Headset with rotatable earphone housing
A headset for voice communication is provided, the headset has a first earphone housing being rotatable about a first rotational axis, and a pickup unit comprising at least one microphone arranged on the earphone housing. The earphone housing comprises an earphone housing circuit, a first speaker for receiving a speaker signal from the earphone housing circuit, and at least a first ring of electrically conductive material formed annularly about the first rotational axis and mounted in electrical contact with the earphone housing circuit. An earphone housing connector part comprises at least a first set of contact members mounted in the earphone housing connector part so as to provide electrical connection between the at least first set of contact members and the at least first ring, to thereby connect the at least first set of contact members to a second speaker and/or an electronic circuit for processing signals.
1. A headset for voice communication, the headset comprising:
an earphone circuit;
a first earphone housing being rotatable about a first rotational axis, said housing including an annular wall with at least a first annular electrically conductive contact ring thereon, and having
a pickup unit comprising at least one microphone arranged on the earphone housing, wherein the at least one microphone is electrically connected to the earphone circuit,
the first earphone housing including,
a first speaker for receiving a speaker signal from the earphone circuit, and
wherein said first ring has a predetermined width with its surface oriented generally concentric with said axis and formed annularly about the axis and mounted in electrical contact with the earphone circuit, and
an earphone housing connector part comprising
at least a first set of contact members mounted in the earphone housing connector part so as to provide electrical connection between the at least first set of contact members and the at least first ring, to thereby connect the at least first set of contact members to the first speaker; and
an electronic circuit for processing signals from the at least one microphone,
wherein the earphone housing with pickup is rotatable about the first axis with respect to the earphone housing connector part.
2. A headset according to claim 1 wherein the earphone housing connector part forms part of the earphone housing.
3. A headset according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic circuit for processing the microphone signal is positioned in the earphone housing.
4. A headset according to claim 1 , wherein the at least first set of contact members is formed to substantially engage said ring tangentially perpendicular to the annularly formed first ring.
5. A headset according to claim 1 wherein the first earphone housing comprises at least a first and a second ring of electrically conductive material arranged annularly and concentrically around the first rotational axis and wherein the earphone housing connector comprises corresponding at least first and second sets of contact members.
6. A headset according to claim 1 , wherein two or more contact members in any set of contact members are connected in parallel for providing parallel electrical connection between each ring and the corresponding contact members.
7. A headset according to claim 1 , wherein the at least first set of contact members is resiliently biased or spring-loaded towards the at least one ring.
8. A headset according to claim 1 , wherein the pickup unit comprises or consists of a microphone boom.
9. A headset according to claim 1 , wherein a first and a second contact member in any set of contact members extend from the earphone housing connector part under oblique angles toward the ring, so that under rotation of the earphone housing and/or the earphone housing connector part about the first rotational axis, the first contact member extends in the direction of rotation, and the second contact member extends opposite to the direction of rotation.
10. A headset according to claim 1 wherein the at least one annular ring is provided on a printed circuit board.
11. A headset according to claim 9 , wherein the earphone circuit comprises the printed circuit board.
12. A headset according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one annular ring is printed on a flex foil, and wherein the flex foil is arranged circumferentially on a housing of the first speaker.
13. A headset according to claim 1 wherein said annular contact include a pair of spaced part parallel contact rings.
14. A headset according to claim 1 wherein said housing connector includes a circular collar sized to receive said earphone housing and wherein said first set of contact members includes a pair of contact resilient wires extending from said housing connector toward said rings at angles offset from a ring axis extending orthogonal from said rings to engage said rings at least partly tangentially and having a generally planar contact portion joining and bridging said contacts; said contact portion engaging said line.
15. The headset of claim 14 wherein said pair of contact include first and second pairs of adjacent contacts including first and second non conducting insulating bridges for holding said first and second contact spaced from each other.
16. A headset for voice communication, the headset comprising:
a first earphone housing being rotatable about a first rotational axis, said housing including an annular core with at least a first and second annular electrically conductive contact rings, and having
a pickup unit comprising at least one microphone arranged on the earphone housing, wherein the at least one microphone is electrically connected to an earphone circuit,
the first earphone housing comprising
the earphone housing circuit,
a first speaker for receiving a speaker signal from the earphone housing circuit, and
wherein said first ring of electrically conductive rings have a predetermined width formed annularly about the axis and mounted in electrical contact with the earphone circuit,
and
an earphone housing connector part comprising
an annular collar sized to receive said earphone housing and having a flange extending away from said collar to lie adjacent said rings, said flange including an aperture for receiving an electrical contact unit, said unit including at least a first and second set of contact members to provide electrical connection between the at least first set of contact members and said rings, and wherein the earphone housing with pickup is rotatable about the first axis.
17. The headset of claim 16 wherein said pickup unit is curved to engage said collar.
18. A headset for voice communication, the headset comprising:
an earphone circuit;
a first earphone housing being rotatable about a first rotational axis, said housing including an annular wall with at least a first annular electrically conductive contact ring thereon, and having
a pickup unit comprising at least one microphone arranged on the earphone housing, wherein the at least one microphone is electrically connected to the earphone circuit,
the first earphone housing including,
a first speaker for receiving a speaker signal from the earphone circuit, and
wherein said first ring has a predetermined width with its surface oriented generally concentric with said axis and formed annularly about the axis and mounted in electrical contact with the earphone circuit, and
an earphone housing connector part comprising
at least a first set of contact members mounted in the earphone housing connector part so as to provide electrical connection between the at least first set of contact members and the at least first ring, to thereby connect the at least first set of contact members to the first speaker; and
an electronic circuit for processing signals from the at least one microphone,
wherein the earphone housing with pickup is rotatable about the first axis with respect to the earphone housing connector part and
wherein the at least one annular ring is printed on a flex foil, and wherein the flex foil is arranged circumferentially on a housing of the first speaker.