Electromechanical connection

Abstract

In an example, a method for detecting a type of accessory connected to a first jack plug inserted into a first jack port is provided. The circuitry is configured to determine whether an audio signal is present at a tip or ring of the first jack plug. In the presence of an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug, the circuitry is configured to determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo line input accessory connected to a 3-pole jack plug.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the identification and detection of devices connectable via an electromechanical connector. Background Art

[0002] Electromechanical connectors are widely used to connect accessories to a device, thereby allowing signals to be transmitted between the accessory and the device. For example, an audio jack is used to connect an audio device (e.g., an "accessory device" such as a headset, earphone, earbud, and ear microphone, etc.) to another device (e.g., a "host device" such as a personal computer (PC), laptop, tablet, gaming device, or mobile phone, and other mobile and / or portable devices, etc.).

[0003] Thus, depending on the example, an electromechanical connector can be used to connect an accessory device that outputs and / or receives an input audio signal to a host device. Therefore, it may be desirable for the host device to be able to interact with a wide range of accessory devices to enhance the user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0004] According to a first example, there is provided a circuit system for detecting the type of an accessory connected to a first jack plug inserted into a first jack port, the circuit system being configured to: determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or ring of the first jack plug; and in the case where there is an audio signal at the tip or ring of the first jack plug, determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo line input accessory connected to a 3-pole jack plug.

[0005] The circuit system may be further configured to, in the case where there is no audio signal at the tip or ring of the first jack plug: enable a microphone bias to be applied to the tip and ring of the first jack plug; and determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or ring of the first jack plug in response to the microphone bias; and in the case where there is an audio signal in response to the microphone bias, determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone.

[0006] The circuit system may be further configured to, in the case where there is no audio signal in response to the microphone bias: determine that the type of the accessory is a headset and / or a line load.

[0007] The circuit system may be further configured to: disable the microphone bias; and check whether the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone, wherein to perform the check, the circuit system is configured to: re-enable the microphone bias to the tip and ring of the first jack plug; determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or ring of the first jack plug in response to the re-enabled microphone bias.

[0008] The circuit system may be further configured to, when there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug in response to the re-enabled microphone bias: confirm that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone. The circuit system is further configured to disable the re-enabled microphone bias.

[0009] The circuit system may be configured to, when there is no audio signal in response to the re-enabled microphone bias: determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug (which may indicate that the process returns to the start).

[0010] The circuit system may be further configured to, when there is no audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug: enable the microphone bias to the tip and the ring of the first jack plug; and determine whether there is an audio signal in response to the microphone bias at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug; and when there is an audio signal in response to the microphone bias: disable the microphone bias applied to the ring of the first jack plug, determine whether there is an audio input at the tip of the first jack plug; and when there is an audio input at the tip of the first jack plug, determine that the type of the accessory is a mono microphone connected to a 2-pole or 3-pole jack plug; and when there is no audio input at the tip of the first jack plug, determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone.

[0011] The circuit system may be further configured to: disable the microphone bias; and determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug, and when there is an audio signal: re-classify the type of the accessory as a stereo line input accessory.

[0012] The circuit system may be further configured to: disable the microphone bias; determine whether playback is enabled on the accessory connected to the first jack plug; compare the output of one or more digital-to-analog converters with the output of one or more analog-to-digital converters; determine whether the digital-to-analog converter output matches the analog-to-digital converter output; and when the outputs do not match, re-classify the type of the accessory as a stereo line input accessory.

[0013] The circuit system may be further configured to, when there is no audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug: enable an ultrasonic tone; and determine whether there is an ultrasonic signal in response to the ultrasonic tone at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug; and when there is the ultrasonic signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug, determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone.

[0014] The circuit system may be further configured to, in the absence of an ultrasonic signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug in response to the ultrasonic tone: determine that the type of the accessory is a headset and / or a line load.

[0015] To enable the ultrasonic tone, the circuit system may be configured to: cause the ultrasonic tone to be output from one or more speakers and / or cause a transducer to transmit the ultrasonic tone.

[0016] The circuit system may be further configured to: determine a delay between receiving the ultrasonic tone through an electrical path from the transducer and / or the speaker that outputs the ultrasonic tone and receiving the ultrasonic tone through an acoustic path between the transducer and / or the speaker that outputs the ultrasonic tone and the transducer that receives the ultrasonic tone.

[0017] The circuit system may further include: a first jack plug detection module configured to detect whether the first jack plug is received in the first jack port.

[0018] The circuit system may include a first circuit system module including at least one of the following: a left audio output circuit system; a right audio output circuit system; an impedance measurement circuit system; a microphone bias circuit system; a microphone and ground switching circuit system; and a microphone input circuit system.

[0019] The circuit system may include a second circuit system module including at least one of the following: a first stereo input circuit system; a second stereo input circuit system; an impedance measurement circuit system; a microphone bias circuit system; and a ground circuit system.

[0020] The circuit system may further include at least one of the following: a first voltage bias source; a first headset bias line connected to the bias and capable of being connected to the sleeve of a 4-pole jack plug; a second headset bias line connected to the bias and capable of being connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug; a first stereo input line for left audio input connected to the bias and capable of being connected to the tip of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug; and a second stereo input line for right audio input connected to the bias and capable of being connected to the ring of a 3-pole jack plug or the first ring of a 4-pole jack plug.

[0021] The circuit system may further include at least one of the following: a first digital-to-analog converter; and a first headphone line for left headphone output, the first headphone line being connected to the first digital-to-analog converter and capable of being connected to the tip of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug.

[0022] The circuit system may further include at least one of the following: a second digital-to-analog converter; and a second headphone line for right headphone output, the second headphone line being connected to the second digital-to-analog converter and capable of being connected to the ring of a 3-pole jack plug or the first ring of a 4-pole jack plug.

[0023] The circuit system may further include at least one of the following: a first analog-to-digital converter; a first microphone line connected to the first analog-to-digital converter and capable of being connected to the sleeve of a 4-pole jack plug; a second microphone line connected to the first analog-to-digital converter and capable of being connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug; a first stereo input line for right stereo audio connected to the first analog-to-digital converter and capable of being connected to the ring of a 3-pole jack plug or the first ring of a 4-pole jack plug; and a first stereo input ground line capable of being connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug.

[0024] The circuit system may further include at least one of the following: a second analog-to-digital converter; a second stereo input line for left stereo audio connected to the second analog-to-digital converter and capable of being connected to the tip of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug; and a second stereo input ground line connected to the second analog-to-digital converter and capable of being connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug.

[0025] The circuit system may further include at least one of the following: a third digital-to-analog converter configured to output an audio signal to a speaker.

[0026] According to another example, there is provided a carrier (e.g., a printed circuit board "PCB" or a main board (e.g., a ceramic main board)) including the circuit system as described above. The carrier may include a first audio jack port. In another example, a device (e.g., a host device) may include the circuit system and / or the carrier as described above.

[0027] The circuit system can be further configured to detect the type of accessory connected to a second jack plug inserted into a second jack port, the circuit system being configured to: determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or ring of the second jack plug; and in the case where there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug, determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo line input accessory connected to a 3-pole jack plug.

[0028] The circuit system can be further configured that, if there is no audio signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug, to: enable a microphone bias to the tip and the ring of the second jack plug; and determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug in response to the microphone bias; and, if there is an audio signal in response to the microphone bias, determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone.

[0029] The circuit system can be further configured that, in the case where there is no audio signal in response to the microphone bias, to: determine that the type of the accessory is a headset and / or a line load.

[0030] The circuit system can be further configured to: disable the microphone bias; and check whether the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone, wherein, to perform the check, the circuit system is configured to: re-enable the microphone bias to the tip and the ring of the second jack plug; determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug in response to the re-enabled microphone bias.

[0031] The circuit system can be further configured that, in the case where there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug in response to the re-enabled microphone bias, to: confirm that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone. The circuit system can be further configured to: disable the re-enabled microphone bias.

[0032] The circuit system can be further configured that, in the case where there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug in response to the re-enabled microphone bias, to: determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug.

[0033] The circuit system may be further configured to, in the absence of an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug: enable microphone biasing to the tip and the ring of the second jack plug; and determine whether an audio signal is present at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug in response to the microphone biasing; and in the case where an audio signal is present in response to the microphone biasing: disable the microphone biasing applied to the ring of the second jack plug, determine whether an audio input is present on the tip of the second jack plug; and in the case where an audio input is present on the tip of the second jack plug, determine that the type of the accessory is a mono microphone connected to a 2-pole or 3-pole jack plug; and in the case where no audio input is present on the tip of the second jack plug: determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone.

[0034] The circuit system may be further configured to: disable the microphone biasing; and determine whether an audio signal is present at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug, and in the case where an audio signal is present, reclassify the type of the accessory as a stereo line input accessory.

[0035] The circuit system may be configured to: disable the microphone biasing; determine whether playback is enabled on the accessory connected to the second jack plug; compare the output of one or more digital-to-analog converters with the output of one or more analog-to-digital converters; determine whether the digital-to-analog converter output matches the analog-to-digital converter output; and in the case where the outputs do not match, reclassify the type of the accessory as a stereo line input accessory.

[0036] The circuit system may be further configured to, in the absence of an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug: enable an ultrasonic tone; and determine whether an ultrasonic signal is present at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug in response to the ultrasonic tone, and in the case where an ultrasonic signal is present at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug: determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone.

[0037] The circuit system may be further configured to, in the case where no ultrasonic signal is present at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug in response to the ultrasonic tone: determine that the type of the accessory is a headset and / or a line load.

[0038] To enable the ultrasonic tone, the circuit system may be configured to: cause the ultrasonic tone to be output from one or more speakers and / or cause a transducer to transmit the ultrasonic tone.

[0039] The circuit system may be further configured to determine a delay between receiving the ultrasonic tone through an electrical path from the transducer and / or the speaker that outputs the ultrasonic tone and receiving the ultrasonic tone through an acoustic path between the transducer and / or the speaker that outputs the ultrasonic tone and the transducer that receives the ultrasonic tone.

[0040] The circuit system may further include: a second jack plug detection module configured to detect whether the second jack plug is received in the first jack port.

[0041] The circuit system may further include a third circuit system module including at least one of the following: a left audio output circuit system; a right audio output circuit system; an impedance measurement circuit system; a microphone bias circuit system; a microphone and ground switching circuit system; and a microphone input circuit system.

[0042] The circuit system may further include a fourth circuit system module including at least one of the following: a first stereo input circuit system; a second stereo input circuit system; an impedance measurement circuit system; a microphone bias circuit system; and a ground circuit system.

[0043] The circuit system may further include at least one of the following: a first voltage bias source; a third earphone bias line connected to the bias and capable of being connected to the sleeve of a 4-pole jack plug; a fourth earphone bias line connected to the bias and capable of being connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug; a third stereo input line for left audio input connected to the bias and capable of being connected to the tip of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug; and a fourth stereo input line for right audio input connected to the bias and capable of being connected to the ring of a 3-pole jack plug or the first ring of a 4-pole jack plug.

[0044] The circuit system may further include at least one of the following: a third digital-to-analog converter; and a third headphone line for left headphone output connected to the third digital-to-analog converter and capable of being connected to the tip of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug.

[0045] The circuit system may further include at least one of the following: a fourth digital-to-analog converter; and a fourth headphone line for right headphone output connected to the fourth digital-to-analog converter and capable of being connected to the ring of a 3-pole jack plug or the first ring of a 4-pole jack plug.

[0046] The circuit system may further include at least one of the following: a third analog-to-digital converter; a third headset line connected to the third analog-to-digital converter and capable of being connected to the sleeve of a 4-pole jack plug; a fourth headset line connected to the third analog-to-digital converter and capable of being connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug; a third stereo input line for right stereo audio connected to the third analog-to-digital converter and capable of being connected to the ring of a 3-pole jack plug or the first ring of a 4-pole jack plug; and a third stereo input ground line capable of being connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug.

[0047] The circuit system may further include at least one of the following: a fourth analog-to-digital converter; a fourth stereo input line for left stereo audio connected to the fourth analog-to-digital converter and capable of being connected to the tip of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug; and a fourth stereo input ground line connected to the fourth analog-to-digital converter and capable of being connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug.

[0048] The circuit system may further include at least one of the following: a fifth digital-to-analog converter configured to output an audio signal to a speaker.

[0049] The carrier may include: a first conductive path configured to connect the circuit system to a first audio jack port; and a second conductive path configured to connect the circuit system to a second audio jack port. The carrier may include the first jack port and the second jack port. A device (e.g., a host device) may include the circuit system and / or the carrier as described above.

[0050] According to an example, there is provided a carrier including: a first conductive path and a second conductive path, wherein the first conductive path is configured to electrically connect a circuit system to a first jack port, and wherein the second conductive path is configured to electrically connect the circuit system to a second jack port.

[0051] The carrier may include: a first module configured to detect the insertion of a first audio jack into the first jack port; and a second module configured to detect the insertion of a second jack plug into the second jack port; wherein the first conductive path is configured to electrically connect the first module to the first jack port, and wherein the second conductive path is configured to electrically connect the second module to the second jack port.

[0052] The carrier may include: a tip detection circuit system and a ring detection circuit system, wherein the first conductive path is configured to electrically connect the tip detection circuit system to the first jack port, and wherein the second conductive path is configured to electrically connect the ring detection circuit system to the second jack port.

[0053] The tip detection circuit system may be configured to detect full insertion of the first audio jack plug into the first jack port, and wherein the ring detection circuit system may be configured to detect full insertion of the second audio jack plug into the second jack port.

[0054] The carrier may include: a first tip detection circuit system and a second tip detection circuit system, wherein the first conductive path is configured to electrically connect the first tip detection circuit system to the first jack port, and wherein the second conductive path is configured to electrically connect the second tip detection circuit system to the second jack port.

[0055] The first tip detection circuit system may be configured to detect full insertion of the first audio jack plug into the first jack port, and wherein the second tip detection circuit system may be configured to detect full insertion of the second audio jack plug into the second jack port.

[0056] The carrier may include the first audio jack port and the second audio jack port. The carrier may include the circuit system as described above.

[0057] Specifically, the carrier may include a circuit system configured to detect the type of accessory connected to the first jack plug inserted into the first jack port, the circuit system being configured to: determine whether an audio signal is present at the tip or ring of the first jack plug; and, in the case where an audio signal is present at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug, determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo line input accessory.

[0058] The circuit system may be further configured, in the case where no audio signal is present at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug: to enable a microphone bias to be applied to the tip and the ring of the first jack plug; and to determine whether an audio signal is present at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug in response to the microphone bias; and, in the case where an audio signal is present in response to the microphone bias, determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone.

