DISCLOSURE OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0044] Aside from the preferred embodiment or embodiments disclosed below, this invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Thus, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings.

[0045] There is shown in FIG. 1 an information handling system 10 including a computer 12 containing software 14 and having conventional associated devices such as display 16 , mouse 18 , keyboard 20 , and storage device 22 which may be internal or external input/output devices. In accordance with this system, the load or loads 24 including various input/output devices such as speakers, microphones, phonographs, tape and CD players and recorders and all manner of audio and visual input/output devices whether internal or external are connected through a connector or connectors 26 which may be any form of terminal such as jacks for example which are interconnected through support components 28 of conventional nature which are identified in accordance with this invention. In accordance with this invention load sensing circuit 30 sends out test signals to loads 24 through connectors 26 and analyzes the responses to determine the identity of each of the loads at each of jacks or connectors 26 . In an enhanced version of the invention, reconfiguration circuit 32 responds to the identification of a particular load at a particular jack by load sensing circuit 30 and reconfigures the circuits associated with that connector so that they are properly adapted for the identified load, whether it be input or output, audio or video. In one embodiment both circuits 30 and 32 are a part of Codec 11 but that is not a necessary limitation of this invention.

[0046] Load sensing circuit 30 , FIG. 2 , includes excitation circuit 34 , response analyzer 36 , and identification circuit 38 . Also shown in FIG. 2 is a classic plug/unplug event detection circuit 40 . Additional embodiments for this circuit are discussed below with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17 . The connectors are indicated as audio jacks 26 a in FIG. 2 and the unknown device 24 a as an audio type of device. Excitation circuit 34 sends out a test signal through support components 28 and jack 26 a to the unknown load device 24 a. The response to that test signal is sensed by response analyzer circuit 36 and delivered to identification circuit 38 . The response analyzer may be sensing impedance or frequency response, that is impedance or some other characteristic over a range of frequencies. Whatever the characteristic is, it is submitted to identification circuit 38 which then matches it with one of a number of characteristics of known loads to determine which load this might be. In more advanced embodiments, as discussed with reference to the software flow charts in FIGS. 12 - 15 , if a match does not occur the user interface software may ask for a user ID of the device plugged into the particular jack and then add it to its stored lookup table or modify the decision logic tree so that this new device would now become a part of the known devices for future matchings.

[0047] Audio jack 26 a, FIG. 3 , is a classical audio jack including plug 50 having a sleeve 52 , tip contact 54 and ring contact 56 separated by suitable insulators 58 . Engaging with plug 50 is jack 60 which typically includes sleeve 62 , tip contact 64 , and ring contact 66 . Plug/unplug event detection circuit 40 of FIG. 2 may include a simple switch 40 a, as shown in FIG. 3 , whereby when plug 50 is inserted through sleeve 62 its tip 54 and ring 56 portions will drive ring contact in jack 60 away from jack event switch contact 68 thereby providing a signal to amplifier 70 that can be used to inform the controlling software or hardware that a plug is or is not present in the jack. Additional event detector circuitry embodiments are discussed below with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17 .

[0048] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 , support components 28 b may include bias resistors 80 and 82 and capacitors 84 and 86 . Reconfiguration circuit 32 b may include output amplifiers 88 and 90 as well as input amplifiers 92 and 94 with gain controls 93 and 95 , respectively, which will be enabled dependent upon whether the unknown device at the terminal or jack is identified as an input or output device. The connection or disconnection of amplifiers of 88 , 90 , 92 , and 94 may be effected simply by the use of switches 96 , 98 , 100 , 102 , although more sophisticated arrangements may be used. For example, each of the amplifiers 88 - 94 may have an enable input 104 , 106 , 108 , 110 which enables the amplifier to present a high impedance in the off state and a low impedance in the on state. Another amplifier 112 may be used to drive bias resistors 80 and 82 when switch 114 is closed. Switch 116 may be made available to ground bias resistors 80 and 82 to avoid crosstalk.

