IP Library Granted Patent US 7,515,944
Granted Patent B2
US 7,515,944 · App. 11/289,904 · Granted Apr 7, 2009

Wireless headset having improved RF immunity to RF electromagnetic interference produced from a mobile wireless communications device

Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,515,944
App. No.
11/289,904
Granted
Apr 7, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A wireless headset has improved immunity to RF electromagnetic interference produced from wireless communications devices. A headset body is adapted to be worn by a user and includes a microphone and earpiece. An antenna receives wireless communication signals and passes them to RF and audio circuitry mounted within the headset body. The RF and audio circuitry include a Bluetooth module operatively connected to the antenna for transmitting and receiving wireless communication signals, an audio CODEC connected to the Bluetooth module, and audio connection lines connected between the CODEC and the earpiece and between the CODEC and the microphone. A filter is connected into each of the audio connection lines at the earpiece and microphone and operative for reducing the RF coupling from a mobile wireless communications device.

Claims (30)

1. A wireless headset having improved immunity to RF electromagnetic interference produced from wireless communications devices comprising:

a headset body adapted to be worn by a user;

a microphone carried by the headset body for receiving voice signals from the user;

an earpiece carried by the headset body for directing voice signals into an ear canal of the user;

an antenna carried by the headset body for receiving wireless communications signals;

RF and audio circuitry mounted within the headset body for receiving and transmitting wireless communications signals, said RF and audio circuitry comprising a Bluetooth module operatively connected to said antenna for transmitting and receiving wireless communications signals, an audio CODEC connected to said Bluetooth module, and further comprising a circuit board mounted within the headset body and audio connection lines formed as circuit traces on the circuit board and connected between said CODEC and said earpiece and connected between said CODEC and said microphone; and

a filter connected into each of the audio connection lines at the earpiece and microphone and operative for reducing the RF coupling from a wireless communications device wherein each signal trace includes a respective filter serially connected into each signal trace and a ferrite bead formed on a circuit trace and having a length as an overcoat on the circuit trace sufficient for enabling RF suppression.

2. A wireless headset according to claim 1 , wherein a filter comprises an LC filter serially connected into an audio connection line.

3. A wireless headset according to claim 1 , and further comprising a series connected inductor and capacitor connected into an audio connection line that is connected to said earpiece.

4. A wireless headset according to claim 3 , wherein said inductor comprises a ferrite inductor.

5. A wireless headset according to claim 1 , and further comprising an RF shield surrounding one of at least the earpiece or microphone to aid in reducing the RF coupling from a wireless communications device.

6. A wireless headset according to claim 5 , wherein said RF shield comprises a metallic housing.

7. A wireless headset according to claim 1 , wherein said headset body includes a pivoting microphone arm that supports the microphone.

8. A wireless headset according to claim 1 , and further comprising an earmount pivotally connected to said headset body.

9. A wireless headset having improved immunity to RF electromagnetic interference produced from wireless communications devices comprising:

a headset body adapted to be worn by a user;

a microphone carried by the headset body for receiving voice signals from the user;

an earpiece carried by the headset body for directing voice signals into an ear canal of the user;

an antenna carried by the headset body for receiving wireless communications signals;

RF and audio circuitry mounted within the headset body for receiving and transmitting wireless communications signals, said RF and audio circuitry comprising a Bluetooth module operatively connected to said antenna for transmitting and receiving wireless communications signals, an audio CODEC connected to said Bluetooth module, and further comprising a circuit board mounted within the headset body and audio connection lines formed as circuit traces on the circuit board and connected between said CODEC and said earpiece and between said CODEC and said microphone, and microphone bias lines formed as circuit traces on the circuit board and connecting the CODEC and microphone for passing microphone bias control signals between the CODEC and the microphone;

a filter connected into each of the audio connection lines connecting the earpiece and microphone and operative for reducing the RF coupling from a mobile wireless communications device; and

a microphone bias filter connected into each of the microphone bias lines for reducing the RF coupling from a wireless communications device wherein each signal trace for both the audio connection lines and microphone bias lines includes a respective filter serially connected into each signal trace and comprises a ferrite bead formed on a circuit trace and having a length as an overcoat on the circuit trace sufficient for enabling RF suppression.

10. A wireless headset according to claim 9 , wherein said microphone bias filter comprises a serial inductor or shunt capacitor.

11. A wireless headset according to claim 9 , wherein said microphone bias filter comprises a ground connected capacitor.

12. A wireless headset according to claim 9 , wherein a filter comprises an LC filter serially connected into an audio connection line.

13. A method of making a wireless headset having improved immunity to RF electromagnetic interference produced from wireless communications devices, which comprises:

providing a headset body adapted to be worn by a user, a microphone carried by the headset body for receiving voice signals from the user, an earpiece carried by the headset body for directing voice signals into an ear canal of the user, an antenna carried by the headset body for receiving wireless communications signals, RF and audio circuitry mounted within the headset body for receiving and transmitting wireless communications signals, said RF and audio circuitry comprising a Bluetooth module operatively connected to said antenna for transmitting and receiving wireless communications signals and an audio CODEC connected to said Bluetooth module and further comprising a circuit board mounted within the headset body; and

reducing the RF coupling from a wireless communications device by connecting a filter into audio connection lines formed as signal traces on the circuit board that connect the earpiece and microphone with the CODEC such that each signal trace includes a respective filter serially connected into each signal trace and comprising a ferrite bead formed as a circuit trace and having a length as an overcoat on the circuit trace sufficient for enabling RF suppression.

14. A method according to claim 13 , which further comprises enclosing one of at least the microphone or earpiece within an RF shield for reducing the RF coupling from a mobile wireless communications device.

15. A method according to claim 13 , which further comprises connecting a microphone bias filter into microphone bias lines that pass microphone bias control signals between the CODEC and the microphone.

Assignments (4)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 19, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064269/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 16, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064104/0103 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 22, 2014
From: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
To: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 034030/0941 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 17, 2006
From: ZHU, LIZHONG; MANKARUSE, GEORGE; CORRIGAN, MICHAEL
To: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
Reel/Frame 017473/0040 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20070123323A1 · May 31, 2007