Patent Publication Number: US-2023156393-A1

Title: Magnetic connector and sensor for detecting a presence of a function

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to media players, such as streaming audio players, and more particularly a media player that uses headphones with a headphone jack configured to mate with a jack receptacle in the portable media plater, the jack receptacle having a magnetic field sensor for detecting a presence of a feature or function of the headphones. 
     Media players are ubiquitously used in almost every form of human activity, from sports to studying, and from entertainment to work. Media players include portable media players such as MP3 players (in which audio files are stored on a device as discrete MP3 files, and played individually or “streamed” sequentially as a collection of files), and mobile phones with one or more media playing applications, and other devices. 
     Media players require at least one output device, such as an audio output device or graphical or video display, in order to electronically convey media from the media player to a user. Where the media is audio, the output device is typically headphones or other type of small speaker. Headphones connect to a signal source, such as a portable media player, either directly using a physical cord with a headphone jack or using wireless audio streaming technology such as Bluetooth or WiF. Where a physical cord is used, the headphone jack is configured to be inserted into a corresponding audio output port provided in the portable media player. 
     In some activities, such as activities in an aquatic environment, various headphones can be used for receiving an playing audio signals. For instance, most waterproof headphones use electro-acoustical transducers or drivers for converting electrical signals to sound, and the transducers are provided in a waterproof housing or shell so as to not incur water intrusion. Alternatively, bone conduction headphones, by which sound is transmitted to the user&#39;s ears via vibration conducted to skull bones proximate the user&#39;s ears, can also be used in an aquatic environment. 
     However, amplification levels of sound transmitted to headphones, whether normal electro-acoustical driver-based or bone-conducting, can differ significantly. Additionally, headphones configured specifically for adults or children can also utilize different amplification levels, or at the very least such amplification should be more tightly controlled in the case of child users. 
     What is needed is a system for detecting a type of headphones being used, so as to detect a presence of a feature or function of the headphones, and control a media player accordingly. 
     SUMMARY 
     This document presents a system for detecting a presence of a feature or function of an output device used with an electronic device. 
     In some aspects, the system includes a connector associated with the output device, the connector having a magnetic region comprising one or more magnetized members to provide a magnetic field. The system further includes a magnetic sensor associated with the electronic device, the magnetic sensor being positioned proximate a connection port of the electronic device, the connection port being configured to receive the connector to enable the magnetic sensor to detect a presence of the magnetic field and to determine the feature or function of the output device. The system further includes control logic associated with the magnetic sensor, the control logic controlling the electronic device based on the presence of the magnetic field and according to the determined feature or function of the output device. 
     The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other aspects will now be described in detail with reference to the following drawings. 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a system in which an output device can be connected to or interfaced with an electronic device in order to detect and/or control a function or feature of the output device or the electronic device; 
         FIG.  2    illustrates an exemplary implementation of a system for detecting a function or a feature of an output device by an electronic device, and/or controlling a function or feature of the electronic device to accommodate the output device; 
         FIG.  3    illustrates a standard 3.5 mm audio jack with magnetic parts inside the audio jack assembly, in accordance with implementations described herein; 
         FIG.  4    depicts an electronic device having Hall sensor that is embedded therein, and positioned to detect a magnetic portion of an inserted connector; 
         FIG.  5    depicts an MP3 player having Hall sensor that is embedded therein, and positioned to detect a magnetic field of an inserted 3.5 mm audio jack; and 
         FIG.  6    is a flowchart of a method for detecting a function or a feature of an output device by an electronic device, and/or controlling a function or feature of the electronic device to accommodate the output device. 
     
    
    
     Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This document describes a system for detecting a function or a feature of an output device by an electronic device, such as digital media player, computing device, mobile phone, or other electronic device that can communicate digital data.  FIG.  1    illustrates a system  10  in which an output device  12 , such as headphones, speakers, a graphical display, a computing device or other electronic device with an audio and/or video output, or the like, can be connected to or interfaced with an electronic device  20  via connector  16 , which physically connects to or interfaces with a communication port  22  on or in the electronic device  22 . In some implementations, the connector  16  is connected with the output device  12  via wired connection  14 , such as a cable, or can be connected via wireless channel such as a Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), WiFi, or other wireless communication channel or protocol. In the wireless implementation, the connector  16  can have a wireless transmitter or transceiver to communicate with the output device  12 . 
