Computer microphone powered by internal battery or computer hardware

• US 5,513,360 A
• Filed: 06/20/1994
• Issued: 04/30/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Bauer, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Davis, George B.
• Application Number:
  US08/262,354
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 395/750, 381/69.2, 381/111, 381/168, 381/191, 455/127
• US Class Current: 713/310
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections

Abstract

A computer microphone with a dual power source capability is disclosed. This dual power source capability allows the microphone to receive power from an internal power source or an external power source disposed in computer hardware. In the event that the computer microphone is receiving power from the internal power source, and power is thereafter provided from the external source disposed in computer hardware, the present invention provides for the automatic turning off of the internal power source. In related fashion, in the event the computer microphone is receiving power from the external power source disposed in the computer hardware, and that external power source is thereafter turned off, the present invention automatically provides the computer microphone with power from the internal power source.

Claims

1. A computer microphone circuit for coupling to a computer comprising:

means for generating an electrical signal, wherein said means for generating an electrical signal accepts a sound wave as an input and generates an electrical signal as an output;

first means for supplying a first voltage to said means for generating an electrical signal, said first voltage being at the output of a first diode in series with an internal power source; and

second means for supplying a second voltage to said means for generating an electrical signal, said second voltage being at the output of a second diode in series with an external power source, said second voltage being greater than said first voltage, wherein when the application of power from said external power source is supplied to the computer microphone circuit, the application of power from said internal power source is terminated and, wherein when the application of power from said external power source is terminated, the application of power from said internal power source is re-initiated.

2. The computer microphone circuit as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

transducer means.

3. The computer microphone circuit as set forth in claim 2 wherein said transducer means comprises an electret condenser whose capacitance varies based on characteristics of sound waves input into said transducer means.

4. The computer microphone circuit as set forth in claim 3 wherein said transducer means further comprises a carbon element whose resistance varies based on characteristics of sound waves input into said transducer means.

5. The computer microphone circuit as set forth in claim 3 further comprising switch means for coupling and uncoupling said internal power source and said external power source from the computer microphone circuit.

6. The computer microphone circuit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first diode comprises of two diodes connected in series from said internal power source.

7. The computer microphone circuit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said external power source is located within the computer system.

8. A method for providing a microphonic capability to a computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

supplying a first voltage to a computer microphone circuit, said first voltage being at the output of a first diode in series with an internal power source, said internal power source being located within said computer microphone circuit;

supplying a second voltage to said computer microphone circuit, said second voltage being at the output of a second diode in series with an external power source, external to said computer microphone circuit, said second voltage being greater than said first voltage;

terminating the application of power from said internal power source; and

re-initiating the application of power from said internal power source when the application of power from said external power source is terminated.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said external power source is located within the computer system.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said first diode is comprised of two diodes connected in series from said internal power source.