[0059] The circuit system may be further configured to, in the absence of an audio signal in response to the microphone bias: determine that the type of the accessory is a headset and / or a line load.

[0060] The circuit system may be further configured to: disable the microphone bias; and check whether the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone, wherein, to perform the check, the circuit system is configured to: re-enable the microphone bias to the tip and the ring of the first jack plug; determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug in response to the re-enabled microphone bias.

[0061] The circuit system may be further configured to, in the case where there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug in response to the re-enabled microphone bias: confirm that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone. The circuit system may be further configured to: disable the re-enabled microphone bias.

[0062] The circuit system may be configured to, in the absence of an audio signal in response to the re-enabled microphone bias: determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug.

[0063] The circuit system may be further configured to, in the case where there is no audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug: enable the microphone bias to the tip and the ring of the first jack plug; and determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug in response to the microphone bias; and, in the case where there is an audio signal in response to the microphone bias: disable the microphone bias applied to the ring of the first jack plug; determine whether there is an audio input on the tip of the first jack plug; and, in the case where there is an audio input on the tip of the first jack plug, determine that the type of the accessory is a mono microphone connected to a 2-pole or 3-pole jack plug; and, in the case where there is no audio input on the tip of the first jack plug, determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone.

[0064] The circuit system may be further configured to: disable the microphone bias; and determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug, and, in the case where there is an audio signal: re-classify the type of the accessory as a stereo line input accessory.

[0065] The circuit system is configured to: disable the microphone bias; determine whether playback is enabled on an accessory connected to the first jack plug; compare the output of one or more digital-to-analog converters with the output of one or more analog-to-digital converters; determine whether the digital-to-analog converter output matches the analog-to-digital converter output; and, in the case of a mismatch of the outputs, reclassify the type of the accessory as a stereo line input accessory.

[0066] The circuit system may be further configured to, in the case where there is no audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug: enable an ultrasonic tone; and determine whether an ultrasonic signal is present at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug in response to the ultrasonic tone; and, in the case where the ultrasonic signal is present at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug, determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone.

[0067] The circuit system may be further configured to, in the case where no ultrasonic signal is present at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug in response to the ultrasonic tone: determine that the type of the accessory is a headset and / or a line load.

[0068] To enable the ultrasonic tone, the circuit system may be configured to: cause the ultrasonic tone to be output from one or more speakers and / or cause a transducer to transmit the ultrasonic tone.

[0069] The circuit system may be further configured to: determine a delay between receiving the ultrasonic tone through an electrical path from the transducer and / or the speaker that outputs the ultrasonic tone and receiving the ultrasonic tone through an acoustic path between the transducer and / or the speaker that outputs the ultrasonic tone and the transducer that receives the ultrasonic tone.

[0070] The circuit system may further include: a first jack plug detection module configured to detect whether the first jack plug is received in the first jack port.

[0071] The circuit system may further include a first circuit system module including at least one of the following: a left audio output circuit system; a right audio output circuit system; an impedance measurement circuit system; a microphone bias circuit system; a microphone and ground switching circuit system; and a microphone input circuit system.

[0072] The circuit system may include a second circuit system module including at least one of the following: a first stereo input circuit system; a second stereo input circuit system; an impedance measurement circuit system; a microphone bias circuit system; and a ground circuit system.

[0073] The circuit system may include at least one of the following: a first voltage bias source; a first earphone bias line that is connected to the bias and is capable of being connected to the sleeve of a 4-pole jack plug; a second earphone bias line that is connected to the bias and is capable of being connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug; a first stereo left line that is connected to the bias and is capable of being connected to the tip of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug; and a second stereo right line that is connected to the bias and is capable of being connected to the ring of a 3-pole jack plug or the first ring of a 4-pole jack plug.

[0074] The circuit system may include at least one of the following: a first digital-to-analog converter; and a first left headphone output line that is connected to the first digital-to-analog converter and is capable of being connected to the tip of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug.

[0075] The circuit system may include at least one of the following: a second digital-to-analog converter; and a first right headphone output line that is connected to the second digital-to-analog converter and is capable of being connected to the ring of a 3-pole jack plug or the first ring of a 4-pole jack plug.

[0076] The circuit system may include at least one of the following: a first analog-to-digital converter; a first earphone line that is connected to the first analog-to-digital converter and is capable of being connected to the sleeve of a 4-pole jack plug; a second earphone line that is connected to the first analog-to-digital converter and is capable of being connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug; a first right stereo input line that is connected to the first analog-to-digital converter and is capable of being connected to the ring of a 3-pole jack plug or the first ring of a 4-pole jack plug; and a first stereo input ground line that is capable of being connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug.

[0077] The circuit system may include at least one of the following: a second analog-to-digital converter; a first left stereo input line that is connected to the second analog-to-digital converter and is capable of being connected to the tip of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug; and a second stereo input ground line that is connected to the second analog-to-digital converter and is capable of being connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug.

[0078] The circuit system includes at least one of the following: a third digital-to-analog converter configured to output an audio signal to a speaker.

[0079] The circuit system can be further configured to detect the type of accessory connected to the second jack plug inserted into the second jack port, and the integrated circuit is configured to: determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or ring of the second jack plug; and in the case where there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug, determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo line input accessory and determine that the second jack plug is a 3-pole jack plug.

[0080] The circuit system can be further configured to, in the case where there is no audio signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug: enable microphone biasing to the tip and the ring of the second jack plug; and determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug in response to the microphone biasing; and in the case where there is an audio signal in response to the microphone biasing, determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone and determine that the second jack plug is a 3-pole jack plug.

[0081] The circuit system can be further configured to, in the case where there is no audio signal in response to the microphone biasing: determine that the type of the accessory is a headset and / or a line load and determine that the second jack plug is a 3-pole jack plug.

[0082] The circuit system can be further configured to: disable the microphone biasing; and check whether the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone, and for performing the check, the circuit system is configured to: re-enable the subsequent microphone biasing to the tip and the ring of the second jack plug; determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug in response to the re-enabled microphone biasing.

[0083] The circuit system can be further configured to, in the case where there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug in response to the re-enabled microphone biasing: confirm that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone. The circuit system can be further configured to: disable the subsequent microphone biasing.

[0084] The circuit system can be further configured to, in the case where there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug in response to the re-enabled microphone biasing: determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug.

[0085] The circuit system can be further configured such that in the absence of an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug: enable microphone biasing to the tip and the ring of the second jack plug; and determine whether an audio signal is present at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug in response to the microphone biasing; and in the case where an audio signal is present in response to the microphone biasing: disable the microphone biasing applied to the ring of the second jack plug, determine whether an audio input is present on the tip of the second jack plug; and in the case where an audio input is present on the tip of the second jack plug, determine that the type of the accessory is a mono microphone connected to a 2-pole or 3-pole jack plug; and in the case where no audio input is present on the tip of the second jack plug, determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone.

[0086] The circuit system can be further configured to: disable the microphone biasing; and determine whether an audio signal is present at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug, and in the case where an audio signal is present: reclassify the type of the accessory as a stereo line input accessory.

[0087] The circuit system can be configured to: disable the microphone biasing; determine whether playback is enabled on the accessory connected to the second jack plug; compare the output of one or more digital-to-analog converters with the output of one or more analog-to-digital converters; determine whether the digital-to-analog converter output matches the analog-to-digital converter output; and in the case where the outputs do not match, reclassify the type of the accessory as a stereo line input accessory.

[0088] The circuit system can be further configured such that in the absence of an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug: enable an ultrasonic tone; and determine whether an ultrasonic signal is present at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug in response to the ultrasonic tone, and in the case where an ultrasonic signal is present at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug: determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone and determine that the second jack plug is a 3-pole jack plug.

[0089] Can be further configured such that in the case where no ultrasonic signal is present at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug in response to the ultrasonic tone: determine that the type of the accessory is a headset and / or a line load.

[0090] To enable the ultrasonic tone, the circuit system can be configured to: cause the ultrasonic tone to be output from one or more speakers and / or cause a transducer to transmit the ultrasonic tone.

[0091] The circuit system can be further configured to: determine a delay between receiving the ultrasonic tone from the transducer and / or the speaker that outputs the ultrasonic tone through an electrical path and receiving the ultrasonic tone through an acoustic path between the transducer and / or the speaker that outputs the ultrasonic tone and the transducer that receives the ultrasonic tone.

[0092] The circuit system can include: a second jack plug detection module configured to detect whether the second jack plug is received in the first jack port.

[0093] The circuit system can include a third circuit system module including at least one of the following: a left audio output circuit system; a right audio output circuit system; an impedance measurement circuit system; a microphone bias circuit system; a microphone and ground switching circuit system; and a microphone input circuit system.

[0094] The circuit system includes a fourth circuit system module including at least one of the following: a first stereo input circuit system; a second stereo input circuit system; an impedance measurement circuit system; a microphone bias circuit system; and a ground circuit system.

[0095] The circuit system can further include at least one of the following: a third voltage bias source; a third headset bias line connected to the bias and capable of being connected to the sleeve of a 4-pole jack plug; a fourth headset bias line connected to the bias and capable of being connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug; a third stereo left line connected to the bias and capable of being connected to the tip of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug; and a fourth stereo right line connected to the bias and capable of being connected to the ring of a 3-pole jack plug or the first ring of a 4-pole jack plug.

[0096] The circuit system can further include at least one of the following: a third digital-to-analog converter; and a third left headset output line connected to the third digital-to-analog converter and capable of being connected to the tip of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug.

[0097] The circuit system can further include at least one of the following: a fourth digital-to-analog converter; and a third right headset output line connected to the fourth digital-to-analog converter and capable of being connected to the ring of a 3-pole jack plug or the first ring of a 4-pole jack plug.

[0098] The circuit system further includes at least one of the following: a third analog-to-digital converter; a third headset line connected to the third analog-to-digital converter and capable of being connected to the sleeve of a 4-pole jack plug; a fourth headset line connected to the third analog-to-digital converter and capable of being connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug; a third right stereo input line connected to the third analog-to-digital converter and capable of being connected to the ring of a 3-pole jack plug or the first ring of a 4-pole jack plug; and a third stereo input ground line capable of being connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug.

[0099] The circuit system may further include at least one of the following: a fourth analog-to-digital converter; a third left stereo input line connected to the fourth analog-to-digital converter and capable of being connected to the tip of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug; and a fourth stereo input ground line connected to the fourth analog-to-digital converter and capable of being connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug.

[0100] The circuit system may further include at least one of the following: a fifth digital-to-analog converter configured to output an audio signal to a speaker.

[0101] An apparatus may include a carrier as described above.

[0102] Accordingly, in accordance with the present disclosure, there is provided a method (process / method) that may be implemented by a circuit system (e.g., in a host device and / or mounted to a carrier, etc.). The method is for detecting the type of a fitting connected to a jack plug inserted into a jack port and includes: determining whether an audio signal is present at the tip or ring of the jack plug; and in the case where an audio signal is present, determining that the type of the fitting is a stereo line input fitting connected to a 3-pole jack plug.

[0103] In the case where no audio signal is present, the method may include: enabling a microphone bias on the tip and the ring of the jack plug; and determining whether an audio signal is present at the tip or the ring in response to the microphone bias; and in the case where an audio signal is present in response to the microphone bias, determining that the type of the fitting is a stereo microphone.

[0104] In the case where no audio signal is present in response to the microphone bias, the method may include: determining that the type of the fitting is a headset and / or a line load.

[0105] The method may include: disabling the microphone bias; and re-enabling the microphone bias; determining whether an audio signal is present at the tip or the ring in response to the subsequent microphone bias.

[0106] In the case where an audio signal is present in response to the re-enabled microphone bias, the method may include: confirming that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone. The method may include: disabling the re-enabled microphone bias.

[0107] In the case where an audio signal is not present in response to the re-enabled microphone bias, the method may include: determining whether an audio signal is present at the tip or the ring of the jack plug.

[0108] In the case where no audio signal is present at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug, the method may include: enabling the microphone bias to the tip and the ring of the first jack plug; determining whether an audio signal is present at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug in response to the microphone bias; and in the case where an audio signal is present in response to the microphone bias: disabling the microphone bias applied to the ring of the first jack plug, determining whether there is an audio input on the tip of the first jack plug; and in the case where there is an audio input on the tip of the first jack plug, determining that the type of the accessory is a mono microphone connected to a 2-pole or 3-pole jack plug; and in the case where there is no audio input on the tip of the first jack plug, determining that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone.

[0109] The method may further include: disabling the microphone bias; and determining whether an audio signal is present at the tip or the ring of the jack plug; and in the case where an audio signal is present: reclassifying the type of the accessory as a stereo line input accessory.

[0110] The method may include: disabling the microphone bias; determining whether playback is enabled on the accessory connected to the first jack plug; comparing the output of one or more digital-to-analog converters with the output of one or more analog-to-digital converters; determining whether the digital-to-analog converter output matches the analog-to-digital converter output; and in the case where the outputs do not match, reclassifying the type of the accessory as a stereo line input accessory.

[0111] In the case where no audio signal is present, the method may include: enabling an ultrasonic tone; and determining whether an ultrasonic signal is present at the tip or the ring in response to the ultrasonic tone; and in the case where the ultrasonic signal is present at the tip or the ring, determining that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone.

[0112] In the case where there is no ultrasonic signal in response to the ultrasonic tone at the tip or the ring, the method may include: determining that the type of the accessory is a headset and / or a line load.

[0113] The method may include: disabling the ultrasonic tone; and determining whether there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the jack plug; and in the case where there is no audio signal. In the case where there is an audio signal, the method may include: reclassifying the type of the accessory as a stereo line input accessory.

[0114] Enabling the ultrasonic tone may include: causing the ultrasonic tone to be output from one or more speakers and / or causing a transducer to transmit the ultrasonic tone.

[0115] The method may include: determining a delay between receiving the ultrasonic tone through an electrical path from the transducer and / or the speaker that outputs the ultrasonic tone and receiving the ultrasonic tone through an acoustic path between the transducer and / or the speaker that outputs the ultrasonic tone and the transducer that receives the ultrasonic tone.

[0116] An example method may include: determining whether a jack plug inserted into a jack port is a 4-pole jack plug; and in response to determining that the jack plug is not a 4-pole jack plug: performing the method described above. The method may include: determining whether a first jack plug inserted into a first jack port is a 4-pole jack plug; and in response to determining that the first jack plug is not a 4-pole jack plug: performing the method described above. Alternatively or additionally, the method may include: determining whether a second jack plug inserted into a second jack port is a 4-pole jack plug; and in response to determining that the second jack plug is not a 4-pole jack plug: performing the method described above.

