# US 9,436,761 B2 · Data communications via limited length audio jack > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,436,761 B2 - Document ID: US9436761B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/841,628 - Filed: 2013-03-15 - Published: 2014-09-18 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-15 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Cesar Lozano Villarreal; Ruenjou Lu; Mahmoud R. Amini; Jonathan M. Zweig; David C. Breece, III - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9436761B2 ## CPC - H01R 24/58: Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement - G06F 13/102: {where the program performs an interfacing function, e.g. device driver (G06F13/105 takes precedence; contention policies within device drivers G06F9/4881; scheduling within device drivers G06F9/52)} - G06F 13/20: for access to input/output bus - G06F 13/4068: {Electrical coupling} - G06F 16/60: of audio data - H01R 24/86: Parallel contacts arranged about a common axis - H01R 2107/00: Four or more poles - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract Methods, systems, and apparatus for selectively communicating data and audio over a limited-size audio plug. A host device determines whether an audio accessory or a data communicating accessory is plugged therein via a signal, or lack thereof, communicated to the host device via the audio plug of the accessory. The host device then either communicates audio or data over the audio plug contacts that are typically used only for audio communication based on whether its connected to an audio accessory or data communicating accessory. An audio plug may also include a split-ring contact where multiple, independent contacts are formed in place of a single tip, ring, or sleeve contact. The split-ring contact may be used for communicating audio and/or data. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for selectively communicating audio and data over a plug connector, comprising: detecting, at a receptacle connector of an electronic device including a plurality of receptacle contacts, insertion of a plug connector into the receptacle connector, the plug connector including an insertion element coupled to a base, the insertion element including a plurality of plug contacts arranged linearly between the base and a tip of the insertion element, the plurality of plug contacts including: a tip contact arranged at the tip of the insertion element, and a ring contact arranged between the tip contact and the base; determining whether a signal having a predetermined voltage is communicated to the electronic device via one or more of a first contact of the plurality of receptacle contacts and a second contact of the plurality of receptacle contacts, the first contact being arranged to electrically contact the tip contact of the plug connector upon insertion of the plug connector into the receptacle connector, the second contact being arranged to electrically contact the ring contact upon insertion of the plug connector into the receptacle connector; and selectively communicating one of an audio signal and a bi-directional handshake data signal via at least one of the first contact or the second contact based on whether it is determined that the signal having the predetermined voltage is communicated to the electronic device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: communicating the audio signal via the first contact and the second contact when it is determined that the signal having the predetermined voltage is not communicated to the electronic device via one or more of the first contact and the second contact. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: prior to detecting insertion of a plug connector into the receptacle connector: disabling an electrical connection between audio output circuitry of the electronic device and the first contact and the second contact; and enabling an electrical connection between data communication circuitry of the electronic device and the first contact and the second contact. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising: upon determining that the signal having the predetermined voltage was not communicated to the electronic device via one or more of the first contact and the second data: disabling the electrical connection between data communication circuitry of the electronic device and the first contact and the second contact; enabling the electrical connection between audio output circuitry of the electronic device and the first contact and the second contact; and communicating the audio signal via the first contact and the second contact. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising: determining whether the plug connector has been removed from the receptacle connector; and upon determining that the plug connector has been removed from the receptacle connector: disabling an electrical connection between audio output circuitry of the electronic device and the first contact and the second contact; and enabling an electrical connection between data communication circuitry of the electronic device and the first contact and the second contact. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether a signal having a predetermined voltage is communicated to the electronic device via one or more of a first contact and a second contact includes determining whether there is a voltage differential between a voltage at a third contact of the receptacle contacts corresponding to an electrical ground and one of the first contact and the second contact. ### Claim 7 An electronic device comprising: a receptacle connector capable of detecting an insertion of a plug connector into the receptacle connector and including a plurality of receptacle contacts, the plug connector including an insertion element coupled to a base, the insertion element including a plurality of plug contacts arranged linearly between the base and a tip of the insertion element, the plurality of plug contacts including: a tip contact arranged at the tip of the insertion element, and a ring contact arranged between the tip contact and the base; communication circuitry coupled to the receptacle connector and operable to: determine whether a signal having a predetermined voltage is communicated to the electronic device via one or more of a first contact of the plurality of receptacle contacts and a second contact of the plurality of receptacle contacts, the first contact being arranged to electrically contact the tip contact of the plug connector upon insertion of the plug connector into the receptacle connector, the second contact being arranged to electrically contact the ring contact upon insertion of the plug connector into the receptacle connector; and selectively communicate one of an audio signal and a bi-directional handshake data signal via at least one of the first contact or the second contact based on whether it is determined that the signal having the predetermined voltage is communicated to the electronic device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the communication circuitry is operable to: communicate the audio signal via the first contact and the second contact when it is determined that the signal having the predetermined voltage is not communicated to the electronic device via one or more of the first contact and the second contact. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the communication circuitry is operable to: prior to detecting insertion of a plug connector into the receptacle connector: disable an electrical connection between audio output circuitry of the electronic device and the first contact and the second contact; and enable an electrical connection between data communication circuitry of the electronic device and the first contact and the second contact. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the communication circuitry is operable to: upon determining that the signal having the predetermined voltage was not communicated to the electronic device via one or more of the first contact and the second data: disable the electrical connection between data communication circuitry of the electronic device and the first contact and the second contact; enable the electrical connection between audio output circuitry of the electronic device and the first contact and the second contact; and communicate the audio signal via the first contact and the second contact. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the communication circuitry is operable to determine whether the plug connector has been removed from the receptacle connector; and upon determining that the plug connector has been removed from the receptacle connector (1) disable an electrical connection between audio output circuitry of the electronic device and the first contact and the second contact, and (2) enable an electrical connection between data communication circuitry of the electronic device and the first contact and the second contact. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the communication circuitry is operable to: determine whether there is a voltage differential between a voltage at a third contact of the receptacle contacts corresponding to an electrical ground and one of the first contact and the second contact when determining whether a signal having a predetermined voltage is communicated to the electronic device via one or more of a first contact and a second contact.