Multipurpose audio apparatus

• US 9,560,443 B1
• Filed: 05/25/2016
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Essential Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Essential Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Evans, David John V, Jiang, Xinrui, Rubin, Andrew E., Hershenson, Matthew, Miao, Xiaoyu
• Primary Examiner(s): Etesam, Amir
• Application Number:
  US15/164,012
• Time in Patent Office: 251 Days
• Field of Search: 381/394
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/026 Details of the structure or mounting of specific components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/03 Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/023 Screens for loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/345 for loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/09 Applications of special connectors, e.g. USB, XLR, in loudspeakers, microphones or headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's

Abstract

The technology presented here reduces the number of audio ports associated with the mobile device by combining a plurality of audio ports into a single multipurpose audio apparatus. The multipurpose audio apparatus includes the functionality of multiple audio ports that have previously required separate audio ports, such as an external device audio port and an audio emitter audio port. When the external device is plugged in, the audio emitter powers off, and the sound is omitted through the external device. When the external device is not plugged in, the audio emitter emits the sound.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

an enclosure;

an acoustic chamber, the acoustic chamber comprising an entry point formed through an exterior surface of the enclosure, an end point within the enclosure, an acoustic chamber passage that extends between the entry point and the end point, and a contact disposed within the acoustic chamber passage;

the contact establishing a connection with an external device, when a connector associated with the external device is inserted through the entry point into the acoustic chamber passage and engaged with the contact therein;

an audio emitter associated with the acoustic chamber passage, wherein operation of the audio emitter is disabled in response to engagement of an external device connector with the contact within the acoustic chamber passage;

wherein the acoustic chamber passage both receives the external device connector when engaged with the contact and provides an acoustic port for the audio emitter when the external device connector is not engaged with the contact;

a reflector disposed within the acoustic chamber passage, the reflector directing sound generated by the audio emitter along the acoustic chamber passage toward the entry point, the reflector comprising;

a first junction, the first junction comprising a spring-loaded hinge, the spring-loaded hinge connecting the reflector to the acoustic chamber, and the spring-loaded hinge operable to rotate the reflector in response to pressure changes exerted against the reflector; and

a second junction connected to the acoustic chamber and operable to disengage from the acoustic chamber when pressure is exerted against the reflector.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, when the external device is inserted into the acoustic chamber passage, the reflector connecting the external device connector and the contact.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, when the external device is inserted in the acoustic chamber passage, the reflector operable to retract and to enable the external device connector to establish the connection with the contact.

4. A mobile device comprising:

an enclosure;

an acoustic chamber, the acoustic chamber comprising an entry point formed through an exterior surface of the enclosure, an end point within the enclosure, an acoustic chamber passage that extends between the entry point and the end point, and a contact disposed within the acoustic chamber passage;

the contact establishing a connection with an external device, when a connector associated with the external device is inserted through the entry point into the acoustic chamber passage and engaged with the contact therein;

an audio emitter associated with the acoustic chamber passage, wherein operation of the audio emitter is disabled in response to engagement of an external device connector with the contact within the acoustic chamber passage, the audio emitter disposed on a movable mechanism associated with the acoustic chamber, the movable mechanism operable to place the audio emitter proximate to the entry point, and the movable mechanism operable to place the audio emitter proximate to the end point; and

wherein the acoustic chamber passage both receives the external device connector when engaged with the contact and provides an acoustic port for the audio emitter when the external device connector is not engaged with the contact.

5. The mobile device of claim 4, the movable mechanism comprising:

a first surface disposed between the audio emitter and the entry point, the first surface comprising an opening allowing an audio signal to pass between the audio emitter and the entry point, the first surface rigidly connected to the audio emitter, the first surface operable to move in response to pressure changes; and

a spring connecting the end point associated with the acoustic chamber and the audio emitter, the spring operable to compress and extend in response to pressure changes.