[0117] An example method may include: determining whether a jack plug is received within a jack port; and when determining that the jack plug is received within the jack port, performing the method described above. The method may include: determining whether a first jack plug is received within a first jack port; and when determining that the first jack plug is received within the first jack port, performing the method described above. Alternatively or additionally, the method may include: determining whether a second jack plug is received within a second jack port; and when determining that the second jack plug is received within the second jack port, performing the method described above.

[0118] As stated above, examples of the present disclosure provide a circuit system configured to perform the methods described above. Accordingly, the circuit system can be configured to perform this method to detect the type of accessory connected to a first jack plug inserted into a first jack port and to detect the type of accessory connected to a second jack plug inserted into a second jack port.

[0119] According to an example of the present disclosure, there is provided a circuit system coupled to a socket for receiving a plug coupled to an accessory, the circuit system comprising:

[0120] a plug insertion detection circuit system;

[0121] a stereo accessory detection circuit system; and

[0122] a non-stereo accessory detection circuit system.

[0123] According to an example of the present disclosure, there is provided a socket for receiving a plug coupled to an accessory, the socket being coupled to a circuit system, the circuit system comprising:

[0124] a plug insertion detection circuit system;

[0125] a stereo accessory detection circuit system; and

[0126] a non-stereo accessory detection circuit system.

[0127] According to an example of the present disclosure, there are provided a plurality of sockets, each socket for receiving a respective plug coupled to an accessory, each socket of the plurality of sockets being coupled to a circuit system, the circuit system comprising:

[0128] a plug insertion detection circuit system;

[0129] a stereo accessory detection circuit system; and

[0130] a non-stereo accessory detection circuit system.

[0131] According to an example, there is provided an apparatus (e.g., a host device) comprising a circuit system as described above (e.g., a plug insertion detection circuit system; a stereo accessory detection circuit system; and a non-stereo accessory detection circuit system) and / or comprising one or more sockets coupled to the circuit system.

[0132] According to another example, there is provided a host device comprising at least two sockets. In the example, the first socket is a dedicated stereo accessory socket and the second socket is a dedicated non-stereo accessory socket. These can be part of a device (e.g., a host device).

[0133] The device or host device in this document may include any one or more of the following: a personal computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a gaming device, a communication device, a mobile phone, a portable device, and / or a battery-powered device. Description of the Drawings

[0134] Figure 1 and Figure 2 Schematically indicate a 4-pole and a 3-pole jack plug, respectively;

[0135] Figure 3 Schematically indicate two types of 4-pole jack plugs and two types of 3-pole jack plugs;

[0136] Figure 4a Schematically indicate two types of 3-pole jack plugs, and Figure 4b Schematically indicate their impedances;

[0137] Figures 5 to 7 Schematically indicate a process according to an example of the present disclosure;

[0138] Figures 8 to 9c Schematically indicate a circuit system for performing the process of the present disclosure;

[0139] Figures 10a to 10d Schematically indicate that a circuit system according to an example of the present disclosure is used as part of a host device;

[0140] Figure 11a Schematically indicate that a circuit system according to an example of the present disclosure is used as part of a host device;

[0141] Figure 11b Schematically indicate a carrier structure according to an example of the present disclosure;

[0142] Figure 11c Schematically illustrate an example according to the present disclosure in combination with two jack ports;

[0143] Figure 11d Schematically indicate a carrier structure according to an example of the present disclosure;

[0144] Figure 12 Schematically indicate a process according to an example of the present disclosure;

[0145] Figure 13 Schematically indicate a circuit system for performing the process of the present disclosure; and

[0146] Figure 14 Schematically indicate 3-pole and 2-pole jack ports connected to a mono accessory device. Detailed Description

[0147] Figure 1 andFigure 2 Illustrate two types of electromechanical connectors, each type of electromechanical connector being depicted as an audio jack plug. Figure 1 Depict a 4-pole jack plug 1 having four electrical contacts (or conductors or poles): tip T, first ring R1, second ring R2, and sleeve S. Figure 2 Depict a 3-pole jack plug 2 having three electrical contacts (or conductors or poles): tip T, ring R, and sleeve S. Due to the presence of the tip and sleeve contacts and the number of rings, Figure 1 jack plug 1 can be referred to as a "TRRS" jack plug; Figure 2 jack plug 2 can be referred to as a "TRS" jack plug.

[0148] In the example, the TRRS jack plug 1 can be used to connect an accessory device having both a speaker and a microphone to a host device because the four-pole structure of the TRRS jack plug 1 enables both output audio (e.g., audio output to the speaker of the accessory device) and input audio (e.g., received by the microphone of the accessory device) to be transmitted from / to the host device. For example, the tip T of the TRRS plug 1 can carry a left audio channel signal (e.g., carried to the left speaker of the accessory device connected to the TRRS plug 1), the first ring R1 can carry a right audio channel signal (e.g., carried to the right speaker of the accessory device), and the second ring R2 and sleeve S can each carry a microphone input audio signal (e.g., from the microphone of the accessory device), or provide a ground connection. Thus, the TRRS jack plug 1 can be used for accessory devices that support stereo audio and have a microphone.

[0149] In the example, the TRS jack plug 2 can be used to connect an accessory device having a speaker to a host device. For example, the tip T of the TRS plug 2 can carry a left audio channel signal (e.g., carried to the left speaker of the accessory device connected to the TRS plug 2), the ring R can carry a right audio channel signal (e.g., carried to the right speaker of the accessory device), and the sleeve S provides a ground connection. Thus, the TRS jack plug 2 can be used for accessory devices that support stereo audio.

[0150] Figure 3 Schematically illustrate four examples of types of accessories that can be used with a host electronic device, the types of jack plugs to which these accessory types are connected, and how the jack plugs utilize the tip / ring / sleeve structure.

[0151] At 3a, indicate how an accessory including a microphone and headset can be connected to a 4-pole jack plug according to the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association ("CTIA") standard / configuration. According to this configuration, the left and right speakers of the headset are respectively connected to the tip T and ring 1R1 of the 4-pole jack plug, where ring 2R2 is a ground connection, and the sleeve S is connected to the microphone of the headset.

[0152] At 3b, it is indicated how an accessory including a microphone and a headset can be connected to a 4-pole jack plug according to the Open Mobile Terminal Platform (OMTP) standard. In this configuration, the left and right speakers of the headset are respectively connected to the tip T and the ring 1R1 of the 4-pole jack plug, where the ring 2R2 is connected to the microphone of the headset, and the sleeve S is the ground connection.

[0153] At 3c, it is indicated how a stereo headset accessory including a headset (“HP”) load (e.g., left and right headset speakers) can be connected to a 3-pole jack plug, where the left speaker is connected to the tip T and the right speaker is connected to the ring R, and the sleeve S is the ground connection.

[0154] At 3d, it is indicated how a stereo line load (“LL”) accessory (e.g., an accessory including two line loads) can be connected to a 3-pole jack plug, where the left line load is connected to the tip T, the right line load is connected to the ring R, and the sleeve S is the ground connection.

[0155] The host device includes a port configured to receive a jack plug and may not know in advance what type of accessory it will receive (and thus not know what kind of ‘connector structure’ the accessory and the jack plug have). The user can manually select the type of accessory to connect to the device, but their selection may be incorrect, and in any case, it is time-consuming and troublesome for the user to make the selection themselves.

[0156] The present disclosure provides a circuit system configured to determine the type of a stereo accessory, the stereo accessory being configured to drive stereo audio into and / or out of a host device through an electromechanical connection between the stereo accessory and a corresponding jack port (also referred to as a “socket”) of the host device via a jack plug. In this way, the host device can support stereo input / output signals from / to a stereo transducer connected via a jack plug. Such stereo input / output accessories can include a stereo microphone (“SMIC”), e.g., a passive stereo microphone, a stereo line input device (“SLI”), and a stereo line output device (“SLO”).

[0157] Figure 4a At 400, an example is illustrated of how an SLI accessory device can be connected to a 3-pole jack plug, and at 410, an example is illustrated of how an SMIC accessory device can be connected to a 3-pole jack plug. At 400, it is shown that the left and right stereo drivers are connected to the tip T and the ring R of the 3-pole jack plug. At 410, it is shown that the left and right stereo input microphone lines are connected to the tip T and the ring R of the 3-pole jack plug. In both examples, the sleeve S is the ground connection.

[0158] The load impedance can sometimes determine the type of the accessory device, but Figure 4b shows Figure 4a The typical impedance ranges of the types of accessory devices illustrated may overlap (and may vary according to the state of the load; for example, a line driver may have different impedances depending on whether the line driver is 'on' or 'off'). Thus, using the impedance value alone may not result in a reliable detection of Figure 4a the accessory device of the type shown.

[0159] According to the present disclosure, there is provided a circuit system for automatically detecting stereo accessory types such as SLI 4a or SMIC 4b (or actually non-stereo accessories, including headphones (HP), line input (LI), or line output (LO) accessories). In addition to being able to detect accessories such as Figure 3 the CTIA / OMTP headsets and HP and LL accessory types 3a to 3d depicted, the circuit system according to the present disclosure can also detect these accessory types.

[0160] Figure 5 A flowchart of a process 500 is shown, which is configured to be executed by a circuit system to detect the type of an accessory connected to a first jack plug inserted into a first jack port using a 'jack detection' or an 'inductive circuit system'. At 501, the process includes: detecting whether the first jack plug has been inserted into the first jack port. At 502, the process includes: determining whether an audio signal is present or detected at the tip T or the ring R of the first jack plug. For example, step 502 may include: determining whether an audio signal is detected at an analog-to-digital converter ('ADC') that is respectively connected to the tip and the ring R of the jack port (which will be described later). If such an audio signal exists, then at 503, the process includes: identifying the type of the accessory as an SLI accessory.

[0161] This process recognizes that in normal operation, a device including a line input and an active microphone generates an audio signal such as may be detectable by an ADC. Thus, the presence of an audio signal on the tip T or the ring R can be used to distinguish the stereo accessory types 400 and 410 having a 'passive load' (which generally does not generate an audio signal). An active load (such as, for example, an active stereo microphone) has its own power supply and does not require a microphone bias ('MBias') voltage to generate audio, and such types of active loads may present as SLI type loads to the host device. In other words, detecting an audio signal at the tip T or the ring R of the jack plug can provide a reliable indication of the presence of an SLI or SMIC device.

[0162] Figure 5a A flow 500a is shown, which is at Figure 5The process includes optional step 501a. According to Figure 5a , after detecting that a first jack plug is inserted into a corresponding first jack, the process includes determining at 501a whether the type of the jack plug is a three-pole jack plug. Then, the process continues to determine whether there is an audio input at the tip T or ring R, etc. of the three-pole jack plug, as described above.

[0163] Figure 5b Figure 500b shows a process that illustrates an example method for determining at 501b to 510d that a first jack plug is a three-pole jack plug. At 501b, the process includes: determining whether the contact corresponding to the sleeve S of the three-pole jack plug or the ring 2R2 of the four-pole jack plug in the first jack port is grounded. If this contact is grounded, then at 501c, the process includes: determining whether the contact corresponding to the sleeve S of the four-pole jack plug is grounded. If this contact is also grounded, the process can determine that the jack plug is a three-pole jack plug (e.g., a headphone (HP) or line load (LL) three-pole jack plug), as at 501a above.

[0164] It should be understood that the present disclosure provides a circuit system configured to perform the processes described herein, and the circuit system is configured to determine whether there is a signal (e.g., audio or ground) at the electrical contact corresponding to the tip / ring / ring / sleeve, etc. in the jack port (or socket) of a host device (e.g., including the circuit system).

[0165] Figure 6 A flowchart illustrating process 600, which may include any of the processes described above. According to Figure 6 the process, the circuit system is further configured to determine whether the first jack plug inserted into the corresponding first jack port is a four-pole jack plug, and if so, determine the type of the four-pole jack plug. When it is determined that the jack plug is not a four-pole jack plug, the process can be as described above for Figures 5 to 5b .

[0166] At 601, it is determined that the first jack plug has been inserted into the corresponding first jack port. At 602, it is determined whether the contact corresponding to the sleeve S of the three-pole jack plug or the ring 2R2 of the four-pole jack plug in the first jack port is grounded, and if this contact is grounded, then at 603, the process includes: determining whether the contact corresponding to the sleeve S of the four-pole jack plug is grounded. If this contact is also grounded, the process can determine at 604 that the jack plug is a three-pole jack plug (e.g., an HP or LL three-pole jack plug), then determine whether there is an audio input at the tip T or ring R, and if there is, the device is classified as a three-pole SLI (at steps 605 and 606), as described above forFigures 5 to 5b 。

[0167] If it is determined at 602 that the contact corresponding to the sleeve S of the 3-pole jack plug or the ring 2R2 of the 4-pole jack plug in the first jack port is not grounded, then at 606, it is determined whether the contact corresponding to the sleeve S of the 4-pole jack plug is grounded. In other words, the process determines whether two contacts in the first jack port corresponding to S / R2 or S of the 3- or 4-pole jack plug, respectively, are grounded. Figure 6 The order of the steps depicted in the flowchart of is exemplary only for the purpose of illustrating the process. It should be understood that it can be determined whether the contacts are grounded in any order or even simultaneously, etc.

[0168] As described above, if both are grounded, the process classifies the accessory as 3-pole HP or LL at 604.

[0169] If it is determined that the contact corresponding to the sleeve S of the 3-pole jack plug or the ring 2R2 of the 4-pole jack plug in the first jack port is not grounded, but the contact corresponding to the sleeve S of the 4-pole jack plug is grounded, then at 607, the accessory and the jack plug type are classified as a 4-pole OMTP device (e.g., a headset).

[0170] If it is determined that the contact corresponding to the sleeve S of the 3-pole jack plug or the ring 2R2 of the 4-pole jack plug in the first jack port is grounded, but the contact corresponding to the sleeve of the 4-pole jack plug is not grounded, then at 608, the accessory and the jack plug type are classified as a 4-pole CTIA device (e.g., a headset).

[0171] If it is determined that the contact corresponding to the sleeve S of the 3-pole jack plug or the ring 2R2 of the 4-pole jack plug in the first jack port is not grounded, and the contact corresponding to the sleeve S of the 4-pole jack plug is also not grounded, then the process is completed (in this example, the jack plug can be of another type).

[0172] After classifying the accessory type and the jack plug as a 3-pole OMTO or CTIA headset at 607 and 608, at 610, the impedance is measured, and at 611, the accessory and the jack plug type are determined based on the impedance measurement. For example, a low impedance load may indicate that the accessory is a headphone accessory, and a high impedance load may indicate that the accessory is a line load or a high impedance headphone accessory.

