Single button MP3 player

• US 6,590,303 B1
• Filed: 10/26/2000
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Maggert, Kevin K., Austin, Micheal M., Perry, Lori D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Polk, Sharon A.
• Application Number:
  US09/697,373
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 307/126, 307/134, 307/139, 307/143, 307/119, 340/825.24, 340/825.69, 200/51.03, 200/51.05, 200/51.15, 200/341, 200/518, 200/520, 200/531
• US Class Current: 307/119
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/054 Application timeslot: duration of actuation or delay between or combination of subsequent actuations determines selected function
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/008 Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being perpendicular to the axis of angular movement
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files

Abstract

This invention includes an electronic accessory having a single button that actuates all of its control features. In one embodiment, the accessory is a MP3 player wherein songs are stored on a multimedia card. Once the card has been loaded an inserted, the MP3 player is coupled to an energy source. In a preferred embodiment, the energy source is preferably a cellular telephone. After coupling, all of the functions of the MP3 player are controlled with a single button. In a preferred embodiment, power is actuated by pushing the button for one second. Volume is adjusted by toggling the button laterally. Tracks are selected by pushing the button quickly while power is applied. Power is turned off by depressing the button for two seconds or more.

Claims

1. An electronic accessory comprising:

a. at least one aural output with variable volume;

b. at least one power input;

c. a plurality of data sources; and

d. one button, wherein the one button has at least two actuation modes, wherein a first actuation mode comprises depressing the button, and wherein a second actuation mode comprises toggling the button laterally;

wherein the one button controls at least;

i. adjustment of the variable volume;

ii. actuation of the at least one power input; and

iii. selection of one of the plurality of data sources.

2. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the accessory is selected from the group consisting of MP3 players, radios, televisions, cellular telephones, audio cassette players, mini-disc recorders, digital audio tape players, electronic media players and compact disc players.

3. The accessory of claim 2, wherein the at least one power input to the accessory is activated by depressing the button for a first predetermined amount of time.

4. The accessory of claim 3, wherein the variable volume is adjusted by toggling the button laterally.

5. The accessory of claim 4, wherein the at least one power input to the accessory is deactivated by depressing the button for a second predetermined amount of time.

6. The accessory of claim 5, wherein the selection of one of the plurality of data sources is performed by depressing the button for a time less than the second predetermined amount of time.

7. The accessory of claim 6, further comprising an audio jack.

8. The accessory of claim 7, further comprising a mating connector for coupling to a power source.

9. The accessory of claim 8, wherein the power source is selected from the group consisting of cellular telephones, pagers, radios, power supplies, and batteries.

10. The accessory of claim 9, further comprising a connector for coupling to a multi-media card.

11. A method of controlling an electronic accessory, the method comprising the steps of:

a. Providing an electronic accessory having a single button;

b. Providing a power source;

c. Coupling the electronic accessory to the power source;

d. Actuating power by depressing the single button for a first predetermined amount of time;

e. Adjusting the volume level by toggling the single button laterally; and

f. Deactivating power by depressing the single button for a second predetermined amount of time.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the electronic accessory is selected from the group consisting of MP3 players, radios, televisions, cellular telephones, audio cassette players, mini-disc recorders, digital audio tape players, electronic media players and compact disc players.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the accessory is an MP3 player.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of selecting a track by depressing the single button for a time less than the second predetermined time while power is actuated.