Control device and control method for realizing HAC working mode in terminal equipment

Abstract

The invention provides a control device and a control method for realizing an HAC working mode in terminal equipment, and the control device is arranged in the terminal equipment, and comprises an upper loudspeaker and a first power amplifier used for driving the upper loudspeaker to work; and the mode control module is used for responding to a trigger instruction of the HAC working mode and controlling the first power amplifier to output corresponding driving power into the upper horn when the terminal equipment enters the HAC working mode, so that the magnetic flux output by the upper horn meets an HAC authentication threshold. According to the invention, the HAC authentication requirement can be met by optimizing the magnetic flux of the upper loudspeaker in the working mode by using the hardware resources arranged in the existing terminal equipment, so that the hardware cost is prevented from being increased, and the circuit design and production assembly difficulty is reduced. Besides, hardware resources such as the upper loudspeaker and the first power amplifier are resources carried in the terminal equipment, so that the functions can be achieved when the terminal equipment is updated, and the implementation cost is low.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a control device and control method for implementing HAC working mode in a terminal device. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of mobile terminal technology, the compatibility requirements of mobile phones and other devices for assisting hearing-impaired users are increasing. HAC (Hearing Aid Compatibility) certification has become an important product standard, and T-coil (Telecoil) certification in the HAC_2019 standard is one of the core requirements. T-coil certification requires that the mobile phone can generate a sufficiently strong magnetic field during calls or audio playback, so that users wearing hearing aids with induction coils can clearly receive audio signals. Its core indicator is that the magnetic flux generated by the device must meet the threshold specified in the HAC_2019 standard.

[0003] In existing technologies, to enable mobile phones to pass HAC_2019 T-coil certification, the common approach is to add an additional HAC inductor and a corresponding power amplifier to the phone's audio circuit. This additional inductor enhances the magnetic flux of the magnetic circuit system, thus meeting the standard requirements. However, this approach has significant drawbacks: adding an additional HAC inductor and dedicated power amplifier directly increases the phone's hardware cost. Furthermore, the added components occupy valuable internal space, hindering the phone's slim and lightweight design. Additionally, the added components increase circuit design complexity, raise assembly difficulty, reduce product yield, and further increase production costs. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention provides a control device and control method for implementing HAC working mode in a terminal device, which meets HAC certification requirements without adding any new hardware components.

[0005] This invention provides a control device for implementing HAC (Hardware-Available Control) working mode in a terminal device. The control device is located within the terminal device and includes: An upper horn, and a first power amplifier for driving the upper horn to operate; The mode control module is used to respond to the trigger command of the HAC working mode, and when the terminal device enters the HAC working mode, it controls the first power amplifier to output the corresponding drive power to the upper speaker, so that the magnetic flux output by the upper speaker meets the HAC certification threshold.

[0006] Furthermore, it also includes: A lower horn, and a second power amplifier for driving the lower horn; The mode control module is also used to control the second power amplifier to output corresponding drive power to the lower speaker when the terminal device enters the HAC working mode, so that the magnetic flux of the lower speaker is maintained or lower than the normal value.

[0007] Furthermore, it also includes: a scene recognition module, used to detect the usage scenario of the terminal device, and generate different trigger commands to the mode control module based on the usage scenario.

[0008] Furthermore, the scene recognition module includes: A sensor unit is used to detect the angle between the terminal device and the horizontal direction. When the angle is greater than a preset angle, it is determined that the terminal device is in a call scenario. A connection detection unit is used to detect whether a hearing aid device has established a connection with the terminal device.

[0009] Furthermore, the mode control module includes a parameter storage module for storing drive power gain thresholds.

[0010] Furthermore, the magnitude of the drive power gain threshold depends on the magnitude of the sensitivity parameter of the upper speaker and the magnitude of the HAC certification threshold.

[0011] Furthermore, it also includes: The user interaction module is used to receive user operation instructions and input the user operation instructions into the mode control module. The mode control module can respond to different working mode trigger instructions based on the user operation instructions.

