Patent Description:
Many computer applications including computer simulation applications such as may be implemented by computer consoles allow a user to don a headset in addition to or in lieu of playing audio on broadcast speakers. Detecting engagement of the headset jack with the computer system, for example, with a game controller communicating with a game console, is often desirable for, e.g., muting broadcast audio and for other reasons. Other previously proposed arrangements are disclosed in <CIT>.

As understood herein, headphone detection that depends on the connected device, e.g., a game controller, to detect physical insertion of a plug into a jack to thereby return a "headphone detect" signal can incorrectly return "detect" when other objects might find their way into the jack, such as paper clips and the like. Such a detection indication may undesirably precipitate computer operation that assumes a headset with live signals is connected.

In example embodiments, at least one processor associated is with the extension port device for providing an indication that the plug is engaged with a jack responsive to the electrical shorting of the first and second conductive segments.

In some embodiments, the extension port device can be plugged into a computer simulation controller that communicates with a computer simulation console. The assembly may include one or both of the controller and console.

In examples, the plug can include a first electrically insulative segment interposed between the first ends of the first and second arcuate conductive segments and extending to each one of the first ends to electrically insulate the first ends from each other on the plug. The plug may also include a second electrically insulative segment interposed between the second ends of the first and second arcuate conductive segments and extending to each one of the second ends to electrically insulate the second ends from each other on the plug.

In examples, the first arcuate conductive segment is connected to a detect signal line and the second conductive segment is connected to a ground line. The extension port device may include at least one switch operable to short the detect signal line to the ground line through the first and second arcuate conductive segments.

In another aspect, a method includes returning a detect signal responsive to electrically shorting first and second arcuate conductive segments on an output device plug such as a headphone plug, virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) headset plug, etc. The first and second conductive segments have respective first and second ends, with the first end of the first arcuate conductive segment facing the first end of the second conductive segment and being spaced therefrom and with the second end of the first arcuate conductive segment facing the second end of the second conductive segment and being spaced therefrom. The method includes not returning a detect signal responsive to responsive to not electrically shorting the first and second arcuate conductive segments.

In another aspect, an assembly includes at least one output device with at least left and right speakers and at least one plug connected to the left and right speakers. The plug includes a conductive distal tip connector and, proximal to the conductive distal tip connector, first and second arcuate conductive segments having respective first and second ends. The first end of the first arcuate conductive segment faces the first end of the second conductive segment and is spaced therefrom, while the second end of the first arcuate conductive segment faces the second end of the second conductive segment and is spaced therefrom.

The details of the present application, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:.

<FIG> shows an assembly, generally designated <NUM>, that can include at least one output device <NUM>. The output device <NUM> may be implemented by, for example, a headphone, a VR or AR headset, etc. and typically includes at least left and right speakers <NUM>. One or more cords <NUM> connect the left and right speakers <NUM> to a split ground connector <NUM> configured as a plug. The connector <NUM> includes an electrically conductive distal tip connector <NUM> for receiving audio signals for play on a first one of the left and right speakers <NUM>. The distal tip connector <NUM> may be shaped somewhat frusto-conically from a relatively narrower proximal portion <NUM> to a relatively wider distal edge <NUM>, and then taper back frusto-conically from the distal edge <NUM> to a distal tip <NUM>, which may be blunt. A proximal ring portion <NUM> of the distal tip connector <NUM> can join with the proximal portion <NUM> as shown.

Proximal to the proximal ring portion <NUM> of the distal tip connector <NUM> is a first continuous ring-shaped insulator <NUM> to electrically insulate the distal tip connector <NUM> from a first conductive ring <NUM>. The ring <NUM> may, e.g., receive audio signals for play on a second one of the left and right speakers <NUM>. Thus, the first conductive ring <NUM>, which is a continuous cylindrical ring as shown, is proximal to the distal tip connector <NUM>.

