(19)
(11)EP 2 611 211 B1

(12)EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45)Mention of the grant of the patent:
17.07.2019 Bulletin 2019/29

(21)Application number: 12006521.4

(22)Date of filing:  17.09.2012
(51)International Patent Classification (IPC): 
H04R 1/10(2006.01)

(54)

Headphone cable arrangement, filter assembly, and method of filtering signals in headphone cable arrangements

Kopfhörerkabelanordnung, Filterbaugruppe, und Verfahren zur Filterung von Signalen in Kopferkabelanordnungen

Agencement de câble d'écouteur, ensemble filtre et procédé de filtrage de signaux dans des agencements de câble d'écouteur


(84)Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

(30)Priority: 29.12.2011 EP 11010277

(43)Date of publication of application:
03.07.2013 Bulletin 2013/27

(73)Proprietor: Sony Corporation
Tokyo 108-0075 (JP)

(72)Inventor:
  • Schwager, Andreas
    71336 Waiblingen (DE)

(74)Representative: Witte, Weller & Partner Patentanwälte mbB 
Postfach 10 54 62
70047 Stuttgart
70047 Stuttgart (DE)


(56)References cited: : 
EP-A2- 1 589 609
CN-A- 102 290 693
US-A1- 2007 105 438
WO-A1-03/107548
KR-A- 20100 082 646
US-A1- 2009 252 348
  
      
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description

    FIELD OF INVENTION



    [0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a headphone cable arrangement, a filter assembly, and a method for filtering signals In a headphone cable arrangement.

    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION



    [0002] Mobile electronic devices provide audio signals that may be reproduced for the user by means of headphones or earplugs. A headphone cable couples the headphones to the mobile electronic device. Mobile electronic devices often provide a VHF (very high frequency) receiver for receiving broadcast radio signals using the headphone cable as an FM antenna to pick up radio signals and to couple them to the VHF receiver.

    [0003] US 2007/0105438 A1 discloses an earphone antenna including earphone cords; an earphone portion; a coaxial cable; and a pin plug connector portion; wherein the earphone cords cooperate with a shielded line of the coaxial cable using a connection point with the coaxial cable as a feeding point to constitute an antenna for receiving RF signals; wherein conductor lines constituting a core wire of the coaxial cable form signal lines for transmitting audio signals and a ground line; and wherein the coaxial cable is connected with a separation-superimposition circuit portion which is mounted at a side of the pin plug connector portion or at a side of a wireless electronic device and acts to separate the RF signals and the audio signals and to superimpose the audio signals

    [0004] US 2009/0252348 A1 discloses an antenna system having as one element a conductor in an interconnecting cable, wherein that conductor is isolated at RF from the device at the opposite cable end, while also being tightly coupled to that device at audio frequencies and/or DC. Such an antenna is suited for use in wireless transmitters and receivers for transmitting a signal from an audio playback device to a remote audio output device having multiple conductors interconnecting the wireless transmitter and media device, or multiple conductors interconnecting the receiver and headphones/speakers.

    [0005] CN102290693 A discloses a connecting device, an earphone antenna and an earphone. The connecting device comprises a first interface, a second interface and an isolation unit. The isolation unit comprises an isolated body. The first interface is connected with the second interface through the isolated body, wherein the first interface is used for being connected with a signal wire at a plug side of the earphone; the second interface is used for being connected with a signal wire at a speaker side of the earphone; and the isolated body is used for transmitting a signal in an audio frequency range of the first interface to the second interface and blocking the transmission of a signal in an antenna frequency range in the signal wire between the isolated body and a speaker of the earphone.

    [0006] EP 1589609 A2 discloses an earphone antenna and portable radio equipment provided with earphone antenna. The earphone antenna includes: an earphone cable having signal lines; shield cable, and signal lines for audio signal and grounding wire, external thereof covered with shield wire, one end of shield cable connected to main body of radio equipment via multipin connector; and connection block connecting other end of shield cable to earphone cable. In the connection block, an audio signal transmission path is formed by connecting signal lines and grounding wire respectively to signal lines via high frequency choke exhibiting low impedance for audio signal and high impedance for high frequency signal, and connecting central conductor of coaxial cable and shield wire to unbalanced part of balun, connecting signal lines to one end of balanced part of balun via capacitor exhibiting high impedance for audio signal and low impedance for high frequency signal, and connecting other end of balanced part of balun to shield wire covering axial cable and signal lines, so that dipole antenna is formed with earphone cable and shield wire.

    [0007] WO 03/107548 A1 discloses a mobile electronic device, having a radio receiver, an amplifier and an audio connector for connecting to headphone. Said audio connector comprises at least one first contact and at least one second contact, wherein said first contact is connected to ground and to said radio receiver, and said second contact is connected to said amplifier. The electronic device is characterized by a band-pass filter component interconnected between said first contact and said radio receiver. So that only a predefined frequency range can pass to the radio receiver, preventing cross talk interference from transmitters operated in proximity.

