Abstract: A cordless telephone headset and remotely controlled telephone handset pick-up device for use in conjunction with an existing corded telephone set. A mechanical lift arm of the pick-up device, driven by an electric motor with a slip clutch, lifts the handset away from the corded telephone cradle, placing the telephone handset in an off-hook position. The handset is lowered back onto the cradle by the mechanical lift arm, returning the telephone set to an on-hook position. The mechanical lift arm is activated and deactivated in response to a radio signal indicative of the lowering and raising of the microphone boom of the cordless headset. The slip clutch provides sufficient force to gently and reliably raise and lower the telephone handset without causing misalignment between the handset and the cradle and without causing damage.

Abstract: An optical switch for controlling an operative condition of a headset. The headset includes a microphone boom that is rotatable with respect to a housing for the headset. A rotator element is coupled to the microphone boom such that the rotator element rotates with respect the housing along with the microphone boom. Selected portions of a surface of the rotator element are conditioned to be more reflective than the remaining portions. Alternately, portions of the rotator element are opaque. A pair of optical transceivers are in fixed positions relative to the housing. When the microphone boom is positioned approximately straight upward with respect to a user's head, reflective portions of the rotator element are within a field of view of each optical transceiver of the pair. In this position, the headset is in an "off" or "standby" mode.

Abstract: An intra-concha stabilizer with length adjustable conchal wall hook securely holds an audio transducer or speaker within a wearer's ear. The audio speaker is held within a support integrally included within an outer shell of the stabilizer. Within the outer shell, a conchal wall hook carrier slides along an integrally formed groove within the outside of the outer shell. The conchal wall hook perpendicularly protrudes away from the inside of the outer shell and the conchal wall hook carrier in order to engage the conchal wall of the wearer's ear. When worn, the audio speaker is positioned within the wearer's ear between the tragus and the antitragus. The conchal wall hook is then slidably positioned against the conchal wall of the wearer's ear in order to secure the speaker within the ear.

Abstract: The present invention overcomes interface problems between proprietary handset ports on telephone base units and voice/data accessory products by allowing a user to automatically calibrate the telephone accessory product for an optimal interface match with the intended telephone base unit. This is accomplished through the use of a "Smart Interface Technology" (SIT) integrated chip set consisting of a full custom analog and semi-custom digital integrated circuit. The SIT incorporates three different methods for "learning" the characteristics of 4-wire port modular interfaces found in all telephone station sets. Basically, these methods determine the appropriate 4-wire terminal configurations, the transmit and receive channels of the intended telephone base unit, and adjust the channel sensitivities until an optimal and clear signal is provided for the user.

Abstract: A cordless telephone headset and remotely controlled telephone handset pick-up device for use in conjunction with an existing corded telephone set. A mechanical lift arm of the pick-up device, driven by an electric motor with a slip clutch, lifts the handset away from the corded telephone cradle, placing the telephone handset in an off-hook position. The handset is lowered back onto the cradle by the mechanical lift arm, returning the telephone set to an on-hook position. The mechanical lift arm is activated and deactivated in response to a radio signal indicative of the lowering and raising of the microphone boom of the cordless headset. The slip clutch provides sufficient force to gently and reliably raise and lower the telephone handset without causing misalignment between the handset and the cradle and without causing damage.

Abstract: An adaptive handset interface for interfacing a two-wire analog telephone instrument to a telephone set having a base unit connected to a handset via a four-wire handset cable. The interface is suitable for use with a variety of telephone sets produced by different manufacturers despite differences in the signalling between the telephone base and the handset. This is because, upon initiation of a learning technique, the interface automatically adapts to variations in signalling between the telephone base and handset among the different telephone manufacturers. To use the interface, the handset is unplugged from the handset jack of the telephone base and plugged into a handset jack of the interface. In addition, a four-wire cable is plugged into a telephone base jack of the interface and into the handset jack of telephone base. The interface includes a modular jack for coupling the interface device to the two-wire telephone instrument.

Abstract: The present invention overcomes interface problems between proprietary handset ports on telephone base units and voice/data accessory products by allowing a user to automatically calibrate the telephone accessory product for an optimal interface match with the intended telephone base unit. This is accomplished through the use of a "Smart Interface Technology" (SIT) integrated chip set consisting of a full custom analog and semi-custom digital integrated circuit. The SIT incorporates three different methods for "learning " the characteristics of 4-wire port modular interfaces found in all telephone station sets. Basically, these methods determine the appropriate 4-wire terminal configurations, the transmit and receive channels of the intended telephone base unit, and adjust the channel sensitivities until an optimal and clear signal is provided for the user.

Abstract: A telephone headset uses extruded thermoplastic with a pair of embedded steel wires to make the headband and microphone boom. The extrusion is formed by feeding the two wires through the extruding die along with the hot plastic. The two wires serve to stiffen the extrusion and also as electrical conductors. The material is cut to length and joined to earphones, microphones and telephone cable to make the headset; the two wires conduct the sound signals to the earphone distal the telephone cable attachment. The extrusion material retains a twist, which allows for angular adjustment of the earphones. A hinge and spring cant the headphone inward at the bottom for greater comfort, and to adjust the angle to the user's head. In a second embodiment, one of the wires is removed after extrusion to leave a tunnel through the extruded material. Small electrical leads can be passed through the tunnel, and the remaining wire remains as a stiffener.