Audio jack system
AssigneeFairchild Semiconductor Corporation
InventorSeth M. Prentice
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This application discusses a system that can include a master device and a slave device coupled to the master device via an audio jack connector. In an example, the master device and the slave device can be configured to exchange information via a single conductive path of the audio jack connector using a digital communication protocol. The single conductive path can be configured to conduct audio signals of an audio transducer and the slave device can include a depletion-mode transistor to complete a circuit including the audio transducer and the single conductive path in a first state, and to isolate the audio transducer from the single conductive path in a second state.
Claims17
A system comprising:
- a master device;
- a slave device coupled to the master device via an audio jack connector;
- wherein the master device and the slave device are configured to exchange information via a single conductive path of the audio jack connector using a digital communication protocol;
- wherein the single conductive path is configured to conduct audio signals of an audio transducer;
- and
- wherein the slave device includes a depletion-mode transistor configured to complete a circuit including the audio transducer and the single conductive path in a first, unpowered, default state, and to isolate the audio transducer from the single conductive path in a second state.
A method of digital communication between a master device and a slave device, the method comprising:
- detecting voltage on a microphone conductor rising above a first threshold at the slave device, the voltage indicating the master device is capable of and is ready for digital communication using the microphone conductor;
- isolating a microphone of the slave device from the microphone conductor using a depletion-mode transistor of the slave device;
- receiving a first code at the slave device using the microphone conductor and a first digital serial communication signal;
- transmitting an second code from the slave device using the microphone conductor and a second digital communication signal;
- receiving a third code at the slave device using the microphone conductor and a third digital serial communication signal;
- and
- coupling the microphone to the microphone conductor using the depletion-mode transistor.
A slave device configured to extend functionality of a master device, the slave device comprising:
- a mate-able portion of an audio jack connector;
- a single conductive path coupled to a terminal of the mate-able portion, the single conductive path configured to conduct audio signals between an audio transducer of the slave device and a master device coupled to the mate-able portion and to exchange digital communication information with the master device;
- a depletion-mode transistor having a first state and a second state, the depletion-mode transistor configured to couple the audio transducer with the single conductive path in a first state and to isolate the audio transducer from the single conductive path in the second state;
- and
- wherein the first state can include an unpowered state of the slave device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.