Proximal to the first conductive ring <NUM> is a second continuous ring-shaped insulator <NUM> that may be cylindrical as shown and that electrically insulates the first conductive ring <NUM> from first and second arcuate conductive segments <NUM>, <NUM>. These segments <NUM>, <NUM> form portions of a cylinder, and have respective first and second ends (only the first ends <NUM>, <NUM> shown in <FIG>). The first end <NUM> of the first arcuate conductive segment <NUM> faces the first end <NUM> of the second conductive segment <NUM> and as shown is spaced from the first end <NUM> of the second conductive segment <NUM>. Referring briefly to <FIG>, a first electrically insulative segment <NUM> is interposed between the first ends <NUM>, <NUM> of the first and second arcuate conductive segments <NUM>, <NUM>, extending to each one of the first ends to electrically insulate the first ends from each other on the plug.

It is to be understood that opposite (e.g., by <NUM> degrees) of the first electrically insulative segment <NUM>, a second electrically insulative segment is interposed between the second ends of the first and second arcuate conductive segments <NUM>, <NUM>, extending to each one of the second ends to electrically insulate the second ends from each other on the plug. The second ends of the segments <NUM>, <NUM> thus also face each other and are spaced apart by an insulative segment.

Returning to <FIG>, proximal to the segments <NUM>, <NUM>, a third continuous ring-shaped insulator <NUM> that may be cylindrical is disposed and proximal to that, a cylindrical conductive sleeve <NUM> is disposed for, e.g., receiving signals from a microphone of the headset.

It is to be understood that the electrically insulative rings and segments discussed above may be portions of a single cylindrical body onto which the electrically conductive components of the plug discussed above are disposed in the configuration shown.

As shown in <FIG>, the connector <NUM> may be plugged into a jack or socket <NUM> that may be implemented in an extension port device <NUM> that is electrically connected to the first and second conductive segments <NUM>, <NUM> and that, as discussed further below, is configured for electrically shorting the first and second conductive segments. In turn, the extension port device <NUM> may be associated with one or more processors <NUM> for providing an indication that the connector <NUM> is engaged with the jack <NUM> responsive to the electrically shorting of the first and second conductive segments <NUM>, <NUM> as explained further below. In the example shown, the extension port device <NUM> is plugged into one or more receptacles such as the headphone jack <NUM> and extension port <NUM> of a computer simulation controller <NUM>. Or, the extension port device may be integrated into the housing of the controller <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> may communicate via wired and/or wireless paths with a computer simulation console <NUM>. In an example non-limiting implementation, the controller <NUM> may be a DualShock® (DS-<NUM>) game controller and the computer simulation console <NUM> may be a PlayStation® console. The controller <NUM> typically includes manipulable buttons or keys to input commands into the console <NUM>. The extension port device <NUM> may likewise comprise one or more manipulable buttons or keys <NUM> that can be manipulated to input commands to the console <NUM> via the controller <NUM>. In any case, the computer simulation console may output video to a video display <NUM> and audio to one or more broadcast speakers <NUM>. The audio may be output to the speakers <NUM> when the connector <NUM> is engaged with the jack <NUM> according to disclosure below.

As indicated in cross-reference to <FIG>, the distal tip connector <NUM> of the connector <NUM>, when engaged with the jack <NUM>, may wipe against a left or right speaker audio line <NUM> to electrically connect the corresponding audio channel in the controller <NUM> to the corresponding headphone speaker <NUM>. The first conductive ring <NUM> may wipe against the other of the left or right speaker audio line <NUM> to connect the corresponding audio channel in the controller <NUM> to the corresponding headphone speaker <NUM>. On the other hand, the first arcuate conductive segments <NUM>, <NUM> may wipe against a ground line <NUM>. The sleeve <NUM> can engage a microphone line <NUM>.

<FIG> shows that the extension port device <NUM> may include at least one switch <NUM> that is operable to short a detect signal line <NUM> to the ground line <NUM> through the first and second arcuate conductive segments <NUM>, <NUM>. In one embodiment, the switch <NUM> can be controlled by the processor <NUM> of the extension port device shown in <FIG> according to the logic below.

