US007130654B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`US 7,130,654 B2
`(10) Patent N0.:
`
` Cho (45) Date of Patent: Oct. 31, 2006
`
`
`(54) WIRELESS HEADSET HAVING A LOCAL
`AREA COMMUNICATION MODULE AND
`BEING DETACHABLE FROM A
`COMMUNICATION DEVICE
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor:
`
`Sung-Woo Cho; Suwon-shi (KR)
`
`(73) Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (KR)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer; the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 341 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 10/753,824
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Jan. 8, 2004
`
`(52) US. Cl.
`
`............................... 455/5501; 455/5751;
`455/903; 455/569.2; 455/347; 379/428.02
`(58) Field of Classification Search ............. 455/5501;
`455/575.179; 403; 379; 347; 90.3; 569.2
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,943,627 A *
`2002/0067825 A1*
`
`............... 455/5691
`8/1999 Kim et al.
`6/2002 Baranowski et a1.
`........ 379/430
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary ExamineriNick Corsaro
`Assistant Examinerisayed T. Zewari
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or FirmiDilworth & Barrese LLP
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`US 2004/0242264 A1
`
`Dec. 2; 2004
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
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`Jan. 9; 2003
`
`(KR)
`
`...................... 10-2003-0001455
`
`Disclosed is a wireless headset apparatus using a local area
`communication; comprising an attachment recess formed at
`a designated position of a communication equipment; and a
`wireless headset detachably attached to the attachment
`recess.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. C1.
`H04M 1/00
`
`(2006.01)
`
`11 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
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`APPLE 1047
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`US 7,130,654 B2
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`1
`WIRELESS HEADSET HAVING A LOCAL
`AREA COMMUNICATION MODULE AND
`BEING DETACHABLE FROM A
`COMMUNICATION DEVICE
`
`PRIORITY
`
`This application claims priority to an application entitled
`“WIRELESS HEADSET APPARATUS”,
`filed in the
`Korean Industrial Property Office on Jan. 9, 2003 and
`assigned Ser. No. 2003-01455, the contents of which are
`hereby incorporated by reference.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention relates to a wireless headset appa-
`ratus, and more particularly to a wireless headset apparatus
`detachably attached to a communication equipment using a
`local area communication module.
`
`2. Description of the Related Art
`Conventionally, as communication equipment such as a
`portable terminal, a computer, and electric appliances such
`as personal digital assistants (PDAs), or acoustic equipment
`such as portable radios, CD players and DVD players have
`been miniaturized, wireless headsets in wireless connection
`with the communication equipment at a close range have
`become widely used. Such a wireless headset, which is
`connected to the communication equipment at a close range
`Via a wireless network, employs a BlueTooth (BT) system as
`a local area wireless communication standard so as to
`achieve bi-directional real-time communication without a
`
`complex wire connection.
`For this purpose, a separate local area communication
`module, for example a chip type module, has come into wide
`use. As shown in FIG. 1, a local area communication module
`51 is installed within the communication equipment, i.e., a
`portable terminal 50. Further, another local area communi-
`cation module 14 is installed within a wireless headset 10.
`
`Therefore, a communication signal is bi-directionally trans-
`mitted and received between the portable terminal 50 and
`the wireless headset 10 using the two local area communi-
`cation modules 51 and 14, respectively. As shown in FIG. 2,
`in the case where the local area communication module 41
`
`is an external type, an interface module 40 for local area
`communication is additionally required and connected to the
`portable terminal 50. In FIG. 1, the wireless headset 10
`comprises a microphone 11, a speaker 12, a communication
`on/olf switch 13, and the local area communication module
`14 installed within a main body of the wireless headset 10.
`A rod 20 provided with the microphone 11 at its lower end
`is installed at an lower surface of the main body of the
`wireless headset 10. The wireless headset 10 further com-
`
`prises a hook 30 worn behind a user’s ear. Further, in order
`to operate the wireless headset 10, a general battery or a
`rechargeable battery 15 is installed in the wireless headset
`10. In case of the rechargeable battery 15, a charger (not
`shown) for charging the rechargeable battery 15 is addition-
`ally provided.
`Since the conventional wireless headset of FIG. 1 uses the
`
`internal local area communication module which is sepa-
`rated from the communication equipment, the wireless head-
`set moves independently of the communication equipment,
`and it has been found that wireless headsets are reluctantly
`used by the communication equipment users. Further, the
`conventional wireless headset shown in FIG. 2 uses the
`external local area communication module embodied in the
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`separate interface module for local area communication so
`as to be connected to the communication equipment, and
`thus the requirement for the extra piece of equipment causes
`inconvenience to users. Moreover, since the communication
`equipment having the internal
`local area communication
`module requires the rechargeable battery installed within the
`wireless headset and the charger for charging the recharge-
`able battery, the rechargeable battery of the wireless headset
`must be charged by the charger whenever the wireless
`headset is used.
