System and method for controlling states of a device

• US 20060029234A1
• Filed: 08/06/2004
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sargaison, Stewart
• Granted Patent: US 7,418,103 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/74
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/109 Arrangements to adapt hands free headphones for use on both ears
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/03 Connection circuits to selectively connect loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S

Abstract

A system and method for automatically changing a state of a device coupled to a headphone device is provided. The system comprises a means for detecting if at least one earpiece of the headphone device is activated or deactivated. Based on an activation state or a change in an activation state of the at least one earpiece, a state change may occur in the device. The state change is determined by a preset of a control module.

Claims

1. A system for automated state changes in a device coupled to a headphone device, comprising:

a processor;

means for detecting if at least one earpiece of the headphone device is in an activated or deactivated state; and

a control module configured for determining a device state change based on the activated or deactivated state of each of the at least one earpiece.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for detecting is an amplifier, the amplifier detecting by monitoring impedance to the at least one earpiece.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for detecting are thermo sensors located within each earpiece of the headphone device.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for detecting are circuitry located within each earpiece of the headphone device.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for detecting generates a state change signal.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for detecting is a sensor port configured to receive signals.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the control module comprises presets for the state changes.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a user interface configured to allow a user to enter presets into the control module.

9. A method for automatically changing a state of a device coupled to a headphone device, comprising:

receiving activation state data for each earpiece of the headphone device; and

based on the received activation state data, implementing a device state change based on a preset if an activation state change occurred.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising determining if an activation state change occurred based on the received activation state data.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein determining if an activation state change occurred comprises determining if an impedance change occurred in at least one earpiece

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising customizing the preset via a user interface.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the activation state data are impedance data.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the activation state data are activation state signals received from the headphone device.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the activation state data are activation state change signals received from the headphone device.

16. A computer readable medium having embodied thereon a program, the program being executable by a machine to perform a method for automatically changing a state of a device coupled to a headphone device, the method comprising:

receiving activation state data for each earpiece of the headphone device; and

based on the received activation state data, implementing a device state change based on a preset if an activation state change occurred.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16 further comprising determining if an activation state change occurred based on the received activation state data.

18. A method for automatically changing a state of a device coupled to a headphone device, comprising:

receiving activation state data for each earpiece of the headphone device;

determining an activation state for each earpiece of the headphone device; and

implementing a device state change based on a preset according to the activation state of each earpiece.

19. A headphone device for use with a system for automated state changes in a device, comprising:

a right earpiece;

a left earpiece; and

at least one sensor coupled to the right and left earpieces, the at least one sensor determining an activation state of the right earpiece and the left earpieces.

20. The headphone device of claim 19 wherein the at least one sensor is a thermo sensor.

21. The headphone device of claim 19 further comprising a micro-switch in the right and left earpieces, the micro-switch closing upon activation of the right and left earpieces.