Patent Application
20100054493
This invention relates to electronic devices, and more particularly, to accessories for electronic devices such as accessories with button controllers.
Electronic devices such as computers, media players, and cellular telephones typically contain audio jacks. Accessories such as headsets have mating plugs. A user who desires to use a headset with an electronic device may connect the headset to the electronic device by inserting the headset plug into the mating audio jack on the electronic device. Miniature size (3.5 mm) phone jacks and plugs are commonly used electronic devices such as notebook computers and media players, because audio connectors such as these are relatively compact.
Stereo audio connectors typically have three contacts. The outermost end of an audio plug is typically referred to as the tip. The innermost portion of the plug is typically referred to as the sleeve. A ring contact lies between the tip and the sleeve. When using this terminology, stereo audio connectors such as these are sometimes referred to as tip-ring-sleeve (TRS) connectors. The sleeve can serve as ground. The tip contact can be used in conjunction with the sleeve to handle a left audio channel and the ring contact can be used in conjunction with the sleeve to handle the right channel of audio.
In devices such as cellular telephones, it is often necessary to convey microphone signals from the headset to the cellular telephone. In arrangements in which it is desired to handle both stereo audio signals and microphone signals, an audio connector typically contains an additional ring terminal. Audio connectors such as these have a tip, two rings, and a sleeve and are therefore sometimes referred to as four-contact connectors or tip-ring-ring-sleeve (TRRS) connectors. When a four-contact connector is used, the sleeve may serve as ground. The tip contact and the outermost ring contact may be used in conjunction with the ground to carry audio for the left and right headset speaker audio channels. The innermost ring contact may be used in conjunction with the ground to carry microphone signals.
Some users may wish to operate their cellular telephones or other electronic devices remotely. To accommodate this need, some modern microphone-enabled headsets feature a button. When the button is pressed by the user, the microphone line is shorted to ground. Monitoring circuitry in a cellular telephone to which the headset is connected can detect the momentary grounding of the microphone line and can take appropriate action. In a typical scenario, a button press might be used be used to answer an incoming telephone or might be used skip tracks during playback of a media file.
Conventional button arrangements such as these offer limited functionality.
It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide headsets and other accessories with improved button arrangements.
Accessories such as headsets are provided that include button controller assemblies. The headsets may each include speakers, a button controller assembly, an audio plug, and wires that interconnect the speakers, button controller assembly, and the audio plug. The button controller assemblies may each be formed from a housing having first and second housing portions.
The first and second housing portions of each button controller assembly may have associated plastic engagement features. For example, the first housing portion may have snaps. A plastic frame may be ultrasonically welded to the second housing portion. When assembled to form a finished unit, the snaps on the first housing may engage rails on the frame. Sufficient clearance may be provided between respective engagement structures to allow the first and second housing portions to float with respect to each other. The first and second housing portions may move unimpeded by the engagement structures up to a given amount of travel. When the given amount of travel is reached, the first housing structure may still flex. This allows the first housing structures to bend inwardly towards the second housing structure and its associated frame when the first and second housing structures are squeezed together by a user to actuate a desired button within the button controller assembly.
Button functionality may be provided by dome switches mounted within the button controller assembly. The housing portions may be formed using a two-shot molding process so that each housing portion may include two different types of plastic. The plastics may have different colors, different textures, different rigidities, or other suitable properties. By using different colors for different regions of the housing, certain portions of the housing may be concealed from view and button regions may be marked.
Elastomeric members within the button controller assembly may be used to help bias the housing portions apart. The elastomeric members may be mounted to opposing ends of the plastic frame. Wires for the headset may be engaged by holes in the plastic frame and crimped metal bands.
Integrated circuits, a microphone, and other circuitry may be mounted within the button controller assembly. The circuitry may be used to detect button actuation events when a user squeezes various portions of the housing together. When a button selection is detected, the circuitry may transmit corresponding signals to the electronic device over the wires of the headset.