`
`Due to the increased use of portable terminals, drivers
`increasingly communicate with a counterpart using the
`terminals while the car they are driving is in motion. The
`drivers’ use of the portable terminal obstructs their driving
`and then prevents the drivers from concentrating their atten-
`tion on driving, thereby frequently causing traffic accidents.
`In order to prevent such accidents, a hands-free device
`separately installed in their cars is required so that the
`drivers may safely use the portable terminal. In particular,
`while driving and using the wireless headset, it is difficult for
`the driver to know the state of an incoming call. It is also
`difficult for the user to know whether the battery of the
`wireless headset needs to be recharged, particularly when
`the user is wearing the headset and participating in a
`telephone call.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of
`the above problems, and it
`is an object of the present
`invention to provide a wireless headset apparatus, in which
`a wireless headset is detachably attached to a communica-
`tion equipment using a local area communication module,
`thereby improving the utility of the wireless headset.
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`wireless headset apparatus provided with a vibrating motor
`for supplying vibration to a wireless headset separated from
`a communication equipment using a local area communica-
`tion module so as to inform a user of an incoming, call,
`thereby widening a sphere of use of the communication
`equipment and the wireless headset.
`It is another of the present invention to provide a wireless
`headset apparatus, in which a wireless headset is, detachably
`attached to a communication equipment using a local area
`communication module, and the wireless headset and the
`communication equipment are simultaneously chargeable,
`thereby allowing the wireless headset to be easily charged.
`It is yet another of the present invention to provide a
`wireless headset apparatus, in which a wireless headset is
`detachably attached to a communication equipment using a
`local area communication module, thereby being used as
`hands-free means by a driver in driving.
`In accordance with the present invention, the above and
`other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a
`wireless headset apparatus comprising an attachment recess
`formed on a designated position of a communication equip-
`ment, and a wireless headset detachably attached to the
`attachment recess.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The above and other objects, features and other advan-
`tages of the present invention will be more clearly under-
`stood from the following detailed description taken in con-
`junction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional wireless
`headset using an internal local area communication module
`while in use;
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`US 7,130,654 B2
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`3
`FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a conventional wireless
`headset using an external local area communication module
`while in use;
`FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a wireless headset appa-
`ratus and portable terminal in accordance with an embodi-
`ment of the present invention where the wireless headset is
`detached from the portable terminal;
`FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion “A” of FIG. 3;
`FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the wireless headset
`apparatus and portable terminal
`in accordance with the
`embodiment of the present
`invention with the wireless
`headset assembled to the portable terminal;
`FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the wireless headset
`apparatus and portable terminal in which the wireless head-
`set is being detached from the portable terminal in accor-
`dance with the embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 7 is an enlarged view ofa portion “B” of FIG. 6; and
`FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the wireless headset
`apparatus and portable terminal while in use in accordance
`with the embodiment of the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will
`be described in detail with reference to the annexed draw-
`
`the same or similar elements are
`ings. In the drawings,
`denoted by the same reference numerals even though they
`are depicted in different drawings. In the following descrip-
`tion, a detailed description of known functions and configu-
`rations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may
`make the subject matter of the present invention unclear.
`As shown in FIGS. 3 to 8, a main body of a wireless
`headset 200 comprises a microphone 201, a speaker grill
`202, and a local area communication module 206. Further,
`a rod 204 provided with the microphone 201 is installed on
`and extends from a lower surface of the wireless headset
`200. A hook 205 to be worn behind a user’s ear is installed
`
`on an upper surface of the wireless headset 200 and extends
`from and retracts into cavity 208. Folder-type portable
`terminal 50 using the wireless headset 200 includes attach-
`ment recess 100 formed at a designated position of the
`folder-type portable terminal 50,
`thereby attaching and
`detaching the wireless headset 200 to and from the portable
`terminal 50. Thai is, the wireless headset 200 is detachably
`attached to portable terminal 50 at the attachment recess
`100, so that when attached, the headset preferably completes
`the external profile of the portable terminal 50, as shown in
`FIG. 5.
