PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-7789697-B2
Application Number: US-15639608-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Plug detection mechanisms

Abstract:
Plug detection mechanisms can be provided for detecting when a plug of an accessory component is present within a jack of an electronic device. A detect contact and a jack contact may be positioned within a receptacle of the jack such that a signal path may be created through the plug and between the detect contact and the jack contact when the plug is present within the receptacle of the jack. The detect contact may be biased to exert a retention force on the plug. The detect contact may be positioned to contact the plug within an indent of the plug.

Claims:
1. A plug detect apparatus for detecting the presence of a plug, wherein the plug has at least a first plug contact, the plug detect apparatus comprising:
 a receptacle configured to accept the plug; 
 a first receptacle contact disposed in the receptacle, wherein the first receptacle contact is configured to communicate with the first plug contact; 
 a detect contact disposed in the receptacle relative to the first receptacle contact so that the presence of the plug within the receptacle creates a signal path through the plug and between the detect contact and the first receptacle contact, wherein the detect contact and the first receptacle contact both contact the same first plug contact when the plug is present in the receptacle; and 
 detection circuitry coupled to the detect contact and the first receptacle contact to detect that the signal path is a low or a high impedance path. 
 
   
   
     2. The plug detect apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the signal path is a low impedance path created by the first receptacle contact and the detect contact. 
   
   
     3. The plug detect apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first receptacle contact is a ground contact. 
   
   
     4. The plug detect apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first receptacle contact is a functional contact. 
   
   
     5. The plug detect apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first receptacle contact is biased to exert a retention force on a first portion of the plug when the plug is present within the receptacle. 
   
   
     6. The plug detect apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the first portion of the plug is an indented portion of an outer surface of the plug. 
   
   
     7. The plug detect apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the first receptacle contact includes a spring. 
   
   
     8. The plug detect apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the detect contact is biased to exert a retention force on a first portion of the plug when the plug is present within the receptacle. 
   
   
     9. The plug detect apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first portion of the plug is an indented portion of an outer surface of the plug. 
   
   
     10. The plug detect apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the detect contact includes a spring. 
   
   
     11. The plug detect apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein any debris in a space between the detect contact and the first receptacle contact is removed from the space between the detect contact and the first receptacle contact by the plug when the plug is inserted into the receptacle. 
   
   
     12. An electronic device capable of detecting the presence of a plug of an accessory component, wherein the plug includes a first plug contact, the electronic device comprising:
 a receptacle configured to accept the plug; 
 a first receptacle contact disposed in the receptacle, wherein the first receptacle contact is configured to communicate with the first plug contact; 
 a detect contact disposed in the receptacle relative to the first receptacle contact so that the presence of the plug within the receptacle creates a plug signal path through the plug and between the detect contact and the first receptacle contact, wherein the detect contact and the first receptacle contact both contact the same first plug contact when the plug is present in the receptacle; and 
 detection circuitry coupled to the detect contact and the first receptacle contact to detect that the signal path is a low or a high impedance path. 
 
   
   
     13. The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the electronic device further comprises:
 a first input/output component; and 
 control circuitry coupled to the detect contact, wherein the control circuitry is configured to instruct the electronic device to utilize the first input/output component when a detect signal on the detect contact has a first value, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to instruct the electronic device to utilize the accessory component when the detect signal has a second value. 
 
   
   
     14. The electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein the plug signal path is configured to make the detect signal have the second value. 
   
   
     15. The plug detect apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the plug signal path is a low impedance path. 
   
   
     16. The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the first receptacle contact is one of a ground contact and a functional contact. 
   
   
     17. The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the first receptacle contact is biased to exert a retention force on a first portion of the plug when the plug is present within the receptacle. 
   
   
     18. The electronic device of  claim 17 , wherein the first receptacle contact includes a spring. 
   
   
     19. The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the detect contact is biased to exert a retention force on a first portion of the plug when the plug is present within the receptacle. 
   
