Optical Microphone Signal Transmission in Rotating Headset Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing headsets with rotatable joints face issues such as mechanical stop failures and tangling of wires, limiting flexibility and usability, especially when frequently adjusting the microphone boom between ears or handling the device.
Innovation Solution
A headset with a rotatable joint utilizing an optical transceiving unit that includes a transmitter and receiver, where the transmitter encodes a clock signal into microphone signals for optical transmission, allowing 360-degree rotation without mechanical stops, and the receiver decodes these signals for processing, enhancing flexibility and reducing interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical stop is used to restrict rotation of the joint, then the wire damage due to twisting is prevented, but the headset adjustment flexibility is reduced and the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical stop system with an optical transceiving unit that uses optical signals to transmit microphone signals through the rotatable joint. This eliminates the need for mechanical stops that restrict rotation, allowing the joint to rotate freely while maintaining reliable signal transmission and protecting wires from damage through optical coupling rather than mechanical constraints
2Reliability
If a fixed joint is used to prevent wire twisting, then wire damage is avoided, but the microphone boom rotation flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the fixed mechanical joint with an optical transceiving unit that transmits signals through optical coupling. This allows the microphone boom to rotate freely through 360 degrees or multiple revolutions while the optical signals maintain reliable transmission, eliminating the need for fixed mechanical joints that would restrict rotation or require complex mechanical stops
3Ease of operation
If sliding contacts are used for electrical connections through the rotatable joint, then full rotation is enabled, but signal interference and reliability issues increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces sliding electrical contacts with an optical transceiving unit that uses optical signals for transmission. This eliminates the signal interference, contact wear, and reliability issues associated with sliding contacts while maintaining full rotation flexibility. The optical coupling provides stable, interference-free signal transmission through the rotatable joint
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces optical signals as an intermediary medium to transmit microphone signals through the rotatable joint. Instead of direct electrical contact through sliding contacts, the optical transceiving unit converts electrical signals to optical signals for transmission, then converts them back, providing a reliable intermediary that eliminates contact-related reliability issues while enabling full rotation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a flexible, interference-resistant, and low-latency transmission of microphone signals, eliminating the need for mechanical stops and reducing the risk of malfunction, while allowing seamless rotation and improved usability.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting the one or more microphone signals from the microphone boom to the earphone unit via the rotatable joint comprising an optical transceiving unit, the optical transceiving unit having a transmitter and a receiver
Implementation Method 2
a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter comprises a clock generator configured to generate a clock signal and a first processor configured to receive the microphone signals and to encode the clock signal into the microphone signals to form a first communication signal
Implementation Method 3
the receiver comprises a clock re-generating unit, such as a phase locked loop (PLL), for regenerating the clock signal, and a second processor for decoding the first communication signal according to the re-generated clock signal
Data Source
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AI summary
A headset for voice communication is provided comprising an earphone unit having a speaker, a microphone boom comprising one or more microphones wherein the microphone boom is rotatably interconnected with the earphone unit to allow for 360 degrees rotation. The microphone signals are transmitted from the microphone boom to the earphone unit via an optical transceiving unit having a transmitter and a receiver, wherein the microphone boom comprises the transmitter and the earphone unit comprises the receiver. The transmitter comprises a clock generator configured to generate a clock signal and a first processor configured to receive the microphone signals and to encode the clock signal into the microphone signals to form a first communication signal, and wherein the receiver comprises a clock regenerating unit for regenerating the clock signal, and a second processor for decoding the first communication signal according to the re-generated clock signal, and wherein the decoded microphone signals are provided to an electronic circuit in the earphone unit.