Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
  • H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
  • H04M1/04—Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
  • H04M1/05—Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
  • H04R2201/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones covered by H04R1/00 but not provided for in any of its subgroups
  • H04R2201/10—Details of earpieces, attachments therefor, earphones or monophonic headphones covered by H04R1/10 but not provided for in any of its subgroups
  • H04R2201/107—Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
  • H04R5/00—Stereophonic arrangements
  • H04R5/033—Headphones for stereophonic communication
  • H04R5/0335—Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a telephone handset which can be transformed into a telephone headset, which does not require the telephone handset to be held in the hand and which allows great listening and transmission comfort.
• wireless telephone headsets comprising, in addition to the microphone and the earphones, a transmitter-box generally fixed to the belt of the user.
• the transmitter box is bulky and, again, this kind of device assumes that, from the call signal, we proceed to the prior installation of the headset and its adjustment, even for a conversation of a few seconds.
• the two devices are very distinct:
• the device In the closed position, the device has a compact appearance and can be used with one hand, just like a traditional mode telephone, for example for a very short conversation.
• This telephone handset is therefore intended for both individuals and professionals because it does not require the prior installation of the headset and its adjustment before picking up the line. It can be adapted to analog and digital technologies as well.
• the invention offers an alternative use possibility by combining two integrated solutions into a single compact volume.
• a homogeneous telephone handset for conventional use on the other hand a handset deployed as a headset.
• the telephone handset transforms into a telephone headset, this easily and without disturbing or interrupting the broadcast or hearing. It then allows the user to have both hands.
• the position in headset mode due to the application of headphones on each ear, allows a very significant improvement in listening comfort especially in a noisy environment thanks to the double hearing and the covering of the ears.
• the invention is adapted to the anatomy of the head so that the two earphones are perfectly positioned vis-à-vis the ears and that the pressure exerted by the spring effect of the connecting element keeps the helmet in place. good balance on the head.
• the branches are not round but have an elliptical profile studied according to the shape of the skull. It is the association of the rotation with the length adjustment of the branches of the helmet which allows adaptation to the anatomy of the head in a simple, rapid manner. It is not necessary to raise the hands higher than the ears, reducing the difficulty of the gesture for many people, especially the elderly.
• the distance between the ear and the base of the neck does not exceed ten centimeters, the dimensions of the handset of the invention take it into account between its earpiece and its lower end so that the device does not touch the neck of the user in headset mode.
• the branches are retracted into sliding chambers formed respectively in the main housing and in the movable housing, so that the arrows of the curves of the branches are significantly reduced, compared to the arrows of the curves formed by the arms in helmet position, thus reducing the thickness of the handset and its general curvature.
• the articulation means is a rotation hub allowing a relative rotation of at least 180 ° of said housings, around an axis oriented substantially radially with respect to the curved branches.
• the mobile unit includes a second earpiece.
• the articulation means then contains means of electrical transmission between wires passing through the branches.
• the articulation means comprises means for adjusting the relative position of the branches.
• the microphone can be mounted mobile on the main housing, by a pivot axis, a ball joint or a flexible rod.
• the microphone can also be secured to the main housing and a second articulation means provided between a first of the branches and a slide housed in the main housing.
• the second articulation means comprises either a ball joint or an axis of rotation inclined towards the inside of the first curved branch, relative to a radial direction with respect to said branch.
• FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the telephone handset according to the invention in the open position
• FIG. 3 represents a section along A- A of the rotation hub
• FIGS. 3a and 3b represent a perspective view of the open rotation hub
• FIG. 3c is a perspective view of the rotation hub in the closed position
• FIG. 4 shows a side view of the telephone handset placed on its telephone base.
• FIG. 5 shows a front view of a second embodiment
• - Figure 6a shows a side view in the closed position of the device of Figure 5
• Figure 6b in the open position
• 6c in the open position
• Figures 6d and e compare the curves of the branches
• - Figures 7a, b, c, d show different types of rotary microphones
• FIG. 8a and 8b show a detailed view of the means of articulation of the handset relative to the connecting element;
• - Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the telephone handset according to Figure 5 in the opening start position, from the back.
