Apparatus for providing audio related signals for audio loops and associated methods

• US 8,213,657 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2008
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Mäkelä, Jakke, Porjo, Niko
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Allan R
• Application Number:
  US12/165,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20090323994A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,464 Days
• Field of Search: 381/315, 381/331, 379/52, 379/442, 430/39
• US Class Current: 381/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72478 for hearing-impaired users

Abstract

There is provided an apparatus comprising a primary winding and a corresponding primary core element, the primary winding/core element configured for the transmission of audio related signalling, using inductive coupling, with an appropriately positioned secondary core element/winding, the apparatus for providing induced audio related signals for an audio loop.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising a primary winding and a corresponding primary core element, the primary winding/core element configured for the transmission of audio related signalling, using inductive coupling, with an appropriately positioned secondary core element/winding, the apparatus for providing induced audio related signals for an audio loop, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the primary core element is appropriately positioned with a secondary core element so as to be adjoined but define elsewhere an aperture therebetween, the aperture configured to allow for addition/removal of a secondary winding, wherein the aperture is configured so as to provide a labyrinth region, the labyrinth region configured to hinder unintentional removal of the secondary winding from the secondary core element when in an open configuration.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, configured such that it provides for a secondary winding to be removable with respect to the primary winding/core element.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a displacement mechanism for open/close positioning of a secondary core element with the primary core element, the apparatus configured to allow for the addition/removal of a secondary winding from a secondary core element when in an open configuration.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the primary core element is configured to be positioned with a secondary core element over at least a portion of a casing of a portable electronic device.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to be attachable/detachable with a secondary core element.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising control circuitry in communication with the primary winding, the control circuitry for providing audio related signalling to the primary winding for transmission with an appropriately positioned secondary winding/core element.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a secondary core element/winding, the secondary winding configured about the secondary core element for communication of audio related signals, and wherein the secondary winding comprises a loop for providing induced audio related signals, and the loop comprises a conductive polymer which is one of, an intrinsic conductive polymer;

a blended conductive polymer;

a polymer/conductive layer ribbon.

8. A portable device comprising the apparatus according to claim 1, and wherein the device is one or more of:

a cellular telephone;

multimedia device;

gaming device;

navigation device;

personal digital assistant;

a supplementary module for a cellular telephone;

a supplementary module for a multimedia device;

a supplementary module for a gaming device;

a supplementary module for a navigation device;

a supplementary module for a personal digital assistant.

9. A portable electronic device comprising the apparatus according to claim 1.

10. An apparatus comprising a secondary core element, configured to receive a secondary winding, and configured for the transmission of audio related signalling, using inductive coupling, with an appropriately positioned primary core element/winding, the apparatus for providing induced audio related signals for an audio loop, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the secondary core element is appropriately positioned with a primary core element so as to be adjoined but define elsewhere an aperture therebetween, the aperture configured to allow for addition/removal of the secondary winding, wherein the aperture is configured so as to provide a labyrinth region, the labyrinth region configured to hinder unintentional removal of the secondary winding from the secondary core element when in an open configuration.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the secondary core element is configured to be positioned with the primary core element over at least a portion of casing of a portable electronic device.

12. An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a secondary winding, the secondary winding configured about the secondary core element to provide for transmission of audio related signalling for a loop.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a first apparatus comprising a primary winding and a corresponding primary core element, the primary winding/core element configured for the transmission of audio related signalling, using inductive coupling, with a second apparatus comprising a secondary core element, configured to receive a secondary winding, and configured for the transmission of audio related signalling, using inductive coupling with the first apparatus the apparatus for providing induced audio related signals for an audio loop, wherein the primary core element is appropriately positioned with the secondary core element so as to be adjoined but define elsewhere an aperture therebetween, the aperture configured to allow for addition/removal of the secondary winding, wherein the aperture is configured so as to provide a labyrinth region, the labyrinth region configured to hinder unintentional removal of the secondary winding from the secondary core element when in an open configuration.

14. A secondary winding configured for use with a corresponding secondary core element, the secondary winding configured for the transmission of audio related signalling, using inductive coupling, with an appropriately positioned primary core element/winding, the secondary winding for providing induced audio related signals for an audio loop, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the secondary core element is appropriately positioned with a primary core element so as to be adjoined but define elsewhere an aperture therebetween, the aperture configured to allow for addition/removal of the secondary winding, wherein the aperture is configured so as to provide a labyrinth region, the labyrinth region configured to hinder unintentional removal of the secondary winding from the secondary core element when in an open configuration.

15. A secondary winding according to claim 14, wherein the winding is a loop for providing audio frequency magnetic fields for use by an appropriately configured and positioned hearing aid, and the loop is configured with an adjustable continuity region, the continuity region configured to allow for the adjustment of the effective length of the loop.

16. A secondary winding according to claim 14, wherein the secondary winding is a loop or is connectable to a loop for providing audio frequency magnetic fields for use by an appropriately configured and positioned hearing aid.

17. A secondary winding according to claim 14, wherein the secondary winding is a loop or is connectable to a loop and wherein secondary winding/loop is provided with a region of reduced integrity, so as to allow for anticipated fracture at that region when the loop is subjected to a particular tension/shear force.

