Headset with adjustable boom
View Patent ↗A headset ( 1 ) comprises a body ( 3 ) and a boom ( 4 ), on which a microphone is located. The boom ( 4 ) is mounted so that the position of a microphone ( 5 ) relative to the body ( 3 ) can be adjusted. The headset 1 further comprises a controller ( 15 ) arranged to process an electrical signal generated by the microphone ( 5 ) by equalizing components corresponding to high and low audio frequencies in accordance with the detected position of the microphone ( 5 ). For instance, low frequencies may be preferentially attenuated if the microphone ( 5 ) is used when the boom ( 4 ) is in a retracted position. Optionally, the controller ( 15 ) may also adjust the gain of the microphone ( 5 ) in accordance with the position of the microphone ( 5 ). The headset ( 1 ) may be used to communicate with an external device ( 2 ) using a wired or wireless connection. For example, the headset ( 1 ) may convey signals to and from a mobile telephone using the Bluetooth® protocol and/or may be used for Push-to-Talk applications.
1. An apparatus comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory including software, the at least one memory and the software configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform:
determining a position of a microphone, mounted on a boom, relative to a body upon which the boom is mounted, wherein the boom is mounted such that the position of the microphone relative to the body is variable; and
processing an electrical signal, generated by the microphone, by equalizing components corresponding to high audio frequencies and low audio frequencies, wherein the equalization is adapted in accordance with the determined position of the microphone.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said equalization is performed using Digital Signal Processing.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the software are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform controlling exchange of voice/data signals with an external device.
4. An apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one memory and the software are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform controlling exchange of said voice/data signals with the external device via a wireless connection.
5. An apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one memory and the software are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform controlling exchange of said voice/data signals using the Bluetooth® protocol.
6. An apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one memory and the software are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform controlling exchange of said voice/data signals with the external device via a wired connection.
7. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the software are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform controlling exchange of voice/data signals with a mobile telephone.
8. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the software are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform adjusting the gain of the microphone in accordance with said position of said microphone.
9. A headset comprising the apparatus of claim 1 , the body, the boom mounted on the body and the microphone mounted on the boom.
10. A headset according to claim 9 , further comprising a boom switch, arranged so that adjustment of the boom activates the boom switch and causes an instruction to initiate a Push-to-Talk session to be sent to a mobile telephone.
11. A headset according to claim 10 , wherein said boom switch is configured to be activated by sliding the boom so that it extends from said body.
12. A headset according to claim 10 , wherein said boom switch is configured to be activated by pivoting the boom so that it extends from said body.
13. A headset according to claim 9 , wherein said boom is flexible, and comprising a detector arranged to detect physical manipulation of the boom, wherein the at least one memory and the software are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform generating command signals based on said detected physical manipulation.
14. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said equalizing comprises attenuating frequencies below a predetermined frequency value preferentially compared with frequencies above the predetermined frequency value.
15. A headset according to claim 9 , further comprising a boom switch, configured so that adjustment of the boom activates the boom switch and causes an instruction to be sent to a mobile telephone to accept an incoming call, to reject an incoming call or to end a call that is in progress.
16. A headset according to claim 15 , wherein said boom switch is activated by sliding the boom so that it extends from said body.
17. A headset according to claim 15 , wherein said boom switch is activated by pivoting the boom so that it extends from said body.
18. A method comprising:
determining a position of a microphone, mounted on a boom, relative to a body upon which the boom is mounted, wherein the boom is mounted such that the position of the microphone relative to the body is variable; and
processing an electrical signal, generated by the microphone, by equalizing components corresponding to high audio frequencies and low audio frequencies, wherein said equalization is adapted in accordance with said position of the microphone.
19. A method according to claim 18 , wherein said equalization is performed using Digital Signal Processing.
20. A method according to claim 18 , further comprising exchanging voice/data signals with an external device.
21. A method according to claim 20 , wherein said exchanging is performed via a wireless connection.
22. A method according to claim 20 , wherein said exchanging is performed via a wired connection.
23. A method according to claim 20 , comprising determining whether the boom has been extended and, in response to a positive determination, sending an instruction to the external device to initiate a Push-to-Talk session.
24. A method according to claim 20 , comprising determining whether a call is incoming, detecting whether the boom is in an extended position and, in response to a positive determination, sending an instruction to the mobile telephone to accept the incoming telephone call.
25. A method according to claim 18 , further comprising detecting physical manipulation of the boom by a user and generating command signals based on said physical manipulation.
26. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising software that, when executed by a processor, causes performance of:
determining a position of a microphone, mounted on a boom, relative to a body upon which the boom is mounted, wherein the boom is mounted such that the position of the microphone relative to the body is variable; and
processing an electrical signal, generated by the microphone, by equalizing components corresponding to high audio frequencies and low audio frequencies, wherein said equalization is adapted in accordance with said position of the microphone.