I 1111111111111111 11111 111111111111111 IIIII IIIII 1111111111111111 IIII IIII IIII
`US0077 61091 B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Dunn, Jr. et al.
`
`(IO) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,761,091 B2
`Jul. 20, 2010
`
`(54) METHOD AND SYSTEM OF MANAGING
`VOLUME AND FUNCTIONALITY CONTROL
`BETWEEN AN AUDIO PLAYER AND
`WIRELESS EARPHONES
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: William Franklin Dunn, Jr., Austin, TX
`(US); David M. Friesema, Elk Grove
`Village, IL (US); Gail I. Gudmundsen,
`Elk Grove Village, IL (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Etymotic Research, Inc., Elk Grove
`Village, IL (US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 462 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 11/850,511
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Sep.5,2007
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2008/0058037 Al
`
`Mar. 6, 2008
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/842,314, filed on Sep.
`5, 2006.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04M 3/00
`(2006.01)
`H04B 7100
`(2006.01)
`(52) U.S. Cl. ...................... 455/419; 455/420; 455/41.2;
`455/575.2; 455/355
`(58) Field of Classification Search ................. 455/418,
`455/419, 420, 41.2, 569.1, 575.2
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`6,684,063 B2 *
`7,110,798 B2 *
`7,457,424 B2 *
`7,469,051 B2 *
`7,529,545 B2 *
`7,532,258 Bl*
`7,599,679 B2 *
`7,620,433 B2 *
`7,657,024 B2 *
`2002/0039424 Al
`2004/0151336 Al*
`2004/0247138 Al
`2008/0025538 Al*
`
`1/2004 Berger et al ................ 455/90.1
`9/2006 Nassimi ................... 455/575.2
`11/2008 Katayama et al. ........... 381/105
`12/2008 Sapashe et al .............. 381/104
`5/2009 Rader et al. .............. 455/432.2
`5/2009 Galgano ..................... 348/734
`10/2009 Awiszus ..................... 455/403
`11/2009 Bodley .................... 455/575.2
`2/2010 Huang ................... 379/428.02
`4/2002 Watanuki
`8/2004 Han et al.
`12/2004 Wang
`1/2008 Zad-Issa ..................... 381/315
`
`................... 381/370
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`EP
`EP
`WO
`
`1 196 007
`1 715 718
`2004/093490
`
`10/2002
`10/2006
`10/2004
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`International Search Report for PCT/US2007/077633, Jan. 2008.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner-Due M Nguyen
`(7 4) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert
`& BerghoffLLP
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A method and system for providing low-noise, high-fidelity
`wireless Bluetooth earphones with control operation either at
`the earphone or the player that operate to control the volume
`and other functionality from either location in a seamless
`manner and provide probe volume control display regardless
`of which location is used.
`
`5,721,783 A *
`
`2/1998 Anderson ................... 381/328
`
`27 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
`L
`
`104b
`
`WIRELESS
`TRANSCEIVERS
`
`1
`
`APPLE 1037
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 20, 2010
`Jul. 20, 2010
`
`Sheet 1 of6
`Sheet 1 of 6
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`US 7,761,091 B2
`US 7,761,091 B2
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`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 20, 2010
`Jul. 20, 2010
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`Sheet 2 of 6
`Sheet 2 of 6
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`US 7,761,091 132
`US 7,761,091 B2
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`US. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 20, 2010
`Jul. 20, 2010
`
`Sheet 4 0f 6
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`US 7,761,091 B2
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`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 20, 2010
`Jul. 20, 2010
`
`Sheet 5 of 6
`Sheet 5 of 6
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`US 7,761,091 B2
`US 7,761,091 B2
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`

`Jul. 20, 2010
`
`U.S. Patent
`FIG. 3
`
`Sheet 6 of 6
`
`US 7,761,091 B2
`
`START
`
`302
`
`RECEIVE USER VOLUME SETTING INPUTS
`
`AT
`EARPHONES
`
`RECEIVED
`AT PLAYER OR
`EARPHONES?