18. A method comprising:

providing a primary winding;

providing a primary core element; and

configuring the primary core element and the primary winding for transmission of audio related signalling using inductive coupling with an appropriately positioned secondary core element/winding, the method for providing induced audio related signals for an audio loop, wherein the primary core element is appropriately positioned with a secondary core element so as to be adjoined but define elsewhere an aperture therebetween, the aperture configured to allow for addition/removal of a secondary winding, wherein the aperture is configured so as to provide a labyrinth region, the labyrinth region configured to hinder unintentional removal of the secondary winding from the secondary core element when in an open configuration.

19. A method comprising:

providing a secondary core element configured to receive a secondary winding; and

configuring the secondary core element for transmission of audio related signalling using inductive coupling with an appropriately positioned primary core element/winding, the method for providing induced audio related signals for an audio loop, wherein the secondary core element is appropriately positioned with a primary core element so as to be adjoined but define elsewhere an aperture therebetween, the aperture configured to allow for addition/removal of the secondary winding, wherein the aperture is configured so as to provide a labyrinth region, the labyrinth region configured to hinder unintentional removal of the secondary winding from the secondary core element when in an open configuration.

20. A method comprising:

providing a primary winding about a primary core element;

providing a secondary core element, configured for receiving a secondary winding; and

appropriately positioning the secondary core element with the primary core element for transmission of audio related signalling using inductive coupling, the method for providing induced audio related signals for an audio loop, wherein the primary core element is appropriately positioned with the secondary core element so as to be adjoined but define elsewhere an aperture therebetween, the aperture configured to allow for addition/removal of the secondary winding, wherein the aperture is configured so as to provide a labyrinth region, the labyrinth region configured to hinder unintentional removal of the secondary winding from the secondary core element when in an open configuration.

21. An apparatus comprising a means for a primary winding and a corresponding means for a primary core element, the means for a primary winding/core element configured for the transmission of audio related signalling using inductive coupling with an appropriately positioned means for a secondary core element/means for a secondary winding, the apparatus for providing induced audio related signals for a means for an audio loop, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the means for a primary core element is appropriately positioned with a means for a secondary core element so as to be adjoined but define elsewhere an aperture therebetween, the aperture configured to allow for addition/removal of the means for a secondary winding, wherein the aperture is confi ured so as to provide a labyrinth region, the labyrinth region configured to hinder unintentional removal of the means for a secondary winding from the means for a secondary core element when in an open configuration.

22. An apparatus comprising a means for a secondary core element, configured to receive a means for a secondary winding, and configured for the transmission of audio related signalling using inductive coupling with an appropriately positioned means for a primary core element/winding, the apparatus for providing induced audio related signals for an audio loop, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the means for a secondary core element is appropriately positioned with a means for a primary core element so as to be adjoined but define elsewhere an aperture therebetween, the aperture configured to allow for addition/removal of the means for a secondary winding, wherein the aperture is configured so as to provide a labyrinth region, the labyrinth region configured to hinder unintentional removal of the means for a secondary winding from the means for a secondary core element when in an open configuration.

23. A means for a secondary winding configured for use with a corresponding means for secondary core element, the means for a secondary winding configured for the transmission of audio related signalling using inductive coupling with an appropriately positioned means for a primary core element/winding, the means for a secondary winding for providing induced audio related signals for a means for an audio loop, wherein the means for a secondary core element is appropriately positioned with a means for a primary core element so as to be adjoined but define elsewhere an aperture therebetween, the aperture configured to allow for addition/removal of the means for a secondary winding, wherein the aperture is configured so as to provide a labyrinth region, the labyrinth region configured to hinder unintentional removal of the means for a secondary winding from the means for a secondary core element when in an open configuration.

24. A method comprising:

providing a means for a primary winding;

providing a means for a primary core element; and

configuring the means for a primary core element and the means for a primary winding for transmission of audio related signalling using inductive coupling with an appropriately positioned means for a secondary core element/winding, the method for providing induced audio related signals for a means for an audio loop, wherein the means for a primary core element is appropriately positioned with a means for a secondary core element so as to be adjoined but define elsewhere an aperture therebetween, the aperture configured to allow for addition/removal of a means for a secondary winding, wherein the aperture is configured so as to provide a labyrinth region, the labyrinth region configured to hinder unintentional removal of the means for a secondary winding from the means for a secondary core element when in an open configuration.

25. A method comprising:

using control circuitry to transmit audio related signalling to a primary winding/core element for transmission, using inductive coupling, of audio related signalling to an appropriately positioned secondary core element/winding for transmitting audio related signals for an audio loop, wherein a primary core element is appropriately positioned with a secondary core element so as to be adjoined but define elsewhere an aperture therebetween, the aperture configured, to allow for addition/removal of a secondary winding, wherein the aperture is configured so as to provide a labyrinth region, the labyrinth region configured to hinder unintentional removal of the secondary winding from the secondary core element when in an open configuration.

26. A computer readable code, stored on a carrier, the computer readable code configured to provide the method of claim 25.