AU2011232790B2 - Wired headset with integrated switch - Google Patents

Abstract

Headsets are provided (100, 1000) with integrated switch assemblies (120, 1020). An integrated switch assembly can include a switch hidden from view by a housing. The switch can be activated when a user applies pressure to the housing. The housing may 5 include a flexible housing cover that, when depressed, may engage the switch contained within the housing. When engaged, the switch may move or snap to a switch activation position within the housing.

Description

P100/01 1 Regulation 3 2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: Wired headset with Integrated switch The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: WO 2008/085915 PCT/US2008/000157 WIRED HEADSET WITH INTEGRATED SWITCH Cross-Reference to Related Applications [0001] This claims the benefit of United States Provisional Application No. 60/879,155, filed 5 January 6, 2007, and United States Provisional Application No. , filed June 22, 2007, entitled "SINGLE USER INPUT MECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRONIC DEVICE OPERATIONS" (Attorney Docket No. 104677-0102-001 (P5389USP1)), each of which is hereby 10 incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Background of the Invention [0002] The present invention can relate to headsets and, more particularly, to wired headsets including an integrated switch. 15 [0003] Electrical switches for controlling functions of electronic devices are well known. For example, some known media and communication devices include switches that are used to activate particular functions of the device (e.g., on/off, play, pause, select, or 20 volume). To provide control of functions at a location remote from the media or communication device, switches that are electrically connected to and incorporated in 1000959637 -2 wires attached to the device have been developed (e.g., switches in wired headsets plugged into a jack of an audio device). For example, a headset can include a wheeled switch for controlling the volume of music provided by an electronic device (e.g., a portable music player). As another example, a headset can include several buttons for controlling playback of music (e.g., play, next, last, fast forward, and rewind buttons). [0004] A drawback of such switches that have been implemented in headset wires is that they tend to be bulky and have limited control functions. Summary of the Invention [0004a] As used herein, except where the context requires otherwise, the term "comprise" and variations of the term, such as "comprising", "comprises" and "comprised", are not intended to exclude further additives, components, integers or steps. [0004b] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a system including: a cord assembly; and a switch assembly integrated along the cord assembly, the switch assembly including: a core; a first switch; a second switch; a microphone; a top housing cover coupled to the core; and a bottom housing cover coupled to the core, wherein the top housing cover, the bottom housing cover, and the core hide the first switch, the second switch, and the microphone, wherein a first portion of the top housing cover and a first portion of the bottom housing cover are configured to be squeezed to engage the first switch, and wherein a second portion of the top housing cover and a second portion of the bottom housing cover are configured to be squeezed to engage the second switch.

1000959637 - 2a [0004c] According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a wired headset including: a cord assembly; and an switch assembly integrated along the cord assembly, the switch assembly including: a core; a first switch; a microphone; a top housing cover coupled to the core; and a bottom housing cover coupled to the core, wherein the top housing cover, the bottom housing cover, and the core hide the first switch and the microphone, wherein the top housing cover extends the length of the switch assembly, and wherein the switch assembly is free of a discrete element protruding through the top housing cover. [0004d] According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a wired headset including: a plug; an acoustic assembly; a cord assembly coupled to the plug and the acoustic assembly; and a switch assembly integrated with the cord assembly, wherein the acoustic assembly is electrically coupled to the plug via a first wire of the cord assembly that passes through the switch assembly, the switch assembly including: a core; a housing cover coupled to the core; a first switch that is within the core and that is activated in response to a depression event of the housing cover; a microphone within the core; and a circuit board including first and second contacts within the core, wherein: the housing cover encloses the first switch; the first switch electrically couples the first and second contacts during the depression event; and the microphone is electrically coupled to at least one of the first and second contacts. [0005] Switches that can be incorporated in wires, that can feature small and unobtrusive profiles, and that can control one or more functions of devices coupled to the wires, are provided. Switches that can be easy to use without requiring users to look at the switches are also provided.

1000959637 -2b [0006] A wired peripheral assembly with an integrated switch assembly is provided. The integrated switch assembly can include a switch hidden from view by a housing. The switch can be activated when the user applies pressure to the housing. The housing may include a flexible housing cover that, when depressed, engages a switch contained within the housing. When engaged, the switch may move or "snap" to a switch activation position within the housing. When the housing is no longer squeezed, the switch may return to a standby position within the housing, as the flexible housing cover may no longer be depressed, and therefore no longer engages the switch.

