Audio system with optional auto-switching secondary connector, and method for same
First Claim
1. An audio circuit comprising a sound source having an output for producing an audio signal, a primary connector, and a connector header, said primary connector being electrically coupled to said sound source output to receive the audio signal, said connector header comprising:
- a header first contact electrically coupled to the sound source output;
a header second contact electrically coupled to said primary connector; and
a header ground contact that is electrically coupled to a ground;
each one of said header first contact and said header second contact being ungrounded;
said audio circuit adaptable to include a secondary connector circuit having a secondary connector and comprising;
a secondary connector first contact electrically coupled to said header first contact;
a normally-open secondary connector second contact electrically coupled to said header second contact; and
a normally-open switch electrically coupled to said header ground contact;
said switch being operable to electrically couple said header second contact to said header ground contact to short said primary connector to said ground while said switch is in its closed position;
said audio circuit being operable in each one of a first configuration that does not include said secondary connector circuit and a second configuration that includes said secondary connector circuit.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An audio system and circuit are disclosed that are operable in either a first configuration and a second configuration. The first configuration includes sound processing circuitry, a primary connector, and a header. The second configuration adds an optional secondary connector to the header. The system and circuit mutes or turns off the audio signal at the primary connector and the main output contacts (if any) upon insertion of a plug into the secondary connector in the second configuration. The system and circuit also optionally mutes or turns off the audio signal at a main output contact upon insertion of a plug into the primary connector in each of the first and second configurations. The system may also employ logic switches or FETs to interrupt the audio signal upon insertion of a plug into the secondary connector. The system uses a simple switchless interconnection between the secondary circuit and the main system.
121 Citations
43 Claims
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1. An audio circuit comprising a sound source having an output for producing an audio signal, a primary connector, and a connector header, said primary connector being electrically coupled to said sound source output to receive the audio signal, said connector header comprising:
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a header first contact electrically coupled to the sound source output; a header second contact electrically coupled to said primary connector; and a header ground contact that is electrically coupled to a ground; each one of said header first contact and said header second contact being ungrounded;
said audio circuit adaptable to include a secondary connector circuit having a secondary connector and comprising;a secondary connector first contact electrically coupled to said header first contact; a normally-open secondary connector second contact electrically coupled to said header second contact; and a normally-open switch electrically coupled to said header ground contact;
said switch being operable to electrically couple said header second contact to said header ground contact to short said primary connector to said ground while said switch is in its closed position;said audio circuit being operable in each one of a first configuration that does not include said secondary connector circuit and a second configuration that includes said secondary connector circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A dual-configuration audio system for processing an audio signal, said audio system being operable in each one of a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein:
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said first configuration comprises; a printed circuit board having a sound source mounted thereon, said sound source providing the audio signal; a connector header having plural contacts therein and coupled to the printed circuit board and being in electrical communication with the sound source such that the audio signal is coupled to said header; and an auto-muting primary connector including a primary socket coupled to the printed circuit board for removably receiving a primary plug, said primary connector receiving the audio signal; and
said second configuration comprises said printed circuit board, said header, and said primary connector, and further comprises;a secondary connector including a secondary socket being spaced apart from said printed circuit board for removably receiving a secondary plug; and a wiring harness having a wiring harness plug that is insertable into said header, said wiring harness electrically coupling said secondary connector to said header such that the secondary connector receives the audio signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. An audio circuit comprising an audio signal device, a primary connector, and a switchless connector header, each one of the audio signal device, the primary connector, and the connector header being disposed on a printed circuit board, said audio circuit adaptable to include a secondary connector circuit comprising a secondary connector and a normally open secondary connector switch, said switch operating in response to insertion of a secondary plug into said secondary connector to mute or turn off said primary connector;
- said audio circuit being operable in each one of a first configuration that does not include said secondary circuit and a second configuration that includes said secondary circuit.
- View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method of coupling a secondary connector to a sound source that is operable for processing an audio signal either without the secondary connector or with the secondary connector coupled thereto, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a sound source for producing an audio signal, a connector header, and a primary connector, the header having three electrically spaced-apart contacts disposed therein, a first one of the three header contacts receiving the audio signal, a second one of the three header contacts electrically coupled to the primary connector, a third one of the three header contacts electrically coupled to a ground; and removably coupling a secondary connector to said sound source via the header such that a switch in the secondary connector shorts the third header contact to the second header contact to mute the audio signal at the primary connector, the first header contact providing the audio signal to the secondary header.
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43. An audio circuit having a generated audio signal electrically coupled to a header having a plurality of pins, and to a second audio output terminal, the audio circuit comprising:
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a primary jack electrically coupled to the audio signal; and the connector header having a first pin of the plurality of pins coupled to the generated audio signal and adaptable for removable connection with a secondary circuit having a secondary jack; wherein the secondary jack is configured such that upon insertion of a secondary plug, the first pin on the connection header is grounded, such as to mute the audio signal at a primary audio output terminal.
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Specification