    [0008] The object of the invention is to provide an improved headphone cable arrangement providing a more pleasant audio reproduction. The object is achieved with the subject-matter of the independent claims. Further embodiments are defined in the dependent claims, respectively. Details and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of embodiments in connection with the accompanying drawings. Features of the various embodiments may be combined unless they exclude each other.
    Figure 1
    is a schematic block diagram of a headphone cable arrangement according to an embodiment.
    Figure 2
    is a schematic block diagram of a headphone connector including an electronic filter unit according to another embodiment of the invention.
    Figure 3A
    is a schematic block diagram of a pluggable filter assembly including an electronic filter unit in accordance with a further embodiment.
    Figure 3B
    is a schematic perspective view of a pluggable filter assembly according to another embodiment.
    Figure 3C
    is a schematic block diagram of a headphone cable arrangement according to an embodiment including a pluggable filter assembly.
    Figure 4
    is a schematic block diagram showing a portion of a headphone cable arrangement coupled to a mobile electronic device.
    Figure 5
    is a schematic diagram showing filter curves of electronic filter units according to further embodiments.
    Figure 6
    is a schematic circuit diagram of an electronic filter unit according to an embodiment.
    Figure 7
    is a simplified flowchart of a method of filtering signals in a headphone cable arrangement in accordance with a further embodiment.
    Figure 8
    is a schematic circuit diagram of an electronic filter unit for a pair of signal wires/reference lines.
    Figure 9
    is a schematic circuit diagram of an electronic filter unit including for two pairs of signal wires/reference lines.
    Figure 10
    is a schematic circuit diagram of an electronic filter unit providing a common mode filter stage.


    [0009] The headphone cable arrangement 100 of Figure 1 includes a headphone cable 150. The headphone cable 150 may contain at least two signal wires 151, 153 and at least one reference line 152, 154. The signal wires 151, 153 are embedded in insulating material. The at least one reference line 152, 154 may be a wire or may be plaited in a cable sheath. For example, the headphone cable 150 may include two separated reference wires. The headphone cable 150 may include further signal wires, for example a signal wire for control of a mobile electronic device connected to the headphone cable arrangement 100 or signals for providing noise cancellation.

    [0010] In this example, a headphone set 190 including a first and a second loudspeaker 191, 192 is connected to a headphone end of the headphone cable 150. In other examples, e.g. in the case of surround sound applications and active speaker being connected to the phone, multiple (i. e. more than two) loudspeakers might be connected to the headphone end. The loudspeakers 191, 192 may be integrated in headphones, earphones, earplugs or separate active speaker boxes. According to an embodiment, the headphone set 190 may be adapted to provide noise cancellation. The first signal wire 151 is connected to a first terminal 194 of the first loudspeaker 191, and a first reference line 152 may be connected to a second terminal 195 of the first loudspeaker 191. The second signal wire 153 is connected to a first terminal 196 of the second loudspeaker 192, and a second reference line 154 may be connected to a second terminal 195 of the second loudspeaker 192. The signal wires 151, 153 supply audio signals to the first and second loudspeakers 191, 192. The audio signals may be differential signals applied between the respective signal wire 151, 153 and corresponding reference lines 152, 154. At least one of the signal wires 151, 153 or reference lines 152, 154, for example one of the reference lines 152, 154 or both or a shield connected to the second terminals 195 of the first and second loudspeakers 191, 192, is operated to pick up broadcast VHF radio signals.

    [0011] An electronic filter unit 110 performs a filtering which is effective on at least one of the signal wires 151, 153 and reference lines 152, 154, for example on that or those signal wire(s)/reference line(s) which is/are operated as VHF antenna. The electronic filter unit 110 is arranged at a connector end of the headphone cable 150. The electronic filter unit 110 passes frequencies of a VHF radio band, whereas at least frequencies beyond the VHF radio band or frequencies below the VHF radio band are attenuated. According to the invention, the electronic filter unit 110 attenuates a frequency band below the VHF radio broadcast band and above the audible frequency band of 15 Hz to 15 kHz. The filtering may provide a common mode filtering. The VHF radio band has an upper frequency limit of 108 MHz or less.

    [0012] The electronic filter unit 110 filters frequencies above the upper frequency limit of the audible signal and below the lower frequency limit of the VHF radio band, for example frequencies below 87.5 MHz or lower. According to another embodiment, the lower frequency limit of the passed VHF radio band is 87.5 MHz and the upper frequency limit is 108 MHz. Since some regions do not use the complete VHF radio band, the electronic filter unit 110 may be tuned more exactly to the respective region and may pass a VHF radio band with a lower frequency limit above 87,5 MHz and/or an upper frequency limit below 108 MHz. According to another embodiment, the passed VHF radio band has a lower frequency limit of 76 MHz and an upper frequency limit of 90 MHz. In accordance with another embodiment, the electronic filter unit 110 is or contains a common mode band-stop effective in a frequency range between the upper frequency limit of the audible frequency band and the lower frequency limit of the VHF radio band.

    [0013] For data transmission in powerline networks PLC (power line communication) modems use VHF frequencies near the VHF radio band, for example close to the lower frequency limit or the higher frequency limit of the VHF radio band. Some mobile electronic devices with an FM tuner functionality do not provide filtering for suppressing out-of-band noise and may not filter sufficiently strong signals emitted from PLC networks close to the VHF radio band. The headphone cable arrangement 100 with the integrated electronic filter unit 110 suppresses disturbances resulting from, for example, PLC modems and removes such interferences.

