Microphone Start-Up Data Transmission via Single Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
The start-up transition period in microphone assemblies is typically wasted as no useful information is communicated between the microphone and host devices, as either no signal or a dummy signal is output during this time, preventing the utilization of this period for data transmission.
Innovation Solution
The start-up transition period is utilized to communicate data other than audio data by determining the start of this period through power supply and clock signal thresholds, allowing for the transmission and reception of auxiliary data, such as calibration and status information, over the data contact, thereby avoiding interruption of the audio signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the start-up transition period is used for component initialization, then the microphone assembly can provide reliable audio signal, but no useful information can be communicated during this period
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two functions into the start-up transition period: component initialization and data communication. During this period, the microphone assembly both initializes its components (charge-pump, conditioning circuitry, ADC) and communicates auxiliary data (calibration data, manufacturing data, diagnostic data) to the host device, eliminating the need to choose between reliability and information communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The start-up transition period is transformed from a single-function period (only initialization) to a multi-functional period that simultaneously performs initialization and data communication. The data contact is used universally for both audio data transmission and auxiliary data transmission, depending on the timing and state of the microphone assembly.
2Loss of information
If audio signal is interrupted to transmit other data, then data communication can occur, but audio signal continuity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by communicating auxiliary data during the start-up transition period before the audio signal transmission begins. This preliminary data communication (calibration data, manufacturing data, diagnostic data) is completed in advance during initialization, eliminating the need to interrupt the audio signal later for data transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action by establishing a clear temporal structure: during the start-up transition period, auxiliary data is transmitted; after initialization completes, audio signal transmission begins and continues continuously. This periodic separation ensures data communication occurs at specific intervals without disrupting audio continuity.
3Loss of information
If multiple data contacts are provided for different data types, then all data can be transmitted simultaneously, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the single data contact universal by using it for multiple purposes: audio data transmission, auxiliary data transmission (calibration, manufacturing, diagnostic data), and control signal reception. This multi-functional use of a single contact eliminates the need for separate dedicated contacts for each data type, maintaining simplicity while achieving comprehensive data transmission capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic action to separate different data transmission functions in time. The data contact transmits auxiliary data during the start-up transition period, then switches to audio data transmission after initialization completes. This temporal separation allows a single contact to handle multiple data types without requiring simultaneous transmission paths.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure provides methods, systems, and apparatuses, for a microphone. In particular, the microphone includes a housing having an external device interface with a plurality of contacts including a data contact. An electro-acoustic transducer is configured to generate an electrical signal in response to sound. An electrical circuit is coupled to contacts of the interface, the electrical circuit including an ADC having an input coupled to an output of the conditioning circuit and configured to convert the electrical signal to audio data after conditioning. A controller is configured to communicate data, other than the audio data, via the data contact of the external device interface during a start-up transition period of the microphone assembly, wherein the controller is configured to communicate the audio data via the data contact of the external device interface only after the start-up transition period is complete.