`
`304
`
`AT
`PLAYER
`
`SEND USER INPUT
`VOLUME SETTING SIGNAL
`TO THE PLAYER
`
`ADJUST VOLUME SETTING
`IN MEMORY OF THE
`PLAYER
`
`314
`
`316
`
`306 ADJUST VOLUME SETTING
`IN MEMORY OF THE
`PLAYER
`
`308
`
`ADJUST VOLUME DISPLAY
`AT PLAYER
`
`ADJUST VOLUME DISPLAY
`AT PLAYER
`
`318
`
`SEND VOLUME CONTROL
`SETTING SIGNAL TO
`EARPHONES
`
`310
`
`SEND VOLUME CONTROL
`SETTING SIGNAL TO
`EARPHONES
`
`320
`
`312
`
`ADJUST VOLUME AT
`EARPHONES USING
`ATTENUATORS
`
`ADJUST VOLUME AT
`EARPHONES USING
`ATTENUATORS
`
`322
`
`END
`
`7
`
`

`

`US 7,761,091 B2
`
`2
`listener adjusts controls at one location, that location auto(cid:173)
`matically and seamlessly takes over the function from the
`controls at the other location.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`1
`METHOD AND SYSTEM OF MANAGING
`VOLUME AND FUNCTIONALITY CONTROL
`BETWEEN AN AUDIO PLAYER AND
`WIRELESS EARPHONES
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`
`The present patent application claims priority under 35 10
`U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.
`No. 60/842,314, filed on Sep. 5, 2006, the entire contents of
`which are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth
`in this description.
`
`A system is described, substantially as shown in and or
`described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set
`forth more completely in the claims, which provides user(cid:173)
`selectable volume and track-selection control locations that
`are automatically activated by a user when the user touches
`the controls at one of the control locations. A further feature
`is that a common digital logic control center provides a seam(cid:173)
`less operation for transfer of control between two control
`15 locations, so that a change in the ongoing sounds heard by the
`user are independent of which control location is activated.
`In one embodiment, a method of managing volume and
`functionality control between an audio player and wireless
`earphones is provided. The method includes receiving a user
`volume input at the wireless earphones that indicates a
`desired increase or decrease of loudness of an output of the
`wireless earphones and sending a signal indicating the user
`volume input to the audio player via a wireless link. The
`method also includes adjusting a volume setting in memory of
`25 the audio player and sending a volume control setting signal
`to the wireless earphones via the wireless link that controls an
`amount to attenuate an audio signal so that the output of the
`wireless earphones reflects the desired increase or decrease of
`loudness. The method further includes at the wireless ear(cid:173)
`phones, adjusting a volume of the audio signal.
`In another embodiment, a method of adjusting volume of
`an audio signal at wireless earphones is provided. The method
`includes receiving via a wireless link a digital full-scale audio
`signal at the wireless earphones, and receiving a user volume
`35 input at the wireless earphones that indicates a desired
`increase or decrease of loudness of an output of the wireless
`earphones. The method also includes sending a signal indi(cid:173)
`cating the user volume input to an audio player via the wire(cid:173)
`less link, and receiving a volume control setting signal at the
`40 wireless earphones via the wireless link that controls an
`amount to attenuate the digital full-scale audio signal so that
`the output of the wireless earphones reflects the desired
`increase or decrease ofloudness. The method further includes
`at the wireless earphones, adjusting a volume of the audio
`signal.
`In still another embodiment, a method of managing volume
`and functionality control between an audio player and wire(cid:173)
`less earphones is provided. The method includes receiving a
`user volume input that indicates a desired increase or decrease
`of loudness of an output of the wireless earphones. The
`method also includes, if the user volume input is received at
`the audio player, (i) adjusting a volume setting in memory of
`the audio player, (ii) sending a volume control setting signal
`to the wireless earphones via a wireless link that controls an
`55 amount to attenuate an audio signal so that the output of the
`wireless earphones reflects the desired increase or decrease of
`loudness, and (iii) at the wireless earphones, adjusting a vol(cid:173)
`ume of the audio signal. The method further includes if the
`user volume input is received at the wireless earphones, (i)
`60 sending a signal indicating the user volume input to the audio
`player via the wireless link, (ii) adjusting an volume setting in
`memory of the player, (iii) receiving the volume control set(cid:173)
`ting signal at the wireless earphones via the wireless link, and
`(iii) at the wireless earphones, adjusting a volume of the audio
`65 signal.
