Audio signal output method and apparatus for short-range communication enabled headset

• US 20080212820A1
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Park, Jong Myung
• Granted Patent: US 8,265,293 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/370
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/034 Portable transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/01 Input selection or mixing for amplifiers or loudspeakers for hearing aids H04R25/43
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles

Abstract

An audio signal output method and apparatus for a short-range communication enabled headset are disclosed. An audio signal of the headset can be output through an internal speaker or be transmitted to an in-vehicle speaker unit. The audio signal output method includes checking, when an audio signal is present, an operating mode of the headset, outputting, if the headset is in a normal headset mode, the audio signal through an internal speaker and transmitting, if the headset is in a frequency modulation (FM) transmission mode, the audio signal through an FM channel to an in-vehicle speaker unit for reproduction, wherein the input and output gains are adjusted based on a determined vibration levels.

Claims

1. An audio signal output method for a headset, comprising:

determining an operating mode of the headset;

outputting, if the headset is in a normal headset mode, the audio signal through an internal speaker; and

transmitting, if the headset is in a frequency modulation (FM) transmission mode, the audio signal through an FM channel to an external speaker unit for reproduction.

2. The audio signal output method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a mode change event of the headset;

switching, upon detection of a mode change event, the operating mode to the other mode; and

changing an audio output path according to the mode switched to.

3. The audio signal output method of claim 2, further comprising:

performing, upon switching to the FM transmission mode, input and output gain adjustment for audio signals.

4. An audio signal output method for a headset, comprising:

checking whether a frequency modulation (FM) function is activated;

outputting, if the FM function is not activated, an audio signal of the headset through an internal speaker; and

changing, if the FM function is activated, an audio output path to an FM transmitter, and transmitting the audio signal through the FM transmitter using an FM channel.

5. The audio signal output method of claim 4, further comprising:

measuring, if the FM function is activated, a vibration level of the headset;

extracting gain values corresponding to the measured vibration level; and

adjusting input and output gain values for audio signals using the extracted gain values.

6. The audio signal output method of claim 5, further comprising:

checking whether a change in the vibration level is present, and

readjusting the input and output gains if a change in the vibration level is present.

7. An audio signal output method for a short-range communication headset, comprising:

receiving an audio signal from a mobile terminal through a short-range communication protocol;

detecting a mode change event during audio signal reception;

changing an audio output path according to the detected mode change event; and

sending the received audio signal through the audio output path.

8. The audio signal output method of claim 7, wherein the changing of an audio output path comprises:

setting, upon mode switching to a normal headset mode, the audio output path to an internal speaker; and

setting, upon mode switching to a frequency modulation (FM) transmission mode, the audio output path to an FM transmitter.

9. The audio signal output method of claim 8, wherein the sending the received audio signal to an FM transmitter comprises:

transmitting the received audio signal through the FM transmitter using an FM channel to an external audio system.

10. The audio signal output method of claim 8, further comprising:

measuring, after mode switching to the FM transmission mode, a vibration level of the short-range communication headset at regular intervals; and

adjusting a gain of a microphone of the headset according to the measured vibration level.

11. The audio signal output method of claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting a voice signal from the microphone to the mobile terminal through the short-range communication protocol.

12. An audio signal output method for a short-range communication headset, comprising:

switching, in response to detection of a first event during a normal headset mode, an operating mode from the normal headset mode to a frequency modulation (FM) transmission mode;

switching, in response to detection of a second event during the FM transmission mode, the operating mode from the FM transmission mode to the normal headset mode;

outputting an audio signal through an internal speaker in the normal headset mode; and

transmitting an audio signal to an external audio system through an FM channel in the FM transmission mode.

13. The audio signal output method of claim 12, wherein the switching the operating mode from the FM transmission mode to the normal headset mode further comprises setting an audio output path to the internal speaker.

14. The audio signal output method of claim 12, wherein the switching the operating mode from the normal headset mode to the FM transmission mode further comprises setting the audio output path to an FM transmitter.