[0049] Excitation circuit 34 includes a current source 118 for example a current mode DAC which may be programmable. That is, it may be directed to put out different levels of current in three, four, or any number of steps as the test current. Typically, the lowest current is delivered to the unknown load device first and if the returning input is insufficient for analysis, the data analysis logic circuit 132 will step the current source 118 to the next level. This allows the use of a less sensitive and thus less expensive response analyzer circuit 36 . This will continue until the return signal is sufficient for analysis. Excitation circuit 34 also includes switches 120 and 122 . When switch 120 is closed the test signal is delivered through capacitor 86 to the ring contact 62 . When switch 122 is closed, the test current is instead delivered through capacitor 84 to the tip contact 66 . Response analyzer 36 includes analog to digital converter 124 , preferably a programmable amplifier and sample and hold circuit 126 along with switches 128 and 130 . Identification circuit 38 includes data analysis logic circuit 132 .

[0050] In operation, capacitors 84 and 86 are charged, typically through input or output amplifiers 88 and 90 with switches 96 and 98 closed. Once they are charged switches 96 and 98 are open. Then a signal on line 134 from data analysis logic circuit 132 actuates current source 118 to provide its first lowest level of current through closed switch 120 and capacitor 86 . This is phase 1 operation. In phase 1 , switch 128 is also closed so that the effect of the test current on the voltage on capacitor 86 is sensed through switch 128 by amplifier 126 . This signal is converted to a digital signal and submitted to the data analysis logic circuit 132 . In phase 2 switches 122 and 130 are closed so that now the test current is delivered to capacitor 84 and the effect of that current on the voltage stored on capacitor 84 is sensed through switch 130 by amplifier 136 and again the signal is converted to digital form by ADC converter 124 and delivered to data analysis logic circuit 132 .

[0051] In phase 3 switch 122 may be closed so that a current is supplied to capacitor 84 which is connected to tip 166 while the closure of switch 128 means that the sensing is done at capacitor 86 which is connected to ring 62 . Thus, the system in phase 1 checks one of the tip and ring, in phase 2 it checks the other, and in phase 3 it checks through both the tip and ring. It should be understood that while in phase 3 the tip is provided with current and the sensing is of the ring, the converse can be done alternatively, or both could be done by adding a phase 4 . Once the device is identified in data analysis logic circuit 132 , the proper signals can be developed to operate switches 96 , 98 , 100 , and 102 to connect the proper ones of the input and output amplifiers to the tip and ring to accommodate the type and nature of the device identified as connected to jack 60 .

[0052] The reconfiguration circuit can adapt to microphone (stereo or mono) by closing switch 114 and opening switch 116 thereby providing a bias current to the microphone through resistors 80 and 82 . Amplifier 92 would buffer the incoming signal for further processing such as digitizing by an audio ADC. In the case of a stereo microphone detected, amplifier 94 would also be enabled at 110 in order to buffer the second signal of the stereo pair for similar processing. In both cases amplifiers 88 and 90 would be rendered high impedance to nodes N 1 and N 2 by either opening switches 96 and 98 or disabling them with controls 104 and 106 . If speakers were detected, the bias provided by amplifier 112 and resistors 80 and 82 would be undesirable. For this reason switch 114 would be opened and switch 116 would be closed thereby eliminating any unwanted bias and also eliminating any serious crosstalk path, between signals at tip 66 and ring 60 through resistors 80 and 82 . The output signals intended for the speakers connected to audio jack 60 would be driven by amplifiers 88 and 90 which would be enabled by controls 104 and 106 , if present, and connected to nodes N 1 and N 2 either directly or through switches 96 and 98 which would be closed, if present.

[0053] If a typical communication headset is detected connected to audio jack 60 then switch 114 would be closed and switches 116 and 117 would be open. This would provide bias to the microphone of the headset connected to tip 66 through resistor 80 . The input signal would coupled through capacitor 84 to amplifier 92 which would be enabled by control 108 and switch 100 would be closed to connect the incoming audio signal to further processing circuits. Amplifier 88 would be disabled by control 104 and/or switch 96 would be open, if present. The output signal to be delivered to the earpiece connected to ring terminal 62 is provided through capacitor 86 using amplifier 90 which is connected by closing switch 98 , if present, and enabled by control 106 . Amplifier 94 could be disabled by control 110 .