[0012] On the other hand, the present invention also discloses a control method for implementing HAC working mode in a terminal device, the control method comprising: Responding to the trigger command for HAC working mode, control the terminal device to enter HAC working mode; In HAC operating mode, the first power amplifier outputs the corresponding drive power to drive the upper speaker in the terminal device, so that the magnetic flux output by the upper speaker meets the HAC certification threshold.

[0013] Furthermore, the method also includes: in the HAC operating mode, the second power amplifier outputs a corresponding driving power to the lower speaker, so that the magnetic flux of the lower speaker is maintained or lower than the normal value.

[0014] Furthermore, the method also includes: in response to the exit command of the HAC working mode, controlling the drive power of the first power amplifier to return to a normal value, so that the terminal device exits the HAC working mode.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has at least the following technical effects: This invention fully utilizes existing hardware resources within terminal devices, such as the upper speaker and the first power amplifier. By optimizing the operating mode, the magnetic flux of the upper speaker alone can meet HAC certification requirements, avoiding increased hardware costs. Simultaneously, it reduces circuit design and manufacturing assembly complexity, improving product yield. Furthermore, since the upper speaker and the first power amplifier are built into the terminal device, these functions can be implemented during device upgrades, achieving low cost. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a simplified structural diagram of the control device in Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a simplified flowchart illustrating the control method in Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Figure 3 This is a map showing the effective points of magnetic flux when HAC mode is not enabled in Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Figure 4 This is a map showing the effective points of magnetic flux when HAC mode is enabled in Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The following description, with reference to schematic diagrams, illustrates a control device and method for implementing HAC working mode in a terminal device according to the present invention. Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. It should be understood that those skilled in the art can modify the invention described herein while still achieving its advantageous effects. Therefore, the following description should be understood as being of general knowledge to those skilled in the art and is not intended to limit the invention.

[0018] The invention is described more specifically by way of example in the following paragraphs with reference to the accompanying drawings. The advantages and features of the invention will become clearer from the following description. It should be noted that the drawings are in a very simplified form and use non-precise proportions, and are only used to facilitate and clarify the illustration of the embodiments of the invention.

[0019] Example 1 Please refer to Figure 1 This embodiment discloses a control device for implementing HAC working mode in a terminal device, wherein the control device is located within the terminal device; the control device includes: An upper horn, and a first power amplifier for driving the upper horn.

[0020] The mode control module is used to respond to the trigger command of the HAC working mode, and when the terminal device enters the HAC working mode, it controls the first power amplifier to output the corresponding drive power to the upper speaker, so that the magnetic flux output by the upper speaker meets the HAC certification threshold.

[0021] In this embodiment, by fully utilizing the existing hardware resources such as the upper speaker and the first power amplifier within the terminal device, the magnetic flux of the upper speaker can meet the HAC certification requirements when optimizing the operating mode, thus avoiding increased hardware costs. Simultaneously, it reduces the difficulty of circuit design and manufacturing assembly, improving product yield. Furthermore, since the upper speaker, the first power amplifier, and other hardware resources are built into the terminal device, the aforementioned functions can be implemented during terminal device upgrades, achieving low cost.

[0022] In this embodiment, the control principle is as follows: the driving power output by the first power amplifier module of the upper speaker is amplified by the mode control module compared with the non-HAC working mode. By increasing the output gain of the power amplifier module, the current intensity in the upper speaker coil is increased, thereby increasing the magnetic flux generated by the upper speaker coil, so that the magnetic flux reaches the threshold specified by HAC certification.

[0023] In a specific example, the mode control module is an audio codec or digital signal processor (DSP), integrated into the main chip of the terminal device or a separate audio processing chip. The mode control module communicates with the first power amplifier via an I2C bus or SPI bus, enabling real-time adjustment of the first power amplifier's gain parameters. When the mode control module receives a trigger command for the HAC operating mode, it sends a gain adjustment command to the first power amplifier, controlling the output power of the first power amplifier to increase to a preset drive power gain threshold, thereby achieving precise control of the upper speaker's magnetic flux.

[0024] In this embodiment, the purpose of meeting the HAC certification threshold is to ensure that the terminal device meets the HAC certification requirements.

