Connector system for supporting multiple types of plug carrying accessory devices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for operating a computing device, the method comprising:
- detecting a plug mated with a receptacle connector of the computing device, wherein the plug is used by an accessory device;
detecting one or more electrical characteristics produced on one or more signal lines that extend to the receptacle connector as a result of the plug being mated with the receptacle connector;
making a determination that (i) a type of the accessory device that uses the plug has a microphone source, and (ii) the microphone source has one or more ancillary microphone functions;
wherein making the determination that the microphone source has one or more ancillary microphone functions is performed using the one or more detected electrical characteristics on the one or more signal lines; and
configuring the computing device to accommodate the type of the accessory device that is a microphone source and the microphone source has one or more ancillary microphone functions.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the invention include a method and apparatus for intelligent handheld device accessory support. A method of one embodiment includes sensing the presence of an accessory plug in a jack of the handheld device, determining a type of accessory device attached to the accessory plug, including receiving electrical signals from pins of the plug and based on the determination, configuring the handheld device, including assigning particular signals to pins of the plug.
117 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for operating a computing device, the method comprising:
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detecting a plug mated with a receptacle connector of the computing device, wherein the plug is used by an accessory device; detecting one or more electrical characteristics produced on one or more signal lines that extend to the receptacle connector as a result of the plug being mated with the receptacle connector; making a determination that (i) a type of the accessory device that uses the plug has a microphone source, and (ii) the microphone source has one or more ancillary microphone functions; wherein making the determination that the microphone source has one or more ancillary microphone functions is performed using the one or more detected electrical characteristics on the one or more signal lines; and
configuring the computing device to accommodate the type of the accessory device that is a microphone source and the microphone source has one or more ancillary microphone functions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 23, 24)
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9. A connector system for a computing device, the connector system comprising:
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a receptacle configured to receive a plug connector of an accessory device; a measurement module configured to measure one or more electrical characteristics off of one or more signal lines that extend from the receptacle upon insertion of the plug connector into the receptacle; and a knowledge module configured to generate configuration data for a processor of the computing device, the configuration data being determined from data corresponding to the one or more electrical characteristics measured by the measurement module, wherein the configuration data indicates a use of one or more of the signal lines that extend from the receptacle; wherein at least one of the knowledge module or the measurement module are each configured to measure an electrical characteristic of one or more signal lines in order to detect that the accessory device is of a type having either a microphone source or no microphone source and whether the type of accessory device is also one of (i) a non-stereo headset, (ii) a stereo headset, or (iii) a combination headphone/headset; wherein at least one of the knowledge module or the measurement module are configured to use the measured electrical characteristic of the one or more signal lines to determine, when the type of accessory device has the microphone source, whether the microphone source has one or more ancillary microphone functions; wherein the knowledge module is configured to (i) generate the configuration data for the processor of the computing device to accommodate the type of the accessory device and, (ii) if the accessory device is the microphone source with the ancillary functions, enable use of the ancillary microphone functions. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 25, 26)
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19. A computing device comprising:
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a receptacle configured to receive a plug connector of an accessory device; a plurality of signal lines that extend to the receptacle; and processing resources that are configured to; identify information about the accessory device based on a measured electrical characteristic on one or more of the plurality of signal lines, wherein the measured electrical characteristic is a result of the at least one of the plurality of signal lines being electrically connected with a pin of the plug connector upon insertion of the plug connector into the receptacle; and wherein the processing resources are configured to use the information to make a determination that the accessory device is of a type that corresponds to anyone of a plurality of types, the plurality of accessory types including at least (i) a microphone source with non-stereo headset, (ii) a stereo headset without a microphone source, or (iii) a microphones source with a combination headphone/headset; and wherein when the determination is that the type of the microphone source with non-stereo headset or the microphone source with the combination, the processing resources are configured to use the measured electrical characteristic on one or more of the plurality of signal lines to make a determination as to whether the microphone source has any ancillary microphone functions based on the measured electrical characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 27, 28)
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Specification