PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9106995-B2
Application Number: US-201213610615-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Repositionable control system and method for using the same

Abstract:
A system for controlling one or more functions of an electronic device is disclosed. The system includes an electrical cable configured to be selectively coupled to the electronic device and transmit electrical signals to and from the electronic device; at least two electrical conductors electrically coupled to the electrical cable; and a repositionable control device selectively coupled to the at least two electrical conductors. The repositionable control device is configured to control the one or more functions associated with the electronic device.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for controlling one or more functions of an electronic device, the system comprising:
 an electrical cable including a first coupler positioned at a first longitudinal position and a second coupler positioned at a second longitudinal position, and a plurality of electrical conductors extending between the first coupler and the second coupler and exposed to an outer surface of the electrical cable at the first coupler and the second coupler, wherein the electrical conductors are configured to selectively couple to an electronic device and to transmit electrical signals to and from the electronic device; and 
 a repositionable control device selectively affixable to the electrical cable at each of the first longitudinal position and the second longitudinal position, wherein the second longitudinal position is spaced apart from the first longitudinal position, and the repositionable control device couples to one or more of the electrical conductors of the cable when the repositionable control device is affixed at either of the first longitudinal position and the second longitudinal position to control one or more functions associated with the electronic device. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the repositionable control device includes one or more buttons, each button electronically configured to selectably control at least one of the one or more functions associated with the electronic device. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the repositionable control device further includes a microphone. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the repositionable control device includes at least one button that is electronically configured to selectably control one or more functions associated with the microphone. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the repositionable control device includes an attachment mechanism configured to detachably couple the repositionable control device to the one or more of the electrical conductors. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the attachment mechanism is configured to enable movement of the repositionable control device from the first longitudinal position to the second longitudinal position on the electrical cable. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the attachment mechanism is configured to allow the repositionable control device to slide from the first longitudinal position to the second longitudinal position without completely detaching the repositionable control device from the electrical cable. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrical conductors includes a set of electrical conductors corresponding to the first longitudinal position, the repositionable control device being coupleable to the set of electrical conductors corresponding to the first longitudinal position. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of electrical conductors further includes a second set of electrical conductors corresponding to the second longitudinal position, the repositionable control device being coupleable to the second set of electrical conductors. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the repositionable control device is configured to be completely detached from the electrical cable before being reattached to the electrical cable. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more functions associated with the electronic device includes at least one of a mute function, a volume control function, a track selection function, a pause function, a voice command function, an answer function, and a track search function. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is a mobile telephone. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device includes a media player. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical cable is configured to be electrically coupled to a headphone system and to transmit electrical signals from the electronic device to the headphone system. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: a headphone system electrically coupleable to the electrical cable, the electrical cable configured to transmit electrical signals from the electronic device to the headphone system. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the electrical conductors is exposed to a surface of the electrical cable. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrical conductors comprises a set of electrical conductors corresponding to the first longitudinal position, wherein the control device is repositionably and electrically coupleable to the set of electrical conductors corresponding to the first longitudinal position. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the set of electrical conductors comprises a first set of electrical conductors, wherein the plurality of electrical conductors further comprises a second set of electrical conductors corresponding to a second longitudinal position , wherein the control device is further repositionably and electrically coupleable to the second set of electrical conductors corresponding to the second longitudinal position, and wherein the first set of electrical conductors differs from the second set of electrical conductors. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cable defines a first major surface and an opposed second major surface, and wherein the first major surface defines the outer surface to which the plurality of electrical conductors is exposed. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19 , wherein the outer surface to which the plurality of electrical conductors is exposed defines a flat surface.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The description that follows relates generally to a repositionable control system and method for using the same. In particular, the description relates to a repositionable control device for controlling functions associated with an audio listening device. 
