Electrically isolated push-to-talk devices

An Electrically-Isolated Push-To-Talk (EI-PTT) device, comprising:

• a first input-output (I/O) device including a first ground circuit configured to electrically connect to a headset containing a microphone and a speaker;
• a second I/O device including a second ground circuit configured to electrically connect to a radio;
• an actuator configured to enable radio transmission when activated and to enable radio reception when not activated;
• and
• electrical isolation circuitry configured to isolate the first ground circuit from the second ground circuit, thereby reducing noise transmission from the first ground circuit to the second ground circuit, wherein the electrical isolation circuitry omits any direct current (DC) connection between the first ground circuit and the second ground circuit, thereby reducing noise transmission between the radio and the headset when the radio and the headset are electrically connected to the EI-PTT device.

A communication method, comprising:

• providing an Electrically-Isolated Push-To-Talk (EI-PTT) device including an input-output (I/O) device for electrical connection with a headset including a microphone and a speaker, an I/O device for electrical connection with a radio, and an activator for enabling the radio to transmit when activated and receive when not activated, the EI-PTT device further configured to isolate a first ground circuit associated with the headset from a second ground circuit associated with the radio to ensure that no direct current (DC) connection exists between the first ground circuit and the second ground circuit;
• electrically connecting the EI-PTT device to a power supply, a power management controller, the radio, and the headset;
• actuating the activator of the EI-PTT device;
• electrically isolating the first ground circuit from the second ground circuit within the EI-PTT device;
• enabling the radio to transmit;
• and
• transmitting a signal with little or no noise from the radio.