[0025] The HAC certification threshold refers to the number of valid signal points that a terminal device needs to achieve when performing magnetic flux testing.

[0026] In a specific example, the HAC certification specification is the HAC_2019 T-coil certification specification. According to the HAC_2019 standard, the certification threshold is 75 valid signal points. When the number of valid test points corresponding to the magnetic flux generated by the upper speaker coil reaches or exceeds 75, the terminal device can be considered to meet the magnetic flux requirements of HAC_2019 T-coil certification.

[0027] Understandably, when a new HAC (High-Amount Acoustic Control) mode is added to the audio control device of a terminal device using the aforementioned control device, the new HAC mode can coexist independently with existing audio modes such as stereo, mono, speaker, or receiver modes, without affecting the normal function of other modes. When the terminal device switches from HAC mode to other audio modes, the drive power of the first power amplifier module will automatically return to the operating level of the non-HAC mode, achieving a smooth transition and stable operation between modes.

[0028] In this embodiment, the terminal device can be a mobile terminal device equipped with dual speakers, such as a smartphone, tablet computer, smartwatch, laptop computer, portable game console, or e-reader, and no specific limitation is made here.

[0029] Furthermore, in this embodiment, it also includes: A lower horn, and a second power amplifier for driving the lower horn; The mode control module is also used to control the second power amplifier to output corresponding drive power to the lower speaker when the terminal device enters the HAC working mode, so that the magnetic flux of the lower speaker is maintained or lower than the normal value.

[0030] In this embodiment, the conventional value refers to the magnetic flux level generated by the lower speaker during normal audio playback when the terminal device is in a non-HAC working mode such as stereo mode, mono mode, external speaker mode, or earpiece mode. For example, the conventional value is that the number of effective signal points corresponding to the lower speaker in stereo mode can be 30 to 50.

[0031] In this embodiment, the HAC operating mode only optimizes the operating mode of the upper speaker, while the lower speaker maintains its non-HAC operating mode or operates with reduced drive power. This is because in HAC certification scenarios, the upper speaker is typically located at the top of the terminal device near the earpiece. This location is closer to the ear and hearing aid during calls, making the magnetic flux generated by the upper speaker more effective at sensing the hearing aid. The lower speaker, located at the bottom of the terminal device, is farther from the user's ear, and its magnetic field has a relatively limited effect on the hearing aid, potentially interfering with the magnetic field generated by the upper speaker. Therefore, in HAC operating mode, keeping the magnetic flux of the lower speaker at the non-HAC operating mode level or appropriately reduced avoids unnecessary magnetic field interference, reduces the lower speaker's power consumption, and extends the terminal device's battery life.

[0032] In a specific example, the input terminal of the first power amplifier is electrically connected to the mode control module, and its output terminal is electrically connected to the coil of the upper horn; the input terminal of the second power amplifier is electrically connected to the mode control module, and its output terminal is electrically connected to the coil of the lower horn. Through the above electrical connection method, the mode control module can send independent gain control commands to the first and second power amplifiers respectively, realizing differentiated control of the driving power of the upper and lower horns.

[0033] In this embodiment, it further includes: a scene recognition module, used to detect the usage scenario of the terminal device, and generate different trigger commands to the mode control module based on the usage scenario.

[0034] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the scene recognition module includes: A sensor unit is used to detect the angle between the terminal device and the horizontal direction. When the angle is greater than a preset angle, it is determined that the terminal device is in a call scenario. A connection detection unit is used to detect whether a hearing aid device has established a connection with the terminal device.

[0035] In one specific example, the preset angle can be any angle value between 20 degrees and 45 degrees, such as 20 degrees, 30 degrees, or 45 degrees. When the angle between the terminal device and the horizontal direction is greater than this preset angle, it can be determined that the user is holding the terminal device close to their ear for a call. At this time, the scene recognition module will generate a trigger command for the HAC working mode and send it to the mode control module, causing the terminal device to automatically enter the HAC working mode.

[0036] In another specific example, the hearing aid device may be a hearing aid, earphone, cochlear implant device, bone conduction hearing aid device, or other hearing assistance device that can be adapted to the above-mentioned terminal device, without any specific limitation.

