Headset plug universal auto switcher

• US 9,094,767 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2011
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Lafky, Carl, Danielson, Alex
• Primary Examiner(s): CHIN, VIVIAN C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jerez Lora, William A
• Application Number:
  US13/212,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20130044892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,440 Days
• Field of Search: 381/74, 381/77, 381/80, 381/81, 381/111, 381/122, 381/123, 381/309
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/05 Detection of connection of loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/007 Protection circuits for transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S

Abstract

One embodiment of the invention is directed to a switchable plug comprising a first incoming line configured to carry a signal from a source device, a second incoming line configured to carry a signal from the source device, a Mic Bias output line, a Ground output line, and a switch control. The switch control is operably connected with the first incoming line, the second incoming line, the Mic Bias output line and the Ground output line. The switch control is configured to detect a type of the signal carried on the first incoming line and a type of the signal carried on the second incoming line, from the source device. The switch control is further configured to automatically route a Mic Bias type signal to the Mic Bias output line and a Ground type signal to the Ground output line, without user intervention.

Claims

1. A switchable plug comprising:

a first incoming line configured to carry a signal from a source device;

a second incoming line configured to carry a signal from the source device;

a Mic Bias output line;

a Ground output line; and

a switch control operably connected with the first incoming line configured to carry a signal from the source device, the second incoming line configured to carry a signal from the source device, the Mic Bias output line and the Ground output line,

the switch control configured to detect a type of the signal carried on the first incoming line from the source device and a type of the signal carried on the second incoming line from the source device by determining a voltage of the first incoming line and a voltage of the second incoming line, and comparing the voltage of the first incoming line and the voltage of the second incoming line,

the switch control further configured to automatically route a Mic Bias type signal to the Mic Bias output line and a Ground type signal to the Ground output line, without user intervention.

2. The switchable plug of claim 1, wherein the switch control is further configured to route the signal with the higher voltage to the Mic Bias output line and the signal with the lower voltage to the Ground output line.

3. The switchable plug of claim 1, further comprising:

a switch operably connected with the switch control and the Ground output line, the switch further configured to be in a default closed position.

4. The switchable plug of claim 1, wherein the first incoming line is coupled with a pin 3 on the source device, and wherein the switch control is further configured to automatically route the signal on the first incoming line to the Ground output line if the voltage of the first incoming line and the voltage of the second incoming line are the same.

5. The switchable plug of claim 1 further comprising:

a left audio output line operably connected with the switch control; and

a right audio output line operably connected with the switch control;

the switch control further configured to route a left audio type signal to the left audio output line and a right audio type signal to the right audio output line.

6. The switchable plug of claim 1, wherein the switch control is configured to route the Mic Bias type signal to the Mic Bias output line and the Ground type signal to the Ground output line, regardless of whether the Mic Bias type signal or the Ground type signal is carried by the first incoming line or by the second incoming line.

21. The switchable plug of claim 1 wherein the switch control is electromechanical.

22. The switchable plug of claim 1 wherein the switch control is electronic.

23. The switchable plug of claim 1 wherein the switch control is electro-optic.

24. The switchable plug of claim 1 wherein the switch control is further configured to automatically route the Mic Bias type signal through a first switch to the Mic Bias output line and a Ground type signal though a second switch to the Ground output line, without user intervention.

25. The switchable plug of claim 1 further comprising at least one switch operably coupled with the switch control.

7. A system comprising:

an audio source device comprising a plug interface;

an audio output device comprising a plug, the plug comprising;

a first incoming line configured to carry a signal from the audio source device;

a second incoming line configured to carry a signal from the audio source device;

a Mic Bias output line;

a Ground output line; and

a switch control operably connected with the first incoming line, the second incoming line, the Mic Bias output line and the Ground output line,

the switch control configured to detect the type of the signal carried on the first incoming line and the type of the signal carried on the second incoming line from the source device by determining a voltage of the first incoming line and a voltage of the second incoming line, and comparing the voltage of the first incoming line and the voltage of the second incoming line,

the switch control further configured to automatically route a Mic Bias type signal to the Mic Bias output line and a Ground type signal to the Ground output line, without user intervention,

the audio output device capable of being coupled with the audio source device via the plug and the plug interface.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the switch control is further configured to route the signal with the higher voltage to the Mic Bias output line and the signal with the lower voltage to the Ground output line.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a switch operably connected with the switch control and the Ground output line, the switch further configured to be in a default closed position.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the first incoming line is coupled with a pin 3 on the source device, and wherein the switch control is further configured to automatically route the signal on the first incoming line to the Ground output line if the voltage of the first incoming line and the voltage of the second incoming line are the same.

11. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a left audio output line operably connected with the switch control; and

a right audio output line operably connected with the switch control;

the switch control further configured to route a left audio type signal to the left audio output line and a right audio type signal to the right audio output line.

17. The system of claim 7 further comprising a cord coupled with the plug, the cord comprising the switch control.

18. The system of claim 7 further comprising an inline control coupled with the plug, the inline control comprising the switch control.

12. A headset comprising:

an audio output component;

a microphone coupled with the audio output component;

a switchable plug coupled with the audio output component and the microphone, the switchable plug comprising;

a first incoming line configured to carry a signal from a source device;

a second incoming line configured to carry a signal from the source device;

a Mic Bias output line;

a Ground output line; and

a switch control operably connected with the first incoming line, the second incoming line, the Mic Bias output line and the Ground output line,

the switch control configured to detect the type of the signal carried on the first incoming line and the type of the signal carried on the second incoming line from the source device by determining a voltage of the first incoming line and a voltage of the second incoming line, and comparing the voltage of the first incoming line and the voltage of the second incoming line,

the switch control further configured to automatically route a Mic Bias type signal to the Mic Bias output line and a Ground type signal to the Ground output line, without user intervention.

13. The headset of claim 12, wherein the switch control is further configured to route the signal with the higher voltage to the Mic Bias output line and the signal with the lower voltage to the Ground output line.

14. The headset of claim 12, wherein the first incoming line is coupled with a pin 3 on the source device, and wherein the switch control is further configured to automatically route the signal on the first incoming line to the Ground output line if the voltage of the first incoming line and the voltage of the second incoming line are the same.

15. The headset of claim 12, further comprising:

a switch operably connected with the switch control and the Ground output line, the switch further configured to be in a default closed position.

16. The headset of claim 12, further comprising:

a left audio output line operably connected with the switch control; and

a right audio output line operably connected with the switch control;

the switch control further configured to route a left audio type signal to the left audio output line and a right audio type signal to the right audio output line.

19. The headset of claim 12 wherein the microphone comprises a housing and wherein the switch control is located within the microphone housing.

20. The headset of claim 12 further comprising an earbud comprising a housing wherein the switch control is located within the earbud housing.