   
     20. The electronic device of  claim 19 , wherein the detect contact includes a spring. 
   
   
     21. The plug detect apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first plug contact is a metal and the low impedance path has approximately zero resistance. 
   
   
     22. The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the first plug contact is a metal and the low impedance path has approximately zero resistance. 
   
   
     23. The plug detect apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the detection circuitry includes circuitry to detect the presence of the plug by detecting that the signal path is a low impedance path. 
   
   
     24. The plug detect apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the detection circuitry includes circuitry to detect that the plug is not present in the receptacle by detecting that the signal path is a high impedance path caused by a gap in the signal path. 
   
   
     25. The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the detection circuitry includes circuitry to detect the presence of the plug by detecting that the signal path is a low impedance path. 
   
   
     26. The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the detection circuitry includes circuitry to detect that the plug is not present in the receptacle by detecting that the signal path is a high impedance path caused by a gap in the signal path. 
   
   
     27. The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein any debris in a space between the detect contact and the first receptacle contact is removed from the space between the detect contact and the first receptacle contact by the plug when the plug is inserted into the receptacle. 
   
   
     28. The plug detect apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first receptacle contact and the detect contact are biased by a spring to exert a retention force on an indented portion of an outer surface of the plug when the plug is present within the receptacle. 
   
