Monitor control circuit using wireless headphones and method therefor

• US 6,041,225 A
• Filed: 10/28/1997
• Issued: 03/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jung, Sung-Gon
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bhattacharya, Sam
• Application Number:
  US08/959,067
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 455/66, 455/90, 455/92, 455/95, 455/67.1, 455/100, 455/352, 455/575, 348/734, 381/14
• US Class Current: 455/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S

Abstract

A circuit for controlling a monitor receiving a speaker input signal includes wireless headphones for outputting a first control signal based on a user input command; a radio transceiver for generating a second control signal based on the first control signal from the wireless headphones; a first microcomputer for generating a switching control signal according to the second control signal from the radio transceiver; and a switch for receiving the speaker input signal and outputting the received speaker input signal to the radio transceiver as a controlled audio signal, according to the switching control signal from the first microcomputer.

Claims

1. A circuit for controlling a computer monitor receiving a speaker input signal, said circuit comprising:

wireless headphones for outputting a first control signal based on a user input command;

a radio transceiver for generating a second control signal based on the first control signal from said wireless headphones;

a first microcomputer for generating a switching control signal according to the second control signal from said radio transceiver; and

switching means for receiving the speaker input signal and selectively outputting the received speaker input signal to said radio transceiver as a controlled audio signal for transmission to said wireless headphones or to an audio amplifier in said monitor for driving a speaker, according to the switching control signal from said first microcomputer.

2. The circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wireless headphones comprise:

a controller for generating a key input signal;

a second microcomputer for generating the first control signal according to the key input signal, in order to remotely control said monitor; and

a first transmission unit for converting the first control signal into an optical remote control signal.

3. The circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein said wireless headphones further comprise a first reception unit for receiving the controlled audio signal transmitted by said radio transceiver.

4. The circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said radio transceiver comprises:

a reception unit for receiving the first control signal output from said wireless headphone and outputting a second remote control signal in response thereto; and

a transmission unit for converting the controlled audio signal into an optical audio signal for transmission to said wireless headphones.

5. A method of controlling a computer monitor, comprising the sequential steps of:

sensing a remote control signal output from wireless headphones;

determining which one of a plurality of control signals said remote control signal corresponds to when the remote control signal is sensed; and

controlling power of said computer monitor or selectively outputting an audio signal to the wireless headphones or a speaker of the computer monitor depending on which one of said plurality of control signals said remote control signal corresponds to in said determining step.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said determining step comprises the steps of:

determining whether the remote control signal is a power control signal;

determining whether the remote control signal is a monitor speaker control signal; and

determining whether the remote control signal is a headphone speaker control signal.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a step of displaying an on-screen display picture while a user selects a remote control signal, when no remote control signal is sensed.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

outputting a signal for turning off the power of said computer, when the remote control signal is determined to be said power control signal;

controlling speaker volume of said speaker and storing a corresponding volume control signal, when the remote control signal is determined to be said monitor speaker control signal; and

controlling volume of said wireless headphone and storing a corresponding volume control signal, when the remote control signal is determined to be a headphone speaker control signal.

9. The method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising the step of:

determining whether a remote power-on signal from said wireless headphones is sensed;

maintaining said computer monitor in an off mode until said remote power-on signal is sensed;

turning on said computer monitor when said remote power-on signal is sensed; and

operating said computer monitor according to default settings until said remote control signal output from wireless headphones is sensed.

10. A computer monitor control circuit, comprising;

a wireless headphone unit connected to a set of headphones, said wireless headphone unit comprising;

means for inputting user commands;

means for converting said user commands to a remote control signal;

means for converting said remote control signal to an optical remote control signal;

means for receiving a controlled audio signal transmitted optically from a computer monitor; and

means for converting said controlled audio signal to a sound signal for output through said set of headphones;

said computer monitor comprising;

means for generating a pre-amplified audio signal by pre-amplifying an audio output signal received from a sound card of a computer;

a radio transceiver for receiving said optical remote control signal from said wireless headphone unit, for converting said optical remote control signal into control data and for transmitting said controlled audio signal to said wireless headphone unit;

means responsive to said control data for outputting a monitor power control signal for controlling power of said computer monitor and for generating a speaker mode selection signal;

a speaker connected to said monitor;

means for driving said speaker; and

a speaker mode switch responsive to said speaker mode selection signal for selectively outputting said pre-amplified audio signal to said radio transceiver or to said means for driving said speaker.

11. The computer monitor control circuit as set forth in claim 10, wherein said means responsive to said control data determines whether said control data corresponds to a power-on control signal, a power-off control signal, a monitor speaker control signal or a headphone speaker control signal.

12. The computer monitor control unit as set forth in claim 11, wherein said means responsive to said control data outputs said monitor power control signal when said control data corresponds to said power-on control signal or said power-off control signal.

13. The computer monitor control unit as set forth in claim 11, wherein said means responsive to said control data outputs said speaker mode selection signal when said control data corresponds to said monitor speaker control signal or said headphone speaker control signal.