     Audio listening devices (e.g., earphones, headphones, headsets, etc.) are widely used in connection with listening or play-back features of a multitude of electronic devices, including, for example, portable audio devices, portable media players, mobile telephones, smartphones, personal data assistants (PDAs), personal computers, exercise machines comprising a media player, and any other electronic device comprising a media player. Audio listening devices may have a wired and/or wireless (e.g., Bluetooth, radio frequency, WiFi, etc.) connection to an electronic device. For example, a wired audio listening device may include a wire or cable with a plug connector that is configured to be detachably coupled to an electronic device for receiving audio playback signals. In some commercially-available models, the audio listening cable may include a second plug connector for detachably coupling the audio listening cable with the audio listening device as well. 
     Many audio listening cables include a control unit that is attached to the cable itself. The control unit may enable a user to control one or more audio playback features, including, for example, volume level, track selection, play/pause, and the like. For example, the control unit may be positioned near a middle portion of the audio listening cable, so that the user may quickly and easily access, for example, the volume controls without accessing the electronic device attached to the cable. This is an especially convenient feature when the electronic device has been stored away in a pocket, shoulder bag, or other holder in order to keep the user&#39;s hands free. 
     Some commercially available audio listening devices include a microphone, for example, for carrying out a telephone conversation and/or implementation of voice command features in association with the attached electronic device. In some devices, the microphone may be attached directly to a headphone portion of the audio listening device, for example, on an extension member that brings the microphone closer to the mouth of the user. In other devices, the microphone is attached to the audio cable, for example, on an upper portion of the cable in order to optimally capture the user&#39;s voice signal. In some commercially available devices, the microphone is included in the same housing as the audio playback control unit, and the control unit may be used to control the microphone as well as the audio playback features mentioned above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is defined by the appended claims. This description summarizes some aspects of the embodiments and should not be used to limit the claims. 
     One embodiment includes a system for controlling one or more functions of an electronic device. The system includes an electrical cable configured to be selectively coupled to the electronic device and transmit electrical signals to and from the electronic device; at least two electrical conductors electrically coupled to the electrical cable; and a repositionable control device selectively coupled to the at least two electrical conductors. The repositionable control device is configured to control the one or more functions associated with the electronic device. 
     Other articles of manufacture, features, and advantages of the invention will be, or will become, apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional articles of manufacture, features, and advantages included within this description be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles described herein. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1A  is an illustration of an exemplary repositionable control system, including a repositionable control device and an electrical cable, in accordance with one embodiment; 
         FIG. 1B  is a detailed view of a portion of the repositionable control system of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic of the repositionable control system of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 3  is an image of an exemplary repositionable control system in accordance with a second embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic of an exemplary repositionable control system in accordance with another embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic of an exemplary repositionable control system in accordance with yet another embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is an illustration of an exemplary repositionable control system in accordance with a third embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is an image of an exemplary electrical cable in accordance with one embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is an image of an exemplary electrical cable in accordance with another embodiment; and 
         FIG. 9  is an image of an exemplary electrical cable in accordance with yet another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     Illustrative and exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in further detail below with reference to and in conjunction with the figures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The description that follows describes, illustrates, and exemplifies one or more particular embodiments of the invention in accordance with its principles. This description is not provided to limit the invention to the embodiments described herein, but rather to explain and teach the principles of the invention in such a way as to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to understand these principles and, with that understanding, be able to apply them to practice not only the embodiments described herein, but also other embodiments that may come to mind in accordance with these principles. The scope of the disclosure is intended to cover all such embodiments that may fall within the scope of the appended claims, either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents. 
     In this application, the use of the disjunctive is intended to include the conjunctive. The use of definite or indefinite articles is not intended to indicate cardinality. In particular, a reference to “the” object or “a” and “an” object is intended to denote also one of a possible plurality of such objects. 
     A conventional control unit for an audio listening device may be bulky, bothersome and/or distracting for some users, especially when exercising, playing sports, or engaged in other physical activity. For example, when a jogger wears headphones having a control unit attached to the headphone cable, the control unit housing, as well as the headphone cable, may bounce around along with the user&#39;s movement. As a result, the attached housing may repeatedly strike or thump against, for example, the jogger&#39;s chest during the activity. As will be appreciated, the amount of force with which the housing hits the user depends on a level of active of the user wearing the headphones and/or the bulkiness of the control unit. 