[0173] In other words, as indicated by blocks 602, 603, and 606, the position of the ground wire (e.g., which contacts in the jack port are grounded) can determine whether the jack plug (within the jack socket) is 3-pole, 4-pole CTIA, or 4-pole OMTP.

[0174] While the presence of an audio signal at the tip T or ring R of an audio jack plug can provide a strong indication of the presence of SLI or SMIC, the present disclosure is still capable of classifying the type of accessory connected to a jack plug inserted into a jack port in the absence of such an audio signal (from the "no" option in steps 502 and 605 of the process described above). This will now be described.

[0175] Figure 7 Illustrative process 700, which incorporates the process described above (the same boxes of the process are labeled with the same reference numerals, so for example 701 corresponds to 601 as described above Figure 6 and so on). Specifically, Figure 7 Illustrates the process after no audio is detected at the tip T or ring R of a first jack plug (e.g., at steps 502, 605, and 705). If no audio is detected, at 711, microphone bias is enabled on the tip T and ring R. In an example, this can be achieved by an MBias circuitry. The MBias circuitry can be configured to increase the voltage across the tip T and ring R and can increase gradually (e.g., using a "soft ramp" technique) in order to reduce or prevent the presence of audible signal artifacts (i.e., pops or clicks) on a headset or line load.

[0176] In response to the MBias, at 712, it is determined whether an audio signal is present on the tip T or ring R (more specifically, whether an audio signal is detected at the ADCs connected to the contacts of the jack ports corresponding to the tip T and ring R (or ring 1R1) of the audio jack plug). Regardless of whether audio is present, and in either case, the MBias is disabled, as indicated at 713 and 714. If an audio is present on the tip T or ring R in response to the MBias, at 715, the accessory and the jack port are classified as a 3-pole SMIC.

[0177] If no audio is present, at 714, disabling the MBias can include gradually decreasing the voltage across the tip and ring (e.g., using a "soft ramp down" technique) in order to reduce the presence of pops or clicks (i.e., audible signal artifacts) on a headset or line load.

[0178] Using the soft ramp / ramp down technique can include gradually changing the voltage according to an S-curve slew rate, thereby reducing or eliminating audible components that might otherwise be superimposed on the MBias voltage.

[0179] If no audio is present, at 716, the accessory and the audio jack plug are classified as a 3-pole HP / LL (this can be considered the "default" of treating the accessory type as a headset or line load).

[0180] After 716, at 717, the ADCs connected to the tip T and ring R (or R1) contacts on the jack port can continue to monitor for the presence of audio, and if they later detect audio (on either ADC), then at 718, the accessory can be reclassified as SLI. In other words, steps 717 and 718 effectively monitor for the presence of audio at the tip T or ring R of the audio jack plug subsequently (after 714).

[0181] At 719, the process can include an optional step of causing an ultrasonic tone (e.g., an ultrasonic pilot tone) to be enabled. This step in the process can be used to determine whether an audio signal is received at the contacts connected to the tip T and ring R of the audio jack. In other words, the MBias enabled at 711 can allow the accessory device to be determined as SMIC if an audio tone is detected at the contacts connected to the tip T and ring R in the jack port, but additionally (or alternatively) using an ultrasonic tone enables reliable detection of SMIC in a quiet environment and in a situation where the process is inaudible to the user. Another benefit of using an ultrasonic tone instead of or in addition to the enabled MBias is that predetermined parameters and / or characteristics of the signal (e.g., frequency, amplitude, phase, etc.) can be applied to the accessory type, and in some examples, this can simplify the detection process. In an example where the ultrasonic tone is enabled at 711, this can be disabled at a later stage in the process (e.g., at 713 or 714).

[0182] As will be described later, the ultrasonic tone can be sent from one or more speakers of the main electronic device via an "acoustic" path, received by the SMIC of the accessory device, and then subsequently received by the ADCs (e.g., the respective ADCs connected to the left and right audio lines).

[0183] As stated above, the ultrasonic pilot tone can be generated when it is determined that the accessory device and / or the host device is in a quiet environment, or the ultrasonic tone can be generated by the host device specifically for the purpose of gesture detection (e.g., detecting user presence and / or hand gesture), and thus the ultrasonic tone and / or its use can be simply reused or repurposed as part of the accessory type detection process.

[0184] The ultrasonic tone can be applied to one of the microphones in the stereo microphone (the transmitting or "Tx" microphone) so that the microphone operates like a speaker, and then the other microphone in the stereo microphone (the receiving or "Rx" microphone) can be used to detect the resulting ultrasonic output; the Rx microphone is biased by a microphone bias voltage.

[0185] Accessory type detection using a stereo microphone (Tx microphone and Rx microphone) relies on receiving a portion of the transmitted ultrasonic signal at an ADC connected to the Rx microphone. However, due to electrical feedback through the common ground impedance of the Tx and Rx microphones, a return signal can also occur. In other words, the ultrasonic tone can be sent through the acoustic path and also through the electrical path passing through components of the circuitry. To prevent false detection due to the common ground impedance when using a stereo microphone, the delay between the ultrasonic tone transmitted and received through the electrical path can be measured (e.g., during the manufacture of the circuitry). Deviation from this electrical path delay during a jack plug detection scenario in the field (e.g., performing the process described above) can indicate an acoustic feedback path, i.e., the presence of a microphone. Thus, the process can include: determining the delay from a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) to the ADC (e.g., "round-trip delay") (e.g., calibrated at manufacture), and comparing this delay with Figure 7 the actual delay during the illustrated 'live' jack detection and classification process to determine if feedback might be due to electrical and / or acoustic paths. This will be described again later.

[0186] At 715, the accessory device can be classified as a 3-pole SMIC, but as indicated at 720, an optional process of checking or verifying that the device is an SMIC can be performed. According to this optional check process, at 721, MBias is enabled on the contacts of the jack port corresponding to the tip T and ring R of the jack plug, and at 722, it is determined whether an audio input is present. If audio is present, at 723, MBias is disabled, and at 715, the device is classified as an SMIC. If there is no audio input in response to this subsequently enabled MBias (or "subsequent MBias"), the process returns to block 705. As previously stated, performing the optional steps 721 - 723 can ensure that the accessory device is an SMIC. The optional check step 720 can be performed for another ultrasonic tone (e.g., block 721 can include block 719 as described above).

[0187] It should be understood that at any time during the process, the user can manually override any step, and thus can manually override the process.

[0188] A circuitry for performing the process described above will now be described.

[0189] Figure 8 Schematically shown is a circuitry 800 implemented as part of a host device (HD) 890, the circuitry 800 being connected to the electrical contacts of a jack port in the host device and configured to perform any of the processes described above. The circuitry 800 can include one or more integrated circuits, an audio processor, and / or an audio codec.

[0190] Broadly speaking, the circuitry 800 includes an ADC, a DAC, circuitry for detecting insertion and / or removal of the tip T of the jack plug in the jack socket, circuitry for detecting the earphone button (and its user manipulation), circuitry for detecting the type of the jack plug (e.g., 4-pole CTIA or OMTP, or 3-pole SMIC or SLI), circuitry allowing input / output stereo data signals on the tip T and the ring R (or ring 1R1), and circuitry enabling the application of an MBias voltage on the tip T and the ring R (or ring 1R1) of the jack plug.

[0191] The components of the circuitry 800 will now be described in more detail. These components are shown connected to the jack plug 880 by solid lines. The jack plug 880 is shown as a 4-pole TRRS jack plug, but it should be understood that it could be a 3-pole TRS jack plug since the circuitry 800 is configured to identify which accessory the jack plug 880 is connected to and what type of accessory it is. Thus, while the solid lines indicate that the various components of the circuitry are connected to one of the four contacts of the depicted TRRS plug, it should be understood that this is only a schematic diagram and for illustrative purposes only. It should be understood that these components are connected to contacts in the jack port of the host device 890, which are configured to electrically connect to the corresponding contacts (T, R1, R2, S or T, R, S) of the jack plug when inserted into the jack port. Thus, it should also be understood that the first contact in the jack port is configured to electrically connect to the tip T of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug when inserted into the jack port, the second contact in the jack port is configured to electrically connect to the ring R of a 3-pole jack plug or the ring 1R1 contact of a 4-pole jack plug when inserted into the jack port, the third contact in the jack port is configured to electrically connect to the sleeve S of a 3-pole jack plug or the ring 2R2 contact of a 4-pole jack plug when inserted into the jack port, and the fourth contact in the jack port is configured to electrically connect to the sleeve S of a 4-pole jack plug when inserted into the jack port.

[0192] The circuitry 800 includes a voltage bias source, such as MBias 801. A first earphone bias line 802 is connected to the bias 801 through a resistor and a switch and can be connected to the sleeve S of a 4-pole jack plug. A second earphone bias line 803 is connected to the bias 801 through a resistor and a switch and can be connected to the second ring R2 of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve S of a 3-pole jack plug. A first stereo line 804 for left audio is connected to the bias 801 through a resistor and a switch and can be connected to the tip T of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug. A second stereo line 805 for right audio is connected to the bias 801 through a resistor and a switch and can be connected to the ring R of a 3-pole jack plug or the first ring R1 of a 4-pole jack plug.

[0193] The circuit system 800 includes a first digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 806 and a second digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 808. A first headphone connector 807 for left headphone output is connected to the first DAC 806 and can be connected to the tip T of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug. A second headphone connector 809 for right headphone output is connected to the second DAC converter 808 and can be connected to the ring R of a 3-pole jack plug or the first ring R1 of a 4-pole jack plug.

[0194] The circuit system 800 includes a first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 810 and a second analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 815. A first headset connector 811 is connected to the first ADC 810 and can be connected to the sleeve S of a 4-pole jack plug. A second headset connector 812 is connected to the first ADC 810 and can be connected to the second ring R2 of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve S of a 3-pole jack plug. A first stereo input line 813 for right stereo audio is connected to the first ADC 810 and can be connected to the ring R of a 3-pole jack plug or the first ring R1 of a 4-pole jack plug. A first stereo input ground 814 can be connected to the second ring R2 of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve S of a 3-pole jack plug. A second stereo input line 816 for left stereo audio is connected to the second ADC 815 and can be connected to the tip T of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug. A second stereo input ground 817 is connected to the second ADC 815 and can be connected to the second ring R2 of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve S of a 3-pole jack plug.

[0195] Finally, as indicated at 818, the circuit system includes a jack plug detection (or “sense”) circuit system. This can be a tip T detection circuit system, a ring R detection circuit system, or a combination of both.

[0196] Figure 8 The circuit system 800 is configured to perform as described above with respect to Figure 7The described process enables automatic detection of SMIC and SLI for a jack plug connected to a jack port inserted into a circuit system. Referring to process 700, when a 3-pole jack plug is detected, ADCs 810, 815 are enabled, and if a relatively large audio signal is detected on the ADCs, the accessory type is identified as a stereo line input (SLI) type accessory (see step 706). If no audio signal is detected, the microphone bias voltage (MBias) is softly ramped up on the tip T and ring 1R1 (e.g., contacts / pins 1 and 2 in the jack port) (e.g., to prevent audio artifacts as discussed above), see stereo lines 803 and 804 connected to the tip T and ring 1R1 contacts and MBias 801 (when their corresponding switches are closed). If a relatively large audio signal is then received at the ADC (once the bias is stable), the accessory type is identified as SMIC (see step 715).

[0197] Then the (MBias) voltage is softly ramped down. As stated above, in the case where the accessory is a headset or a line output load, soft ramping up and down is used to prevent thumps or clicks, etc.

[0198] If none of these steps can detect audio via the ADC, the accessory type is default classified as a line / headset type load (see step 716).

[0199] The detection process can continue indefinitely while continuously monitoring the ADC output, and then if an audio signal is detected on the ADC, the accessory type is reclassified as a line input (LI) (see step 718), and the detection process ends.

[0200] In the case of user intervention (e.g., overriding accessory type detection or enabling headset playback), the detection process ends.

[0201] As explained above regarding step 720, once the MBias ramp down (i.e., disable) is complete, the output of ADCs 810, 815 can be controlled to perform a 'check' procedure (see steps 721 - 723) to verify that no audio signal is present at the ADC anymore, thereby reducing the likelihood of false detection in the case of enabling a line input (LI) signal during the type detection process and ensuring that the accessory device is an SMIC.

[0202] Figures 9a to 9c Illustrative circuit system 900, which can be (or include) the same circuit system as 800, to illustrate a circuit system that emits, or generates, or transmits, etc. ultrasonic tones.

[0203] Figure 9aIllustrated is circuit system 900 and audio jack plug 980 connected to SMIC 970. In this example, the host device ( Figure 9a not specifically indicated in) includes speaker 960, and circuit system 900 includes a third DAC 919, speaker output line 920, and DAC 919 is configured to output an audio signal to speaker 960.

[0204] As described above with reference to step 719, ultrasonic tones can be enabled by causing DAC 919 to cause speaker 960 to emit ultrasonic tones. This is then received at the microphone of the SMIC and is received at ADCs 910, 915 via the connections described above with respect to Figure 8 . As described above, this allows the SMIC to be identified in a quiet environment without causing the host device to emit an audible signal.

[0205] Figure 9b Illustrated is circuit system 900 without the third DAC 919 and speaker output line 920. In this example, the circuit system is still able to identify the stereo accessory 970 as the SMIC by emitting ultrasonic tones. In this example, DAC 906 connected to the headphone output line 907 (output for the left headphone in this example) causes the (left) headphone transducer in the SMIC to send ultrasonic tones, which are then received at the other (right) headphone transducer and are thus received at ADC 910 via the stereo (right) input line 913.

[0206] It should be understood that in all circuit system diagrams, the references to "left" and "right" are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting. For example, the description above with respect to Figure 9b can be interpreted as disclosing that a DAC connected to one headphone output line (left or right) can cause one headphone transducer in the SMIC to send ultrasonic tones, which are received at the other headphone transducer and are thus received at the corresponding ADC in the circuit system, etc.

[0207] In other words, one microphone in the stereo microphone can be caused to operate as a "Tx" microphone, acting like a speaker, to output ultrasonic tones received at the other "Rx" microphone (biased by MBias).

[0208] Figure 9c Schematically illustrated as above with respect to Figure 7The time delay under discussion. Indicated at 954 is the acoustic path on which the emitted ultrasonic tone travels from the Tx transducer to the Rx transducer, while 955 indicates the circuit path on which the return signal can also be sent back to the ADC 910 due to electrical feedback through the common ground impedance of the Tx and Rx microphones. The delay can be pre-determined. The circuitry can be configured to compare the actual delay (detected during live detection) to determine the cause of the feedback, since a deviation from this circuitry path delay during a jack plug detection scenario in the field can indicate an acoustic feedback path, i.e., the presence of a microphone.