Air gaps may be formed at the interfaces between plastic portions in the button controller assembly. For example, a thin slit may be formed where the first and second housing portions meet. Slit-shaped air gaps may also be formed at the intersection between the housing portions and the plastic frame. Because of the presence of these air gaps, sound may reach the microphone in the interior of the button controller assembly without use of a dedicated microphone port.
To help a user determine whether or not the button controller assembly contains a microphone, the outer surface of the button controller assembly housing may be provided with a visual indicator that the button controller assembly contains a microphone. The visual indicator may, as an example, be provided in the form of a nonoperational microphone port. The nonoperational microphone port may have structures that resemble a traditional microphone port such as a metal member with holes. The nonoperational port may be formed by omitting holes through the housing, thereby blocking sound from entering the interior of the housing through the port.
Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.
The present invention relates generally to electronic devices and accessories for electronic devices.
A typical accessory may be, for example, a headset that includes a button controller assembly. The button controller assembly may include buttons for controlling operation of the electronic device.
An illustrative system in which an accessory may be used with an electronic device is shown in
Electronic device 12 may be, for example, a device such as a desktop computer or a portable electronic device such as a laptop computer or a small portable computer of the type that is sometimes referred to as an ultraportable. Electronic device 12 may also be a somewhat smaller portable electronic device such as a wrist-watch device, pendant device, or other wearable or miniature device. If desired, electronic device 12 may include wireless capabilities.
Electronic device 12 may be a handheld electronic device such as a cellular telephone, a media player with wireless communications capabilities, a handheld computer (i.e., a personal digital assistant), a remote controller, global positioning system (GPS) devices, a handheld gaming device, etc. Electronic device 12 may also be a hybrid device that combines the functionality of multiple conventional devices. Examples of hybrid electronic devices include a cellular telephone that includes media player functionality, a gaming device that includes a wireless communications capability, a cellular telephone that includes game and email functions, and a portable device that receives email, supports mobile telephone calls, has music player functionality and supports web browsing. Electronic device 12 may also be equipment such as a television or audio receiver, or other suitable electronic equipment. Electronic device 12 may be provided in the form of stand-alone equipment (e.g., a handheld device that is carried in the pocket of a user) or may be provided as an embedded system. Examples of systems in which device 12 may be embedded include automobiles, boats, airplanes, homes, security systems, media distribution systems for commercial and home applications, display equipment (e.g., computer monitors and televisions), etc. These are merely illustrative examples.
Path 16 may include conductive lines (wires) for connecting accessory 14 to electronic device 12. There may be, for example, four conductive lines in path 16 or more line or fewer lines may be used.
A headset typically includes a pair of speakers that a user can use to play audio from the electronic device. Accessory 14 may be a headset that has a button controller assembly with one or more buttons. When a user actuates buttons on the button controller assembly, circuitry in the button controller assembly may gather button actuation data and may transmit the button actuation data to electronic device 12 over path 16.
As an example, when the user presses a button on the button controller assembly in the accessory, a corresponding signal may be provided to the electronic device to direct the electronic device to take an appropriate action. Because the button is located on the headset rather than on the electronic device, a user may place the electronic device at a remote location such as on a table or in a pocket, while controlling the device using conveniently located headset buttons.
If the electronic device is a media player and is in the process of playing a song or other media file for the user, the electronic device may be directed to pause the currently playing media file when the user presses a button. As another example, if the electronic device is a cellular telephone with media player capabilities and the user is listening to a song when an incoming telephone call is received, actuation of the button by the user may direct the electronic device to answer the incoming telephone call. Actions such as these may be taken, for example, while the media player or cellular telephone is stowed within a user's pocket.
If desired, an accessory with a button controller assembly may be provided in the form of an adapter. As shown in
For clarity, aspects of the present invention are sometimes described in the context of accessories such as headsets. This is, however, merely illustrative. The accessories in system 10 may take the form of any suitable equipment that is connected to electronic device 12. Examples of accessories include audio devices such as audio devices that contain or work with one or more speakers. Speakers in accessory 14 may be provided as an earphone or a headset or may be provided as a set of stand-alone powered or unpowered speakers (e.g., desktop speakers). An accessory may, if desired, include audio-visual equipment such as a receiver, amplifier, television or other display, etc. Devices such as these may use paths such as path 16 to receive audio signals from device 12. The audio signals may, for example, be provided in the form of analog audio signals that need only be amplified or passed to speakers to be heard by the user of device 12. An optional microphone in the accessory may pass microphone signals to device 12. Buttons or other user interface devices may be used to gather user input for device 12. The use of these and other suitable accessories in system 10 is merely illustrative. In general, any suitable accessories may be used in system 10 if desired.
Accessories such as headsets are typically connected to electronic devices using audio plugs (male audio connectors) and mating audio jacks (female audio connectors). Audio connectors such as these may be provided in a variety of form factors. Most commonly, audio connectors take the form of 3.5 mm (⅛″) miniature plugs and jacks. Other sizes are also sometimes used such as 2.5 mm subminiature connectors and ¼ inch connectors. In the context of accessories such as headsets, these audio connectors and their associated cables are generally used to carry analog signals such as audio signals for speakers and microphone signals. If desired, audio connectors may include optical communications structures to support optical signal traffic.
As shown in
In a typical scenario, device 12 may be, as an example, a handheld device that has media player and cellular telephone capabilities. Accessory 14 may be a headset with a microphone and a user input interface such as a button-based interface for gathering user input. Path 16 may be a four conductor audio cable that is connected to devices 12 and 14 using 3.5 mm audio jacks and plugs (as an example).
The audio connectors that are used to interconnect device 12 and accessories such as accessory 14 may include audio plugs that mate with corresponding audio jacks. These connectors may be used at any suitable location or locations within path 16 such as locations 16A or 16B. For example, an audio jack can be formed within the housing of device 12 at location 16A and mating plug on the end of cable 16 may plug into the jack at location 16A.
An example of a suitable audio plug is a four-contact plug. A four-contact plug may have four conductive regions arranged along a cylindrical barrel that mate with four corresponding conductive regions in a four-contact jack. The region at the tip of the plug is sometimes referred to as the tip contact. The region at the opposing end of the plug is sometimes referred to as the sleeve contact. The two interposed regions are sometimes referred to as first and second ring contacts. Using this terminology, four-contact plugs are sometimes referred to as tip-ring-ring-sleeve (TRRS) plugs and their mating jacks are sometimes referred to as TRRS jacks. Jacks and plugs with different numbers of contacts (e.g., fewer than four or more than four) may also be used. In general, audio connectors in path 16 may be formed from any suitable plugs (male connectors) and any suitable jacks (female connectors) or any other suitable mating connectors. Moreover, connectors may be placed at any suitable locations along path 16. With a typical arrangement, a jack is mounted within device 12 and a mating plug is connected to accessory 14 by a cable attached at location 16B. This is, however, merely illustrative. A jack may be mounted in accessory 14 at location 16B and a plug may be connected to device 12 via a cable at location 16A. As another example, jacks may be used in both device 12 and accessory 14 and a double-ended cable (i.e., a cable with male connectors on either end) may be used to connect device 12 with accessory 14. Adapters may also be used. For example, an adapter may be plugged into device 12 (e.g., using a digital port). The adapter, which may be considered to be a type of accessory 14, may be provided with a jack into which a plug from a headset or other equipment may be inserted to complete path 16. In this type of scenario, the adapter may contain circuitry for performing functions that would otherwise be performed by buttons and circuitry on the headset.
An illustrative accessory is shown in
In the
In an illustrative three-button arrangement, a first of the three buttons such as button 102 may be pressed by a user when it is desired to advance among tracks being played back by a music application or may be used to increase a volume setting. A second of the three buttons, such as button 104 may be pressed when it is desired to stop music playback, answer an incoming cellular telephone call made to device 12 from a remote caller, or when it is desired to make a menu selection. A third of the three buttons such as button 106 may be selected when it is desired to move to an earlier track or when it is desired to lower a volume setting. Multiple clicks, click and hold operations, and other user input patterns may also be used. The up/down volume, forward/reverse track, and “answer call” examples described in connection with
As shown in
Accessory 14 may be provided with circuitry that helps convey signals from button controller unit 100 to device 12 over path 16. In general, any suitable communications format may be used to convey signals (e.g., analog, digital, mixed arrangements based on both analog and digital formats, optical, electrical, etc.). These signals may be conveyed on any suitable lines in path 16. To avoid the need to provide extra conductive lines in path 16 and to ensure that accessory 14 is as compatible as possible with standard audio jacks, it may be advantageous to convey signals over existing lines (e.g., speaker, microphone, and ground). In particular, it may be advantageous to use the microphone and ground lines (e.g., the lines connected to contacts such as ring contact 52 and sleeve S in audio plug 110) to convey signals such as user input signals and control signals between accessory 14 and electronic device 12.
With one suitable communications arrangement, buttons such as buttons 102, 104, and 106 may be encoded using different resistances. When a user presses a given button, device 12 can measure the resistance of user input interface 100 over the microphone and ground lines and can thereby determine which button was pressed. With another suitable arrangement, a button may be provided that shorts the microphone and ground wires in cable 108 together when pressed. Electronic device 12 can detect this type of momentary short. With yet another suitable arrangement, button presses within interface 100 may be converted to ultrasonic tones that are conveyed over the microphone and ground line. Electronic device 12 can detect and process the ultrasonic tones. These are merely illustrative examples. Any suitable communications circuitry may be provided in button controller assembly 100 to support communications between accessory 14 and device 12 if desired.
Moreover, electronic device 12 can support communications using two or more communications arrangements. Different approaches may be used, for example, to support both legacy hardware and new hardware, to support different types of software applications, to support reduced power operation in certain device operating modes, etc.
In the example of
Adapter accessory 14 may include electrical paths that pass audio signals from device 12 to speakers in headset 130 and that pass microphone signals from a microphone to device 12 (e.g., a microphone in adapter 14 or in component 132). Adapter 14 may also include the circuitry that handles communications with device 12 over path 16 that would otherwise be included within the button controller assembly of a headset accessory. It is therefore not necessary for headset 130 in the
Any suitable form factor may be used for button controller assembly 100. An illustrative example is shown in
In the
Upper housing portion 200 and lower housing portion 202 may be attached to internal structures. For example, upper housing portion 200 and lower housing portion 202 may be rigidly or movably connected to a frame such as frame 206. Frame 206 may have structures that engage cable 204 and that help support housing sections 200 and 202.
Housing portions 200 and 202 and frame 206 may be formed from any suitable material. As an example, some or all of housing portions 200 and 202 and frame 206 may be formed from plastic such as a blended plastic formed from polycarbonate and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (i.e., PC/ABS plastic). With one suitable arrangement, housing portions 200 and 202 may be formed from multiple shots of plastic. For example, housings 200 and 202 may be formed using a double shot molding process. With this type of arrangement, different portions of each housing may be formed from different plastics. This allows different portions of each housing to be provided with individually tailored materials properties. These properties may include, for example, different textures, different colors, different rigidities (i.e., different flexibilities), different durability levels, etc.
As an example, it may be desired to form the portion of housing 200 such as the portion in region 104 from a plastic that is more textured than the plastic in regions 102 and 106. This may help the user of button controller interface 100 recognize when the user's finger is on top of region 104. As shown in
As another example, snaps and other features on the interior portions of housings 200 and 202 may be formed from plastics that are more rigid than other housing portions. With this type of approach, some structures may be formed from a plastic that is flexible enough to deform under user finger pressure, while other structures (e.g., snaps and other interior engagement structures) may be rigid enough to exhibit desired levels of durability and strength.
The housings, frame, and other structures of button controller assembly 100 may be configured to allow housing portions 200 and 202 to float relative to each other when a user actuates a desired button. One or both housing portions may also flex along their lengths. When floating, structures in the housings are captured by each other which limits the maximum amount of permissible travel. As an example, a snap feature may protrude into a hole or be captured by a rail. The housings can float (freely move) with respect to each other, so long as the snap does not bear against the edges of the hole or rail. Once the snap bears against a hole or rail edge (in this example), the maximum amount of permissible travel has been reached and further travel will be impeded. Housing portions that flex allow additional flexing movement beyond what would be permitted solely by the “float” between the housing portions.
With one illustrative configuration, upper housing 200 and frame 206 may be rigidly attached to each other, whereas lower housing 202 may be allowed to move relative to upper housing 200 (i.e., float) when a user squeezes a desired one of the buttons formed by regions 102, 104, and 106. Lower housing 200 may also flex somewhat when a user squeezes assembly 100 by pressing a desired one of the buttons. This flexibility can help accommodate selection of an individual button without inadvertently activating other buttons.
As shown in the perspective view of
Button controller assembly 100 may include a microphone. Because there are generally air gaps between the various housing members and other structures in assembly 100, it is typically possible for sound to reach the interior of button controller assembly 100 without providing a separate microphone port. As a result, button controller assembly 100 may, if desired, be provided with no specialized microphone port. Sound from the exterior of assembly 100 may reach the interior of assembly 100 through air gaps such as air gap 208 between housing 202 and housing 200, air gap 210 between housing 202 and frame 206, and air gap 212 between housing 200 and frame 206. These gaps may be present at both ends of assembly 100 and on either side of assembly 100. When gaps such as these are present, the microphone in assembly 100 may be mounted in the interior of assembly 100 without providing additional holes in housings 200 and 202.
Although it is possible to mount a microphone within assembly 100 without providing a dedicated microphone port, it is possible that a user of button controller assembly 100 might become confused as to whether button controller assembly 100 contains a microphone. To avoid user confusion, it may therefore be desirable to provide button controller assembly 100 with a visual indicator that informs the user of the presence of the microphone.
In the example of
Disk 218 may be mounted within circular recess 216 using double-sided adhesive film (tape). Circular recess 216 may have a closed bottom with no holes, so sound does not flow through port 214. In this type of configuration, port 214 is not functional as a microphone port, but serves instead as a visual indicator to the user that a microphone is present within button controller assembly 100. If desired, a functional microphone port that includes a wire mesh may be provided in assembly 100 in addition to or instead of nonoperational port 214. Moreover, other types of visual indicators may be used to indicate to the user that the microphone is present in button controller assembly 100. For example, a printed shape in the form of a label, a microphone symbol, or a microphone port may be provided on the exterior of the housing of assembly 100. A suitable visual indicator may also be provided by using an appropriately colored plastic portion within the housing of assembly 100 or other visual indicators may be used.
Plastic portions 202A and 202B may have different textures or colors. A darker color may be preferred for portions 202B, because these portions of housing 202 may be visible through the air gaps in the housing (e.g., air gaps 210 and 212 of
Center snap member 220 may be formed of a material such as metal. An example of a suitable metal for member 220 is stainless steel. Stainless steel or other such materials may be used for member 220 so that member 220 may serve as a durable surface against which button switches may bear during operation of button controller assembly 100.
Holes 222 in member 220 may mate with corresponding heat stake portions on the inside of housing 202. Member 220 may be attached to housing 202 by melting the outermost portions of the heat stakes after holes 222 have been placed over the heat stakes. Tabs 224 may have holes that engage snaps or other engagement structures that are part of housing 200 or that are attached to housing 200. For example, housing portion 200 and frame 206 may be rigidly connected to each other so that frame 206 becomes a part of housing portion 200 and holes in tabs 224 of member 220 such as hole 248 may mate with corresponding snaps or other engagement features on frame 206 such as snap 250.
Dome switch assembly 228 may be used to provide button controller assembly 100 with user-controllable button switches. As shown in
Nubs 242 may, if desired, be coated with a durable material such as epoxy to help ensure crisp switch actuation events. Dome switches 226 may each have a circular metal dome portion on which a nub is formed. The metal domes may be held in place on dome switch assembly 226 using clear tape. On their inner surfaces, the dome switches may have traces that connect to corresponding traces in the printed circuit board 230. Adhesive film may be used to attach the dome switches to printed circuit board 230.
