A cable assembly for electronic devices such as cellular telephones and music devices is disclosed. The cable assembly can comprise either one or two earpieces, each of which is configured to be received into the concha of a user's ear. The earpiece(s) can be configured so as to be held in place by at least one anatomical structure of the concha. A speaker can be in acoustic communication with each earpiece. A cable can be configured to communicate a signal representative of sound from the electronic device to each earpiece. A microphone can be permanently attached or removably attachable to the cable to facilitate use with a cellular telephone. The cable assembly can facilitate hands free operation of a cellular telephone and can facilitate listening to a music device. Other implementations and related methods are also disclosed.

A device has a standard female audio connector that is capable of receiving four-pole male connectors and three-pole male connectors and implements: means (CTRL, VCC, S1) for selectively transmitting a DC power supply signal via a first pin (DP1) of said connector; means (CTRL, ANC) for selectively activating a cancellation mechanism for ambient noise from digital audio signals that are intended to be received, via the first pin, in a manner superimposed on said DC power supply signal; means (CTRL, MIF) for selectively transmitting via a second pin of said connector, in a manner superimposed on said audio signals, a timing clock that is intended for digital microphones (DML, DMR) or other sensors; means (CTRL) for configuring itself vis-à-vis the DC power supply signal, the ambient noise cancellation mechanism and the timing clock, according to a determined type of listening device that is effectively connected via said connector.

An electronic device and method of wireless signal transmission and reception therefor are provided. The electronic device may include: a housing having an opening; a connector socket disposed in close proximity to the opening and configured to accommodate an external connector having a plurality of contact terminals through the opening; a ground connected to the connector socket; a codec circuit disposed in the housing and electrically connected with the connector socket; and a communication circuit configured to process a radio signal received from the outside of the electronic device. The connector socket may include a first contact terminal and a second contact terminal that electrically contact one of multiple contact terminals of the external connector when the external connector is inserted into the connector socket. The ground may be electrically connected with the first contact terminal. The codec circuit may include a first port that is electrically connected to the first contact terminal through a first electrical path. The communication circuit may be electrically coupled with the second contact terminal through a second electrical path different from the first electrical path.

An earphone line control device includes a power supply management unit, a filter unit, a switching circuit and a control unit. The switching circuit includes a switch in series with a resistance, a first end of the power supply management unit and an end of the filter unit are both connected to a power supply, a second end of the power supply management unit is connected to a first end of the control unit, the other end of the filter unit is connected to a second end of the control unit, a third end of the power supply management unit is connected to ground, a third end of the control unit is connected to ground, an end of the resistance is connected to the power supply, the other end of the resistance is in series with an end of the switch and connected to a fifth end of the control unit, and the other end of the switch is connected to a forth end of the control unit. When the switch is turned off, the control unit outputs a preset coded pulse signal.

A user device determines whether a device connected to its headset jack is an audio accessory device. If the device connected to the headset jack is an audio accessory, the user device connects one or more pins of the headset jack to an audio codec. If the device plugged into the headset jack is not an audio accessory device, the user device connects one or more pins of the headset jack to alternate circuitry. The user device then determines, through the alternate circuitry, an electrical operating parameter requirement of the accessory device, and provides, from the alternate circuitry, the required operating parameter to the accessory device through the headset jack. The alternate circuitry may include an adjustable voltage regulator and/or an adjustable current regulator and the required operating parameter may be one or more of a voltage supply and a current supply.

An apparatus to control an external device includes a connector to electrically connect with the external device, a connection detector to determine whether the external device is electrically connected to the connector, and a controller to obtain level information corresponding to the external device from the connector, to determine a type of the external device based on the level information, and to control execution of a function of the apparatus based on the determined type, wherein the level information is different according to the type of the external device.

There is provided is a stereo headphone provided with a pair of earphones having a cartilage conduction unit, a sheath unit connected to the cartilage conduction unit, and a piezoelectric bimorph of a vibration source connected to the cartilage conduction unit covered by the sheath unit without making contact with the inner wall thereof. The cartilage conduction unit is an elastic body. The cartilage conduction unit is in contact with the entrance to the external auditory meatus and has a passage hole in communication with the external auditory meatus. The vibration source is supported by a thick portion on the tragus side at the periphery of the passage hole. In accordance with a more specific feature, the thick portion is provided. The outer shape of the sheath has a thickness in the direction of the earhole that is less than the thickness in the direction orthogonal thereto.

A method and an electronic device of controlling an audio output are disclosed. The method includes detecting an audio output device connected to an electronic device, determining a type of audio output device associated with the audio output device connected to the electronic device, determining a first audio output level associated with the audio output device connected to the electronic device based on the type of audio output device and a predetermined audio output level, and outputting an audio output at the first audio output level using the audio output device.

A case for a mobile device includes portion having a port configured to receive a power cord input, an aperture configured to receive an earbud, an electrical contact configured to engage a charging contact of the earbud, an electrical connection configured to engage the port with a power input port of the mobile device, and an electrical connection configured to engage the port with the electrical contact of the earbud.

A method of operating the electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a universal serial bus (USB) connector connectable to an external electronic device including a radio reception circuit configured to receive a radio signal and to convert the received radio signal into a digital signal, and a signal processing circuit configured to generate a sound corresponding to the digital signal based on a control signal transmitted by the electronic device, and a processor. The processor may be configured to: receive information of the external electronic device in response to detecting that the external electronic device is connected to the USB connector, determine whether the external electronic device is capable of processing the radio signal based on the information of the external electronic device, activate a radio framework configured to control a radio reception function of the external electronic device in response to identifying that the external electronic device is capable of processing the radio signal, and control the external electronic device based on the operation of the USB framework, which receives the control signal generated by the radio framework. In addition, various embodiments are possible.