Detachable wireless listening device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9277309-B2
Application number	US-201113074349-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 29, 2011
Priority date	Mar 29, 2011
Publication date	Mar 1, 2016
Grant date	Mar 1, 2016

Abstract

Broadly speaking, the embodiments described herein relate to a media apparatus that can be used in conjunction with a host device to provide an end user a pleasurable listening experience especially during periods of physical activity. In the described embodiments, the host device can take the form of a portable media player. In particular, the media apparatus can include a listening device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A media apparatus, comprising:
a listening device having a first earbud, a second earbud, and a connection cord electrically connecting the first earbud and the second earbud, wherein the connection cord includes a connection cord length;
a transmission cord having a first transmission cord end and a second transmission cord end, wherein the transmission cord transmits an audio signal provided by a host device from the first transmission cord end to the second transmission cord end; and
a detachable connector comprising:
a first connector part attached to the connection cord along the connection cord length between the first earbud and the second earbud, the first connector part including a first attachment mechanism part, a first electrical contact, and a wireless receiver, and
a second connector part attached to the transmission cord at the second transmission cord end, the second connector part including a second attachment mechanism part, a second electrical contact, and a wireless transmitter,
wherein the attachment mechanism parts detachably connect the first connector part with the second connector part such that:
when the first attachment mechanism part is attached to the second attachment mechanism part, the transmission cord passes the audio signal from the first transmission cord end to the second electrical contact and the second electrical contact passes the audio signal to the first electrical contact, and
when the first attachment mechanism part is detached from the second attachment mechanism part, the transmission cord passes the audio signal conditioned in accordance with a wireless transmission protocol from the first transmission cord end to the wireless transmitter and the wireless transmitter wirelessly passes the conditioned audio signal to the wireless receiver.

2. The media apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the transmission cord includes an antenna between the first transmission cord end and the second transmission cord end to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal transmitted by an external RF transmitter and to pass the received RF signal to the first transmission cord end for processing by the host device to form the audio signal.

3. The media apparatus as recited in claim 2 , wherein when the first attachment mechanism part is detached from the second attachment mechanism part, the transmission cord is retained at the host device in such a way that the transmission cord receives the RF signal transmitted by the external RF transmitter and wirelessly transmits to the wireless receiver the audio signal conditioned in accordance with the wireless transmission protocol from the second connector part at the second transmission cord end to the first connector part along the connection cord length between the first earbud and the second earbud.

4. The media apparatus as recited in claim 3 , further comprising:
an attachment detector, the attachment detector arranged to detect whether the first attachment mechanism part is attached to the second attachment mechanism part by providing an electrical test signal at the transmission cord and determining whether the first attachment mechanism part is attached to the second attachment mechanism part based upon a return signal in response to the electrical test signal.

5. The media apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein when the audio signal includes a multi-channel audio signal comprising a first audio channel signal associated with a first audio channel and a second audio channel signal associated with a second audio channel, the first earbud receives the first audio channel signal and presents the first audio channel, and the second earbud receives the second audio channel signal and presents the second audio channel.

6. The media apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first connector part or the second connector part includes a magnetic element, wherein the magnetic element is separated from the respective electrical contact by an insulation layer, and wherein the magnetic element provides a magnetic attachment between the first connector part and the second connector part when the first connector part is attached to the second connector part.

7. A portable media device, comprising:
a processor;
a data store arranged to retain a media item, the processor arranged to process the media item to form an audio signal;
a wireless transmission module arranged to condition the audio signal in accordance with a wireless transmission protocol to form a wireless signal;
a data port, the data port arranged to receive a transmission cord having a first transmission cord end and a second transmission cord end, wherein the data port outputs at least one of the audio signal or the wireless signal to the first transmission cord end; and
an attachment detector, the attachment detector arranged to detect a connection status, wherein the connection status indicates whether a first connector part of a detachable connector is attached to a second connector part of the detachable connector, wherein the first connector part is attached to a connection cord electrically connecting a first earbud and a second earbud of a listening device, and wherein the second connector part is attached to the second transmission cord end of the transmission cord;
wherein the processor, in response to receiving the connection status indicating whether the first connector part is attached to the second connector part, instructs the wireless transmission module, such that:
when the first connector part is attached to the second connector part, the wireless transmission module does not condition the audio signal and the transmission cord passes the audio signal to the connection cord, and
when the first connector part is detached from the second connector part, the wireless module conditions the audio signal in accordance with the wireless transmission protocol and the transmission cord passes the wireless signal wirelessly to a wireless receiver along the connection cord of the unattached listening device.

8. The portable media device, as recited in claim 7 , wherein the attachment detector is configured to provide an electrical test signal and to determine whether the transmission cord is attached to the listening device based upon a signal returned in response to the electrical test signal.

9. The portable media device as recited in claim 8 , further comprising:
a power supply arranged to receive power from an external power supply by way of a cable, the cable being optionally coupled to the portable media device.

10. The portable media device as recited in claim 9 , wherein when the attachment detector detects that the transmission cord is connected to the listening device and the power supply is receiving external power, then the processor instructs the power supply to provide power to the listening device by way of the transmission cord.

11. The portable media device as recited in claim 10 , wherein when the listening device is receiving the wireless transmission, the transmission cord is wrapped about the portable media device.

12. The portable media device as recited in claim 11 , wherein the transmission cord receives an RF signal transmitted by an external RF transmitter and passes the received RF signal to the portable media device for further processing to form the audio signal.

13. A method performed by a processor in a portable media player arranged to process and store at least a media asset, comprising:
processing a media asset by a processor to form an audio signal;
receiving a connection status from an attachment detector, wherein the connection status indica

Assignees

• Fino Jorge S
• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Fino Jorge S

Classifications

• H04R1/1033 Primary

  Cables or cables storage, e.g. cable reels (cord reels per se H02G11/02; arrangements for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of conductors or cables B65H75/34; extensible conductors or cables, e.g. self-coiling cords H01B7/06) · CPC title

• H04R1/1025

  Accumulators specially adapted for earpieces; Arrangements specially adapted for charging thereof · CPC title

• H04R1/1041

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

• H04R2420/05

  Detection of connection of loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers · CPC title

• H04R2420/07

  Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones · CPC title