IP Library Granted Patent US 8,620,000
Granted Patent B2
US 8,620,000 · App. 12/537,653 · Granted Dec 31, 2013

Apparatus and method for controlling audio output, and mobile terminal system using the same

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,620,000
App. No.
12/537,653
Granted
Dec 31, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

An audio output controlling apparatus and method, and a mobile terminal system using the same control settings of an audio out port according to whether an audio frame includes an audio signal. The audio output controlling method includes receiving an audio frame, determining whether an audio signal is included in the audio frame, and setting, depending on whether the audio signal is included in the audio frame, a power voltage provided to an audio out port. The mobile terminal includes a wireless transceiver; an audio unit, through an audio out port, an audio frame among the wireless data; and an audio output controlling unit to control a power voltage of the audio out port. The apparatus includes a section determining unit; and a power controlling unit to set a power voltage provided to an audio out port according to whether the audio signal is included in the audio frame.

Claims (45)

1. A method for controlling an audio output, the method comprising:

receiving a first audio frame;

determining whether an audio signal is included in the first audio frame;

setting a power voltage provided to an audio out port according to whether the audio signal is included in the first audio frame;

setting a gain of the audio out port according to whether the audio signal is included in the first audio frame;

receiving a second audio frame adjacent to the first audio frame;

determining whether the audio signal is included in the second audio frame;

setting the gain of the audio out port to a first gain if the audio signal is included in the second audio frame; and

setting the gain of the audio out port to a second gain if the audio signal is excluded from the second audio frame and the audio signal is excluded from the first audio frame.

2. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the power voltage is a first non-zero voltage if the audio signal is excluded from the first audio frame, and

the power voltage is a second non-zero voltage if the audio signal is included in the first audio frame.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the audio signal is determined to be excluded from the first audio frame if an audio signal level of the first audio frame is less than or equal to a predetermined level.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the power voltage is 3.0 V if the audio signal is excluded from the first audio frame.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the power voltage is set to a minimum voltage if the audio signal is excluded from the first audio frame, and

the power voltage is set to a normal voltage if the audio signal is included in the first audio frame.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the power voltage is 3.0 V or 3.8 V.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising setting the gain of the audio out port to a third gain if the audio signal is excluded from the second audio frame and the audio signal is included in the first audio frame.

8. A method for controlling an audio output, the method comprising:

receiving an audio frame;

determining whether an audio signal is included in the audio frame;

setting a power voltage provided to an audio out port according to whether the audio signal is included in the audio frame;

setting a gain of the audio out port according to whether the audio signal is included in the audio frame;

determining the audio frame as a first silent section if the audio frame is a No Frame, the No Frame excluding an audio signal, and a prior audio frame received prior to the audio frame is a Good Frame, the Good Frame including an audio signal;

determining the audio frame as a second silent section if the audio frame is a No Frame and the prior audio frame received prior to the audio frame is a No Frame; and

determining the audio frame as a sound section if the audio frame is a Good Frame,

wherein the audio out port is set differently for each of the first silent section, the second silent section, and the sound section.

9. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a wireless transceiver to transceive wireless data;

an audio unit to output, through an audio out port, an audio frame among the wireless data; and

an audio output controlling unit to control a power voltage of the audio out port according to whether an audio signal is included in the audio frame, and to control a gain of the audio out port according to whether the audio signal is included in the audio frame.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the audio output controlling unit determines that the audio signal is excluded from the audio frame if an audio signal level of the audio frame is less than or equal to a predetermined level.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the power voltage is 3.0 V if the audio signal is excluded from the audio frame, and

the power voltage is 3.8 V if the audio signal is included in the audio frame.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 9 , wherein the audio output controlling unit comprises a power controlling unit to set the power voltage to a first non-zero power voltage if the audio signal is included in the audio frame, and to set the power voltage to a second non-zero power voltage lower than the first non-zero power voltage if the audio signal is excluded from the audio frame.

13. An apparatus to control an audio output, comprising:

a section determining unit to receive an audio frame and to determine whether an audio signal is included in an audio frame, the audio frame comprising a first audio frame and a second audio frame adjacent to the first audio frame; and

a power controlling unit to set a power voltage provided to an audio out port according to whether the audio signal is included in the audio frame; and

a gain controlling unit to control a gain of the audio out port according to whether the audio signal is included in the first audio frame and the second audio frame,

wherein the gain controlling unit sets the gain of the audio out port to a first gain if the audio signal is included in the second audio frame, and sets the gain of the audio out port to a second gain if the audio signal is excluded from the second audio frame and the audio signal is excluded from the first audio frame.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the section determining unit determines that the audio signal is excluded from the audio frame if an audio signal level of the audio frame is less than or equal to a predetermined level.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the power controlling unit sets the power voltage to a first non-zero voltage if the audio signal is excluded from the audio frame, and sets the power voltage to a second non-zero voltage if the audio signal is included in the audio frame.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the power voltage is 3.0 V if the audio signal is excluded from the audio frame, and

the power voltage is 3.8 V if the audio signal is included in the audio frame.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the gain controlling unit sets the gain of the audio out port to a third gain if the audio signal is excluded from the second audio frame and the audio signal is included in the first audio frame.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 14, 2020
From: PANTECH INC.
To: PANTECH CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 052662/0609 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVAL OF PATENTS 09897290, 10824929, 11249232, 11966263 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 040654 FRAME: 0749. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER. Recorded Jan 18, 2017
From: PANTECH CO., LTD.
To: PANTECH INC.
Reel/Frame 041413/0799 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 10221139 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 040005 FRAME 0257. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 10221139 SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN INCLUED IN THIS RECORDAL. Recorded Nov 7, 2016
From: PANTECH CO., LTD.
To: PANTECH INC.
Reel/Frame 040654/0749 →