`
`The attachment recess 100 has an opened end so that the
`wireless headset 200 may be inserted thereinto. Guide
`grooves 101 are formed along both side surfaces of the
`attachment recess 100, so as to guide the below-described
`guide protrusions 209 formed on both side surfaces of the
`wireless headset 200 when the wireless headset 200 is
`
`attached to the attachment recess 100. Herein, the guide
`grooves 101 are longitudinally formed along the both side
`surfaces of the attachment recess 100. A female connector
`102 is formed at an end wall of the attachment recess 100 so
`
`as to electrically connect the wireless headset 200 to the
`portable terminal 50 as soon as the wireless headset 200 is
`fit into the attachment recess 100. An insertion hole 103 for
`
`accommodating the rod 204 of the wireless headset 200 is
`formed in the same end wall as the female connector 102,
`adjacent to the female connector 102. The female connector
`102 serves to turn on/olf the local area communication
`
`module 206 of the wireless headset 200 according to the
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`attachment and detachment of the wireless headset 200 to
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`and from the portable terminal 50, so that the portable
`terminal 50 can be used in a conventional manner when the
`headset is attached to the terminal as in FIG. 5. The female
`
`connector 102 also electrically connects the wireless headset
`200 to the speaker grill 202 of the folder-type portable
`terminal 50 when the wireless headset 200 is attached into
`the attachment recess 100. Further, the female connector 102
`is connected to a charging line of the folder-type portable
`terminal 50 so that a rechargeable battery 203 installed
`within the wireless headset 200 is charged, as soon as the
`wireless headset 200 is attached into the attachment recess
`100. A male connector 207 is installed on an end wall of the
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`wireless headset 200 so as to be electrically connected and
`fixed to the female connector 102.
`
`Cavity 208 is formed in the other end of the wireless
`headset 200 so that the hook 205 of the wireless headset 200
`
`can be drawn into and out of the cavity 208. Herein, the
`cavity 208 is made of a ductile material with elasticity so
`that the hook 205 may be easily drawn into and out of the
`cavity 208. The guide protrusions 209 are longitudinally
`formed along both side surfaces of the wireless headset 200
`so as to be slid along the guide grooves 101 when the
`wireless headset 200 is attached to and detached from the
`
`attachment recess 100. Further, a vibrating motor 210 is
`further installed within the wireless headset 200, thereby
`receiving an incoming call signal from the communication
`equipment and then supplying a vibration to inform a user of
`an incoming call.
`With continued reference to FIGS. 3 to 8, a process for
`operating the wireless headset apparatus in accordance with
`the preferred embodiment of the present
`invention is
`described in detail, as follows.
`As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the local area communication
`module 51 is installed within a communication equipment
`such as the portable terminal 50, a computer such as a CD
`player, MP3 player, DVD player, portable radio, etc. (not
`shown), and an electronic appliance (not shown), and the
`local area communication module 206 is installed in the
`
`wireless headset 200, thereby bi-directionally transmitting
`and receiving a communication signal between the commu-
`nication equipment and the wireless headset 200.
`In the preferred embodiment, one end of the attachment
`recess 100 is opened. The guide grooves 101 are longitudi-
`nally formed along the both side surfaces of the opened
`attachment recess 100. Therefore, the wireless headset 200
`is attached to portable terminal 50 by sliding guide protru-
`sions 209 into the guide grooves 101.
`The guide protrusions 209 are formed along the both side
`surfaces of the wireless headset 200 so as to be slid along the
`guide grooves 101. Therefore, when the wireless headset
`200 is inserted into the attachment recess 100, the guide
`protrusions 209 are engaged with the guide grooves 101 so
`that the guide protrusions 209 are slid along the guide
`grooves 101. When the wireless headset 200 is inserted into
`the attachment recess 100 by the sliding motion of the guide
`protrusions 209 along the guide grooves 101, the female
`connector 102 is engaged with the male connector 207 of the
`wireless headset 200. In addition, when the wireless headset
`200 is attached into the attachment recess 100, the rod 204
`is inserted into the insertion hole 103.
`
`As shown in FIG. 5, when the female connector 102 is
`connected to the external connection 207,
`the wireless
`headset 200 is fixed to the attachment recess 100. Once the
`
`female connector 102 is electrically connected to the male
`connector 207, the local area communication module 206 of
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`the wireless headset 200 is turned of. Further, the speaker
`grill 202 is electrically connected to the portable terminal 50.
`Since the wireless headset 200 attached to the folder-type
`portable terminal 50 is electrically connected to the charging
`line (not shown) of the terminal 50, when the folder-type
`portable terminal 50 is charged, the rechargeable battery 203
`installed within the wireless headset 200 is simultaneously
`charged.
`As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when a user wants to use the
`wireless headset 200, the user separates the wireless headset
`200 from the attachment recess 100 of the portable terminal
`50 by sliding the protrusions 209 along the grooves 101.
`Then, the male connector 207 is separated from the female
`connector 102. Herein, the local area communication mod-
`ules 51 and 206 are turned on and operated, as the guide
`protrusions 209 of the wireless headset 200 are slid along the
`guide grooves 101 of the attachment recess 100 and then
`separated from the guide grooves 101.
