Patents Assigned to Plantronics
  • Patent number: 10772517
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for heart rate detection are described. In one example, a headphones apparatus and method includes emitting a first light in a first light direction directed at a left ear location from a left ear light emitter, and detecting a detected first light at a left ear light detector following interaction of the first light with a left ear tissue. The method includes emitting a second light in a second light direction directed at a right ear location from a right ear light emitter, the right ear location different from the left ear location. The method further includes detecting a detected second light at a right ear light detector following interaction of the second light with a right ear tissue, and estimating a heart rate from the detected first light and the detected second light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Jacobus Cornelis Haartsen
  • Publication number: 20200286500
    Abstract: A head-worn audio device is provided with a circuit for voice signal enhancement. The circuit comprises at least a plurality of microphones, arranged at predefined positions, where each microphone provides a microphone signal. The circuit further comprises a directivity pre-processor and a blind source separation processor. The directivity pre-processor is connected with the plurality of microphones to receive the microphone signals and being configured to provide at least a voice signal and a noise signal. Directivity pre-processing increases the mutual independence of the signals provided to the blind source separation processor and thus improves processing by blind source separation. The blind source separation processor receives at least the voice signal and the noise signal, and is configured to conduct blind source separation on at least the voice signal and the noise signal to provide at least an enhanced voice signal with reduced noise components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Shridhar K. Mukund, Pamornpol Jinachitra
  • Patent number: 10764701
    Abstract: A method of presenting a soundscape in an environment space using a plurality of controllable speakers arranged the space is provided. A spatial audio engine may access a spatial audio file defining a digital representation of the soundscape, including (a) a plurality of sound elements to be output in the space over time, (b) sound playback location information defining location(s) for each sound element to be output, and (c) timing information defining time(s) for each sound element to be output. The spatial audio engine may also access speaker location information for each speaker in the space. For each sound element to be played in the space over time, the spatial audio engine may correlate the sound playback location information with the speaker location information to identify one or more of the speakers to be controlled to output audio signals associated with the respective sound element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chase Emerson Cummings, Collin Robert Brown
  • Patent number: 10750271
    Abstract: Headphones include an earbud, including a knob-shaped body, an earbud tip extending from the knob-shaped body and configured to enter an ear canal of a listener, a harness strap interface disposed on the knob-shaped body and configured to removably accommodate a detachable harness strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventor: David Kim
  • Publication number: 20200260298
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for managing user density in wireless communications are described. In one example, a method includes receiving at a central controller device a plurality of link data associated with a plurality of wireless links between a plurality of first communication devices and a plurality of second communication devices. The method includes identifying a global system performance from the plurality of link data utilizing a link quality parameter. The method further includes, responsive to the global system performance, generating one or more modified link settings for a first wireless link between a first communication device and a second communication device. The method further includes transmitting from the central controller device to the first communication device or the second communication device the one or more modified link settings for the first wireless link for implementation at the first communication device and/or the second communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacobus Cornelis Haartsen, Catelyn Gifford Orsini
  • Patent number: 10742818
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for wireless density-based on-the-fly codec and radio frequency link type selection. The method includes storing a link quality value, and scanning a plurality of timeslots across a plurality of wireless carriers. The method also includes calculating, based on the scanning, an average radio frequency density level for a time period. Still yet, the method includes calculating a current density level based on the link quality value and the average radio frequency density level. Further, the method includes selecting, based on the current density level, a codec from a plurality of stored codecs. The selected codec is associated with a link type. Moreover, the method includes receiving a command to open a wireless link, and, in response to the command, opening the wireless link using the selected codec and the associated link type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Clark, Steve C Evans
  • Publication number: 20200252714
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a multi-cable positioning device and a headset with multi-cable positioning device. The device comprises at least a fastening portion for removable attachment to clothing, and a cable management portion. The cable management portion comprises at least a first cable receptacle for a first cable, and a second cable receptacle for a second cable, wherein the cable receptacles are adapted for rotational and translational locking of the cables to increase comfort and stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Mainini, Manoj K. Mistry
  • Patent number: 10736156
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for performing extension mobility via a headset connection. The method includes receiving a headset identifier from a headset. Also, the method includes, in response to receiving the headset identifier, sending the headset identifier to a device management server. Further, the method includes receiving a call control user identifier from the device management server, and sending, to a call control server, the call control user identifier. Still yet, the method includes receiving, from the call control server, a configuration profile associated with the call control user identifier. One or more settings of a desk phone are configured using the configuration profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe Burton, Cary Bran, Shantanu Sarkar, Philip Sherburne
  • Patent number: 10728668
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for headset neckbands and earloops are described. In one example, a neckband for use with a headset is described. The neckband includes a first neckband end for coupling with a left earloop and a second neckband end for coupling with a right earloop. The neckband includes a neckband length along an x-axis between the first neckband end and the second neckband end. The neckband length has a variable height in a y-axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Mainini, Chase Patrick Bailey, Bowman Wang
  • Patent number: 10715984
