GB2366117A

GB2366117A - Hands-free accessory with acoustic link

Info

Publication number: GB2366117A
Application number: GB0030906A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Graystone; Charles Douglas Warren
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-08-19
Filing date: 2000-12-19
Publication date: 2002-02-27
Also published as: GB0020421D0; GB0030906D0

Abstract

The earphone 14 of a personal handsfree device for a radiotelephone is coupled to a user's ear by means of a hollow sound collection means 10, an acoustic tube 11 and an earpiece 12. The tube may include flexible joints (19, fig 7). In an alternative embodiment the earphone (14, fig 4) and microphone (16, fig 4) are built into an adaptor (17, fig 4) connected to the body of the mobile telephone. In another embodiment (see figs 5, 6) the user's voice may be carried by a further acoustic tube lying beside or inside the first tube.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE PERSONAL HANDS FREE AUDIO INTERFACE This invention relates to a personal hands free audio interface for a communications device, such as a mobile phone.

Personal hands free headsets are well known communications device accessories, which allow the use of the communications device without the need to hold the body of the device to the user's ear, freeing up the user's hands. According to the present invention there is provided a sound transfer tube to collect the audio sound from a sound transducer, via a hollow sound collection device and transfer it to a hollow audio earpiece without the use of metallic radio frequency conducting materials. The sound transfer tube is long enough to keep all necessary metallic radio frequency conducting parts away from the user's head.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows the personal hands free audio interface: Figure 2 illustrates the hollow audio earpiece (one shown in section) fitted with the sound transfer tube; Figure 3 shows sections of the hollow sound collection device and the sound transfer tube; Figure 4 shows alternative connector-mounted sound transducer and microphone; Figure 5 shows two sound transfer tubes in section mounted side by side;

Figure 6 shows two sound transfer tubes in section, one mounted inside the other; and Figure 7 shows a swivel or flexible joint between the sound transfer tube and the hollow audio earpiece.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 to 7, a hollow audio earpiece 12 is connected to a sound transfer tube 11. The sound transfer tube 11 is in turn connected to a hollow sound collection device 10 which collects audible sound from a sound transducer (e.g. speaker) 14. The device has a connecting cable 13, a microphone 16 and is attached to a communications device body 15 by a connector 17.

The hollow audio earpiece 12 is inserted into the ear and is provided with one or more holes to allow the audible sound to pass into the ear. The earpiece may be provided with a foam, fabric or similar cover for the comfort of the user. The length of the sound transfer tube 11 is such that the radio frequencies radiating from the sound transducer, microphone and connecting cable are positioned away from the user's head. The microphone 16 may be located on the sound tube 11 for support.

The sound collection device 10 can be made as a permanent attachment to the sound transducer 14 or be a retrofit attachment to fit existing personal hands free devices.

The hollow sound collection device 10 (see Figure 3) collects the audio sound from the sound transducer's resonating diaphragm (or cone) 18 and focuses it into the end of the sound transfer tube 11. The sound then passes along the sound transfer tube to the hollow audio earpiece and directly into the user's ear. The connecting cable 13 may be provided with screening and/or other RF suppression measures to further reduce transmitted radio frequency signals.

For comfort and convenience, a swivel or flexible joint 19 (refer to Figure 7) may be used within the assembly of the hollow audio earpiece, sound transfer tube and/or sound collection device. This will enable the device to have greater freedom of movement without the hollow audio earpiece becoming dislodged from the user's ear during use.

The microphone 16 and sound transducer 14 may be both located in a common unit / housing assembly.

The sound transducer 14 may be housed in the connector 17 as an alternative to being connecting cable mounted. The sound transfer tube 11 will in this case be longer in order that the communications device body 15 can be sited at an appropriate distance from the user (See figure 4).

The sound transducer 14 and the microphone 16 may both be housed in the connector 17 (See figure 4).

The communications device body 15 may be provided with a sound transfer duct, which transfers the audio sound from its built in speaker to a port onto / into which the sound transfer tube 11 connects and is secured by means of an adapter.

This connection may be at any convenient location on the communications device's body.