     In either case, the connector  16  for the output device  12  includes one or more magnetic portions  18  that provides a magnetic field. The magnetic field can be provided at a particular magnitude or density, or at a particular location on the connector  16 , to act as a “fingerprint” of the output device  12  that is being connected with the electronic device  20 . This fingerprint, as represented by the magnetic field, can be used to identify the output device  12  and its functions and features, and/or used to control various functions of the electronic device  20  so as to optimize or accommodate communications with the output device  12 . The magnetic portion  18  can include one or more magnets embedded within, or attached to or on the connector  16 . 
     The magnetic portion  18  of the connector  16 , when the connector  16  is connected with the port  22  of the electronic device  22 , is detected by a magnetic sensor  24 , such as a Hall sensor for sensing a Hall effect of the magnetic field provided by the magnetic portion  18 . The magnetic sensor  24  can sense, detect, and determine the presence of the magnetic field, and a magnitude of the detected magnetic energy, so as to be able to signal a control processor  26  of the electronic device  20  to control an output of a communication module  28 , which in turn communicates with the output device  12  via the port  22  and the connector  16 . 
     The detection of the magnetic field from the connector  16  can also trigger the installation of certain software to match the connected output device  12  or other connectible device, such as speakers, for example. For example, when a computer detects that a unique USB device is connected to the computer, a software is auto-installed to be able to communicate with the device. Other functions of the system  10  can include “child proofing” audio level control to prevent too-high audio levels that could cause damage in a child&#39;s ear. In this case, a child-appropriate headphone can include a special magnetic audio jack, and the MP3 player will detect the magnet and not allow volume control beyond a certain level that has been determined to be safe for children. To distinguish different connectors or their associated products that are being connected to the electronic device  20 , the special connectors can also have different, predetermined magnitudes of a magnetic field. The magnitude of the magnetic field of a connector can also be used to assign specific functions and identify the device that is connected. i.e. the magnitude of the magnetic field detected is like an identifier or “finger print” of the output device that is being connected. 
       FIG.  2    illustrates an exemplary implementation of a system  100  for detecting a function or a feature of an output device by an electronic device, such as a computing device or digital media player device. In this example, the output device is a set of headphones  102  having one or two small loudspeakers  104  that are configured to be worn by a user over, in, or near the user&#39;s ears, and the electronic device is a media player device  120 . In some instances, each loudspeaker  104  can be an “earbud” type of headphone speaker that is configured for being inserted into the outer ear canal. Alternatively, each loudspeaker  104  can be a “can” type of headphone speaker that is configured for being worn over the user&#39;s ear. Further still, each loudspeaker  104  can be a bone conduction speaker for transmitting sound vibrations to a user&#39;s ear via a cranial bone proximate the ear. 
     In some implementations, the headphones  102  can be wireless, i.e. not physically connected to the electronic device  120  but configured to receive digital or electronic signals from the electronic device  120  via a bi-directional wireless link such as Bluetooth, WiFi or other wireless communication channel and protocol. However, in some cases, such as in an aquatic environment, for example, the headphones  102  is connectable to a port  126  of the electronic device  120  via a headphone jack  106  that is in turn connected to the headphones  102 , such as to the one or two loudspeakers  104 , by an electric cable or cord  108 , which can include a separate cable or cord from the headphone jack  106  for individually connecting each of the one or two loudspeakers  104 . The headphone jack  106  and/or port  126  can include one or more waterproofing features, such as gaskets or a sealed housing or the like. 
     The headphone jack  106  includes a tip  110  and one or more sleeves  112  or rings. Each of the tip  110  and the one or more sleeves  112  can provide conduction of electric signals that represent audio signals, such as left and right channels for stereo audio. The one or more sleeves  112  can also include a ground connection, and/or a microphone connection. The tip can include an indentation or groove for mating with a corresponding spring or securement device in the audio port  126  of the electronic device  120  to secure the headphone jack  106  with the electronic device  120 . The headphone jack  106  can be any of a variety of jacks, such as one of multiple standard 3.5 mm audio jacks, HDMI connector, USB connector, or the like. 
     As shown in a specific example illustrated in  FIG.  3   , a headphone jack  200  can protrude from a support base  201 , and include a tip  202 , a sleeve  204 , and one or more rings  206  positioned between the tip  202  and the sleeve  204 . Each ring  206  is formed of a conductive material, such as metal, and is connected with a wire or other conductor (not shown) within the sleeve  204 . Each ring  206  can conduct a signal, such as audio IN or audio OUT, or LEFT IN/LEFT OUT, for example. In some cases, one of the rings  206  can conduct signals from a microphone attached to the headphone jack  200 . The headphone jack  200  includes a magnetic region  208 , which can include a magnetic ring or one or more magnets embedded within the headphone jack  200 , preferably between the tip  202  and the sleeve  204 , although the magnetic region  208  can be positioned anywhere on the headphone jack  200 , or other connector if used, such as an HDMI or USB connector. 