[0054] If a line level input device is detected then there is no need for bias so switch 114 would be open and switch 116 would be closed. The conditions of amplifiers 88 , 90 , 92 , and 94 and switches 96 , 98 , 100 , and 102 would be the same as described for the stereo microphone case. The only exception would be that line level input signals are much larger than typical microphone levels. So, if amplifiers 92 and 94 had programmable gain control, this gain would be programmed to a lower value for a line level device than for a stereo microphone

[0055] Data analysis logic circuit 132 may operate in accordance with the decision tree of FIG. 5 . Inputs include the tip value 140 from phase 2 , the ring value 142 from phase 1 , and the tip ring value 144 from phase 3 . The logic then queries as to whether the tip is less than 6 ohms for example, in step 146 . If it is, then in step 148 it is reported that the unknown device is a 4 ohms speaker. If it is not less than 6 ohms, then the question is asked in step 150 as to whether the tip has a resistance of less than 13 ohms. If the answer is yes in step 152 , it will be reported that the unknown device is an 8 ohm speaker. If the tip resistance impedance is not less than 13 ohms, the question is asked in step 154 as to whether the tip resistance is less than 240 ohms. If the answer is yes, a further inquiry is made in step 156 as to whether the ring impedance is larger than ½ of the tip impedance. If it is, then the unknown device is reported in step 158 as being headphones. If it is not, it is reported in step 160 as being SPDIF or digital speakers. If in step 154 the tip was found to be not less than 240 ohms, the inquiry is made as to whether it is less than 3,000 ohms in step 162 . If it is, inquiry is made as to whether the ring is larger than ½ of the tip impedance in step 164 . If it is not, the decision is made in step 166 that the unknown device is a mono microphone. If the ring is larger than ½ of the tip impedance than the question is asked as to whether the tip ring impedance is greater than ½ of the tip impedance value in step 168 . If it is, then in step 170 the unknown device is reported as being another type of mono microphone. But if in step 168 the tip to ring impedance value is not greater than ½ of the tip impedance, then in step 172 the device is identified as a stereo microphone. If it is determined that the tip is not less than 3,000 ohms in step 162 , then inquiry is made in step 174 as to whether the tip is less than 30,000 ohms. If it is, inquiry is made in step 176 as to whether the ring impedance is greater than ½ of the tip impedance. If it is not, then in step 178 the device is reported as unknown. If it is, then in step 180 the device is reported as power speakers. If the tip is not less than 30,000 ohms than the decision is made in step 182 that no device is connected to the terminal or jack.

[0056] The output on line 134 that successively boosts the current step output of current source 118 is developed in data analysis logic circuit 132 in accordance with the logic that is shown in FIG. 6 which begins with capturing a response value from the analog to digital converter 124 in step 190 and determining whether the response value is greater than the range threshold in step 192 . If it is then that value is provided to the data analysis logic circuit in step 194 . If the response value is not larger than the range threshold in step 192 then inquiry is made in step 196 as to whether the excitation level is at maximum range. If it is, the system simply returns to step 194 and provides the value to the identifier and the loop is done. However, if it is not at the maximum range the excitation level is increased in step 198 and the cycle begins again.

[0057] Although in FIG. 4 there is a single jack 60 serviced by a single excitation circuit 34 and a single response analyzer circuit 36 , this is not a necessary limitation of the invention. For example, there can be a number, and typically are, a number of terminals or jacks each one serviced by its own response analyzer 36 and excitation circuit 34 or, as shown in FIG. 7, a single excitation circuit 34 a may include a single current source 118 a which is multiplexed using a number of switches 120 a, 122 a, 120 b, 122 b, 120 n, 122 n, for servicing a number of jacks 60 a, 60 b, 60 n. Likewise, response analyzer circuit 36 a may have a single analog to digital converter 124 a and amplifier 126 a with a number of switches 128 a, 130 a - 128 n, 130 n. In this way, the single current source 118 a and the single ADC 124 a, and amplifier 126 a may service a multitude of terminals such as audio jacks 60 a through 60 n.