15. The audio signal output method of claim 12, wherein the first event causes mode-switching from the normal headset mode to the FM transmission mode.

16. The audio signal output method of claim 12, wherein the second event causes mode-switching from the FM transmission mode to the normal headset mode.

17. The audio signal output method of claim 12, further comprising adjusting, upon mode switching, input and output gains for audio signals.

18. The audio signal output method of claim 12, wherein the adjusting input and output gains comprises:

adjusting the input and output gains in the normal headset mode to default gain values; and

adjusting the input and output gains in the FM transmission mode according to a vibration level of the headset.

19. The audio signal output method of claim 18, wherein the adjusting the input and output gains in the FM transmission mode further comprises:

determining whether a change in the vibration level is present, and readjusting the input and output gains if a change in the vibration level is present.

20. An audio signal output apparatus for a short-range communication headset, comprising:

a memory unit for storing an application program for changing an audio output path according to an operating mode of the headset, setting information associated with at least one application program, and a mapping table for mapping between vibration levels and gain values;

an input unit for inputting a key signal for controlling the headset, and a mode change event;

a frequency modulation (FM) transmitter for transmitting an audio signal through an FM channel to an external audio system;

an audio processor for processing an audio signal, and sending the processed audio signal to an internal speaker or to the FM transmitter depending upon the operating mode of the headset; and

a control unit for controlling the switching of the operating mode and changing of the audio output path according to the headset operating mode.

21. The audio signal output apparatus of claim 20, wherein the control unit controls mode-switching between a normal headset mode and FM transmission mode, and sets the audio output path to the FM transmitter in the FM transmission mode to control FM transmission of the audio signal.

22. The audio signal output apparatus of claim 21, wherein the control unit adjusts input and output gains of the headset according to the operating mode.

23. The audio signal output apparatus of claim 22, wherein the control unit measures a vibration level of the headset at regular intervals during the FM transmission mode and adjusts the input and output gains according to the measured vibration level.

24. The audio signal output apparatus of claim 21, wherein the control unit controls setting of a transmit frequency for FM transmission of the audio signal, and converts the audio signal into an FM signal for transmission.

25. The audio signal output apparatus of claim 21, wherein the control unit comprises:

an event detector for detecting a mode change event;

a mode controller for switching the operating mode of the headset according to the detected mode change event;

a gain adjustor for adjusting the input and output gains for audio signals; and

a path controller for controlling the audio output path according to the detected mode change event.

26. The audio signal output apparatus of claim 25, wherein the event detector detects an event generated by a Hall sensor of the input unit.

27. The audio signal output apparatus of claim 25, wherein the gain adjustor extracts gain values corresponding to a measured vibration level from the mapping table, and adjusts the input and output gains using the extracted gain values.

28. The audio signal output apparatus of claim 25, wherein the path controller sets the audio output path to the internal speaker in the normal headset mode, and sets the audio output path to the FM transmitter in the FM transmission mode.

29. The audio signal output apparatus of claim 25, wherein the control unit further comprises a signal converter for converting an audio signal into an FM signal for transmission.

30. The audio signal output apparatus of claim 20, wherein the FM transmitter transmits an audio signal using a preset frequency band.

31. The audio signal output apparatus of claim 20, wherein the FM transmitter finds an operating frequency of the external audio system, and transmits an audio signal using the found operating frequency.

32. The audio signal output apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a short-range communication module for transmitting and receiving an audio signal through short-range communication to and from a mobile terminal.

33. The audio signal output apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a sensing unit for measuring a vibration level of the headset.

34. The audio signal output apparatus of claim 33, wherein the sensing unit comprises one or a combination of a terrestrial magnetism sensor and an acceleration sensor.

35. The audio signal output apparatus of claim 20, wherein the input unit comprises a Hall sensor.

36. The audio signal output apparatus of claim 20, wherein the short-range communication is selected from the group consisting of:

Bluetooth, infrared and ZigBee.