[0209] Figure 12 Illustrative process 1200, which incorporates the processes described above (the same boxes of the processes are labeled with the same reference numerals, so for example 1201 corresponds to 601 and 701 as described above Figure 6 and Figure 7 etc.). Specifically, Figure 12 Illustrating two parts of the process, the first part relates to the ability of the process of the present disclosure to continuously detect a stereo line input (SLI) accessory during playback. The second part relates to the detection of a mono microphone (mono MIC) accessory (e.g., connected to a 2-pole or 3-pole jack plug).

[0210] For Figure 7 box 717, at box 1217, it is determined whether there is an audio input at the ADC connected to the tip T and the ring (R or R1) contacts of the jack port having a jack plug therein.

[0211] If there is no audio, box 1217 and subsequent boxes can represent re-evaluating the type of the accessory. At box 1241, the process includes: determining whether playback is enabled (e.g., whether the headphone amplifier is enabled). This can include determining whether the DAC associated with the headphones is outputting data (or at least one DAC is respectively associated with the corresponding headphones, e.g., for left / right headphones). If not enabled, the accessory is classified as a 3-pole SLI accessory (at 1218) (see also boxes 716 and 717 of process 700). If it is determined that playback is enabled, at 1242, the process includes: comparing the playback with the ADC output (e.g., the output data). This can include comparing the ADC output data with the DAC output data. Then it is determined whether they match (at 1243). If the playback and the ADC output data do not match, the accessory is classified as a 3-pole SLI accessory (at 1218). If the playback and the ADC output data match, the method returns to box 1217, where it is determined whether there is an audio input on either of the ADCs connected to pins 1 and 2 (it should be understood that pin 1 is the tip T and pin 2 is the ring R or ring 1R1 (depending on the accessory type, etc.)).

[0212] Figure 13 Exemplary circuit system 1300 (which may include circuit systems 800, 900 as described above with reference to Figure 8 and FIG. 9). Figure 13 FIG. 13 shows circuit system 1300 configured to perform blocks 1241 - 1243 as described above. During playback, the digital ADC 1310, 1315 output data is compared (e.g., continuously compared) with the digital headphone playback data (received at DACs 1306, 1308) by comparators 1361, 1362. For example, each comparator 1361, 1362 is connected to one of the DACs and one of the ADCs and is configured to receive signals from one of the DACs and one of the ADCs. Thus, each comparator 1361, 1362 can be configured to correlate the signals received from the ADC and DAC to which it is connected. When the ADC output is a mix of audio data output by the headphone amplifier and the external line driver, there will be a mismatch between the two signals, and this mismatch will be reported to the host system as a change in the accessory type (replacing the default assumed HP / LL with SLI (see 1216)). At 1370, the enabling (or unmuting) of the external stereo line driver is schematically indicated, and at 1360, the stereo headphone output is schematically indicated.

[0213] The above blocks 1241 - 1243 and circuit system 1300 address the following potential problem. If a stereo LI accessory is inserted into the host device but the external line driver is muted, the device may report the accessory type as HP / LL (see the default classification at 1216) because there is no signal. Then, if the device enables the headphone amplifier (e.g., to play music or output an alert tone, etc.), for example, after a user input, the external line driver is unmuted while the internal headphone amplifier is active. In this case, both the external line driver and the internal headphone amplifier will try to drive the same line. This can cause two problems. First, the audio output of the device may be routed through the headphone amplifier instead of to its speaker (thus, the user may not hear tones and other content intended to be audible to the user because the headphone amplifier is not actually driving the headphones). Second, the external line driver may still not be recognized as a line input accessory. Steps 1241 - 1243 of process 1200 address this potential problem.

[0214] Figure 14A mono accessory connected to a 3-pole jack plug is illustrated at 14a, and a mono accessory connected to a 2-pole jack plug is illustrated at 14b. In each example, the mono accessory is illustrated as a mono microphone.

[0215] Referring again to Figure 12 , process 1200 is capable of differentiating between mono and stereo microphones (e.g., mono and stereo microphone inputs) as follows. These portions of the process utilize the fact that a mono microphone only requires one MICBias channel and one ADC channel to be enabled.

[0216] Referring to block 1212 (and also see block 712), determine whether there is an audio input at either of the ADCs connected to pins 1 and 2 (corresponding to tip T or ring R or R1 respectively). If there is audio, at 1231, process 1200 includes: disabling the MBias on pin 2 (e.g., the MBias applied to the ring), and only disabling the MBias on pin 2, e.g., such that the MBias remains on pin 1 (e.g., remains applied to the tip). At 1232, the process determines whether there is an audio input at the ADC connected to pin 1. In one example, this can be the ADC connected to the right stereo input line (refer to Figure 8 ). If no audio is detected on this ADC, then at 1234, the accessory is classified as a 3-pole stereo microphone (also see block 715). On the other hand, if there is an audio input at the ADC, then at 1233, the accessory is classified as a mono MIC (2-pole or 3-pole mono MIC).

[0217] According to blocks 1231 - 1234 of the process, when an audio input is detected after enabling two MicBiases, the presence of a mono MIC is detected by disabling the MicBias on pin 2, and if an audio signal is still received at the ADC corresponding to pin 2, it is presumed that pins 1 and 2 are shorted (thus, the MIC on pin 2 is biased by the MicBias on pin 1), while if no audio is detected on the ADC corresponding to pin 2, it is presumed to be a stereo MIC.

[0218] Figure 10a and Figure 10b illustrates circuitry 1000 as part of a host device (HD). Circuitry 1000 may include circuitry 800, 900, or 1300 as described above. Figure 10a The circuitry is illustrated more schematically, while Figure 10bIllustrate the circuit system in more detail. Each block, or unit, or module of the circuit system is schematically shown, but it should be understood that depicting them as separate entities is schematic and for illustrative purposes only. In fact, these blocks are depicted as separate merely to convey the functions that the circuit system is configured to perform, rather than to imply that the components for performing one function of the circuit system are different from those for performing another function, etc.

[0219] The circuit system 1000 includes an accessory detection (“AD”) module 1010 and a stereo accessory detection (“SAD”) module 1020, which means that the circuit system 1000 has the functionality of (being configured to) detecting the type of a 4-pole jack plug / accessory (e.g., CTIA or OMTP) (through the AD module 1010) and detecting the type of a 3-pole jack plug / accessory (e.g., SLI or SMIC) (through the SAD module 1020). Figure 10a Show the jack port 1091 of the host device, which receives the jack plug 1080 connected to the accessory 1070, while Figure 10b Schematically show the various connections of the circuit system modules to the schematic jack plug 1080, but it should be understood that these modules are electrically connected to the corresponding contacts on the jack port of the host device that is configured to receive the jack plug (e.g., when inserted into the jack port, the first contact corresponding to the tip T of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug, the second contact corresponding to the ring R of a 3-pole jack plug or the ring 1R1 of a 4-pole jack plug, the third contact corresponding to the sleeve S of a 3-pole jack plug or the ring 2R2 of a 4-pole jack plug, and the fourth contact corresponding to the sleeve S of a 4-pole jack plug).

[0220] The AD circuit system 1010 includes a left audio output circuit system 1011 (e.g., a circuit system for processing the left audio output - see the DAC 806 and the headphone left output line 807 in Figure 8 ), a right audio output circuit system 1012 (e.g., a circuit system for processing the right audio output - see the DAC 808 and the headphone right output line 809), an impedance measurement circuit system 1011 configured to measure the impedance of any of the electrical connectors, a microphone bias circuit system 1013 (see 801, 802, and 803), a microphone and ground switching circuit system 1014 (see the ADC 810 and the lines 811 and 812), and a microphone input circuit system 1015 (see the ADC 810 and the lines 811 and 812).

[0221] The SAD circuit system 1020 includes a first stereo input circuit system 1021 for processing a first stereo input signal, a second stereo input circuit system 1022 for processing a second stereo input signal (see 810 and 815, lines 813 and 816), an impedance measurement circuit system 1025 configured to measure the impedance of any of the electrical connectors, a microphone bias circuit system 1023 (see 801, 804 and 805), and a ground circuit system 1024 (see ADCs 810 and 815 and lines 814 and 817).

[0222] Figure 10a and Figure 10b shows a jack port connected to the circuit system 1000, which is used to determine what kind of accessory is connected to the jack plug received in the jack port. However, the principles disclosed above apply to any number of jack ports. In other words, the host device may include more than one jack port, and the host device may include a "copy" or "version" (e.g., each of its modules and / or components) of the circuit system 1000 for each jack port to determine the type of accessory connected to the jack received in each jack port. If the circuit system 1000 is part of an integrated circuit ("IC"), the host device may include an IC for each jack port to identify the type of each accessory connected to the host device through the jack ports of the host device, or in fact a single IC may include multiple "copies" of the circuit system 1000.

[0223] Figure 10c Schematically shows an arrangement of a circuit system 1000c having N circuit system modules 1001-1,..., 1001-N, each circuit system module being configured to detect the insertion of a jack plug in a corresponding jack port and being configured to detect whether the jack plug is connected to an accessory (such as a 4-pole CITA or OMTP accessory) or a stereo accessory (SMIC or SLI), as described above. In other words, each of the modules in 1001 may include Figure 10a the three modules 1010, 1020 and 1030, each of these modules being associated with a corresponding jack port (e.g., in the host device).

[0224] The circuit system 1000 advantageously allows the host device to accept multiple stereo and non-stereo accessories, thereby allowing (for example) gaming users who wish to play with other players on a network or online and stream on the Internet simultaneously to use the host device. In fact, if the host device has additional jack ports, any other user (such as family / friends, etc.) can join the game / streaming.

[0225] In one example, the circuitry 1000 can be configured such that it can detect and classify a first type of accessory connected to a 4-pole jack plug and a second type of accessory connected to a 3-pole jack plug. This is particularly advantageous for a host device that includes one jack port for a headset and another jack port for an SLI accessory. This will now be described.

[0226] Figure 11a Schematically shown is a circuitry 1100 that includes the modules as described above with respect to Figure 10a but the circuitry 1100 is implemented in a host device 1190 that includes two jack ports 1191, 1192, which are dedicated inputs for a stereo accessory and a non-stereo accessory, respectively. Thus, the host device 1190 is configured to connect to two accessory devices 1170, 1171 through respective electrical connections between its jack ports 1191, 1192 and the corresponding jack plugs 1180, 1181. Like the circuitry 1000 of FIG. 10, the circuitry 1100 has an AD module 1110 and an SAD module 1120, but different from FIG. 10, each of the AD module 1110 and the SAD module 1120 is wired to a different jack port. In this way, by performing the process as Figure 7 stated, the circuitry 1100 is capable of detecting the type of an accessory connected to a 3-pole jack plug received in the first jack port 1191 and the type of an accessory connected to a 4-pole jack plug received in the second jack port 1192. In other words, the circuitry 1100 (e.g., its AD module 1110) can determine whether the accessory 1171 is a CTIA headset or an OMTP headset by performing steps 701 - 711, and the circuitry 1100 (e.g., its SAD module 1120) can determine whether the accessory 1170 is a SMIC or an SLI accessory by performing steps 705 - 718 (including any of the steps such as step 719 or 720).

[0227] Connected to each respective port are jack detection modules 1130 and 1131. The first jack detection module 1130 is configured to detect the insertion and / or removal of the tip of the first jack plug 1180 in the first jack port 1191, and the second jack detection module 1131 is configured to detect the insertion and / or removal of the tip of the second jack plug 1181 in the second jack port 1192.

[0228] The jack detection module of some circuit systems includes tip T detection (or tip T sensing) and ring R detection (or ring R sensing). The tip T detection circuit system is used to detect the insertion and / or removal of the tip T of the jack plug in the jack port, and the ring R detection circuit system is used to detect the insertion and / or removal of the jack plug ring (e.g., R or R1) in the (same) jack port. However, according to the present disclosure, a printed circuit board arrangement is provided that routes the tip T detection circuit system to a first jack port and routes the ring R detection circuit system to a second jack port, such that the same circuit system can detect the presence of two jack plugs in the respective jack ports.

[0229] Figure 11b Schematically shown is a carrier 1150, such as a printed circuit board (“PCB”) or a ceramic main board. According to this arrangement, the carrier or carrier 1150 includes a first conductive path 1151 and a second conductive path 1152 that electrically couple the circuit system 1100 to the respective first and second jack ports indicated by 1191 and 1192, respectively (although indicated by jack plugs, it should be understood that this is schematic and intended to indicate which contacts on the respective jack ports the circuit system is connected to). This configuration of the PCB takes advantage of the fact that within the circuit system, the ring R detection / sensing circuit system can be effectively repurposed as the tip T detection circuit system, such that the circuit system that may already have been employed to detect the insertion and / or removal of the (tip T and ring R of the) jack plug in the jack port can be used to detect the insertion and / or removal of two jack plugs in the respective jack ports.

[0230] In this way, the circuit system can be considered to include a first tip detection circuit system and a second tip detection circuit system each configured to detect the insertion and / or removal of a respective jack plug in a jack port. Similarly, the circuit system can be considered to include a tip T detection circuit system configured to detect the insertion and / or removal of a first jack plug in a first jack port and a ring R detection circuit system configured to detect the insertion and / or removal of a second jack plug in a second jack port. Thus, the ring R detection circuit system can be configured to detect the insertion and / or removal of a respective jack plug in a jack port. Therefore, the terms “ring R detection / sensing” and “tip T detection / sensing” can be considered interchangeable in some cases, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the examples described.

[0231] According to Figure 11a and Figure 11b the arrangement shown, the carrier 1150 can thus be considered to support a first module 1110 configured to detect at least partial reception of a respective jack plug in a respective jack port (see Figure 11b("RING_SENSE" in) and a second module 1130 (see Figure 11b ("TIP_SENSE" in), where conductive paths 1151 and 1152 connect these modules to corresponding jack ports (see Figure 11a the connection of connection modules 1130 and 1131 to the lines of "sockets" 1191 and 1192).

[0232] The carrier 1150 may include the circuitry 1100 and / or may include at least one of the jack ports 1191, 1192. It should be understood that in the example, Figure 11b any or all of the components arranged may be provided on a monolithic structure (e.g., a monolithic PCB).

