TW202006374A - Electronic device and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic device includes a connector, a detector, an audio source, a signal generator, a switch element, an amplifier, and a processor. The detector determines whether an earphone is coupled to the connector. The signal generator generates a test signal. The test signal includes an AC (Alternating Current) portion and a DC (Direct Current) portion, and the DC portion is generated after the AC portion is generated. The switch element switches between the audio source and the signal generator. When the earphone is initially coupled to the connector, the switch element selects the test signal as an input signal. The amplifier amplifies the input signal, so as to generate an amplified signal. The amplified signal is transmitted to the connector and the earphone, such that the earphone generates a feedback signal according to the amplified signal. The processor calculates an impedance value of the earphone according to the feedback signal.

Description

Electronic device and its control method

The present invention relates to an electronic device (Electronic Device), in particular to an electronic device that can detect the impedance value of an earphone.

In a traditional design, when an external earphone is coupled to a system end, the system end usually transmits a direct current (DC) test signal to the earphone to estimate the impedance value of the earphone. However, the pure DC test signal may cause the user wearing the headset to hear a loud noise (for example: a "boom" sound). In view of this, it is necessary to propose a completely new solution to overcome the problems faced by the prior art.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides an electronic device for detecting the impedance value of an earphone, and includes: a connector; a detector to determine whether the earphone is coupled to the connector; an audio source To generate a sound signal; a signal generator to generate a test signal, wherein the test signal includes an AC part and a DC part, and the DC part is generated after the AC part; a switch, Switching between the audio source and the signal generator, wherein when the earphone is initially coupled to the connector, the switch selects the test signal as an input signal; an amplifier amplifies the input signal to generate a An amplified signal, wherein the amplified signal is transmitted to the connector and the headset so that the headset generates a feedback signal according to the amplified signal; and a processor calculates the impedance value of the headset based on the feedback signal.

In some embodiments, the AC portion of the test signal is a sine wave, and the frequency of the sine wave is greater than 20 kHz.

In some embodiments, the total length of the AC portion of the test signal is at least 5 times the period length of the sine wave.

In some embodiments, the potential level of the DC portion of the test signal is equal to the highest potential level of the sine wave.

In some embodiments, after the processor calculates the impedance value of the headset, the processor adjusts a gain ratio of the amplifier according to the impedance value of the headset, and the switch updates and selects the sound signal as The input signal.

In another preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a control method including the following steps: by a detector, determining whether an earphone is coupled to a connector of an electronic device; by an audio source, generating a Sound signal; by a signal generator, a test signal is generated, wherein the test signal includes an AC part and a DC part, and the DC part is generated after the AC part; by a switch, Switching between the audio source and the signal generator, wherein when the earphone is just coupled to the connector, the switch selects the test signal as an input signal; the amplifier amplifies the input signal, To generate an amplified signal; transmit the amplified signal to the connector and the headset, so that the headset generates a feedback signal according to the amplified signal; and a processor calculates the headset according to the feedback signal Impedance value.

In some embodiments, the control method further includes: after the processor calculates the impedance value of the earphone, adjusting the gain magnification of the amplifier according to the impedance value by the processor; and by the switching To update and select the sound signal as the input signal.

100‧‧‧Electronic device

110‧‧‧Connector

120‧‧‧detector

130‧‧‧Audio source

140‧‧‧Signal generator

150‧‧‧Switch

160‧‧‧Amplifier

170‧‧‧ processor

190‧‧‧Headphone

210‧‧‧ Communication part of test signal

215‧‧‧sine wave

220‧‧‧DC part of test signal

The potential level of the DC part of the DC‧‧‧ test signal

L1‧‧‧Inductor

MAX‧‧‧Highest potential level of sine wave

K‧‧‧Magnification

R1‧‧‧resistor

SA‧‧‧Amplified signal

SF‧‧‧Feedback signal

SI‧‧‧Input signal

SS‧‧‧Sound signal

ST‧‧‧Test signal

T‧‧‧cycle length

TL‧‧‧Total length of time

VSS‧‧‧Ground potential

Z‧‧‧impedance

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device and headphones according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a waveform diagram of a test signal according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the earphone according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the control method according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control method according to another embodiment of the invention.

In order to make the purpose, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and understandable, specific embodiments of the present invention are specifically listed below, and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, detailed descriptions are as follows.

