Enterprise Systems Technologies Sarl v. Apple Inc.

Filing 1

COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT filed with Jury Demand against Apple Inc. - Magistrate Consent Notice to Pltf. ( Filing fee $ 400, receipt number 0311-1535772.) - filed by Enterprise Systems Technologies Sarl. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Exhibit E, # 6 Civil Cover Sheet)(els)

US006594366B1

(54)

United States Patent

(10) Patent N0.:

Adams

(12)

(45) Date of Patent:

HEADSET/RADIO AUTO SENSING JACK

4,634,816 A

(73)

Joe] Adams, p?ugerv?le,

Assignee:

5,117,461

Siemens Information &
-

,

5051111131665“ Networks’ Inc" Boca
(ak)

4/1987
5/1992

A

2

Zeder .................... .. 340/5684
Moseley 8.1. . . ..
Blll‘IlS Ct . . .

* 12;

.

.

381/72

S‘lbJeCFtO any dlsclalmerztheterm Ofthls

* 10/1998

5,910,991

.

*

A

6/1999

5,978,689 A * 11/1999 Tuoriniemi et a1. ....... .. 455/569

patent is extended or adJusted under 35

U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.

. . . .. .. .. ....
.

gen}?erman e a. .........~~
ac
~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~ ..

5,822,406 A

.

Nome:

*

5,655,025 A * 8/1997 Kim et a1. .................. .. 381/11

a on’
.

,

Jul. 15, 2003

1/1987 O’Malley et a1. ......... .. 379/430

4,658,242 A
Inventor:

US 6,594,366 B1

_

_

* Clted by examlner
Primary Examiner—Forester W. Isen

(21) Appl. N0.: 08/982,943

Assistant Examiner—Brian Pendleton

(22) Filed:

(57)

Dec. 2, 1997

ABSTRACT

(51)

Int. Cl.7 ............................ .. H04B 1/40; H04B 1/38

(52)

381/74; 455/575; 455/568

channel sensing circuit (210) is provided Which detects

(58)

Field of Search .......................... .. 379/433, 110.01,

Whether a headphone (101) or headset (103) is installed By

379/387, 457, 430, 434; 381/74; 455 /66,

employing an impedance sensing circuit (210), it is possible

568, 575, 569, 90, 556, 550; 439/188, 489

A headset/headphone sensing jack (203, 208, 210). A tWo

to use a single common 2.5 mmjack (120) for both radio and

telephony operation. Formerly, tWo separate jacks Would be
(56)

References Cited
US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
4,335,281 A

6/1982 Scott et a1. ........... .. 179/156 A

4,481,382 A

* 11/1984

Ville-Real ................. .. 455/556

4,524,461

A

*

6/1985

Kostanty et a1.

4,591,661 A

*

required for both functions. An electronic device (50)
according to the present invention is further capable of
switching betWeen AM/FM radio and telephone modes
depending on Whether a particular headpiece (101, 103) is
installed.

5/1986 Benedetto et a1. ........ .. 455/556

.....

. . . .. 455/79

17 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets

I 201

202
Radio

RIGHT/MONO

Stereo/

203\ _‘
1’
A

LEFT

Mono
200

REC our

,’

eep one

Audio
I/O

I

210

,’ FOB l,’
I

T I h

204

," 82

1'

I,’

I

C

I

M|C|N
(Including
Bias)

1’
'\

,0=

: |

l

106/108

|

81 ID ,: l
/1-" l

x1”

206

6

'

'

Control

r208

U.S. Patent

Jul. 15,2003

Sheet 1 of3

US 6,594,366 B1

U.S. Patent

Jul. 15,2003

Sheet 2 of3

US 6,594,366 B1

/ 50
Telephone Unit/Controller

m
Control

Antenna

Processor

Transceiver

2L6’

208

,

Speaker

2%

Keypad

12

2Q (

/ Microphone
12

Screen

@

\——

Microphone
Output
AM/FM

Switch

Receiver

'—

Q

252
F """""" ' ' ‘ ' ' ‘ ‘I

|

Tuner

'

CO?tl'Ol

:

Switchin

:

Unit 9

Sensor _:____

l

Radio Unit/Controller

{

Plug Sensing Circuit

E

E

1

2E

:

U.S. Patent

Jul. 15,2003

Sheet 3 of3

US 6,594,366 B1

/ 201
202

203

S

\,-_\\

RIGHT/MONO
Radio
Stereo/

‘1

LEFT

"

)

I’

I

210

MIC IN

',’

(Including

'\

Bias)

C
Q‘

/

I |
'

106/108

8/1 0| D I: :
I, L/

\ - ¢ ’ ’

206

C

: :

,'
I

(

,'|
I’ :

I,
REC OUT

l/O

I

82

,’ FOB l,’

200

Aupdio

Q

I’

Mono
Tele hone

A ‘f 204

,

l

'

'

Control

f 208

226
224

228

US 6,594,366 B1
1

2

HEADSET/RADIO AUTO SENSING JACK

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the present invention is
obtained When the folloWing detailed description is consid
ered in conjunction With the folloWing draWings in Which:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a combined telephone and
radio con?gured to receive headphones or headsets in a

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to sensing circuits and,

particularly, to circuits for sensing audio input/output plugs.

single jack according to an embodiment of the present

2. Description of the Related Art
Portable electronic devices, such as cellular telephones
and portable radios, are Well knoWn. It is further knoWn to

invention;
10

provide electronic devices having combined telephone and
AM/FM radio functionality. Once clipped into position onto
a user’s person (such as via a belt clip or armband), such

devices may be used With greater freedom by Way of
attachable headpieces. For example, in the case of a cellular

15

boom microphone extending toWards the user’s mouth. Such
headsets usually provide a channel for the microphone and

Turning noW to the draWings and With particular attention
to FIG. 1, a diagram of an electronic device having a single
receptacle and con?gured to sense the presence of a stereo

a channel for mono- or bi-naural audio output to the speak

ers. Similarly, stereo headphones, providing left and right
stereo channels, for use With portable AM/FM radios are
Well knoWn.

Telephone headsets and stereo headphones are typically
25

channel plug and jack. HoWever, the telephone headset and
the stereo headphones require different electrical signal and
pin con?gurations. Thus, in order to provide both AM/FM
radio and cellular telephone functionality, an electronic
device must generally be provided With one 2.5 millimeter

receive a plug from either a stereo headphone 101 or cellular

telephone headset 103. In particular, the stereo headphone
35

detect the presence of either a telephone headset or stereo

headphones and provide either telephone functionality or
radio functionality in response to their detection.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These problems in the prior art are overcome in large part

by a headset/headphone sensing jack according to an
embodiment of the present invention. AtWo-channel sensing

headphone or cellular telephone headset plug is shoWn. The
electronic device 50 includes both cellular telephone and
AM/FM radio functionality as Will be described in greater
detail beloW. Externally, the electronic device 50 includes a
keypad 122 for inputting telephone numbers, a vieW screen
124 Which may be used, inter alia, for displaying a phone list
and displaying the numbers Which are keyed in using the
keypad 122, a housing speaker 126 and a housing micro
phone 128. In addition, the electronic device 50 may include

separate controls 130 for operating the integrated AM/FM
radio. Finally, a jack 120 is provided Which is con?gured to

jack for receiving the stereo headphone plug and another for
receiving the telephone headset plug. Such devices may
further include circuitry for sensing the presence or absence
of a single plug. HoWever, no jacks are knoWn for sensing
tWo different plugs.
Accordingly, there is a need for a single jack Which can

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a sensing circuit for use in
an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
INVENTION

telephone, a headset may include a pair of earphones With a

designed mechanically to use the same 2.5 millimeter tWo

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the combined telephone/radio
of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of jack sensing circuitry
according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

45

101 includes a headband piece 100 Which couples to a pair
of earphones 116, 118. As is Well understood in the art, the
earphones provide left and right stereo channels. The stereo
headphones 101 couple to the electronic device 50 via a plug
106 insertable into the jack 120. As Will be described in
greater detail beloW, the electronic device 50 is con?gured
to be able to detect the plug 106 and provide AM/FM stereo
radio functionality to the stereo headphone 101. When an
incoming telephone call is received, the electronic device 50
is further capable of disconnecting the AM/FM radio func
tionality and permitting the user to ansWer the telephone in

circuit is provided Which detects Whether a headphone or

the conventional manner (i.e., using the housing microphone

headset is installed. By employing an impedance sensing

and speaker 128, 126 respectively).

