Method and device for recognition and arbitration of an input connection

• US 10,045,135 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2014
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Staton Techiya, LLC
• Original Assignee: Staton Techiya, LLC
• Inventors: Weijand, Koen, Goldstein, Steven W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): FAHNERT, FRIEDRICH
• Application Number:
  US14/523,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20150304769A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: 381 58, 381 74, 381122, 381123, 381384
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/05 Detection of connection of loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/09 Applications of special connectors, e.g. USB, XLR, in loudspeakers, microphones or headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence

Abstract

Embodiments herein enable fast and easy interconnectivity among multimedia accessories including mobile devices and other devices. There is only limited space on mobile devices yet there are numerous input connectors. The standard TRRS audio jack is one such input that has and remains common, primarily because it is the accepted standard for audio input; namely, headphones and earpieces for listening purposes. Embodiments herein describe an intelligent switch to that audio jack that permits for additional backward and forward compatibility. It transparently allows a user to insert analog or digital audio devices, such as earphones, without the need to manually reconfigure device settings. The device herein automatically converts between input connector types using the same input convention present on their existing mobile devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A TIP, RING, RING, SLEEVE (TRRS) device for dynamic pin allocation of a TRRS controller in response to an audio device connection, comprising:

a processing unit communicatively coupled to one or more multimedia connections consisting of TRRS headphone audio, universal serial bus (USB), and a proprietary serial protocol; and

an audio jack communicatively coupled to the processing unit over a TRRS line connection consisting of a Tip line, a Ring 1 line, a Ring 2 line, and a Sleeve Line,

wherein the processing unit, upon insertion of an audio device by way of an audio connector inserted into the audio jack, automatically recognizes and arbitrates a dynamic pin allocation on the audio jack to accommodate a multimedia type of the audio device thereto inserted, wherein the processing unit detects an audio configuration of the audio device by way of current and load sensing through the audio jack, wherein the processing unit, upon detection of a connector type of the audio connector of the audio device, independently assigns data lines to or from the audio device to pins utilized for the TRRS line connection in accordance with the connector type detected, and wherein the processing unit, upon detection of a microphone signal, reconfigures the pins based on the microphone signal.

2. The TRRS device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit arbitrates and negotiates the multimedia connections and converts between multimedia types and formats to provide for universal connectivity.

3. The TRRS device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit automatically switches over and converts formatting for communication standards and protocols supported through implementation of the TRRS device consequent to recognition of the audio device.

4. The TRRS device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit detects the audio configuration of the audio device by way of resistive, current and load sensing through the audio jack.

5. The TRRS device of claim 1, wherein the audio configuration reports types and formats of electronic components coupled to the audio device.

6. The TRRS device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit authenticates and certifies the audio device by way of signal detection through an identifier component of the audio connector, where the identifier component is an RFID.

7. The TRRS device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit provides backwards compatibility and interoperability with multimedia functions available to a host platform communicatively coupled to, or implemented by, the TRRS device.

8. The TRRS device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit includes a data and addressing bus to provide bi-directionality for data communication to and from the connected audio device through the audio jack.

9. The TRRS device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit includes a data and addressing bus to provide multidrop capabilities for components connected to a same line, or pin of the TRRS.

10. A TIP, RING, RING, SLEEVE (TRRS) controller for managing and delegating dynamic pin allocation of an audio jack in response to an audio device connection, comprising:

a processing unit communicatively coupled to one or more multimedia connections, consisting of TRRS headphone audio, USB and a proprietary serial protocol; and

wherein the TRRS controller is communicatively coupled to the audio jack over a line connection consisting of a Tip line, a Ring 1 line, a Ring 2 line, and a Sleeve Line,

wherein the processing unit arbitrates and negotiates multimedia connections and converts between multimedia types and formats to provide for universal connectivity, and wherein the processing unit detects an audio configuration of an audio device by way of current and load sensing through the audio jack, wherein the processing unit, upon detection of a connector type of an audio connector of the audio device, independently assigns data lines to or from the audio device to pins utilized for the line connection in accordance with the connector type detected, and wherein the processing unit, upon detection of a microphone signal, reconfigures the pins based on the microphone signal.

11. The TRRS controller of claim 10, wherein the processing unit upon insertion of the audio device by way of the audio connector inserted into the audio jack automatically recognizes and arbitrates a dynamic pin allocation on the audio jack to accommodate a multimedia type of the audio device thereto inserted.

12. A method for managing and delegating dynamic pin allocation of an audio jack using a processing unit in response to an audio device connection, comprising:

recognizing and arbitrating a TIP, RING, RING, SLEEVE (TRRS) dynamic pin allocation on the audio jack to accommodate a multimedia type of the audio device thereto inserted, and wherein the processing unit detects an audio configuration of the audio device by way of current and load sensing through the audio jack, wherein the processing unit, upon detection of a connector type of an audio connector of the audio device, independently assigns data lines to or from the audio device to pins utilized for the audio device connection in accordance with the connector type detected, and wherein the processing unit, upon detection of a microphone signal, reconfigures the pins based on the microphone signal.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising automatically the recognizing and arbitrating in response to insertion of the audio device by way of the audio connector inserted into the audio jack.