Certain terms are used in the specification and patent application scope to refer to specific elements. Those skilled in the art should understand that hardware manufacturers may use different terms to refer to the same component. This specification and the scope of patent application do not use the difference in names as the way to distinguish the components, but the differences in the functions of the components as the criteria for distinguishing. The terms "include" and "include" mentioned in the entire specification and patent application scope are open-ended terms, so they should be interpreted as "including but not limited to". The term "approximately" means that within the acceptable error range, those skilled in the art can solve the technical problem within a certain error range and achieve the basic technical effect. In addition, the term "coupled" in this specification includes any direct and indirect electrical connection means. Therefore, if it is described that a first device is coupled to a second device, it means that the first device can be directly electrically connected to the second device, or indirectly electrically connected to the second device through other devices or connection means二装置。 Two devices.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an electronic device 100 and an earphone 190 according to an embodiment of the invention. The earphone 190 can be selectively coupled to the electronic device 100, which can be regarded as an external device (External Device) of the electronic device 100. The types and types of the electronic device 100 and the earphone 190 are not particularly limited in the present invention. For example, the electronic device 100 may be a smart phone (Smart Phone), a tablet computer (Tablet Computer), a desktop computer (Desktop Computer), or a notebook computer (Notebook Computer), and the headset 190 It can be a wired headset or a wireless Bluetooth headset.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic device 100 includes: a connector 110, a detector 120, an audio source 130, a signal generator 140, and a switch Switch Element 150, an Amplifier 160, and a Processor 170. It must be understood that although not shown in FIG. 1, the electronic device 100 may further include other components, such as a battery module, a display device, and a touch control module Module), a speaker (Speaker), or (and) a housing (Housing).

The electronic device 100 can be used to detect the Impedance Value Z of the earphone 190. The connector 110 may be an earphone jack of the electronic device 100. The detector 120 is coupled to the connector 110 and can analyze the signal from the connector 110. In detail, the detector 120 can be used to determine whether the earphone 190 is coupled to the connector 110 and when the earphone 190 is coupled to the connector 110. For example, when the earphone 190 has just started to be coupled to the connector 110 (or when the earphone 190 has just been inserted into the earphone jack), the detector 120 may generate a device presence signal to notify other components of the electronic device 100. There are cases where the headset 190 exists.

The audio source 130 is used to generate a sound signal SS. For example, the sound signal SS may include a music signal, a voice signal, or a mixed signal of the two. The signal generator 140 is used to generate a test signal ST. FIG. 2 is a waveform diagram of the test signal ST according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the test signal ST includes an alternating current (AC) part 210 and a direct current (DC) part 220, wherein the direct current part 220 is generated after the alternating current part 210. Such AC and DC components of the test signal ST help to suppress the noise generated when the earphone 190 is coupled to the connector 110 and performs an impedance test.

The switch 150 can switch between the audio source 130 and the signal generator 140 to selectively couple the audio source 130 or the signal generator 140 to the amplifier 160. For example, the switch 150 may be a single pole double throw switch (Single Pole Double Throw (SPDT) Switch). When the earphone 190 is just coupled to the connector 110, the switch 150 can select the test signal ST of the signal generator 140 as one of the input signals SI of the amplifier 160. The amplifier 160 can amplify the input signal SI by a gain factor K to generate an amplified signal SA. Then, the amplified signal SA (that is, the amplified test signal ST) can be further transmitted to the connector 110 and the earphone 190, so that the earphone 190 can generate a feedback signal (SF) according to the amplified signal SA. For example, the feedback signal SF may include a voltage value and a current value returned from the headphone 190 when the amplified signal SA is applied to the headphone 190. Then, the feedback signal SF can be received by the connector 110, and the processor 170 can then calculate the impedance value Z of the earphone 190 according to the feedback signal SF. For example, the impedance value Z of the earphone 190 may be proportional to the ratio of the aforementioned voltage value and the aforementioned current value.