WO 2008/085915 PCT/US2008/000157 -3 [00071 Incorporating the switch within the switch housing advantageously can eliminate the need to provide a discrete switch member that is visible (e.g., that protrudes from the housing), thus providing 5 a more aesthetically pleasing housing with switch functionality. In addition, the relative ease in activating the switch in accordance with embodiments of the invention may be greater than that of peripheral assemblies (e.g., headsets) having discrete switch 10 members because there may be no need to discern where the switch is located in order to activate the switch. The user can merely squeeze the housing of the integrated switch assembly to activate the switch. [00081 The integrated switch assembly can be placed 15 anywhere along a cord assembly that may physically and electrically interconnect one or more peripheral assemblies via wires to a plug or port that may communicate with an electronic device. The switch assembly can be used to control any suitable function 20 of any suitable electronic device and/or any suitable peripheral assembly thereof. The electronic device may be of a variety of suitable electronic device forms, including, but not limited to, computers, media systems, portable media devices (e.g., portable music 25 players, such as iPodsm available by Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, California), cellular telephones, personal media devices that may include telephone communication and digital music player capabilities, or combinations thereof. The one or more peripheral 30 assemblies may each be of a variety of suitable peripheral assembly forms, including, but not limited to, acoustic assemblies or transducers (e.g., speakers, earbuds, or microphones), visual assemblies WO 2008/085915 PCT/US2008/000157 -4 (e.g., cameras, video recorders, etc.), or combinations thereof. The functions that the switch assembly can be used to control may be any of a variety of suitable functions, including, but not limited to, microphone or 5 speaker mute, volume control, media playback functions (e.g., next, previous, pause, play), dial, hang-up, or combinations thereof. [0009] In certain headset embodiments, for example, having a single peripheral assembly (e.g., a monaural 10 headphone having a single speaker or earbud), the integrated switch assembly may be placed along the cord assembly relatively near that single peripheral assembly. In certain other headset embodiments having two or more peripheral assemblies (e.g., stereo 15 headphones having left and right speakers or earbuds), the integrated switch assembly may be generally associated with and placed along the cord assembly in relative proximity to one or the other peripheral .assembly. For example, when the peripheral assembly is 20 placed in a position of its intended use (e.g., placed in or near the ear or ears of the user), the integrated .switch assembly can be positioned along the cord assembly such that the user can relatively easily locate the switch housing (as opposed to having the 25 -. user fumble around for a switch located far away from the peripheral assembly). [0010] Additionally, in some headset embodiments, for example, a switch assembly can include a microphone .incorporated therein. When a peripheral assembly of 30 such a headset is placed in a position of its intended .use (e.g., placed in or near the ear or ears of the user), the integrated switch assembly and its microphone may be positioned along the cord assembly in WO 2008/085915 PCT/US2008/000157 -5 relative proximity to an appropriate source of acoustic signals (e.g., the vocal chords of a user). [0011] In certain embodiments, a microphone can be contained within the switch housing of a switch 5 assembly and hidden from view. A housing cover can include a through-hole for enabling acoustic signals to be received by the microphone. The microphone can include two leads that are electrically and physically coupled to a circuit board (e.g., a printed wiring 10 board). The circuit board can be electrically and physically coupled to wires (e.g., a MIC wire and a ground wire) that may extend along the cord assembly to a plug connected thereto. The circuit board can serve as a bridge for electrically coupling the leads from 15 the microphone to the wires extending along the cord assembly to the plug. The circuit board can electrically interact with the switch when the switch is depressed and placed in a switch activation position. For example, when the switch is activated, 20 the switch can short the two microphone leads by applying a conductive member to the circuit board, thereby activating or de-activating the microphone). [0012] The integrated switch assembly can include cord assembly fasteners or crimps that securely fix the 25 switch assembly to the cord assembly. For example, a first fastener can secure a plug portion of the cord assembly and a second fastener can secure a peripheral portion of the cord assembly. Wires of.the cord assembly (e.g., positive and ground wires) can be 30- routed through the switch assembly without interfering with the switch, and in some embodiments the microphone. In addition, the fasteners can be located within the switch housing, thereby making the cord WO 2008/085915 PCT/US2008/000157 -6 assembly appear integrated with the switch housing. This can provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance and also can make the switch assembly appear as a relatively non-descript and seamless extension of the 5 cord assembly. Brief Description of the Drawings [0013] The above and other features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be 10 more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 15 [0014] FIG. 1 shows a partial exploded view of a wired assembly in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; [0015] FIG. 1A is an illustrative simplified schematic diagram of the assembly of FIG. 1 20 in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; [0016] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the assembly of FIGS. 1 and 1A in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; [0017] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a 25 portion of the assembly of FIGS. 1-2 in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; [0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the assembly of FIGS. 1-3 in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; 30 [0019] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the assembly of FIGS. 1-4 in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; WO 2008/085915 PCT/US2008/000157 -7 [0020] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the assembly of FIGS. 1-5 in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; [0021] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a portion 5 of the assembly of FIGS. 1-6 in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; [0022] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the assembly of FIGS. 1-7 in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; 10 [0023] FIG. 9 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a portion of the assembly of FIGS. 1-8 in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; and [0024] FIG. 10 shows a partial exploded view of a wired assembly in accordance with some embodiments of 15 the invention. Detailed Description of the Invention [0025] Switches are provided that can be incorporated in wires to have small and unobtrusive 20 