    [0014] Loud signals appearing at frequencies outside the VHF radio band, which is 87.5 MHz to 108 MHz in Europe and 76 MHz to 90 MHz in Japan, may cause interference to FM broadcast radio reception when not sufficiently filtered. Where PLC modems use high feeding limits and the radio receiver does not implement out-of-band filters, which is the case for some smart phones or walkman types, the electronic filter unit 110 in the headphone cable arrangement 100 attenuates signals outside the VHF radio band.

    [0015] The electronic filter unit 110 may be effective in a single one of the signal wires/reference lines 151-154 or in more than one of the signal wires and reference lines 151-154. According to an embodiment, the electronic filter unit 110 is in the same way effective for all of the signal wires and reference lines 151-154.

    [0016] According to an embodiment which does not form part of the invention, the electronic filter unit 110 is a common mode low-pass filter with a cut-off frequency of 90 MHz or higher. According to another embodiment which does not form part of the invention, the electronic filter unit 110 is a common mode high-pass filter, which attenuates frequencies below the VHF radio band. The electronic filter unit 110 may be a combination of a band-stop filter and a low-pass filter, for example a combination of a common mode band-stop filter and a common mode low-pass filter.

    [0017] Figure 2 refers to an embodiment with an electronic filter unit 110 integrated in a headphone connector 120 provided at a connector end of the headphone cable 150. A first signal line 151 of the headphone cable 150 is connected via a low-resistance path to a first terminal of the headphone connector 120. A second signal line 153 is connected via a low-resistance path to a second terminal of the headphone connector 120. At least one reference line 152, 154 is connected to a third terminal of the headphone connector 120. According to an embodiment two reference wires are connected to the same third terminal via the electronic filter unit 110.

    [0018] The headphone connector 120 comprises a connector case 129 housing the electronic filter unit 110 and encapsulating the connections between the respective signal wires/reference lines 151-154 and the electronic filter unit 110 and the connections between the electronic filter unit 110 and the terminals of the headphone connector 120. A terminal portion 121 provides terminal contacts, which provide electric contact to a matching connector integrated in a mobile electronic device. According to an embodiment, the terminal portion 121 is a jack plug protruding from the connector case 129 such that the terminal contacts are arranged outside the connector case 129. For example, the headphone connector 120 may be of the TRS (tip-ring-sleeve) type. According to another embodiment, the headphone connector 120 may be a TRRS (tip-ring-ring-sleeve) connector with reference lines connected to different terminal contacts or with a further control wire integrated in the headphone cable 150 and connected to an additional terminal connector. The headphone connector 120 may e. g. be a stereo plug, a mini-jack, a mini-stereo jack, a headphone jack, a telephone connector or a bottom plug, for example a 2.5 mm or 3.5 mm TRS or TRRS jack plug.

    [0019] Figure 3A refers to a headphone cable arrangement comprising a standard, non-modified headphone cable including a standard jack plug and an adapter-like pluggable filter assembly 130. The pluggable filter assembly 130 comprises an assembly case 139 with a first pluggable assembly connector 131 adapted to be plugged and coupled to a standard connector of a mobile electronic device and a second pluggable assembly connector 132 that matches and is pluggable to the connector of a standard headphone cable. The assembly case 139 houses the electronic filter unit 110 and the connections between the electronic filter unit 110 and the first assembly connector 131 and the second assembly connector 132. Second terminal contacts 132a, 132b, 132c provide contact to the signal wires and reference lines of the headphone cable. According to an embodiment, the first assembly connector 131 is a male connector, for example a jack plug, and the second assembly connector 132 is a female connector, for example a jack socket.

    [0020] Figure 3B shows a pluggable filter assembly 130 to be inserted between a standard headphone cable and a mobile electronic device. The integrated electronic filter unit 110 attenuates signals outside the VHF radio band, for example below the VHF radio band. The filter assembly 130 has a female jack (jack socket) on the one side and a male jack (jack plug) on the other side.

    [0021] Figure 3C shows an embodiment combining the pluggable filter assembly 130 of Figure 3A with a standard headphone cable set 105 to form a headphone cable arrangement 110. The pluggable filter assembly 130 corresponds to the filter assembly of Figure 3A. The standard headphone cable 105 comprises a headphone cable 150 with a headphone set 190 providing a first and a second loudspeaker 191, 192 provided at a headphone end and a standard headphone connector 125 at a connector end of the headphone cable 150. The standard headphone connector 125 houses connections between the signal wires/reference lines of the headphone cable 150 and the terminals of a terminal portion 121 of the standard headphone connector 125. The first assembly connector 131 of the pluggable filter assembly 130 is pluggable and matches with a headphone connector in a mobile electronic device and the second assembly connector 132 is pluggable and matches with the standard headphone connector 121. According to an embodiment, the standard headphone connector 121 may be of the same type as the first assembly connector 131. According to other embodiments, the first assembly connector 131 and the headphone connector 121 are different, for example have different sizes or types.

    [0022] Figure 4 shows a headphone cable arrangement 100 in electrical and mechanical contact with an electronic mobile device 200. The mobile electronic device 200 may be a cell phone, a smart phone, a personal digital assistant, a walkman, a tablet computer, or a handheld computer and includes a radio receiving unit adapted to receive radio broadcast signals of the VHF radio band. For example, the electronic mobile device 200 comprises a VHF input stage 206 that selects and amplifies radio frequency signals of the VHF radio band. A high-pass filter with a capacitive element 217 arranged in series and an inductive element 216 arranged in parallel connects the input of the VHF input stage 206 with a contact of a headphone connector 220, which may be a female jack socket, by way of example.

    [0023] The mobile electronic device 200 is further adapted to output left-channel and right-channel audio signals via audio frequency amplifiers 202, 204 to further contacts of the headphone connector 220. Inductive elements 212, 214 may be arranged in series between the outputs of the audio frequency amplifiers 202, 204 and the contacts, respectively, in order to decouple the audio frequency amplifiers 202, 204 from high frequencies.

    [0024] The headphone cable 150 is effective as an antenna and picks up radio signals of the VHF radio band. The capacitive element 217 provides a high frequency connection for the received VHF radio signals and supplies the signals to the VHF input stage 206. The audio frequency amplifiers 202, 204 output audio signals via the headphone cable 150 to headphones connected to a headphone end of the headphone cable 150.

    [0025] The headphone cable arrangement 100 includes an electronic filter unit 110 which is effective as a band stop for frequencies between the audible frequency band and the VHF radio band.

    [0026] In Figure 5, reference sign 501 indicates a characteristic curve of an electronic filter unit being effective as a high-pass with a cut-off frequency at or below the lower frequency limit f2 of the VHF radio band. Reference sign 504 refers to the characteristic curve of an electronic filter unit being effective as a low-pass with a cut-off frequency at or below the upper frequency limit f3 of the VHF radio band. The cut-off frequency may be 108.5 MHz or lower, for example 90 MHz. Reference sign 502 shows the characteristic curve of an embodiment of an electronic filter unit being effective as a band-stop filter attenuating frequencies between the upper frequency limit f1 of the audible frequency range and the lower frequency limit f2 of the VHF radio band. According to an embodiment, the lower frequency limit f2 of the VHF radio band is 80 MHz or higher. According to another embodiment, the lower frequency limit f2 of the VHF radio band is 76 MHz. The upper edge of the audible frequency is 15 or 20 kHz. Reference sign 503 refers to the characteristic curve of an electronic filter unit combining the filter characteristics of a low-pass and a band-stop filter.

    [0027] The audible frequencies, for example up to 18 kHz, are not attenuated because the cable is used as headphone cable. Further, the VHF radio band is not attenuated. All other frequencies are suppressed. The VHF radio band has a width between 14 MHz and 21 MHz. The VHF radio band contains a frequency of 90 MHz. For example, the VHF band is from 87.5 MHz to 108 MHz or a subrange thereof or between 76 MHz and 90 MHz. Conventionally, the audio signals supplied to a headphone cable are differential mode signals. If the headphone cable is effective as an antenna, the received VHF signals are common mode signals on all wires. The electronic filter unit could be a common mode VHF band-pass that attenuates all common mode signals except the VHF band, a common mode low-pass with cut frequency above the upper frequency limit of the VHF radio band or a high-pass with a cut-off frequency at or below the lower frequency edge of the VHF radio bands.

    [0028] According to an embodiment, the electronic filter unit may be implemented as band-pass using passive components as shown in Figure 6. According to an embodiment, several filters may be cascaded to improve the attenuation.

    [0029] Options to realize filters with the shape as characterized in Figure 5 are shown in Figures 9 and 10. In Figure 9 each of two signal/reference lines (151 + 152, 153 + 154) are filtered using a filter unit 810 as shown in Figure 8. The filter unit 810 attenuates unwanted frequencies as described above.

    [0030] Figure 10 shows a filter unit where the Common Mode signals are separated from the signals lines using a CM-choke 1001. The signal lines are low-pass filtered to select the audio frequencies using e.g. additional chokes 1002 for each line. The CM path is filtered by a filter unit 110 and shown in Figure 6. Here only the FM broadcast frequencies remain in the CM path after the band pass 110. Finally the CM path is added again to the other lines using a 2nd CM choke 1001.

    [0031] Figure 7 refers to a method of operating a headphone cable arrangement for a mobile electronic device. A headphone cable of a headphone cable arrangement connected to a mobile electronic device that comprises a VHF receiver stage and audio amplifiers picks up radio signals of a VHF radio band (702). The headphone cable arrangement filters signals, for example common mode signals, wherein frequencies within a VHF radio band are passed and at least some of the frequencies below or above the VHF radio band are rejected (704). The filtered signal is supplied to the VHF receiver stage of the mobile electronic device (706). Audio signals are transmitted from the audio amplifiers to a headphone set of the headphone cable arrangement.