Please refer to figure 2 again. In detail, the AC part 210 of the test signal ST may be a sine wave (Sine Wave) 215, wherein the frequency (Frequency) of the sine wave 215 may be greater than 20kHz, for example: 30kHz or 40kHz. The total time length TL of the AC portion 210 of the test signal ST may be at least 5 times greater than the period length T of the sine wave 215. The potential level DC of the DC portion 220 of the test signal ST may be equal to the highest potential level MAX of the sine wave 215. In other words, the aforementioned parameter setting of the test signal ST may be as described in the following equations (1) to (4):

DC=MAX.................................................. .... (4) where "F" represents the frequency of the sine wave 215, "T" represents the period length T of the sine wave 215, "TL" represents the total time length TL of the AC part 210 of the test signal ST, "DC "Represents the potential level DC of the DC part 220 of the test signal ST, and "MAX" represents the highest potential level MAX of the sine wave 215.

Generally speaking, the huge noise generated when the earphone 190 is inserted into the electronic device 100 is caused by the DC test signal applied to the earphone 190. In order to suppress this noise, the present invention proposes to use the test signal ST including the AC part 210 and the DC part 220 to replace the conventional DC test signal. Since the frequency of the AC portion 210 of the test signal ST is relatively high (eg, greater than 20 kHz), it will not be noticed by human ears. In addition, after an appropriate period of time expires (for example: after 5 times the period length T of the sine wave 215), the AC part 210 of the test signal ST will be converted into a DC part 220 to test the impedance value Z of the earphone 190 . At this time, regarding the voltage value and the current value of the earphone 190 have been stabilized (Steady State), the earphone 190 is less likely to generate noise. FIG. 3 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the earphone 190 according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the earphone 190 can be modeled as a combination of an inductor L1 and a resistor, which is connected in series with the ground potential VSS. Initially, the transient current (Transient Current) of the inductor L1 of the earphone 190 may cause noise, but the transient current will naturally disappear after the total time TL of the AC part 210 has passed. Therefore, the design of the present invention can effectively eliminate the non-ideal noise generated by the earphone 190 during the impedance test.

In some embodiments, the switch 150 and the amplifier 160 can be combined with each other to form a multi-input and single-output amplifier (Multi-Input and Single-Output Amplifier); in other embodiments, the detector 120 or (and) The signal generator 140 can be combined with the processor 170 to form a compound processor, neither of which affects the effect of the present invention.

After the processor 170 calculates the impedance value Z of the earphone 190, the processor 170 can further adjust the gain ratio K of the amplifier 160 according to the impedance value Z of the earphone 190. For example, if the impedance value Z of the earphone 190 becomes larger, the gain magnification K of the amplifier 160 will become larger; conversely, if the impedance value Z of the earphone 190 becomes smaller, the gain magnification K of the amplifier 160 will become smaller. After the fine adjustment of the gain ratio K of the amplifier 160 is completed, the impedance test procedure for the earphone 190 has been completed. At this time, the earphone 190 can be operated normally. For example, the switch 150 can switch to the audio source 130 according to the instruction from the processor 170 and reselect the sound signal SS as the input signal SI of the amplifier 160, so that a user wearing the headset 190 can hear the updated amplified signal SA (that is, the amplified sound signal SS, not the amplified test signal ST).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the control method according to an embodiment of the invention. This control method can be applied to the aforementioned electronic device 100. First, in step S410, a detector 120 is used to determine whether a headset 190 is coupled to a connector 110 of the electronic device 100. If not, the procedure returns to step S410. If so, in step S420, an audio source 130 generates an audio signal SS. Then, in step S430, a signal generator 140 generates a test signal ST, wherein the test signal ST includes an AC portion 210 and a DC portion 220, and the DC portion 220 is generated after the AC portion 210 . In step S440, a switch 150 is used to switch between the audio source 130 and the signal generator 140. When the earphone 190 is first coupled to the connector 110, the switch 150 selects the test signal ST as an input signal SI. In step S450, the amplifier 160 amplifies the input signal SI to generate an amplified signal SA. In step S460, the amplified signal SA is transmitted to the connector 110 and the earphone 190, so that the earphone 190 generates a feedback signal SF according to the amplified signal SA. Finally, in step S470, a processor 170 calculates the impedance value Z of the earphone 190 according to the feedback signal SF. It must be noted that the above steps do not need to be performed in sequence, and any feature of the electronic device 100 of FIGS. 1-3 can be applied to the control method of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control method according to another embodiment of the invention. Figure 5 is similar to Figure 4. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the control method further includes another step S480. That is, after the processor 170 calculates the impedance value Z of the earphone 190, the processor 170 adjusts the gain ratio K of the amplifier 160 according to the impedance value Z of the earphone 190, and updates and The sound signal SS is reselected as the input signal SI of the amplifier 160.

