Microphone Headset Failure Detecting and Reporting

• US 20120328116A1
• Filed: 06/21/2011
• Published: 12/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bidmead, Anthony P., Minoo, Jahan C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,668,076 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/59
• 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 2420/09 Applications of special connectors, e.g. USB, XLR, in loudspeakers, microphones or headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/004 for microphones H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/007 Protection circuits for transducers

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention include methods, apparatus, and systems for detecting a predicted future or current failure of a microphone of a headset. The failure may have been caused by organic matter buildup creating a signal path or short circuit across the microphone'"'"'s circuitry. The headset is connected to a mobile device having a network interface that is used to send a notification message to a remote supply management system server. A failure detection circuit detects the failure based on a decrease in a microphone bias signal or increase in headset temperature over time. In some cases, the failure is based on an increase in a microphone bias signal over time. Upon detection of the failure, it signals that a failure notification be transmitted to the remote supply management system. The notification may then cause a new headset to be sent to the owner of the mobile device. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Claims

1. A mobile device to connect to a headset having a microphone bias signal line, the mobile device comprising:

a network interface to enable a failure notification be sent from the mobile device to a remote supply management system; and

a microphone circuit failure detection circuit to detect a failure of a microphone circuit of the headset by measuring, one of a microphone bias signal and a temperature of the headset, and then signal that a failure notification be transmitted to the remote supply management system using the network interface.

2. The device of claim 1, a headset connected to the mobile device, wherein the headset includes a cable having a plug connector to insert into a jack connector of the mobile device, earphones, a microphone electronic circuit interfaced between a microphone power contact and a ground contact of the plug connector;

wherein the mobile device includes a DC bias signal circuit to provide a DC bias signal to the microphone bias line of the headset through a microphone bias power contact of the plug connector; and

wherein the microphone circuit failure detection circuit detects a failure anywhere in a signal path between a microphone bias power contact and a ground contact of the plug connector.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein upon detecting the failure, the microphone circuit failure detection circuit is to signal a controller of the mobile device to establish a data connection with, and then transmit the failure notification to the remote supply management system using the network interface.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the microphone circuit failure detection circuit comprises a comparator circuit to compare the measured microphone bias signal or temperature to a first threshold to detect a predicted future failure of the headset, and to a second threshold to detect a current failure of the headset;

and wherein the failure notification refers to a predicted future failure or a current failure of the headset.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the failure of the microphone circuit is caused by one of (a) organic matter creating a signal path across the microphone circuitry, where one should not exist, and (b) organic matter destroying a signal path along the microphone circuitry, where one should exist.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the network interface can establish one of a WiFi connection, a GSM data connection, and a computer peripheral bus connection.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the failure notification includes identification of an owner of the mobile device and indicates to the remote supply management system to send another headset to the owner of the mobile device.

8. A headset to be connected to a mobile device, the headset comprising:

a microphone bias line;

a microphone circuit coupled to the bias line; and

a failure detection circuit to detect a failure of the microphone circuit, the failure detection circuit to measure one of a microphone bias signal and a temperature of the headset, and then signal that a failure notification be transmitted to a remote supply management system using a network interface.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the headset includes a cable having a plug connector to insert into a jack connector of the mobile device, earphones, a microphone electronic circuit interfaced between a microphone power contact and a ground contact of the plug connector;

wherein the headset is to receive from the mobile device, a DC bias signal on the microphone bias line of the headset through a microphone bias power contact of the plug connector; and

wherein the failure detection circuit is to detect a failure anywhere in a signal path between a microphone bias power contact and a ground contact of the plug connector.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein failure detection circuit is to first signal a failure signal to the mobile device to cause the mobile device to transmit the failure notification.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein failure detection circuit is to first detect a drop in voltage of the microphone bias signal below a first threshold and above a second threshold, and then to signal a predicted future failure of the headset in the failure notification.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein upon detecting the failure, the failure detection circuit is to transmit a failure signal to a controller of the mobile device.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the failure detection circuit comprises a comparator circuit to compare the measured microphone bias signal or temperature to a first threshold to detect a predicted future failure of the headset, and to a second threshold to detect a current failure of the headset;

and wherein the failure signal is a predicted future failure or a current failure of the headset.

14. The device of claim 8, wherein the failure of the microphone circuit is caused by one of (a) organic matter creating a signal path across the microphone circuitry, where one should not exist, and (b) organic matter destroying a signal path along the microphone circuitry, where one should exist.

15. A method comprising:

detecting a failure of a microphone circuit of a headset attached to a mobile device based on a measured microphone bias signal or a measured microphone bias line temperature of the headset;

establishing a data connection between the mobile device and a remote supply management system;

transmitting a failure notification to the remote supply management system using the network interface.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein detecting is performed by at least one of the mobile device and the headset measuring the microphone bias signal or the microphone bias line temperature;

and wherein detecting detects a failure anywhere in a signal path between a microphone bias power contact and a ground contact of the plug.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising, prior to detecting:

attaching the headset to the mobile device; and

measuring the microphone bias signal or a microphone bias line temperature.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein attaching comprises inserting a plug connector of the headset into a jack connector of the mobile device 1) to interface the microphone circuit between a microphone power contact and a ground contact of the plug connector, and 2) to provide the headset with a DC bias signal from the mobile device at the microphone bias line of the headset through a microphone bias power contact of the plug connector;

and wherein detecting comprises detecting a failure anywhere in a signal path between a microphone bias power contact and a ground contact of the plug connector.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

upon detecting the failure, transmitting a failure signal to a controller of the mobile device;

waiting to establish the data connection; and

then,

upon establishing the data connection, the controller transmitting the failure notification to the remote supply management system using the network interface.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein detecting comprises comparing the measured microphone bias signal or temperature to a first threshold to detect a predicted future failure of the headset, and to a second threshold to detect a current failure of the headset;

and wherein the failure notification refers to a predicted future failure or a current failure of the headset.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the failure of the microphone circuit is caused by one of (a) organic matter creating a signal path across the microphone circuitry, where one should not exist, and (b) organic matter destroying a signal path along the microphone circuitry, where one should exist.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the network interface can establish one of a WiFi connection, a GSM data connection, and a computer peripheral bus connection.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the failure notification includes identification of an owner of the mobile device and indicates to the remote supply management system to send another headset to the owner of the mobile device.