   
     29. The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the first receptacle contact and the detect contact are biased by a spring to exert a retention force on an indented portion of an outer surface of the plug when the plug is present within the receptacle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/934,234, filed Jun. 11, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This can relate to systems for detecting when a plug of an accessory component is present within a jack of an electronic device. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
   There is a need for determining when a plug of an accessory component is present within a jack of an electronic device. Specifically, there is a need for reliably determining when a plug of an accessory component is present within a jack of an electronic device that is configured to alter its function based on whether such a plug is present. 
   Accordingly, what is needed are systems for reliably detecting when a plug of an accessory component is present within a jack of an electronic device. 
   SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
   Systems for detecting when a plug of an accessory component is present within a jack of an electronic device are provided. 
   According to an embodiment of the invention, a plug detect apparatus for detecting the presence of a plug is provided, wherein the plug has at least a first plug contact. The plug detect apparatus includes a receptacle configured to accept the plug. The plug detect apparatus also includes a first receptacle contact disposed in the receptacle, wherein the first receptacle contact is configured to communicate with the first plug contact. The plug detect apparatus also includes a detect contact disposed in the receptacle, wherein the presence of the plug within the receptacle creates a signal path through the plug and between the detect contact and the first receptacle contact. 
   According to another embodiment of the invention, an electronic device capable of detecting the presence of a plug of an accessory component is provided, wherein the plug includes a first plug contact. The electronic device includes a receptacle configured to accept the plug. The electronic device also includes a first receptacle contact disposed in the receptacle, wherein the first receptacle contact is configured to communicate with the first plug contact. The electronic device also includes a detect contact disposed in the receptacle, wherein the presence of the plug within the receptacle creates a plug signal path through the plug and between the detect contact and the first receptacle contact. The electronic device may also include a first input/output component as well as control circuitry coupled to the detect contact. The control circuitry of the electronic device may be configured to instruct the electronic device to utilize the first input/output component when a detect signal on the detect contact has a first value. The control circuitry of the electronic device may also be configured to instruct the electronic device to utilize the accessory component when the detect signal has a second value. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electronic device and a corresponding accessory component in accordance with the invention; 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  show a portion of the electronic device and accessory component of  FIG. 1  in greater detail at various stages of interaction according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  show a portion of the electronic device and accessory component of  FIG. 1  in greater detail at various stages of interaction according to another embodiment of the invention; 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  show a portion of the electronic device and accessory component of  FIG. 1  in greater detail at various stages of interaction according to yet another embodiment of the invention; and 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of a portion of the electronic device of  FIG. 1  in accordance with the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
   Systems for detecting when a plug of an accessory component is present within a jack of an electronic device are provided and described with reference to  FIGS. 1-5 . 
     FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an illustrative electronic device  100  that may include a socket or jack  102  with a plug detection mechanism for detecting when a plug  122  of an accessory component  120  is present within jack  102 . Electronic device  100  may be any electronic device, such as, but not limited to, a music player, video player, still image player, game player, other media player, music recorder, video recorder, camera, other media recorder, radio, medical equipment, calculator, cellular telephone, other wireless communication device, personal digital assistant, remote control, pager, laptop computer, desktop computer, printer, or combinations thereof. In some cases, the electronic device may perform a single function (e.g., an electronic device dedicated to receiving and transmitting telephone calls) and, in other cases, the electronic device may perform multiple functions (e.g., an electronic device that plays music, displays video, stores pictures, and receives and transmits telephone calls). 
   In some case, electronic device  100  may generally be any portable, mobile, hand-held, or miniature electronic device with a jack capable of receiving and detecting a plug of an accessory device so as to allow a user to use the accessory in conjunction with the electronic device. Miniature personal electronic devices may have a form factor that is smaller than that of hand-held personal electronic devices, such as an iPod™ available by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. Illustrative miniature personal electronic devices can be integrated into various objects that include, but are not limited to, watches, rings, necklaces, belts, accessories for belts, headsets, accessories for shoes, virtual reality devices, other wearable electronics, accessories for sporting equipment, accessories for fitness equipment, key chains, or any combination thereof. Alternatively, electronic devices of the invention that include a jack capable of receiving and detecting a plug of an accessory device may not be portable at all. 
