Earphone Plug Detection Circuit with Voltage Division

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current electronic devices are unable to accurately distinguish between different types of earphone plugs, particularly those with microphones, leading to a loss of functionality when an uncommon type is used.

Innovation Solution

A detection circuit is designed with a voltage-detection circuit, processing unit, microphone switch, and codec, which generates division voltages to determine the signal transduction areas of the plug and controls the microphone switch to connect pins appropriately to a microphone output node or ground, enabling the detection of three types of earphone plugs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single output terminal MUX is used to detect earphone plugs, then the device can determine basic plug types, but it cannot distinguish between different types of microphone earphone plugs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplug type detection capabilityVSAvoidmicrophone plug type identification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The single MUX output terminal is segmented into two separate output terminals. The first output terminal connects to the microphone output node and the second output terminal connects to ground. This segmentation allows the detection circuit to independently measure voltages at different connection points, enabling distinction between different microphone plug types based on their unique voltage patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If the MUX has only one output terminal connected to microphone output node, then the circuit structure is simple, but it loses the ability to determine the nature of different microphone earphone plugs

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveMUX configurationVSAvoidmicrophone plug type determination
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The detection capability is extended from a single-dimensional voltage measurement to a two-dimensional voltage measurement space. By adding the second output terminal connected to ground, the system now measures voltages along two different dimensions (microphone output node to ground, and another reference point to ground), creating a voltage pattern signature that uniquely identifies different microphone plug types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution allows for accurate identification and handling of various earphone plug types, enhancing the versatility of electronic devices while maintaining low costs.

Implementation Method 1

a voltage-detection circuit, configured to generate a first division voltage and a second division voltage according to the one or two signal transduction area(s) connected by the first pin and the second pin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVoltage division: Ohm's Law

Data Source

PatentEP2797346B1Detection circuit
Publication Date: 2018.07.18 ACER INC
  • EP2797346B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2797346B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2797346B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A detection circuit is disclosed, in which the first and second pins are arranged to connect to at least one signal transduction area of the plug, such that a voltage division circuit generates first and second division voltages accordingly. A processing unit determines the signal transduction area(s) connected by the first and second pins by the first and second division voltages. When detecting that the first and second pins separately connect the microphone area and the ground area of the plug, the processing unit controls a microphone switch to connect the first pin to the microphone output node and the second pin to the ground. When detecting that the first pin and the second pin separately connect the ground area and the microphone area, the processing unit controls the microphone switch to connect the first pin to the ground and the second pin to the microphone output node.