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Claims  |
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I claim:
1. Communication apparatus for enabling a person wearing a headset
including first and second audio earphones to selectively communicate with
two other persons, comprising;
an input circuit for connection to the first and second earphones for
separately providing first and second audio communication signals
separately received from different sources to the first and second
earphones respectively; and
input switching means connected to the input circuit for selectively
enabling the input circuit to provide either (a) the first audio
communication signal to the first earphone, (b) the second audio
communication signal to the second earphone, or (c) the first and second
audio communication signals simultaneously and separately to the first and
second earphones respectively.
2. Communication apparatus according to claim 1 for use with a said headset
that also includes a microphone, the apparatus further comprising
first and second output terminals;
an output circuit for connection to the microphone for providing a
microphone output signal from the microphone to the first and second
output terminals; and
output switching means connected to the output circuit for selectively
enabling the output circuit to provide the microphone output signal to
either (i) the first output terminal, (ii) the second output terminal, or
(iii) the first and second output terminals simultaneously.
3. Communication apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising
means for generating an attention signal;
wherein the generating means is coupled to the output circuit for providing
the generated attention signal to the first output terminal and/or the
second output terminal to which the microphone output signal is
selectively provided.
4. Communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising
switching means coupled to the input circuit for responding to a received
attention signal related to either of said received first audio
communication signal or said received second audio communication signal by
causing the input circuit to provide the related first or second
communication signal to the respective first or second earphone.
5. Communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising
means for generating an attention audio signal; and
means coupled to the input circuit for responding to a received attention
signal related to either of said received first audio communication signal
or said received second audio communication signal by causing the
generated attention audio signal to be provided to the respective first or
second earphone.
6. Communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising
display means for responding to a received attention signal related to
either of said received first audio communication signal or said received
second audio communication signal by providing a visual indication to the
person wearing the headset that the respective first or second audio
communication signal is being received.
7. Communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising
means for generating a distinctive audio pattern signal; and
means coupled to the input circuit for causing the generated distinctive
audio pattern signal to be provided exclusively to the first earphone
whenever the first audio communication signal is being provided to the
first earphone.
8. Communication apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising
means for generating a second distinctive audio pattern signal that differs
from the distinctive audio pattern signal provided to the first earphone;
and
means coupled to the input circuit for causing the generated second
distinctive audio pattern signal to be provided exclusively to the second
earphone whenever the second audio communication signal is being provided
to the second earphone.
9. An audio communications headset, comprising
first and second audio earphones;
input circuit means connected to the first and second earphones for
separately providing first and second audio communication signals
separately received from different sources to the first and second
earphones respectively; and
input switching means connected to the input circuit means for selectively
enabling the input circuit means to provide either (a) the first audio
communication signal to the first earphone, (b) the second audio
communication signal to the second earphone, or (c) the first and second
audio communication signals simultaneously and separately to the first and
second earphones respectively.
10. A headset according to claim 9 that also includes a microphone, the
headset further comprising
first and second output terminals;
an output circuit for connection to the microphone for providing a
microphone output signal from the microphone to the first and second
output terminals; and
output switching means connected to the output circuit for selectively
enabling the output circuit to provide the microphone output signal to
either (i) the first output terminal, (ii) the second output terminal, or
(iii) the first and second output terminals simultaneously.
11. A headset according to claim 10, in combination with means for
generating an attention signal;
wherein the generating means is coupled to the output circuit for providing
the generated attention signal to the first output terminal and/or the
second output terminal to which the microphone output signal is
selectively provided.
12. A headset according to claim 9, in combination with communication
apparatus comprising
switching means coupled to the input circuit for responding to a received
attention signal related to either of said received first audio
communication signal or said received second audio communication signal by
causing the input circuit to provide the related first or second
communication signal to the respective first or second earphone.
13. A headset according to claim 9, in combination with communication
apparatus comprising
means for generating an attention audio signal; and
means coupled to the input circuit for responding to a received attention
signal related to either of said received first audio communication signal
or said received second audio communication signal by causing the
generated attention audio signal to be provided to the respective first or
second earphone.
14. A headset according to claim 9, further comprising
display means for responding to a received attention signal related to
either of said received first audio communication signal or said received
second audio communication signal by providing a visual indication to the
person wearing the headset that the respective first or second audio
communication signal is being received.