     If, for example, a microphone device is included in the control unit, the housing may become even bulkier to accommodate the microphone circuitry and related elements. And the control unit may be positioned higher up on the headphone cable, e.g., to be closer to the user&#39;s mouth. As a result, a control unit housing that includes a microphone may bounce with more force and come closer to, perhaps even striking, the user&#39;s face, thereby increasing the user&#39;s annoyance with the control unit. While a user is unlikely to be harmed by the housing movement given the size and weight of a typical control unit, the user may be perturbed enough to opt for a different type of headphone while exercising. For example, the user may be forced to give up the convenience of having easily accessible volume control buttons, in exchange for a headphone system that does not strike the user while exercising. 
     As described in more detail below, the foregoing problems may be solved and a technical advance may be achieved by a repositionable control device that may be selectably moved from a first position on an electrical cable to a second position on the electrical cable, the electrical cable being coupled to an electronic device, such as, e.g., an audio listening system. The second position on the electrical cable may be specifically selected so that the repositionable control device does not inhibit a user while engaged in physical activity. And the electrical cable may be designed to enable operational coupling with the repositionable control device at the first position, and in some embodiments, at the second position as well. As exemplified, the electrical cable may be designed to enable operational coupling at any number of positions. Thus, a user of the repositionable control device described herein may have the convenience of an easily accessible control unit without having the inconvenience of being struck by the control unit housing while engaged in exercise or other physical activity. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate an embodiment of a repositionable control system  100  for controlling one or more functions of, for example, an electronic device  105  that is electrically coupled to an electrical cable  110  of the system  100 . The electronic device  105  may include mobile telephone circuitry for accepting and making telephone calls, an audio source for playing music and other electrical audio signals, and/or computing circuitry for carrying out these and other functions associated with the electronic device  105 . The electrical cable  110  may include a first end  112  and a second end  114 . The first end  112  may include an electrical connector  116  for removable attachment of the electrical cable  110  to the electronic device  105 . In one embodiment, the electrical connector  116  may be an audio plug, and the electronic device  105  may include an input jack (not shown) correspondingly dimensioned to receive the audio plug. The electrical connector  116  may be any type of detachable audio plug, including, but not limited to, a 6.35 mm stereo plug, a 3.5 mm stereo plug, a 2.5 mm stereo plug, a TS connector, a TRS connector, and/or a TRRS connector. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , in some embodiments, the electrical cable  110  may carry electrical audio signals and other electrical signals from the electronic device  105  attached at the first end  112  to an audio listening device  118  attached at the second end  114 . The audio listening device  118  may reproduce the received electrical audio signals, such as, for example, music signals, through earpieces  119  for the listening pleasure of a user. In some embodiments, the system  100  includes the audio listening device  118  and the electrical cable  110  is a dedicated cable for the audio listening device  118 . For example, the second end  114  of the electrical cable  110  may be fixedly attached to the audio listening device  118 , so that the cable  110  and the device  118  form a single unit. 
     In other embodiments, such as the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , the electrical cable  110  may be configured as a stand-alone or detachable cable that includes an electrical connector  120  on the second end  114  of the cable  110  for detachably coupling the audio listening device  118  thereto, in addition to the electrical connector  116  on the first end  112  for detachably coupling the electronic device  105  thereto. In one embodiment, the electrical connector  120  may be an audio plug, and the audio listening device  118  may include one or more input jacks (not shown) correspondingly dimensioned to receive the electrical connector  120 . In such embodiments, the audio listening device  118  may or may not be included in the system  100 . For instance, it may be desirable to not include the audio listening device  118  so that the system  100  may be used with a greater variety of audio listening devices  118 , including any compatible devices that a user already owns. 