profiles, and that can control one or more functions of devices coupled to the wires, and are described below with reference to FIGS. 1-10. [0026] FIG. 1 shows a partial exploded view of a wired peripheral assembly system 100. System 100 can 25 be a wired stereo headset with an integrated switch assembly and two peripheral acoustic assemblies in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Headset system 100 can include cord assembly 110, integrated switch assembly 120, and left and right 30 acoustic assemblies 140 and 160. FIG. 10 shows a partial exploded view of a wired monaural headset 1000 with an integrated switch assembly in accordance with WO 2008/085915 PCT/US2008/000157 -8 an embodiment of the invention. Headset 1000 can include substantially all of the same components as stereo headset 100, with the exception that there is only one acoustic assembly instead of two. Thus, 5 because there is a duplication of like components between headsets 100 and 1000, the following detailed discussion'of components of headset 100, such as the cord assembly, switch assembly, and one of the acoustic assemblies, can be equally applicable to such similar 10 components of headset 1000. [0027] Cord assembly 110 can include plug 112 and .!the one or more wires (not shown) that can electrically couple plug 112 to integrated switch assembly 120, and right and left acoustic assemblies 140 and 160. The 15 wires can be enclosed within a shroud (shown as elements 114, 116, 118, and 119) that may protect the wires from external elements, such as water and dirt. For example, shroud 114 may contain all wires electrically coupled to plug 112, whereas shroud 116 20 may contain only the wires for right acoustic assembly 160 and shrouds 118 and 119 may contain only the wires for switch assembly 120 and left acoustic assembly 140. Shroud interconnector 115 can -interconnect shrouds 114, 116, and 118, while switch 25 assembly 120 can interconnect shrouds 118 and 119. [0028] Acoustic assemblies 140 and 160 may be speakers that produce acoustic signals in response to signals transmitted through cord assembly 110. Acoustic assemblies 140 and 160 may be earbuds as 30 shown, or may be some other in-the-ear, cover-the-ear, or over-the-ear type of speaker assemblies. Acoustic assembly 160, shown as an exploded view, can include jacket 162, housing 163, pressure sensitive WO 2008/085915 PCT/US2008/000157 -9 adhesive 164, damper 165, and driver unit 166. Pressure sensitive adhesive 164, damper 165, and driver unit 166 can be fixed to housing 163, and wires 169 from shroud 116 can be coupled to driver unit 166. 5 Jacket 162 can also be connected to housing 163. [0029) Switch assembly 120 can be integrated anywhere along cord assembly 110. In some embodiments, such as that shown in FIG. 1, switch assembly 120 may *be integrated with the wires and shroud associated with 10 .one of the acoustic assemblies. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, switch assembly 120 can appear to be incorporated into shroud 118 existing between left acoustic assembly 140 and interconnector 115. In other embodiments (not shown), switch assembly 120 can be 15 generally associated with right acoustic assembly 160 and incorporated into shroud 116, or switch assembly 120 can be generally associated with plug 112 and incorporated into shroud 114. [0030] The actual position of switch assembly 120 20 can be such that it is placed a predetermined distance .away from acoustic assembly 140 to provide a user with relatively easy access to switch assembly 120 when assembly 140 is located in the user's ear. For example, a switch located near an acoustic assembly may 25 be more readily accessible than a switch located near plug 112 when headset 100 is in use. Moreover, in embodiments where switch assembly 120 includes a microphone, such as microphone 132, switch assembly 120 may be positioned a predetermined distance away from 30 the acoustic assembly (e.g., assembly 140) to maximize reception of a user's voice. [0031] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 in exploded view, for example, switch assembly 120 can be WO 2008/085915 PCT/US2008/000157 - 10 integrated into shroud 118 existing between left acoustic assembly 140 and interconnector 115. Switch assembly 120 can be constructed such that various assembly components (e.g., snap 124, insulator 126, 5 switch 128, circuit board assembly 130, and microphone 132) can be packaged substantially within housing core 134. Housing core 134 can protect the components from damage and may securely retain them therein. 10 [0032] As shown, integrated switch assembly 120 can also include top housing cover 122 and bottom housing cover 136 that may substantially enclose housing core 134 and components 124, 126, 128, 130, and 132. -Illustrations of an assembled switch assembly 120 may 15 be seen, for example, in FIGS. 5-8, which show perspective top, perspective bottom, perspective cross sectional, and horizontal cross-sectional views of an assembled switch assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. As shown, for example, 20 top cover 122 can have one or more protrusions 121 that may snap tightly into passes in snap 124 and core 134, while bottom cover 136 can have one or more protrusions 135 that may snap tightly into passes in - core 134 for encapsulating the other components of 25 assembly 120 between covers 122 and 136. Top and -bottom housing covers 122 and 136 can hide the components contained within switch assembly 120, thereby providing an integrated switch assembly with a switch (e.g., switch 128 of FIGS. 1-3) hidden from 30 view. [0033] In certain embodiments, microphone 132 can be contained within the housing of switch assembly 120 and can be hidden from view like switch 128. As shown in WO 2008/085915 PCT/US2008/000157 - 11 FIGS 3 and 6-8, for example, housing cover 136 can include a through-hole 137 for enabling acoustic signals to be received by microphone 132. The microphone can include two leads (see, e.g., leads 131 5 and 133) that can be electrically and physically coupled to circuit board 130 (e.g., a printed wiring board). Circuit board 130 can be electrically and physically coupled to wires (e.g., a MIC wire 131A and a ground wire 133A) that may extend along cord 10 assembly 110 towards plug 112 connected thereto. Circuit board 130, therefore, can serve as a bridge for electrically coupling leads 131 and 133 from microphone 132 to wires 131A and 133A that can extend within shroud 118 along cord assembly 110 from 15 assembly 120 towards shroud interconnect 115 (and, eventually, plug 112. [0034] Furthermore, in certain embodiments, circuit board 130 can be configured to electrically interact with switch 128 when the switch is depressed and placed 20 in a switch activation position. For example, when switch 128 is activated, the switch can short the two microphone leads (e.g. leads 131 and 133) by applying one or more conductive members to circuit board 130 via one or more contacts 129 in the board. Therefore, in 25 ~certain embodiments, switch 128 of assembly 120 can activate or de-activate microphone 132. Alternatively, switch 128 can change another function of microphone 132 (e.g., changing the sensitivity of the microphone). It is to be understood that two or more 30 switches 128 can be provided to interact with circuit board 130, such that multiple switches may be used by a user to switch various functions of microphone 132 jointly.