    [0032] According to an embodiment a headphone cable arrangement according to claim 1 includes a headphone cable with one or more signal wires and at least one reference line. At a headphone end, the headphone cable is adapted to be connected with one or more loudspeakers, wherein a first signal wire of the one or more signal wires is adapted to be connected to a first one of the one or more loudspeakers. An electronic filter unit is configured to perform a filtering effective on at least one of the signal wires and reference lines, wherein frequencies of a VHF radio band are passed and at least one frequency band below or above the VHF radio band is attenuated. The electronic filter unit is arranged at a connector end of the headphone cable. The headphone cable arrangement may include a headphone connector provided at the connector end of the headphone cable. According to a first alternative, the one or more signal wires and reference lines are connected to terminal contacts of the headphone connector via the electronic filter unit. According to another alternative, the one or more signal wires and reference lines are connected directly to the terminal contacts and the electronic filter unit is provided in a pluggable filter assembly pluggable between the headphone connector of, for example a handheld portable electronic device, and the headphone connector of the headphone cable.


    Claims

    1. A headphone cable arrangement (100) comprising
    a headphone cable (150) including one or more signal wires (151, 153) and one or more reference lines (152, 154); a headphone set (190) comprising one or more loudspeakers (191, 192), wherein a first signal wire of the one or more signal wires (151, 153) is connected to a first one of the one or more loudspeakers (191, 192); and
    an electronic filter unit (110) configured to perform a filtering effective on at least one of the signal wires (151, 153) and reference lines (152, 154), wherein frequencies of a VHF radio band are passed and at least one frequency band below or above the VHF radio band is attenuated; the electronic filter unit (110) being arranged at a connector end of the headphone cable (150); characterized in that the electronic filter unit (110) is further configured to attenuate frequencies between an audible range and the VHF radio band to a higher degree than frequencies within the audible range and the VHF radio band.
     
    2. The headphone cable arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the filtering is effective on the at least one reference line (152, 154).
     
    3. The headphone cable arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the filtering is effective on one or more of the signal wires (151, 153) of the headphone cable (150).
     
    4. The headphone cable arrangement according to claim 1, wherein
    the electronic filter unit (110) is effective on all of the signal wires (151, 153) and reference lines (152, 154) of the headphone cable (150).
     
    5. The headphone cable arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein
    the electronic filter unit (110) is a passive common mode filter comprising inductors and/or coils (212, 214, 216).
     
    6. The headphone cable arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 5, further comprising
    a headphone connector (120) provided at the connector end of the headphone cable (150), wherein the one or more signal wires (151, 153) and reference lines (152, 154) are connected to terminal contacts of the headphone connector (120) directly or via the electronic filter unit (110).
     
    7. The headphone cable arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the headphone connector (120) comprises
    a connector case (129) housing low-resistive connections between the one or more signal wires (151, 153) and the terminal contacts, and
    a terminal portion (121) comprising the terminal contacts and arranged to match with a headphone connector of a mobile electronic device.
     
    8. The headphone cable arrangement according to claim 7, wherein
    the electronic filter unit (110) is arranged within the connector case (129) and at least one input terminal of the electronic filter unit (110) Is connected with at least one of the one or more signal wires (151, 153) and reference lines (152, 154), and at least one output terminal of the electronic filter unit (110) is connected with one of the terminal contacts.
     
    9. The headphone cable arrangement according to any of claims 6 or 7, further comprising a filter assembly (130) comprising
    an assembly case (139) housing the electronic filter unit (110),
    a first pluggable assembly connector (131) matching with the headphone connector, and
    a second pluggable assembly connector (132) matching with the first assembly connector.
     
    10. The headphone cable arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein
    the VHF radio band has a width between 14 and 21 MHz.
     
    11. The headphone cable arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein
    the VHF radio band contains a frequency of 90 MHz.
     
    12. The headphone cable arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein
    the headphone cable (150) includes at least the first and a second signal wire (151, 153),
    the headphone set (190) comprises the first and a second loudspeaker (191, 192), the first signal wire (151) being connected to the first loudspeaker (191) and the second signal wire (153) connected to the second loudspeaker (192).
     
    13. A pluggable filter assembly (130) for being connected to a headphone connector of a mobile electronic device, the filter assembly (130) comprising
    an assembly case (139) housing an electronic filter unit (110),
    a first pluggable assembly connector (131) matching with the headphone connector, and
    a second pluggable assembly connector (132) providing contacts for a connector of a headphone cable (150), the electronic filter unit (110) configured to perform a filtering effective on at least one of at least two connections of the filter assembly (130) with the contacts, wherein frequencies of a VHF radio band are passed and at least one frequency band below or above the VHF radio band is attenuated, characterized in that the electronic filter unit (110) is further configured to attenuate frequencies between an audible range and the VHF radio band to a higher degree than frequencies within the audible range and the VHF radio band.
     
    14. The filter assembly of claim 13, wherein
    the second pluggable assembly connector (132) matches with the first assembly connector (131).
     