15. A headset according to claim 9, in combination with communication
apparatus comprising
means for generating a distinctive audio pattern signal; and
means coupled to the input circuit for causing the generated distinctive
audio pattern signal to be provided exclusively to the first earphone
whenever the first audio communication signal is being provided to the
first earphone.
16. A headset according to claim 15, in combination with communication
apparatus comprising
means for generating a second distinctive audio pattern signal that differs
from the distinctive audio pattern signal provided to the first earphone;
and
means coupled to the input circuit for causing the generated second
distinctive audio pattern signal to be provided exclusively to the second
earphone whenever the second audio communication signal is being provided
to the second earphone.
17. Communication apparatus for enabling a person wearing a headset
including a microphone to selectively communicate with two other persons,
comprising
first and second output terminals;
an output circuit for connection to the microphone for providing a
microphone output signal from the microphone to the first and second
output terminals;
output switching means connected to the output circuit for selectively
enabling the output circuit to provide the microphone output signal to
either (i) the first output terminal, (ii) the second output terminal, or
(iii) the first and second output terminals simultaneously;
means on the headset for controlling operation of the output switching
means; and
means for generating an attention signal;
wherein the generating means is coupled to the output circuit for providing
the generated attention signal to the first output terminal and/or the
second output terminal to which the microphone output signal is
selectively provided.
18. Communication apparatus for enabling a person wearing a headset
including first and second audio earphones to communicate with two other
persons, comprising
an input circuit for connection to the first and second earphones for
separately providing first and second audio communication signals
separately received from different sources to the first and second
earphones respectively; and
means for generating a distinctive audio pattern signal; and
means coupled to the input circuit for causing the generated distinctive
audio pattern signal to be provided exclusively to the first earphone
whenever the first audio communication signal is being provided to the
first earphone.
19. Communication apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising
means for generating a second distinctive audio pattern signal that differs
from the distinctive audio pattern signal provided to the first earphone;
and
means coupled to the input circuit for causing the generated second
distinctive audio pattern signal to be provided exclusively to the second
earphone whenever the second audio communication signal is being provided
to the second earphone.
20. A method of selectively communicating with two other persons by a
person wearing a headset including first and second audio earphones, the
method comprising the steps of:
(a) separately receiving a first audio communication signals from a first
person and a second audio communication signal from a second person; and
(b) selectively providing at different times (i) the first audio
communication signal to the first earphone, (ii) the second audio
communication signal to the second earphone, and (iii) the first and
second audio communication signals simultaneously and separately to the
first and second earphones respectively.
21. A method according to claim 20 for use with a said headset that also
includes a microphone, the method further comprising the steps of:
(c) selectively providing at different times a microphone output signal
from the microphone for transmission to (iv) the first person, (v) the
second person, and (vi) the first and second persons simultaneously.
22. A method according to claim 21, further comprising the steps of:
(c) generating an attention signal; and
(d) providing the generated attention signal to the first output terminal
and/or the second output terminal to which the microphone output signal is
selectively provided.
23. A method according to claim 20, further comprising the step of:
(c) responding to a received attention signal related to either of said
received first audio communication signal or said received second audio
communication signal by providing the related first or second
communication signal to the respective first or second earphone.
24. A method according to claim 20, further comprising the steps of:
(c) responding to a received attention signal related to either of said
received first audio communication signal or said received second audio
communication signal by generating an attention audio signal; and
(d) causing the generated attention audio signal to be provided to the
respective first or second earphone.
25. A method according to claim 20, further comprising the step of:
(c) responding to a received attention signal related to either of said
received first audio communication signal or said received second audio
communication signal by providing a visual indication to the person
wearing the headset that the respective first or second audio
communication signal is being received.
26. A method according to claim 20, further comprising the steps of:
(c) generating a distinctive audio pattern signal; and
(d) providing the generated distinctive audio pattern signal exclusively to
the first earphone whenever the first audio communication signal is being
provided to the first earphone.
27. A method according to claim 20, further comprising the steps of:
(e) generating a second distinctive audio pattern signal that differs from
the distinctive audio pattern signal provided to the first earphone; and
(f) providing the generated second distinctive audio pattern signal
exclusively to the second earphone whenever the second audio communication
signal is being provided to the second earphone. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to electronic communications and is
particularly directed to audio communications systems utilizing an audio
headset.