The headphone connector <NUM> thus may be configured a TRRS (tip-ring-ring-sleeve) connector with reference lines connected to different terminal contacts or with a further control wire integrated in the headphone cable and connected to an additional terminal connector. The headphone connector may be configured, e.g. as a stereo plug, a mini jack, a mini-stereo jack, a headphone jack, a telephone connector or a bottom plug, for example a <NUM> or <NUM> TRRS jack plug. Thus, the connector is a four-pole connector that may conform to the American headphone jack (or Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA)) standard, less preferably the Open Mobile Terminal Platform (OMTP) standard, or other standards.

<FIG> shows a simplified block diagram of an example extension port device <NUM> in which the processor <NUM> controls the switch <NUM> consistent with principles herein based at least in part on a detect signal from an electrical or mechanical presence detector <NUM> operatively coupled to the jack <NUM> to detect the physical presence of the plug.

<FIG> illustrates example logic that may be executed by the processor <NUM> in flow chart form for illustration, it being understood that state logic may be used. Decision diamond <NUM> indicates that upon detecting the presence of a plug in the jack <NUM>, the logic may move to state <NUM> in which it may be determined whether a detect condition is satisfied. In some cases, the detect condition always is satisfied upon detecting physical presence of the plug in the jack. In other cases, the detect condition may not be satisfied unless a condition in addition to physical presence of the plug in the jack is present. Such an additional detect condition may include, by way of example and not of limitation, image recognition based on signals from a camera associated with the game console indicating that a person is wearing a headset or headphone or other output device with ear speakers. Other detect conditions may be used.

In any case, once it is determined that a detect signal should be generated, the logic moves to block <NUM> to close the switch <NUM> and thereby short the detect line to the ground line. This shorting causes a signal to be sent to the game controller <NUM> indicating that the audio plug of an output device <NUM> such as a headphone or VR or AR headset is engaged with the assembly, which in turn causes the controller/console to execute appropriate action, e.g., mute broadcast speakers and route audio signals to the jack of the controller and, hence, to the jack <NUM> of the extension port device <NUM>.

Instead of a processor-based switch <NUM>, the jack <NUM> of the extension port device <NUM> may include electrical contacts that engage the segments <NUM>, <NUM> upon insertion of the plug into the jack <NUM> to short the detect line to the ground line.

<FIG> illustrate further. In <FIG>, a presentation generated by the controller <NUM> or console <NUM> is presented on the display <NUM>, indicating at <NUM> that the audio output device in use is a broadcast speaker or speakers such as may be driven by a TV or audio-video (AV) amplifier. This presentation is responsive to the switch <NUM> being open (or responsive to no plug at all being detected in the jack <NUM>).

On the other hand, <FIG> illustrates at <NUM> that the audio output device in use are headphone speakers on a headphone or headset device that is connected to the controller <NUM>. The presentation of <FIG> is responsive to the switch <NUM> being closed with the plug being engaged with the jack <NUM>. In addition to the different visual displays of <FIG>, as discussed previously, the configuration of the switch <NUM> also establishes operational parameters including whether audio is played on broadcast or headphone speakers.

Claim 1:
An assembly (<NUM>), comprising:
at least one output device (<NUM>) comprising at least left and right speakers (<NUM>);
at least one cord (<NUM>) connecting the left and right speakers to a plug (<NUM>), the plug comprising:
a) a conductive distal tip connector (<NUM>) for receiving audio signals for play on a first one of the left and right speakers;
b) proximal to the conductive distal tip connector, a first conductive ring (<NUM>) for receiving audio signals for play on a second one of the left and right speakers, the first conductive ring being a continuous cylindrical ring; and
c) proximal to the first conductive ring, first and second arcuate conductive segments (<NUM>, <NUM>) having respective first and second ends (<NUM>, <NUM>), the first end of the first arcuate conductive segment facing the first end of the second conductive segment and being spaced therefrom, the second end of the first arcuate conductive segment facing the second end of the second conductive segment and being spaced therefrom; and
d) an extension port device (<NUM>) electrically connectable to the first and second conductive segments and configured for electrically shorting the first and second conductive segments.