Microphone headset failure detecting and reporting

• US 9,668,076 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2011
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Minoo, Jahan C., Bidmead, Anthony P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Con P
• Application Number:
  US13/165,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20120328116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,170 Days
• Field of Search: 381 59, 381111-115, 381 95, 381 56, 381 58, 381 77, 381 74, 381384, 381124, 73645, 73763, 73584, 714 25, 455 6711
• 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 2420/09 Applications of special connectors, e.g. USB, XLR, in loudspeakers, microphones or headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/004 for microphones H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/007 Protection circuits for transducers

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention include methods, apparatus, and systems for detecting a predicted future or current failure of a microphone of a headset. The failure may have been caused by organic matter buildup creating a signal path or short circuit across the microphone'"'"'s circuitry. The headset is connected to a mobile device having a network interface that is used to send a notification message to a remote supply management system server. A failure detection circuit detects the failure based on a decrease in a microphone bias signal or increase in headset temperature over time. In some cases, the failure is based on an increase in a microphone bias signal over time. Upon detection of the failure, it signals that a failure notification be transmitted to the remote supply management system. The notification may then cause a new headset to be sent to the owner of the mobile device. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a network interface to enable a failure notification be sent from the mobile device to a remote supply management system; and

a microphone failure detection circuit to detect a failure of a microphone circuit of a headset coupled to the mobile device by measuring a change in at least one of a microphone bias line signal or a microphone bias line temperature signal, and then signal that a failure notification be transmitted to the remote supply management system using the network interface, wherein the microphone failure detection circuit is configured to compare the measured microphone bias line signal or the microphone bias line temperature signal to a first threshold to detect a predicted future failure of the headset, and to a second threshold to detect a current failure of the headset; and

wherein the failure notification refers to a predicted future failure or a current failure of the headset.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising:

a direct current (DC) bias signal circuit operable to provide a DC bias signal to the microphone bias line.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein upon detecting the failure, the microphone failure detection circuit is operable to signal a controller of the mobile device to establish a data connection with, and then transmit the failure notification to the remote supply management system using the network interface.

4. The mobile device of claim 3, wherein the microphone failure detection circuit comprises a comparator circuit to compare the measured microphone bias line signal or the microphone bias line temperature signal to a first threshold to detect a predicted future failure of the headset, and to a second threshold to detect a current failure of the headset.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the network interface can establish one of a WiFi connection, a GSM data connection, and a computer peripheral bus connection.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the failure notification includes identification of an owner of the mobile device and indicates to the remote supply management system to send another headset to the owner of the mobile device.

7. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising:

sampling the microphone bias line signal over a period of time;

determining an average value for the microphone bias line signal; and

measuring the change based on the average value of the microphone bias line signal.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the failure notification identifies a level or scale of the predicted future failure or the current failure of the headset.

9. A headset to be connected to a mobile device, the headset comprising:

a microphone bias line;

a microphone circuit coupled to the bias line; and

a failure detection circuit coupled to the microphone circuit and operable to detect a failure of the microphone circuit, the failure detection circuit to measure a change in at least one of a microphone bias signal or a microphone bias line temperature signal of the headset, and then signal that a failure notification be transmitted to a remote supply management system using a network interface, wherein the failure detection circuit is configured to compare the measured microphone bias signal or the microphone bias line temperature signal to a first threshold to detect a predicted future failure of the headset, and to a second threshold to detect a current failure of the headset; and

wherein the failure signal is a predicted future failure or a current failure of the headset.

10. The headset of claim 9, wherein the headset includes a cable having a plug connector to insert into a jack connector of a mobile device, earphones, a microphone electronic circuit interfaced between a microphone power contact and a ground contact of the plug connector;

wherein the headset is operable to receive from the mobile device, a DC bias signal on the microphone bias line of the headset through a microphone bias power contact of the plug connector; and

wherein the failure detection circuit is operable to detect a failure anywhere in a signal path between a microphone bias power contact and a ground contact of the plug connector.

11. The headset of claim 9, wherein the failure detection circuit is operable to signal a failure to a mobile device to cause the mobile device to transmit the failure notification.

12. The headset of claim 9, wherein the failure detection circuit is operable to detect a drop in voltage of the microphone bias signal below a first threshold and above a second threshold, and then to signal a predicted future failure of the headset in the failure notification.

13. The headset of claim 9, wherein upon detecting the failure, the failure detection circuit is operable to transmit a failure signal to a controller of a mobile device.

14. The headset of claim 13, wherein the failure detection circuit comprises a comparator circuit to compare the measured microphone bias signal or the microphone bias line temperature signal to a first threshold to detect a predicted future failure of the headset, and to a second threshold to detect a current failure of the headset.

15. A method comprising:

detecting a failure of a headset microphone circuit based on a measured change in a microphone bias signal or a measured microphone bias line temperature signal, wherein detecting comprises comparing the measured microphone bias signal or the microphone bias line temperature signal to a first threshold to detect a predicted future failure of the headset, and to a second threshold to detect a current failure of the headset;

establishing a data connection with a remote supply management system; and

transmitting a failure notification to the remote supply management system, wherein the failure notification refers to a predicted future failure or a current failure of the headset.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein detecting detects a failure anywhere in a signal path between a microphone bias power contact and a ground contact of the plug.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the failure notification includes identification of an owner of the mobile device and indicates to the remote supply management system to send another headset to the owner of the mobile device.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

sampling the microphone bias line signal;

determining an average value for the microphone bias line signal; and

measuring the change based on the average value of the microphone bias line signal.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the failure notification identifies a level or scale of the predicted future failure or the current failure of the headset.