Cable adapter for a media player system

• US 7,783,070 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2008
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Filson, John Benjamin, Fadell, Anthony M., Zedesky, Stephen Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Ni; Suhan
• Application Number:
  US12/238,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20090018682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 381/123, 381/361, 381/384, 439/218, 439/222, 439/607, 439/610, 439/638, 439/660, 439/939, 455/557
• US Class Current: 381/384
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• 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: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/021 Aspects relating to docking-station type assemblies to obtain an acoustical effect, e.g. the type of connection to external loudspeakers or housings, frequency improvement

Abstract

A media player system is disclosed. One aspect of the media player system pertains to a docking station that allows a media player to communicate with other media devices. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a wireless media player system that includes a hand held media player capable of transmitting information over a wireless connection and one or more media devices capable of receiving information over the wireless connection. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a method of wirelessly connecting the hand held media player to another device. The method includes selecting a media item on the hand held media player; selecting one or more remote recipients on the hand held media player; and transmitting the media item locally to the hand held media player, and wirelessly to the selected remote recipients. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a hand held music player that includes a transmitter for transmitting information over a wireless connection. The transmitter is configured to at least transmit a continuous music feed to one or more personal tuning devices that each include a receiver capable of receiving information from the transmitter over the wireless connection. Yet another aspect of the media player system pertains to a connector that includes a housing and a plurality of spatially separated contacts mounted within the housing. A first set of contacts are directed at a first functionality and a second set of contacts are directed at a second functionality that is different than the first functionality.

Claims

1. An adapter for a media player that has a receptacle connector, the adapter comprising:

a male plug connector and a second connector;

wherein the male plug connector is configured to engage the receptacle connector of the media player, the male plug connector comprising;

a housing designed to accommodate a plurality of contacts spaced apart in a single row of contact locations, wherein the contact locations are sequentially numbered from a first end to a second end, the contact locations including;

a first ground contact location at the first end designated for ground;

a second ground contact location at the second end designated for ground;

a third ground contact location between the first end and the second end designated for ground;

a first group of digital contact locations designated for one or more digital signals including USB contact locations designated for USB signals interleaved with contact locations for other digital signals, the first group of digital contact locations being disposed between the first ground contact location and the third ground contact location;

a second group of analog contact locations designated for one or more analog signals including at least one audio signal, the second group of analog contact locations being disposed between the third ground contact location and the second ground contact location; and

at least one power contact appropriated to carry power;

wherein the second connector is adapted to operatively connect to a complementary connector that can supply power to a power contact of the second connector; and

wherein the at least one power contact of the male plug connector is operatively connected to the power contact of the second connector to enable power transfer through the adapter.

2. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the second connector is a power adapter plug configured for insertion into a car power jack.

3. The adapter of claim 1, wherein contact locations from the first group of digital contact locations that are designated for USB are disposed consecutively in every other contact location.

4. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the plurality of contact locations comprises 30 sequentially numbered contact locations, and wherein the first ground contact location is at contact location 1, the second ground contact location is at contact location 30, and the third ground contact location is at contact location 16, and wherein the sequentially numbered contact locations further include additional ground contact locations 2, 15, and 29 designated for ground.

5. The adapter of claim 4, wherein the first group of digital contact locations comprises locations 3 to 9, and wherein the second group of analog contact locations comprises locations 27 to 28.

6. The adapter of claim 5, wherein the first group of digital contact locations includes locations 4, 6, and 8 designated for USB signals.

7. The adapter of claim 6, wherein the first group of digital contact locations further includes locations 3, 5, 7 and 9 designated for Firewire signals.

8. The adapter of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of contacts made of electrically conductive material disposed at the plurality of contact locations, respectively, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of contacts can be active when the male plug connector is connected to the corresponding receptacle connector of the media player.

9. The adapter of claim 1 wherein:

the housing is designed to accommodate 30 contacts spaced apart in a single row of contact locations whereby the first ground contact location is contact location 1, the second ground contact location is contact location 30 and the third ground contact location is one of contact locations 15 and 16;

the group of digital contact locations comprise contact locations 3 to 9 including contact locations 4, 6 and 8 designated for USB signals; and

the group of analog contact locations comprise contact locations 27 to 28.

10. The adapter of claim 9, wherein the second connector has a contact for ground, and wherein the male plug connector includes at least one ground contact that is connected to the ground contact of the second connector and that is located at location 1 or 2 or both locations.

11. The adapter of claim 9, wherein the at least one power contact of the male plug connector includes one or more contacts located at location 11 or 12 or both locations.

12. The adapter of claim 11 wherein the second connector is a power adapter plug configured for insertion into a car power jack.

13. The adapter of claim 9, wherein the contact locations further include an accessory identify contact location 10 designated for an accessory identify signal that has an associated electrical pull down function to notify the media player of an accessory identification.

14. The adapter of claim 9, wherein the contact locations further include:

an accessory power contact location 13 designated for an accessory power signal that can receive power from the media player; and

an accessory detect contact location 20 designated for an accessory detect signal.

15. The adapter of claim 9, wherein the contact locations further include serial protocol contact locations 18 and 19 designated for serial protocol signals.

16. The adapter of claim 9 wherein the group of analog contact locations comprise contact locations 25-28, each of which is designated for an audio signal.

17. The adapter of claim 9 wherein the second connector is a USB connector.

18. The adapter of claim 9 wherein the second connector is a power adapter plug configured for insertion into a car power jack.

19. The adapter of claim 9 further comprising USB contacts disposed at contact locations 4, 6 and 8 and appropriated for carrying the USB signals and ground contacts disposed at contact locations 1 and 30 and appropriated for ground, wherein the USB and ground contacts are made of an electrically conductive material.

20. The adapter of claim 19 wherein the housing is made of plastic;

wherein the contacts are disposed in a corresponding one of the sequentially numbered contact locations for the 30 contacts, and are recessed inside the housing in an off-center position; and

wherein at least one contact is made of a copper alloy.

21. The adapter of claim 9 wherein the housing further comprises a latch that engages and disengages and is configured to provide a locking mechanism when the male plug connector mates with the corresponding receptacle connector of the media player.

22. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the second connector is a USB connector.

23. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the housing further comprises a latch that engages and disengages and is configured to provide a locking mechanism when the male plug connector mates with the corresponding receptacle connector of the media player.

24. The adapter of claim 1 further comprising first and second cables, wherein the second connector is coupled to an end of the first cable and a third connector is coupled to an end of the second cable.

25. The adapter of claim 24 wherein the second connector is a USB connector.

26. The adapter of claim 24 wherein the third connector is a power connector.

27. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the second connector is a power adapter plug configured for insertion into a car power jack and wherein the adapter further comprises a media device connector coupled to the male plug connector and adapted to interface to a car stereo.