METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONSERVING BATTERY POWER

• US 20080192942A1
• Filed: 02/12/2007
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Inventors: Yamkovoy, Paul G., Gauger, Daniel M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,983,427 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/03 Aspects of the reduction of energy consumption in hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones
• 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 of conserving battery power includes providing an electrical conductor that is connectable between an audio source and an accessory of the audio source. The conductor is capable of conducting a first electrical signal, containing audio information from the audio source, to the accessory. A second electrical signal is applied to the conductor when the first electrical signal is not present on the conductor. An aspect of the second electrical signal is measured while it is being applied to the conductor. An amount of battery power supplied to the accessory is reduced when the measured aspect meets a predetermined condition.

Claims

1. A method of conserving battery power, comprising the steps of:

providing an electrical conductor that is connectable between an audio source and an accessory of the audio source, the conductor capable of conducting a first electrical signal, containing audio information from the audio source, to the accessory;

applying a second electrical signal to the conductor when the first electrical signal is not present on the conductor;

measuring an aspect of the second electrical signal which it is being applied to the conductor; and

reducing an amount of battery power supplied to the accessory when the measured aspect meets a predetermined condition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the reducing step is effective to reduce battery power supplied to the accessory such that an active noise cancellation system of the accessory is shut off.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio source is an aviation intercom system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the accessory is a headset.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the headset includes an active noise cancellation system that uses battery power.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the headset includes a microphone.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the aspect that is measured is related to an output impedance of the audio source.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein when the predetermined condition is met it indicates that an output impedance of the audio source is about ≧

500 Ohm.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying step includes a step of injecting an electrical current into the electrical conductor, and a step of measuring a voltage on the electrical conductor.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to the applying step, an impedance is increased between a source of the second electrical signal and the accessory.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the reducing step is effective to reduce battery power supplied to the accessory such that the accessory is put in a standby state.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein when the measured aspect meets the predetermined condition it indicates that the electrical conductor is not connected to the audio source.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein when the measured aspect meets the predetermined condition and the audio source is connected to the accessory by the electrical conductor, it indicates that the audio source is powered off.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying step is not done if the first electrical signal is detected on the electrical conductor.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the reducing step is delayed by a period of time after the measuring step.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein a user of the accessory can disable the reducing step.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the accessory is capable of producing sound up to an upper frequency cutoff point, the second electrical signal having a frequency that is about at or above this cutoff point.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the reducing step is effective to reduce battery power supplied to the accessory such that circuitry in the accessory is shut off.

44. The method of claim 10, wherein the impedance is increased by opening a switch between the source of the second electrical signal and the accessory.

51. The method of claim 1, wherein the second electrical signal does not contain audio information from the audio source

18. An apparatus for conserving battery power in a battery operated accessory which is connectable to an audio source via an electrical conductor, the conductor capable of conducting a first electrical signal, containing audio information from the audio source, to the accessory, comprising:

an electrical signal source that is capable of injecting a second electrical signal into the conductor when the first electrical signal is not present on the conductor;

a measurement device that measures an aspect of the second electrical signal while the electrical signal source is injecting the second electrical signal into the conductor; and

a logic device for determining whether or not the measured aspect meets a predetermined condition, the logic device reducing an amount of battery power supplied to the accessory when the predetermined condition is met.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the battery power supplied to the accessory is reduced such that an active noise cancellation system of the accessory is shut off.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the audio source is an aviation intercom system.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the accessory is a headset.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the headset includes an active noise cancellation system that uses battery power.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the headset includes a microphone.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the aspect that is measured is related to an output impedance of the audio source.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the output impedance is about ≧

500 Ohm.

26. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein prior to injecting the second electrical signal into the electrical conductor, an impedance is increased between the source of the second electrical signal and the accessory.

28. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein when the measured aspect meets the predetermined condition it indicates that the electrical conductor is not connected to the audio source.

29. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein when the measured aspect meets the predetermined condition and the audio source is connected to the accessory by the electrical conductor, it indicates that the audio source is powered off.

30. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second electrical signal is not injected into the electrical conductor if the first electrical signal is detected on the electrical conductor.

31. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the logic device delays reducing the battery power for a period of time after the predetermined condition is met.

32. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein a user of the accessory can disable the logic device from reducing the battery power.

33. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the accessory is capable of producing sound up to an upper frequency cutoff point, the second electrical signal having a frequency that is about at or above this cutoff point.

34. A method of conserving battery power, comprising the steps of:

providing an electrical conductor that is connectable between an audio source and an accessory of the audio source, the conductor capable of conducting a first electrical signal, containing audio information from the audio source, to the accessory;

applying a second electrical signal to the conductor when the first electrical signal is not present on the conductor

measuring an aspect of the second electrical signal while it is being applied to the conductor; and

adjusting an operating state of the accessory when the measured aspect meets a predetermined condition.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the adjusting step is effective to shut off an active noise cancellation system of the accessory.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the audio source is an aviation intercom system.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein the accessory is a headset.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the headset includes an active noise cancellation system that uses battery power.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the headset includes a microphone.

40. The method of claim 34, wherein the aspect that is measured is related to an output impedance of the audio source.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the output impedance is about ≧

500 Ohm.

42. The method of claim 34, wherein the applying step includes a step of injecting an electrical current into the electrical conductor, and a step of measuring a voltage on the electrical conductor.

43. The method of claim 34, wherein prior to the applying step, an impedance is increased between a source of the second electrical signal and the accessory.

45. The method of claim 34, wherein when the measured aspect meets the predetermined condition it indicates that the electrical conductor is not connected to the audio source.

46. The method of claim 34, wherein when the measured aspect meets the predetermined condition and the audio source is connected to the accessory by the electrical conductor, it indicates that the audio source is powered off.

47. The method of claim 34, wherein the applying step is done if the first electrical signal is detected on the electrical conductor.

48. The method of claim 34, wherein the adjusting step is delayed by a period of time after the measuring step.

49. The method of claim 34, wherein a user of the accessory can disable the adjusting step.

50. The method of claim 34, wherein the accessory is capable of producing sound up to an upper frequency cutoff point, the second electrical signal having a frequency that is about at or above this cutoff point.