Media player system

• US 7,627,343 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2003
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Filson, John Benjamin, Fadell, Anthony M., Zadesky, Stephen Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng; George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miller; Brandon J
• Application Number:
  US10/423,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20040224638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,412 Days
• Field of Search: 455/557, 455/559, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/3.03, 455/3.06, 455/41.3, 455/41.2, 455/414.1, 710/303, 710/304, 710/62, 710/72, 710/300, 710/64, 439/218, 439/638, 439/639, 439/660, 439/610, 439/222, 439/626, 381/384, 381/123
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/021 Aspects relating to docking-station type assemblies to obtain an acoustical effect, e.g. the type of connection to external loudspeakers or housings, frequency improvement

Abstract

A media player system is disclosed. One aspect of the media player system pertains to a docking station that allows a media player to communicate with other media devices. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a wireless media player system that includes a hand held media player capable of transmitting information over a wireless connection and one or more media devices capable of receiving information over the wireless connection. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a method of wirelessly connecting the hand held media player to another device. The method includes selecting a media item on the hand held media player; selecting one or more remote recipients on the hand held media player; and transmitting the media item locally to the hand held media player, and wirelessly to the selected remote recipients. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a hand held music player that includes a transmitter for transmitting information over a wireless connection. The transmitter is configured to at least transmit a continuous music feed to one or more personal tuning devices that each include a receiver capable of receiving information from the transmitter over the wireless connection. Yet another aspect of the media player system pertains to a connector that includes a housing and a plurality of spatially separated contacts mounted within the housing. A first set of contacts are directed at a first functionality and a second set of contacts are directed at a second functionality that is different than the first functionality.

Claims

1. A male plug connector for connecting to a corresponding receptacle connector of a media player, the male plug connector comprising:

a housing designed to accommodate 30 contacts spaced apart in a single row of sequentially numbered contact locations, wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations include;

digital contact locations 3 to 9 designated for digital signals including Firewire contact locations 3, 5, 7 and 9 designated for Firewire signals and Universal Serial Bus (USB) contact locations 4, 6, and 8-designated for USB signals, wherein, contact locations for Firewire signals and USB signals are interleaved to improve impedance matching;

an accessory identify contact location 10 designated for an accessory identify signal that has an associated electrical pull down to notify the media player of an accessory identification;

serial protocol contact locations 18 and 19 designated for serial protocol signals;

analog contact locations 25 to 28 designated for analog signals including audio contact locations 25, 26, 27, and 28 designated for audio signals, wherein, analog contact locations 25 to 28 are spaced apart from digital contact locations 3 to 9 to reduce crosstalk noise; and

ground contact locations 1, 16 and 30 designated for ground to improve ground coverage.

2. The male plug connector of claim 1, wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations further include additional ground contact locations 2, 15, and 29 designated for ground.

3. The male plug connector of claim 1, wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations further include:

an accessory power contact location 13 designated for an accessory power signal that can receive power from the media player; and

an accessory detect contact location 20 designated for an accessory detect signal.

4. The male plug connector of claim 1, further comprising:

Firewire contacts disposed at contact locations 3, 5, 7 and 9 and appropriated for carrying the Firewire signals;

USB contacts disposed at contact locations 4, 6, 8 and 15 and appropriated for carrying the USB signals;

an accessory identify contact disposed at contact location 10 and appropriated for carrying the accessory identify signal;

serial protocol contacts disposed at contact locations 18 and 19 and appropriated for carrying the serial protocol signals;

audio contacts disposed at contact locations 25, 26, 27, and 28 and appropriated for carrying the audio signals; and

ground contacts disposed at contact locations 1 and 30 and appropriated for ground, wherein at least a subset of the contacts can be active when the male plug connector is connected to the corresponding receptacle connector of the media player.

5. The male plug connector of claim 4, wherein the housing is made of plastic;

wherein the contacts are made of an electrically conductive material, are disposed in a corresponding one of the sequentially numbered contact locations for the 30 contacts, and are recessed inside the housing in an off-center position; and

wherein at least one contact is made of a copper alloy.

6. The male plug connector of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a latch that engages and disengages and is configured to provide a locking mechanism when the plug connector mates with the corresponding receptacle connector of the media player.

7. The male plug connector of claim 6, wherein the latch includes at least one of a snap, a spring, or a magnet.

8. The male plug connector of claim 1, further comprising power contacts appropriated to carry power and located at locations 11 and 12.

9. A male plug connector for connecting to a corresponding receptacle connector of a media player, the male plug connector comprising:

a housing designed to accommodate 30 contacts spaced apart in a single row of sequentially numbered contact locations, wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations include;

digital contact locations 3 to 9 designated for digital signals including USB contact locations designated for USB signals interleaved with contact locations designated for other digital signals to improve impedance matching;

analog contact locations 25 to 28 designated for one or more analog signals including at least one audio signal; and

ground contact locations 1, 16 and 30 designated for ground,

wherein, analog contact locations 25 to 28 are spaced apart from digital contact locations 3 to 9 to reduce crosstalk noise, and wherein locations 1, 16 and 30 are designated for ground contacts to improve ground coverage.

10. The male plug connector of claim 9, wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations further include ground contact locations 2, 15, and 29 designated for ground.

