Speaker control in a mobile station

• US 7,711,316 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2005
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Bae, Sung-Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah; Charles N
• Assistant Examiner(s): CONTEE, JOY KIMBERLY
• Application Number:
  US11/301,468
• Publication Number:
  US 20060128321A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,604 Days
• Field of Search: 455/569.1, 455/569.2, 455/530.1, 455/513.1, 455/90.1, 455/90.2, 455/90.3, 455/575.6, 455/575.8, 455/567
• US Class Current: 455/3.06
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1688 the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6016 in the receiver circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

A method for controlling speakers in a mobile station comprises detecting a movement of the mobile station. The method also comprises differentially controlling sound output by the speakers based on the detected movement of the mobile station. The differentially controlling the sound output by the speakers based on the detected movement of the mobile station may comprise at least one of adjusting a sound volume and selecting a sound effect. The detecting the movement of the mobile station may comprise detecting a tilt of the mobile station.

Claims

1. A method for controlling speakers in a mobile station, the method comprising:

outputting a sound signal via a first speaker and a second speaker, wherein the first speaker and the second speaker are provided on opposite sides of the mobile station;

detecting a tilt and tilt direction of the mobile station;

selecting a volume level to be output to at least the first speaker or the second speaker according to the detected tilt direction of the mobile station; and

controlling a volume of the output of the sound signal via the first speaker and the second speaker according to the detected tilt direction of the mobile station and the selected volume level,

wherein the volume of the output of the sound signal via the first speaker is increased if the mobile station is tilted in an upper direction and the volume of the output of the sound signal via the second speaker is decreased if the mobile station is tilted in a lower direction.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying an animation on a display unit of the mobile station; and

adjusting the animation displayed on the mobile station according to the detected tilt direction of the mobile station.

3. A control apparatus adapted to control speakers in a mobile station, the control apparatus comprising:

a tilt sensor adapted to detect a tilt of the mobile station;

first and second speakers respectively provided at a right side and a left side of the mobile station adapted to output a sound signal;

a controller adapted to select a volume level or a sound effect to be output to at least one of the first speaker or the second speaker according to the detected tilt direction of the mobile station;

and further adapted to increase the volume of the output of the sound signal from the first speaker when tilted in an upper direction and decrease the volume of the output of the sound signal from the second speaker when tilted in a lower direction, the controller controls the increase or decrease of the volume of the output of the sound signal from the first speaker or the second speaker respectively according to the selected volume level or the sound effect.

4. The control apparatus of claim 3, wherein the controller comprises a voltage controlling amplifier.

5. The control apparatus of claim 3, wherein the tilt sensor comprises a position detecting sensor.

6. The control apparatus of claim 3, wherein the controller stores volume levels associated with various tilts of the mobile station.