Patent Abstract:
An apparatus and method for outputting a sound with Hearing Aids Compatibility (HAC) in a mobile terminal. The sound output apparatus includes a modem chip including a first amplifier amplifying and transferring an electric signal to a switch, a switch that selectively connects an output line of the first amplifier to a receiver or a second amplifier, a second amplifier connected with the receiver and the switch and that amplifies and transfers an electric signal received from the first amplifier to the receiver when the switch connects the output line of the first amplifier to the second amplifier, and a receiver connected with the switch and the second amplifier and that converts and outputs an electric signal received from the first amplifier or the second amplifier into a sound. This allows for the stable transfer of a sound to hearing handicapped persons with HAC without distortion of the sound quality.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to a Korean patent application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Mar. 3, 2010 and assigned Serial No. 10-2010-0019074, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a sound outputting apparatus in a mobile terminal and a method thereof, and more particularly, to an apparatus for outputting a sound with Hearing Aids Compatibility (HAC) in a mobile terminal, and a method thereof. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In recent years, with the rapidly increasing supply of mobile terminals, it has become a modern person&#39;s necessity. Since the mobile terminal can provide not only a unique voice call service, but also all types of data transmission service, and various additional services, it may serve as a multimedia communication device. Recently, a mobile terminal with HAC for hearing handicapped persons has been developed. 
     The mobile terminal with HAC is managed according to an HAC standard. The HAC standard includes items such as intensity, Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR), and Frequency Response. When the mobile terminal satisfies given conditions requiring the foregoing items, the performance thereof can be recognized as a mobile terminal for HAC. In an embodiment, SNR among them is classified into a T-Category grade of T1 to T4 according to sound signal intensity and noise degree. When the mobile terminal has a grade T3 or T4, a performance thereof can be recognized as a mobile terminal for HAC. 
     To improve SNR, the related art increases a gain of a receiver dedicated amplifier in a modem chip of the mobile terminal. In general, because the receiver dedicated amplifier in the modem chip has a relatively small output, when a gain is extremely increased, signal intensity is increased but the quality of sound is distorted. When the quality of sound is distorted, a hearing handicapped person wearing a hearing aid cannot adequately hear a sound. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior art, it is a primary object to provide an apparatus for outputting a sound in a mobile terminal for HAC stably amplifying and outputting a sound without distortion of the sound quality, and a method thereof. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a sound output apparatus includes a modem chip including a first amplifier configured to amplify and transfer an electric signal to a switch. The sound output apparatus also includes the switch configured to selectively connect an output line of the first amplifier to a receiver or a second amplifier. The sound output apparatus also includes the second amplifier connected with the receiver and the switch, and configured to amplify and transfer an electric signal received from the first amplifier to the receiver when the switch connects the output line of the first amplifier to the second amplifier. The sound output apparatus further includes the receiver connected with the switch and the second amplifier, and configured to convert and output an electric signal received from the first amplifier or the second amplifier into a sound. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a sound output method of a sound output apparatus including a switch electrically connecting an output line of a first amplifier to a second amplifier or a receiver is provided. The method includes checking whether a Hearing Aids Compatibility (HAC) mode is set to ‘ON’ or ‘OFF’. The method also includes controlling the switch to connect the output line of the first amplifier to the second amplifier when the HAC mode is set to ‘ON’. The method further includes controlling the first amplifier to amplify and transfer an electric signal to the second amplifier when a sound output command is input. The method further includes controlling the second amplifier to amplify and transfer the electric signal to a receiver. The method also includes controlling the receiver to convert and output the electric signal into a sound. 
     The present invention may stably transfer a sound to hearing handicapped persons with HAC without distortion of the sound quality. In addition, when determining a T-Category grade of a mobile terminal for HAC, it can acquire a higher grade. 
     Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and the term “controller” means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware, firmware or software, or some combination of at least two of the same. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a configuration of a mobile terminal with a sound output apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an audio processing unit and a control unit that are structural elements of a sound output apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a sound output method according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a transfer procedure of a sound signal when an HAC mode is set to ‘ON’ in the sound output apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a transfer procedure of a sound signal when an HAC mode is set to ‘OFF’ in the sound output apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1 through 5 , discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably arranged mobile terminal. Detailed descriptions of well-known functions and structures incorporated herein may be omitted to avoid obscuring the subject matter of the present invention. 
