# US 10,313,777 B2 · Earphone control circuit and method, earphone, as well as audio output device and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,313,777 B2 - Document ID: US10313777B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/522,846 - Filed: 2016-10-12 - Published: 2018-05-10 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2015-10-19 - Assignees: Boe Technology Group Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Boe Technology Group Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Tadashi Nakai - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10313777B2 ## CPC - H04R 1/1041: {Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements (switches in general H01H)} - H04M 9/08: Two-way loud-speaking telephone systems with means for conditioning the signal, e.g. for suppressing echoes for one or both directions of traffic - H04R 1/1033: {Cables or cables storage, e.g. cable reels (cord reels per se H02G11/02; arrangements for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of conductors or cables B65H75/34; extensible conductors or cables, e.g. self-coiling cords H01B7/06)} - H04R 5/033: Headphones for stereophonic communication {(details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10)} - H04R 5/04: Circuit arrangements, {e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments (combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S)} - H04R 2420/03: Connection circuits to selectively connect loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers - H04R 2420/09: Applications of special connectors, e.g. USB, XLR, in loudspeakers, microphones or headphones - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract An earphone control circuit and method, an earphone, as well as an audio output device and method are provided. The earphone control circuit includes a detecting module for detecting whether an earphone is in a wearing state and outputting a detection signal indicating that the earphone is in a wearing state or in a non-wearing state. The earphone control circuit further includes a determining module for outputting a first control signal indicating that the earphone is in a wearing state or outputting a second control signal indicating that the earphone is in a non-wearing state according to the detection signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An earphone control circuit, comprising: a detecting subcircuit for detecting whether an earphone is in a wearing state and outputting a detection signal indicating that the earphone is in a wearing state or in a non-wearing state; a determining subcircuit for outputting a first control signal indicating that the earphone is in the wearing state or outputting a second control signal indicating that the earphone is in the non-wearing state according to the detection signal, the first control signal and the second control signal being used to control to output an audio signal through the earphone or a speaker; and a switch subcircuit for turning on and off the earphone control circuit, when the earphone control circuit is turned on, the determining subcircuit outputs the first control signal indicating that the earphone is in the wearing state or outputs the second control signal indicating that the earphone is in the non-wearing state; and when the earphone control circuit is turned off, the determining subcircuit always outputs the first control signal indicating that the earphone is in the wearing state. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The earphone control circuit according to claim 1, wherein the detecting subcircuit comprises at least one of a tri-axial acceleration sensor, a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The earphone control circuit according to claim 1, wherein said determining subcircuit comprises an AD converter for converting the detection signal received from the detecting subcircuit into a digital signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The earphone control circuit according to claim 3, wherein said determining subcircuit comprises a control signal output subcircuit for outputting a first control signal indicating that the earphone is in a wearing state or outputting a second control signal indicating that the earphone is in a non-wearing state according to the detection signal that has been converted into a digital signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An earphone, comprising: an input subcircuit for receiving signals input from the outside; an output subcircuit for outputting audio signals; and the earphone control circuit according to claim 1. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The earphone according to claim 5, wherein the earphone control circuit is arranged on one of an earphone shell or an earphone wiring. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The earphone according to claim 6, wherein when the earphone control circuit is arranged on the earphone's wirings, the detecting subcircuit comprises a tri-axial acceleration sensor; and when the earphone control circuit is arranged on the earphone's shells, the detecting subcircuit comprises a pressure sensor or a temperature sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The earphone according to claim 7, wherein the input subcircuit is an earphone plug for receiving audio signals from an audio output device and for transmitting, to the audio output device, the first control signal and the second control signal output from the earphone control circuit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The earphone according to claim 8, wherein the earphone plug is of a five-pole type, wherein a first pole is connected to left channel audio signals, a second pole is connected to right channel audio signals, a third pole is connected to GND signals, a fourth pole outputs the first control signal or the second control signal, and a fifth pole is connected to power signals. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The earphone according to claim 5, wherein the earphone is a headset or an earbud. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) An audio output device with the earphone according to claim 5 mounted thereon, comprising: a control subcircuit for outputting, according to the first control signal or the second control signal from the earphone, an instruction signal corresponding to the first control signal or the second control signal, to instruct the corresponding earphone or speaker to output audio signals; and an output subcircuit for outputting audio signals according to the instruction signal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The audio output device according to claim 11, wherein the instruction signal is an audio output mode signal, the audio output mode signal corresponding to the first control signal is outputting audio signals through the earphone, and the audio output mode signal corresponding to the second control signal is outputting audio signals through the speaker. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The audio output device according to claim 12, wherein the control subcircuit comprises a switch circuit, for outputting a switching signal instructing to output audio signals through the earphone when the control signal from the earphone indicates the first audio output mode, and for outputting a switching signal instructing to output audio signals through the speaker when the control signal from the earphone indicates the second audio output mode. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) A display device comprising the audio output device according to claim 11. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The display device according to claim 14, further comprising an earphone detachably connected to the audio output device; wherein the earphone comprises: an input subcircuit for receiving signals input from the outside; an output subcircuit for outputting audio signals; and an earphone control circuit, wherein the earphone control circuit comprises a detecting subcircuit for detecting whether an earphone is in a wearing state and outputting a detection signal indicating that the earphone is in a wearing state or in a non-wearing state; and a determining subcircuit for outputting a first control signal indicating that the earphone is in a wearing state or outputting a second control signal indicating that the earphone is in a non-wearing state according to the detection signal. ### Claim 16 An earphone control method, comprising: detecting whether an earphone is in a wearing state; outputting a detection signal indicating that the earphone is in a wearing state or in a non-wearing state; outputting a first control signal indicating that the earphone is in the wearing state or outputting a second control signal indicating that the earphone is in the non-wearing state according to the detection signal, the first control signal and the second control signal being used to control to output an audio signal through the earphone or a speaker; and turning on and off an earphone control circuit arranged on the earphone, when the earphone control circuit is turned on, the determining subcircuit outputs the first control signal indicating that the earphone is in the wearing state or outputs the second control signal indicating that the earphone is in the non-wearing state; and when the earphone control circuit is turned off, the determining subcircuit always outputs the first control signal indicating that the earphone is in the wearing state.