11. The male plug connector of claim 9, further comprising:

digital contacts disposed contact locations 3 to 9 and appropriated for carrying the digital signals;

analog contacts disposed at contact locations 25-28 and appropriated for carrying the analog signals; and

ground contacts disposed at contact locations 1 and 30 and appropriated for ground, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of contacts can be active when the plug connector is connected to the corresponding receptacle connector of the media player.

12. The male plug connector of claim 9, wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations further include an accessory identify contact location 10 designated for an accessory identify signal that has an associated electrical pull down function to notify the media player of an accessory identification.

13. The male plug connector of claim 9, wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations further include:

an accessory power contact location 13 designated for an accessory power signal that can receive power from the media player; and

an accessory detect contact location 20 designated for an accessory detect signal.

14. The male plug connector of claim 9, wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations further include:

serial protocol contact locations 18 and 19 designated for serial protocol signals.

15. The male plug connector of claim 9, wherein contact locations 3, 5, 7 and 9 are designated for Firewire signals.

16. The male plug connector of claim 9, wherein locations 4, 6, and 8 are designated for USB signals.

17. The male plug connector of claim 9, wherein the housing is made of plastic;

wherein the contacts are made of an electrically conductive material, are disposed in a corresponding one of the sequentially numbered contact locations for the 30 contacts, and are recessed inside the housing in an off-center position; and

wherein at least one contact is made of a copper alloy.

18. The male plug connector of claim 9, wherein the housing further comprises a latch that engages and disengages and is configured to provide a locking mechanism when the plug connector mates with the corresponding receptacle connector of the media player.

19. The male plug connector of claim 18, wherein the latch includes at least one of a snap, a spring, or a magnet.

20. The male plug connector of claim 9, further comprising power contacts appropriated to carry power and located at locations 11 and 12.

21. A male plug connector for connecting to a corresponding receptacle connector of a media player, the male plug connector comprising:

a housing designed to accommodate a plurality of contacts spaced apart in a single row of contact locations, wherein the contact locations are sequentially numbered from a first end to a second end, the contact locations including;

a first ground contact location at the first end designated for ground,

a second ground contact location at the second end designated for ground,

a third ground contact location between the first end and the second end designated for ground,

a first group of digital contact locations designated for one or more digital signals including USB, the first group of digital contact locations being disposed between the first ground contact location and the third ground contact location, and

a second group of analog contact locations designated for one or more analog signals including at least one audio signal, the second group of analog contact locations being disposed between the third ground contact location and the second ground contact location,

wherein the first, second and third ground contact locations improve ground coverage,

wherein the first group of digital contact locations includes contact locations designated for USB signals interleaved with contact locations designated for non-USB digital signals to improve impedance matching, and

wherein, the first group of digital contact locations are spaced apart from the second group of analog contact locations to reduce crosstalk noise.

22. The male plug connector of claim 21, wherein contact locations from the first group of digital contact locations that are designated for USB are disposed consecutively in every other contact location.

23. The male plug connector of claim 21, wherein the plurality of contact locations comprises at least 30 contact locations, and wherein the first ground contact location is at contact location 1, the second ground contact location is at contact location 30, and the third ground contact location is at contact location 16, and wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations further include additional ground contact locations 2, 15, and 29 designated for ground.

24. The male plug connector of claim 23, wherein the first group of digital contact locations comprises locations 3 to 9, and wherein the second group of analog contact locations comprises locations 25 to 28.

25. The male plug connector of claim 24, wherein the first group of digital contact locations includes locations 3, 5, 7 and 9 designated for Firewire signals.

26. The male plug connector of claim 24, wherein the first group of digital contact locations includes locations 4, 6, and 8 designated for USB signals.

27. The male plug connector of claim 24, further comprising a plurality of contacts made of electrically conductive material disposed at the plurality of contact locations, respectively, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of contacts can be active when the plug connector is connected to the corresponding receptacle connector of the media player.

28. The male plug connector of claim 21, further comprising one or more power contacts made of electrically conductive material disposed in one or more of contact locations 8, 11 or 12.

29. The male plug connector of claim 21, wherein the contact locations further include an accessory identify contact location 10 designated for an accessory identify signal that has an associated electrical pull down function to notify the media player of an accessory identification.

30. The male plug connector of claim 21, wherein the contact locations further include:

an accessory power contact location 13 designated for an accessory power signal that can receive power from the media player; and

an accessory detect contact location 20 designated for an accessory detect signal.

31. The male plug connector of claim 21, wherein the contact locations further include serial protocol contact locations 18 and 19 designated for serial protocol signals.

32. The male plug connector of claim 21, wherein the housing is made of plastic;

wherein the contacts are made of an electrically conductive material, are disposed in a corresponding one of the sequentially numbered contact locations, and are recessed inside the housing in an off-center position; and

wherein at least one contact is made of a copper alloy.

33. The male plug connector of claim 21, wherein the housing further comprises a latch that engages and disengages and is configured to provide a locking mechanism when the plug connector mates with the corresponding receptacle connector of the media player.

34. The male plug connector of claim 33, wherein the latch includes at least one of a snap, a spring, or a magnet.