   Accessory component  120  may be any component that can be coupled to and used in conjunction with electronic device  100 , such as, but not limited to, audio speakers, headphones, a video display, microphone, or combinations thereof. In some cases, the accessory component may perform a single function (e.g., an accessory dedicated to capturing audio signals and passing them on to electronic device  100 ) and, in other cases, the accessory component may perform multiple functions (e.g., an accessory that captures audio signals to pass on to the electronic device, as well as an accessory that receives audio signals from the electronic device and amplifies them for a user). Electronic device  100  is illustrated in  FIG. 1  to be a cellular telephone, although it is to be understood that electronic device  100  may be any type of electronic device as described herein in accordance with the invention. Moreover, accessory component  120  is illustrated in  FIG. 1  to be a headset, although it is to be understood that accessory component  120  may be any type of accessory component as described herein in accordance with the invention. 
   Electronic device  100 , which is illustrated as a cellular telephone in  FIG. 1 , may include a housing  101 , an output component  103 , a user input component  105 , and an external antenna  106 . Output component  103  may be any suitable display for displaying media, including graphics, text, and video, to a user of electronic device  100 . In some embodiments, output component  103  may be a touch screen display or a liquid crystal display (“LCD”) screen. User input component  105  may allow a user to interact with electronic device  100 . For example, user input component  105  can include one or more buttons, touchpads, touchscreens, scrollwheels, clickwheels, sliders, other appropriate input mechanisms, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, output component  103  and user input component  105  can be combined (e.g., in a touchscreen or touch-sensitive display). Electronic device  100  also can be equipped with a built-in microphone  104  and a built-in speaker  108 . Built-in speaker  108  can output audible sound to a user of device  100 , while built-in microphone  104  can accept audible sound from the user. Output component  103 , user input component  105 , microphone  104 , and speaker  108 , either separately or in combination, may be referred to herein as an input/output (“I/O”) component of electronic device  100 . 
   Electronic device  100  also can be equipped with an accessory jack  102 . Accessory jack  102  can be configured to accept a plug  122  from accessory component  120 . Moreover, although not shown in  FIG. 1 , electronic device  100  can include various other components, such as a battery, a processor, memory, and the like for providing a properly functioning device. 
   Accessory component  120 , which is illustrated as a headset in  FIG. 1 , may include a cable  126  extending between plug  122 , a microphone  124 , and earphones  128   a  and  128   b . When accessory plug  122  is properly inserted into jack  102  of electronic device  100  in the direction of arrow I of  FIG. 1 , device  100  can be configured to output audible sound from earphones  128  of accessory  120  rather than, or as well as, from speaker  108  of device  100 . Similarly, when accessory plug  122  is properly inserted into jack  102  of electronic device  100 , device  100  can be configured to accept audible sound from microphone  124  of accessory  120  rather than, or as well as, from microphone  104  of device  100 . 
     FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate jack  102  of electronic device  100  and plug  122  of accessory component  120  in greater detail in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. Jack  102  can include a recess or receptacle  112  within which may be disposed one or more jack contacts  114  (e.g., four jack contacts  114   a - 114   d ). Accessory plug  120  can include one or more plug contacts  124  (e.g., four plug contacts  124   a - 124   d ) that may complement a respective one of the one or more jack contacts  114 . Each one of jack contacts  114   a - 114   d  can be electrically isolated from each of the other adjacent jack contacts  114   a - 114   d  by being spaced apart within receptacle  112 . Likewise, each one of plug contacts  124   a - 124   d  also can be electrically isolated from each of the other adjacent plug contacts  124   a - 124   d  by one or more insulators (e.g., insulator rings  123 ) spaced along the length of body  125  of plug  122 . 
   When accessory plug  120  is inserted into receptacle  112  of jack  102  in the direction of arrow I, one or more plug contacts  124   a - 124   d  can come into contact (e.g., make electrical contact) with a respective one of the one or more jack contacts  114   a - 114   d , as shown in  FIG. 2B , for example. Along with other circuitry components of device  100  and accessory component  120  that are not shown, jack contacts  114  and plug contacts  124  can pass signals between electronic device  100  and accessory component  120  in order to affect the function of each other. 