`In yet another embodiment, a wireless earphone system is
`provided that includes two earpieces, a transceiver within one
`
`The present application relates to volume controls for wire(cid:173)
`less devices, and more particularly to wireless earphones 20
`intended for use with portable audio players.
`
`FIELD
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`Use of wireless high-fidelity speakers and earphones is
`well known. Technology within existing wireless earphones
`is continually improving based on consumer demands. Gen(cid:173)
`erally, a wireless earphone system includes the earphones,
`one for each ear which are coupled via wires, and a trans- 30
`ceiver that connects to an audio source. The transceiver will
`receive audio signals from the audio source, and wirelessly
`transmit the audio signals to the earphones for play.
`Many wireless earphones include electronics for improv(cid:173)
`ing sound quality. For example, earphones can include types
`of noise isolation, so that a listener would not have to tum up
`a volume to an uncomfortable or unsafe level when using the
`earphones in trains (and automobiles, airplanes, subways,
`and on busy city streets) to enjoy music or understand speech.
`Other existing earphones have good or high fidelity sound
`reproduction, for example, exhibiting accuracy scores of
`about 80-95% (where a perfect recording of a live perfor(cid:173)
`mance played through earphones with a 100% accuracy
`would produce the same sound at the eardrum as the live
`performance). The Accuracy Score referred to above is as
`described in Mead Clifford Killion, "Design and evaluation
`of high-fidelity hearing aids," Northwestern University
`Ph.D., 1979, pp 50-52, and also within Mead Clifford Killion,
`"Design and evaluation of high-fidelity hearing aids," North- 50
`western University Ph.D. 1979, pp 50-52 (University Micro(cid:173)
`films International, 300 N. Zeeb Rd, Ann Arbor, Mich.
`48106).
`However, typical existing wireless earphone systems lack
`full functionality control, and simply operate to receive the
`audio signals for play without the opportunity for a listener to
`adjust the earphone volume at either the earphone or the audio
`player at the discretion of the listener. For example, when
`wireless earphones are used with an MP3 player, such as the
`Apple iPod® player, a volume control is typically located
`only at the earphone end of the wireless link, but not at the
`player end of the wireless link.
`At certain times, it would be desirable to enable controls
`for volume at both the earphone and at the player at the choice
`of the listener. In addition, it would be desirable to make
`controls at both locations operational at all times, so that if a
`
`45
`
`8
`
`

`

`US 7,761,091 B2
`
`3
`of the two earpieces to send and receive signals wirelessly,
`control buttons on one of the two earpieces to receive user
`inputs at the earpiece, and an attenuator within one of the two
`earpieces to attenuate an audio signal to a desired degree of
`loudness. The control buttons include volume control buttons
`and track selection control buttons and are coupled to the
`transceiver to send the user inputs to the transceiver. The
`attenuator attenuates the audio signal upon receiving a vol(cid:173)
`ume control setting signal that was wirelessly received at the
`transceiver that is generated according to the user inputs.
`These and other features and advantages of the present
`invention may be appreciated from a review of the following
`detailed description of the present invention, along with the
`accompanying figures.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. lA illustrates an example system with wireless trans(cid:173)
`ceivers providing audio signals from an audio player to wire(cid:173)
`less earphones.
`FIG. lB shows a more detailed view of the wireless ear(cid:173)
`phones of FIG. lA.
`FIG. lC illustrates an example front view of one of the
`wireless earphones of FIG. lA.
`FIG. 2A illustrates a block diagram showing an example
`wireless audio player system.
`FIG. 2B illustrates a block diagram of an example audio
`player from the wireless audio player system in FIG. 2A.
`FIG. 2C illustrates a block diagram of an example wireless
`earphone(s) from the wireless audio player system in FIG.
`2A.
`FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating example functional steps
`of a method for managing volume control between an audio
`player and wireless earphones.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`The present application provides a system and method for
`use with a wireless earphone to audio player system. The
`system allows a user to adjust controls at either the earphones
`or the audio player to control audio play at the earphones. The
`earphones will receive audio signals from the player wire(cid:173)
`lessly for play. The player will send digital full-scale signals
`( e.g., full-power audio signals) to the earphones, and the user
`may adjust a volume of the audio at the earphones themselves.
`In that instance, the earphones will send a signal to the audio
`player to indicate a change in the volume, so that a display on
`the player will synchronize with the earphone volume level
`and show the current volume level.
`Alternatively, the user may adjust a volume of the audio at
`the player. In that instance, the player will send a volume
`control signal to the earphones, after sending the digital full(cid:173)
`scale audio signal, to indicate to the earphones the level at
`which to attenuate the audio signals. The volume display on
`the audio player will adjust accordingly.
`FIG. lA illustrates an example system including an audio
`player 102 wirelessly sending audio signals to right and left
`earphones l04a-b. The audio player 102 includes a trans(cid:173)
`ceiver 106, which may be integral with the audio player 102
`or a stand-alone component that connects to the audio player
`102 as shown in FIG. 1, which receives the audio signals from
`the audio player 102 and wirelessly transmits the audio sig(cid:173)
`nals to the earphones l04a-b. The right and left earphones
`104a-b are connected via a cable 108. As such, only one of the
`right or left earphones l04a-b may include a transceiver to 65
`receive the wireless signals from the transceiver 106. As
`shown, only the right earphone 104a includes a transceiver
`
`4
`and communicates with the transceiver 106 wirelessly, and
`also communicates with the left earphone 104b via the cable
`108. Alternatively, both the right and left earphone l04a-b
`could include transceivers to communicate wirelessly with
`the transceiver 106 and with each other, so that no cable
`would be necessary to connect the right and left earphones
`l04a-b.
`The transceiver 106, and the transceiver included in the
`earphone 104a (not shown), may be any type of wireless
`10 transceiver so that the transceiver 106 and the earphone 104a
`may communicate wirelessly using any number of wireless
`protocols. For example, the transceivers may be Bluetooth®
`transceivers, so as to provide for short range wireless com(cid:173)
`munications. One specific example of a Bluetooth® trans-
`15 ceiver is the Broadcom Bluetooth circuits BCM2037 with Z
`sound software, which can provide 16-bits of effective
`dynamic range and freedom from distortion that may be
`required for true high-fidelity applications. The transceivers
`may also be of the type to provide for long range wireless
`20 communications as well, such as using a CDMA protocol for
`example.
`The audio player 102 includes controls 110 to control
`functions of the player 102, such as to control a volume or
`track/music selection for example. In addition, controls may
`25 be included on one of or both of the right and left earphones
`l04a-b as well. As shown, volume and track selection con(cid:173)
`trols 112 are included on the right earphone 104a. Using the
`system in FIG. 1, a user could use either the audio player 102
`or the earphones l04a-b to control a volume level of an output
`30 signal heard at the earphones l04a-b or to control a track/
`music selection. In addition, a display 114 on the audio player
`102 will update to show the changes based on control signals
`received from either the controls 110 on the audio player 102
`or from the controls 112 on the earphone 104a.
`FIG. lB shows a more detailed view of the earphones
`104a-b. Each earphone 104a-b includes a speaker ll6a-b and
`a control piece ll8a-b, which houses electronic circuitry
`comprising a transceiver, an antenna, attenuators, and cir(cid:173)
`cuitry to receive user inputs from the control buttons 112. One
`40 (or both) of the control pieces ll8a-b includes a USB input
`120 that may be used to charge the battery of the earphones
`l04a-b, for example.
`FIG. lC illustrates an example front view of one of the
`earphones l04a-b to illustrate the control buttons 112. The
`45 control buttons 112 include, for example, a volume increase
`122 and a volume decrease 124 button, a forward 126 and a
`reverse 128 button, and a play/pause/power 130 button. The
`volume increase 122 and volume decrease 124 can be used by
`a user to indicate a desired increase or decrease in loudness of
`50 an output of the wireless earphones. The forward 126 and
`reverse 128 buttons may be used to skip to the next/previous
`track, or to fast forward/rewind within a track, for example.
