METHOD FOR CONTROLLING VOLUME OF EARPHONE

• US 20080025525A1
• Filed: 02/14/2007
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Compal Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Compal Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Tsai, Wen-Sung
• Application Number:
  US11/674,673
• Publication Number:
  US 20080025525A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/74
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3005 in amplifiers suitable for low-frequencies, e.g. audio amplifiers H03G3/32, H03G3/34 take 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 method for controlling volume of an earphone is disclosed. The method includes first detecting if a sensor in the earphone is triggered, and then a counter begins to count the time when the sensor is triggered. The counting value of the counter represents an operating time of the earphone. The volume of the earphone is reduced when the operating time reaches a default value. Therefore, the purpose of protecting users'"'"' hearing is achieved.

Claims

1. A method for controlling volume of an earphone, comprising the following steps:

(a) detecting if a sensor in the earphone is triggered;

(b) counting the time by using a counter when the sensor is triggered, the counting value of the counter representing an operating time of the earphone; and

(c) reducing the volume of the earphone when the operating time reaches a default value.

2. The method for controlling volume of the earphone according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the following steps after step (b):

determining if the sensor in the earphone is no longer triggered;

terminating the calculation of the operating time when the sensor is no longer triggered; and

returning to step (a) and re-detecting if the sensor in the earphone is triggered again.

3. The method for controlling volume of the earphone according to claim 2, wherein the step of terminating the calculation of the operating time further comprises:

recording the accumulated operating time so as to add said operating time to a subsequent operating time when the sensor is again triggered and the counter begins to count the subsequent operating time.

4. The method for controlling volume of the earphone according to claim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises

sending a warning message so as to remind users of the operating time or the volume of the earphone.

5. The method for controlling volume of the earphone according to claim 4, wherein the method of sending the warning message comprises either displaying a text message on a screen or broadcasting an audio message.

6. The method for controlling volume of the earphone according to claim 1, wherein a configured mode for reducing the volume of the earphone comprises either a proportional volume reduction mode or a dynamic volume reduction mode.

7. The method for controlling volume of the earphone according to claim 6, wherein the default volume is obtained by multiplying the volume of the earphone by a certain ratio in the proportional volume reduction mode.

8. The method for controlling volume of the earphone according to claim 6, wherein a range of the volume at which the earphone is capable of broadcasting is divided into a plurality of segments in the dynamic volume reduction mode, and each of the segments corresponds to a certain ratio, the volume in the corresponding segment being multiplied by its corresponding ratio to obtain the default value of the volume.

9. The method for controlling volume of the earphone according to claim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises:

reducing the volume of the earphone to a default volume when the operating time reaches the default value of time.

10. The method for controlling volume of the earphone according to claim 9, wherein the default value of the volume includes zero decibel (dB) which denotes to turn off the volume output.

11. The method for controlling volume of the earphone according to claim 1, wherein the sensor includes either a pressure sensor or a thermal sensor.