circuit, it is possible to use a single common 2.5 mm jack for

FIG. 1 further illustrates a telephone headset 103 Which
may be a cellular telephone headset. The cellular telephone
headset 103 includes a headband piece 102 Which couples
together a pair of earphones 112, 114. In addition, a boom
microphone 110 may be provided coupled to one of the

both radio and telephony operation. Formerly, tWo separate
jacks Would be required for both functions.
A sensing circuit is provided Which includes one or more

comparators for detecting Whether a headphone or headset is
installed. The comparator compares impedance levels to a

earphones 112. The cellular telephone headset 103 couples

predetermined reference taking advantage of the tWo differ
ent impedances of the devices. More particularly, if a
headpiece is installed a loW impedance is detected; When a
headpiece is not installed a high impedance is detected.
Typically, a sensing circuit is provided for tWo channels

55

tWo-channel functionality is provided, but here a single
output channel and a single input channel are provided,
rather than tWo output channels. As Will be described in
greater detail beloW, the electronic device 50 may provide
monophonic or binaural AM/FM radio functionality to the

(e.g., left and right stereo, or microphone and audio output).
If both channels are at loW impedance, then the stereo
headphones are installed. When only one channel is at loW

impedance, then the other channel is the microphone input
and a telephone headset is installed. If neither channel is at

loW impedance, then nothing is installed. An electronic
device according to the present invention is further capable
of sWitching betWeen AM/FM radio and telephone modes
depending on Whether a particular headpiece is installed.

to the electronic device 50 by Way of a plug 108. The cellular
telephone headset 103 may be operable to provide an
AM/FM radio output, but typically only in a monophonic or
binaural mode. Thus, as in the case of the stereo headphones,

65

cellular telephone headset 103; When an incoming telephone
call is received, the AM/FM radio functionality is disabled
and the microphone 110 input is re-enabled.
The plugs 106, 108 are both typically 2.5 millimeter

plugs, but having different signal and pin con?gurations. As

US 6,594,366 B1
3

4

Will be discussed in greater detail below, the electronic
device 50 is con?gured to be able to detect the insertion of
the plug 108 and distinguish it from the insertion of the plug
106.
Turning noW to FIG. 2, a block diagram of the electronic
device 50 is shoWn. In particular, the electronic device 50

being detected by the sensing circuit 210, the control pro

includes a telephone unit or communication controller 200,

stereo headphone 101.
If the sensing circuit 210 detects the presence of a plug
108 from a telephone headset 103, then the sWitch 204 Will
be maintained in the A position and the sWitch 206 Will be

cessor 208 may connect the housing microphone 128 (FIG.
2) by Way of a sWitch 262 (FIG. 2) to cause a microphone
input to be provided to the cellular telephone unit 200. In
addition, the sWitch 204 may be sWitched to the B position,
so as to provide telephone output on a single channel of the

as Well as an AM/FM radio unit or radio controller 202. The

telephone unit may be a cellular telephone unit, for eXample.
Both the AM/FM radio unit 202 and the cellular telephone

10

maintained in the D position in the event that an outgoing or

unit 200 are coupled to an antenna 256. The antenna 256
may be a dual-use antenna such as are Well knoWn in the art.