`The front of one of the earphones l04a-b also includes an
`LED 132 that may indicate power of the earphones, and may
`55 change colors during charging or to indicate a low power of
`the earphones. The LED 132 may also indicate that the ear(cid:173)
`phones l04a-b are communicating via the Bluetooth® pro(cid:173)
`tocol.
`Exemplary products corresponding to the audio player 102
`60 and the earphones l04a-b have been found to be the Apple
`iPod® player, available from the Apple Store in Cupertino,
`Calif. and the ety8™ Bluetooth® high-fidelity noise-isolat(cid:173)
`ing earphones, available from Etymotic Research in Elk
`Grove Village, Ill.
`FIG. 2A illustrates a block diagram showing a wireless
`audio player system. The system includes an audio player
`202, coupled to a transceiver 204 that wirelessly sends audio
`
`35
`
`9
`
`

`

`US 7,761,091 B2
`
`5
`signals to wireless earphones 206. The audio player 202
`includes a display 208, memory 210, a processor/controller
`212 and control buttons 214. The audio player 202 further
`includes an output interface 216 with circuitry to output audio
`signals to a left and a right earphone that would be physically
`connected to the audio player 202, such as through a standard
`headphone jack.
`The transceiver device 204 is shown to include a processor
`218 (e.g., anARM7 TDMI processor or other 32-bit embed(cid:173)
`ded RISC processor), and a transceiver 220 (e.g., a Blue(cid:173)
`tooth® transceiver) that includes an antenna 222. The proces(cid:173)
`sor 218 and the transceiver 220 may be embodied as one
`processor as well. For example, the processor 218 may be
`embodied as software running on a portion of an integrated
`circuit comprising the transceiver 220.
`The transceiver 204 couples to the audio player 202 via a 30
`pin connector 224, which may be a standard dock connector
`that is a rectangular, 30 terminal connector that includes pins
`for power and data transfer. The transceiver device 204 may
`include an identification chip that permits information about 20
`the audio player 202 controls and earphone 206 controls to be
`exchanged via the Bluetooth® protocol.
`The transceiver device 204 may also be presented in an
`alternative form. For example, instead of connecting to the
`audio player 202 through a 30-pin connector, the transceiver 25
`may plug into a standard headphone or earphone jack on the
`audio player (not shown) and may also include a multi-con(cid:173)
`nector jack for power. As such, the transceiver device 204
`may be any general transceiver that can communicate using
`the Bluetooth® protocol.
`The earphones 206 include a right earphone 226 and a left
`earphone 228 connected via a cable 230. The earphones 206
`have a transceiver 232 (e.g., a Bluetooth® transceiver) that
`includes an antenna 234. The transceiver 232 may be physi(cid:173)
`cally located within either the right earphone 226 or left 35
`earphone 228. In addition, either or both of the right earphone
`226 or the left earphone 228 includes control buttons to con(cid:173)
`trol volume and music/track selection. In FIG. 2, the right
`earphone 226 is shown to include control buttons 236 and the
`transceiver 232. Additionally, one or both of the right ear- 40
`phone 226 and left earphone 228 will include a power source
`(e.g., battery 238), which is shown to be within the left ear(cid:173)
`phone 228 in FIG. 2, and a voltage control circuit (VCC) to
`provide power to the transceiver 232 and the right earphone
`226. The earphones 206 wirelessly communicate with the 45
`transceiver 204 via a wireless link 240.
`The processors and transceivers within the audio player
`202, transceiver device 204 and earphones 206 may access
`memory to execute software functions stored therein, such as
`to adjust volume levels, select music tracks, etc. One skilled
`in the art of computer systems design will understand that the
`example embodiments are not limited to any particular class
`or model of processor. The processors may operate according
`to an operating system, which may be any suitable commer(cid:173)
`cially available embedded or disk-based operating system, or
`any proprietary operating system. Further, the processors
`may comprise one or more smaller central processing units,
`including, for example, a programmable digital signal pro(cid:173)
`cessing engine or may also be implemented as a single appli(cid:173)
`cation specific integrated circuit (ASIC) to improve speed and
`to economize space.
