Circuit for use with multifunction handheld device with video functionality

• US 20070052793A1
• Filed: 07/27/2006
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: SigmaTel Incorporated (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Henson, Matthew, Mulligan, Daniel, Clarke, Debby, May, Marcus
• Granted Patent: US 7,555,410 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.10
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 2219/00 Thermometers with dedicated analog to digital converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/08 Three-wire systems; Systems having more than three wires
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0063 with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/009 having two or more independently controlled outputs for DC-DC converter with intermediate AC H02M3/33561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79

Abstract

A circuit for use by a multifunction handheld device is coupleable to an audio output device, the multifunction handheld device including a color video display device and a host interface that is coupleable to a host device. The circuit includes a processing module and a memory interface, operably coupled to a memory that stores a plurality of digitally formatted files, and that stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to receive a first digitally formatted file of the plurality of digitally formatted files from the host device when coupled to the host device via the host interface and store the first digitally formatted file in the memory, wherein the first digitally formatted file includes a compressed audio file; receive a second digitally formatted file of the plurality of digitally formatted files from a host device when coupled to the host device via a host interface and store the second digitally formatted file in the memory, wherein the second digitally formatted file includes a compressed video file; playback a selected one of the plurality of digitally formatted files, the playback including the generation of an audio output signal for the audio output device, when the first digitally formatted file is selected, and the playback including rendering the selected one of the digitally formatted files for the color video display device, when the first digitally formatted file is selected.

Claims

1. A circuit for use by a multifunction handheld device that is coupleable to an audio output device, the multifunction handheld device including a color video display device and a host interface that is coupleable to a host device via a universal serial bus port, the circuit comprises:

a processing module;

a memory interface, operably coupled to the processing module and a memory that stores a plurality of digitally formatted files, and that stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to;

receive a first digitally formatted file of the plurality of digitally formatted files from the host device when coupled to the host device via the host interface and store the first digitally formatted file in the memory, wherein the first digitally formatted file includes a compressed audio file;

receive a second digitally formatted file of the plurality of digitally formatted files from a host device when coupled to the host device via a host interface and store the second digitally formatted file in the memory, wherein the second digitally formatted file includes a compressed video file;

playback a selected one of the plurality of digitally formatted files, the playback including the generation of an audio output signal for the audio output device, when the first digitally formatted file is selected, and the playback including rendering the selected one of the digitally formatted files for the color video display device, when the second digitally formatted file is selected;

power the handheld device from the host device when the handheld device is coupled to the host device via the host interface;

monitor for a low voltage condition produced by a low battery voltage;

when the low voltage condition is detected, enabling a first fail safe algorithm to;

disable the output of the audio output signal;

store at leant one audio setting; and

shutdown the multifunction handheld device.

2. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

fastforward the playback of the selected one of the plurality of digitally formatted files in response to a user fastforward command.

3. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

capturing a video recording from a video capture device coupled thereto; and

process the video recording into a third digitally formatted file for storage in the memory.

4. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the second digitally formatted file is formatted as MPEG data.

5. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

receive an analog audio signal from a radio tuner.

6. The circuit of claim 5 wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

generate digital input data from the analog audio signal; and

compress the digital input data to form a third digitally formatted file of the plurality of digitally formatted files.

7. The circuit of claim 1 wherein, when the handheld device is reactivated, the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to enable the playback of the selected one of the plurality of digitally formatted files to resume where the playback left off.

8. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the at least one audio setting includes a volume setting.

9. The circuit of claim 7 wherein the at least one audio setting includes a bass setting.

10. The circuit of claim 8 wherein the at least one audio setting includes a treble setting.

11. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the playback of the selected one of the plurality of digitally formatted files includes playback of a particular song, and the at least one audio setting includes the particular song.

12. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

generate a third digitally formatted file of the plurality of digitally formatted files by digitally recording a voice sample and store the third digitally formatted file in the memory.

13. The circuit of claim 1 further comprising a DC-to-DC converter for supplying at least one supply voltage to the circuit.

14. The circuit of claim 13 wherein the DC-to-DC converter supplies a plurality of supply voltages to the circuit.

49. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

generate a third digitally formatted file of the plurality of digitally formatted files by digitally recording an audio input signal and store the third digitally formatted file in the memory.

15. A circuit for use by a multifunction handheld device that is coupleable to an audio output device, the multifunction handheld device including a color video display device and a host interface that is coupleable to a host device, the circuit comprises:

a processing module;

a memory interface, operably coupled to the processing module and a memory that stores a plurality of digitally formatted files, and that stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to;

receive a first digitally formatted file of the plurality of digitally formatted files from the host device when coupled to the host device via the host interface and store the first digitally formatted file in the memory, wherein the first digitally formatted file includes a compressed audio file;

receive a second digitally formatted file of the plurality of digitally formatted files from a host device when coupled to the host device via a host interface and store the second digitally formatted file in the memory, wherein the second digitally formatted file includes a compressed video file;

playback a selected one of the plurality of digitally formatted files, the playback including the generation of an audio output signal for the audio output device, when the first digitally formatted file is selected, and the playback including rendering the selected one of the digitally formatted files for the color video displays device, when the second digitally formatted file is selected.

16. The circuit of claim 15 wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

fastforward the playback of the selected one of the plurality of digitally formatted files in response to a user fastforward command.