6. A mobile device, comprising:

an enclosure;

an acoustic chamber, the acoustic chamber comprising an entry point formed through an exterior surface of the enclosure, an end point within the enclosure, an acoustic chamber passage that extends between the entry point and the end point, and a contact disposed within the acoustic chamber passage;

the contact establishing a connection with an external device, when an external device connector is inserted through the entry point into the acoustic chamber passage and engaged with the contact therein;

wherein the acoustic chamber passage both receives the external device connector when engaged with the contact and provides an acoustic port for a first audio emitter and a second audio emitter when the external device connector is not engaged with the contact;

the first audio emitter proximate to the entry point, wherein operation of the first audio emitter is disabled in response to engagement of the external device connector with the contact within the acoustic chamber passage;

the second audio emitter proximate to the entry point, wherein operation of the second audio emitter is disabled in response to engagement of the external device connector with the contact within the acoustic chamber passage;

a first reflector angularly disposed with respect to an axis associated with the first audio emitter, the first reflector deflecting an audio signal associated with the first audio emitter toward the entry point associated with the acoustic chamber, the first reflector comprising;

a first junction comprising a first spring-loaded hinge, the first spring-loaded hinge connecting the first reflector to the acoustic chamber, the first spring-loaded hinge operable to rotate the first reflector in response to pressure changes exerted against the first reflector;

a second junction, the second junction connected to a second reflector and operable to disengage from the second reflector when pressure is exerted against the first reflector;

the second reflector angularly disposed with respect to an axis associated with the second audio emitter, the second reflector deflecting the audio signal associated with the second audio emitter toward the entry point associated with the acoustic chamber, the second reflector comprising;

a third junction comprising a third spring-loaded hinge, the third spring-loaded hinge connecting the second reflector to the acoustic chamber, the third spring-loaded hinge operable to rotate the second reflector in response to pressure changes exerted against the second reflector; and

a fourth junction, the fourth junction connected to the first reflector and operable to disengage from the first reflector when pressure is exerted against the second reflector.

7. The mobile device of claim 6, the first audio emitter tuned to emit low frequencies, and the second audio emitter tuned to emit high frequencies.

8. A mobile device, comprising:

an enclosure;

an acoustic chamber, the acoustic chamber comprising an entry point formed through an exterior surface of the enclosure, an end point within the enclosure, an acoustic chamber passage that extends between the entry point and the end point, and a contact disposed within the acoustic chamber passage;

the contact establishing a connection with an external device, when an external device connector is inserted through the entry point into the acoustic chamber passage and engaged with the contact therein;

wherein the acoustic chamber passage both receives the external device connector when engaged with the contact and provides an acoustic port for a first audio emitter and a second audio emitter when the external device connector is not engaged with the contact;

the first audio emitter operable to emit a first audio signal, wherein operation of the first audio emitter is disabled in response to engagement of the external device connector with the contact within the acoustic chamber passage;

the second audio emitter operable to emit a second audio signal, wherein operation of the second audio emitter is disabled in response to engagement of the external device connector with the contact within the acoustic chamber passage;

a reflector comprising;

a first surface angularly disposed with respect to an axis associated with the first audio emitter, the first surface deflecting the first audio signal toward the entry point associated with the acoustic chamber;

a second surface angularly disposed with respect to an axis associated with the second audio emitter, the second surface deflecting the second audio signal toward the entry point associated with the acoustic chamber;

a third surface, connected to the first surface and the second surface, disposed parallel to an axis associated with the acoustic chamber, the third surface guiding the first audio signal and the second audio signal to the entry point associated with the acoustic chamber;

a fourth surface, connected to the third surface, the fourth surface disposed perpendicular to the third surface, the fourth surface receiving pressure exerted by the external device, when the external device is inserted into the entry point associated with the acoustic chamber; and

a spring connected to the reflector and to the end point associated with the acoustic chamber, the spring operable to compress and extend in response to pressure changes.

9. The mobile device of claim 8, the first audio emitter tuned to emit low frequencies, and the second audio emitter tuned to emit high frequencies.