Patents by Inventor Steven F. Burson

Steven F. Burson 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).

  • Publication number: 20100130198
    Abstract: Systems and methods for remote digital signal processing of multiple signals are disclosed. The system generally includes a mobile communication device with a first microphone for receiving a first acoustic signal and a second microphone for receiving a second acoustic signal. The first acoustic signal and the second acoustic signal are transmitted to a processing station for processing using a wireless protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Kannappan, Steven F. Burson
  • Publication number: 20090280873
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a mobile communication device are disclosed. The system generally includes a housing such as a headset, a speaker, a microphone, and a wireless communication module. The wireless communications module provides for directional communication links.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: PLANTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Steven F. Burson
  • Patent number: 7567828
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a mobile communication device are disclosed. The system generally includes a housing such as a headset, a speaker, a microphone, and a wireless communication module. The wireless communications module provides for directional communication links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Burson
  • Patent number: 7561700
    Abstract: A system and method detects whether or not a microphone apparatus is positioned incorrectly relative to an acoustic source and of automatically compensating for such mispositioning. A position estimation circuit determines whether the microphone apparatus is mispositioned. A controller facilitates the automatic compensation of the mispositioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J Bernardi, Steven F Burson, Lawrence Gollbach, Allen Woo, James Bobisuthi
  • Publication number: 20090067637
    Abstract: The present invention provides an echo control retrofit apparatus and method that advantageously reduces echo when communicating over packet-switched networks. An echo control retrofit apparatus, including an echo control circuit, is operably coupled between a headset or handset device and an audio source. The echo control circuit receives a 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 existing headsets and handsets may be used in accordance with the present invention to provide reduced caller echo without the need to purchase new headsets or handsets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Lawrence Gollbach, Steven F. Burson
  • Patent number: 7457644
    Abstract: Improper microphone position and speech level on a telephone headset is sensed by comparison of a speech envelope to multiple signal threshold levels. A first threshold is used to determine whether a headset user is talking. A second threshold is used to determine whether a signal level at the microphone is sufficiently strong for proper communication. An indicator is activated when the user is talking and the signal level is too weak. Typically, a weak signal is caused by a mispositioned microphone or a user talking too softly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc
    Inventors: James F. Bobisuthi, Robert J. Bernardi, Steven F. Burson, Lawrence W. Gollbach, Allen Woo
  • Publication number: 20080273735
    Abstract: A voice tube antenna for a wireless headset for use in telecommunications, telephony, and/or multimedia applications is disclosed. The voice tube may generally include a flexible (e.g., gooseneck) or rigid tubular member having an open end and an opposing end coupled to a microphone, a lumen defined by the tubular member extending between the open end and the opposing end for acoustic transmission between the open end and the microphone, and an antenna formed in the voice tube and configured to be coupled to a transmitter and/or receiver for wirelessly transmitting and/or receiving signals via the antenna. The tubular member may be nonmetallic such that the antenna may be a metallic wire extending through the nonmetallic tubular member or the tubular member may be metallic such that the tubular member also serves as the antenna. The metallic antenna may be, for example, generally straight or spiral wound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F. Burson, James M. Sotelo
  • Publication number: 20080260195
    Abstract: A hollow gooseneck or other flexible transmit voice tube for a headset for use in telecommunications, telephony, and/or multimedia applications is disclosed. The voice tube may generally include a kink-resistant flexible tubular, e.g., gooseneck, member having an open end and an opposing end for coupling to a microphone, the flexible tubular member being bendable into a curvilinear operative shape and generally retains its curvilinear operative shape throughout its operative use until further adjustment is made thereto, and a lumen defined by the flexible tubular member extending between the open and opposing ends for acoustic transmission between the open end and the microphone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Burson
  • Patent number: 7346176
    Abstract: A system and method detects whether or not a microphone apparatus is positioned incorrectly relative to an acoustic source and of automatically compensating for such mispositioning. A position estimation circuit determines whether the microphone apparatus is mispositioned. A controller facilitates the automatic compensation of the mispositioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J Bernardi, Steven F Burson, Lawrence W Gollbach, Allen Woo
  • Patent number: 7133701
    Abstract: Improper microphone position and speech level on a telephone headset is sensed by comparison of a speech envelope to multiple signal threshold levels. A first threshold is used to determine whether a headset user is talking. A second threshold is used to determine whether a signal level at the microphone is sufficiently strong for proper communication. An indicator is activated when the user is talking and the signal level is too weak. Typically, a weak signal is caused by a mispositioned microphone or a user talking too softly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: James F. Bobisuthi, Robert J. Bernardi, Steven F. Burson, Lawrence W. Gollbach, Allen Woo
  • Patent number: 6941161
    Abstract: Improper microphone position and speech level on a telephone headset is sensed by comparison of a speech envelope to multiple signal threshold levels. A first threshold is used to determine whether a headset user is talking. A second threshold is used to determine whether a signal level at the microphone is sufficiently strong for proper communication. An indicator is activated when the user is talking and the signal level is too weak. Typically, a weak signal is caused by a mispositioned microphone or a user talking too softly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc
    Inventors: James F. Bobisuthi, Robert J. Bernardi, Steven F. Burson, Lawrence W. Gollbach, Allen Woo
  • Patent number: 6923688
    Abstract: The present invention provides a charging interface. The interface includes a first contact interface system for receiving a male connector. The first interface contact interface system includes a housing with a front surface, where the front surface includes an aperture leading to a well within the housing. A first positive contact is disposed within the well and a first negative contact is disposed within the well. The interface also includes a second contact interface system comprising conductive contacts disposed on the front surface outside the aperture. The conductive contacts comprise a second positive contact and a second negative contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F. Burson, James E. Blum, Jay Wilson
  • Patent number: 6735453
    Abstract: A headset storage device includes a headset cradle, a switch and a manual override device. The headset cradle has two positions: a first position when the headset cradle is supporting a headset and a second position when the headset cradle is not supporting a headset. The switch couples the audio signal to the alternate audio system when the headset cradle is in the first position and to the headset when the headset cradle is in the second position. The manual override device forces the headset cradle into one of the two positions regardless of whether the headset cradle is supporting a headset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: James F. Bobisuthi, Lawrence W. Gollbach, Robert J. Bernardi, Steven F. Burson
  • Patent number: RE41702
    Abstract: A headset storage device includes a headset cradle, a switch and a manual override device. The headset cradle has two positions: a first position when the headset cradle is supporting a headset and a second position when the headset cradle is not supporting a headset. The switch couples the audio signal to the alternate audio system when the headset cradle is in the first position and to the headset when the headset cradle is in the second position. The manual override device forces the headset cradle into one of the two positions regardless of whether the headset cradle is supporting a headset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: James F. Bobisuthi, Lawrence Gollbach, Robert Bernardi, Steven F. Burson