     The present invention describes a mobile terminal by way of example. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the present invention may be applicable to all devices outputting a sound. Further, a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention is a terminal capable of outputting a sound. The mobile terminal may preferably be a mobile communication terminal, a Portable Multimedia Player (PMP), a Personal Digital Assistant (DA), Smart Phone, or MP3 player. 
     When the mobile terminal is a mobile communication terminal, it may be an International Mobile Telecommunication 2000 (IMT-2000) terminal, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) terminal, Global System For Mobile Communication/General Packet Radio Service (GSM/GPRS) terminal, or Universal Mobile Telecommunication Service (UMTS) terminal. 
     As used herein, the term “sound” means an audible sound that a person can hear. The sound is created by vibration of a vibration plate and output by a receiver or a speaker. As used herein, the term “sound signal” means an electric signal converted from the “sound”. The receiver or the speaker receives a sound signal, and converts and outputs the received sound signal into a sound. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobile terminal  100  with a sound output apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     The mobile terminal  100  includes a radio frequency (RF) communication unit  110 , an audio processing unit  120 , a storage unit  130 , an input unit  140 , a display unit  150 , and a control unit  160 . 
     The RF communication unit performs transmitting and receiving functions of corresponding data for RF communication of the mobile terminal. The RF communication unit  110  may include an RF transmitter (not shown) up-converting a frequency of a transmitted signal and amplifying the signal, and an RF receiver (not shown) low-noise-amplifying a received signal and down-converting the signal. Moreover, the RF communication unit  110  may receive data through an RF channel and output it to the control unit  160 . The RF communication unit  110  may transmit data provided from the control unit  160  through the RF channel. 
     The audio processing unit  120  may include a CODEC. The CODEC can be configured by a data CODEC processing packet data and an audio CODEC processing an audio signal such as a sound. The audio processing unit  120  converts a digital audio signal into an analog audio signal through the audio CODEC, and outputs the converted analog audio signal through a receiver or a speaker. The audio processing unit converts an analog audio signal provided from a microphone (MIC) into a digital audio signal through the audio CODEC. The audio processing unit  120  constitutes a sound output apparatus of the present invention. Structural elements of the audio processing unit  120  will be explained in detail with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
     The storage unit  130  stores programs and data necessary for an operation of the mobile terminal  100 , and can be divided into a program area and a data area. The storage unit  130  can be configured by a volatile storage medium, a nonvolatile storage medium, or a combination thereof. The volatile storage medium includes a semiconductor memory such as RAM, DRAM, or SRAM. The nonvolatile storage medium may include a hard disk. 
     The input unit  140  receives user key operation signals for controlling the mobile terminal  100  and transfers them to the control unit  160 . 
     The input unit  140  can be configured by either a key pad such as 3*4 keyboard or Qwerty keyboard including numeral keys, character keys, and arrow keys or a touch panel. The mobile terminal  100  may include a button key, a jog key, and a wheel key besides the key pad or the touch panel. The input unit  140  generates and transfers input signals executing functions (call function, moving image function, music play function, image display function, or camera photographing function) to the control unit  160 . In the present invention, when a user selects an HAC mode as ‘ON’ or ‘OFF’ using the input unit  140 , the input unit  140  generates and transfers an input signal corresponding to a user selection to the control unit  160 . 
     The display unit  150  can be configured as Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLED), or Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diodes (AMOLED). The display unit  150  visibly provides menus, input data, function setting information, and various other information of the mobile terminal  100  to a user. The display unit  150  outputs a booting screen, an idle screen, a menu screen, a call screen, and other application screens of the mobile terminal  100 . The display unit  150  according to an embodiment of the present invention may display a menu screen selecting an HAC mode as ‘ON’ or ‘OFF’. The user may view the menu screen using the input unit  140  and set the HAC mode to ‘ON’ or ‘OFF’. 
