheral device such as a personal computer in addition to a normal communication function using a wireless method with an external communication device such as a mobile phone. Thus, the function as an external wireless transmission / reception device is newly added. By connecting the input / output terminal of the wireless communication headset device of the present invention to a peripheral device such as a personal computer and diverting the wireless transmission / reception unit included in the headset device, the wireless communication headset device of the present invention is externally connected. It functions as an attached wireless transmission / reception device, and enables wireless communication between peripheral devices such as personal computers and other peripheral devices such as printers. In addition, the wireless communication headset of the present invention can of course perform normal wireless communication with an external communication device such as a mobile phone.

  The wireless communication headset according to the present invention may further include a storage unit, and signals may be exchanged between the storage unit and a peripheral device via the input / output terminal.

  By providing the storage means, the wireless communication headset device can have a function as an external storage device that can be carried. By connecting the input / output terminal of the wireless communication headset device of the present invention to a peripheral device such as a personal computer, audio data, image data, text between the peripheral device such as a personal computer and the storage means in the headset device It is possible to easily and quickly exchange data such as data.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to use as an external wireless transmission / reception device by connecting an input / output terminal to a peripheral device such as a personal computer in addition to a call and communication using a normal wireless system. That is, according to the present invention, a function as a normal wireless communication headset device or a function as an external wireless transmission / reception device can be freely used according to usage conditions and the like. A high wireless communication headset device can be provided.

  Hereinafter, a wireless communication headset device to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the headset device 1 of the present invention has a roughly egg-shaped headset body 2 to be worn on the ear, and the headset body 2 is worn in the vicinity of the user's ear. Thus, a wireless conversation or the like is performed. A speaker is housed in an earphone unit that is inserted into the ear hole of the wearer of the headset body 2.

  The headset main body 2 is provided with an ear hook 3 that matches the shape of the ear, and the headset main body 2 can be attached to the headset main body 2 by hooking it. The ear hook 3 is formed of, for example, a rubber-based material, plastic, or the like. When not in use, the ear hook 3 is accommodated in the headset body 2 or a groove is formed along the circumferential surface of the headset body 2. It is preferable not to get in the way when it is removed and carried, such as by being wound around.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an input / output terminal 4 is provided at the lower end of the headset body 2. Here, as the standard of the input / output terminal 4, for example, USB (Universal Serial Bus) is preferably adopted.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the input / output terminal 4 is protected by a removable cap 5 when the headset device 1 is used for a normal call or when the headset device 1 is not used. A microphone 6 for sound collection is accommodated in the lower end portion of the cap 5 and is integrated with the headset body 2 to constitute the headset device 1. As the microphone 6, it is preferable to use a microphone with high directivity because it is not necessary to extend the microphone to the mouth and the usability can be improved.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the headset device 1 is used for a hands-free call by normal wireless communication, or when the input / output terminal 4 is not used for storing the headset device 1 or the like. The input / output terminal 4 may be folded on the back side of the headset body 2. When the input / output terminal 4 is used, the connection port of the input / output terminal 4 faces the outside of the headset device 1 as shown in FIG.

  Next, the internal configuration of the headset device 1 will be described. The headset body 2 has a wireless transmission / reception unit such as a wireless transmission / reception module for transmitting and receiving signals between an antenna and an external communication device such as a mobile phone by a wireless method, and silicon capable of storing various data. Memory storage means and a control unit for controlling each unit of the headset device 1 are provided. In addition, a battery for supplying power to each part of the headset body 2 is also provided inside the headset body 2.

  Here, the wireless means for transmitting and receiving the signal may be of any standard as long as the signal can be transmitted by wireless communication, but the headset device 1 of the present invention and the external communication device Since the mobile phone is assumed to be used without leaving a great distance, it is preferable to adopt, for example, Bluetooth as a wireless standard.

  Bluetooth (Bluetooth) is a technology that makes it possible to easily recognize each other and exchange data between various devices such as mobile devices, mobile phones, personal computers, etc., using radio waves with a frequency of 2.4 GHz. The corresponding module is also small, has low power consumption, and has a feature that it can be easily mounted on a portable device. Therefore, by adopting this as a wireless standard for data transmission / reception, wireless means can be incorporated without increasing the size of the headset main body 2 so much.