The invention provides a novel electronic device. By using the test signal including the AC part and the DC signal, the noise generated when the earphone is coupled to the electronic device and the impedance test is performed can be effectively eliminated. Compared with the conventional technology, the present invention has at least the advantages of low cost, low complexity, and better user experience, so it is very suitable for various electronic devices.

It is worth noting that none of the device parameters mentioned above is a limitation of the present invention. Designers can adjust these settings according to different needs. The electronic device and control method of the present invention are not limited to the states shown in FIGS. 1-5. The present invention may include only any one or more features of any one or more embodiments of FIGS. 1-5. In other words, not all the illustrated features must be implemented in the electronic device and control method of the present invention at the same time.

The ordinal numbers in this specification and the scope of patent application, such as "first", "second", "third", etc., do not have a sequential relationship with each other, they are only used to mark the difference between two having the same Different components of the name.

Although the present invention is disclosed as above with preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Anyone who is familiar with this art can make some changes and retouching without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention shall be subject to the scope defined in the attached patent application.

100‧‧‧Electronic device

110‧‧‧Connector

120‧‧‧detector

130‧‧‧Audio source

140‧‧‧Signal generator

150‧‧‧Switch

160‧‧‧Amplifier

170‧‧‧ processor

190‧‧‧Headphone

K‧‧‧Magnification

SA‧‧‧Amplified signal

SF‧‧‧Feedback signal

SI‧‧‧Input signal

SS‧‧‧Sound signal

ST‧‧‧Test signal

VSS‧‧‧Ground potential

Z‧‧‧impedance

Claims (10)

An electronic device for detecting the impedance value of an earphone, and includes: a connector; a detector to determine whether the earphone is coupled to the connector; an audio source to generate a sound signal; a signal generator To generate a test signal, where the test signal includes an AC part and a DC part, and the DC part is generated after the AC part; a switcher between the audio source and the signal generator Switching, wherein when the earphone is first coupled to the connector, the switch selects the test signal as an input signal; an amplifier amplifies the input signal to generate an amplified signal, wherein the amplified signal is transmitted to The connector and the earphone enable the earphone to generate a feedback signal according to the amplified signal; and a processor calculates the impedance value of the earphone according to the feedback signal. The electronic device as described in item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein the AC part of the test signal is a sine wave, and the frequency of the sine wave is greater than 20 kHz. The electronic device as described in item 2 of the patent application scope, wherein the total time length of the AC part of the test signal is at least 5 times the period length of the sine wave. The electronic device as described in item 2 of the patent application scope, wherein the potential level of the DC part of the test signal is equal to the highest potential level of the sine wave. The electronic device as described in item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein after the processor calculates the impedance value of the earphone, the processor adjusts a gain ratio of the amplifier according to the impedance value of the earphone, and the switching The device updates and selects the sound signal as the input signal. A control method includes the following steps: by a detector, determining whether an earphone is coupled to a connector of an electronic device; by an audio source, generating a sound signal; by a signal generator, generating a Test signal, wherein the test signal includes an AC part and a DC part, and the DC part is generated after the AC part; by a switcher, it is operated between the audio source and the signal generator Switching, wherein when the earphone is just coupled to the connector, the switch selects the test signal as an input signal; by an amplifier, the input signal is amplified to generate an amplified signal; the amplified signal is transmitted to The connector and the earphone enable the earphone to generate a feedback signal according to the amplified signal; and a processor calculates the impedance value of the earphone according to the feedback signal. The control method as described in Item 6 of the patent application scope, wherein the AC part of the test signal is a sine wave, and the frequency of the sine wave is greater than 20 kHz. The control method as described in item 7 of the patent application scope, wherein the total time length of the AC part of the test signal is at least 5 times the cycle length of the sine wave. The control method as described in item 7 of the patent application scope, wherein the potential level of the DC part of the test signal is equal to the highest potential level of the sine wave. The control method as described in Item 6 of the patent application scope further includes: after the processor calculates the impedance value of the earphone, adjusting, by the processor, one of the gain magnifications of the amplifier according to the impedance value; and With the switch, the sound signal is updated and selected as the input signal.

Images