     The control unit  160  controls an overall operation of the mobile terminal  100  and signal flow between internal blocks of the mobile terminal  100 . The control unit  160  according to an embodiment of the present invention controls the audio processing unit  120  to output a sound. The control unit  160  includes structural elements configuring the sound output apparatus of the present invention. The structural elements of the control unit  160  will be explained in detail with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an audio processing unit  120  and a control unit  160  that are structural elements of a sound output apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     The audio processing unit  120  according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a receiver  121 , a switch  122 , and a second amplifier  123 . The control unit  160  includes a modem chip  161 . The modem chip  161  includes a first amplifier  162 .  FIG. 2  shows that a receiver  121 , a switch  122 , and a second amplifier  123  are included in a block differing from that of the modem chip  161 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The receiver  121 , the switch  122 , the second amplifier  123 , and the modem chip  161  can be configured as one block in the sound output apparatus. 
     The receiver  121  is a device converting a sound signal that is an electric signal into a sound. When an electric signal with various frequencies is applied to a voice coil included in the receiver  121 , it generates mechanical energy according to electrical intensity and frequency, and generates vibration at a vibration plate attached to the voice coil to generate sound pressure recognized by human&#39;s ears. The receiver  121  may be a HAC special receiver with a ‘T-COIL’ or a general receiver. The ‘T-COIL’ is a coil included in the voice coil that amplifies the sound pressure generated by the voice coil. The ‘T-COIL’ according to an embodiment may enclose a wound periphery of a voice coil in a disc shape. 
     Moreover, the receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention may be a speaker combined receiver. The speaker combined receiver can selectively act as a receiver or a speaker. Further, the receiver  121  may include a headset such as a wired headset or a Bluetooth headset. In this embodiment, the receiver is provided at an area contacting with the human&#39;s ear in a headset. When the receiver  121  is configured to be included in the Bluetooth headset, the portable terminal  100  further includes a Bluetooth communication module (not shown). The control unit  160  controls the Bluetooth communication module to transmit a sound signal to the Bluetooth headset. A receiver  121  included in the Bluetooth headset converts a sound signal into a sound, and outputs the sound. 
     The switch  122  selectively connects a sound signal received from the modem chip  161  to a receiver  121  or a second amplifier  123 . The switch  122  operates under the control of the control unit  160 . When an HAC mode is set to ‘ON’, the switch  122  connects a fourth sound signal line  14  to a first signal line  11  to connect the first amplifier  162  to the second amplifier  123 . When the HAC mode is set to ‘OFF’, the switch  122  connects a second sound signal line  12  to the first signal line  11  to connect the first amplifier  162  to the receiver  121 . An ‘HAC mode’ of the present invention is a mode that outputs a sound suitable for a hearing aid user. A sound in a HAC mode of an ‘ON’ state is amplified and output larger in comparison with that in a HAC mode of an ‘OFF’ state. The user sets the HAC mode to ‘ON’ using a hearing aid, and sets the HAC mode to ‘OFF’ in a general call. 
     The second amplifier  123  amplifies a sound signal received from the first amplifier  162 . The second amplifier  123  according to an embodiment of the present invention can be configured by an audio amplifier such as a speakerphone amplifier, which may be analog amplifier or a digital amplifier. In one embodiment, the second amplifier  123  is an amplifier that exhibits higher efficiency and lower noise than a first amplifier  162  being a private use of a receiver. 
     The control unit  160  can be configured in a single chip form constructed by a modem chip  161 . The control unit  160  may be also configured in a multi-chip form constructed by an application processor chip to control the modem chip  161  and an application. The modem chip  161  according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first amplifier  162 . The first amplifier  162  according to the present invention is a receiver dedicated amplifier. In one embodiment, the first amplifier  162  exhibits smaller intensity than that of a maximum output of the second amplifier  123 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the receiver  121  connects with the switch  122  through the second sound signal line  12 . The receiver  121  connects with the second amplifier  123  through the third sound signal line  13 . The receiver  121  receives a sound signal from the switch  122  or the second amplifier  123 , and converts and outputs the received sound signal into a sound. 