• Figures 1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the invention.
• the telephone handset according to the invention can be either in the closed position (or combined position) as illustrated in FIGS. 1a and 1b, or in the open position (or headset position) as illustrated in FIG. 2. It comprises a main housing 10 and a movable box 12 connected together by a connecting element 14 as will be seen later.
• the main housing 10 conventionally comprises a key keyboard 16, a microphone 18, an earpiece 20, and may also include a liquid crystal display 23 (FIGS. 1a and 1b).
• the main unit can also be fitted with voice recognition technology.
• the main unit 10 has a rechargeable internal battery 17 or exchangeable.
• the mobile unit 12 mainly comprises a second earpiece
• This antenna would obviously not be necessary if the telephone conoiné was a conventional system connected by wire to the telephone network, or if a device allowed the branches to serve as antenna, or any other device concealing the antenna inside the boxes.
• the movable housing 12 In the closed position, or combined position, the movable housing 12 is positioned against the pr_r.c ⁇ pal housing 10 in a sort of housing 15 provided for this effect and which is at the rear or on the side (not shown) of the main housing 10.
• the spring effect of the outer branch 28 allows it to be held in this housing thus blocking rotation.
• the handset is then compact in the hand, as if there were only one element and can then be used with one hand like a conventional telephone handset.
• the earpiece of the handset is then placed against the auditory pavilion of one or the other ear of the user.
• the connecting element 14 is composed of two branches 26 and 28 connected by an articulation means 30 which is here a rotation hub (fig. 2, 3, 3a, 3b, 3c).
• the branch 26 is secured to the main housing 10 while the branch 28 is secured to the movable housing 12.
• the two branches are flexible and have a length adjustment system 25 so that the assembly can adapt to different sizes of head of the users in the open position and also reducing the overall length of the branches, in the closed position. Indeed, in the latter case, the branches 26 and 28 are partially retracted, by sliding, in the housings 10 and 12.
• the telephone handset In the open position, or in the headset position, the telephone handset is held on the user's head only by the pressure effect of the flexible branches of the headset. It allows you to have your hands completely available and complete freedom of movement. The fact that the largest mass is located below the ear, when used in headset mode, and not between the two arms, clearly improves the good holding of the headset on the head especially when the user leans head forward.
• the rechargeable or exchangeable batteries can be distributed in the main box and the mobile box.
• the two branches 26, 28 In the open position, the two branches 26, 28 are placed in the extension of one another and taken out of the housings 10, 12.
• the hinge means 30 is a rotation hub shown in Figures 3 and 3b. It includes a branch position adjustment system. It is provided with a spring 34 which applies sufficient force to maintain the branches 28 in the closed or open positions by means of positioning notches. An adjustment screw 31 improves this pressure. This screw can also only be used for fixing.
• This hub may contain only part of these different elements, as in FIG. 3b for example.
• the hub contains one or more washers
• the electrical wires can be any electrical wires 29 passing through the branches, as well as one or more pads 32 which rub on the washers as illustrated in Figure 3.
• the electrical wires can be any electrical wires
• This hub could have any other electrical or electronic system allowing a contact allowing the complete rotation of the branches such as transmission by infrared contactors 36, for example (FIG. 3c).
• the thickness of the hub allows the two arms to be separated by a few millimeters, avoiding the scissor effect in the hair.
• branch 28 and the mobile housing can pivot:
• the articulation means may not contain electrical contactors, if the sound transmission between the main box and the earpiece of the mobile box is not by wires, but by waves. For example radio waves (FM), or infrared waves.
• FM radio waves
• an independent battery in the mobile unit supplies the wave receiver.
• the articulation means 30 is preferably a rotation hub, provision can be made to install a ball joint allowing the articulation of the branches between them in any direction around the point of articulation and not only in a single rotation plane (not shown). With such a ball joint, one could deploy the branch 28 of the helmet over the head to pass from the closed position to the open position without passing it in front of the face of the user.
• the microphone 18, mounted on a rod 70, is also adjustable, as illustrated in FIGS. 1a, 1b and 2 where it pivots around an axis 37 integrated in the main housing. To orient it towards the lips of the user, it suffices to undergo a rotary movement of the microphone. It is therefore possible for the user to grab the handset with the right hand as well. although with the left hand.