Alternatively, separate antennae may be provided for the
AM/FM radio unit 202 and for the cellular telephone unit
200. Thus, FIG. 2 is exemplary only.

incoming telephone call is detected. HoWever, if the radio is
being used, the control processor 208 and the sensor 210 Will
maintain the sWitch 204 in the Aposition and the sWitch 206
15

in the C position.
The sensor 210 includes a sensor or channel detection

The cellular telephone unit 200 includes a control pro
cessor 208 coupled to a transceiver 266 for providing
modulation and demodulation as Well as digital-to-analog

circuit for each of the channels (i.e., one for right and left

stereo, and microphone input and audio output. Only one
such channel detection circuit is shoWn in FIG. 4). In
particular, the sensing is done on both channels; if both

and analog-to-digital conversion. The control processor 208

is con?gured to provide supervision over cellular telephone
functions such as device identi?cation and cell-sWitching. In
addition, the control processor 208 is con?gured to super

channels are at a loW impedance, then a stereo headphone is

vise sWitching betWeen cellular telephone and AM/F M radio

other channel is the microphone input and a telephone
headset is installed. If neither channel is at loW impedance,
then the system assumes that nothing is installed.
In particular, stereo headphones are characteriZed by tWo

installed. If only one channel is at loW impedance, then the

functionality, as Will be discussed in greater detail beloW. In
addition, a screen 124 and a keypad 122 are coupled to the

control processor 208. Ahousing speaker 126 and a housing
microphone 128 are further coupled to the cellular telephone

8-ohm receivers. In contradistinction, the telephone headset
is characteriZed by one 8-ohm channel (audio output) and

unit 200.
The AM/FM radio unit 202 includes an AM/FM receiver
252 Which may include digital-to-analog converters as Well
as AM/FM demodulators. An AM/FM radio tuner control

unit 254 is also provided.
Both the cellular telephone unit 200 and the AM/F M radio
unit 202 are coupled to a plug sensing circuit 201. The plug

one high impedance (>10 KQ) channel for the microphone

35

sensing circuit 201 includes a sensor 210 coupled to sWitch

ing unit 203. As Will be described in greater detail beloW, the
sensor 210 includes a circuit or circuits to detect the pres
ence of one or more types of 2.5 millimeter plugs. The

(i.e., one for left and one for right channels. An eXemplary
sensing circuit for sensing one channel is shoWn in FIG. 4.
A reference voltage is provided from a 3V source and
resistors 218, 220 and capacitor 222 are provided to the
negative input of a comparator 224. The resistor values are
chosen to provide a 0.1V reference to the negative input of
the comparator 224. A similar netWork is provided to the
positive input of the comparator 224. In particular, a 3V
source is provided to a resistor 212 and a capacitor 216 in

sWitching unit 203, in turn, is con?gured to respond to

parallel With a resistor 214 coupled to ground. In addition,

outputs from the sensing unit 210 to sWitch betWeen AM/F M
radio 202 and cellular telephone 200 output and input
functionality. Finally, a microphone sWitch 262 may be
provided coupled to the plug sensing circuit 201 to sWitch

headpiece (or presence of the microphone) Will provide a
?rst voltage at node N (i.e., comparator input) responsive to

the housing microphone 128 on or off.

a resistor 213 is provided at the plug input. Absence of a

high impedance, and presence of a headpiece Will provide a
45

Turning noW to FIGS. 3 and 4, the plug sensing circuit
201 is illustrated in greater detail. In particular, as discussed
above, the plug sensing circuit 201 includes a sensor 210 and
a sWitching unit 203. The sWitching unit 203 includes a ?rst
sWitch 204 and a second sWitch 206 coupled betWeen the
sensor 210 and the cellular telephone unit 200 and the radio
unit 202. It is noted that While the sWitches 204, 206 are
illustrated as conventional sWitches, any type of sWitching
circuitry, such as ?eld effect transistors, or other logic
circuitry may be employed. The sWitch 204 has a contact A
coupled to the right stereo or mono input of the AM/FM
radio unit 202, and a second contact B coupled to the

second voltage (responsive to loW impedance).
The invention described in the above detailed description
is not intended to be limited to the speci?c form set forth
herein, but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover such
alternatives, modi?cations and equivalents as can reason

ably be included Within the spirit and scope of the appended
claims.
What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device, comprising:
a radio controller, said radio controller con?gured to
55

provide radio functionality;
a communications controller con?gured to provide tele

phone functionality;

receiver output of the cellular telephone unit 200. The sWitch

a jack circuit including a jack con?gured to receive a

206 includes a contact C coupled to the left stereo output of
the AM/FM radio unit 202 and a second contact D coupled

plurality of plugs for headpieces associated With said
radio controller and said communications controller,
and con?gured to detect a plug associated With said

to the microphone input of the telephone unit 200.