   In one illustrative embodiment of the invention, plug contact  124   a  can pass signals from microphone  124  of accessory component  120  to electronic device  100  through jack contact  114   a  when plug contact  124   a  makes an electrical contact with jack contact  114   a . Plug contact  124   b  and jack contact  114   b  can each act as ground. Jack contact  114   c  can pass signals from electronic device  100  to earphone  128   a  of accessory component  120  when plug contact  124   c  makes an electrical contact with jack contact  114   c , and jack contact  114   d  can similarly pass signals from electronic device  100  to earphone  128   b  of accessory component  120  when plug contact  124   d  makes an electrical contact with jack contact  114   d . Alternatively, jack contacts  114   a - 114   d  and plug contacts  124   a - 124   d  can be assigned to serve other roles. For example, contacts  114   d  and  124   d  can serve as ground while the remaining contacts can be functional contacts that pass functional signals to each other. 
     FIGS. 2A and 2B  also illustrate a plug detection mechanism of electronic device  100  in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. To detect whether plug  122  has been disposed within receptacle  112  of jack  102 , electronic device  100  can include an electrical and/or mechanical switch that is actuated when plug  122  is present within jack  102 . For example, electronic device  100  can include a detect contact  116   a  in jack  102  to facilitate detection of plug  122 . One of the contacts of jack  102  (e.g., jack contact  114   d , as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B ) can be biased against detect contact  116   a  (e.g., using spring-loading) when no plug is present within receptacle  112  of jack  102 . 
   However, when a plug is inserted into receptacle  112  of jack  102 , a portion of the plug (e.g., tip  127  of plug  122  as shown in  FIG. 2B ) may contact and exert a force on biased jack contact  114   d . This force exerted by plug  122  can move biased jack contact  114   d  away from detect contact  116   a , thereby creating a gap  117  between biased jack contact  114   d  and detect contact  116   a , as shown in  FIG. 2B . Gap  117  may thereby open the circuit that had been previously established across jack contact  114   d  and detect contact  116   a  when they were biased against each other, as shown in  FIG. 2A . This can cause a signal on detect contact  116   a  to go high (i.e., greater than or equal to a predetermined signal value), for example, which can be detected by a control unit of device  100 , as described in more detail herein below with respect to  FIG. 5 . It is to be noted that in other embodiments, the plug detection mechanism may be configured such that the value of the signal on detect contact  116   a  can go low instead of high when gap  117  opens the circuit that had been previously established across jack contact  114   d  and detect contact  116   a  when they were biased against each other. Advantageously, because detect contact  116   a  may be electrically and/or mechanically isolated from one or more of jack contacts  114  when plug  122  is present within receptacle  112  of jack  102 , as shown in  FIG. 2B , detect contact  116   a  may not interfere with any signals passed between jack contacts  114  and plug contacts  124 . 
     FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate a plug detection mechanism of electronic device  100  in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, to detect whether plug  122  has been inserted into and is present within receptacle  112  of jack  102 , electronic device  100  can include a detect contact  116   b . Detect contact  116   b  can be located within jack  102  such that one of plug contacts  124  of plug  122  can create a path (e.g., a low impedance circuit path) between detect contact  116   b  and one of jack contacts  114  when plug  122  is inserted into and present within receptacle  112  of jack  102 . Body  125  of plug  122 , which may be made at least partially of metal or another conductive material, can be used to form plug contacts  124 , and can be used to complete a signal path or circuit between detect contact  116   b  and a respective jack contact  114 . 
   For example, as shown in  FIG. 3B , when plug  122  is inserted into and present within receptacle  112  of jack  102 , a circuit signal path may be created through plug  122  (e.g., through plug contact  124   b ) and between detect contact  116   b  and jack contact  114   b . This can cause a signal on detect contact  116   b  to go low (i.e., less than or equal to a predetermined signal value) if, for example, jack contact  114   b  is a ground jack contact (e.g., a contact coupled to ground). This low signal can then be detected by a control unit of device  100 , as described in more detail herein below with respect to  FIG. 5 . However, in other embodiments, jack contact  114   b  may be a functional jack contact (e.g., a contact configured to pass variable audio signals between electronic device  100  and accessory component  120 ). The circuit signal path created through plug  122  and between detect contact  116   b  and a functional jack contact  114   b  when plug  122  is present within receptacle  112  may have a relatively higher impedance but may still be a low impedance circuit path. This signal can also be detected by a control unit of device  100 , as described in more detail herein below with respect to  FIG. 5 . However, care may need to be taken such that the functional signal that may be passed by the functional jack contact is not adversely affected when the functional jack contact is also being used as the plug detect mechanism. 
