Current source driver for common ground signal interface
View Patent ↗A mobile computing device comprises a housing, a memory, a first current source driver, an audio interface and a processing circuit. The housing is configured to be held in a hand during use. The memory is configured to store audio data. The audio interface comprises a first terminal, a second terminal, and a common ground terminal for the first and second terminals. The processing circuit is configured to control the first current source driver to provide a first audio signal on the first terminal based on the audio data.
1. A mobile computing device, comprising:
a housing configured to be held in a hand during use;
a memory configured to store audio data;
a first current source driver;
an audio interface comprising a first terminal, a second terminal, and a common ground terminal for the first and second terminals; and
a processing circuit configured to control the first current source driver to provide a first audio signal on the first terminal based on the audio data,
wherein the first audio signal provided by the first current source driver comprises a current signal and an error voltage resulting from the common ground terminal does not substantially affect the current signal.
2. The mobile computing device of claim 1 , further comprising a second current source driver, wherein the processing circuit is configured to control the second current source driver to provide a second audio signal to the second terminal based on the audio data, wherein the first and second audio signals provide a stereo audio signal.
3. The mobile computing device of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to receive a second audio signal on the second terminal from a separate microphone unit over a wired connection.
4. The mobile computing device of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is operable in a first mode to provide a stereo audio signal over the first and second terminals and operable in a second mode to receive a second audio signal on the second terminal from a separate microphone unit over a wired connection.
5. The mobile computing device of claim 1 , wherein the audio interface is compatible with a universal serial bus standard.
6. The mobile computing device of claim 5 , wherein the audio interface is compatible with a CEA-936A standard.
7. The mobile computing device of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to control the first current source driver to provide the first audio signal to a separate earphone speaker unit over a wired connection.
8. The mobile computing device of claim 1 , wherein the mobile computing device comprises a digital music player and the audio data comprises a digital music file.
9. The mobile computing device of claim 1 , wherein the mobile computing device comprises a wireless telephone and the audio data comprises wireless telephony data.
10. The mobile computing device of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is configured in a first mode to synchronize the audio data with a remote computer using the audio interface and in a second mode to provide the first audio signal to a separate earphone speaker unit over a wired connection.
11. An electronic system, comprising:
a current source driver configured to generate a first signal;
an interface comprising a first terminal, a second terminal, and a common ground terminal for the first signal and a second signal, wherein the interface is configured to provide the first signal on the first terminal to a receiver; and
a mobile telephony circuit and a processing circuit configured to control the current source driver to generate the first signal based on telephony data,
wherein the first signal generated by the current source driver comprises a current signal and an error voltage resulting from the common ground terminal does not substantially affect the current signal.
12. The electronic system of claim 11 , further comprising an earpiece speaker, a microphone, and a processing circuit, wherein the processing circuit is configured to control the current source driver to generate the first signal based on signals received by the microphone.
13. The electronic system of claim 12 , further comprising an insulated wire coupled to the interface of the earphone speaker and extending at least six inches from the interface to a second interface associated with a mobile computing device.
14. The electronic system of claim 11 , further comprising a digital music player comprising a processing circuit and a memory, wherein the memory is configured to store a digital music file and the processing circuit is configured to generate the first signal based on audio data in the digital music file.
15. A microphone unit, comprising:
a housing;
a microphone;
an audio interface comprising a first terminal, a second terminal, and a common ground terminal for the first and second terminals;
a current source driver configured to receive an audio signal from the microphone and to generate a first signal based on the audio signal; and
an earphone speaker configured to receive a second audio signal from the second terminal and to provide an audio output based on the second audio signal,
wherein the first signal generated by the current source driver comprises a current signal and an error voltage resulting from the common ground terminal does not substantially affect the current signal.
16. The microphone unit of claim 15 , further comprising a second earphone speaker configured in a first mode to receive the second audio signal and in a second mode to receive stereo audio signals on the first and second terminals.
17. The microphone unit of claim 15 , wherein the audio interface is compatible with a universal serial bus standard.
18. The microphone unit of claim 17 , wherein the audio interface is compatible with a CEA-936A standard.