Audio I O headset plug and plug detection circuitry

• US 9,838,780 B2
• Filed: 02/29/2016
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Johnson, Timothy, Pantfoerder, Achim
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tu X
• Application Number:
  US15/056,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20160255435A1
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 4555752, 4555691, 455557, 455559
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/703 operated by engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. dual-continuity coupling partH01R13/71 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors
• 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 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/00 Monitoring arrangements; Testing arrangements for hearing aids H04R25/30; detection of loudspeaker connection H04R5/04; sound-field adaptation dependent on speaker detection H04S7/308
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones

Abstract

A single prong, multiple signal conducting plug and plug detection circuitry is provided. The plug may be electrically coupled to a stereo headset including a microphone. The plug may include four signal conducting regions arranged in a predetermined order along the length of the prong. Detection circuitry may be operative to determine whether a microphone type of plug (e.g., a four region plug including a microphone region and two audio regions, or a three region plug including microphone region and only one audio region) or a non-microphone type of plug (e.g., stereo plug) is inserted into the jack of an electronic device (e.g., mobile phone). Detection circuitry may also detect user activated functions performed in response to user activation of one or more switches included with the headset. For example, the headset may include a single switch for performing a function with respect to a microphone (e.g., end-call function).

Claims

1. A plug system comprising:

a single prong plug of a predetermined length and diameter including;

an audio signal region having a right audio subregion and a left audio subregion, wherein the right audio subregion and the left audio subregion are both audio output signal regions;

a microphone region;

a plurality of insulating regions to separate the audio signal region from the microphone region; and

a ground region between the plurality of insulating regions to electrically isolate the ground region from the microphone region, the left audio subregion, and the right audio subregion; and

a jack including a plurality of audio signal connectors electrically coupled to the audio signal region, wherein the audio signal connectors are coupled to CODEC circuitry used to convert digital audio signals into a left analog audio output signal and a right analog audio output signal and to output the analog audio output signals.

2. The plug system of claim 1, wherein the microphone region is electrically coupled to microphone circuitry.

3. The plug system of claim 1, wherein the microphone region is electrically coupled to a microphone switch.

4. The plug system of claim 1, wherein the single prong plug is electrically connected to a headset comprising microphone circuitry and a plurality of speakers.

5. The plug system of claim 1, wherein the jack is constructed to receive a microphone type plug or a non-microphone type plug, and wherein the audio signal connectors are electrically coupled to microphone detection circuitry operative to provide a signal indicative of whether the received plug is the microphone type plug or the non-microphone type plug.