     The electrical connector  120  may be any type of detachable audio plug, including, but not limited to, a 6.35 mm stereo plug, a 3.5 mm stereo plug, a 2.5 mm stereo plug, a TS connector, a TRS connector, and/or a TRRS connector. The electrical connector  120  may be similar to or different from the electrical connector  116  included in the first end  112  of the electrical cable  110  for detachably coupling the electronic device  105  thereto. In some embodiments, the second end  114  of the electrical cable  110  may include at least two electrical connectors  120 , each electrical connector  120  being associated with a respective one of the earpieces  119 . 
     In  FIG. 1A , the audio listening device  118  is shown only for illustrative purposes and is not intended to limit the system  100  in any manner. For example, the electrical cable  110  may be coupled to any type of audio listening device  118 , including, but not limited to, headphones, earphones, earbuds, and the like. In one embodiment, the audio listening device  118  may include only one earpiece  119 . In some embodiments, the audio listening device  118  may include an internal audio source for playing electrical audio signals, such as music signals, directly through the earpieces  119 . In such an embodiment, the electrical cable  110  may carry, for example, other electrical audio signals from the electronic device  105  to the audio listening device  118 , such as, for example, audio signals associated with video files, voice memos, email attachments, video games, etc. and/or telephone audio signals where the electronic device includes telephone circuitry. 
     As will be appreciated, the type of audio listening device  118  intended to be used with the system  100  may determine how the second end  114  of the electrical cable  110  is configured. For example, in  FIG. 1A , the audio listening device  119  includes two earpieces  119   a  and  119   b , and the cable  110  splits at a “Y” connector into two segments  114   a  and  114   b , with segment  114   a  attaching to earpiece  119   a  and segment  114   b  attaching to earpiece  119   b . In embodiments that include a detachable cable  110 , each of the segments  114   a  and  114   b  may include an electrical connector  120  for detachably coupling the cable  110  to the earpieces  119 . In another embodiment, the second end  114  of the electrical cable  110  may include a single detachable electrical connector  120 , and the earpieces  119  of the audio listening device  118  may be electrically coupled to a single input port that is configured to be detachably coupled with the electrical connector  120 . As another example, for a single-earpiece audio listening device  118 , the earpiece  119  may be coupled to the electronic device  105  by a single cable  110 . 
     In addition to the electrical cable  110 , the system  100  may include a repositionable control device  121  that may be operationally and mechanically coupled to the electrical cable  110 . According to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A , the repositionable control device  121  may include a housing  122  and buttons  124  for receiving user input. While the embodiment of  FIG. 1A  includes three buttons  124 , the repositionable control device  121  may have any number of buttons  124  in accordance with the present disclosure. For example,  FIG. 6  shows an embodiment of the repositionable control system  100  that includes a repositionable control device  121  with a single button  124 . In some embodiments, the repositionable control device  121  may also include a microphone  126  for capturing voice signals, for example, as shown in  FIG. 6 . In such embodiments, the repositionable control device  121  may be configured to enable a user to control one or more functions associated with the microphone  126 , the audio listening device  118 , and/or the electronic device  105  by pressing one or more of the buttons  124  and/or by speaking commands into the microphone  126 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , in some embodiments, the electrical cable  110  may include one or more electrical conductors  130  that are at least partially exposed on an external surface of the cable  110 . In some embodiments, the electrical conductors  130  may be internally coupled to one or more channels  132  included in the electrical cable  110 . For example, the electrical conductors  130   a  and  130   b  may be electrically coupled to a microphone channel  132   a  and a ground channel  132   b , respectively, of the electrical cable  110 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , and  5 . 
