3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Ronald W Hall

Harry B Taylor

Gebran J Sabongi

Edward L Flick

Douglas D Fletcher

James C Medek

DonGene Kriegl

A headset monitoring system includes a plurality of headsets and a base station. Each headset includes a microphone, a speaker, a transceiver, and a memory device for storing an identification code, and the base station includes a transceiver, a microprocessor, a memory device, and a user interface. The base station is configured to send and receive data to and from the headsets and is further configured to identify headsets that are not functioning properly.

Self-monitoring radio network

A system for automatically gathering efficiency metrics in a quick-service establishment that makes use of certain data signals already generated in a great number of such establishments. A repeating communication device, which is used to receive and re-broadcast communications amongst the employees of the quick service restaurant, acts as a central hub that receives various data signals. The data signals may be analyzed, and the information hidden therein may be unearthed. The information may be transmitted to a remote computer system for further analysis, which may receive similar data from similar quick-service establishments.

Efficiency metric system for a quick-service restaurant

An intercom system enabling a plurality of users to listen to and at least one user to speak to and listen to a remote user. A base station communicates with the remote user. A plurality of ear pieces is wearable by the plurality of users, each of the plurality of ear pieces being capable of wirelessly communicating with the base station. Each of the plurality of ear pieces is capable of listening to the base station within a first range of the base station. At least one of the plurality of ear pieces being capable of wirelessly speaking to the base station within a second range of the base station. The second range is larger than the first range. Thus, one of the plurality of users wearing at least one of the plurality of ear pieces may listen and talk with the remote user only within the first range of the base station and the remainder of the plurality of users wearing the remaining ear pieces may only listen to the remote user outside of the first range of the base station but inside of the second range of the base station.

Wireless intercom system and method of communicating using wireless intercom system

A wireless intercom unit includes an electronics housing including a first side, where the first side is configured to interface with a planar surface. The intercom unit also includes a microphone, a speaker, and an input device, where these components are located on a portion of the housing other than the first side. The intercom further includes a first channel transceiver for a first channel radio frequency range. In another embodiment, a wireless communication system includes a wireless intercom unit and an earpiece for wireless communication with the wireless intercom unit. In yet another embodiment of the invention, a wireless communication system includes a wireless intercom unit and a remote switch for providing user input information to the intercom unit.

Wireless intercom system

A scheme of identifying nonfunctional two-way radios from among a known group of two-way radios expected to be operating within a region may include establishing a corresponding window of time for each of the two-way radios expected to be operating within the region. For each of the established windows of time, a transmission from the corresponding radio is awaited. If, for a particular radio, no transmission is detected within its corresponding window of time, the absence of the transmission is recorded. Finally, if, for a particular radio, the number of times absence of transmission has been recorded exceeds a threshold, the particular radio is identified as nonfunctional.

An ergonomic headset assembly having increased comfort and convenience of use is provided. In accordance with one embodiment a headset assembly is provided which includes a first headpiece pivotally coupled to a second flexible headpiece. The headset assembly further includes means for limiting the pivotal movement of the flexible headpiece with respect to the first headpiece. This allows the tension of the headset assembly to be suitable adjusted to the head size of the wearer. In accordance with another embodiment a headset assembly which includes a headband and an electronics housing pivotally coupled to the headpiece is provided. The pivotal coupling of the electronics housing with respect to the headband allows the electronics housing to be swung away from a user's ear and provides additional comfort to the user. In accordance with yet another embodiment a headset assembly having an electronics housing coupled to a clip member is provided. Via the clip member, the electronics may be removably coupled between a headband and a hat.

Ergonomic headset assembly

A headset assembly includes an electronics housing and a replaceable battery. The battery includes a recessed region for limiting contact between the battery housing and the electrical contacts of the electronics housing. The contacts of the battery include raised regions for concentrating the electrical contact regions between the battery and the electronics housing, and to further clean the electrical contacts of the electronics housing during slideable insertion of the battery into the electronics housing.

Headset assembly including replaceable battery

An ergonomic headset assembly having increased comfort and convenience of use is provided. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a headset assembly is provided which includes a first headpiece pivotally coupled to a second flexible headpiece. The headset assembly further includes means for limiting the pivotal movement of the flexible headpiece with respect to the first headpiece. This allows the tension of the headset assembly to be suitable adjusted to the head size of the wearer. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a headset assembly which includes a headband and an electronics housing pivotally coupled to the headpiece is provided. The pivotal coupling of the electronics housing with respect to the headband allows the electronics housing to be swung away from a user's ear and provides additional comfort to the user. In accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention, a headset assembly having an electronics housing coupled to a clip member is provided. The clip member allows the electronics housing to be removably coupled between a headband and a hat of a user.

Growing community of inventors

South St. Paul, MN, United States of America

Ronald W Hall