WO 2008/085915 PCT/US2008/000157 - 12 [0035] An advantage of switch assembly 120 is that the assembly itself can be squeezed by a user to execute a switch activation event (which may be performed when switch 128 is depressed). That is, 5 there may be no need to provide a discrete switch that protrudes, for example, from a housing to enable a user to execute a switch activation event. Thus, incorporating switch 128 within housing covers 122 and 136 can provide a switch assembly that is easy to 10 use and that is aesthetically pleasing. [0036] For example, in certain embodiments, switch 128 of integrated switch assembly 120 can be activated when the housing is squeezed. For example, top cover housing 122 can be a flexible housing cover 15 that, when depressed, can engage switch 128 (in certain embodiments, via snap 124) contained within housing core 134. When engaged, switch 128 can move or "snap" to a switch activation position within assembly 120. When the housing of assembly 120 is no longer squeezed, 20 switch 128 (and in certain embodiments, snap 124) can return to a standby position within assembly 120, as flexible top housing cover 122 may no longer be depressed, and therefore may no longer engage switch 128. Thus, the housing of assembly 120 can hide 25 switch 128 from view of the user, thereby providing a small and aesthetically pleasing switch assembly with an unobtrusive profile for an electronic device. [0037] In certain embodiments, integrated switch assembly 120 can include cord assembly fasteners or 30 crimps 170 that securely fix the switch assembly to the cord assembly. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 7-9, a first fastener 170A can secure shroud 18 to assembly 120 and a second fastener 170B can secure WO 2008/085915 PCT/US2008/000157 - 13 shroud 119 to assembly 120. In addition, fasteners 170 can be located within the housing of switch assembly 120, thereby making cord assembly 110 appear integrated with the switch housing. This can provide 5 an aesthetically pleasing appearance and also can make switch assembly 120 appear as a relatively non-descript and seamless extension of cord assembly 110. [0038] For example, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 7-9, certain wires of cord assembly 110 (e.g., positive 10 wire 141 and ground wire 143) can be routed from left acoustic assembly 140 and shroud 119, through switch assembly 120 via fasteners 170A and 170B, and into shroud 118 towards shroud interconnect 115 and plug 112 without interfering with switch 128 or any other 15 component of assembly 120. In other embodiments, however, one or more wires routed from plug 112 towards left acoustic assembly 140 (e.g., wires 141 and 143) can be electrically and physically coupled to board 130, such that, when switch 128 is activated, the 20 switch can change a function of left acoustic assembly 140. In yet another embodiment, switch 128 of assembly 120 can change another function of the device coupled to plug 112 by shorting other leads running from board 130 towards plug 112 that are independent of 25 microphone 132 and left acoustic assembly 140. [0039] FIG. 1A is an illustrative simplified schematic diagram of headset system 100 having switch assembly 120 configured such that switch 128 can change a function of microphone 132. System 100 can be 30 implemented with any suitable electronic device, such as, for example, an audio and/or video device (e.g., a portable music player, such as an iPodM available by Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, California), a WO 2008/085915 PCT/US2008/000157 - 14 communication device (e.g., a cellular telephone), a personal media device that may include telephone communication and digital music player capabilities, or any other electronic device that can operate in 5 connection with a switch. System 100 will now be described in the context of a circuit coupled to a cellular telephone, but it will be understood that this is merely illustrative and that system 100 can be coupled to any other suitable device. 10 [0040] As shown in FIG. 1A, for example, and as described above, system 100 can include plug 112, left acoustic assembly 140, right acoustic assembly 160, and microphone 132 that can be activated by switch 128 of switch assembly 120. Plug 112, which can be plugged 15 into a cellular telephone (not shown), includes four sections: left channel section L, right channel section R, microphone section MIC, and ground section GND. Wires can connect right acoustic assembly 160 to right channel section R and ground 20 section GND. Wires (e.g., wires 141 and 143) can connect left acoustic assembly 140 to left channel section L and ground GND. Wires (e.g., wires 131A and 133A) can connect microphone 132 to microphone section MIC and ground GND via switch 128. In some 25 embodiments, switch 128 can be coupled to each of the wires connecting microphone 132 to plug 112 (not shown). [0041] The cellular telephone coupled to circuit 100 can respond to signals that are provided by switch 128 30 in any suitable manner. For example, when switch 128 is in a closed switch position, software implemented on the cellular telephone may detect the presence of a signal provided through microphone section MIC of WO 2008/085915 PCT/US2008/000157 - 15 plug 112. The software may process the signal and determine that microphone 132 has been activated. The cellular telephone can then transmit the sounds (e.g. the voices) picked up by microphone 132 over the 5 cellular connection to another cellular telephone. As another example, when switch 128 is in the open switch position, the software implemented on the cellular telephone may determine that no signals are received in microphone section MIC and turn off the microphone 10 function of the cellular telephone. A more detailed description of how the cellular telephone responds to actuation of a switch can be found in commonly assigned U.S. Patent Application No. __, filed __ (attorney docket no. 104677-0040), which is incorporated by 15 reference herein in its entirety. [0042] While there have been described headsets with integrated switches, it is to be understood that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For 20 example, it is to be understood that, although switch assembly 120 has been described as being integrated into a wired headset 100 including one or more acoustic assemblies, switch assembly 120 of the present invention may be integrated into any suitable wired 25 peripheral assembly system having any number of various types of peripheral assemblies, such as a camera. It will also be understood that various directional and orientational terms such as "top" and "bottom," and the like are used herein only for convenience, and that no 30 fixed or absolute directional or orientational limitations are intended by the use of these words. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention can be practiced by other than the described WO 2008/085915 PCT/US2008/000157 - 16 embodiments, which are presented for purposes of illustration rather than of limitation, and the invention is limited only by the claims which follow.