  Hereinafter, the use of the headset device 1 of the present invention will be described by taking as an example the case where Bluetooth is adopted as the wireless system and the input / output terminal 4 is a USB terminal. First, a case where the headset device 1 performs a hands-free call of a Bluetooth-compatible mobile phone will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, when a Bluetooth-compatible mobile phone 11 is used as an external communication device for a hands-free call, such a headset device 1 may be worn on the user's ear. The user can receive an audio signal from the mobile phone 11 through an antenna and a wireless transmission / reception unit built in the headset device 1, convert the audio signal into an audio signal, and listen to it through a speaker. In addition, the sound collected by the microphone 6 can be converted into a sound signal by the wireless transmission / reception unit and transmitted to the mobile phone 11 through the antenna.

  Next, the case where the headset device 1 of the present invention is used as an external wireless transmission / reception device will be described. Here, as in FIG. 4, a case where Bluetooth is adopted as a wireless system and the input / output terminal 4 is a USB terminal will be described as an example. In addition, an example in which the first peripheral device to which the headset device 1 is connected is a notebook computer that does not support Bluetooth, and the second peripheral device that performs wireless communication with the notebook computer is a Bluetooth printer. To As shown in FIG. 5, when the headset device 1 is used as an external wireless transmission / reception device, the input / output terminal (USB terminal) 4 of the headset device 1 is connected to the USB terminal 22 on the notebook personal computer 21 side. At this time, a signal supplied from the notebook computer 21 via the input / output terminal 4 can be transmitted to the printer 23 by a wireless method by diverting the wireless transmission / reception unit in the headset device 1. Conversely, a wireless signal from the printer 23 is received using a wireless transmission / reception unit in the headset device 1 and supplied to the notebook computer 21 via the input / output terminal 4. As described above, by connecting the headset device 1 of the present invention, wireless communication by Bluetooth can be performed using a notebook computer 21 that does not support Bluetooth.

  As described above, by providing the input / output terminal 4 such as the USB terminal, the headset device 1 of the present invention has a function as a normal wireless communication headset device and a function as an external wireless transmission / reception device. It can be used properly according to the situation. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to integrate a headset device and a wireless transmission / reception device, which have been completely independent devices, and realize a multi-function wireless headset device.

  Further, if the input / output terminal (USB terminal) 4 is connected to the USB terminal 22 of the notebook computer 21, the battery built in the headset device 1 can be filled via the input / output terminal 4. As a result, it is not necessary to separately provide a power supply terminal in the headset device 1.

  Furthermore, by connecting the input / output terminal 4 to the USB terminal 22 of the notebook computer 21, various storage means such as a hard disk, ROM, RAM, etc. built in the notebook computer 21 via the input / output terminal 4, and a headset device. For example, data can be easily and quickly transferred to and from a storage unit such as a flash memory incorporated in the unit 1. Therefore, the headset device 1 of the present invention integrates the functions of a headset device, a wireless transmission / reception device, and an external storage device, which were conventionally completely independent devices, and realizes further multi-functionality. be able to.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of the headset device for radio | wireless communication to which this invention is applied was described, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not what is limited to this embodiment. For example, USB is used as an example of the input / output terminal standard, but other interface standards may be adopted as long as signals can be exchanged between the connected peripheral device and the headset device. Is possible. Peripheral devices to which the headset device is connected via the input / output terminals, and peripheral devices that communicate with the peripheral devices in a wireless manner include keyboards, mice, mobile phones, etc. in addition to the personal computers and printers described above. Any device can be used.

It is a front view which shows an example of the headset apparatus to which this invention is applied. It is a front view of the headset apparatus shown in FIG. 1, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the state which protected the terminal. It is another example of the headset device of the present invention, (a) is a rear view when the terminal is not used, and (b) is a rear view when the terminal is used. It is a schematic diagram for explaining a situation where the headset device to which the present invention is applied performs wireless communication with a mobile phone and performs a hands-free call of the mobile phone. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the condition which uses the headset apparatus to which this invention is applied as an external radio | wireless transmission / reception device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Headset apparatus 2 Headset main body 3 Ear hook part 4 Terminal 5 Cap 6 Microphone 11 Mobile phone 21 Notebook computer 22 USB terminal 23 Printer

Claims (4)

A wireless communication headset device having a wireless transmission / reception unit and a speaker, and transmitting and receiving signals to and from an external communication device by a wireless method,
When the wireless communication headset device is connected to a peripheral device via the input / output terminal, the wireless transmission / reception unit and the peripheral device are connected to the peripheral device. A wireless communication headset device that transmits and receives signals to and from a device in a wireless manner.   2. The wireless communication headset device according to claim 1, wherein the input / output terminal is a universal serial bus terminal.   The wireless communication headset according to claim 2, further comprising a storage unit, wherein signals are exchanged between the storage unit and a peripheral device via the input / output terminal. The wireless communication headset according to claim 1, further comprising a battery, wherein the battery is charged via the input / output terminal.

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