[0037] In a specific example, the sensor unit can employ motion sensors such as gyroscopes, accelerometers, or attitude sensors built into the terminal device. The gyroscope sensor detects changes in the angular velocity of the terminal device around its axes, and combined with the gravitational acceleration component detected by the accelerometer, calculates the current tilt angle of the terminal device relative to the horizontal direction. When the calculated tilt angle exceeds a preset angle threshold, the sensor unit determines that the terminal device is in a call posture and outputs the corresponding detection result to the scene recognition module.

[0038] In another specific example, the connection detection unit can be a Bluetooth module or a Near Field Communication (NFC) module in the terminal device. Taking the Bluetooth module as an example, when the user pairs the hearing aid with the terminal device via Bluetooth, the Bluetooth module will detect the device type identifier or device name information of the hearing aid. The connection detection unit determines whether a hearing aid has established a connection with the terminal device by identifying the type information of the connected device. If a hearing aid is detected to be connected, the connection detection unit will send the detection result to the scene recognition module, triggering the automatic activation of the HAC working mode.

[0039] In this embodiment, the scene recognition module can automatically trigger the HAC working mode. Through the collaborative work of the sensor unit and the connection detection unit, the scene recognition module can perceive the usage status and external connection status of the terminal device in real time, and intelligently determine whether to enter the HAC working mode without the need for manual operation by the user.

[0040] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the mode control module is provided with a parameter storage module, which is used to store the drive power gain threshold.

[0041] In a specific example, the parameter storage module can be a non-volatile memory (such as EEPROM, Flash memory) or a register set. The parameter storage module is integrated with the mode control module within the same chip, or it can be a separate storage unit connected to the mode control module via a bus. The drive power gain threshold stored in the parameter storage module is written at the time of manufacture of the terminal device and remains stable throughout the entire usage cycle of the terminal device.

[0042] In this embodiment, the magnitude of the drive power gain threshold depends on the magnitude of the sensitivity parameter of the upper speaker and the magnitude of the HAC certification threshold.

[0043] In a specific example, the drive power gain threshold is determined as follows: Before the terminal device leaves the factory, the drive power gain threshold is determined through experimental testing. The terminal device is placed in a standard test environment that meets the requirements of the HAC_2019 standard, the audio playback function is enabled, and the output gain of the first power amplifier module is gradually increased. At the same time, professional equipment is used to detect the number of effective test points corresponding to the magnetic flux generated by the upper speaker coil. When the number of effective test points reaches the threshold specified by the HAC_2019 T-coil certification (i.e., 75 effective signal points) and the upper speaker can maintain distortion-free playback, the gain value of the first power amplifier module at this time is recorded as the drive power gain threshold, and this threshold is stored in the parameter storage module of the mode control module.

[0044] Furthermore, it also includes: a user interaction module, used to receive user operation instructions and input the user operation instructions into the mode control module, the mode control module being able to respond to different working mode trigger instructions based on the user operation instructions.

[0045] In this embodiment, the user interaction module can be the touchscreen of the terminal device and its system settings interface. Users can manually turn the HAC working mode on or off using the HAC mode switch control in the system settings interface. When the user clicks to turn on the switch, the user interaction module transmits the operation command to the mode control module, which then controls the terminal device to enter the HAC working mode upon receiving the command.

[0046] In this embodiment, two triggering methods, automatic and manual, are used. Automatic triggering can intelligently switch according to the scenario without user intervention; manual triggering can meet the user's personalized needs and improve the user experience.

[0047] Example 2 Based on the same inventive concept, this embodiment discloses a control method for implementing HAC working mode in a terminal device, which is implemented using the control device disclosed in Embodiment 1. The method includes: S1. Respond to the trigger command of HAC working mode and control the terminal device to enter HAC working mode; S2. In HAC operating mode, the first power amplifier outputs the corresponding drive power to drive the upper speaker in the terminal device, so that the magnetic flux output by the upper speaker meets the HAC certification threshold.

