Detecting the repositioning of an earphone using a microphone and associated action

• US 8,416,961 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2012
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Jae Han, Sander, Wendell B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picardat, Kevin M
• Application Number:
  US13/350,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20120114133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 381/74, 381/370, 381/380, 381/384
• US Class Current: 381/74
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones

Abstract

A system detects the repositioning of an earphone that is worn by a user, and changes an operation mode of a host coupled to the earphone. Within the earphone is a pressure transducer that detects a pressure change caused by the repositioning of the earphone. A signaling mechanism sends a repositioning detection signal to the host in response to a signal from the pressure transducer indicating the detection of the pressure change.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an earphone that is to be coupled to a host;

a pressure transducer within the earphone;

a microphone assembly including a microphone; and

a signaling mechanism coupled to the microphone assembly and the earphone, the signaling mechanism to send to the host a repositioning detection signal representing a pressure change detected by the pressure transducer, the pressure change responsive to repositioning of the earphone, wherein the signaling mechanism is to generate the repositioning detection signal for transmission to the host, the repositioning detection signal generated as a distinct direct current (DC) voltage level upon detection that the microphone is not in use, and as a supersonic distinct alternating current (AC) frequency sequence upon detecting that the microphone is in use.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signaling mechanism comprises a signal generator to generate the supersonic distinct AC frequency sequence as the repositioning detection signal, the supersonic distinct AC frequency sequence to be superimposed on a microphone signal generated by the microphone for transmission to the host.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the supersonic distinct AC frequency sequence is in the range 75 kHz-300 kHz.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signaling mechanism comprises:

a host interface to transmit a unique voltage level that identifies an occurrence of the repositioning detection signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

the host; and

an earphone interface within the host to receive the repositioning detection signal and to change an operation mode of the host upon receipt of the repositioning detection signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more buttons coupled to the signaling mechanism, the signaling mechanism to generate a button press signal when one of the buttons is pressed, the button press signal to be transmitted to the host through a same wire as the repositioning detection signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the host comprises:

a media player, which is to pause playing a media file in response to the repositioning detection signal indicating that the earphone has been removed from an ear.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the host comprises:

a media player, which is to resume playing a media file in response to the repositioning detection signal indicating that the earphone has been inserted into an ear.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of wires to connect the signaling mechanism and the earphone with the host, the plurality of wires to carry audio signals from the host to the earphone, and the repositioning detection signal from the earphone to the host.

10. A method comprising:

detecting a pressure change within an earphone, the pressure change responsive to repositioning of the earphone, wherein the earphone is coupled to a microphone assembly, wherein the microphone assembly includes a microphone;

in response to the pressure change, generating a repositioning detection signal to a host that is coupled to the earphone, the repositioning detection signal generated as a distinct direct current (DC) voltage level upon detection that the microphone is not in use, and as a supersonic distinct alternating current (AC) frequency sequence upon detection that the microphone is in use; and

sending the repositioning detection signal to the host to cause the host to change an operating mode.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

generating the repositioning detection signal as a unique voltage level in response to the pressure change; and

transmitting the unique voltage level to the host via a conductive wire.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

generating the repositioning detection signal as the supersonic distinct AC frequency sequence in response to the pressure change;

superimposing the supersonic distinct AC frequency sequence on an audible signal generated by the microphone that is coupled to the earphone; and

transmitting the superimposed supersonic and audio signals to the host through a conductive wire.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting the repositioning detection signal through a same wire as an audible signal generated by the microphone.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

causing a media player in the host to pause playing a media file in response to the repositioning detection signal indicating that the earphone has been removed from an ear.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

causing a media player in the host to resume playing a media file in response to the repositioning detection signal indicating that the earphone has been inserted into an ear.

16. A system comprising:

means for detecting a pressure change within an earphone that is coupled to a microphone assembly, wherein the microphone assembly includes a microphone;

means for generating a repositioning detection signal generated as a distinct direct current (DC) voltage level upon detecting that the microphone is not in use, and as a supersonic distinct alternating current (AC) frequency sequence upon detecting that the microphone is in use; and

means for sending the repositioning detection signal representing the pressure change to a host, the pressure change responsive to repositioning of the earphone.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

means for generating a uniquely identifiable signal as the repositioning detection signal, the uniquely identifiable signal to be transmitted to the host, through a single wire, with a microphone signal generated by the microphone.