The description herein relates generally to information handling systems (“IHSs”) and more particularly to IHSs including detection of an audio input device.
As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option is an IHS. An IHS generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements may vary between different applications, IHSs may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in IHSs allow for IHSs to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, IHSs may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Some IHSs include an interface (e.g., a connector) that is suitable for coupling (e.g., connecting) an audio input device (e.g., an external microphones) to such IHSs so that the IHS is capable of receiving audio signals from such audio input device. For increasing quality of audio signals received via the audio input device, the IHSs also include a voltage regulator (e.g., low dropout regulator (“LDO”)) for providing regulated (e.g., clean) power to the audio input device via the interface.
Although a voltage regulators included by an IHS is capable of increasing quality of audio signals received via an audio input device, such voltage regulator may also cause various problems. For example, the voltage regulator may increase the IHS′ power requirement by consuming additional power even when an audio input device is not coupled to the IHS. Such consumption of additional power may reduce an amount of time that a portable IHS (e.g., a laptop or a notebook computer) is capable of operating with power supplied from a battery.
Accordingly, what is needed is a method and an IHS for detecting an audio input device without the disadvantages discussed above.
A method and an IHS is provided for detecting an audio input device. The method provides for determining whether an audio input device is coupled to an IHS. The method also includes, in response to determining that an audio input device is coupled to the IHS, activating a voltage regulator that supplies power to the audio input device.
For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system (“IHS”) may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, entertainment, or other purposes. For example, an IHS may be a personal computer, a PDA, a consumer electronic device, a network server or storage device, a switch router or other network communication device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The IHS may include memory, one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic. Additional components of the IHS may include one or more storage devices, one or more communications ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The IHS may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components.
The input devices 110 includes, for example, a conventional keyboard and a pointing device (e.g., a “mouse”, a roller ball, or a light pen). A user operates the keyboard to input alphanumeric text information to the processor 105, and the processor receives such information from the keyboard. A user also operates the pointing device to input cursor-control information to the processor 105, and the processor 105 receives such cursor-control information from the pointing device.
The IHS 100 also includes a basic input/output system (“BIOS”) 135. The BIOS 135 includes instructions executed by the processor 105, so that the IHS 100 is capable of performing basic operations without executing instructions (e.g., instructions included by an operating system (“OS”) stored by the storage device 120. In one example the BIOS 135 is stored by a ROM (e.g., the memory device 125).
The additional circuitry depicted in
Although it is capable increasing the quality of audio signal received from the audio input device 220, the voltage regulator 210 is also capable consuming additional power by consuming power even while an audio input device (e.g., the audio input device 220) is not coupled to the IHS. Accordingly, the IHS 100 determines whether an audio input device (e.g., the audio input device 220) is coupled to the IHS 100 via the audio input device interface 215 as discussed in more detail below in connection with
Accordingly,
As discussed in below (in connection with
Accordingly,
At the step 510, in response to the IHS 100 determining that it is coupled to an audio input device, the operation continues to a step 515. Otherwise the operation self-loops.
At the step 515, the IHS 100 activates the voltage regulator 210. In one example, the voltage regulator 210 activates itself in response to detecting a specified state (e.g., a low state or a high state discussed above in connection with the step 505) on its enable pin that is coupled to the interface 215's unused pin. After the step 515, the operation continues to a step 520.
At the step 520, the IHS 100 determines whether the audio input device that was coupled is now uncoupled from the interface 215, as discussed above in connection with the step 505. After the step 520, the operation continues to a step 525.
At the step 525, in response to determining that the audio input device is now uncoupled from the interface 215, the operation continues to a step 530. Otherwise, the operation self-loops as shown in
At the step 530, the IHS 100 deactivates the voltage regulator 210. In one example, the voltage regulator 210 deactivates itself in response to detecting a state, on its enable pin, that is different from the specified state of the step 515. After the step 530, the operation returns to the step 505.
Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure. Also, in some instances, some features of the embodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be constructed broadly and in manner consistent with the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.