    Abstract: Connection switching for Bluetooth headsets is disclosed. A Bluetooth headset includes a Bluetooth transceiver configured to receive a message from a first Bluetooth device over a first Bluetooth connection with the first Bluetooth device. The message includes a command to establish a second Bluetooth connection with a second Bluetooth device. The Bluetooth headset also includes a processor configured to cause the Bluetooth transceiver to (i) release the first Bluetooth connection and then (ii) establish the second Bluetooth connection with the second Bluetooth device responsive to the Bluetooth transceiver receiving the message. Computer-readable media for the Bluetooth devices is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Bart Trip, Rik Koops, Eddie Klaassens, Kem Gallione, John B Ledingham, Dick de Jong
  • Patent number: 10714119
    Abstract: A communication device for a communication system is disclosed, which communication device comprises at least an I/O interface for connection with one or more audio sources to at least receive an input audio signal, a user audio output, an audio processor to provide an output audio signal to the user audio output from the input audio signal, and a reporting module. To improve the acoustic safety for a user of the communication device, the reporting module is configured to analyze the input audio signal and to determine, whether an acoustic safety incident is given, upon which the reporting module is configured to generate metadata of the acoustic safety incident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Arun Rajasekaran
  • Publication number: 20200202626
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for identifying and indicating open space noise are described. In one example, a method includes receiving an audio sensor data from a plurality of microphones disposed at known locations throughout an open space. The method includes generating a three-dimensional sound map data from the audio sensor data. The method further includes generating an augmented reality visualization of the three-dimensional sound map data, which includes capturing with a video camera at a mobile device a video image of the open space, displaying the video image on a display screen of the mobile device, and overlaying a visualization of the three-dimensional sound map data on the video image on the display screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: David W Moody, Shridhar K. Mukund
  • Publication number: 20200204901
    Abstract: Bone conduction headphones include a transducer and a neck band. The transducer is configured to convert an electrically provided audio signal into mechanical vibrations. The neck band includes a curved base section and two leg sections extending from the curved base section, providing a substantially U-shaped space to accommodate a listener's head between the two leg sections. The transducer is disposed on the neck band at a distal end of one of the leg sections, and the neck band applies a clamping force on the listener's head. The clamping force establishes a mechanical interface for transmission of the mechanical vibrations from the transducer to a cranial bone of the listener's head. The bone conduction headphones also include a clamping force adjuster enabling an adjustment of the clamping force of the neck band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Bowman Wang, Terry M. Carr, Jeremy Jacob D'Ambrosio
  • Patent number: 10687138
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for earloops are described. In one example, an earloop for wearing on an ear of a user head is described. The earloop includes a capsule connector segment for coupling to a headset capsule, and an apex segment having an adaptive apex curvature arranged to rest on an apex of the ear. The earloop further includes a behind-the-ear segment having an adaptive behind-the-ear curvature arranged to curve behind the ear and exert a resilient gripping tension behind the ear, wherein the capsule connector segment is located along the x-axis at a different location than the behind-the-ear segment in both a static non-worn state and a static worn state, and wherein the apex segment is between the capsule connector segment and the behind-the-ear segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Mainini, Chase Patrick Bailey, Bowman Wang
  • Publication number: 20200184057
    Abstract: A headset for acoustic authentication of a user is provided, the headset comprising at least a first microphone, a second microphone, a controllable filter, and an authenticator. The first microphone is arranged to obtain a first input signal. The controllable filter is configured to receive the first input signal and the second input signal and to determine at least one filter transfer function from the received first input signal and the second input signal. The authenticator is configured to determine a current user acoustic signature from the at least one filter transfer function and to compare the current user acoustic signature with a predefined user acoustic signature and to authenticate the user based on the comparison of the current user acoustic signature with the predefined user acoustic signature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Shridhar K Mukund
  • Patent number: 10681668
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for device location are described. In one example embodiment, an apparatus and method for determining a location of a mobile device is presented using a single narrowband radio system. In one implementation, Bluetooth is utilized. Using the single base operating with the narrowband radio, the location of the mobile device is found by applying both angle determination and distance determination. Using phased array antennas, the angle between receiver and base is determined. The distance is determined using a time-of-flight method based on phase comparison and phase lock loop techniques which can be applied in narrowband radio transceivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Jacobus Cornelis Haatsen
  • Patent number: 10679472
    Abstract: A visual task or status indicator comprises a tube having a riser region extending away from a base and an illumination output region distal to the riser region. The tube has the tube wall comprising an optical diffuser material. A waveguide, such as a polycarbonate strand or other optical fiber or a bundle of optical fibers, is enclosed within and extends through the riser region into the illumination output region of the tube. The waveguide is configured to emit light laterally in the illumination output region. A light source is coupled to the waveguide. The light source can have a plurality of output light modes, including various colors or intensities or patterns of colors and intensities. Control circuitry is connected to the light source to select the output light modes in response to a control signal. A plurality of indicators can be controlled from a central control hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Jacob D'Ambrosio, Chase Patrick Bailey
  • Publication number: 20200177985
    Abstract: The invention relates to a head-worn audio device having a first earcup, a second earcup, and a headband extending between the first earcup and the second earcup. The headband includes a spring member disposed along a longitudinal axis of the headband. The spring member has a first end and a second end. The headband also includes a first headband tube coupled to the first earcup and the first end of the spring member. Further, the headband includes a second headband tube coupled to the second earcup and the second end of the spring member. The first headband tube is configured to rotate around the first end of the spring member, and the second headband tube is configured to rotate around the second end of the spring member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Applicant: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Henry Tews, John A. Kelley, Nicholas W. Paterson
  • Patent number: D886759
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Chase Patrick Bailey
  • Patent number: D893794
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Kelley, Nicholas W Paterson