# US 10,313,780 B2 · Earphone connection apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,313,780 B2 - Document ID: US10313780B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/920,828 - Filed: 2018-03-14 - Published: 2018-09-20 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-14 - Assignees: Soundchip SA - Applicants: Soundchip SA - Inventors: Mark Donaldson; Amit Naran; Robert Beck - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10313780B2 ## CPC - H04R 1/1041: {Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements (switches in general H01H)} - G10K 11/178: by electro-acoustically regenerating the original acoustic waves in anti-phase - H04L 63/0876: {based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint} - H04R 27/00: Public address systems (circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; {monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007}; amplifiers H03F) - G10K 2210/1081: Earphones, e.g. for telephones, ear protectors or headsets - G10K 2210/3011: Single acoustic input - H04L 63/0236: {Filtering by address, protocol, port number or service, e.g. IP-address or URL} - H04R 1/1025: Accumulators specially adapted for earpieces; Arrangements specially adapted for charging thereof - H04R 1/1083: {Reduction of ambient noise (active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06)} - H04R 2420/05: Detection of connection of loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers - H04R 2420/09: Applications of special connectors, e.g. USB, XLR, in loudspeakers, microphones or headphones - H04R 2460/01: Hearing devices using active noise cancellation - 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) - G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Apparatus for connecting both analogue and digital earphone devices to a server system providing a digital audio output includes an interface for connecting an earphone device to the server system, a detector for detecting the type of earphone device connected via the interface, a converter for generating an analogue audio signal from the digital audio output received from the server system, and a switch for switching between providing digital and analogue signals to the attached earphone device via the interface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A Remote Jack Unit (RJU) operative to connect both analogue and digital earphone devices to an aircraft In-Flight Entertainment and Communications (IFEC) server system providing a digital audio output, the RJU comprising: an interface for connecting an earphone device to the server system; a power supply for providing power to an earphone device when connected via the interface; and a control module comprising: a noise-cancellation module for providing noise-cancellation features to an earphone device when connected via the interface; a detector for detecting a type of noise-cancelling arrangement to be implemented for the earphone device connected via the interface; a converter for generating an analogue audio signal from the digital audio output received from the server system; and a switch for switching between providing digital and analogue signals to the attached earphone device via the interface; wherein the detector is configured to: detect digital data on a data line indicative of a digital earphone device being connected to the RJU; detect a high impedance on an audio line indicative of a powered noise-cancelling earphone device being connected to the RJU; measure the impedance on a microphone line to determine whether the impendence on the microphone line is indicative of a non-powered active noise-cancelling earphone being connected to the RJU; and detect a low impedance on an audio line indicative of a conventional analogue earphone device being connected to the RJU; and wherein the control module is configured to: supply digital signals to a connected earphone device when a digital earphone device is detected; supply analogue audio signals to a connected earphone device when an analogue earphone device is detected; connect the power supply to a connected earphone device when an earphone device requiring power is detected and to adjust the power supplied to the connected earphone device to suit the detected type of noise-cancelling arrangement; and enable the noise-cancelling module when a non-powered active noise-cancelling earphone device is detected. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An RJU according to claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a single connector operative to handle a plurality of signals. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An RJU according to claim 2, wherein the connector is configured to provide two or more of the following signals: analogue audio; digital audio data; power; microphone input signal; earphone detection signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An RJU according to claim 1, wherein the control module is configured to implement a plurality of different noise-cancelling arrangements and the control module is configured to implement a respective noise cancelling arrangement of the plurality of different noise-cancelling arrangements based upon the detected type of earphone device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An RJU according to claim 1, wherein the control module further comprises a network security module operative to allow only trusted digital earphone devices to connect with the IFEC server system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An RJU according to claim 1, wherein the control module is configured to detect a digital headphone connected to the interface and supply the digital headphone with 5V power and digital data from the IFEC server system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An RJU according to claim 1, wherein the control module is configured to detect an analogue powered noise-cancelling headphone of a type associated with an ARINC Type C1 or C2 connector and supply the analogue powered noise-cancelling headphone with 12V power and analogue audio signals. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An RJU according to claim 1, wherein the control module is configured to detect an analogue non-powered noise-cancelling headphone of a type associated with an ARINC Type D1, D2 or D3 connector and supply the analogue non-powered noise-cancelling headphone with analogue audio signals while receiving analogue microphone signals from the analogue non-powered noise-cancelling headphone. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An RJU according to claim 1, wherein the control module is configured to detect a standard analogue headphone of a type associated with an ARINC A1/B1 or A2/B2 connector and supply the standard analogue headphone with analogue audio signals. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An In-Flight Entertainment and Communications (IFEC) system comprising an RJU in accordance with claim 1.