[0233] Figure 11c The circuitry 1100 is shown in more detail in an example where the circuitry is for dedicated jack ports (one dedicated jack port for a stereo accessory and one dedicated jack port for a non - stereo accessory). Refer to Figure 10b The same reference numerals are used for the same reference numerals. Like Figure 10b the circuitry 1100 includes a tip detection (TD) module, an audio detection (AD) module 1110, and a stereo audio detection (SAD) module 1120, but different from Figure 10b the circuitry 1100 (e.g., via a PCB, i.e., the carrier, which is the arrangement described above with reference to Figure 11a is electrically connected to two jack ports (schematically indicated by jack plugs 1180, 1181). In other words, by means of a carrier including conductive paths to electrically connect TIP_SENSE to a first jack port and RING_SENSE to a second jack port (where RING_SENSE may be configured to detect the presence of the tip T of a second jack plug in the second jack port), the circuitry 1100 can be configured to detect the presence of two jack plugs and thus be compatible with a device including two jack ports. In this example, for Figure 11a and Figure 11b , to illustrate the application of the circuitry 1100, the device is shown as receiving a 4 - pole jack plug 1181 and a 3 - pole jack plug 1180, but again referring to Figure 10c , the principles of the present disclosure can be applied to a host device having any number of jack ports.

[0234] Figure 11d A general carrier 1150 is shown to illustrate the general principles of the present disclosure, where Figures 11a to 11c an example is depicted. Figure 11d The carrier 1150 implemented in a host device 1190 is shown, the host device including two jack ports 1191 and 1192. In Figures 11a to 11cIn the example, these jack ports are dedicated stereo and non-stereo accessory ports, but Figure 11d it is shown that they can be non-dedicated ports. In Figure 11d the example, the two ports 1191, 1192 remain connected to the circuitry 1100. More specifically, the carrier 1150 includes a first conductive path 1151 and a second conductive path 1152 that respectively electrically connect the corresponding ports 1191, 1192 to the circuitry 1000.

[0235] Of course, in an example where the ports 1191, 1192 are dedicated to stereo and non-stereo accessories respectively, the arrangement of the circuitry 1000 can be as depicted in Figures 11a to 11c but the principles of the present disclosure are equally applicable to a device having two "general-purpose" jack ports (e.g., not "dedicated" jack ports and capable of accepting both stereo and non-stereo accessories). This will now be described. Figure 11d The circuitry 1100 of can include the above Figure 10c arrangement, but using the principles described above with reference to Figures 11a to 11c the jack detection circuitry or module "JD2" 1031c can include the "RING_SENSE" module of the circuitry as described above. In other words, the TIP_SENSE and RIG_SENSE of the circuitry 1000 can be connected to the ports 1091c, 1092c, and each of these ports can be connected to both a stereo accessory module (SAD) and an accessory detection module (AD), such that the circuitry 1000 can perform the process described above with reference to Figures 5 to 7 for each of the ports 1901, 1092, and the insertion of a jack plug into each port can be as described above with reference to Figures 11a to 11c (where the tip detection module of the circuitry 1000 detects the insertion of one jack plug into one jack port, and the ring detection module of the circuitry 1000 detects the insertion of another jack plug into another jack port).

[0236] In other words, depending on the intended design of the host device, the circuitry can be used in conjunction with two jack ports and can include two SAD modules (if it is known in advance that the device is intended to support two stereo accessories), two AD modules (if it is known in advance that the device is intended to support two headset / microphone type accessories), or one SAD and one AD (if it is known in advance that the device is intended to support one of each type of accessory), and in each example, the circuitry 1100 has the functionality of detecting the insertion of two jack plugs by means of its two "jack detection" modules. Of course, for other arrangements, such as when the type of accessory is not known in advance, the circuitry of the circuitry depicted in Figures 10a to 10c can be used; however, Figures 11a to 1The advantage of the 1e arrangement is that, by means of Figure 11b the PCB arrangement disclosed, it is possible to use, for example, one IC to detect the insertion of two jack plugs.

[0237] All of the examples and conditional language recited herein are intended to aid the reader in understanding the present disclosure and the teaching of the concepts contributed by the inventors to advance the art, and should not be construed as being limited to such specifically recited examples and conditions.

[0238] Accordingly, those skilled in the art will recognize that some aspects of the above-described circuitry, apparatus, and methods may be embodied as processor control code, for example, on a non-volatile carrier medium such as a disk, a CD-ROM, or a DVD-ROM, a programmable memory such as a read-only memory (firmware), or on a data carrier such as an optical or electrical signal carrier. For many applications, the embodiments described herein may be implemented on a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), and / or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). Accordingly, any code may include conventional program code or microcode, or, for example, code for setting or controlling an ASIC or an FPGA. The code may also include code for dynamically configuring reconfigurable circuitry and / or devices such as reprogrammable logic gate arrays. Similarly, the code may include code for a hardware description language such as VerilogTM or VHDL (Very High Speed Integrated Circuit Hardware Description Language). As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the code may be distributed among multiple coupled components that communicate with each other. In appropriate cases, code for operating on a field programmable (re)programmable analog array or similar device to configure analog hardware may also be used to implement the embodiments described herein.

[0239] It should be noted that the above embodiments illustrate rather than limit any invention contained herein, and those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims and / or the recited features. The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in the claims and / or the recited features, "a" does not exclude a plurality, and a single feature or other unit may fulfill the functions of several units recited in the claims and / or the recited features. Any reference signs or labels in the claims and / or the recited features should not be construed as limiting their scope.

[0240] Examples of the present disclosure may be provided in accordance with any of the following numbered statements:

[0241] 1. A circuitry for detecting the type of a fitting connected to a first jack plug inserted into a first jack port, the circuitry being configured to:

[0242] Determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or ring of the first jack plug; and in the case where there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug,

[0243] Determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo line input accessory connected to a 3-pole jack plug.

[0244] 2. The circuit system according to statement 1, wherein the circuit system is further configured to, in the case where there is no audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug:

[0245] Enable microphone bias to be applied to the tip and the ring of the first jack plug; and

[0246] Determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug in response to the microphone bias; and in the case where there is an audio signal in response to the microphone bias,

[0247] Determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone.

[0248] 3. The circuit system according to statement 2, wherein the circuit system is further configured to, in the case where there is no audio signal in response to the microphone bias:

[0249] Determine that the type of the accessory is a headset and / or a line load.

[0250] 4. The circuit system according to statement 2, wherein the circuit system is further configured to:

[0251] Disable the microphone bias; and check whether the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone, wherein for performing the check, the circuit system is configured to:

[0252] Re-enable the microphone bias to the tip and the ring of the first jack plug;

[0253] Determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug in response to the re-enabled microphone bias.

[0254] 5. The circuit system according to statement 4, wherein the circuit system is further configured to, in the case where there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug in response to the re-enabled microphone bias:

[0255] Confirm that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone.

[0256] 6. The circuit system as described in statement 1, wherein the circuit system is further configured to, in the absence of an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug:

[0257] Enable microphone biasing to the tip and the ring of the first jack plug; and

[0258] Determine whether an audio signal is present at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug in response to the microphone biasing; and, in the case where an audio signal is present in response to the microphone biasing:

[0259] Disable the microphone biasing applied to the ring of the first jack plug

[0260] Determine whether an audio input is present on the tip of the first jack plug; and, in the case where an audio input is present on the tip of the first jack plug,

[0261] Determine that the type of the accessory is a mono microphone connected to a 2-pole or 3-pole jack plug; and, in the case where no audio input is present on the tip of the first jack plug,

[0262] Determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone.

[0263] 7. The circuit system as described in statement 3, wherein the circuit system is further configured to:

[0264] Disable the microphone biasing; and

[0265] Determine whether an audio signal is present at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug, and, in the case where an audio signal is present:

[0266] Reclassify the type of the accessory as a stereo line input accessory.

[0267] 8. The circuit system as described in statement 3 or 7, wherein the circuit system is configured to:

[0268] Disable the microphone biasing;

[0269] Determine whether playback is enabled on the accessory connected to the first jack plug;

[0270] Compare the output of one or more digital-to-analog converters with the output of one or more analog-to-digital converters;

[0271] Determine whether the digital-to-analog converter output matches the analog-to-digital converter output; and, in the case where the outputs do not match,

[0272] Reclassify the type of the accessory as a stereo line input accessory.

[0273] 9. The circuit system as described in any of the foregoing statements, the circuit system being further configured such that in the absence of an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug:

[0274] Enable an ultrasonic tone; and

[0275] Determine whether an ultrasonic signal is present at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug in response to the ultrasonic tone, and in the case where the ultrasonic signal is present at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug,

[0276] Determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone.

[0277] 10. The circuit system as described in statement 9, wherein the circuit system is further configured such that in the absence of an ultrasonic signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug in response to the ultrasonic tone:

[0278] Determine that the type of the accessory is a headset and / or a line load.

[0279] 11. The circuit system as described in statement 9 or 10, wherein in order to enable the ultrasonic tone, the circuit system is configured to:

[0280] Cause the ultrasonic tone to be output from one or more speakers and / or cause a transducer to transmit the ultrasonic tone.

[0281] 12. The circuit system as described in statement 11, wherein the circuit system is further configured to:

[0282] Determine the delay between receiving the ultrasonic tone through an electrical path from the transducer and / or the speaker that outputs the ultrasonic tone and receiving the ultrasonic tone through an acoustic path between the transducer and / or the speaker that outputs the ultrasonic tone and the transducer that receives the ultrasonic tone.

[0283] 13. The circuit system as described in any of the foregoing statements, further comprising:

[0284] A first jack plug detection module configured to detect whether the first jack plug is received in the first jack port.

[0285] 14. The circuit system as described in any of the foregoing statements, comprising: a first circuit system module and a second circuit system module, wherein the first circuit system module includes at least one of the following:

[0286] A left audio output circuit system;

[0287] Right audio output circuit system;

[0288] Impedance measurement circuit system;

[0289] Microphone bias circuit system;

[0290] Microphone and ground switching circuit system; and

[0291] Microphone input circuit system;

[0292] And wherein the second circuit system module includes at least one of the following:

[0293] First stereo input circuit system;

[0294] Second stereo input circuit system;

[0295] Impedance measurement circuit system;

[0296] Microphone bias circuit system; and

[0297] Grounding circuit system.

[0298] 15. The circuit system according to any of the foregoing statements, wherein the circuit system further includes at least one of the following:

[0299] First voltage bias source;

[0300] First earphone bias line, the first earphone bias line being connected to the bias and capable of being connected to the sleeve of a 4-pole jack plug;

[0301] Second earphone bias line, the second earphone bias line being connected to the bias and capable of being connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug;

[0302] First stereo input line for left audio input, the first stereo input line being connected to the bias and capable of being connected to the tip of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug;

[0303] Second stereo input line for right audio input, the second stereo input line being connected to the bias and capable of being connected to the ring of a 3-pole jack plug or the first ring of a 4-pole jack plug;

[0304] First digital-to-analog converter;

[0305] First headphone line for left headphone output, the first headphone line being connected to the first digital-to-analog converter and capable of being connected to the tip of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug;

[0306] Second digital-to-analog converter;

[0307] A second headphone line for the output of the right headphone, the second headphone line being connected to the second digital-to-analog converter and being capable of being connected to the ring of a 3-pole jack plug or the first ring of a 4-pole jack plug;

[0308] A first analog-to-digital converter;

[0309] A first headset line, the first headset line being connected to the first analog-to-digital converter and being capable of being connected to the sleeve of a 4-pole jack plug;

[0310] A second headset line, the second headset line being connected to the first analog-to-digital converter and being capable of being connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug;

[0311] A first stereo input line for right stereo audio, the first stereo input line being connected to the first analog-to-digital converter and being capable of being connected to the ring of a 3-pole jack plug or the first ring of a 4-pole jack plug; and

[0312] A first stereo input ground line, the first stereo input ground line being capable of being connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug;

[0313] A second analog-to-digital converter;

[0314] A second stereo input line for left stereo audio, the second stereo input line being connected to the second analog-to-digital converter and being capable of being connected to the tip of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug;

[0315] A second stereo input ground line, the second stereo input ground line being connected to the second analog-to-digital converter and being capable of being connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug; and

[0316] A third digital-to-analog converter, the third digital-to-analog converter being configured to output an audio signal to a speaker.

[0317] 16. The circuit system according to any one of the preceding statements, wherein the circuit system is further configured to detect the type of a fitting connected to a second jack plug inserted into a second jack port, the circuit system being configured to:

[0318] Determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or ring of the second jack plug; and in the case where there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug,

[0319] Determine that the type of the fitting is a stereo line input fitting connected to a 3-pole jack plug.

[0320] 17. The circuit system as described in statement 16, wherein the circuit system is further configured such that in the absence of an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug:

[0321] Enable microphone biasing to the tip and the ring of the second jack plug; and

[0322] Determine whether an audio signal is present at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug in response to the microphone biasing; and in the case where an audio signal is present in response to the microphone biasing,

[0323] Determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone.

[0324] 18. The circuit system as described in statement 17, wherein the circuit system is further configured such that in the absence of an audio signal in response to the microphone biasing:

[0325] Determine that the type of the accessory is a headset and / or a line load.

[0326] 19. The circuit system as described in statement 17, wherein the circuit system is further configured to:

[0327] Disable the microphone biasing; and check whether the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone, wherein to perform the check, the circuit system is configured to:

[0328] Re - enable the microphone biasing to the tip and the ring of the second jack plug;

[0329] Determine whether an audio signal is present at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug in response to the re - enabled microphone biasing.

[0330] 20. The circuit system as described in statement 19, wherein the circuit system is further configured such that in the case where an audio signal is present at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug in response to the re - enabled microphone biasing:

[0331] Confirm that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone.

[0332] 21. The circuit system as described in statement 16, wherein the circuit system is further configured such that in the absence of an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug:

[0333] Enable microphone biasing to the tip and the ring of the second jack plug; and

[0334] Determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug in response to the microphone bias; and in the case where there is an audio signal in response to the microphone bias:

[0335] Disable the microphone bias applied to the ring of the second jack plug

[0336] Determine whether there is an audio input at the tip of the second jack plug; and in the case where there is an audio input at the tip of the second jack plug,

[0337] Determine that the type of the accessory is a mono microphone connected to a 2-pole or 3-pole jack plug; and in the case where there is no audio input at the tip of the second jack plug,

[0338] Determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone.

[0339] 22. The circuit system according to statement 17, wherein the circuit system is further configured to:

[0340] Disable the microphone bias; and

[0341] Determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug, and in the case where there is an audio signal:

[0342] Reclassify the type of the accessory as a stereo line input accessory.

[0343] 23. The circuit system according to any one of statements 18, wherein the circuit system is configured to:

[0344] Disable the microphone bias;

[0345] Determine whether playback is enabled on the accessory connected to the second jack plug;

[0346] Compare the output of one or more digital-to-analog converters with the output of one or more analog-to-digital converters;

[0347] Determine whether the digital-to-analog converter output matches the analog-to-digital converter output; and in the case where the outputs do not match,

[0348] Reclassify the type of the accessory as a stereo line input accessory.