The communications device body 15 may be provided with a sound transfer duct, which transfers the audio sound from its built in speaker to a port onto / into which the sound transfer tube 11 connects and is secured by means of an adapter. And in addition the users voice may be transmitted to a microphone built into the communications device in a similar way by tube. In this case a second sound transfer tube could connect the user's voice directly into the microphone, thus improving voice pickup or a common tube could be used for both microphone and sound transducer. These connection(s) may be located at any convenient location on the communications device's body. If two tubes are used they may be positioned / secured side by side (refer to figure 5) or may be located one inside

the other (refer to Figure 6) to effectively form a single connection between the user and the communications device body.

The audio earpiece may include a boom-mounted support for the microphone sound transfer tube. The assembly may be attached to the user's head by a clip arrangement, which fits around and behind the ear to secure the earpiece into the user's ear, or by any other attachment method.

In a similar way the hollow audio earpiece and microphone ducts could be incorporated into a helmet, fashion (e.g. baseball cap) or any other headgear. Depending on the design of the helmet or headgear, a detachable connection between the helmet or headgear itself [incorporating sound duct(s)], and the remaining parts of the personal hands free audio interface would be positioned for convenience.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A personal hands free audio interface for a communications device, which incorporates a device to transfer sound to an ear(s), a device to collect sound from a sound transducer and a means to transfer sound between the two devices without the use of electrically conductive components.
2. An audio interface, as claimed in Claim 1, where the device to transfer sound to an ear(s) is replaced by one or more hollow audio earpiece(s).
3. An audio interface, as claimed in any preceding claim, where the device to collect sound from a sound transducer is replaced by a hollow sound collection device.
4. An audio interface, as claimed in any preceding claim, where the means to transfer sound between the hollow sound collection device and the hollow audio earpiece(s) is replaced by a sound transfer tube.
5. An audio interface, as claimed in any preceding claim, where the hollow audio earpiece, sound transfer tube and hollow sound collection device are attached, permanently or otherwise, to a connecting cable (or wire) mounted sound transducer and microphone which in turn connects to the communications device's body.
6. An audio interface, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sound transfer tube is a retro fit attachment to any existing sound transducer.
7. An audio interface, as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the microphone, sound transducer and I or connecting cable, or wires, may also have radio frequency screening or other suppression methods.
8. An audio interface, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein one or more swivel or flexible joints are included within the assembly.

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9. An audio interface, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sound transducer is housed in the connector 17, which attaches directly to the communications device body; the sound transfer tube 11 connects the hollow audio earpiece 12 directly to the connector 17 without the use of cable(s) or wires.
10. An audio interface, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sound transducer and microphone are housed in the connector 17, which attaches directly to the communications device body; the sound transfer tube(s) 11 connect(s) the hollow audio earpiece 12 to the sound transducer 14, and transfers the users voice directly from a mouthpiece to the microphone 16, within connector 17, without the use of connecting cable(s) or wires.
11. An audio interface, as claimed in any preceding claim, utilising a sound transfer device and audio earpiece; which is connected directly to the communications device body; the communications device body having an audio signal duct from its internal sound transducer to the sound transfer connection point as part of its construction.
12. An audio interface, as claimed in any preceding claim, utilising a sound transfer device and audio earpiece; which is connected directly to the communications device body; the sound transfer device(s) connect(s) the audio earpiece to the sound transducer and transfers the users voice from a mouthpiece, directly to the microphone, without the use of connecting cable(s) or wires, the communications device body having audio signal duct(s) from its internal sound transducer and internal microphone to external sound transfer tube connection point(s) as part of its construction.
13. An audio interface, as claimed in any preceding claim, utilising a sound transfer device and audio earpiece; which is connected by an adapter to the communications device body.
14. An audio interface, as claimed in any preceding claim, utilising a sound transfer device and audio earpiece; which is connected by an adapter to the

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communications device body; the sound transfer device(s) connect(s) the audio earpiece to the sound transducer and transfers the users voice from a mouthpiece, directly to the microphone, without the use of connecting cable(s) or wires.
15. An audio interface, as claimed in any preceding claim, utilising a boom- mounted support for the mouthpiece; the assembly may be attached to the user's head / ear by any attachment method.
16. An audio interface, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the audio earpiece and mouthpiece, including sound transfer devices are incorporated into a helmet, fashion headgear or other headgear; a detachable connection between the helmet or headgear and the communications device could additionally be provided.
17. An audio interface, as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a number of sound transfer devices are utilised either separately, side by side, within each other or in any other combination.
18. A personal hands free audio interface for a communications device substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.