[0058] The impedance characteristic is not the only electrical characteristic of an unknown load that can be matched with the electrical characteristics of known loads or devices. For example, the frequency response of the unknown device could be matched with the frequency responses of known devices. In that case the output from ADC 124 d, FIG. 8 , may be supplied to an N word sample memory 200 which delivers the signal to an N-point fast Fourier transform, FFT calculator 202 . From there the output is delivered to identification circuit 132 which may, for example, be data analysis logic circuit 132 or some other pattern matching circuit 132 d which then provides the identification output. Alternatively, the output could be delivered directly to a CPU for manipulation using pattern matching algorithms. In fact, the function of the N-word sample memory 200 and the N-point FFT calculator 202 could also be embodied along with the identification circuit 38 d in a properly configured computer.

[0059] Instead of employing a decision tree, a simple storage look-up table could be used. For example, a signal at input 210 , FIG. 9 , provides a voltage, for example 50 millivolts, at input 212 to amplifier 214 . The difference between the 50 millivolts at input 212 and the input at 216 causes an output signal that drives the bases 218 , 220 , 222 of current source mirrors 224 , 226 , and 228 to conduct. The current they conduct will increase until the inputs at 212 and 216 are balanced. Because two of the current mirrors 226 and 228 are connected to point V 2 and only one is connected to point V 1 , V 2 receives twice the current of V 1 . These two inputs, V 1 and V 2 are delivered to both amplifier 230 and amplifier 232 . When V 1 is equal to or greater than V 2 , output JS 0 from amplifier 230 is equal to 0, otherwise, JS 0 is 1. When V 2 is greater than or equal to V 1 then JS 3 , the output of amplifier 232 is 0, else JS 3 is one. When V 1 equals V 2 , JS 0 is equal to 0 and JS 3 is equal to 0. The greater the current flowing through V 1 and V 2 , the lower the impedance present at jack 60 e. The JS 0 and JS 3 outputs coupled with the JS 1 output effects an identification of a number of different possible devices. The JS 1 output is derived from yet another current mirror 234 whose output is converted to a voltage by virtue or a resistance 236 and delivered to the output JS 1 . If the voltage is high, meaning the current was high, then JS 1 is 1 and a 1 here or a high voltage here indicates a low impedance.

[0060] The identification process can be understood more readily with reference to the jack sensing table in FIG. 10 where it can be seen that such devices as speakers, headphones, mono headsets, SPDIF or digital speakers, telecommunications devices or a microphone respectively, are represented by a distinctive three-bit digital code as listed in the columns JS 1 , JS 3 , and JS 0 . An additional column JS 4 is added which simply can be an output from the plug/unplug event detection circuit 40 , FIG. 2 , that indicates whether or not a plug is present in the jack. When it is JS 4 is a 1, when there is nothing in the jack it is a 0. This gives the additional characterization of nothing when nothing is attached. In reconfiguration circuit 32 e, FIG. 9 , transistors 250 and 252 and resistors 254 , 256 and 258 combine to form a programmable microphone bias source controlled by the level on input 260 . This will be activated when a microphone or telecom headset is connected to audio jack 60 e and detected, in order to provide bias on the tip terminal 66 e. The programmable bias will be deactivated, by input 260 being grounded, when a headphone, or analog or digital speaker is detected. Switch 262 conditionally connects the left headphone output signal 264 to capacitor 266 which couples this signal to the audio jack 60 e tip terminal 66 e through resistor 268 and inductor 270 . Inductors 270 and 272 combine with capacitors 84 e and 86 e, respectively, to form a two-channel high frequency EMI filter. This filter is optional and inductors 270 and 272 could be replaced by short circuits. Switch 274 conditionally connects the right channel headphone output signal 276 to capacitor 278 which couples this signal to the ring terminal 62 e of audio jack 60 e through resistor 280 and inductor 272 .

[0061] When analog speakers, mono headset, or headphones are detected, switches 262 and 274 are closed by activating signals on inputs 282 and 284 , respectively. Signal 260 would be grounded ensuring no bias applied. The SPDIF output signal 286 would be either grounded or high impedance. When digital (SPDIF) speakers are detected the conditions are the same except that an SPDIF signal is sent to the jack 60 e through capacitor 288 and resistor 290 also the amplifiers 292 , 294 whose outputs are connected to terminals 264 and 276 are placed in a muted state thus ensuring no interfering signals are presented to the jack 60 e and also providing AC termination for the SPDIF signal using components 266 and 268 . For a telecom headset, 260 is set to a high level to provide bias to the headset microphone connected to terminal 66 e. Switch 262 is open to ensure the signal from the microphone is not significantly attenuated. This signal is presented for further processing through resistor 296 to the microphone input of an audio codec circuit. Capacitor 298 combines with resistor 296 to low pass filter the signal. This filtering is desirable but optional. Audio signal is provided to the earpiece of the telecom headset connected to the terminal 62 e by closing switch 274 thus connecting the output amplifier attached to terminal 276 . Input 286 is programmed to a high impedance state.

