Interface circuit and an electronic device including the same

1. An interface circuit for use in an electronic device, the electronic device including a first audio terminal and an audio signal providing module, the interface circuit comprising:

a detecting module electrically connected to the first audio terminal, and detecting whether the first audio terminal is electrically connected to a second audio terminal of another device;

a control module including a detecting pin electrically connected to the detecting module, a signal receiving pin, and a signal transmitting pin; and

a switch module for establishing electrical connection between the signal receiving pin and the first audio terminal, between the signal transmitting pin and the first audio terminal, and between the audio signal providing module and the first audio terminal;

wherein when the detecting module detects that the first audio terminal is electrically connected to the second audio terminal, the control module controls the switch module to establish electrical connection between the signal receiving pin and the first audio terminal, the control module further controls the switch module to establish electrical connection between the signal transmitting pin and the first audio terminal so as to proceed with a program update upon determining that updating information from the second audio terminal is received thereby through the signal receiving pin, and the control module further controls the switch module to establish electrical connection between the audio signal providing module and the first audio terminal such that an audio signal from the audio signal providing module is transmitted to the second audio terminal through the first audio terminal upon determining that no updating information is received thereby through the signal receiving pin; and

wherein the switch module includes:

a first switch unit for establishing electrical connection between the signal receiving pin and the first audio terminal, and between the signal transmitting pin and the first audio terminal; and

a second switch unit for establishing electrical connection between the first audio terminal and the audio signal providing module;

the control module controlling the first switch unit to establish electrical connection between the signal receiving pin and the first audio terminal when the detecting module detects that the first audio terminal is electrically connected to the second audio terminal and to further establish electrical connection between the signal transmitting pin and the first audio terminal upon determining that updating information from the second audio terminal is received through the signal receiving pin, the control module controlling the second switch unit to establish electrical connection between the audio signal providing module and the first audio terminal upon determining that no updating information is received thereby through the signal receiving pin.

2. The interface circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the first audio terminal includes a grounded first pin, a second pin, a third pin, and a fourth pin electrically connected to the second pin, wherein the control module further includes a first control pin and a second control pin, and the first switch unit of the switch module includes:

a first communication port electrically connected to the fourth pin;

a first transmission port electrically connected to the signal receiving pin;

a second communication port electrically connected to the third pin;

a second transmission port electrically connected to the signal transmitting pin;

a first control port electrically connected to the first control pin of the control module and operable to enable electrical connection between the first communication port and the first transmitting port; and

a second control port electrically connected to the second control pin of the control module, for enabling electrical connection between the second communication port and the second transmitting port; and

wherein when the detecting module detects that the first audio terminal is electrically connected to the second audio terminal, the control module transmits an enabling signal through the first control pin to the first control port for the first control port to enable electrical connection between the first communication port and the first transmitting port such that the signal receiving pin and the fourth pin are electrically connected, the control module further transmits an enabling signal through the second control pin to the second control port for the second control port to enable electrical connection between the second communication port and the second transmitting port such that the signal transmitting pin and the third pin are electrically connected upon determining that the updating information from the second audio terminal is received through the signal receiving pin.

3. The interface circuit according to claim 2 , wherein the audio signal from the audio signal providing module includes a first audio sub-signal and a second audio sub-signal, wherein the control module further includes a third control pin, and the second switch unit of the switch module includes:

a third communication port electrically connected to the fourth pin of the first audio terminal and the first communication port of the first switch unit;

a third transmitting port electrically connected to the audio signal providing module for receiving the first audio sub-signal therefrom when the control module determines that no updating information is received through the signal receiving pin;

a fourth communication port electrically connected to the third pin of the first audio terminal and the second communication port of the first switch unit;

a fourth transmitting port electrically connected to the audio signal providing module for receiving the second audio sub-signal therefrom when the control module determines that no updating information is received through the signal receiving pin; and

a third control port electrically connected to the third control pin of the control module and, for enabling electrical connection between the third communication port and the third transmitting port, and between the fourth communication port and the fourth transmitting port;

wherein when the control module determines that no updating information is received thereby through the signal receiving pin, the control module transmits an enabling signal through the third control pin to the third control port for the third control port to enable electrical connection between the third communication port and the third transmitting port of the second switch unit, and between the fourth communication port and the fourth transmitting port of the second switch unit such that the first and second audio sub-signals from the audio signal providing module are respectively provided to the fourth and third pins of the first audio terminal.

4. The interface circuit according to claim 2 , wherein the detecting module includes a first resistor and a second resistor connected in series between a power source and ground through the electrically connected second and fourth pins, the detecting module outputting a detecting signal at a junction of the first and second resistors when the first audio terminal is electrically connected to the second audio terminal.

5. An electronic device comprising:

a first audio terminal that is connected to a second audio terminal of another device;

an audio signal providing module; and

an interface circuit that includes:

a detecting module electrically connected to the first audio terminal, and detecting whether the first audio terminal is electrically connected to the second audio terminal,

a control module including a detecting pin that is electrically connected to the detecting module, a signal receiving pin, and a signal transmitting pin, and

a switch module for establishing electrical connection between the signal receiving pin and the first audio terminal, between the signal transmitting pin and the first audio terminal, and between the audio signal providing module and the first audio terminal;

wherein when the detecting module detects that the first audio terminal is electrically connected to the second audio terminal, the control module controls the switch module to establish electrical connection between the signal receiving pin and the first audio terminal, the control module further controls the switch module to establish electrical connection between the signal transmitting pin and the first audio terminal so as to proceed with a program update upon determining that updating information from the second audio terminal is received thereby through the signal receiving pin, and the control module further controls the switch module to establish electrical connection between the audio signal providing module and the first audio terminal such that an audio signal from the audio signal providing module is transmitted to the second audio terminal through the first audio terminal upon determining that no updating information is received thereby through the signal receiving pin; and

wherein the switch module includes:

a first switch unit for establishing electrical connection between the signal receiving pin and the first audio terminal, and between the signal transmitting pin and the first audio terminal; and

a second switch unit for establishing electrical connection between the first audio terminal and the audio signal providing module;

the control module controlling the first switch unit to establish electrical connection between the signal receiving pin and the first audio terminal when the detecting module detects that the first audio terminal is electrically connected to the second audio terminal and to further establish electrical connection between the signal transmitting pin and the first audio terminal upon determining that updating information from the second audio terminal is received through the signal receiving pin, the control module controlling the second switch unit to establish electrical connection between the audio signal providing module and the first audio terminal upon determining that no updating information is received thereby through the signal receiving pin.

6. The electronic device according to claim 5 , wherein the electronic device is a plug and play electronic device without a synchronized dock connector.

7. The electronic device according to claim 5 , wherein one of the first and second audio terminals is a 3.5 mm audio plug, and the other of the first and second audio terminals is a 3.5 mm audio socket.