To ensure that the dome switch will be actuated when the user squeezes assembly 100, the snaps and other engagement features that are used to attach the various portions of assembly 100 together may be provided with sufficient clearances to allow housing 202 to float (travel) unimpeded. The maximum permitted amount of travel between the two floating pieces of assembly 100 may be, for example, 0.15 mm to 0.2 mm in the vertical direction.
If the user presses region 104 (as an example), the central region of housing 202 will be forced inward against switch 226B to actuate switch 226B. During actuation, housing 202 travels inwardly towards frame 206 and housing 200. Housing 202 also preferably flexes, so that the ends of housing 202 (and therefore the associated end portions of member 220) are not pressed significantly inwards while the central region of housing 202 travels inward. This is accomplished by ensuring that dome switches 226A and 226B and structures 256 of housing portion 200B press outwardly with sufficient force to resist the inward movement of housing 202 that is produced while the central portion of housing 202 is being pressed inwardly against switch 226B. As this example demonstrates, button housing 220 preferably has both a free range of travel that results from using snaps and other engagement features that do not rigidly attach housing 202 to frame 206 and a flexibility that accommodates individual button selections without inadvertently actuating more than one dome switch 226 at a time.
Spring members such as spring members 236 may be provided to help bias housing 202 outwardly away from frame 206 and housing 200. Spring members 236 may be formed from any suitable material. As an example, spring members 236 may be formed from an elastomeric material such as silicone and may therefore sometimes be referred to as rubber gaskets. Spring members 236 may fit into recesses within frame 206, straddling cable 204. The outermost portions of spring members 236 may be curved so that they press evenly against the inner surface of housing portion 202A. Spring members 236 may be located at the ends of assembly 100 or any other suitable locations along the length of assembly 100. Particularly when located at the ends of assembly 100, spring members 236 may serve as cosmetic shrouds by helping to shield the interior portion of assembly 100 from view. Any suitable number of spring members 236 may be used in assembly 100 (e.g., one, two, three, more than three, etc.).
Circuitry 232 may detect which dome switch is actuated by the user and may transmit corresponding signals to device 12 over wires in cable 204. As shown in
When fully assembled, portions 202B of housing 202 may engage portions of frame 206. For example, snap 238 may engage rail portion 240 of frame 206 and snap 246 may engage rail portion 244 of frame 206. Member 220 may be heat staked to housing 202 and may have tabs 224 with holes that engage with mating features in frame 206. The holes in tabs 224 such as hole 248, the mating engagement feature on frame 206 (e.g., snap 250), and the respective mating engagement features on housing portion 202B and frame 206 are preferably configured to allow vertical travel (e.g., 0.15 mm to 0.2 mm of floating travel) between housing 202 and frame 206 (and thereby housing 200) when a button is actuated. At least some of the engagement features in button controller assembly 100 may be formed exclusively from plastic parts. For example, the plastic engagement structure formed by snap 238 may mate with plastic rail portion 240 without using any metal parts. Structures such as snap 238 may be sufficiently flexible to flex laterally inward during assembly (e.g., by about 0.3 mm to ride over rails such as rail 240 in frame 206).
Frame 206 may be rigidly attached to housing portion 200. Alignment structures 252 may help to longitudinally align frame 206 with housing 200. When properly aligned, ridges 254 on frame 206 run along the inner surface of housing 200 adjacent to alignment structures 252. Ridges 254 may be bonded with housing 200 using ultrasonic welding, thereby forming a unitary structure in which frame 206 rigidly attached to housing 200 and does not travel significantly with respect to housing 200. Although button labels (i.e., the “+,” recess, and “−”) are provided on upper housing 200 rather than lower housing 200 in the example of
Housing 200 may, if desired, be formed from a double shot molding process. This allows portions 200B to be formed from a different plastic than portions 200A. Portions 200B may, for example, be formed from a plastic that is darker in color than portions 200A. This helps to reduce the visibility of portions 200B through air gaps such as gaps 208 and 210 (
A cross-sectional side view of button controller assembly 100 of
The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