[0062] For a standard mono computer microphone input 260 is high for providing bias, switches 262 and 274 are open and the SPDIF output connected to input 286 is programmed to a high impedance state. The incoming microphone signal on terminal 66 e is provided to the codec microphone input through inductor 270 and resistor 296 .

[0063] In accordance with the method and system of this invention a complete system employs three main pieces of software, a user interface application 250 , FIG. 11 , middleware application 252 , and codec driver software 254 . User interface 250 interfaces with the user equipment such as computer 12 , FIG. 1 , where the software has already been referred to generally at 14 . The user interface application can include a mouse, keyboard, touchscreen, pen, or any other sort of input as well as displays such as PC monitors, CCD displays, plasma displays, PDA screens and the like. Miscellaneous applications, such as recorders, players and others 256 can be delivered through data processing circuits 258 , such as filters and the like, to codec driver 254 . When load sensing circuit 30 ′ determines from its engagement with support circuits 28 ′ and jacks 60 ′ that a particular device is connected, it delivers this information to the CPU processor 12 ′ which delivers it to codec driver 254 . Load sensing circuit 30 ′ may deliver raw data from analog to digital converter 124 , FIG. 4 , directly to codec driver 254 , FIG. 11 , as well as the processed data from the data analysis logic circuit or other output of the response analyzer 36 . In this way, codec driver 254 in conjunction with the CPU processor 12 ′ can make a decision independent of that provided by load sensing circuit 30 ′ using the raw data as well as the decision of load sensing circuit 30 ′ to determine the identity of the unknown device and make its own decision as to the identity of the unknown device connected to jack 60 ′.

[0064] The middleware application 252 assists in this operation and also in conjunction with the user interface application 250 can add new devices to its database. When it can not recognize the attached device it may simply, through the user interface, ask the user what the device is and then store that identification along with the electrical characteristics such as impedance or spectral signature for future reference.

[0065] User interface messaging begins with a task of getting the audio jack device change notification in step 260 , FIG. 12 . If there has been a device change, for example, if the device has been removed as queried in step 262 , then in step 264 that notification is displayed to the user. If the answer is that there has been no device removal, then the system displays its best guess as to what device is plugged into what jack and can ask for user verification in step 266 . Then the codec driver is notified in step 268 of the reconfiguration of the hardware if that is needed and the user is notified in step 270 if that correction is incorrect or is not supported.

[0066] The middleware application performs a number of functions as indicated at 272 , FIG. 13 . It performs user messaging, load measurement, mapping to device database lists, device learning, and storage and retrieval functions. In addition it uses hardware platform circuit details to better determine the real load peripheral device over and above the identification given to it by the identification circuit. It also will keep track of the current I/O correction and configuration data. To perform this it maintains the support circuit information 274 and the configuration file so that, once identified, the proper circuitry can be reconfigured to adapt a terminal to a particular device connected there. It also contains 276 a database listing the standard device impedance characteristics and a learn device database of standard device database characteristics updated with additional devices identified by the user's own OEMs. Finally, its configuration database maintains a list of what device is in what jack and the middleware application checks the configuration against this at startup to detect of any changes while the system was powered off.

[0067] A codec driver detects any I/O connection plug in or plug out event 280 , FIG. 14 . The codec driver also knows for each jack whether a device has been inserted or removed based on the level read at that jack in step 282 . If the device has been removed the user interface will be notified. After these preliminary events including communication of connector events with middleware application 252 and middleware applications communication to the user interface by messaging, the initial load measurement cycle is begun at step 284 . The device characterization by the identification system and the raw impedance, tip or ring or both, are obtained 286 . Information 288 is then delivered to the middleware application to interpret and validate the identification. At this point if it is necessary to reconfigure the jack to input or output or to particular impedance matching, this is done 290 . Other applications and filter drivers can be turned on or off as desired at this option 292 .