     The number of channels  132  included in the electrical cable  110  may depend on the type of audio signal (e.g., mono or stereo sound) that may be played, for example, by an audio source included in the electronic device  105 . As will be appreciated, the cable  110  may require more channels  132  for playing stereo sound signals than for playing mono sound signals. For example, in  FIG. 2 , the electrical cable  110  includes three channels, a microphone channel  132   a , a ground channel  132   b , and a signal channel  132   c . Thus, the cable  110  of  FIG. 2  may be used, for example, to play mono sound signals. As another example,  FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of the electrical cable  110  that has four channels  132 : the microphone channel  132   a , the ground channel  132   b , a left signal channel  132   d , and a right signal channel  132   e . And  FIG. 5  illustrates yet another embodiment of the electrical cable  110  that has five channels  132 : the microphone channel  132   a , the left ground signal channel  132   b , a right ground signal channel  132   f , the left signal channel  132   d , and the right signal channel  132   e . The cable  110  of either  FIG. 4  or  FIG. 5  may be used, for example, to play mono or stereo sound signals, as there are dual-signal channels in either embodiment. As will be appreciated, the electrical cable  110  may include any number and/or type of channels  132  and is not limited to the illustrated embodiments. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7-9 , the shape and size of the electrical conductors  130  may vary, for example, depending on the type of electrical cable  110  and/or depending on the mechanism used to attach the repositionable control device  121  to the electrical cable  110 . As an example, in both  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the electrical cable  110  is shown as a flat cable. However, in  FIG. 7  the electrical conductors  130  are shown as having a square shape, while in  FIG. 8  the electrical conductors  130  are shown as having a circular shape. As another example, in  FIG. 9 , the electrical cable  110  is shown as a round cable, and the electrical conductors  130  are shown as having a rectangular shape and may wrap at least partially around the cable  110 . As will be appreciated, the electrical conductors  130  may have any size or shape that fits on the particular electrical cable  110  and are not limited to the illustrated examples. In one embodiment, the electrical conductors  130  are exposed on only one side of the electrical cable  110 . The electrical conductors  130  may be made of copper or any other conductive material. 
     The electrical conductors  130  may serve as an electrical interface between the electrical cable  110  and the repositionable control device  121 , for example, when the control device  121  is attached to the cable  110 . In some embodiments, the housing  122  of the repositionable control device  121  may comprise one or more electrical contact points, an external surface of which is exposed on a bottom surface (not shown) of the housing  122  and an internal surface of which is electrically coupled to control circuitry (not shown) included within the housing  122  of the control device  121 . Upon attachment of the control device  121  to the cable  110 , the external surface(s) of the electrical contact point(s) of the housing  122  may be substantially aligned with the exposed surface(s) of the electrical conductor(s)  130 , so as to create an electrical connection or interface between the two surfaces. This interface may be used to send electrical signals between the repositionable control device  121  and, for example, the electronic device  105  using the electrical cable  110 . 
     The electrical conductor(s)  130  are not limited to the above-described configuration and may be implemented according to other arrangements. For example, in one embodiment, the electrical conductor(s)  130  may be embedded into the electrical cable  110 , and one or more opening(s) in the electrical cable  110  may provide access to the electrical conductor(s)  130 . According this embodiment, the repositionable control device  121  may have one or more electrically conductive pins, or any other type of protrusion, attached to the bottom surface of the control device  121 . The pin(s) may be dimensioned to fit within the opening(s) of the cable  110  so that when the pin(s) touch the electrical conductor(s)  130 , an electrical interface may be created between the electrical cable  110  and the repositionable control device  121 . 
     In one embodiment, the control circuitry within the repositionable control device  121  may generate a control signal in response to user input (e.g., user selection of button(s)  124  and/or user command via microphone  126 ) and may send the control signal to a pre-determined destination (e.g., electronic device  105 , the microphone  126 , and/or the audio listening device  118 ) through the electrical cable  110 . In some embodiments, the control circuitry may include one or more electrical switches (not shown) for detecting user selection of the button(s)  124 , such as, for example, a toggle switch, a pushbutton switch, a touch-sensitive switch, or any other type of switch that may be implemented within the repositionable control device  121 . In one embodiment, for each button  124 , the control circuitry may include an associated electrical switch. In some embodiments, user selection of the button  124  may cause a change in electrical continuity across the corresponding electrical switch. The control circuitry may be configured to detect the accompanying voltage change and generate an appropriate control signal for transmission to the electronic device  105 , the audio listening device  118 , and/or the microphone  126  via the electrical cable  110 . In embodiments that include the microphone  126 , the control circuitry may be electrically coupled to the microphone  126  within the housing  122  and may be configured to control electrical audio signals associated with the microphone  126 . For example, the button  124  may be configured to enable a user to control operation of the microphone  126  in association with the electronic device and/or audio listening device  118 . 