A typical audio headset includes a pair of earphones and may further
include a microphone. In a monophonic headset, each earphone reproduces
the same audio communication, such as a voice sound or music, in response
to a received audio communication signal. In a stereophonic headset, a
first earphone reproduces a first audio communication in response to a
received first audio communication signal and a second earphone reproduces
a second audio communication in response to a received second audio
received audio communication signal, wherein the first and second
communication signals are received from the same source as components of a
stereo audio signal. A microphone detects sounds, such as voice sounds,
and produces a microphone output signal in response to the detected
sounds. The microphone output signal may be provided to a plurality of
output terminals and thereby communicated simultaneously to audio speakers
used by a plurality of persons.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, a person wearing a stereophonic audio
headset, including a pair of earphones that are respectively connected for
receiving voice communication signals from microphones used by two other
persons, and a microphone that is coupled to speakers used by the two
other persons, can communicate by voice simultaneously with both of the
other persons.
Problems that occur that occur when so using a stereophonic headset to
communicate simultaneously with two or more persons include difficulty in
excluding one of the other persons from a conversation when privacy is
desired; and difficulty in distinguishing between the reproduced voices of
two different persons that are respectively reproduced simultaneously by
the different earphones.
The present invention provides communication apparatus for enabling a
person wearing a headset including first and second audio earphones to
selectively communicate with two other persons, comprising an input
circuit for connection to the first and second earphones for separately
providing first and second audio communication signals separately received
from different sources to the first and second earphones respectly, a and
input switching means connected to the input circuit for selectively
enabling the input circuit to provide either (a) the first audio
communication signal to the first earphone, (b) the second audio
communication signal to the second earphone, or (c) the first and second
audio communication signals simultaneously and separately to the first and
second earphones respectively.
The present invention also provides an audio communications headset,
comprising first and second audio earphones; input circuit means connected
to the first and second earphones for separately providing first and
second audio communication signals separately received from different
sources to the first and second earphones respectively; and input
switching means connected to the input circuit means for selectively
enabling the input circuit means to provide either (a) the first audio
communication signal to the first earphone, (b) the second audio
communication signal to the second earphone, or (c) the first and second
audio communication signals simultaneously and separately to the first and
second earphones respectively.
The present invention additionally provides communication apparatus for
enabling a person wearing a headset including first and second audio
earphones to communicate with two other persons, comprising an input
circuit for connection to the first and second earphones for separately
providing first and second audio communication signals separately received
from different sources to the first and second earphones respectively; and
means for generating a distinctive audio pattern signal; and means coupled
to the input circuit for causing the generated distinctive audio pattern
signal to be provided exclusively to the first earphone whenever the first
audio communication signal is being provided to the first earphone.
The present invention still further provides a method of selectively
communicating with two other persons by a person wearing a headset
including first and second audio earphones, the method comprising the
steps of:
(a) separately receiving a first audio communication signals from a first
person and a second audio communication signal from a second person; and
(b) selectively providing at different times (i) the first audio
communication signal to the first earphone, (ii) the second audio
communication signal to the second earphone, and (iii) the first and
second audio communication signals simultaneously and separately to the
first and second earphones respectively.
Additional features of the present invention are described with reference
to the detailed description of the preferred embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the audio
communications system of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of a portion of the
control circuit for the headset in the communication system shown in FIG.
1 that is adapted for selectively enabling an audio communication to be
reproduced by an earphone in response to a received audio communication
signal.
FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of an alternative preferred embodiment of
the portion of the control circuit shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of another alternative preferred embodiment
of a portion of the control circuit for the headset in the communication
system shown in FIG. 1 that is adapted for selectively enabling an audio
communication to be reproduced by an earphone in response to a received
audio communication signal.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of a portion of the
control circuit for the headset in the communication system shown in FIG.
1 that is adapted for providing a microphone output signal and an
attention signal to selected output terminals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of an audio communications
system according to the present invention includes a first set of
communication apparatus 10, a second set of communication apparatus 12 and
a third set of communication apparatus 14. The first set of communication
apparatus 10 includes a microphone 16, a speaker 18, a signal generator
20, a control circuit 22, and a transceiver 24. The second set of
communication apparatus 12 includes a microphone 16', a speaker 18', a
signal generator 20', a control circuit 22', and a transceiver 24'. The
third set of communication apparatus 14 includes a headset 26, a signal
generator 28, a control circuit 32 and a transceiver 34.
The headset 26 includes a microphone 36, a first earphone 38 and a second
earphone 40. The microphone 36 is attached to the second earphone 40 by an
arm 42. A first control unit 44 is attached to the first earphone 38, a
second control unit 46 is attached to the second earphone 40, and a third
control unit 48 is attached to the arm 42 adjacent the second earphone 38.