[0349] 24. The circuit system according to any one of statements 16 to 23, wherein the circuit system is further configured to, in the case where there is no audio signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug:

[0350] Enable an ultrasonic tone; and

[0351] Determine whether there is an ultrasonic signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug in response to the ultrasonic tone, and in the case where there is an ultrasonic signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug;

[0352] Determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone.

[0353] 25. The circuit system according to statement 24, wherein the circuit system is further configured to, in the case where there is no ultrasonic signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug in response to the ultrasonic tone:

[0354] Determine that the type of the accessory is a headset and / or a line load.

[0355] 26. The circuit system according to statement 24 or 25, wherein, in order to enable the ultrasonic tone, the circuit system is configured to:

[0356] Cause the ultrasonic tone to be output from one or more speakers and / or cause a transducer to transmit the ultrasonic tone.

[0357] 27. The circuit system according to statement 26, wherein the circuit system is further configured to:

[0358] Determine the delay between receiving the ultrasonic tone through an electrical path from the transducer and / or the speaker that outputs the ultrasonic tone and receiving the ultrasonic tone through an acoustic path between the transducer and / or the speaker that outputs the ultrasonic tone and the transducer that receives the ultrasonic tone.

[0359] 28. The circuit system according to any one of statements 16 to 27, further comprising:

[0360] A second jack plug detection module configured to detect whether the second jack plug is received in the first jack port.

[0361] 29. The circuit system according to any one of statements 16 to 28, comprising: a third circuit system module and a fourth circuit system module, wherein the third circuit system module includes at least one of the following:

[0362] A left audio output circuit system;

[0363] A right audio output circuit system;

[0364] An impedance measurement circuit system;

[0365] A microphone bias circuit system;

[0366] Microphone and ground switching circuit system; and

[0367] Microphone input circuit system;

[0368] And wherein said fourth circuit system module includes at least one of the following:

[0369] First stereo input circuit system;

[0370] Second stereo input circuit system;

[0371] Impedance measurement circuit system;

[0372] Microphone bias circuit system; and

[0373] Grounding circuit system.

[0374] 30. The circuit system according to any one of statements 16 to 29, wherein said circuit system further includes at least one of the following:

[0375] Third voltage bias source;

[0376] Third earphone bias line, said third earphone bias line being connected to said bias and capable of being connected to the sleeve of a 4-pole jack plug;

[0377] Fourth earphone bias line, said fourth earphone bias line being connected to said bias and capable of being connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug;

[0378] Third stereo input line for left audio input, said third stereo input line being connected to said bias and capable of being connected to the tip of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug;

[0379] Fourth stereo input line for right audio input, said fourth stereo input line being connected to said bias and capable of being connected to the ring of a 3-pole jack plug or the first ring of a 4-pole jack plug;

[0380] Third digital-to-analog converter;

[0381] Third headphone line for left headphone output, said third headphone line being connected to said third digital-to-analog converter and capable of being connected to the tip of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug;

[0382] Fourth digital-to-analog converter;

[0383] Fourth headphone line for right headphone output, said fourth headphone line being connected to said fourth digital-to-analog converter and capable of being connected to the ring of a 3-pole jack plug or the first ring of a 4-pole jack plug;

[0384] Third analog-to-digital converter

[0385] A third earphone line, the third earphone line being connected to the third analog-to-digital converter and capable of being connected to the sleeve of a 4-pole jack plug;

[0386] A fourth earphone line, the fourth earphone line being connected to the fourth analog-to-digital converter and capable of being connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug;

[0387] A third stereo input line for right stereo audio, the third stereo input line being connected to the third analog-to-digital converter and capable of being connected to the ring of a 3-pole jack plug or the first ring of a 4-pole jack plug;

[0388] A third stereo input ground line, the third stereo input ground line being capable of being connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug;

[0389] A fourth analog-to-digital converter;

[0390] A fourth stereo input line for left stereo audio, the fourth stereo input line being connected to the fourth analog-to-digital converter and capable of being connected to the tip of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug;

[0391] A fourth stereo input ground line, the fourth stereo input ground line being connected to the fourth analog-to-digital converter and capable of being connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug; and

[0392] A fifth digital-to-analog converter, the fifth digital-to-analog converter being configured to output an audio signal to a speaker.

[0393] 31. A carrier, comprising: a circuit system as described in any one of statements 1 to 30, wherein the carrier comprises: a first conductive path configured to connect the circuit system to a first audio jack port; and a second conductive path configured to connect the circuit system to a second audio jack port.

[0394] 32. The carrier as described in statement 31, comprising: the first audio jack port and the second audio jack port.

[0395] 33. A device, comprising: a circuit system as described in any one of statements 1 to 30 or a carrier as described in statement 31 or 32.

[0396] 34. A carrier, comprising: a first conductive path and a second conductive path, wherein the first conductive path is configured to electrically connect a circuit system to a first jack port, and wherein the second conductive path is configured to electrically connect the circuit system to a second jack port.

[0397] 35. The carrier as described in statement 34, wherein the circuitry comprises: a first module configured to detect insertion of a first audio jack into the first jack port; and a second module configured to detect insertion of a second jack plug into the second jack port; wherein the first conductive path is configured to electrically connect the first module to the first jack port, and wherein the second conductive path is configured to electrically connect the second module to the second jack port.

[0398] 36. The carrier as described in statement 34 or 35, wherein the circuitry comprises a tip detection circuitry and a ring detection circuitry, wherein the first conductive path is configured to electrically connect the tip detection circuitry to the first jack port, and wherein the second conductive path is configured to electrically connect the ring detection circuitry to the second jack port.

[0399] 37. The carrier as described in statement 36, wherein the tip detection circuitry is configured to detect full insertion of the first audio jack plug into the first jack port, and wherein the ring detection circuitry is configured to detect full insertion of the second audio jack plug into the second jack port.

[0400] 38. The carrier as described in statement 34 or 35, wherein the circuitry comprises a first tip detection circuitry and a second tip detection circuitry, wherein the first conductive path is configured to electrically connect the first tip detection circuitry to the first jack port, and wherein the second conductive path is configured to electrically connect the second tip detection circuitry to the second jack port.

[0401] 39. The carrier as described in statement 38, wherein the first tip detection circuitry is configured to detect full insertion of the first audio jack plug into the first jack port, and wherein the second tip detection circuitry is configured to detect full insertion of the second audio jack plug into the second jack port.

[0402] 40. The carrier as described in any one of statements 34 to 39, comprising: the first audio jack port and the second audio jack port.

[0403] 41. The carrier as described in any one of statements 34 to 40, comprising: the circuitry.

[0404] 42. The carrier as described in statement 41, wherein the circuitry is configured to detect the type of accessory connected to the first jack plug inserted into the first jack port, the circuitry being configured to:

[0405] Determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or ring of the first jack plug; and in the case where there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug,

[0406] Determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo line input accessory.

[0407] 43. The carrier as described in statement 42, wherein the circuitry is further configured to, in the case where there is no audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug:

[0408] Enable microphone bias to be applied to the tip and the ring of the first jack plug; and

[0409] Determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug in response to the microphone bias; and in the case where there is an audio signal in response to the microphone bias,

[0410] Determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone.

[0411] 44. The carrier as described in statement 43, wherein the circuitry is further configured to, in the case where there is no audio signal in response to the microphone bias:

[0412] Determine that the type of the accessory is a headset and / or a line load.

[0413] 45. The carrier as described in statement 43, wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

[0414] Disable the microphone bias, and check whether the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone, wherein to perform the check, the circuitry is configured to:

[0415] Re-enable the microphone bias to the tip and the ring of the first jack plug;

[0416] Determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug in response to the re-enabled microphone bias.

[0417] 46. The carrier as described in statement 45, wherein the circuitry is further configured to, in the case where there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug in response to the re-enabled microphone bias:

[0418] Confirm that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone.

[0419] 47. The carrier as described in statement 42, wherein the circuitry is further configured such that in the absence of an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug:

[0420] Enable microphone bias to the tip and the ring of the first jack plug; and

[0421] Determine whether an audio signal is present at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug in response to the microphone bias; and in the case where an audio signal is present in response to the microphone bias:

[0422] Disable the microphone bias applied to the ring of the first jack plug;

[0423] Determine whether an audio input is present on the tip of the first jack plug; and in the case where an audio input is present on the tip of the first jack plug,

[0424] Determine that the type of the accessory is a mono microphone connected to a 2-pole or 3-pole jack plug; and in the case where no audio input is present on the tip of the first jack plug,

[0425] Determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone.

[0426] 48. The carrier as described in statement 44, wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

[0427] Disable the microphone bias; and

[0428] Determine whether an audio signal is present at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug, and in the case where an audio signal is present:

[0429] Reclassify the type of the accessory as a stereo line input accessory.

[0430] 49. The carrier as described in statement 44, wherein the circuitry is configured to:

[0431] Disable the microphone bias;

[0432] Determine whether playback is enabled on the accessory connected to the first jack plug;

[0433] Compare the output of one or more digital-to-analog converters with the output of one or more analog-to-digital converters;

[0434] Determine whether the digital-to-analog converter output matches the analog-to-digital converter output; and in the case where the outputs do not match,

[0435] Reclassify the type of the accessory as a stereo line input accessory.

[0436] 50. The carrier as described in any one of statements 42 to 49, wherein the circuit system is further configured such that in the absence of an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug:

[0437] Enable an ultrasonic tone; and

[0438] Determine whether an ultrasonic signal is present at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug in response to the ultrasonic tone, and in the case where the ultrasonic signal is present at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug;

[0439] Determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone.

[0440] 51. The carrier as described in statement 50, wherein the circuit system is further configured such that in the absence of an ultrasonic signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug in response to the ultrasonic tone:

[0441] Determine that the type of the accessory is a headset and / or a line load.

[0442] 52. The carrier as described in statement 50 or 51, wherein in order to enable the ultrasonic tone, the circuit system is configured to:

[0443] Cause the ultrasonic tone to be output from one or more speakers and / or cause a transducer to transmit the ultrasonic tone.

[0444] 53. The carrier as described in statement 52, wherein the circuit system is further configured to:

[0445] Determine the delay between receiving the ultrasonic tone through an electrical path from the transducer and / or the speaker that outputs the ultrasonic tone and receiving the ultrasonic tone through an acoustic path between the transducer and / or the speaker that outputs the ultrasonic tone and the transducer that receives the ultrasonic tone.

[0446] 54. The carrier as described in any one of statements 42 to 53, wherein the circuit system further comprises:

[0447] A first jack plug detection module configured to detect whether the first jack plug is received in the first jack port.

[0448] 55. The carrier as described in any one of statements 42 to 54, wherein the circuit system further comprises a first circuit system module and a second circuit system module, and the first circuit system module comprises at least one of the following:

[0449] Left audio output circuit system;

[0450] Right audio output circuit system;

[0451] Impedance measurement circuit system;

[0452] Microphone bias circuit system;

[0453] Microphone and ground switching circuit system; and

[0454] Microphone input circuit system;

[0455] And wherein said second circuit system module includes at least one of the following:

[0456] First stereo input circuit system;

[0457] Second stereo input circuit system;

[0458] Impedance measurement circuit system;

[0459] Microphone bias circuit system; and

[0460] Grounding circuit system.

[0461] 56. The carrier according to any one of statements 42 to 55, wherein said circuit system includes at least one of the following:

[0462] First voltage bias source;

[0463] First earphone bias line, said first earphone bias line being connected to said bias and capable of being connected to the sleeve of a 4-pole jack plug;

[0464] Second earphone bias line, said second earphone bias line being connected to said bias and capable of being connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug;

[0465] First stereo left line, said first stereo left line being connected to said bias and capable of being connected to the tip of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug;

[0466] Second stereo right line, said second stereo right line being connected to said bias and capable of being connected to the ring of a 3-pole jack plug or the first ring of a 4-pole jack plug;

[0467] First digital-to-analog converter;

[0468] First left headphone output line, said first left headphone output line being connected to said first digital-to-analog converter and capable of being connected to the tip of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug;

[0469] Second digital-to-analog converter;

[0470] The first right headphone output line, which is connected to the second digital-to-analog converter and can be connected to the ring of a 3-pole jack plug or the first ring of a 4-pole jack plug;

[0471] The first analog-to-digital converter

[0472] The first headset line, which is connected to the first analog-to-digital converter and can be connected to the sleeve of a 4-pole jack plug;

[0473] The second headset line, which is connected to the first analog-to-digital converter and can be connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug;

[0474] The first right stereo input line, which is connected to the first analog-to-digital converter and can be connected to the ring of a 3-pole jack plug or the first ring of a 4-pole jack plug;

[0475] The first stereo input ground line, which can be connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug;

[0476] The second analog-to-digital converter;

[0477] The first left stereo input line, which is connected to the second analog-to-digital converter and can be connected to the tip of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug;

[0478] The second stereo input ground line, which is connected to the second analog-to-digital converter and can be connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug; and

[0479] The third digital-to-analog converter, which is configured to output an audio signal to a speaker.

[0480] 57. The carrier according to any one of statements 42 to 56, wherein the circuit system is configured to detect the type of the accessory connected to the second jack plug inserted into the second jack port, and the integrated circuit is configured to:

[0481] Determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug; and in the case where there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug,

[0482] Determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo line input accessory and determine that the second jack plug is a 3-pole jack plug.

[0483] 58. The carrier as described in statement 57, wherein the circuitry is further configured such that in the absence of an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug:

[0484] Enable microphone biasing to the tip and the ring of the second jack plug; and

[0485] Determine whether an audio signal is present at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug in response to the microphone biasing; and in the case where an audio signal is present in response to the microphone biasing,

[0486] Determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone and determine that the second jack plug is a 3 - pole jack plug.

[0487] 59. The carrier as described in statement 58, wherein the circuitry is further configured such that in the absence of an audio signal in response to the microphone biasing:

[0488] Determine that the type of the accessory is a headset and / or a line load and determine that the second jack plug is a 3 - pole jack plug.

[0489] 60. The carrier as described in statement 58, wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

[0490] Disable the microphone biasing; and check whether the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone, wherein to perform the check, the circuitry is configured to:

[0491] Re - enable subsequent microphone biasing to the tip and the ring of the second jack plug;

[0492] Determine whether an audio signal is present at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug in response to the re - enabled microphone biasing.

[0493] 61. The carrier as described in statement 60, wherein the circuitry is further configured such that in the case where an audio signal is present at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug in response to the re - enabled microphone biasing:

[0494] Confirm that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone.