     In response to control signals received from the repositionable control device  121 , one or more functions associated with the electronic device  105 , the audio listening system  118 , and/or the microphone  126  may be controlled, adjusted, or otherwise affected. For example, the repositionable control device  121  may be configured to enable control of a mute/unmute function, a volume control function, a call answer/reject function, a call hold function, a call start/end function, a power on/off function, a voice command on/off function, a track selection function, a track search function, a play/pause function, a select function, and any other function that may be associated with the system  100  and/or any components connected thereto. 
     According to some embodiments, a current operational mode of the system  100 , the electronic device  105 , the audio listening device  118 , and/or the microphone  126  may determine which functions are controllable by the repositionable control device  121  at a given time. For example, in an embodiment where the electronic device  105  includes both mobile telephone circuitry and an audio source, the possible operational modes may include an incoming call mode, an active call mode, a voice command mode, an audio playback mode, an audio selection mode, or the like. In some embodiments, more than one operational mode may be simultaneously active. For example, the system  100  may be in the voice command mode while also being in the audio playback mode. 
     When in the audio playback mode (e.g., while music audio signals are being played through the audio listening device  118 ), in some embodiments, the electronic device  105  may determine that the button(s)  124  controls pre-assigned audio playback functions, such as, for example, the play/pause function, the volume control function, and/or the track selection function. In other embodiments, the button(s)  124  may be configured to control the voice command on/off function during the audio playback mode, in addition to or instead of the audio playback functions. As will be appreciated, the number of buttons included in the repositionable control device  121  may determine the number of functions that may be controlled thereby. For example, according to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A , during the audio playback mode, the buttons  124   a  and  124   c  may be used to control the volume control function (e.g., volume up and volume down, respectively), while button  124   b  may control the play/pause function. In another example, where the repositionable control device  121  includes a single button  124 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , the button  124  may be used to control only the play/pause function during the audio playback mode. As will be appreciated, the button(s)  124  may be used to control any of a number of functions, including, but not limited to, those described herein and any others that are known in the art. 
     When in the incoming call mode (e.g., upon detection of an incoming call), in some embodiments, the electronic device  105  may determine that the button(s)  124  controls, for example, the call answer/reject function and/or the voice command function. For example, in one embodiment, during the incoming call mode, a user selection of the button  124  and/or a voice command of “Accept” may generate a “call answer” command that may be sent to the electronic device  105 . Upon receiving the call answer command, the electronic device  105  may switch the audio signals being played, for example, through the audio listening device  118  from music audio signals to telephone audio signals, thus entering the active call mode. In one embodiment, during the active call mode, the electronic device  105  may determine that the button(s)  124  controls pre-assigned telephone call functions, such as, for example, a mute/unmute function or a call end function. Upon detecting the end of the telephone call, the electronic device may automatically resume playing of the music audio signals through the audio listening device  118 . 
     To enhance the control options for the repositionable control device  121  (regardless of whether it is a three-button control device as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 2 , a one button control device as shown in  FIG. 6 , or another configuration or number of buttons), in some embodiments, the system  100 , the electronic device  105 , the audio listening device  118 , and/or the microphone  126  may be configured to detect different types and/or combinations of button depressions at the button(s)  124  and to correspondingly control different functions of the electronic device  105 , the microphone  126 , and/or the audio listening device  118 . As an example, the different types of button depressions may include, but are not limited to, a standard button press, a short button press, a long button press, a double button press, a single button tap, a double button tap, and any other type of button depression lasting for a predetermined amount of time. For example, in one embodiment, a short press may be a press that lasts less than two seconds, a long press may be a press that lasts more than two seconds, and a double press may be two short presses of the button in short succession (e.g., less than one second between the two presses). As will be appreciated, the principles described herein are not limited to the exact amount of time associated with each type of button press or the exact type of button depression that is associated with controlling a particular function. 