    15. A method of operating a headphone cable arrangement (100) for a mobile electronic device, the method comprising
    picking up (702), in a headphone cable (150) of a headphone cable arrangement (100) connected to a mobile electronic device that comprises a VHF receiver stage and audio amplifiers, common mode signals of a VHF radio band, filtering (704), in the headphone cable arrangement (100), signals wherein frequencies within a VHF radio band are passed and at least one frequency band below or above the VHF radio band is attenuated,
    supplying (706) the filtered signals to a VHF receiver stage of the mobile electronic device, characterized in that frequencies between an audible range and the VHF radio band are attenuated to a higher degree than frequencies within the audible range and the VHF radio band.
     
    16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising
    transmitting audio signals from the audio amplifiers to a headphone set (190) of the headphone cable arrangement (100).
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Kopfhörerkabelanordnung (100), welche umfasst:

    ein Kopfhörerkabel (150), das einen oder mehrere Signaldrähte (151, 153) und eine oder mehrere Referenzleitungen (152, 154) aufweist;

    ein Kopfhörer-Set (190), das einen oder mehrere Lautsprecher (191, 192) umfasst, wobei ein erster Signaldraht der ein oder mehreren Signaldrähte (151, 153) mit einem ersten der ein oder mehreren Lautsprecher (191, 192) verbunden ist; und

    eine elektronische Filtereinheit (110), die dafür ausgelegt ist, eine Filterung durchzuführen, die auf wenigstens einem der Signaldrähte (151, 153) und Referenzleitungen (152, 154) wirksam ist, wobei Frequenzen eines VHF-Funkbandes durchgelassen werden und wenigstens ein Frequenzband unterhalb oder oberhalb des VHF-Funkbandes gedämpft wird; wobei die elektronische Filtereinheit (110) an einem Steckverbinderende des Kopfhörerkabels (150) angeordnet ist;

    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die elektronische Filtereinheit (110) ferner dafür ausgelegt ist, Frequenzen zwischen einem hörbaren Bereich und dem VHF-Funkband in einem höheren Grad zu dämpfen als Frequenzen innerhalb des hörbaren Bereichs und des VHF-Funkbandes.


     
    2. Kopfhörerkabelanordnung nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Filterung auf der wenigstens einen Referenzleitung (152, 154) wirksam ist.
     
    3. Kopfhörerkabelanordnung nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Filterung auf einem oder mehreren der Signaldrähte (151, 153) des Kopfhörerkabels (150) wirksam ist.
     
    4. Kopfhörerkabelanordnung nach Anspruch 1, wobei die elektronische Filtereinheit (110) auf sämtlichen Signaldrähten (151, 153) und Referenzleitungen (152, 154) des Kopfhörerkabels (150) wirksam ist.
     
    5. Kopfhörerkabelanordnung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, wobei
    die elektronische Filtereinheit (110) ein passives Gleichtaktfilter ist, das Induktoren und/oder Spulen (212, 214, 216) umfasst.
     
    6. Kopfhörerkabelanordnung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, welches ferner umfasst:
    einen Kopfhörersteckverbinder (120), der am Steckverbinderende des Kopfhörerkabels (150) vorgesehen ist, wobei der eine oder die mehreren Signaldrähte (151, 153) und Referenzleitungen (152, 154) direkt oder über die elektronische Filtereinheit (110) mit Anschlusskontakten des Kopfhörersteckverbinders (120) verbunden sind.
     
    7. Kopfhörerkabelanordnung nach Anspruch 6, wobei der Kopfhörersteckverbinder (120) umfasst:

    ein Steckverbindergehäuse (129), das niederohmige Verbindungen zwischen den ein oder mehreren Signaldrähten (151, 153) und den Anschlusskontakten beherbergt; und

    einen Anschlussabschnitt (121), der die Anschlusskontakte umfasst und so gestaltet ist, dass er zu einem Kopfhörersteckverbinder eines mobilen elektronischen Geräts passt.


     
    8. Kopfhörerkabelanordnung nach Anspruch 7, wobei die elektronische Filtereinheit (110) innerhalb des Steckverbindergehäuses (129) angeordnet ist und wenigstens ein Eingangsanschluss der elektronischen Filtereinheit (110) mit wenigstens einem der ein oder mehreren Signaldrähte (151, 153) und Referenzleitungen (152, 154) verbunden ist und wenigstens ein Ausgangsanschluss der elektronischen Filtereinheit (110) mit einem der Anschlusskontakte verbunden ist.
     
    9. Kopfhörerkabelanordnung nach einem der Ansprüche 6 oder 7, welche ferner eine Filterbaugruppe (130) umfasst, die umfasst:

    ein Baugruppengehäuse (139), das die elektronische Filtereinheit (110) beherbergt,

    einen ersten steckbaren Baugruppensteckverbinder (131), der zu dem Kopfhörersteckverbinder passt, und

    einen zweiten steckbaren Baugruppensteckverbinder (132), der zu dem ersten Baugruppensteckverbinder passt.


     
    10. Kopfhörerkabelanordnung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 9, wobei das VHF-Funkband eine Breite zwischen 14 und 21 MHz hat.
     
    11. Kopfhörerkabelanordnung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 10, wobei das VHF-Funkband eine Frequenz von 90 MHz enthält.
     
