Plantronics, Inc.

Robert J Bernardi

Lawrence W Gollbach

Steven F Burson

James Foster Bobisuthi

Allen Woo

Robert M Khamashta

Ching Shyu

Gerald W Skulley

Robert V Davies

Thomas Arthur Tedham

Fred Italo Polito

Jeffrey B Waffensmith

Frederick P DeKalb

David G Harting

Paul A Ewer

Charles G Scott

Scott F Burr

Michael G Davis

Kevin A Sawyer

Jeff M Wimsatt

Michael D Perry

Brett A Herscher

Gary L Sanders

Jai K Advani

An acoustic signal level limiter provides a telephone handset/headset user with protection against loud audible signals generated within a communications system. The acoustic signal limiter comprises an acoustic signal level attenuation circuit and at least one acoustic signal level relay circuit. Once activated, the acoustic signal level attenuation circuit creates an attenuation network that attenuates an electrical acoustic signal transmitted through the communications system. Additional acoustic signal level relay circuits are activated to further attenuate the electrical acoustical signal to prevent the acoustic signal level attenuation circuit from operating in a deep saturation mode and provide further hearing safety for the telephone headset/handset user. A fuse in series and 'Zener Zap' shunting transistor diodes may provide additional failsafe protection.

Acoustic signal level limiter for hearing safety

A headset storage device includes a headset cradle, a switch and a manual override device. The headset cradle has two positions: a first position when the headset cradle is supporting a headset and a second position when the headset cradle is not supporting a headset. The switch couples the audio signal to the alternate audio system when the headset cradle is in the first position and to the headset when the headset cradle is in the second position. The manual override device forces the headset cradle into one of the two positions regardless of whether the headset cradle is supporting a headset.

Automatic headset hookswitch

Systems and methods for variably and/or shiftably limiting signal output are disclosed. The system may include an attenuation circuit having an attenuation network activated by a source signal crossing a threshold to attenuate the source signal and a resistive element such as resistors bridging between the attenuation circuit input and output for variably attenuating the source signal. The attenuation circuit may be activated by a switch such as transistors. To shift the limiting threshold, the system may include a circuit to shift the activating threshold, the circuit having a control voltage source such as DC voltage source coupled to the attenuation network. The threshold shifting circuit may be configured to selectively increase the threshold during music listening and to be inactive during voice applications. The system may be incorporated in a headset adapter or a headset receiver.

Variable and shiftable acoustic output signal limiter

A system and method detects whether or not a microphone apparatus is positioned incorrectly relative to an acoustic source and of automatically compensating for such mispositioning. A position estimation circuit determines whether the microphone apparatus is mispositioned. A controller facilitates the automatic compensation of the mispositioning.

Auto-adjust noise canceling microphone with position sensor

Improper microphone position and speech level on a telephone headset is sensed by comparison of a speech envelope to multiple signal threshold levels. A first threshold is used to determine whether a headset user is talking. A second threshold is used to determine whether a signal level at the microphone is sufficiently strong for proper communication. An indicator is activated when the user is talking and the signal level is too weak. Typically, a weak signal is caused by a mispositioned microphone or a user talking too softly.

Microphone position and speech level sensor

An acoustic signal level limiter provides a telephone handset/headset user protection against loud audible signals generated within a communications system. The acoustic signal limiter comprises an acoustic signal level attenuation circuit and at least one acoustic signal level relay circuit. Once activated, the acoustic signal level attenuation circuit creates an attenuation network that attenuates an electrical acoustic signal transmitted through the communications system. Acoustic signal level relay circuits are activated to further attenuate the electrical acoustical signal to prevent the acoustic signal level attenuation circuit from operating in a deep saturation mode and provide further hearing safety for the telephone headset/handset user. A fuse in series and 'Zener Zap' shunting transistor diodes provide assured higher signal level protection.

Acoustic signal level limiter

A method and apparatus for monitoring and controlling exposure to noise related to a headset are described. The method includes sampling an input sound signal to produce samples of the input sound signal, calculating from these samples a headset sound level corresponding to the input sound signal, calculating cumulative exposure of a headset user to the headset sound level at a specific point in time, and calculating a gain adjustment for the input sound signal to ensure that the total sound to which the headset user will be exposed during a selected time period is within the regulatory maximum level. Advantageously, the method and apparatus of the present invention allow accurate real-time monitoring of cumulative exposure to headset noise and real-time adjustment of headset gain to ensure compliance with regulatory maximum sound exposure levels.

Headset noise exposure dosimeter

A telephone headset adapter includes a deck with a top surface for supporting a telephone. The deck is placed underneath a telephone, and the weight of the telephone is applied on the deck and stabilizes the deck. The deck includes a primary or fixed deck portion and a movable deck portion. The movable deck portion is coupled to the fixed deck portion by an extension slide. The movable deck portion is movable along the extension slide to vary the width of the deck. Thus, the deck can support and accommodate telephone sets of various sizes and configurations. Routing channels are also formed within the top surface of the deck for receiving cords that are used with the telephone set, handset, headset and accessories, thereby minimizing cord tangling and clutter. An electronic housing is removably coupled to an end of the deck. The electronic housing contains adapter components for coupling the telephone to the headset or handset. Alternatively, the adapter components are housed within an interior portion of the deck.

Headset adapter with detachable under-the-phone accessory deck

A hookswitch actuator including an activating mechanism which maintains the hookswitch circuit of a telephone in an 'on hook' state when the activating mechanism is in a first position, or in an 'off hook' state when the activating mechanism is in the second position. The movement of the activating mechanism between the two positions is accomplished through the use of a shape memory alloy mechanism. The shape memory alloy mechanism is coupled to the activating mechanism in such a way that heating or cooling of the shape memory alloy mechanism moves the activating mechanism between its two positions. Control of the heating and cooling of the shape memory alloy mechanism is effectuated by controlling the amount of electric current passing through it.

Nitinol hookswitch actuator

A communications headset includes a headset enclosure and a receiver enclosure coupled thereto by various means allowing displacement of the receiver enclosure with respect to the headset enclosure at any of a variety of angles, rotations, and distances. The adaptable positioning of the receiver enclosure allows the headset to be used by a wide variety of users having different ear shapes and sizes, while providing a stable, comfortable fit and ensuring good acoustic performance. In one embodiment the receiver enclosure is slidably coupled to a ball tube having a ball that rests in a socket of the headset enclosure. The receiver enclosure can telescope along the length of the ball tube and can rotate about an axis of the tube. The ball can be rotated in the socket to position the receiver enclosure at any of a variety of angles relative to the headset enclosure. A voice transmitter is also coupled to the headset enclosure so as to allow adjustment of length, angular position, and rotation.

Communications headset with universally adaptable receiver and voice

An electronic telephone set for use with a telephone headset receiver/transmitter apparatus is disclosed. The telephone set is line-powered, and is capable of transmit muting, last number re-dial, and memory dialing. The volume of the received voice signal is controllable by a user, and a visual indication of the volume setting is provided. The receiver and transmitter amplifiers includes circuitry for compensating for the frequency response characteristics of two or more headsets, the compensation circuitry being selectively and automatically engaged by means of a programmable connecting jack. The design of the telephone is such that it consumes very little power, especially during 'on-hook' operation. Moreover, an electrical storage device is employed to provide continuous operational power to the dialer circuitry and electronic hook-switch control circuitry, so that the telephone set retains its dialing memory when not in use. Bell tap suppression circuitry is included to prevent the ringer from responding to sporadic voltage transients on the transmission lines, allowing the telephone can be installed in parallel with other phones.

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Scotts Valley, CA, United States of America

Robert J Bernardi