• the rotation of the microphone could be used for line seizure, this rotation can pass from the position "OFF" to the position "ON".
• the microphone rod 70 in the closed position can be stored, by rotation, in a housing provided for this effect, either on the inside (fig. 1a, 1b and 2) or outside of the combination if the said rotation hub is placed on the outside of the main box, or in a housing embedded in the thickness of the main box when the rotation hub 72 is invisible, that is to say inside the main housing as shown in FIGS. 7a and b.
• the telescopic microphone rod, straight or curved 70 is mounted on a slide 73 which moves in a slide 78 inside the main housing 10A, allowing the microphone to go out or fully in, up to a stop 76, in the axis 77 of the main housing.
• a rotation hub 79 At the inner end of the rod 70 is a rotation hub 79 making it possible to pivot the microphone, once it has come out, along the axis 37A, on one side or the other of the main housing according to where the mouth.
• a spring 75 mounted on the slide 73 and triggered by a button (not shown) allows the rod 70 to be ejected from the microphone and possibly the line socket by electrical contact (not shown) on the stop 76.
• the power supply of the microphone is done by wires and by contactors located in the rotation hub 79.
• a door (a cover) for protecting the keys of the keyboard 16 is released from the body of the main housing then slides or rotates, in one or more planes thanks to a pivoting hub releasing the access to the keyboard.
• This door contains the microphone and the wires which feed it, and is placed in the open position of a side or other of the main housing to be closer to the mouth.
• the microphone can be taken out automatically by pressing a button which triggers a spring mechanism allowing the microphone to slide or pivot from its housing towards the outside, in a position of use.
• FIGS 5 to 9 show a second embodiment of the invention. All the components of this second embodiment which correspond to components similar to the first embodiment, are designated by the same references, with the addition of the suffix "A". In addition, the characteristics and operation of this second embodiment of the invention are similar to the details given in the explanation of the first embodiment, with the exceptions indicated below.
• Figures 5 to 9 show a telephone handset transformable into a telephone headset, in which the mobile housing 12A and the connecting elements 14A adjustable in length 25A, are connected to the main housing 10A by several articulation means 30A, 80 making it possible to place them along the main housing, either on the side or in a preferred manner, on the rear face of the housing 10A, to reduce the size of the handset.
• the connecting element 14A is composed of two branches 26A and 28A connected by several means of articulations 30A and 80 (see fig. 6b, c, d, e and 8a and b) which are here two rotation hubs (fig. 3 or 3a, b, c and 8a).
• the branch 26A is privilegedly connected to a slide 81, received in the main housing 10A, by means of a rotation hub 80 (fig. 8a) while the branch 28A is able to slide in the mobile housing 12A without rotation.
• the two branches 26A and 28A are interconnected by at least one articulation means 30A. These two branches are flexible with spring effect and have a length adjustment system 25A so that the assembly can adapt to the different head sizes of the users in the open position and also significantly reduces the overall length of the branches. , in the closed position.
• the deployment of the helmet can also be done in three stages (which can be simultaneous):
• step N ° 3 of the deployment will be replaced by the output of the rotary microphone, for example by actuating an automatic ejection mechanism of spring type mounted on a rod 75 represented in FIG. 7d, by a button, and its adjustment as close as possible to the mouth.
• Figure 6c shows the sliding chambers 60 and 61, the branches 26A and 28A out.
• the inner blade 26A of the connecting element slides in a sliding chamber 60 at the back of the main housing 10A, thus reducing the overall length of the branches, in the closed position.
• This sliding chamber 60 constrains the spring effect of the blade to make it flatter (see FIGS. 6d and 6e), thus reducing the deflection of the curve of the branch 26A, relative to the deflection of the curve of this same branch in helmet position.
• the thickness of the housing main is thus reduced as well as its general curvature.
• the outer blade 28A of the connecting element slides in a sliding chamber 61 in the movable case, thus reducing the overall length of the branches, in the closed position.
