REPOSITIONABLE CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING THE SAME

• US 20140072137A1
• Filed: 09/11/2012
• Published: 03/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Beats Electronics LLC (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Nelson, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 9,106,995 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/74
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1033 Cables or cables storage, e.g. cable reels cord reels per se H02G11/02; arrangements for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of conductors or cables B65H75/34; extensible conductors or cables, e.g. self-coiling cords H01B7/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H

Abstract

A system for controlling one or more functions of an electronic device is disclosed. The system includes an electrical cable configured to be selectively coupled to the electronic device and transmit electrical signals to and from the electronic device; at least two electrical conductors electrically coupled to the electrical cable; and a repositionable control device selectively coupled to the at least two electrical conductors. The repositionable control device is configured to control the one or more functions associated with the electronic device.

Claims

1. A system for controlling one or more functions of an electronic device, the system comprising:

an electrical cable configured to be selectively coupled to the electronic device and transmit electrical signals to and from the electronic device, the electrical cable including at least two electrical conductors that are electrically coupled to the electrical cable; and

a repositionable control device selectively coupled to the at least two electrical conductors of the electrical cable, the repositionable control device being configured to control the one or more functions associated with the electronic device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the repositionable control device includes one or more buttons, each button electronically configured to selectably control at least one of the one or more functions associated with the electronic device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the repositionable control device further includes a microphone.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the repositionable control device includes at least one button that is electronically configured to selectably control one or more functions associated with the microphone.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the repositionable control device includes an attachment mechanism configured to detachably couple the repositionable control device to the electrical cable.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the attachment mechanism is configured to enable movement of the repositionable control device from a first position on the electrical cable to a second position on the electrical cable.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first position on the electrical cable includes the at least two electrical conductors, the repositionable control device being coupled to the at least two electrical conductors when in the first position.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a second set of electrical conductors that are electrically coupled to the electrical cable, wherein the second position on the electrical cable includes the second set of electrical conductors, the repositionable control device being coupled to the second set of electrical conductors when in the second position.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the second position on the electrical cable does not include electrical conductors.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the attachment mechanism is configured to allow the repositionable control device to be completely detached from the electrical cable before being reattached to the electrical cable.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the attachment mechanism is configured to allow the repositionable control device to slide from a first position on the electrical cable to a second position on the electrical cable without completely detaching the repositionable control device from the electrical cable.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more functions associated with the electronic device includes at least one of a mute function, a volume control function, a track selection function, a pause function, a voice command function, an answer function, or a track search function.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a mobile telephone.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes a media player.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical cable is configured to be electrically coupled to a headphone system and transmit electrical signals from the electronic device to the headphone system.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a headphone system electrically coupled to the electrical cable, the electrical cable transmitting electrical signals from the electronic device to the headphone system.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least two electrical conductors are exposed on a surface of the electrical cable.