`In general, it should be understood that the audio player
`202, transceiver device 204 and earphones 206 could include
`hardware objects developed using integrated circuit develop(cid:173)
`ment technologies, or yet via some other methods, or the 65
`combination of hardware and software objects that could be
`ordered, parameterized, and connected in a software environ-
`
`6
`ment to implement different functions described herein. Also,
`the hardware objects could communicate using electrical sig(cid:173)
`nals, with states of the signals representing different data. It
`should also be noted that the audio player 202 generally
`executes programs resident at the audio player 202 under the
`control of an operating system.
`Moreover, memory within any of the audio player 202,
`transceiver device 204 or earphones 206 may include random
`access memory (RAM), flash memory or long term storage,
`10 such as read only memory (ROM) or magnetic disks. The
`memory may include software functions executable by a pro(cid:173)
`cessor that are provided using machine language instructions
`or software with object-oriented instructions, such as the Java
`programming language. However, other progranmiing lan-
`15 guages ( such as the C++ programming language for instance)
`could be used as well.
`It should be further understood that this and other arrange(cid:173)
`ments described herein are for purposes of example only. As
`such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other arrange(cid:173)
`ments and other elements (e.g. machines, interfaces, func(cid:173)
`tions, orders, and groupings of functions, etc.) can be used
`instead, and some elements may be omitted altogether
`according to the desired results. Further, many of the ele(cid:173)
`ments that are described are functional entities that may be
`implemented as discrete or distributed components or in con(cid:173)
`junction with other components, in any suitable combination
`and location.
`In operation, a user will turn on the audio player 202 using
`the controls 214 and instruct the controller 212 to access the
`30 memory 210 to play a stored music selection. The controller
`212 will display the selected music selection on the display
`208 and also send a control signal (labeled Bi) through the
`30-pin connector 224 to the transceiver device 204. The pro-
`cessor 218 will receive the control signal and instruct the BT
`transceiver 220 to access the memory 210 to receive the
`selected audio data and to send the audio data to the earphones
`206 via the wireless link 240 over an audio path 242. The
`audio path 242 is a bi-directional wireless Bluetooth® link
`between the transceiver device 204 and the earphones 206
`that may be used to stream audio signals. Signals are sent for
`both the left and right earphones over the audio path 242.
`The transceiver 204 will send digital full-scale audio sig-
`nals to the earphones 206, and the audio signals can be attenu(cid:173)
`ated after reception at the earphones 206. Digital full-scale
`audio signals or digital-full scale audio signals are sent
`through the wireless link to provide a highest possible signal-
`to-noise ratio at any volume control setting. Digital full-scale
`audio signals are signals that have a known relied-upon out(cid:173)
`put level or known sound-pressure level that is accepted by
`50 listener.
`The earphones 206 will either receive instructions for
`attenuating the audio signals from the controls 236 on the
`earphones 206 or via a control signal sent from the audio
`player 202. If the volume control function were to occur at the
`55 audio player 202 so that the signal sent over the wireless link
`was attenuated, noise in the wireless link 238 and circuit noise
`in the right earphone 226 and left earphone 228 amplifiers
`would become audible within quieter passages of the audio
`and in quiet sections between track selections. However, with
`60 the control of the audio signal level in the earphone, earphone
`amplifiers can be muted during quiet sections between pas-
`sages.
`As such, if the listener uses the controls 214 on the audio
`player 202 to adjust a volume of the audio data, the controller
`212 sends the control signal (labeled Bi) to the transceiver
`204, which forwards the control signal to the earphones 206
`over the wireless link 240 via a control path 244. The trans-
`
`10
`
`

`

`US 7,761,091 B2
`
`7
`ceiver 232 in the earphones 206 relays the control signal to the
`attenuators in the earphones 206 to instruct the earphones 206
`how to attenuate the digital full-scale audio signal that was
`received. The digital audio attenuators in the earphones, RL(cid:173)
`and RR-, can be used for volume control function permitting 5
`a maximum possible dynamic range and minimum noise
`available from the system to be presented at all times. The
`digital audio attenuators in the earphones will then adjust the
`audio data according to the control signal Bi and then send
`corresponding signals to the right earphone 226 and left ear- 10
`phone 228.