[0048] Specifically, in step S1 above, the trigger command for the HAC working mode can be generated in two ways: automatic or manual. In automatic triggering, the scene recognition module detects the angle between the terminal device and the horizontal direction using the sensor unit. When the angle is greater than a preset angle (e.g., 20 degrees), it determines that the terminal device is in a call scenario and automatically generates a trigger command; or, it automatically generates a trigger command when the connection detection unit detects that the hearing aid has established a connection with the terminal device. In manual triggering, the user actively activates the HAC working mode through the HAC mode switch control in the terminal device's system settings interface, and the user interaction module transmits this operation command to the mode control module.

[0049] More specifically, in step S2 above, after receiving the trigger command, the mode control module sends a gain adjustment command to the first power amplifier module, controlling the first power amplifier module to adjust the output drive power to a preset drive power gain threshold, thereby increasing the current intensity in the upper horn coil and increasing the magnetic flux generated by the upper horn coil until the magnetic flux meets the threshold requirements specified in HAC_2019 T-coil certification.

[0050] Furthermore, the method also includes: In the HAC operating mode, the second power amplifier outputs corresponding drive power to the lower speaker, so that the magnetic flux of the lower speaker is maintained or lower than the normal value.

[0051] Specifically, in step S3 above, while controlling the terminal device to enter HAC operating mode, the mode control module controls the second power amplifier module to maintain the drive power output in non-HAC operating mode, or appropriately reduce the drive power output as needed, so that the lower speaker continues to play audio normally or operates at a lower power. This satisfies the HAC certification requirements for the upper speaker's magnetic flux, avoids interference from the magnetic field generated by the lower speaker on the upper speaker's magnetic flux test results, and reduces the power consumption of the lower speaker.

[0052] Furthermore, the method also includes: In response to the exit command of the HAC operating mode, the drive power of the first power amplifier is restored to the normal value, so that the terminal device exits the HAC operating mode.

[0053] Specifically, in step S4 above, the exit command for HAC working mode can be generated in the following ways: the scene recognition module detects that the terminal device's posture has returned to a horizontal state (i.e., the angle with the horizontal direction is less than a preset angle), the hearing aid device disconnects from the terminal device, or the user manually turns off the HAC mode switch through the user interaction module. When the mode control module receives the exit command, it controls the first power amplification module to restore the drive power to the working level of the non-HAC working mode, and the terminal device exits the HAC working mode and switches back to the previous audio mode (such as stereo mode or mono mode).

[0054] It is understood that the control method for implementing HAC working mode in the terminal device described above and the control device for implementing HAC working mode in the terminal device disclosed in Embodiment 1 are based on the same technical design principle. Both can achieve the same technical purpose. The effect that the control device for implementing HAC working mode in the terminal device can achieve has been described in detail in Embodiment 1, so it will not be repeated here.

[0055] Example 3 This embodiment discloses a method for verifying magnetic flux in HAC working mode in a terminal device, in order to verify the magnetic flux enhancement effect achieved by the HAC working mode control device and HAC working mode control method in the terminal device disclosed in Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2.

[0056] Magnetic flux was tested on a terminal device equipped with dual speakers as described in this invention. The test environment strictly complied with the HAC_2019 standard requirements, including test distance, phone orientation, and audio signal parameters, all of which met the standard specifications. During the test, the phone's hardware conditions remained unchanged; that is, the parameters of the upper speaker coil, impedance, power amplifier module model, and hardware architecture were all unchanged. Only the output gain of the first power amplifier module driving the upper speaker was increased. The test results and derivation analysis are as follows: Please refer to Figure 3 In non-HAC operating mode, the number of main group points corresponding to the magnetic flux generated by the upper horn coil, that is, the number of effective test points, is 68, which does not meet the HAC certification threshold requirement of 75 effective test points specified in HAC_2019 T-coil certification.