Claims (20)

1. A system including: a cord assembly; and a switch assembly integrated along the cord assembly, the switch assembly including: a core; a first switch; a second switch; a microphone; a top housing cover coupled to the core; and a bottom housing cover coupled to the core, wherein the top housing cover, the bottom housing cover, and the core hide the first switch, the second switch, and the microphone, wherein a first portion of the top housing cover and a first portion of the bottom housing cover are configured to be squeezed to engage the first switch, and wherein a second portion of the top housing cover and a second portion of the bottom housing cover are configured to be squeezed to engage the second switch.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein: the core includes a retaining region extending between a first core end region and a second core end region; the top housing cover extends between a first top housing end region and a second top housing end region; and the external surface of the first top housing end region lies in the same plane as the external surface of the first core end region.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein: the bottom housing cover extends between a first bottom housing end region and a second bottom housing end region; and 1000959637 -18 the external surface of the first bottom housing end region lies in the same plane as the external surface of the first core end region and as the external surface of the first top housing end region.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein: the core includes a retaining region extending between a first core end region and a second core end region; the switch assembly is integrated along the cord assembly between a first portion of the cord assembly and a second portion of the cord assembly; the system further includes a first crimp that fixes the first portion of the cord assembly to the switch assembly; the first portion of the cord assembly passes through an opening in the first core end region; and the first crimp is positioned between the first core end region and the second core end region.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein: the core includes a retaining region extending between a first core end region and a second core end region; at least a portion of the first switch is positioned within a first portion of the retaining region; and the first switch is positioned between the core and at least one of the top housing cover and the bottom housing cover.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein: the core includes a retaining region extending between a first core end region and a second core end region; at least a portion of the microphone is positioned within a first portion of the retaining region; and 1000959637 -19 the microphone is positioned between the core and at least one of the top housing cover and the bottom housing cover.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein: the core includes a retaining region extending between a first core end region and a second core end region; and at least a portion of one of the microphone and the first switch is retained the core within a first portion of the retaining region.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the top housing cover is configured to be squeezed towards the bottom housing cover.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the top housing cover is configured to be squeezed to engage the first switch.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the switch assembly further includes a snap positioned between the top housing cover and the first switch.