• This sliding chamber 61 constrains the spring effect of the blade to make it flatter, thereby reducing the deflection of the branch 28A, relative to the deflection of the curve of this same branch in the helmet position.
• the thickness of the movable housing 12A is therefore also reduced, as well as its general curvature giving the whole of the handset a lesser thickness and a generally flattened curvature.
• FIGS. 6d and 6e make it possible to compare the curves of the branches 26A and 28A constrained in their sliding chambers in FIG. 6d and the blades spring out at rest once they have left their sliding chambers in FIG. 6e, the slide 81 remaining in the same position.
• the pressure of the branches will be sufficient for a good maintenance of the helmet on the head, even if the user bends head forward or backward.
• FIG. 8a shows the means of articulation 80 of the inner branch 26A with the slide 81, which makes it possible to tilt by rotation on one side or another the main housing relative to the inner connecting element 26A for the 18A microphone adjustment, located in the lower part of the housing main 10A, closest to the mouth.
• the plane of the axis of rotation 82 is not in the extension of the curve of the branch 26A.
• the slide 81 has its own curve in its lower part, followed by an angle and a small straight part 85b ⁇ s through which also passes the axis of rotation 82.
• FIG. 8b shows a variant of the change of plane by an axis of rotation:
• a hinge ball 80 can be provided along a displacement plane 87 of the slide 81 mounted in the main housing 10A.
• This displacement plane 87 is calculated to have a movement useful for bringing the microphone closer to the mouth without thereby weakening the pressure of the branches on the ears.
• the slide 81 includes electrical contactors 84 which rub on electrical rods 83 located in the sliding chamber 60.
• FIG. 9 represents a perspective view from the back of the partially open device.
• a longitudinal housing 91 is arranged on the back of the main housing 10A to receive the external connecting element 12A in the closed position.
• This housing 91 is deeper 15A in the part opposite the earpiece of the mobile housing. It allows, once it is placed inside, thanks to the spring effect of the outer branch 28A, to keep it positioned in this housing thus avoiding any unwanted rotation.
• the handset is then compact, as if there were only one element and the device can then be used with one hand like a conventional telephone handset.
• the earpiece of the handset is then placed against the auditory pavilion of one or the other ear of the user.
• the antenna will preferably be integrated into the body of the handset or may be located either from the handset or from the mobile unit.
• the purpose of these various technical innovations is to respond effectively to the current need for miniaturization of telephone handsets, by making the use of hands completely free and improved hearing when used in headset mode.
• the telephone handset, with or without cord can be placed on a base when not in use.
• This telephone base 40 illustrated in side view in FIG. 4, has a base 42 which keeps it in an inclined position so that the telephone handset placed on the base can be easily grasped by the user.
• the base 40 has its own keypad 44 making it possible to dial a call number without lifting the handset or having already the device in hand or on the head.
• This base can also be equipped with voice recognition technology.
• the base 40 can have all the characteristics found on a current base, that is to say a line switch. , amplified listening by loudspeaker, the possibility of communicating without picking up the handset (mode: "hands-free"), the automatic recharging of the batteries of the set when it is put down, memorization of telephone numbers, modulation the ringer and optional answering machine, and the liquid crystal screen allowing the display of telephone functions.

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

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ID=9490833

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• 1996
  • 1996-03-28 FR FR9604136A patent/FR2746997B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1997
  • 1997-03-27 KR KR1019980707724A patent/KR20000005092A/ko active IP Right Grant
  • 1997-03-27 US US09/000,354 patent/US6055312A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1997-03-27 EP EP97919431A patent/EP0890248A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1997-03-27 WO PCT/FR1997/000556 patent/WO1997037480A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 1997-03-27 AU AU23912/97A patent/AU713757B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1997-03-27 RU RU98119540/09A patent/RU2161376C2/ru active
  • 1997-03-27 CN CN97194797A patent/CN1219317A/zh active Pending
  • 1997-03-27 CA CA002250359A patent/CA2250359A1/fr not_active Abandoned
  • 1997-03-27 BR BR9708377-1A patent/BR9708377A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1997-03-27 JP JP9534981A patent/JP2000507760A/ja active Pending

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