     The switch  122  connects with the first amplifier  162  through the first sound signal line  11 . The switch  122  connects with the receiver  121  through the second sound signal line  12 . The switch  122  connects with the second amplifier  123  through the fourth sound signal line  14 . Further, the switch  122  connects with the modem chip  161  through a switch control signal line  15 . The switch  122  receives a control signal from the modem chip  161  through the switch control signal line  15 . The switch  122  selectively connects the first sound signal line  11  to the second sound signal line  12  or the fourth sound signal line  14  according to the received control signal. When the switch  122  connects the first sound signal line  11  to the second sound signal line  12 , the first amplifier  162  connects with the receiver  121  and transfers an amplified sound signal by the first amplifier  162  to the receiver  121 . When the switch  122  connects the first sound signal line  11  with the fourth sound signal line  14 , the first amplifier  162  connects with the second amplifier  123 , and controls the second amplifier  123  to again amplify the sound signal amplified by the first amplifier  162 , and transfers the amplified sound signal to the receiver  121 . 
     The second amplifier  123  connects with the receiver  121  through the third sound signal line  13 , and connects with the switch  122  through the fourth sound signal line  14 . Further, the second amplifier  123  connects with the modem chip  161  through a second amplifier control signal line  16 . The second amplifier  123  operates under the control of the modem chip  161 . When the switch  122  connects the first sound signal line  11  with the fourth sound signal line  14 , the second amplifier  123  connects with the first amplifier  162 . When the second amplifier  123  receives a sound signal from the switch  122 , it amplifies the sound signal and transfers the amplified sound signal to the receiver  121  through the third sound signal line  13 . 
     The first amplifier  162  connects with the switch  122  through the first sound signal line  11 , and operates under the control of the modem chip  161 . The first amplifier  162  amplifies a sound signal under the control of the modem chip  161  and transfers the amplified sound signal to the switch  122 . 
     The modem chip  161  connects with the switch  122  through a switch control signal line  15 , and controls the switch  122  to connect a first sound signal line  11  to one of the second sound signal line  12  or the fourth sound signal line  14 . Moreover, the modem chip  161  connects with the second amplifier  123  through the second amplifier control signal line  16 , and controls the second amplifier  123  to amplify a sound signal and to transfer the amplified sound signal to the receiver  121 . In this situation, the modem chip  161  controls the second amplifier  123  to amplify the sound signal such that a sound of suitable intensity is transferred to a hearing aid. 
     The receiver  121 , the switch  122 , the second amplifier  123 , the modem chip  161 , the first amplifier  121 , the first to fourth sound signal lines  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 , the switch control signal line  15 , and the second amplifier control signal line  16  may be structural elements configuring a sound output apparatus of the present invention. 
     Furthermore, the mobile terminal  100  may include a configuration in which a switch  122  and the second amplifier  123  are included in the control unit  160 . 
     The foregoing embodiment has described a configuration of a sound output apparatus of a mobile terminal  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, a sound output method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be explained. 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a sound output method according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     In  FIG. 3 , it is assumed that the control unit  160  is configured by a modem chip  161 . It is assumed that a menu setting an HAC mode to ‘ON’ or ‘OFF’ is included in the mobile terminal  100 . The HAC mode can be previously set to ‘ON’ or ‘OFF’. When the HAC mode is set to ‘ON’, the switch  122  maintains a connected state between the first sound signal line  11  and the second sound signal line  12 . When the HAC mode is set to ‘OFF’, the switch  122  maintains a connected state between the first sound signal line  11  and the fourth sound signal line  14 . 
     The modem chip  161  controls an input unit  141  to check whether an HAC mode is selected as ‘ON’ or ‘OFF’ by a user (block  301 ). In detail, the modem chip  161  may control a display unit  150  to display an HAC mode setting menu screen. The HAC mode setting menu screen may include an input window setting an HAC mode to ‘ON’ or ‘OFF’. A user may identify the HAC mode setting menu screen displayed on a display unit  150  and set an HAC mode to ‘ON’ or ‘OFF’ using the input unit  140 . 
     When the user selects an HAC mode as ‘ON’, the modem chip  161  controls the switch  122  to connect the first sound signal line  11  to a second amplifier  123  (block  302 ). In detail, the modem chip  161  transfers a control signal including a command connecting the fourth sound signal line  14  to the first sound signal line  11  through the switch control signal line  15 . The switch  122  receives a control signal from the modem chip  161 . When the first sound signal line  11  and the second sound signal line  12  are connected to each other, the switch  122  blocks the connection between the first sound signal line  11  and the sound signal line  12 , and connects the first sound signal line  11  to the fourth sound signal line  14 . If the first sound signal line  11  is connected to the fourth sound signal line  14 , the modem chip  161  maintains a connected state of the switch  122 . 