[0068] At startup, FIG. 15 , the user interface application performs peripheral sensing cycle in all of the jacks or the I/O connectors 300 and compares 302 that with the configuration before shut down. If the configuration is different, step 304 , then the user messaging is started for each jack that has a different peripheral connected 306 . If nothing is changed the task is done.

[0069] Jack event detection is the ability of a codec 11 , FIG. 16 , or other system in accordance with this invention to detect that a device is plugged into or unplugged from a jack in the system. The event detection mechanism then triggers a signal (e.g., CPU interrupt and post a status bit in a register for the system software to monitor) back to the system to take action and react as necessary. Reaction examples are down mix multi-channel audio to 2-channels and mute surround channels when plug in headphones, turn on or off EQ engine, measure the device characteristic of what is plugged in, and message the user.

[0070] For a single jack one DC voltage path from the jack switch pins to the codec and one codec pin (JS) is sufficient to detect events at that jack. Connecting the switch pin on the jack to the JS pin will result in a logic high or low (high via pull-up resistor in the codec, low via pull-down resistor in the applications circuit) depending on if something plugged into the jack or not. The transition from logic ‘O’ to logic ‘1’ and vice versa is the event signal to the system.

[0071] Typical systems have multiple jacks as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 as jacks 60 a - 60 n rather than having a dedicated pin per jack to detect events mechanisms. In essence, these systems include, in accordance with this invention, a resistive ladder network 410 a, FIG. 16 or 410 b, FIG. 17 that, depending on what is plugged into each jack (or not), the DC voltage level at JS pin node 400 will be different. The initial DC bias voltage is set via resistor 411 (e.g. 1 K) to the analog or digital supply voltage, inside or optionally outside codec 11 on the applications circuit. Inside codec 11 , low resolution analog to digital converter (ADC) 412 measures the voltage on JS pin node 400 . When the voltage level changes, a device was plugged into or removed from a jack 60 in the system connected to the resistor ladder network 410 . ADC 412 sends the voltage measurement to software that determines what jack the event happened and if something was plugged in or out, based on the voltage level at JS pin node 400 . Resistive ladder network 410 thus conditions the voltage as JS pin node 400 to vary depending on whether devices are connected to one or more terminals 60 typically by choosing differently valued resistors R 1 -RN.

[0072] FIG. 16 discloses an approach for a multi-jack system where the jack switches 60 a - 60 n are isolated from the audio signal. Isolated jack switches mean that when closed (or open) they do not connect to the audio signal lines. In this case, the voltage to JS pin node 400 is DC only. Isolated jacks tend to be less common than non-isolated jacks. As explained above with reference to FIG. 3, a plug inserted into jack 60 a causes switch 68 to open changing the voltage level as JS pin 400 .

[0073] FIG. 17 discloses resistive ladder 410 b for a multi-jack system 60 a ′- 60 n ′ where the jack switch is not isolated from the audio signal. In this case, when nothing is in the jack the switch pins short the JS pin 400 path to the audio signal lines. If audio is playing, e.g., from an input device, this audio signal rides along the DC voltage causing it to change. RC filter 414 at JS pin 400 will decouple at least some of the AC audio signal and drain it to ground. Any voltage ripple or changes still at pin 400 could be “decoupled” by timer 416 inside codec 11 a with a timeout set such that jack event mis-detections caused by the residue audio riding the DC voltage will not occur. Logic circuit or means 418 is responsive to timer 416 and ADC 412 to check whether the output from ADC 412 has changed during a time period set by timer 416 . If the ADC output continues to change over successive time periods, an audio signal is present and no JS interrupt signal is generated. Conversely if the ADC output has changed but remains stable, the JS interrupt signal is generated. This same solution could be used even with isolated jacks to reject noise.

[0074] Although specific features of the invention are shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only as each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the invention. The words “including”, “comprising”, “having”, and “with” as used herein are to be interpreted broadly and comprehensively and are not limited to any physical interconnection. Moreover, any embodiments disclosed in the subject application are not to be taken as the only possible embodiments.

[0075] Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are within the following claims: