Audio apparatus, sensor module and user device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11956586-B2
Application number	US-202017636495-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 14, 2020
Priority date	Aug 30, 2019
Publication date	Apr 9, 2024
Grant date	Apr 9, 2024

Abstract

An audio apparatus is described for communicating with a user device, the audio apparatus comprising: a sensor configured to sense a user input and to generate an input signal representing the user input; and electronic circuitry operable to receive the input signal. The electronic circuitry is configured to: process the input signal, and generate a control signal for controlling at least one switch based on the input signal.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An audio apparatus for communicating with a user device, the audio apparatus comprising:
a sensor configured to sense a user input and to generate an input signal representing the user input; and
electronic circuitry operable to receive the input signal, wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to:
process the input signal, and
generate a control signal for controlling at least one switch based on the input signal,
wherein the input signal is processed by configuring the electronic circuitry to:
identify a characteristic of the input signal,
compare the characteristic of the input signal to a plurality of characteristic ranges, wherein each of the plurality of characteristic ranges corresponds to a different switch from among plural switches, and
if the characteristic is determined to be within one of the plurality of characteristic ranges, generate the control signal for controlling the switch corresponding to the determined characteristic range.

2. The audio apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a force sensor configured to sense an applied force and the input signal represents the applied force.

3. The audio apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each switch is provided in series with a corresponding resistance, and each switch is configured to operably connect the corresponding resistance between an output terminal of the audio apparatus and a voltage terminal.

4. The audio apparatus according to claim 1 , the audio apparatus further comprising:
plural sensors each configured to sense a user input and to generate an input signal representing the respective user input, each sensor being associated with at least one switch from among plural switches, and
the electronic circuitry is operable to:
receive an input signal from among the plural sensors,
process the input signal, and

generate the control signal for controlling the at least one switch associated with the sensor.

5. The audio apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the plural sensors are force sensors each configured to sense an applied force and the input signals represent the respective applied force.

6. The audio apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein each of the plural switches is provided in series with a corresponding resistance, and each switch is configured to operably connect their respective resistance between the output terminal of the audio apparatus and the voltage terminal.

7. The audio apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein:
the electronic circuitry is configured to combine two or more input signals to generate a combined control signal, and
the combined control signal controls a single switch.

8. The audio apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of characteristic ranges have different respective first and second thresholds, and the electronic circuitry is further configured to determine that the characteristic is within one of the plurality of characteristic ranges if the characteristic is greater than the first threshold and less than the second threshold of a single characteristic range.

9. The audio apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the characteristic represents:
a magnitude of force;
a change in force;
a rate of change in force;
a length of time a force is applied;
a direction of movement of a force; and/or
a repetition of applied force.

10. The audio apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a mode controller configured to provide an adaptable communication connection for connecting the audio apparatus to the user device, the communication connection being a wired connection means and/or a wireless connection means.

11. The audio apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the wired connection means comprises a cable configured to detachably connect to the audio apparatus.

12. The audio apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the cable comprises a 3.5 mm audio jack for connecting the audio apparatus to the user device.

13. A sensor module for communicating with a user device, the sensor module configured to receive an input signal representing a user input applied to a sensor, the sensor module comprising electronic circuitry operable to:
process the input signal, and generate a control signal for controlling at least one switching function based on the input signal,

wherein the input signal is processed by configuring the electronic circuitry to:
identify a characteristic of the input signal,
compare the characteristic of the input signal to a plurality of characteristic ranges, wherein each of the plurality of characteristic ranges corresponds to a different switch from among plural switches, and
if the characteristic is determined to be within one of the plurality of characteristic ranges, generate the control signal for controlling the switch corresponding to the determined characteristic range.

14. The sensor module according to claim 13 , wherein the sensor module is a force sensor module, the sensor is a force sensor and the input signal represents a force applied to the force sensor.

15. The sensor module according to claim 13 , wherein the control signal is output from an output terminal of the sensor module.

Assignees

• Cirrus Logic Int Semiconductor Ltd
• Cirrus Logic Inc

Inventors

• Hatfield Robert James

Classifications

• H04R1/1041 Primary

  Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements (switches in general H01H) · CPC title

• H04M1/6058 Primary

  involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone · CPC title

• H04R5/033

  Headphones for stereophonic communication {(details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10)} · CPC title

• H04R25/603

  of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements · CPC title