A. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to accessory management and data communication via an audio port on an electronic device.
B. Background of the Invention
Audio sockets have been commonly used in various electronic devices, such as computers, laptops, media players, smart phones, etc. to communicate with audio accessories having audio jacks. The mostly common used jack plugs have 2.5 mm, 3.5 mm or 6.35 mm (¼ inch) configurations with 2, 3 or 4 conductors for mono, stereo or stereo plus microphone compatibility. Stereo 3.5 mm jacks may be used for line in/out, headset out, loudspeaker out, microphone in, etc. Three-conductor connectors are common on older electronic devices, while 4-conductor 3.5 mm connectors are more commonly used on modern electronic devices, including most smart phones.
A 2-conductor jack is called TS connector with a tip and a sleeve for mono audio communication. A 3-conductor jack is called TRS connector with a tip, a ring and a sleeve for stereo audio communications. A 4-conductor jack is usually called TRRS connector with a tip, two rings and a sleeve for stereo plus microphone line communications. In certain circumstances, it is desirable to use a TRRS jack to transmit additional audio microphone signal to cellular phones.
Efforts have been done to explore further potential applications using audio jack connection. Given the variety in the audio accessories of different characteristics and preferred settings, it would be desirable to provide improved accessory management and data communication via audio port for supporting interactions between electronic devices and accessories.
The invention relates to accessory management and data communication, and more particularly, to systems and methods for accessory management and data communication between a portable electronic device and an accessory via audio port.
The method involves using a microphone line of the accessory in different communication modes including a MIC data mode and a power mode. In the MIC data mode, the MIC line disconnects from a microphone load to operate on a voltage above a predetermined threshold whenever the accessory needs to communicate with the host electronic device. In the MIC power mode, the MIC line connects with the microphone load for the normal operation of the microphone.
In certain embodiments, communication starts after the jack insertion is detected. The accessory's ID and audio jack configuration are initially checked. The audio jack configuration check verifies the type of the audio jack (TS, TRS or TRRS jack). For a TS or TRS jack, the MIC line is powered off. For a traditional TRRS jack without accessory ID, the MIC line is powered with a bias voltage. For a TRRS jack with accessory ID, the MIC line communication is detected by checking the MIC line floating voltage with a predetermined reference voltage. The communication on MIC line may be a 1-wire communication to power up the accessory and to allow communication and authentication at the same time. In some other embodiments, the method of communication with the MIC line superimposes the data line over the power line.
Reference will be made to exemplary embodiments of the present invention that are illustrated in the accompanying figures. Those figures are intended to be illustrative, rather than limiting. Although the present invention is generally described in the context of those embodiments, it is not intended by so doing to limit the scope of the present invention to the particular features of the embodiments depicted and described.
One skilled in the art will recognize that various implementations and embodiments of the invention may be practiced in accordance with the specification. All of these implementations and embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.
In the following description, for the purpose of explanation, specific details are set forth in order to provide an understanding of the present invention. The present invention may, however, be practiced without some or all of these details. The embodiments of the present invention described below may be incorporated into a number of different electrical components, circuits, devices, and systems. Structures and devices shown in block diagram are illustrative of exemplary embodiments of the present invention and are not to be used as a pretext by which to obscure broad teachings of the present invention. Connections between components within the figures are not intended to be limited to direct connections. Rather, connections between components may be modified, re-formatted, or otherwise changed by intermediary components.
When the specification makes reference to “one embodiment” or to “an embodiment”, it is intended to mean that a particular feature, structure, characteristic, or function described in connection with the embodiment being discussed is included in at least one contemplated embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrase, “in one embodiment,” in different places in the specification does not constitute a plurality of references to a single embodiment of the present invention.
Various embodiments of the invention are used for accessory management and data communication via audio port in systems comprised of one or more integrated circuits (IC). An IC may be a memory, microcontroller, microprocessor, secure authenticator or any other devices within a system that communicates and/or receives information within the system. These systems, and the IC(s) therein, may be integrated on a single component or contain discrete components. Furthermore, embodiments of the invention are applicable to a diverse set of techniques and methods.
The electronic device 200 may be a computer device, a laptop, a portable media player, such as a MP3 player, a cellular phone, etc. The accessory 300 may be an audio accessory such as a microphone, a headphone, loudspeakers, an audio amplifier, or be an electronic accessory having audio jack for voice and data communications. In an embodiment, the accessory 300 has a stereo or mono earphone and a microphone for audio input to the electronic device 200.
The audio jack 310 may have 2.5 mm, 3.5 mm or 6.35 mm (¼ inch) configurations with 2, 3 or 4 conductors (TS, TRS, TRRS) for mono, stereo or stereo plus microphone compatibility. The audio socket 210 may or may not have the matching configuration with the audio jack 310. For example, the audio socket is a TRRS socket, while the audio jack is a TRS jacket.
In one embodiment, the electronic device 200 has an audio socket 210, an 12C interface 220, a microprocessor 230, a memory 240, and a power source 250. The microprocessor 230 is configured to operatively connect to the 12C interface 220, the memory 240 and power source 250. The 12C interface 220 is an Inter-Integrated Circuit used for attaching peripheral audio socket 210 to the microprocessor 230. The memory 240 is configured to store a non-volatile computer readable logic or code for the implementation of desired function when the logic or code is executed by the microprocessor 230.
In one embodiment, the accessory 300 has an audio jack 310 and a mono or stereo earphone 340. In another embodiment, the accessory 300 also has a microphone 350 operatively connected to the audio jack 310. In another embodiment, the accessory 300 also has an accessory control IC 320 and a secure authenticator 330.
During the MIC operation in step 440, the microprocessor 350 constantly monitors the MIC line voltage and compares the MIC line voltage to the predetermined reference voltage (VRef) in step 442 (shown in both
If the MIC line voltage falls below the reference voltage, the clock is activated to track a second actual time period. When the second actual time period is greater than a second predetermined time period (tPWR
The accessory 300 may set the MIC line at high impedance that indicates its readiness for MIC communication mode or load the MIC line to indicate its readiness for exiting communication. The electronic device 200 may control the MIC supply with proper impedance (by setting desired bias MIC line voltage) for each operation mode and start or end the MIC communication mode if the predetermined MIC line condition for entering or leaving the MIC communication mode is met.
One skilled in the art will recognize that the above-described 1-wire communication mode is only one communication example. In another embodiment, a modulation AC operated above audible frequency may be adopted to superimpose the data line over the power line for MIC line data communication. In another embodiment, the accessory control IC 320 is configured to have the MIC switch to disconnect from the MIC signal coming from the microphone 350 such that the MIC data communication could use any frequency signal even in an audible frequency.
The foregoing description of the invention has been described for purposes of clarity and understanding. It is not intended to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Various modifications may be possible within the scope and equivalence of the application.
The application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/953,454, filed May 14, 2014, which application is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61953454 | Mar 2014 | US |