     Returning to  FIG.  2   , in implementations consistent with the present subject matter, the headphone jack  106  includes a magnetized region  114 . The magnetized region  114  can include one or more magnets embedded therein, which can be configured to provide a specific magnetic field strength, charge, density or force. Magnetic forces are able to provide information about the charge carriers in a material, i.e. magnets, through what is known as the “Hall effect.” This information from the magnetized region  114  can represent a special feature or function of the headphones  102 , such as whether the headphones  102  is a set of headphones, and whether the headphones are electro-audio, bone conduction, or even volume-limited headphones for being used by children or hearing-impaired users. 
     In implementations further consistent with the present subject matter, the electronic device  120  further includes a media player  122 , such as an application or other media-playing software, firmware and/or hardware, which plays digital media such as audio that is stored in a media storage  124 . The media storage  124  can include a solid state memory, or be formed of cache memory for caching an audio stream that is downloaded from a remote location, such as from a server computer via the Internet or other network. The media player  122  is controlled by a control processor  130 , which can be embedded in the media player, and provided as software, firmware and/or hardware. The control processor  130  controls the operation and functions of the media player, such as, for example, volume control, media selection and playing, and can receive instructions from an interface on the electronic device  120 , such as an interactive graphical user interface or physical buttons or other controls. 
     The electronic device  120  further includes a magnetic sensor  128 , such as a Hall sensor, that is configured to detect the presence and/or magnitude of the magnetic field from the magnetized region  114  of the headphone jack  106 , via the Hall effect. The magnetic sensor  128  can then decode or determine the information from the magnetized region  114 , i.e. the type of headphones  102  being used and connected to the electronic device  120 , and send that information to the control processor  130  to control the media player  122  accordingly. Therefore, the media player  122  can provide audio and other media to the headphones  102  that is appropriate or configured specifically for the headphones  102  and its function(s) and/or features(s). 
     The presence or detection of a magnetic headphone jack  106  can turn on an internal audio amplifier in the media player device  120  to modify (i.e. amplify) the audio output signal level of the audio port  126 , such as for identifying and accommodating a bone conduction speaker, which requires much more current to actuate the bone conduction speaker. If a normal (i.e. non-magnetic) headphone jack  106  is inserted into the media player device  120 , the audio level is normalized for a regular dynamic speaker  104 . 
       FIG.  4    depicts an electronic device  300  having Hall sensor  302  that is embedded therein, and positioned to detect a magnetic portion  304  of an inserted connector  306 . The connector  306  can be a standard 3.5 mm audio connector, USB connector, HDMI connector, or any other connector. The magnetic portion  304  of the connector  306  can have a predetermined Hall effect or magnetic field pattern and/or magnitude, which can be detected by the Hall sensor  302 , which in turn determines the magnitude and/or placement of the magnetic portion  304  on the connector to identify a device represented by the connector. The Hall sensor  302  can then generate control signals to control a function and/or features of the electronic device  300  to accommodate the functions and/or features of the device connected thereto via connector  306 .  FIG.  5    depicts an MP3 player  400  having Hall sensor  402  that is embedded therein, as part of a circuit board  404 , and positioned to detect a magnetic field of a magnetic portion  406  of an inserted 3.5 mm audio jack  408 . 
       FIG.  6    is a flowchart of a method for detecting a function or a feature of an output device by an electronic device, and/or controlling a function or feature of the electronic device to accommodate the output device. At  302 , the electronic device receives a connector. The connector can be a headphone jack, for example a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack. The electronic device receiving the connector includes a magnetic sensor, such as a Hall sensor, for detecting, sensing and quantifying a magnetic field and its magnitude, if present, of the received connector, at  304 . At  306 , the magnetic sensor, using software, circuitry or other logic associated therewith, measures or discerns a magnitude of the magnetic field of the connector to determine information from the magnetic field, such as an identity of a device associated with the connector, and therefore any feature or function of that device. The features or functions can be determined from a look-up table or other logic. 
     At  308 , based on the determined feature(s) or function(s), the electronic device, such as a media player for example, can be controlled to provide an output, i.e. controlled signals at  310  to the device associated with the connector. 
     Although a few embodiments have been described in detail above, other modifications are possible. Other embodiments may be within the scope of the following claims.