Audio and USB multiplexing

• US 7,899,946 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2008
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Modu Limited (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Miller, Eyal, Sherman, Itay
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Tanh Q
• Application Number:
  US12/008,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20090182908A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 710/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4068 Electrical coupling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/0042 Universal serial bus [USB]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724092 Interfacing with an external cover providing additional functionalities
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An analog/digital switching circuit for connecting a primary electronic device to a peripheral electronic device, including D+ and D− signal lines connected to a primary electronic device, a first analog/digital switch connected to the D+ signal line, for multiplexing an input D+ signal to an output USB data signal or audio left or right signal, the multiplexed signal feeding into a peripheral device connector for connecting the primary device to a peripheral electronic device, a second analog/digital switch connected to the D− signal line, for multiplexing an input D− signal to an output USB data signal or audio right or left signal, the multiplexed signal feeding into the peripheral device connector, a headset left signal line connected to the primary device and to the output audio left signal of the first analog/digital switch, a headset right signal line connected to the primary device and to the output audio right signal of the second analog/digital switch, a first USB signal line connected to a USB connector and to the output USB data signal of the first analog/digital switch, a second USB signal line connected to the USB connector and to the output USB data signal of the second analog/digital switch, and an amplifier that amplifies the output audio left signal and the output audio right signal at gain levels appropriate for (i) a headset connected to the primary device, (ii) a speaker connected to the peripheral device, and (iii) an earpiece connected to the peripheral device.

Claims

1. An analog/digital switching circuit for connecting a primary device to a peripheral device, the primary device comprising a primary USB connector, a power/audio manager and at least one primary listening device, and the peripheral device comprising a peripheral USB connector and at least one peripheral listening device comprising:

first and second data signal lines connected to the power/audio manager, for transmitting respective first and second data signals;

first and second audio signal lines for transmitting respective first and second audio signals generated by the power/audio manager to the at least one primary listening device or the at least one peripheral listening device;

first and second primary USB signal lines connected to the primary USB connector, for transmitting respective first and second USB signals;

first and second peripheral USB signal lines connected to the peripheral USB connector and to the respective first and second primary USB signal lines;

a USB detection line connected to the power/audio manager, to the primary USB connector and to the peripheral USB connector, for detecting a USB charger attached to the primary USB connector or to the peripheral USB connector;

a first switch for multiplexing the first USB signal to the first data signal or the first audio signal;

a second switch for multiplexing the second USB signal to the second data signal or the second audio signal; and

configuration detection circuitry for detecting, based on states of said first and second switches, each of the following configurations;

(c1) primary device not connected to peripheral device, audio not to be output to a primary listening device, USB charger not connected to primary device;

(c2) primary device not connected to peripheral device, audio is to be output to a primary listening device, USB charger not connected to primary device;

(c3) primary device not connected to peripheral device, audio not to be output to a primary listening device, USB charger is connected to primary device;

(c4) primary device not connected to peripheral device, audio is to be output to a primary listening device, USB charger is connected to primary device;

(c5) primary device is connected to peripheral device, audio not to be output to a peripheral listening device, USB charger not connected to peripheral device;

(c6) primary device is connected to peripheral device, audio is to be output to a peripheral listening device, USB charger not connected to peripheral device;

(c7) primary device is connected to peripheral device, audio not to be output to a peripheral listening device, USB charger is connected to peripheral device; and

(c8) primary device is connected to peripheral device, audio is to be output to a peripheral listening device, USB charger is connected to peripheral device.

2. The switching circuit of claim 1 further comprising:

a microphone signal line connected to the power/audio manager, for transmitting a microphone signal; and

a signal line connected to the primary USB connector and to said microphone signal line.

3. The switching circuit of claim 1 wherein the primary device comprises a jack for a headset, wherein the at least one primary listening device comprises the headset, wherein the peripheral device comprises a jack for the headset, and wherein the at least one peripheral listening device comprises the headset, the switching circuit further comprising:

a headset left signal line connected to the power/audio manager and to said first audio signal line;

a headset right signal line connected to the power/audio manager and to said second audio signal line; and

a headset detection line connected to the power/audio manager and to said headset left signal line or to said headset right signal line, for detecting attachment of the headset to the headset jack of the primary electronic device or to the headset jack of the peripheral electronic device.

4. The switching circuit of claim 1 wherein said first switch and said second switch are single-pole double-throw (SPDT) switches.

5. The switching circuit of claim 1 wherein said at least one peripheral listening device comprises 8Ω

stereo speakers, and wherein said first audio signal line and said second audio signal line are connected to first and second amplifiers for the speakers.

6. The switching circuit of claim 1 wherein said at least one peripheral listening device comprises a 32Ω

earpiece, and wherein said first audio signal line or said second audio signal line is connected to an amplifier for the earpiece.

7. The switching circuit of claim 1 wherein the primary device is a mobile phone.

8. The switching circuit of claim 7 wherein the at least one peripheral listening device comprises an earpiece and stereo speakers.

9. The switching circuit of claim 1 wherein the at least one peripheral listening device comprises an earpiece, stereo speakers and a headset, wherein said first audio signal line or said second audio signal line is connected to an amplifier for the earpiece, wherein said first audio signal line and said second audio signal line are connected a headset jack for the headset and also to respective amplifiers for the stereo speakers, and wherein said configuration detection circuitry also detects in configurations (c2), (C4), (c6) and (c8) whether the listening device for the audio output is the headset, the earpiece or the stereo speakers.

10. The switching circuit of claim 9 wherein said USB detection line detects a PC attached to the primary USB connector or to the peripheral USB connector, and wherein said configuration detection circuitry also detects whether or not the PC is attached to the primary USB connector or to the peripheral USB connector and, if so, to which USB connector the PC is attached.