     To illustrate how a user may operate the button(s)  124  of the system  100 , in one embodiment, during the active call mode, the user may mute the call by a short press of the button  124  and may end the call by a long press of the same button  124 . As another example, when simultaneously operating in the voice command mode and the audio playback mode, a short press of the button  124  may be associated with selection of the play/pause function from the audio playback mode, a long press of the button  124  may be associated with selection of the voice command on/off function from the voice command mode, and a double press of the button  124  may be associated with selection of the track search function from the audio playback mode. Other combinations of button depressions may be used to control the various functions associated with the system  100 . 
     As mentioned above, in some embodiments, the system  100  and/or components connected thereto (e.g., the electronic device  105 , the audio listening device  118 , and/or the microphone  126 ) may be operating in the voice command mode at a given time. During the voice command mode, the microphone  126  may be used to capture voice signals that may be processed and converted into a control signal for controlling various functions associated with the system  100  and/or components connected thereto. For example, during the incoming call mode, the user may be prompted by the electronic device to speak “Accept” to answer the call or “Reject” to ignore the call. The microphone  126  may capture the user&#39;s voice command and, for example, using the electrical conductor  130   a  and the microphone channel  132   a  within the electrical cable  110 , may transmit the voice signal to the electronic device  105  for speech detection and other signal processing. The microphone  126  may be any type of known microphone capable of being housed within the housing  122  and operating in association with the system  100 , the electronic device  105  and/or the audio listening device  118 . In one embodiment, the microphone  126  may be a MicroElectrical-Mechanical System (MEMS) microphone, a condenser microphone, a dynamic microphone, or any type of digital microphone. 
     The repositionable control device  121  may have configurations or combinations of components other than those illustrated in the figures and/or described above. For example, in some embodiments, the repositionable control device  121  includes at least one button  124  and no microphone. According to this embodiment, the repositionable control device  121  may still be used to control the system  100 , the electronic device  105  and/or the audio listening device  118 . 
     In some embodiments, the repositionable control device  121  may include an attachment mechanism (not shown) for attaching the housing  122  of the control device  121  to the electrical cable  110 . The attachment mechanism disclosed herein allows the repositionable control device  121  to be selectively repositioned from a first position  134  on the electrical cable  110  to at least a second position  136  on the electrical cable  110 . 
     In some embodiments, the first position  134  on the electrical cable  110  may be located in an upper portion of the electrical cable  110 , closer to, for example, the second end  114  of the electrical cable  110 . In an embodiment that includes the microphone  126 , the location of the first position  134  may be selected to optimize voice signal detection and capture using the microphone  126 . For example, in  FIG. 6 , the repositionable control device  121  is positioned on the segment  114   a  of the electrical cable  110 . In this position, the microphone  126  may be closer to the user&#39;s mouth and easily extendable towards the user&#39;s mouth as needed. As will be appreciated, in such embodiments, the repositionable control device  121  may be positioned on either segment  114   a  or segment  114   b  of the electrical cable  110  to provide the same result. In another embodiment, the location of the first position  134  may be selected to provide easy and natural access to the control device  121  while the user is wearing the audio listening device  118 . For example, in  FIG. 1A , the repositionable control device  121  is positioned below the Y connector where the cable  110  splits into segments  114   a  and  114   b.    
