Importance

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Abstract

A microphone is provided in a mobile terminal and is connected to a current source when the flip portion of the mobile terminal is open and is disconnected from the current source when the flip portion of the phone is closed. The mobile terminal can then infer the position of the flip portion of the housing, e.g., opened or closed, based upon the state of the microphone's current supply circuit, for example by detecting the current flowing through the circuit or a voltage drop across a supply resistor. In addition, an on-hook/off-hook button can be provided to a hands-free accessory without increasing a number of signal lines/connections between the hands-free accessory and the mobile terminal. This can be accomplished, for example, by connecting the on-hook/off-hook button to a switch in the microphone signal line. The switch selectively creates an open in the microphone signal line, which can be detected by the mobile terminal, thereby resulting in an off-hook condition. In addition, an interface between a mobile terminal and other auxiliary or accessory devices can be generalized to accommodate either digital or analog signaling without an increase in the number of pins/signal lines associated with the interface.

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First Claim