Universal audio jack and plug

A plug compatible with three- and four-contact audio jacks, the plug comprising:

• a tip segment arranged to contact a tip contact of both three- and four-contact audio jacks;
• a first ring segment arranged to contact a ring contact of both three- and four-contact audio jacks;
• a second ring segment arranged to contact a second ring contact of four-contact audio jacks;
• and
• a sleeve segment arranged to contact a sleeve contact of both three- and four-contact audio jacks;
• and
• wherein the plug comprises part of an audio peripheral and is operative to interconnect the audio peripheral with audio devices having either a three-contact audio jack or a four-contact audio jack, and wherein the audio peripheral further comprises a microphone coupled to the tip segment of the plug, a first weaker coupled to the first ring segment of the plug, a second sneaker coupled to the second ring segment of the plug, and a around connection coupled to the sleeve segment of the plug.

An audio device comprising:

• an audio input circuit;
• first and second audio output circuits;
• and
• a four-contact audio jack compatible with three- and four-contact audio plugs, said jack connected to the audio input and output circuits and comprising:
• a first contact arranged to contact a tip segment of both three- and four-contact audio plugs;
• a second contact arranged to contact a ring segment of both three- and four-contact audio plugs;
• a third contact arranged to contact a sleeve segment of both three- and four-contact audio plugs;
• and
• a fourth contact arranged to contact a second ring segment of four-contact audio plugs and the sleeve segment of three-contact audio plugs;
• and
• wherein the first contact is coupled to the audio input circuit, the second and fourth contacts are coupled to the first and second audio output circuits, respectively, and the third contact is coupled to a around of the audio device.