USB Type-C Audio Signal Control Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
The USB Type-C interface standard primarily supports unbalanced stereo audio output, requiring a separate connector for balanced stereo audio, and lacks a simplified USB/audio switch structure that prevents performance degradation.
Innovation Solution
An audio signal controlling method and electronic device that supports both balanced and microphone signals, identifies various audio accessories, and provides dual channel or 4-channel audio outputs, utilizing a USB Type-C receptacle with multiple pins to select audio processing methods based on received signals and currents, and includes a simplified USB/audio switch structure to prevent performance degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If USB Type-C interface uses separate connector for balanced stereo audio, then balanced audio output is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The USB Type-C receptacle is designed to perform multiple functions: it supports both unbalanced stereo audio output and balanced stereo audio output, as well as microphone signal input, all through a single connector interface. This eliminates the need for separate connectors for different audio functions, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining audio versatility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If USB Type-C interface supports multiple audio functions, then adaptability improves, but signal interference and performance degradation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The USB Type-C interface pins are segmented and assigned to different functional groups: some pins are dedicated to unbalanced audio output, others to balanced audio output, and additional pins to microphone input. This segmentation allows multiple audio functions to operate simultaneously through the single receptacle without signal interference, maintaining both adaptability and signal quality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex USB/audio switch structure is used, then audio signal routing flexibility improves, but performance degradation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the audio switching functionality from a complex separate switch structure and integrates it directly into the USB Type-C receptacle pin assignments. By embedding the routing logic in the connector itself rather than using external switch components, the system achieves signal routing flexibility while preventing performance degradation associated with complex external switching architectures.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device is provided including a housing, an opening formed on a side of the housing, a hole connected to the opening, a receptacle disposed inside the hole, having a structure for receiving an external connector, and comprising a plurality of pins, a memory, a processor electrically coupled to the memory, and a circuit electrically coupled to the processor and the receptacle. When the external connector is inserted into the receptacle, the circuit may receive at least one of a signal and a current through at least one of the pins, and selects one of a plurality of audio signal processing methods provided to the external connector through the receptacle based on at least one of the received signal and the current.