     The modem chip  161  controls the input unit  140  or the RF communication unit  110  to check whether a sound output command is input (block  303 ). In an embodiment of the present invention, when the modem chip  161  receives an RF signal including another call user&#39;s sound through the RF communication unit  110 , it may determine that the sound output command is input. 
     The modem chip  161  amplifies a sound signal by the first amplifier  162  and transfers the amplified sound signal to the second amplifier  123  through the first sound signal line  11  and the fourth sound signal line  14  (block  304 ). The modem chip  161  controls the second amplifier  123  to amplify a received sound signal (block  305 ). The modem chip  161  transfers a control signal to the second amplifier  123  through the second amplifier control signal line  16 . When the second amplifier  123  receives the control signal, it amplifies a sound signal according to the received control signal. The modem chip  161  controls the second amplifier  123  to transfer the amplified sound signal to the receiver  121  (block  306 ). Next, the modem chip  161  controls the receiver  121  to convert and output the sound signal into a sound (block  307 ). 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating a transfer procedure of a sound signal when a HAC mode is set to ‘ON’ in the sound output apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     In  FIG. 4 , the modem chip  161  transfers a switch control signal to the switch  122  through the switch control signal line  150 , thereby controlling the switch  122  to connect the first sound signal line  11  to the fourth sound signal line  14 . The first amplifier  162  transfers a sound signal to the switch  122  through a first sound signal line  11 , and the switch  122  transfers a sound signal to the second amplifier  123  through the fourth sound signal line  14 . The modem chip  161  transfers a second amplifier control signal to the second amplifier  123  through a second amplifier control signal line  16 . The second amplifier  123  amplifies a sound signal according to a control signal, and transfers the amplified sound signal to the receiver  121  through a third sound signal line  13 . 
     When the HAC mode is set to ‘ON’, the sound signal is amplified once again by a second amplifier  123  exhibiting high efficiency and low noise. Accordingly, a hearing aid user can hear a stable sound with non-distorted sound equality. 
     When a user selects the HAC mode as ‘OFF’ in block  301 , the modem chip  161  controls a switch  122  to connect a receiver  121  to the first sound signal line  11  (block  308 ). In detail, the modem chip  161  transfers a control signal including a command connecting the first sound signal line  11  to the second sound signal line  12  to the switch  122 . When the first sound signal line  11  is previously connected to the second signal line  12 , the modem chip  161  maintains a connection state of the switch  122 . If the first sound signal line  11  is connected to the fourth sound signal line  14 , the modem chip  161  controls the switch  122  to connect the first sound signal line  11  to the second sound signal line  12 . 
     When the modem chip  161  determines that the sound output command is input in block  309 , it controls the first amplifier  162  to amplify the sound signal and transfer the amplified sound signal to the receiver  121  through the first sound signal line  11  and the second sound signal line  12  (block  310 ). The sound signal transferred to the receiver  121  is a sound signal amplified by the first amplifier  162 . Subsequently, the modem chip  161  controls the receiver  121  to convert and output the sound signal into a sound (block  311 ). 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating a transfer procedure of a sound signal when a HAC mode is set to ‘OFF’ in the sound output apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the modem chip  161  transfers a switch control signal to the switch  122  through the switch control signal line  150  to control the switch  122  to connect the first sound signal line  11  to the second sound signal line  12 . Further, the first amplifier  162  transfers a sound signal to the switch through the first sound signal line  11 , and the switch  122  transfers the sound signal to the receiver  121  through the second sound signal line  12 . 
     A general user sets an HAC mode to ‘OFF’ using the mobile terminal  100 . In this situation, an SNR is not required to conform to an HAC standard, and it is sufficient that the sound signal is amplified by the first amplifier  162 . A general user as well as a hearing aid user can use the mobile terminal  100  by setting the HAC mode to ‘OFF’. 
     Although the present disclosure has been described with an exemplary embodiment, various changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the present disclosure encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7