Apparatus and method for automatic shutoff of aviation headsets
AssigneeDavid Clark Company Incorporated
InventorNatan Keddem
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A control system and method of selectively enabling an auto-shutoff feature of a control system for an aviation headset includes a power switch. The power switch is toggled and if the control system is in a powered down state, a startup sequence for the control system is initiated. During the startup sequence, a bias voltage detector checks for a bias voltage on a signal line of the headset. If a bias voltage is detected during the startup sequence, the auto-shutoff feature is enabled. The auto-shutoff feature periodically checks for a bias voltage and powers down the control system if no bias voltage is detected for a predetermined time interval. If no bias voltage is detected during startup, the auto-shutoff feature is disabled.
Claims15
A method of selectively enabling an auto-shutoff feature of a control system, the control system part of a headset for an aircraft, the method comprising:
- plugging the headset into a headset jack in the aircraft;
- toggling a power switch to initiate a startup sequence and power up the control system, wherein the power switch is configured to power down the control system if toggled when the control system is powered up;
- after initiating the startup sequence and during the startup sequence, checking for a bias voltage applied to a signal line of the headset by the aircraft;
- and
- enabling the auto-shutoff feature if the bias voltage is detected during the startup sequence, the auto-shutoff feature, when enabled, allowing the control system to power down if no bias voltage is detected for a predetermined time interval, wherein if no bias voltage is detected during the startup sequence, the auto-shutoff feature is disabled.
A control system for a headset for an aircraft comprising:
- a headset plug configured to connect the headset to a headset jack in the aircraft;
- a bias voltage detector configured to detect a bias voltage applied to a signal line of the headset by the aircraft;
- a power switch configured such that when toggled when the control system is in a powered down state, a startup sequence is initiated for the control system, the power switch further configured such that when toggled when the control system is in a powered up state, the control system is switched into the powered down state;
- and
- a controller configured to enable an auto-shutoff feature when the bias voltage detector detects the bias voltage from the aircraft during the startup sequence, the auto-shutoff feature, when enabled, allowing the control system to power down when no bias voltage is detected for a predetermined time interval, wherein if no bias voltage is detected during the startup sequence, the auto-shutoff feature is disabled by the controller.
An aviation headset for an aircraft comprising:
- a microphone connected to a signal line;
- a headset plug configured to connect the signal line to a headset jack in the aircraft to electrically connect the aviation headset and the aircraft;
- and
- a battery configured to power a control system of the aviation headset, the control system comprising:
- a circuit providing a noise cancellation feature to the aviation headset;
- a bias voltage detector configured to detect a bias voltage applied to the signal line by the aircraft;
- at least one sensor for detecting active stimuli on the signal line;
- a power switch configured such that when toggled when the control system is in a powered down state, a startup sequence is initiated for the control system, the power switch further configured such that when toggled when the control system is a powered up state, the control system is switched into the powered down state;
- and
- a controller configured to enable an auto-shutoff feature for the headset when the bias voltage detector detects the bias voltage from the aircraft during the startup sequence, the auto-shutoff feature, when enabled, allowing the control system to power when neither a bias voltage nor active stimuli are detected for a predetermined time interval, wherein if no bias voltage is detected during the startup sequence, the auto-shutoff feature is disabled by the controller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.