    12. Kopfhörerkabelanordnung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 11, wobei
    das Kopfhörerkabel (150) wenigstens den ersten und einen zweiten Signaldraht (151, 153) aufweist,
    das Kopfhörer-Set (190) den ersten und einen zweiten Lautsprecher (191, 192) umfasst, wobei der erste Signaldraht (151) mit dem ersten Lautsprecher (191) verbunden ist und der zweite Signaldraht (153) mit dem zweiten Lautsprecher (192) verbunden ist.
     
    13. Steckbare Filterbaugruppe (130), die dazu dient, mit einem Kopfhörersteckverbinder eines mobilen elektronischen Geräts verbunden zu werden, wobei die Filterbaugruppe (130) umfasst:

    ein Baugruppengehäuse (139), das eine elektronische Filtereinheit (110) beherbergt,

    einen ersten steckbaren Baugruppensteckverbinder (131), der zu dem Kopfhörersteckverbinder passt, und

    einen zweiten steckbaren Baugruppensteckverbinder (132), der Kontakte für einen Steckverbinder eines Kopfhörerkabels (150) bereitstellt,

    die elektronische Filtereinheit (110), die dafür ausgelegt ist, eine Filterung durchzuführen, die auf wenigstens einer von wenigstens zwei Verbindungen der Filterbaugruppe (130) mit den Kontakten wirksam ist,

    wobei Frequenzen eines VHF-Funkbandes durchgelassen werden und wenigstens ein Frequenzband unterhalb oder oberhalb des VHF-Funkbandes gedämpft wird,

    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die elektronische Filtereinheit (110) ferner dafür ausgelegt ist, Frequenzen zwischen einem hörbaren Bereich und dem VHF-Funkband in einem höheren Grad zu dämpfen als Frequenzen innerhalb des hörbaren Bereichs und des VHF-Funkbandes.


     
    14. Filterbaugruppe nach Anspruch 13, wobei
    der zweite steckbare Baugruppensteckverbinder (132) zu dem ersten Baugruppensteckverbinder (131) passt.
     
    15. Verfahren zum Betreiben einer Kopfhörerkabelanordnung (100) für ein mobiles elektronisches Gerät, wobei das Verfahren umfasst:

    Aufnehmen (702), in einem Kopfhörerkabel (150) einer Kopfhörerkabelanordnung (100), das mit einem mobilen elektronischen Gerät verbunden ist, welches eine VHF-Empfängerstufe und Audioverstärker umfasst, von Gleichtaktsignalen eines VHF-Funkbandes,

    Filtern (704), in der Kopfhörerkabelanordnung (100), von Signalen, wobei Frequenzen innerhalb eines VHF-Funkbandes durchgelassen werden und wenigstens ein Frequenzband unterhalb oder oberhalb des VHF-Funkbandes gedämpft wird,

    Zuführen (706) der gefilterten Signale zu einer VHF-Empfängerstufe des mobilen elektronischen Geräts,

    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass Frequenzen zwischen einem hörbaren Bereich und dem VHF-Funkband in einem höheren Grad gedämpft werden als Frequenzen innerhalb des hörbaren Bereichs und des VHF-Funkbandes.


     
    16. Verfahren nach Anspruch 15, welches ferner umfasst:
    Übertragen von Audiosignalen von den Audioverstärkern zu einem Kopfhörer-Set (190) der Kopfhörerkabelanordnung (100).
     


    Revendications

    1. Agencement de câble d'écouteur (100), comprenant
    un câble d'écouteur (150) comprenant un ou plusieurs fils de signal (151, 153) et une ou plusieurs lignes de référence (152, 154) ;
    un casque d'écoute (190) comprenant un ou plusieurs haut-parleurs (191, 192), un premier fil de signal dudit un ou desdits plusieurs fils de signal (151, 153) étant connecté à un premier dudit un ou desdits plusieurs haut-parleurs (191, 192) ; et
    une unité de filtrage électronique (110) configurée pour effectuer un filtrage effectif sur au moins l'un des fils de signal (151, 153) et des lignes de référence (152, 154), dans lequel des fréquences d'une bande radio VHF sont transmises et au moins une bande de fréquence au-dessous ou au-dessus de la bande radio VHF est atténuée ;
    l'unité de filtrage électronique (110) étant agencée à une extrémité de connecteur du câble d'écouteur (150) ;
    caractérisé en ce que l'unité de filtrage électronique (110) est en outre configurée pour atténuer des fréquences entre une plage audible et la bande radio VHF davantage que des fréquences à l'intérieur de la plage audible et de la bande radio VHF.
     
    2. Agencement de câble d'écouteur selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le filtrage est effectif sur ladite au moins une ligne de référence (152, 154).
     
    3. Agencement de câble d'écouteur selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le filtrage est effectif sur un ou plusieurs des fils de signal (151, 153) du câble d'écouteur (150).
     
    4. Agencement de câble d'écouteur selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'unité de filtrage électronique (110) est effective sur tous les fils de signal (151, 153) et toutes les lignes de référence (152, 154) du câble d'écouteur (150).
     
