DETECTING THE REPOSITIONING OF AN EARPHONE USING A MICROPHONE AND ASSOCIATED ACTION

• US 20100128887A1
• Filed: 11/24/2008
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Jae H., Sander, Wendell B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,098,838 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/74
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones

Abstract

A system detects the repositioning of an earphone that is worn by a user, and changes an operation mode of a host coupled to the earphone. Within the earphone is a pressure transducer that detects a pressure change caused by the repositioning of the earphone. A signaling mechanism sends a repositioning detection signal to the host in response to a signal from the pressure transducer indicating the detection of the pressure change.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an earphone that is to be coupled to a host;

a pressure transducer within the earphone; and

a signaling mechanism coupled to the pressure transducer, the signaling mechanism to send to the host a repositioning detection signal representing a pressure change detected by the pressure transducer, the pressure change responsive to repositioning of the earphone.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signaling mechanism comprises a microphone and a signal generator, the signal generator to generate a supersonic signal as the repositioning detection signal, the supersonic signal to be superimposed on a microphone signal generated by the microphone for transmission to the host.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the supersonic signal is a frequency sequence that ranges from 75 kHz to 300 kHz.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signaling mechanism comprises:

a host interface to transmit a unique voltage level that identifies an occurrence of the repositioning detection signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

the host; and

an earphone interface within the host to receive the repositioning detection signal and to change an operation mode of the host upon receipt of the repositioning detection signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more buttons coupled to the signaling mechanism, the signaling mechanism to generate a button press signal when one of the buttons is pressed, the button press signal to be transmitted to the host through a same wire as the repositioning detection signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the host comprises:

a media player, which is to pause playing a media file in response to the repositioning detection signal indicating that the earphone has been removed from an ear.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the host comprises:

a media player, which is to resume playing a media file in response to the repositioning detection signal indicating that the earphone has been inserted into an ear.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of wires to connect the signaling mechanism and the earphone with the host, the plurality of wires to carry audio signals from the host to the earphone, and the repositioning detection signal from the earphone to the host.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signaling mechanism comprises:

a wireless interface to transmit the repositioning detection signal to the host via a wireless connection.

11. A method comprising:

detecting a pressure change within an earphone, the pressure change responsive to repositioning of the earphone;

in response to the pressure change, generating a repositioning detection signal to a host that is coupled to the earphone; and

sending the repositioning detection signal to the host to cause the host to change an operating mode.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

generating the repositioning detection signal as a unique voltage level in response to the pressure change; and

transmitting the unique voltage level to the host via a conductive wire.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

generating the repositioning detection signal as a supersonic signal in response to the pressure change;

superimposing the supersonic signal on an audible signal generated by a microphone that is coupled to the earphone; and

transmitting the superimposed supersonic and audio signals to the host through a conductive wire.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

transmitting the repositioning detection signal through a same wire as an audible signal generated by a microphone coupled to the earphone.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

causing a media player in the host to pause playing a media file in response to the repositioning detection signal indicating that the earphone has been removed from an ear.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

causing a media player in the host to resumes playing a media file in response to the repositioning detection signal indicating that the earphone has been inserted into an ear.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

transmitting the repositioning detection signal via a wireless communication link to the host.

18. A system comprising:

means for detecting a pressure change within an earphone; and

means for sending a repositioning detection signal representing the pressure change to a host, the pressure change responsive to repositioning of the earphone.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

means for generating a uniquely identifiable signal as the repositioning detection signal, the uniquely identifiable signal to be transmitted to the host, through a single wire, with a microphone signal generated by a microphone.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

means for transmitting the repositioning detection signal via a wireless communication link to the host.