11. A wired headset including: a cord assembly; and an switch assembly integrated along the cord assembly, the switch assembly including: a core; a first switch; a microphone; a top housing cover coupled to the core; and a bottom housing cover coupled to the core, wherein the top housing cover, the bottom housing cover, and the core hide the first switch and the microphone, wherein the top housing cover extends the length of the switch assembly, and wherein 1000959637 -20 the switch assembly is free of a discrete element protruding through the top housing cover.

12. The wired headset of claim 11, wherein the top housing cover is configured to be depressed to engage the first switch.

13. The wired headset of claim 11, wherein the bottom housing cover extends the length of the switch assembly, and wherein the switch assembly is free of a discrete element protruding through the bottom housing cover.

14. A wired headset including: a plug; an acoustic assembly; a cord assembly coupled to the plug and the acoustic assembly; and a switch assembly integrated with the cord assembly, wherein the acoustic assembly is electrically coupled to the plug via a first wire of the cord assembly that passes through the switch assembly, the switch assembly including: a core; a housing cover coupled to the core; a first switch that is within the core and that is activated in response to a depression event of the housing cover; a microphone within the core; and a circuit board including first and second contacts within the core, wherein: the housing cover encloses the first switch; the first switch electrically couples the first and second contacts during the depression event; and 1000959637 -21 the microphone is electrically coupled to at least one of the first and second contacts.

15. The wired headset of claim 14, wherein the switch assembly splices a portion of the cord assembly.

16. The wired headset of claim 14, wherein the microphone is electrically coupled to the plug and the first switch.

17. The wired headset of claim 14, wherein the housing cover includes: a top cover fixed to a first side of the core; and a bottom cover fixed to a second side of the core.

18. The wired headset of claim 17, wherein the top cover flexibly engages the first switch during the depression event.

19. The wired headset of claim 17, wherein the bottom cover includes a hole located proximal to the microphone.

20. The wired headset of claim 14, wherein the housing cover includes: a top cover coupled to the core; and a bottom cover coupled to the core.