WIRELESS ADAPTER FOR MEDIA PLAYER SYSTEM

• US 20120315864A1
• Filed: 08/20/2012
• Published: 12/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony M., Zadesky, Stephen Paul, Filson, John Benjamin
• Granted Patent: US 8,467,829 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/74.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/021 Aspects relating to docking-station type assemblies to obtain an acoustical effect, e.g. the type of connection to external loudspeakers or housings, frequency improvement

Abstract

A media player system is disclosed. One aspect of the media player system pertains to a docking station that allows a media player to communicate with other media devices. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a wireless media player system that includes a hand held media player capable of transmitting information over a wireless connection and one or more media devices capable of receiving information over the wireless connection. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a method of wirelessly connecting the hand held media player to another device. The method includes selecting a media item on the hand held media player; selecting one or more remote recipients on the hand held media player; and transmitting the media item locally to the hand held media player, and wirelessly to the selected remote recipients.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a first connector for connecting to a corresponding second connector of a media player, the first plug connector including;

a housing designed to accommodate at least 30 contacts spaced apart in a single row of sequentially numbered contact locations, wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations include;

Firewire contact locations 3, 5, 7 and 9 designated for Firewire signals;

USB contact locations 4, 6, and 8 designated for universal serial bus (USB) signals;

an accessory identify contact location 10 designated for an accessory identify signal that has an associated electrical pull down function to notify the media player of an accessory identification;

serial protocol contact locations 18 and 19 designated for serial protocol signals;

audio contact locations 27 and 28 designated for analog audio signals; and

ground contact locations 1 and 30 designated for ground;

an antenna; and

a radio component configured to transmittal and/or receive media over the antenna between the media player and another electronic device.

2. The electronic apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein the radio component comprises a transceiver configured to transmit and receive media over the antenna between the media player and another electronic device.

3. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a first connector for connecting to a corresponding second connector of a first electronic device, the first connector including;

a housing designed to accommodate at least 30 contacts spaced apart in a single row of sequentially numbered contact locations, wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations include;

digital contact locations 3 to 9 designated for digital signals including universal serial bus (USB) contact locations designated for USB differential data signals interleaved with contact locations designated for signals other than USB differential data signals;

analog contact locations 27 and 28 designated for one or more analog signals including at least one audio signal; and

ground contact locations 1 and 30 designated for ground;

an antenna; and

a radio component configured to transmit and/or receive media over the antenna between the first electronic device and a second electronic device.

4. The electronic apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein the radio component comprises a receiver configured to receive media over the antenna.

5. The electronic apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein the radio component comprises a transmitter configured to transmit media from the first electronic device over the antenna.

6. The electronic apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein the radio component comprises a transceiver configured to transmit and receive media over the antenna.

7. The electronic apparatus of claim 6 wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations further include a ground contact location 16 designated for ground.

8. The electronic apparatus of claim 7 wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations further include ground contact locations 2, 15, and 29 designated for ground.

9. The electronic apparatus of claim 6 further comprising:

contacts disposed at contact locations 3 to 9 and appropriated for carrying the digital signals;

contacts disposed at contact locations 27 and 28 and appropriated for carrying the analog signals; and

contacts disposed at contact locations 1 and 30 and appropriated for ground, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of contacts can be active when the plug connector is connected to the corresponding receptacle connector of the media player.

10. The electronic apparatus of claim 9 wherein the housing is made of plastic;

wherein the contacts are made of an electrically conductive material, are disposed in a corresponding one of the sequentially numbered contact locations for the at least 30 contacts, and are recessed inside the housing in an off-center position; and

wherein at least one contact is made of a copper alloy.

11. The electronic apparatus of claim 6 wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations further include an accessory identify contact location 10 designated for an accessory identify signal that has an associated electrical pull down function to notify the media player of an accessory identification.

12. The electronic apparatus of claim 6 wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations further include:

an accessory power contact location 13 designated for an accessory power signal that can receive power from the media player; and

an accessory detect contact location 20 designated for an accessory detect signal.

13. The electronic apparatus of claim 6 wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations further include:

serial protocol contact locations 18 and 19 designated for serial protocol signals.

14. The electronic apparatus of claim 6 wherein contact locations 3, 5, 7 and 9 are designated for Firewire signals.

15. The electronic apparatus of claim 6 wherein locations 4 and 6 are designated for USB differential data signals.

16. The electronic apparatus of claim 6 further comprising power contacts appropriated to carry power and located at locations 11 and 12.

17. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a first connector for connecting to a corresponding second connector of a first electronic device, the first connector including;

a housing designed to accommodate a plurality of contacts spaced apart in a single row of contact locations, wherein the contact locations are sequentially numbered from a first end to a second end, the contact locations including;

a first ground contact location designated for ground,

a first group of digital contact locations designated for one or more digital signals including a pair of universal serial bus (USB) differential data signals interleaved contact locations designated for signals other than USB differential data signals, the first group of digital contact locations being disposed between the first ground contact location and the first end, wherein the contact locations from the first group of digital contact locations that are designated for USB are disposed consecutively in every other contact location, and

a second group of analog contact locations designated for one or more analog signals including at least one audio signal, the second group of analog contact locations being disposed between the first ground contact location and the second end;

the electronic apparatus further including an antenna; and

a radio component coupled to the antenna and configured to receive and/or transmit media over the antenna.

18. The electronic apparatus of claim 17 wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations further include:

a second ground contact location at the first end and designated for ground; and

a third ground contact location at the second end and designated for ground.

19. The electronic apparatus of claim 17, wherein the plurality of contact locations comprises 30 sequentially numbered contact locations, and wherein the first ground contact location is at contact location 16, the second ground contact location is at contact location 1, and the third ground contact location is at contact location 30, and wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations further include additional ground contact locations 2, 15, and 29 designated for ground.

20. The electronic apparatus of claim 19 wherein the first group of digital contact locations comprises locations 3 to 9, and wherein the second group of analog contact locations comprises locations 27 and 28.

21. The electronic apparatus of claim 20 wherein the first group of digital contact locations includes locations 4 and 6 designated for USB differential data signals.

22. The electronic apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a plurality of contacts made of electrically conductive material disposed at the plurality of contact locations, respectively, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of contacts can be active when the plug connector is connected to the corresponding receptacle connector of the media player.

23. The electronic apparatus of claim 17 further comprising one or more power contacts made of electrically conductive material disposed in one or more of contact locations 8, 11 or 12.

24. The electronic apparatus of claim 17 wherein the contact locations further include an accessory identify contact location 10 designated for an accessory identify signal that has an associated electrical pull down function to notify the media player of an accessory identification;

an accessory power contact location 13 designated for an accessory power signal that can receive power from the media player; and

an accessory detect contact location 20 designated for an accessory detect signal.

25. The electronic apparatus of claim 17 wherein the contact locations further include serial protocol contact locations 18 and 19 designated for serial protocol signals.