   Advantageously, because detect contact  116   b  can be rubbed or wiped by plug  122  every time plug  122  is inserted into and/or removed from jack  102  (e.g., in the direction of arrows I and O, respectively), if debris collects on detect contact  116   b , such debris can be cleaned off by plug  122  as it is inserted into or removed from jack  102 . In comparison, the illustrative embodiment of  FIGS. 2A and 2B  may not permit accumulated debris to be as easily removed from detect contact  116   a . For example, when debris (e.g., pocket lint or other miscellaneous debris prone to enter jack  102  of device  100 ) falls into receptacle  112 , it can get lodged in between biased jack contact  114   d  and detect contact  116   a , thereby preventing biased jack contact  114   d  from making electrical and/or mechanical contact with detect contact  116   a  when plug  122  is not present within jack  102 . Because detect contact  116   a  can be disposed within electronic device  100  so that detect contact  116   a  does not touch plug  122  when plug  122  is present within jack  102 , detect contact  116   a  may never be cleaned (e.g., may never be wiped) by plug  122  during its insertion into or removal from receptacle  112  of jack  102 . Thus, accumulated debris can interfere with the functionality of the plug detect mechanism (e.g., detect contact  116   a  of jack  102 ) and electronic device  100  may always seemingly detect the presence of a plug within jack  102 , even if there is not, due to gap  117  created by the debris lodged between detect contact  116   a  and biased jack contact  114   d.    
   Therefore, if electronic device  100  includes detect contact  116   a  and is configured to change its functionality based on whether an accessory, such as accessory component  120 , has been attached thereto by detecting whether an accessory plug is present within jack  102 , electronic device  100  may constantly and often erroneously be engaged in an “accessory” mode due to uncleaned debris. However, by relocating the detect contact into the position of detect contact  116   b  of  FIGS. 3A and 3B , such that it can contact plug  122  when plug  122  is present within receptacle  112  of jack  102 , this potential problem can be rectified due to the ability of plug  122  to contact detect contact  116   b  and wipe any debris off of detect contact  116   b  or out from between detect contact  116   b  and jack contact  114   b  upon plug  122  being inserted into and/or removed from jack  102 . 
   In one embodiment of the invention, detect contact  116   b  of  FIGS. 3A and 3B  can be disposed within jack  102  such that plug  122  can form a path between a jack contact  114  and detect contact  116   b  when plug  122  is present within receptacle  112 . For example, in the illustrative embodiment of  FIGS. 3A and 3B , jack contact  114   b  can serve as ground and detect contact  116   b  can be disposed opposite to ground jack contact  114   b  within receptacle  112 . Signals on other jack contacts  114  (e.g., functional jack contacts  114   a ,  114   c , and  114   d ) can be referenced to ground jack contact  114   b , such that no signal degradation may occur. Alternatively, detect contact  116   b  may be disposed opposite to one of functional jack contacts  114   a ,  114   c , and  114   d  according to the invention. 
     FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate a plug detection mechanism of electronic device  100  in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, to detect whether plug  122  has been inserted into and is present within receptacle  112  of jack  102 , electronic device  100  can include a detect contact  116   c . Like detect contact  116   b  of  FIGS. 3A and 3B , detect contact  116   c  can be located within jack  102  such that one of plug contacts  124  of plug  122  can create a path (e.g., a low impedance circuit path) between detect contact  116   c  and one of jack contacts  114  when plug  122  is inserted into and present within receptacle  112  of jack  102 . Body  125  of plug  122 , which may be made at least partially of metal or another conductive material, can be used to form plug contacts  124 , and can be used to complete the circuit between detect contact  116   c  and a respective jack contact  114 . 
   For example, as shown in  FIG. 4B , when plug  122  is inserted into and present within receptacle  112  of jack  102 , a circuit signal path may be created through plug  122  (e.g., plug contact  124   d ) and between detect contact  116   c  and jack contact  114   d . This can cause a signal on detect contact  116   c  to go low (i.e., less than or equal to a predetermined signal value) if, for example, jack contact  114   d  is a ground jack contact. This low signal can then be detected by a control unit of device  100 , as described in more detail herein below with respect to  FIG. 5 . However, in other embodiments, jack contact  114   d  may be a functional jack contact (e.g., a contact configured to pass variable audio signals between electronic device  100  and accessory component  120 ). The circuit signal path created through plug  122  and between detect contact  116   c  and a functional jack contact  114   d  when plug  122  is present within receptacle  112  may have a relatively higher impedance but may still be a low impedance circuit path. This signal can also be detected by a control unit of device  100 , as described in more detail herein below with respect to  FIG. 5 . However, care may need to be taken such that the functional signal that may be passed by the functional jack contact is not adversely affected when the functional jack contact is also being used as the plug detect mechanism. 
   Detect contact  116   c  may be positioned within jack  102  and biased such that detect contact  116   c  can rest within an indent  129  along an outer surface of plug  122  when plug  122  has been properly inserted within receptacle  112  of jack  102 . Indent  129  may be any suitable size and shape and may be positioned anywhere along the length of plug  122 . For example, detect contact  116   c  may include a retention spring that can exert a retention force on indent  129  of plug  122  such that plug  122  may not be withdrawn from receptacle  112  (e.g., in the direction of arrow O) without a user pulling firmly on plug  122 . Advantageously, because detect contact  116   c  can act to retain plug  122  within jack  102  as well as to electrically detect the presence of plug  122  within jack  102 , detect contact  116   c  is an efficient use of resources within electronic device  100 . 
   Alternatively or additionally, one or more of jack contacts  114  (e.g., jack contact  114   d , as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B ) may be biased to exert a retention force on plug  122  (e.g., within indent  129  of plug  122 ) such that plug  122  may not be withdrawn from receptacle  112  (e.g., in the direction of arrow O) without a user pulling firmly on plug  122 . Advantageously, because jack contact  114   d  can act to retain plug  122  within jack  102  as well as to electrically communicate with one or more plug contacts  124 , a biased jack contact is an efficient use of resources within electronic device  100 . It is to be understood that any jack contact  114  of any of the embodiments described above with respect to  FIGS. 2A-4B  may be biased (e.g., by including a retention spring) to exert a retention force on any portion of plug  122  such that plug  122  may not be withdrawn from receptacle  112  (e.g., in the direction of arrow O) without a user pulling firmly on plug  122 . 
     FIG. 5  illustrates additional control circuitry  130  that may be coupled to one or more detect contacts  116  of jack  102  (e.g. detect contact  116   a ,  116   b , and/or  116   c ) for detecting the presence of a plug in accordance with the invention. Detect contact  116  can be coupled to a control unit  138  of control circuitry  130 . Control unit  138  can be configured to detect the value of a signal on detect contact  116  (e.g., whether the value of the signal is high or low), and can instruct electronic device  100  to behave accordingly. 
   For example, in the illustrative embodiment of  FIGS. 2A and 2B , when control unit  138  detects that the signal on detect contact  116   a  is high, a plug may be assumed to be within receptacle  112  of jack  102  and control unit  138  may instruct electronic device  100  to utilize accessory component  120  by routing input and output audio signals through jack contacts  114  and plug contacts  124  of accessory component  120 , as opposed to through, or in addition to through, speaker  108  and microphone  104  of device  100 . Likewise, in the illustrative embodiment of  FIGS. 3A and 3B , when control unit  138  detects that the signal on detect contact  116   b  is low, a plug may be assumed to be within receptacle  112  of jack  102  and control unit  138  may instruct electronic device  100  to utilize accessory component  120  by routing input and output signals through jack contacts  114  and plug contacts  124  of accessory component  120 , as opposed to through, or in addition to through, speaker  108  and microphone  104  of device  100 . Control unit  138  can include, for example, a central processing unit (“CPU”) of electronic device  100 , other suitable digital circuitry, analog circuitry, or any combination thereof. 
   Additional control circuitry  130  can also include one or more of various additional circuitry components  132 ,  134 , and/or  136  that can be coupled in various ways between control unit  138  and each of the one or more detect contacts  116  of jack  102 . For example, as shown in the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 5 , additional circuitry component  132  may be a current limiting resistor or network, circuitry component  134  may be a pull-up resistor or resistor network, and circuitry component  136  may be a power source (e.g., V cc ). In other embodiments, these additional circuitry components  132 - 136  may be various other types of suitable circuitry components. These additional circuitry components  132 - 136  may be interposed in various ways between detect contact  116  and control unit  138 , as well as between various other contacts of jack  102  (e.g., jack contacts  114 ) in order to ensure that any signal noise may be minimized and that proper signal properties are protected between detect contact  116  and its one or more associated jack contacts  114  when a plug is present within receptacle  112  of jack  102  and when a plug is not present within receptacle  112  of jack  102  as described above. 
   While there have been described systems for detecting when a plug of an accessory component is present within a jack of an electronic device, it is to be understood that many changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention. Combinations of embodiments or features in more than one embodiment also are within the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments, which are presented for purposes of illustration rather than of limitation, and the invention is limited only by the claims which follow.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20080529
Publication Date: 20100907
Grant Date: 20100907
Priority Date: 20070611
Inventors: FIENNES HUGO
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H01R2105/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/7031", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/7035", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/7031", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/58", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R13/7035", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R2105/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H01R24/58", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 40096294