[0057] Please refer to Figure 4 In HAC operating mode, based on the premise that electromagnetic principles and hardware conditions remain unchanged, a 9dB gain increase in the power amplifier module corresponds to an approximately 2.8-fold increase in coil voltage. Using the definition of decibels, we derive: 9dB = 20lg(U2 / U1), solving for U2 / U1 ≈ 2.82. Since the impedance of the upper speaker coil remains fixed, according to Ohm's law, the coil current will increase by approximately 2.8 times. According to electromagnetic principles, magnetic flux and coil current are linearly positively correlated. Therefore, the number of main test points corresponding to the magnetic flux generated by the upper speaker coil, i.e., the effective test points, increases to 97, meeting the HAC certification threshold of 75 effective test points specified in HAC_2019 T-coil certification. This improvement effect is consistent with the theoretical derivation, verifying the effectiveness of the present invention.

[0058] Verification of Test Validity: Throughout the entire test, the upper speaker maintained audio distortion-free playback, and the operating temperature of the first power amplifier module and the upper speaker remained stable between 25℃ and 35℃, within the normal operating range, posing no risk of overheating or damage. Simultaneously, the lower speaker maintained its gain level in non-HAC operating mode, without interfering with the magnetic flux test results of the upper speaker. These test results further verify that the present invention can meet HAC certification requirements by increasing the gain of the power amplifier module by 9dB without adding new hardware and ensuring equipment reliability.

[0059] The above test results show that by automatically or manually switching to HAC working mode in specific usage scenarios and increasing the driving power of the first power amplifier module, the present invention can effectively increase the magnetic flux generated by the upper speaker, so that it reaches the effective point threshold specified by HAC_2019 T-coil certification, thereby enabling the terminal device to meet HAC certification requirements without increasing hardware costs and space occupation.

[0060] Various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the invention fall within the scope of the claims of the invention and their equivalents, the invention is also intended to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A control device for implementing HAC working mode in a terminal device, characterized in that, The control device is located within the terminal equipment and includes: An upper horn, and a first power amplifier for driving the upper horn to operate; The mode control module is used to respond to the trigger command of the HAC working mode, and when the terminal device enters the HAC working mode, it controls the first power amplifier to output the corresponding drive power to the upper speaker, so that the magnetic flux output by the upper speaker meets the HAC certification threshold.

2. The control device for implementing HAC working mode in a terminal device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A lower horn, and a second power amplifier for driving the lower horn; The mode control module is also used to control the second power amplifier to output corresponding drive power to the lower speaker when the terminal device enters the HAC working mode, so that the magnetic flux of the lower speaker is maintained or lower than the normal value.

3. The control device for implementing HAC working mode in a terminal device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: The scene recognition module is used to detect the usage scenario of the terminal device and generate different trigger commands to the mode control module based on the usage scenario.

4. The control device for implementing HAC working mode in a terminal device as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The scene recognition module includes: A sensor unit is used to detect the angle between the terminal device and the horizontal direction. When the angle is greater than a preset angle, it is determined that the terminal device is in a call scenario. A connection detection unit is used to detect whether a hearing aid device has established a connection with the terminal device.

5. The control device for implementing HAC working mode in a terminal device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The mode control module includes a parameter storage module, which is used to store the drive power gain threshold.

6. The control device for implementing HAC working mode in a terminal device as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The magnitude of the drive power gain threshold depends on the magnitude of the sensitivity parameter of the upper speaker and the magnitude of the HAC certification threshold.

7. The control device for implementing HAC working mode in a terminal device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: The user interaction module is used to receive user operation instructions and input the user operation instructions into the mode control module. The mode control module can respond to different working mode trigger instructions based on the user operation instructions.

8. A control method for implementing HAC operating mode in a terminal device, characterized in that, The control method includes: Responding to the trigger command for HAC working mode, control the terminal device to enter HAC working mode; In HAC operating mode, the first power amplifier outputs the corresponding drive power to drive the upper speaker in the terminal device, so that the magnetic flux output by the upper speaker meets the HAC certification threshold.

9. The control method for implementing HAC working mode in a terminal device as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The method further includes: In the HAC operating mode, the second power amplifier outputs corresponding drive power to the lower speaker, so that the magnetic flux of the lower speaker is maintained or lower than the normal value.

10. The control method for implementing HAC working mode in a terminal device as described in claim 8, characterized in that, In response to the exit command of the HAC operating mode, the drive power of the first power amplifier is restored to the normal value, so that the terminal device exits the HAC operating mode.

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