Patents by Inventor John F. Gerhardt

John F. Gerhardt has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8559621
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for determining the donned or doffed state of a headset. In one example, a headset includes a processor, an acoustic transducer, and a detector operably coupled to the processor, the detector providing an output charge pattern corresponding to a state selected from the group consisting of the headset being donned and doffed. Advantageously, the present disclosure provides for reliably determining a donned or doffed state of a headset for efficiently routing calls, text messages, and/or otherwise being used for notifications and requests in a system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: John F Gerhardt, Timothy P Johnston, Edward L Reuss, Robert M Khamashta
  • Patent number: 8538009
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for determining the donned or doffed state of a headset. In one example, a headset includes a processor, an acoustic transducer, and a detector operably coupled to the processor, the detector providing an output charge pattern corresponding to a state selected from the group consisting of the headset being donned and doffed. Advantageously, the present disclosure provides for reliably determining a donned or doffed state of a headset for efficiently routing calls, text messages, and/or otherwise being used for notifications and requests in a system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: John F Gerhardt, Timothy P Johnston, Edward L Reuss, Robert M Khamashta
  • Patent number: 8335312
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for determining the donned or doffed state of a headset. In one example, a headset includes a processor, an acoustic transducer, and a detector operably coupled to the processor, the detector providing an output charge pattern corresponding to a state selected from the group consisting of the headset being donned and doffed. Advantageously, the present disclosure provides for reliably determining a donned or doffed state of a headset for efficiently routing calls, text messages, and/or otherwise being used for notifications and requests in a system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Gerhardt, Timothy P. Johnston, Edward L. Reuss, Robert M. Khamashta
  • Publication number: 20080080705
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for determining the donned or doffed state of a headset. In one example, a headset includes a processor, an acoustic transducer, and a detector operably coupled to the processor, the detector providing an output charge pattern corresponding to a state selected from the group consisting of the headset being donned and doffed. Advantageously, the present disclosure provides for reliably determining a donned or doffed state of a headset for efficiently routing calls, text messages, and/or otherwise being used for notifications and requests in a system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: John F. Gerhardt, Timothy P. Johnston, Edward L. Reuss, Robert M. Khamashta
  • Patent number: 7227944
    Abstract: The present invention provides an echo reduction apparatus, system, and method that advantageously reduces echo when communicating over packet-switched networks. An echo reduction apparatus, including echo reduction circuit, operably couples a headset or handset device to an audio source that is capable of transmitting a sound signal. The echo reduction circuit receives the sound signal from the audio source and a transmit signal from the headset or handset device and provides an adjusted sound signal to the audio source. Advantageously, a variety of headsets and handsets may be used in accordance with the present invention with reduced caller echo and without the need to purchase new headsets or handsets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Gerhardt, J. Stephen Graham, Robert M. Khamashta, Iain McNeill
  • Patent number: 7039179
    Abstract: The present invention provides an echo reduction apparatus, system, and method that advantageously reduces echo when communicating over packet-switched networks. An echo reduction apparatus, including echo reduction circuit, operably couples a headset or handset device to an audio source that is capable of transmitting a sound signal. The echo reduction circuit receives the sound signal from the audio source and a transmit signal from the headset or handset device and provides an adjusted sound signal to the audio source. Advantageously, a variety of headsets and handsets may be used in accordance with the present invention with reduced caller echo and without the need to purchase new headsets or handsets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Gerhardt, J. Stephen Graham, Robert M. Khamashta, Iain McNeill