`At the same time, the display 208 of the audio controller is
`updated to show the current volume settings. The display 208
`may include software running on the controller 212 that con(cid:173)
`trols graphics of the display 208 so that once the volume
`settings in the memory 210 are adjusted, the display graphics
`are then updated.
`On the other hand, if the listener were to use the controls
`236 on the earphones 206 to adjust a volume of the audio
`signal, the earphones 206 will send a control signal (labeled
`Be) to the audio player 202 through the transceiver 204. The
`audio player 202 will then receive the control signal and
`adjust the volume setting in the audio player 202 accordingly.
`In addition, the transceiver sends a display control signal to
`the display 208 via the controller 212 of the audio player 202
`so that the display 208 of the volume setting is updated
`accordingly. Alternatively, the controller 212 will automati(cid:173)
`cally update the display 208 of the audio player 202 after
`updating the memory 210.
`The audio player 202 then sends a control signal (labeled
`Bi) back to the earphones 206 to instruct the earphones 206
`how to adjust/attenuate the audio signal so that an output of
`the wireless earphones reflects the desired increase or
`decrease in loudness. In this mamier, either the controls on the
`earphones or the controls on the audio player can be used to
`adjust the volume of the audio signal so that a main audio
`control on the audio player is adjusted. For example, when(cid:173)
`ever the controls 214 for volume are adjusted, or when the
`controls 236 for volume are adjusted, messages are generated
`that each are received at the controller 212 of the audio player
`202, which sets an volume in memory of audio player 202. As
`such, both controls 214 and 236 could be operated simulta(cid:173)
`neously to adjust the volume. The volume is always con(cid:173)
`trolled by the audio player 202, which in turn, sends messages
`to the earphones 206 to instruct the earphones 206 how to
`adjust the signal.
`Thus, the ARM or similar processor 218 in the dongle
`transceiver 206 is progranmied to take user inputs Be from
`earphone volume and track controls and send the inputs to the 50
`controller 212 in the audio player 202 along with control
`information that indicates which inputs (Be from the ear(cid:173)
`phone audio and track controls or Bi from the player audio
`and track controls) to use. The controller 212 provides the
`track control signals directly to the flash or disk memory 210,
`the display control signals directly to the display 208, and
`makes the corresponding volume control settings available to
`the ARM or similar processor 218 in the transceiver 206,
`which sends the control settings to the earphones 206. This
`message flow is generally shown in FIG. 2B.
`At the earphones 206, volume control signals Be are
`received from the transceiver 204 and a master digital logic
`circuit translates the control signals into master digital logic
`control signals (MDLCS) to left and right digital attenuator
`signals RL- and RR-. This message flow is generally shown
`in FIG. 2C. Note that the left and right digital attenuators RL(cid:173)
`and RR- may be positioned within their respective earpiece,
`
`8
`or may both be positioned within one earpiece so that signals
`are adjusted and then sent to the proper earpiece for output.
`Conceptually, in operation, the earphones 206 generally
`have two circuits: one to receive audio and control signals
`from the audio player 202, attenuate the signals and then play
`the signals through speakers; and a second to receive user
`inputs from the control buttons 236 and send the user inputs to
`the transceiver 204 via the wireless link 240. In this configu(cid:173)
`ration, the earphones 206 will not attenuate an audio signal
`based on the user inputs directly received at the control but(cid:173)
`tons 236 on the earphones 206. Rather, the earphones 206
`only attenuate an audio signal when instructed to do so by the
`audio player 202.
`Using the described messaging sequence to adjust a vol-
`15 ume of the audio signal, the volume setting in memory will
`always be held by the audio player 202. There will not be a
`separate volume setting set for the earphones 206 and audio
`player 202. The audio signal output at the earphones 206 will
`always correspond to the volume level as shown at the audio
`20 player 202, and thus the volume levels at each of the audio
`player 202 and the earphones 206 will be synchronized. If the
`earphones 206 operated indepe