`In this state, as shown in FIG. 8, the wireless headset 200
`is worn behind a user’s ear. Since the hole 208 provided with
`the hook 205 is formed in the other end of the wireless
`headset 200, the wireless headset 200 is fixed to the user’s
`ear by hanging the hook 205 drawn out of the hole 208 on
`the user’s ear. Therefore, in order to use the wireless headset
`200, the user draws the hook 205 out of the hole 208, and
`then hangs the hook 205 on the user’s ear.
`The vibrating motor 210 is further installed within the
`wireless headset 200, thereby receiving an incoming call
`signal from the folder-type portable terminal 50 and then
`supplying a vibration to inform the user of an incoming call.
`Therefore,
`the user wearing the wireless headset 200 at
`his/her ear can sense the incoming call by means of the
`vibration of the vibrating motor 210, and then communicate
`with a counterpart, although the user does not attach the
`wireless headset 200 to the terminal 50.
`
`the present
`As apparent from the above description,
`invention provides a wireless headset apparatus in which a
`wireless headset
`is detachably attached to a folder-type
`portable terminal, thereby improving the utility of the wire-
`less headset.
`
`Although only this embodiment of the present invention
`have been described in detail, those skilled in the art will
`appreciate that various modifications, additions, and substi-
`tutions to the specific elements are possible, without depart-
`ing from the scope arid spirit of the invention as disclosed
`in the accompanying claims.
`For example, the wireless headset apparatus of the present
`invention is not limitedly applied to the folder-type portable
`terminal, but may be applied to other portable terminals,
`computers, electronic appliances, and acoustic appliances.
`What is claimed is:
`
`1. A communication device and wireless headset appara-
`tus comprising:
`an attachment recess formed at a designated position on
`the communication device; and
`a wireless headset detachably attached to the attachment
`recess, wherein the attachment recess has an opened
`end, and includes
`guide grooves longitudinally formed along both side
`surfaces of the opened attachment recess so as to guide
`both side surfaces of the wireless headset;
`a female connector formed at an end wall of the attach-
`
`ment recess so as to electrically connect the wireless
`headset to the communication device when the wireless
`headset is attached to the communication device at the
`attachment recess; and
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`an insertion hole formed on the end wall adjacent to the
`female connector so as to accommodate a rod provided
`with a microphone of the wireless headset.
`2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
`wherein the communication device and the wireless head-
`
`set respectively include a local area communication
`module for communicating with each other.
`3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
`wherein the female connector serves to turn on and off the
`
`local area communication modules according to the
`attachment and detachment of the wireless headset to
`and from the communication device.
`
`4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
`wherein the female connector is electrically connected to
`a speaker line of the communication device when the
`wireless headset
`is attached to the communication
`device at the attachment recess.
`
`5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
`wherein the female connector is electrically connected to
`a charging line of the communication device so as to
`charge a rechargeable battery installed within the wire-
`less headset.
`
`6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
`wherein a male connector is installed on an end of the
`
`wireless headset so as to be electrically connected and
`fixed to the female connector, and a cavity is formed in
`another end of the wireless headset so that a hook of the
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`wireless headset is drawn into and from the cavity.
`7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6,
`wherein the hook is made of a ductile material.
`
`8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
`wherein guide protrusions are longitudinally formed
`along both side surfaces of the headset so as to be slid
`along the guide grooves.
`9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1,
`wherein a vibrating motor is further installed within the
`wireless headset so as to receive an incoming call
`signal
`from the communication device, and then
`vibrate.
`
`10. A portable communication terminal comprising:
`a main body having a display, a plurality of keys for
`inputting data, a speaker, and antenna, the main body
`having a recess on at least one surface thereof; and
`a wireless headset having a speaker, and a microphone;
`wherein the wireless headset is detachably secured to
`the main body at said recess, wherein the recess has an
`opened end, and includes
`guide grooves longitudinally formed along both side
`surfaces of the opened recess so as to guide both side
`surfaces of the wireless headset; a female connector
`formed at an end wall of the recess so as to electrically
`connect the wireless headset to the communication
`terminal when the wireless headset is attached to the
`communication terminal at the recess; and
`an insertion hole formed on the end wall adjacent to the
`female connector so as to accommodate a rod provided
`with a microphone of the wireless headset.
`11. An audio device capable of outputting sound, com-
`prising:
`a main body housing electrical components of the audio
`device, the main body having a recess on at least one
`surface thereof; and
`least one speaker and a
`a wireless headset having at
`microphone; wherein the wireless headset is detachably
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`secured to the main body at said recess, wherein the
`recess has an opened end, and includes
`guide grooves longitudinally formed along both side
`surfaces of the opened recess so as to guide both side
`surfaces of the wireless headset;
`a female connector formed at an end wall of the recess so
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`audio device when the wireless headset is attached to
`the audio device at the recess; and
`an insertion hole formed on the end wall adjacent to the
`female connector so as to accommodate a rod provided
`with a microphone of the wireless headset.
`
`as to electrically connect the wireless headset to the
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