Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION 
     This application claims the benefit of and is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/043,915, filed on Mar. 9, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Personal communication, productivity, and entertainment devices such as cellular phones, portable email devices, tablet computers, e-books, hand-held games, portable media players, etc. (all referred to hereafter as “smart phones”) are known to include features such as graphical user interfaces on color touch screens, wireless Internet capability, support for ancillary applications (sometimes referred to as “apps”) such as, for example, calendars, email, maps and navigation, etc. Such ancillary applications may be pre-installed in a smart phone or may be made available for download by a user. Certain such apps may comprise an ability to issue commands to entertainment and other appliances, for example in conjunction with a GUI offering the features and functionality of a universal remote control as known in the art, in conjunction with a TV guide display to enable channel selection, etc. Since many appliance command protocols comprise transmission of a pulse train modulated onto an infrared (“IR”) carrier signal, it is desirable that smart phones be equipped with an IR transmitting means to support such apps. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,231,204 illustrates and describes a personal digital assistant (“PDA”) having an IR device ( 64 ) which is attached to a serial port ( 108 ) of the PDA. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to a system and method for implementation of certain hardware elements required to support IR signal generation in smart phones, and more particularly to cost-effective and space conserving methods for provisioning of an IR transmitter diode. To this end, in an illustrative embodiment presented herein, a connector opening in the outer case of a smart phone may be fitted with a connector body which serves not only the original purpose for which the opening was intended, but also doubles as a light pipe to disseminate IR signals generated by an IR emitter diode located internal to the smart phone device. 
     A better understanding of the objects, advantages, features, properties and relationships of the invention will be obtained from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings which set forth illustrative embodiments and which are indicative of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the various aspects of the invention, reference may be had to preferred embodiments shown in the attached drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary system in which an exemplary smart phone may be used as a controlling device; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates in block diagram form the major components of the exemplary smart phone device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  illustrate exemplary smart phone devices according to the prior art; 
         FIG. 3   c  illustrates an exemplary smart phone device according to the instant invention; 
         FIG. 4   a  illustrates an exemplary headphone connector mechanism according to the prior art; 
         FIGS. 4   b  and  4   c  illustrate exemplary headphone connector mechanisms according to the instant invention; 
         FIG. 5   a  illustrates the internal configuration of the headphone connector mechanism of  FIG. 4   b;    
         FIG. 5   b  illustrates the internal configuration of the headphone connector mechanism of  FIG. 4   c;    
         FIG. 5   c  illustrates the light guide functionality of the connectors of  FIG. 5   a  or  5   b;    
         FIG. 6  illustrates an alternative utilization of the headphone connector mechanism of  FIGS. 4   c  and  5   b;  and 
         FIG. 7  illustrates an alternative smart phone component in which the teachings of the instant invention may be embodied. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Turning now to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated an exemplary system in which a smart phone device  100  is equipped to control various controllable appliances, such as a television  102 , a set top box (“STB”)  104 , an AV receiver  106 , and a DVD payer  108 . As is known in the art, the smart phone device may be capable of transmitting commands to the appliances, using appropriate infrared (“IR”) signals  110  recognizable by the target appliances, to cause the appliances to perform one or more operational functions. While illustrated in the context of a television  102 , STB  104 , AV receiver  106 , and DVD player  108  it is to be understood that controllable appliances may include, but need not be limited to, televisions, VCRs, DVRs, DVD players, cable or satellite converter set-top boxes (“STBs”), amplifiers, CD players, game consoles, home lighting, drapery, fans, HVAC systems, thermostats, personal computers, etc. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , as is known in the art, a smart phone device  100  may include as needed for a particular application, processing means  200  which may comprise both an application processing section  202  and an RF/DSP processing section  204 ; an LCD display  206 ; a keypad  208  which may comprise physical keys, touch keys overlaying LCD  206 , or a combination thereof; a subscriber identification module (SIM) card  210 ; memory means  212  which may comprise ROM, RAM, Flash, or any combination thereof; WiFi and/or Bluetooth wireless interface(s)  214 ; a wireless telephony interface  216 ; power management circuitry  218  with associated battery  220 ; a USB interface  222  and connector  224 ; an audio management system  226  with associated microphone  228 , speaker  230 , and headphone jack  232 ; optional IR communication means comprising a transmitter and/or receiver  236  with associated IR output diode(s)  234  and input diode(s)  235 ; and various optional accessory features  238  such as a digital camera, GPS, accelerometer, etc. 
     In order to increase the utility of such devices, it is known to offer an app which allows use of the smart phone to transmit commands suitable for operation of entertainment and other appliances. In many instances, such an app may draw on a library of codes and data suitable for commanding the functional operations of various types of appliances of multiple manufactures and/or models, i.e., a library of remote control code sets for a so-called “universal” controller, as well known in the art. In other instances, a particular app may be suitable for the control of only a specific target device or group of devices, such as those offered by one manufacturer, those intended to perform a particular function, etc., i.e., a library of one or more remote control code sets for a so-called “dedicated” controller. Various methods for physical implementation of such command transmissions are known: for example, an IR communication means  236  may be incorporated into a smart phone  100 . IR communication means  236  may take the form of a self-contained microcontroller IC which includes both programming and a code library suitable for generating appropriately encoded pulse streams in response to functional commands received from application processing means  202 . Alternatively, IR communication means  236  may take the form of a simple driver circuit responsive to a pulse stream output generated directly by programming within application processing means  202  utilizing a command code library stored in smart phone memory  212 . Other permutations are also possible, for example functionality may be divided, with transmission formatting and encoding being performed by a microcontroller comprising IR transmitter  236  in response to command data input retrieved by application processing means  202  from memory  212 . 
     Regardless of the exact method by which it is generated, the final modulated IR signal  110  to be transmitted to a target controlled appliance may be radiated by an IR emitting diode  234 . Accordingly, provision must be made for radiation from IR emitter diode  234  to escape the outer case of smart phone  100 . Additionally, in those embodiments in which bidirectional IR communication is desired, provision must also be made for incoming IR signals  240  to reach an IR detector  235 . Turning now to  FIG. 3 , it is known in the art to provide an IR-transparent window  302 , for example of tinted polycarbonate or acrylic plastic, on the front edge of a smart phone  100   a , with an IR emitter diode (or diodes)  234  positioned on an internal circuit board immediately behind window  302 . However, provision of such a window may be problematic in some implementations, requiring tooling changes to add this feature to an existing case design, as well as allocation of valuable case-edge real estate. Accordingly, it is also known in the art to provide an add-on adapter  304  containing an IR emitter diode  234  (and in some embodiments all or part of IR transmitter  236  as well), which adapter may be attached to a smart phone  100   b  for example to USB port  224  as illustrated, to headphone jack  232 , or to any other suitable externally-accessible connector. Such solutions, while compatible with existing tooling, incur the disadvantages of additional cost and componentry together with the user inconvenience of having to purchase and attach an accessory device while also sacrificing the original functionality for which the connector was intended. 
     To overcome these disadvantages, the instant invention proposes adapting an existing connector opening in the outer case of smart phone  100   c  for dual purpose use as shown in  FIG. 3C . In an exemplary embodiment presented hereafter, the plastic housing of a headphone jack may be adapted to serve as a light pipe to guide and disseminate the radiation  110  from an internally-located IR emitter diode  234 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 3C  as well as  FIGS. 4   a  through  4   c ,  FIG. 4   a  illustrates a headphone jack component  232  such as may be found in prior art smart phones  100   a  or  100   b . Headphone jack  232  comprises a receptacle  402  which may protrude through an opening in the outer case of smart phone  100   a  or  100   b  and forms part of a housing  404  which may be mounted to a printed circuit board via connector tabs  406 . As illustrated by the circuit representation  410  of this component, tabs  406  are in electrical connection with a set of internal contacts designed to mate with a matching headphone connector. 
       FIG. 4   b  illustrates a headphone jack component  232   a  constructed in accordance with the instant invention. Housing  404   a  may be of a material which is suitable to act as a light pipe in at least the infrared portion of the spectrum and may be adapted to accommodate an IR emitter diode  234  such that IR emissions are guided through the housing material and caused to exit via the outer face of receptacle  402   a , for example in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 5   c , i.e., the housing  404   a  includes surfaces that are arranged to guide, reflect, and otherwise direct the infrared emission from the IR source to the IR outlet  402   a . As indicated by the circuit representation  412  of this component and by the illustrative internal componentry view presented in  FIG. 5   a , for ease of assembly headphone jack component  232   a  may incorporate a built-in IR emitter diode  234  into its structure, with additional pins  408  available to connect IR emitter diode  234  to infrared transmitter means  236 . 
     In an alternative embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 4   c  and  5   b , a housing  404   b  of headphone jack component  232   a  may incorporate a notch  414  in the base of housing  404   b,  wherein beneath the notch and directly adjacent to the housing  404   b  an IR emitter diode component  234  may be positioned, for example mounted to the printed circuit board prior to placement of headphone jack component  232   a . In this regard, the IR emitter diode is placed into light communication with the housing  404   b . The circuit representation of such an arrangement is illustrated at  416 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , when appropriate for a particular embodiment the light pipe of  FIGS. 4   c  and  5   b  may be readily adapted to support bidirectional IR communication by the additional placement of an IR receiver component  235  beneath notch  414  and directly adjacent to housing  404   b . Bidirectional IR communication may also be facilitated by placement of an IR receiver component  235  within the housing in a manner similar to which the IR transmitter  234  is placed within the housing as illustrated in  FIG. 5   a.    
     Turning to  FIG. 7 , in yet further illustrative embodiment the housing  702  of an exemplary pushbutton switch component  700  may be adapted to guide IR emissions through the housing material and to exit via the outer flange  704  of pushbutton  706 . While illustrative housing  702  comprises a notch  414  beneath which one or more IR emitters or receivers may be positioned as described above in conjunction with the embodiment of  FIG. 5   b , it will be appreciated that other configurations are also possible, for example provision of an internal IR emitter as in the embodiment of  FIG. 5   a , fabrication of all or part of the button  706  itself from a material suitable to act as light pipe, etc. 
     While various concepts have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those concepts could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. For example, in certain embodiments the external surface of a headphone jack, pushbutton switch, or other component housing according to this invention may be furnished with a reflective coating to assist or enhance the light pipe effect. Additionally, it will be appreciated that various alternate shapes and configurations of component housing and various alternate positions for IR emitter diode placement may be used equally effectively. Also, while a exemplary embodiment based upon adaption of a headphone jack connector or a pushbutton switch to guide emissions from an IR transmitter diode are presented herein by way of illustration, it will be appreciated that the teachings of the instant invention may be applied with equal success to any other connector or component which protrudes through the outer casing of a smart phone and/or may be further adapted to provide for the transfer of light signals in other parts of the spectrum, for example human-visible emissions from a conventional LED for the purposes of user guidance or feedback. 
     Further, while described in the context of functional modules and illustrated using block diagram format, it is to be understood that, unless otherwise stated to the contrary, one or more of the described functions and/or features may be integrated in a single physical device and/or a software module, or one or more functions and/or features may be implemented in separate physical devices or software modules. It will also be appreciated that a detailed discussion of the actual implementation of each module is not necessary for an enabling understanding of the invention. Rather, the actual implementation of such modules would be well within the routine skill of an engineer, given the disclosure herein of the attributes, functionality, and inter-relationship of the various functional modules in the system. Therefore, a person skilled in the art, applying ordinary skill, will be able to practice the invention set forth in the claims without undue experimentation. It will be additionally appreciated that the particular concepts disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any equivalents thereof. 
     All patents cited within this document are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Technology Category: 5