The first control unit 44 includes a first control button 50, the second
control unit 46 includes a second control button 52, and the third control
unit 48 includes a third control button 54, a fourth control button 56 and
a fifth control button 58. A first display light 60, such as a light
emitting diode, is attached to the arm 42 at one side of the microphone
36, and a second display light 62 is attached to the arm 42 at the other
side of the microphone 36.
In the first set of communication apparatus 10, the microphone 16 produces
a first voice communication signal 17, which is conditioned by the control
circuit 22 to provide a first audio communication signal 23 that is
transmitted by the transceiver 24 to the transceiver 34 for the headset 26
of the third set of communication apparatus 14. When it is desired to
alert a person wearing the headset 26 that an audio communication signal
17 is being sent from the first set of communication apparatus 10, the
signal generator 20 of the first set of communication apparatus 10 is
actuated to generate a first attention signal 21, which is combined with
the first voice communication signal 17 by the control circuit 22 while
providing the first audio communication signal 23.
In the second set of communication apparatus 12, the microphone 16'
produces a second voice communication signal 17', which is conditioned by
the control circuit 22' to provide a second audio communication signal 23'
that is transmitted by the transceiver 24' to the transceiver 34 for the
headset 26 of the third set of communication apparatus 14. The headset
transceiver 34 is coupled to the transceiver 24 of the first set of
communication apparatus and the transceiver 24' of the second set of
communication apparatus by radio links, wire and/or fiber optics. When it
is desired to alert a person wearing the headset 26 that an audio
communication signal 17' is being sent from the second set of
communication apparatus 12, the signal generator 20' of the second set of
communication apparatus 12 is actuated to generate a second attention
signal 21', which is combined with the second voice communication signal
17' by the control circuit 22' while providing the second audio
communication signal 23'.
The transceiver 34 for the headset 26 provides both the received first
audio communication signal 23 and the received second audio communication
signal 23' to the control circuit 32, which processes the received first
audio communication signal 23 to derive a received first voice
communication signal 17 and a received first attention signal 21, which is
shown in FIGS. 2, 2A and 3, and processes the received second audio
communication signal 23' to derive a received second voice communication
signal 17' and a received second attention signal. The control circuit 32
also processes the received first voice communication signal 17 and the
received second voice communication signal 17' in order to condition such
signals for causing the first earphone 38 and the second earphones 40 to
reproduce voice sounds in response thereto.
Referring to FIG. 2, a portion of the control circuit 32 that selectively
enables the first voice communication to be reproduced by the first
earphone 38 of the headset 26 in response to the received first voice
communication signal 17 includes a switch 64, a signal generator 66, and a
signal combining unit 68. The switch 64 is operated by a person wearing
the headset 26 pressing the first control button 50 on the first control
unit 44 attached to the first earphone 38. The first control button 50
contacts a circuit element (not shown) in the first earphone control unit
44 that is connected to the switch 64 by a wire 51 contained in a sleeve
(not shown) extending between the first earphone control unit 44 and the
control circuit 32. By operating the first control button 50, a person
wearing the headset 26 can selectively enable the received first voice
communication signal 17 to be provided to the first earphone 38. The
signal generator 66 generates a distinctive audio pattern signal 67, to
which the first earphone 38 responds by producing a distinctive audio
pattern, such as a humming sound or a light melody that usually does not
distract a person's attention from voice sounds. The signal combining unit
68 combines the distinctive audio pattern signal 67 with the received
first voice communication signal 17 to provide a first composite audio
communication signal 69 that is provided to the first earphone 38. The
first earphone 38 responds to the first composite signal 69 by reproducing
a first voice communication in response to the received first voice
communication signal 17 and by producing the distinctive audio pattern in
response to the distinctive audio pattern signal 67. The switch 64
responds whenever a first attention signal 21 is received by causing the
received first audio communication signal 17 to be provided to the first
earphone 38 notwithstanding whether or not the switch 64 had been set by
operation of the control button 50 to enable the received first audio
communication signal 17 to be provided to the first earphone 38.
