A universal acoustic coupler system includes a pair of flexible muffs for acoustically coupling a telephone handset to transducers (speaker/microphone) of an electronic input/output device. The muffs are formed of an external housing inside which an internal housing is positioned, defining a fluid insulator therebetween. The internal housing has a speaker/microphone cavity for receiving the input/output device speaker or microphone which opens into an earpiece/mouthpiece cavity for receiving the earpiece or mouthpiece of a telephone handset. The fluid insulator is formed to completely insulate the speaker or microphone to eliminate all external noise.
An acoustic mounting and coupler, for coupling a transducer of a handset to a transducer of a terminal or similar form of apparatus, such as a visual display terminal for deaf users, has a flexible tubular member attached to the housing of the terminal. At the upper end of the tubular member is a flexible disc having a plurality of readily deformable annular ribs. The tubular member provides for vertical movement and some tilting. The ribs give good air sealing between the handset and coupler. Ambient noise input is reduced and mechanical vibration to the transducer in the terminal is also reduced. Some degree of variation in geometry and dimensions of the handset can be accommodated. Some laxity in placement of the handset can also be accommodated.
A coupler is provided which may be incorporated into a handheld communications device to permit the handheld device to be acoustically coupled to a variety of telephone handsets. The device may include a spring-biased, adjustable microphone arm onto which a microphone is mounted in order to acoustically couple the microphone to the telephone handset. The microphone arm may be adjustable to adapt to a variety of telephone handset styles, such as cellular telephones or cordless telephones, in order to permit the acoustical coupling to be achieved with a large number of different telephone handsets.