     In either embodiment, the second position  136  on the electrical cable  110  may be located, for example, in a lower portion of the electrical cable  110 , closer to, for example, the first end  112  of the electrical cable  110 . In  FIG. 1A , the repositionable control device is attached to the electrical cable  110  at the second position  136 . As an example, a user may prefer placing the control device  121  in the second position  136  while jogging or engaged in other physical activity, at least because while in the second position  136 , the control device  121  may not strike the user&#39;s face or otherwise inconvenience the user during the activity. As will be appreciated, the present disclosure is not limited to an exact location of the first position  134  and/or the second  136  position. 
     In some embodiments, the first position  134  on the electrical cable  110  includes the electrical conductors  130 , and the second position  136  does not include any electrical conductors  130 . Accordingly, when in the first position  134 , the control device  121  may be operationally coupled to the electrical cable  110  through the electrical conductors  130 , and when in the second position  136 , the control device  121  may not be operationally coupled to the electrical cable  110  (e.g., may not be used to control functions associated with the system  100 ). In such embodiments, for example, the second position  136  may be considered a storage position for the control device  121 . In other embodiments, the second position includes a second pair of electrical conductors  130  for operationally coupling the repositionable control device  121  to the electrical cable  110 . In such embodiments, the system  100  provides the user with two operational positions  134 ,  136  on the electrical cable  110  for attaching the repositionable control device  121 . In other embodiments, instead of one or more predetermined attachment positions, the repositionable control device  121  may be repositioned onto any location on the cable  110 . As will be appreciated, in such embodiments, at least one of the locations on the cable  110  will be an operational location (e.g., where the control device  121  is electrically coupled to the electrical conductors  130 ). 
     In some embodiments, the attachment mechanism may be a mechanical friction-based mechanism that uses frictional forces to hold the housing  122  in place on the cable  110 . In one embodiment, the attachment mechanism may include, for example, a button that, when pressed, releases the frictional forces and allows the housing  122  to be moved to another position. To reattach the control device  121  to the electrical cable  110 , the user may re-press the button on the attachment mechanism to re-apply frictional forces between the attachment mechanism and the cable  110 . In one embodiment, the button on the attachment mechanism may be a spring-loaded button. In other embodiments, the attachment mechanism may use magnetic forces to hold the housing  122  in place on the cable  110 . According to some embodiments, the attachment mechanism may be incorporated into and/or attached to the housing  122  of the repositionable control device  121 . In other embodiments, the attachment mechanism may be partially included on the repositionable control device  121  and a remaining portion of the attachment mechanism may be included on the electrical cable  110 . 
     In some embodiments, the attachment mechanism may be configured to allow complete detachment of the repositionable control device  121  from the electrical cable  110 . For example, in one embodiment, the control device  121  may be entirely removed or detached from its position on the electrical cable  110  before being re-attached to a desired position on the electrical cable. In other embodiments, the attachment mechanism may be configured to slidably attach the repositionable control device  121  to the electrical cable  110 . In such embodiments, for example, the repositionable control device  121  may be partially uncoupled or loosened from its position on the electrical cable  110  and slid up or down along the electrical cable  110  until reaching a desired recoupling position. In one such embodiment, the attachment mechanism may be configured to wrap around the electrical cable  110 , so that at least a portion of the electrical cable  110  is always enclosed within the attachment mechanism. 
     In some embodiments, the housing  122  may include one or more openings through which a respective portion of the button(s)  124  may be exposed for user selection and, if present, a portion of the microphone  126  may be exposed for capturing voice signals. In one embodiment, the opening in the housing  122  for the microphone  126  may be located on an opposite side of the housing  122  than the openings for the button(s)  124 . In another embodiment, all of the openings may be located on the same side of the housing  122 . The housing  122  may be made of plastic or any other lightweight, non-conductive material. 
     It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments, particularly, any “preferred” embodiments, are possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) of the invention without substantially departing from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20120911
Publication Date: 20150811
Grant Date: 20150811
Priority Date: 20120911
Inventors: NELSON MATTHEW
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H04R1/1041", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1033", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1041", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1041", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1033", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1041", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04R1/1033", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 49301260