17. The circuit of claim 15 wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

capturing a video recording from a video capture device coupled thereto; and

process the video recording into a third digitally formatted file for storage in the memory.

18. The circuit of claim 15 wherein the second digitally formatted file is formatted as MPEG data.

19. The circuit of claim 15 wherein memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

monitor for a low voltage condition produced by a low battery voltage;

when the low voltage condition is detected, enabling a first fail safe algorithm to;

disable the output of the audio output signal;

store at least one audio setting; and

shutdown the multifunction handheld device.

20. The circuit of claim 19 wherein, when the handheld device is reactivated, the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to enable the playback of the selected one of the plurality of digitally formatted files to resume where the playback left off.

21. The circuit of claim 19 wherein the at least one audio setting includes a volume setting.

22. The circuit of claim 21 wherein the at least one audio setting includes a bass setting.

23. The circuit of claim 22 wherein the at least one audio setting includes a treble setting.

24. The circuit of claim 19 wherein the playback of the selected one of the plurality of digitally formatted files includes playback or a particular song, and the at least one audio setting includes the particular song.

25. The circuit of claim 15 wherein the host interface includes a universal serial bus (USB) encoder and USB decoder and wherein memory further includes operational instructions that cause the processing module to power the handheld device from the host device when the handheld device is coupled to the host device via the host interface.

26. The circuit of claim 15 wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

generate a third digitally formatted file of the plurality of digitally formatted files by digitally recording a voice sample and store the third digitally formatted file in the memory.

27. The circuit of claim 15 wherein the host interface includes a wireless communication link for communicating with the host device via a wireless local area network protocol.

28. The circuit of claim 15 further comprising a DC-to-DC converter for supplying a plurality of supply voltages to the circuit.

29. The circuit of claim 15 wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

receive an analog audio signal from a radio tuner.

50. The circuit of claim 15 wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

generate a third digitally formatted file of the plurality or digitally formatted files by digitally recording an audio input signal and store the third digitally formatted file in the memory.

30. The circuit of claim 30 wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

generate digital input data from the analog audio signal; and

compress the digital input data to form a third digitally formatted file of the plurality of digitally formatted files.

31. A circuit for use by a multifunction handheld device that is coupleable to an audio output device, the multifunction handheld device including a color video display device and a host interface that is coupleable to a host device, the circuit comprises:

a processing module;

a memory interface, operably coupled to the processing module and a memory that stores a plurality of digitally formatted files, and that stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to;

receive a first digitally formatted file of the plurality of digitally formatted files from the host device when coupled to the host device via the host interface and store the first digitally formatted file in the memory, wherein the first digitally formatted file includes a compressed audio file;

capturing a video recording from a video capture device coupled thereto;

process the video recording into a second digitally formatted file and store the second digitally formatted file in the memory;

playback a selected one of the plurality of digitally formatted files, the playback including the generation of an audio output signal for the audio output device, when the first digitally formatted file is selected,

and the playback including rendering the selected one of tho digitally formatted files for the color video display device, when the second digitally formatted file is selected.

32. The circuit of claim 31 wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

fastforward the playback of the selected one of the plurality of digitally formatted files in response to a user fastforward command.

33. The circuit of claim 31 wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

transfer the second digitally formatted file to the host device via the host interface.

34. The circuit of claim 31 wherein the second digitally formatted file is formatted as MPEG data.

35. The circuit of claim 31 wherein memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

monitor for a low voltage condition produced by a low battery voltage;

when the low voltage condition is detected, enabling a first fail safe algorithm to;

disable the output the audio output signal;

store at least one audio setting; and

shutdown the multifunction handheld device.

36. The circuit of claim 35 wherein, when the handheld device is reactivated, the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to enable the playback of the selected one of the plurality of digitally formatted files to resume where the playback left off.

37. The circuit of claim 35 wherein the at least one audio setting includes a volume setting.

38. The circuit of claim 37 wherein the at least one audio setting includes a bass setting.

39. The circuit of claim 38 wherein the at least one audio setting includes a treble setting.

40. The circuit of claim 35 wherein the playback of the selected one of the plurality of digitally formatted files includes playback of a particular song, and the at least one audio setting includes the particular song.

41. The circuit of claim 31 wherein the host interface includes a universal serial bus (USB) encoder and USB decoder and wherein memory further includes operational instructions that cause the processing module to power the handheld device from the host device when the handheld device is coupled to the host device via the host interface.

42. The circuit of claim 31 wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

generate a third digitally formatted file of the plurality of digitally formatted files by digitally recording a voice sample and store the third digitally formatted file in the memory.

43. The circuit of claim 31 wherein the host interface includes a wireless communication link for communicating with the host device via a wireless local area network protocol.

44. The circuit of claim 31 further comprising a DC-to-DC converter for supplying at least one supply voltage to the circuit.

45. The circuit of claim 44 wherein the DC-to-DC converter supplies a plurality of supply voltages to the circuit.

46. The circuit of claim 31 wherein the memory includes one of a flash memory and a disk memory.

47. The circuit of claim 31 wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

receive an analog audio signal from a radio tuner.

48. The circuit of claim 47 wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

generate digital input data from the analog audio signal; and

compress the digital input data to form a third digitally formatted file of the plurality of digitally formatted files.

51. The circuit of claim 31 wherein the memory further stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

generate a third digitally formatted file of the plurality of digitally formatted files by digitally recording an audio input signal and store the third digitally formatted file in the memory.