    5. Agencement de câble d'écouteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, dans lequel l'unité de filtrage électronique (110) est un filtre de mode commun passif comprenant des inductances et/ou des bobines (212, 214, 216).
     
    6. Agencement de câble d'écouteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, comprenant en outre un connecteur d'écouteur (120) prévu à l'extrémité de connecteur du câble d'écouteur (150), ledit un ou lesdits plusieurs fils de signal (151, 153) et les lignes de référence (152, 154) étant connectés à des contacts de borne du connecteur d'écouteur (120) directement ou par l'intermédiaire de l'unité de filtrage électronique (110).
     
    7. Agencement de câble d'écouteur selon la revendication 6, dans lequel le connecteur d'écouteur (120) comprend
    un boîtier de connecteur (129) logeant des connexions à faible résistance entre ledit un ou lesdits plusieurs fils de signal (151, 153) et les contacts de borne, et
    une portion de borne (121) comprenant les contacts de borne et agencée pour correspondre à un connecteur d'écouteur d'un dispositif électronique mobile.
     
    8. Agencement de câble d'écouteur selon la revendication 7, dans lequel l'unité de filtrage électronique (110) est agencée à l'intérieur du boîtier de connecteur (129) et au moins une borne d'entrée de l'unité de filtrage électronique (110) est connectée à au moins l'un dudit un ou desdits plusieurs fils de signal (151, 153) et des lignes de référence (152, 154), et au moins une borne de sortie de l'unité de filtrage électronique (110) est connectée à l'un des contacts de borne.
     
    9. Agencement de câble d'écouteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 6 ou 7, comprenant en outre un ensemble de filtre (130) comprenant
    un boîtier d'ensemble (139) logeant l'unité de filtrage électronique (110),
    un premier connecteur d'ensemble enfichable (131) correspondant au connecteur d'écouteur, et
    un deuxième connecteur d'ensemble enfichable (132) correspondant au premier connecteur d'ensemble.
     
    10. Agencement de câble d'écouteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 9, dans lequel la bande radio VHF présente une largeur entre 14 et 21 MHz.
     
    11. Agencement de câble d'écouteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 10, dans lequel la bande radio VHF contient une fréquence de 90 MHz.
     
    12. Agencement de câble d'écouteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 11, dans lequel
    le câble d'écouteur (150) comprend au moins le premier et un deuxième fil de signal (151, 153),
    le casque d'écoute (190) comprend le premier et un deuxième haut-parleur (191, 192), le premier fil de signal (151) étant connecté au premier haut-parleur (191) et le deuxième fil de signal (153) étant connecté au deuxième haut-parleur (192).
     
    13. Ensemble de filtre enfichable (130) destiné à être connecté à un connecteur d'écouteur d'un dispositif électronique mobile, l'ensemble de filtre (130) comprenant
    un boîtier d'ensemble (139) logeant une unité de filtrage électronique (110),
    un premier connecteur d'ensemble enfichable (131) correspondant au connecteur d'écouteur, et
    un deuxième connecteur d'ensemble enfichable (132) fournissant des contacts pour un connecteur d'un câble d'écouteur (150),
    l'unité de filtrage électronique (110) configurée pour effectuer un filtrage effectif sur au moins l'une desdites au moins deux connexions de l'ensemble de filtre (130) avec les contacts,
    dans lequel des fréquences d'une bande radio VHF sont transmises et au moins une bande de fréquence au-dessous ou au-dessus de la bande radio VHF est atténuée,
    caractérisé en ce que l'unité de filtrage électronique (110) est en outre configurée pour atténuer une fréquence entre une plage audible et la bande radio VHF davantage que les fréquences à l'intérieur de la plage audible et de la bande radio VHF.
     
    14. Ensemble de filtre selon la revendication 13, dans lequel le deuxième connecteur d'ensemble enfichable (132) correspond au premier connecteur d'ensemble (131) .
     
    15. Procédé d'utilisation d'un agencement de câble d'écouteur (100) pour un dispositif électronique mobile, le procédé comprenant les étapes consistant à
    capter (702) dans un câble d'écouteur (150) d'un agencement de câble d'écouteur (100) connecté à un dispositif électronique mobile qui comprend un étage de récepteur VHF et des amplificateurs audio, des signaux de mode commun d'une bande radio VHF,
    filtrer (704) des signaux dans l'agencement de câble d'écouteur (100), les fréquences à l'intérieur d'une bande radio VHF étant transmises et au moins une bande de fréquence au-dessous ou au-dessus de la bande radio VHF étant atténuée,
    fournir (706) les signaux filtrés à un étage de récepteur VHF du dispositif électronique mobile,
    caractérisé en ce que des fréquences entre une plage audible et la bande radio VHF sont atténuées davantage que des fréquences à l'intérieur de la plage audible et de la bande radio VHF.
     
    16. Procédé selon la revendication 15, comprenant en outre la transmission de signaux audio des amplificateurs audio à un casque d'écoute (190) de l'agencement de câble d'écouteur (100).
     




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    Cited references

    REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



    This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

    Patent documents cited in the description