radio controller and a plug associated With said com

As discussed above, the sensor 210 is con?gured to detect
the presence of a plug for a cellular phone 106 or a plug for
a stereo headset 108. If a plug 106 from a stereo headphone

101 is detected, the sWitch 204 Will be in position A and the
sWitch 206 Will be in position C. If a telephone call is

received (or an outgoing call is made) While the plug 106 is

munications controller; and
a sWitching unit, including a ?rst sWitch adapted to
65

automatically sWitch betWeen a ?rst radio output and a
telephone output and a second sWitch adapted to auto
matically sWitch betWeen a second radio output and a

US 6,594,366 B1
6

5
telephone input depending on Whether a radio control
ler plug or a communications controller plug is detected
as being installed in said jack.
2. An electronic device as recited in claim 1, said jack
circuit con?gured to sWitch betWeen radio and telephone

?rst means for detecting a ?rst type of device plugged into

said jack;
second means for detecting a second type of device

plugged into said jack; and

functionality.
3. An electronic device as recited in claim 2, Wherein said

jack circuit is con?gured to distinguish betWeen an speaker
and a microphone.
4. An electronic device as recited in claim 2, Wherein said
jack circuit includes a ?rst channel detection circuit and a
second channel detection circuit.
5. An electronic device as recited in claim 4, Wherein said
?rst channel detection circuit is con?gured to provide a ?rst

output When a telephone headset is installed in said jack and

15

a second output When stereo headphones are installed in said

jack.
6. An electronic device as recited in claim 4, Wherein said
?rst and second channel detection circuits include a corn

parator.
7. An electronic device as recited in claim 4, said jack
circuit con?gured to sWitch betWeen said radio and tele

16. Adetection circuit for use in an electronic device, said

phone functionality depending on outputs from said ?rst and

detection circuit comprising:

second channel detection circuits.

8. An electronic device, comprising:

circuitry adapted to detect ?rst or second types of devices
plugged into a jack; and
a sWitching circuit responsive to said circuitry for sWitch

a radio controller, said radio controller con?gured to

provide radio functionality;

ing betWeen ?rst and second functionality to said jack

a communications controller con?gured to provide tele

phone functionality; and
a jack circuit including a jack con?gured to receive a

3O

plurality of plugs for headpieces associated With said

rnunications controller said jack circuit including a ?rst
channel detection circuit and a second channel detec

depending on Whether said ?rst type of device or said
second type of device are detected and upon detecting
a telephone call.

17. An electronic device, comprising:

radio controller and said cornrnunications controller,
and con?gured to detect a plug associated With said
radio controller and a plug associated With said corn

a sWitching circuit responsive to said ?rst and second
detecting means for sWitching betWeen ?rst and second
functionality to said jack depending on Whether said
?rst type of device or said second type of device are
detected and upon detecting a telephone call.
10. A detection circuit as recited in claim 9, Wherein said
?rst type of device is a stereo headphone.
11. A detection circuit as recited in claim 10, said second
means including means for detecting a microphone.
12. A detection circuit as recited in claim 9, Wherein said
?rst type of device is a telephone headset.
13. A detection circuit as recited in claim 12, said detect
ing means including a comparator.
14. A detection circuit as recited in claim 9, said ?rst
means including means for detecting a speaker.
15. A detection circuit as recited in claim 14, said detect
ing means including a comparator.

a radio controller, said radio controller con?gured to
35

provide radio functionality;
a communications controller con?gured to provide tele

phone functionality; and

tion circuit and con?gured to sWitch betWeen said radio

a jack circuit including a jack con?gured to receive a

and telephone functionality depending on outputs from

plurality of plugs for headpieces associated With said

said ?rst and second channel detection circuits;
said jack circuit con?gured to sWitch betWeen radio and

radio controller and said cornrnunications controller,
and con?gured to detect a plug associated With said

telephone functionality responsive to detecting a tele
phone call.
9. A detection circuit for use in an electronic device, said

detection circuit comprising:

radio controller and a plug associated With said corn
rnunications controller.