Headset capable of being used as external speaker and method of adjusting an output thereof

A method for adjusting the output of a speaker transducer in a headset that has a speaker part whose direction can be changed, the method comprising:

• detecting a direction of the speaker part;
• switching a switch between first and second states depending on the detected direction of the speaker part;
• determining when the detected direction of the speaker part is in a speaker mode direction and determining when the detected direction of the speaker part is in a headset mode direction different from the speaker mode direction;
• responsive to when the speaker part is oriented in the speaker mode direction, electrically connecting a signal receiver through a switch in the first state and through an amplifier to the speaker transducer, thereby increasing the output of the speaker transducer of the speaker part in the speaker mode direction;
• and
• responsive to when the speaker part is oriented in the headset mode direction, electrically connecting the signal receiver through the switch in the second state directly to the speaker transducer and bypassing the amplifier, thereby decreasing an output of the speaker transducer in the headset mode direction.

An apparatus for adjusting the output of a speaker transducer in a headset that has a speaker part whose direction can be changed, comprising

• a processor in communication with a memory, the processor executing code for:
• detecting a direction of the speaker part;
• switching a switch between first and second states depending on the detected direction of the speaker part;
• determining when the detected direction of the speaker part is in a speaker mode direction and determining when the detected direction of the speaker part in a headset mode direction different from the speaker mode direction;
• responsive to when the speaker part is oriented in the speaker mode direction, electrically connecting a signal receiver through a switch in the first state and through an amplifier to the speaker transducer, thereby increasing the output of the speaker transducer of the speaker part in the speaker mode direction;
• and
• responsive to when the speaker part is oriented in the headset mode direction, electrically connecting the signal receiver through a switch in the second state directly to the speaker transducer and bypassing the amplifier, thereby decreasing an output of the speaker transducer in the headset mode direction.

A headset comprising:

• a signal receiver for receiving a signal from the outside;
• a speaker part, the speaker part having a speaker transducer;
• a hinge part corresponding to the speaker part, for changing the direction of the speaker part, the hinge part being located in close proximity to the speaker part, the hinge part including a switch which switches when the hinge part changes the direction of the speaker part;
• and
• an amplifier for amplifying the received signal, the amplifier being located between the signal receiver and the speaker part,
• wherein the switch of the hinge part switches an electrical connection path from the signal receiver to the speaker transducer, so that the received signal is transmitted from the signal receiver through the switch and the amplifier to the speaker transducer when the switch is in a first state, and is transmitted directly through the switch to the speaker transducer bypassing the amplifier when the switch is in a second state, according to the direction of the speaker part which determines whether the switch is in the first state or in the second state.