Sound processing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9942655-B2
Application number	US-201314033208-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 20, 2013
Priority date	Sep 20, 2013
Publication date	Apr 10, 2018
Grant date	Apr 10, 2018

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a socket that comprises a socket body. The socket body forms a socket cavity for receiving a plug. The socket further comprises an acoustic device and a sound port. The sound port is disposed in the socket body for acoustically coupling the acoustic device with the cavity.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A socket comprising:
a socket body of the socket forming a socket cavity for receiving a plug through a plug port, the socket body configured to receive a plug associated with the socket to enable an electrical connection between the socket and the plug;
an acoustic device arranged completely within the socket body, wherein the acoustic device is a microphone or a loudspeaker; and
a sound port disposed in the socket body for acoustically coupling the acoustic device with the cavity and with an outside environment through the plug port,
wherein the sound port is an opening in the socket body different from the plug port,
wherein acoustic energy is configured to travel between the acoustic device and the outside environment through the plug port, the cavity and the sound port,
wherein the socket is a single surface-mounted device, and
wherein the sound port comprises a direction transverse to a plugging direction of the socket.

2. The socket as in claim 1 , further comprising a plug port as an opening in the socket body, wherein the plug port is configured to receive a plug, and wherein a path between the plug port and the acoustic device comprises the sound port.

3. The socket as in claim 1 , further comprising a plug port as an opening in the socket body, wherein the plug port is configured to receive a plug, wherein a propagation of acoustic energy from an outside environment through the plug port, the socket cavity and the sound port or from the acoustic device through the sound port, the socket cavity and the plug port to the outside environment is enabled by the acoustic coupling.

4. A sound processing apparatus comprising:
an electrical socket body of a socket forming a socket cavity for receiving a plug through a plug port, the socket body configured to receive the plug associated with the socket to enable an electrical connection between the socket and the plug;
an acoustic device;
a sound port disposed in the socket body for acoustically coupling the acoustic device with the cavity and an outside environment through the plug port, wherein the sound port is an opening of the socket body different from the plug port, and wherein acoustic energy is configured to travel between the acoustic device and the outside environment through the plug port, the cavity and the sound port; and
a housing comprising an opening forming at least partially the plug port configured to let pass the plug, the housing configured to house the acoustic device, so that the acoustic device is acoustically coupled to an outside of the housing via the sound port and the plug port,
wherein the sound processing apparatus is configured to:
process audio data based on a correction value,
recognize a connection of the plug to the socket body, and
modify the correction value dependent on the recognition,
wherein the sound processing apparatus is a mobile device,
wherein the sound processing apparatus is a cellular phone, a laptop or a tablet computer, and
wherein the acoustic device is arranged inside the housing and arranged in series with respect to the plug port and the sound port.

5. The sound processing apparatus as in claim 4 , wherein the sound processing apparatus comprises a printed circuit board (PCB), and wherein the socket body is arranged at a side of the printed circuit board and the acoustic device is arranged at the same side of the printed circuit board.

6. The sound processing apparatus as in claim 5 , wherein the acoustic device is arranged between the printed circuit board and the socket body so that the acoustic device is acoustically enclosed with an exception of the sound port.

7. The sound processing apparatus as in claim 4 ,
wherein the socket body is arranged at a side of a printed circuit board and the acoustic device is arranged at an opposing side of the printed circuit board so that a path between a plug port and the acoustic device defines a sound channel, and
wherein the sound channel extends to the sound port and the printed circuit board.

8. The sound processing apparatus as in claim 4 , wherein the acoustic device is a microphone or a loudspeaker.

9. The sound processing apparatus as in claim 4 , wherein the acoustic device is a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS).

10. The sound processing apparatus as in claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the socket body forms a housing for the acoustic device.

11. The sound processing apparatus as in claim 4 , wherein the acoustic device is fixed to the socket body such that the acoustic device and the socket body are a discrete device.

12. The sound processing apparatus as in claim 4 , wherein a distance between the sound port and a plug port is less than 50% of a plugin length of the socket.

13. The sound processing apparatus as in claim 4 , wherein the socket is an universal serial bus (USB) socket.

14. The sound processing apparatus as in claim 4 , wherein the socket is an audio/video (AV) socket.

15. The sound processing apparatus as in claim 4 , wherein the socket is a charging socket or a power supply socket.

16. The sound processing apparatus as in claim 4 , wherein the socket is a system connector.

17. The sound processing apparatus as in claim 4 , wherein the sound port is an opening of the socket body, wherein the sound port is different from a plug port of the sound processing apparatus, and wherein the plug port is configured to receive the plug.

18. The sound processing apparatus as in claim 4 , further comprising a processor configured to equalize an acoustic signal output transmitted by the acoustic device using the correction value or configured to equalize an acoustic signal input by the acoustic device using the correction value.

19. The sound processing apparatus as in claim 4 , further configured to equalize an acoustic signal output by the acoustic device using the correction value or configured to equalize an acoustic signal input by the acoustic device using the correction value.

20. The sound processing apparatus as in claim 4 , wherein the electrical connection with the plug and an electrical connection to the acoustic device is powered by a common power source.

21. A sound processing cellular phone configured to process audio data based on a correction value, the cellular phone comprising:
an electrical socket body forming a socket cavity for receiving a plug through a plug port to enable an electrical connection between the socket and the plug;
a microphone configured to sense an acoustic signal through a sound port, the sound port disposed in the socket body for acoustically coupling the microphone with the cavity and with an outside environment through the plug port; and
a housing comprising an opening forming at least partially a plug port configured to let pass the plug, the housing configured to house an acoustic device so that the microphone is acoustically coupled to an outside of the housing via the sound port and the plug port,
wherein a path between the plug port and the microphone comprises the sound port and defines a sound channel, wherein the cellular phone is configured to recognize a connection of the plug to the socket, wherein the cellular phone is further configured to modify the correction value dependent on the recognition, and
wherein the acoustic device is arranged inside the housing and arranged in series with respect to the plug port and the sound port.

22. A method for processing audio data comprising:
passing an acoustic sign

Assignees

• Infineon Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Froemel Andreas

Classifications

• G06F13/4081 Primary

  Live connection to bus, e.g. hot-plugging (current or voltage limitation during live insertion H02H9/004) · CPC title

• H04R1/04

  Structural association of microphone with electric circuitry therefor (in electric hearing aids H04R25/00) · CPC title

• H04R3/00 Primary

  Circuits for transducers (arrangements for producing a reverberation or echo sound G10K15/08; amplifiers H03F) · CPC title

• H04R2499/11

  Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's · CPC title

• H04M1/62 Primary

  Constructional arrangements · CPC title