[0495] 62. The carrier as described in statement 57, wherein the circuitry is further configured such that in the absence of an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug:

[0496] Enable microphone biasing to the tip and the ring of the second jack plug; and

[0497] Determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug in response to the microphone bias; and in the case where there is an audio signal in response to the microphone bias:

[0498] Disable the microphone bias applied to the ring of the second jack plug

[0499] Determine whether there is an audio input at the tip of the second jack plug; and in the case where there is an audio input at the tip of the second jack plug,

[0500] Determine that the type of the accessory is a mono microphone connected to a two-pole or three-pole jack plug; and in the case where there is no audio input at the tip of the second jack plug,

[0501] Determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone.

[0502] 63. The carrier according to statement 59, wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

[0503] Disable the microphone bias; and

[0504] Determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug, and in the case where there is an audio signal:

[0505] Reclassify the type of the accessory as a stereo line input accessory.

[0506] 64. The carrier according to any one of statements 59, wherein the circuitry is configured to:

[0507] Disable the microphone bias;

[0508] Determine whether playback is enabled on the accessory connected to the second jack plug;

[0509] Compare the output of one or more digital-to-analog converters with the output of one or more analog-to-digital converters;

[0510] Determine whether the digital-to-analog converter output matches the analog-to-digital converter output; and in the case where the outputs do not match,

[0511] Reclassify the type of the accessory as a stereo line input accessory.

[0512] 65. The carrier according to any one of statements 57 to 64, wherein the circuitry is further configured to, in the case where there is no audio signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug:

[0513] Enable an ultrasonic tone; and

[0514] Determine whether there is an ultrasonic signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug in response to the ultrasonic tone, and in the case where there is an ultrasonic signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug,

[0515] Determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone and determine that the second jack plug is a three-pole jack plug.

[0516] 66. The carrier according to statement 65, wherein the circuit system is further configured to, in the case where there is no ultrasonic signal at the tip or the ring of the second jack plug in response to the ultrasonic tone:

[0517] Determine that the type of the accessory is a headset and / or a line load.

[0518] 67. The carrier according to statement 65 or 66, wherein to enable the ultrasonic tone, the circuit system is configured to:

[0519] Cause the ultrasonic tone to be output from one or more speakers and / or cause a transducer to transmit the ultrasonic tone.

[0520] 68. The carrier according to statement 67, wherein the circuit system is further configured to:

[0521] Determine the delay between receiving the ultrasonic tone through an electrical path from the transducer and / or the speaker that outputs the ultrasonic tone and receiving the ultrasonic tone through an acoustic path between the transducer and / or the speaker that outputs the ultrasonic tone and the transducer that receives the ultrasonic tone.

[0522] 69. The carrier according to any one of statements 57 to 68, further comprising:

[0523] A second jack plug detection module configured to detect whether the second jack plug is received in the first jack port.

[0524] 70. The carrier according to any one of statements 57 to 69, wherein the circuit system further comprises a third circuit system module and a fourth circuit system module, and the third circuit system module includes at least one of the following:

[0525] Left audio output circuit system;

[0526] Right audio output circuit system;

[0527] Impedance measurement circuit system;

[0528] Microphone bias circuit system;

[0529] Microphone and ground switching circuit system; and

[0530] Microphone input circuit system;

[0531] And the fourth circuit system module includes at least one of the following:

[0532] First stereo input circuit system;

[0533] Second stereo input circuit system;

[0534] Impedance measurement circuit system;

[0535] Microphone bias circuit system; and

[0536] Grounding circuit system.

[0537] 71. The carrier according to any one of statements 57 to 70, wherein the circuit system further includes at least one of the following:

[0538] Third voltage bias source;

[0539] Third earphone bias line, the third earphone bias line is connected to the bias and can be connected to the sleeve of a 4-pole jack plug;

[0540] Fourth earphone bias line, the fourth earphone bias line is connected to the bias and can be connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug;

[0541] Third stereo left line, the third stereo left line is connected to the bias and can be connected to the tip of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug;

[0542] Fourth stereo right line, the fourth stereo right line is connected to the bias and can be connected to the ring of a 3-pole jack plug or the first ring of a 4-pole jack plug;

[0543] Third digital-to-analog converter;

[0544] Third left headphone output line, the third left headphone output line is connected to the third digital-to-analog converter and can be connected to the tip of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug;

[0545] Fourth digital-to-analog converter;

[0546] Third right headphone output line, the third right headphone output line is connected to the fourth digital-to-analog converter and can be connected to the ring of a 3-pole jack plug or the first ring of a 4-pole jack plug;

[0547] Third analog-to-digital converter

[0548] A third earphone line, the third earphone line being connected to the third analog-to-digital converter and being capable of being connected to the sleeve of a 4-pole jack plug;

[0549] A fourth earphone line, the fourth earphone line being connected to the fourth analog-to-digital converter and being capable of being connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug;

[0550] A third right stereo input line, the third right stereo input line being connected to the third analog-to-digital converter and being capable of being connected to the ring of a 3-pole jack plug or the first ring of a 4-pole jack plug;

[0551] A third stereo input ground line, the third stereo input ground line being capable of being connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug;

[0552] A fourth analog-to-digital converter;

[0553] A third left stereo input line, the third left stereo input line being connected to the fourth analog-to-digital converter and being capable of being connected to the tip of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug;

[0554] A fourth stereo input ground line, the fourth stereo input ground line being connected to the fourth analog-to-digital converter and being capable of being connected to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug; and

[0555] A fifth digital-to-analog converter, the fifth digital-to-analog converter being configured to output an audio signal to a speaker.

[0556] 72. An apparatus, comprising: a carrier as described in any one of statements 34 to 71.

[0557] As would be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art, as used herein, the term "circuitry" may include any and all combinations of analog and / or digital hardware circuitry, firmware, and / or software, including any and all boxes, modules, programs, and / or flowcharts, etc. that can produce the same desired output, functionality, and / or result. Additionally, "circuitry" may also be implemented as an integrated circuit (IC) that can be incorporated into the host device and / or implemented within the integrated circuit.

[0558] The term "host device" is used in this specification to refer to any electronic or electrical device that is removably connected to an external accessory device. The host device may in particular be a portable and / or battery-powered host device, such as, for example, a mobile phone, an audio player, a video player, a PDA, a mobile computing platform such as a personal computer (PC), a laptop computer, or a tablet computer, and / or a gaming device.

[0559] A removable accessory device is any device that can be connected to and used with a host device. The accessory device can be, for example, a pair of headphones, earphones, etc., possibly including a microphone or headset. The accessory device can also be, for example, a line input and / or line output device, such as an audio / video mixing console and / or speakers, etc.

[0560] Any feature of any given aspect or example described herein can be combined with any other feature of any other aspect or example, and the various features described herein can be implemented in any combination in a given example.

[0561] As would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, as used herein, the term "circuit" or "circuitry" can include any and all combinations of analog and / or digital hardware circuitry, firmware, and / or software, including any and all boxes, modules, programs, and / or flowcharts, etc. that can produce the same desired output, functionality, and / or result. Additionally, "circuit" or "circuitry" can also be implemented as an integrated circuit (IC) that can be incorporated into a host device and / or implemented within the integrated circuit.

[0562] Although exemplary embodiments are shown in the drawings and described below, any number of techniques, whether currently known or not, can be used to implement the principles of the present disclosure. The present disclosure should in no way be limited to the exemplary embodiments and techniques shown in the drawings and described above. Unless specifically stated otherwise, the articles depicted in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Claims

1. A circuit system for detecting the type of a fitting connected to a first jack plug inserted into a first jack port, the circuit system being configured to: Determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or ring of the first jack plug; and in the case where there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug, Determine that the type of the fitting is a stereo line input fitting connected to a 3-pole jack plug.

2. The circuit system according to claim 1, wherein the circuit system is further configured to, in the case where there is no audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug: Enable microphone bias to be applied to the tip and the ring of the first jack plug; and Determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug in response to the microphone bias; and in the case where there is an audio signal in response to the microphone bias, Determine that the type of the fitting is a stereo microphone.

3. The circuit system according to claim 2, wherein the circuit system is further configured to, in the case where there is no audio signal in response to the microphone bias: Determine that the type of the fitting is a headset and / or a line load.

4. The circuit system according to claim 2, wherein the circuit system is further configured to: Disable the microphone bias; and check whether the type of the fitting is a stereo microphone, wherein to perform the check, the circuit system is configured to: Re-enable the microphone bias to the tip and the ring of the first jack plug; Determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug in response to the re-enabled microphone bias.

5. The circuit system according to claim 4, wherein the circuit system is further configured to, in the case where there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug in response to the re-enabled microphone bias: Confirm that the type of the fitting is a stereo microphone.

6. The circuit system according to claim 1, wherein the circuit system is further configured to, in the case where there is no audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug: Enable microphone bias to the tip and the ring of the first jack plug; and Determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug in response to the microphone bias; and in the case where there is an audio signal in response to the microphone bias: Disable the microphone bias applied to the ring of the first jack plug Determine whether there is an audio input at the tip of the first jack plug; and in the case where there is an audio input at the tip of the first jack plug, Determine that the type of the fitting is a mono microphone connected to a 2-pole or 3-pole jack plug; and in the case where there is no audio input at the tip of the first jack plug, Determine that the type of the fitting is a stereo microphone.

7. The circuit system according to claim 3, wherein the circuit system is further configured to: Disable the microphone bias; and Determine whether there is an audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug, and in the case where there is an audio signal: Reclassify the type of the accessory as a stereo line input accessory.

8. The circuit system according to claim 3 or 7, wherein the circuit system is configured to: Disable the microphone bias; Determine whether playback is enabled on the accessory connected to the first jack plug; Compare the output of one or more digital-to-analog converters with the output of one or more analog-to-digital converters; Determine whether the digital-to-analog converter output matches the analog-to-digital converter output; and in the case where the outputs do not match, Reclassify the type of the accessory as a stereo line input accessory.

9. The circuit system according to any one of the preceding claims, the circuit system being further configured in the case where there is no audio signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug: Enable an ultrasonic tone; and Determine whether there is an ultrasonic signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug in response to the ultrasonic tone, and in the case where there is the ultrasonic signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug, Determine that the type of the accessory is a stereo microphone.

10. The circuit system according to claim 9, wherein the circuit system is further configured in the case where there is no ultrasonic signal at the tip or the ring of the first jack plug in response to the ultrasonic tone: Determine that the type of the accessory is a headset and / or a line load.

11. The circuit system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein in order to enable the ultrasonic tone, the circuit system is configured to: Cause the ultrasonic tone to be output from one or more speakers and / or cause a transducer to transmit the ultrasonic tone.

12. The circuit system according to claim 11, wherein the circuit system is further configured to: Determine the delay between receiving the ultrasonic tone through an electrical path from the transducer and / or the speaker that outputs the ultrasonic tone and receiving the ultrasonic tone through an acoustic path between the transducer and / or the speaker that outputs the ultrasonic tone and the transducer that receives the ultrasonic tone.

13. The circuit system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: A first jack plug detection module configured to detect whether the first jack plug is received in the first jack port.

14. The circuit system according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising: A first circuit system module and a second circuit system module, wherein the first circuit system module includes at least one of the following: A left audio output circuit system; A right audio output circuit system; An impedance measurement circuit system; A microphone bias circuit system; A microphone and ground switching circuit system; and A microphone input circuit system; And wherein the second circuit system module includes at least one of the following: A first stereo input circuit system; A second stereo input circuit system; An impedance measurement circuit system; A microphone bias circuit system; and A ground circuit system.

15. The circuit system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the circuit system further comprises at least one of the following: A first voltage bias source; A first earphone bias line, the first earphone bias line being connected to the bias and being connectable to the sleeve of a 4-pole jack plug; A second earphone bias line, the second earphone bias line being connected to the bias and being connectable to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug; A first stereo input line for left audio input, the first stereo input line being connected to the bias and being connectable to the tip of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug; A second stereo input line for right audio input, the second stereo input line being connected to the bias and being connectable to the ring of a 3-pole jack plug or the first ring of a 4-pole jack plug; A first digital-to-analog converter; A first headphone line for left headphone output, the first headphone line being connected to the first digital-to-analog converter and being connectable to the tip of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug; A second digital-to-analog converter; A second headphone line for right headphone output, the second headphone line being connected to the second digital-to-analog converter and being connectable to the ring of a 3-pole jack plug or the first ring of a 4-pole jack plug; A first analog-to-digital converter; A first earphone line, the first earphone line being connected to the first analog-to-digital converter and being connectable to the sleeve of a 4-pole jack plug; A second earphone line, the second earphone line being connected to the first analog-to-digital converter and being connectable to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug; A first stereo input line for right stereo audio, the first stereo input line being connected to the first analog-to-digital converter and being connectable to the ring of a 3-pole jack plug or the first ring of a 4-pole jack plug; And A first stereo input ground line, the first stereo input ground line being connectable to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug; A second analog-to-digital converter; A second stereo input line for left stereo audio, the second stereo input line being connected to the second analog-to-digital converter and being connectable to the tip of a 3-pole or 4-pole jack plug; A second stereo input ground line, the second stereo input ground line being connected to the second analog-to-digital converter and being connectable to the second ring of a 4-pole jack plug or the sleeve of a 3-pole jack plug; And A third digital-to-analog converter, the third digital-to-analog converter being configured to output an audio signal to a speaker.

16. A carrier, comprising: A first conductive path and a second conductive path, wherein the first conductive path is configured to electrically connect the circuit system to a first jack port, and wherein the second conductive path is configured to electrically connect the circuit system to a second jack port.

17. The carrier according to claim 16, wherein the circuit system comprises: A first module, the first module being configured to detect the insertion of a first audio jack into the first jack port; and a second module configured to detect insertion of a second jack plug into the second jack port; wherein the first conductive path is configured to electrically connect the first module to the first jack port, and wherein the second conductive path is configured to electrically connect the second module to the second jack port.

18. The carrier according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the circuitry includes a tip detection circuitry and a ring detection circuitry, wherein the first conductive path is configured to electrically connect the tip detection circuitry to the first jack port, and wherein the second conductive path is configured to electrically connect the ring detection circuitry to the second jack port, wherein the tip detection circuitry is configured to detect insertion of the first audio jack plug into the first jack port, and wherein the ring detection circuitry is configured to detect insertion of the second audio jack plug into the second jack port.

19. The carrier according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the circuitry includes a first tip detection circuitry and a second tip detection circuitry, wherein the first conductive path is configured to electrically connect the first tip detection circuitry to the first jack port, and wherein the second conductive path is configured to electrically connect the second tip detection circuitry to the second jack port, wherein the first tip detection circuitry is configured to detect insertion of the first audio jack plug into the first jack port, and wherein the second tip detection circuitry is configured to detect insertion of the second audio jack plug into the second jack port.

20. The carrier according to any one of claims 16 to 19, comprising: the first audio jack port and the second audio jack port.

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