The portion of the control circuit 32 that selectively enables the second
voice communication to be reproduced by the second earphone 40 of the
headset 26 in response to the received second voice communication signal
17' is the same as shown in FIG. 2, except that the signal generator 66
and the signal combining unit 68 are omitted so that a distinctive audio
pattern is not produced by the second earphone 40. The switch 64 in this
portion of the control circuit 32 is operated by a person wearing the
headset 26 pressing the second control button 52 on the second control
unit 46 attached to the second earphone 40. The second control button 52
contacts a circuit element (not shown) in the second earphone control unit
46 that is connected to the switch 64 by a wire 53 contained in a sleeve
(not shown) extending between the second earphone control unit 46 and the
control circuit 32. By operating the second control button 52, a person
wearing the headset 26 can selectively enable the received second voice
communication signal 17' to be provided to the second earphone 40. The
second earphone 40 reproduces a second voice communication in response to
the second voice communication signal 17'.
Although a distinctive audio pattern that differs from the distinctive
audio pattern produced in the first earphone 38 could be produced in the
second earphone 40, a distinctive audio pattern is produced in combination
with a reproduced voice sound in only one of the two earphones 38, 40 in a
preferred embodiment of the headset 26 that is designed for use by a
person who prefers to associate the voice sounds reproduced in only one of
the earphones 38, 40 with a distinctive audio pattern.
When it is desired that neither earphone 38, 40 produces a distinctive
audio pattern in combination with the voice sound reproduced by the
earphone 38, 40, two identical portions of the control circuit 32 as shown
in FIG. 2, except for the omission of the signal generator 66 and the
signal combining unit 68, are used respectively to selectively enable
provision of the received first voice communication signal 17 to the first
earphone 38 and to selectively enable provision of the received second
voice communication signal 17' to the second earphone 40.
An alternative preferred embodiment of the portion of the control circuit
32 shown in FIG. 2 is shown in FIG. 2A. The alternative preferred
embodiment of FIG. 2A differs from the embodiment of FIG. 2 only in that
the switch 64 is located after rather than before the signal combining
unit 68 so that the distinctive audio pattern signal 67 is provided to the
first earphone 38 only when the switch 64 is operated to enable the first
voice communication signal 17 to be provided to the first earphone 38. A
portion of the control circuit 32 identical to that shown in FIG. 2A is
used for selectively enabling provision of the second voice communication
signal 17' to the second earphone 40 of the headset 26, except that
different distinctive audio pattern signals 67 are generated by the signal
generators 66 of the respective portions of control circuit 32 for
provision to the first and second earphones 38, 40. Accordingly, a first
distinctive audio pattern, such as a light melody, is produced in the
first earphone 38 only when the received first audio communication signal
17 is provided to the first earphone 38 and a second distinctive audio
pattern, such as a humming sound, is produced in the second earphone 40
only when the received second audio communication signal 17' is provided
to the second earphone 40, so that a person wearing the headset 26 can
readily determine to which of the first and second earphones 38, 40
provision of the respective first and second audio communications signals
17, 17' has been enabled, by listening for the first and distinctive audio
patterns.
Referring to FIG. 3, an alternative embodiment of the portion of the
control circuit 32 that selectively enables the first voice communication
to be reproduced by the first earphone 38 of the headset 26 in response to
the received first voice communication signal 17 includes a switch 64, a
first signal generator 66, a second signal generator 70 and a signal
combining unit 72. The switch 64 is operated by a person wearing the
headset 26 pressing the first control button 50 on the first control unit
44 attached to the first earphone 38. The first control button 50 contacts
a circuit element (not shown) in the first earphone control unit 44 that
is connected to the switch 64 by a wire 51 contained in a sleeve (not
shown) extending between the first earphone control unit 44 and the
control circuit 32. By operating the first control button 50, a person
wearing the headset 26 can selectively enable the received first voice
communication signal 17 to be provided to the first earphone 38. The first
signal generator 66 generates a distinctive pattern audio signal 67, to
which the first earphone 38 responds by producing a distinctive audio
pattern, such as a humming sound or a light melody that usually does not
distract a person's attention form voice sounds. The second signal
generator 70 responds to the received attention signal 21 by generating an
attention audio signal 71 that causes the first earphone 38 to produce a
distracting sound, such as a momentary buzz. The signal combining unit 72
combines the pattern audio signal 67 and the attention audio signal 71
(whenever such is generated) with the received first voice communication
signal 17 to provide a first composite audio communication signal 73 that
is provided to the first earphone 38. The first earphone 38 responds to
the first composite signal 73 by reproducing a first voice communication
in response to the received first voice communication signal 17, by
producing the distinctive audio pattern in response to the distinctive
audio pattern signal 67, and by producing the distracting sound in
response to the attention audio signal 71. If, upon the distracting sound
being produced by the first earphone | | |
