WO2017074300A1

WO2017074300A1 - Mobile endpoint devices for charging earbuds

Info

Publication number: WO2017074300A1
Application number: PCT/US2015/057379
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jonathan NEUNEKER; Gregory Doyle Creager; Shaun Henry
Original assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
Current assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
Priority date: 2015-10-26
Filing date: 2015-10-26
Publication date: 2017-05-04
Anticipated expiration: 2018-04-26

Abstract

In example implementations, an apparatus includes an audio output interface. A wireless communication element for establishing a wireless connection between the audio output interface and an earbud may also be included. A housing enclosing the audio output interface, the wireless communication element, a magnetic coil and a magnet may include an earbud reception area. The earbud reception area can couple the earbud to the housing via the magnet and recharge the earbud battery via the magnetic coil.

Description

MOBILE ENDPOINT DEVICES FOR CHARGING EARBUDS

BACKGROUND

[0001] Mobile endpoint devices are used by individuals to listen to music, watch video, or any other type of audio while traveling. To prevent disrupting other people around the individual, a headset or earbud may be connected to the mobile device to channel the audio to the individual. Wireless headsets and earbuds are becoming a popular option for mobile devices. The wireless headsets are sold separate from the mobile devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0002] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example apparatus of the present disclosure;

[0003] FIG. 2 is an example of an earbud reception area;

[0004] FIG. 3 is another example of an earbud reception area;

[0005] FIG. 4 is another example of an earbud reception area;

[0006] FIG. 5 is block diagram of another example apparatus of the present disclosure; and

[0007] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of an example method for charging an earbud via a mobile endpoint device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0008] The present disclosure discloses an apparatus and method for wirelessly recharging an earbud via a mobile endpoint device. The mobile endpoint device may be modified to include an earbud reception area that holds the earbud in place via a magnetic connection. For example, a magnetic coil may also be used to wirelessly recharge an earbud battery using power drawn from a battery of the mobile endpoint device. As a result, the earbuds may be readily available to a user by being coupled to the mobile endpoint device.

[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates an example apparatus 100 of the present disclosure. The apparatus 100 may be any type of mobile endpoint device (e.g., a mobile telephone, a smart phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, and the like). The apparatus 100 has been simplified for ease of explanation and may include additional components not shown in FIG. 1 (e.g., a display, input/output interfaces, peripheral device connection interfaces, and the like).

[0010] In one example, the apparatus 100 may include a processor 102, a magnetic coil 104, an earbud reception area 106, an audio output interface 108, a wireless communication element 1 10 and a battery 1 14. In one

implementation, the processor 102, the magnetic coil 104, the audio output interface 108, the wireless communication element 1 10, the battery 1 14 and the magnets 1 16 may be located inside of a housing 1 12 of the apparatus 100, as indicated by dashed lines. The earbud reception area 106 may be located on an outside of the housing 1 12.

[0011 ] In some implementations, the earbud reception area 106 may be molded into the housing 1 12 and may have various shapes to match a shape of an earbud (not shown) as described below in FIGs. 2-4. In other words, the earbud reception area 106 and the housing 1 12 are a single unitary piece. Said another way, the earbud reception area 106 is not an external case or external housing that is placed separately around the apparatus 100. For example, the earbud and the apparatus 100 may be manufactured by the same company and packaged and sold together. This may help to ensure that the earbud and the earbud reception area 106 are similarly shaped and sized.

[0012] The earbud reception area 106 may be located over the magnetic coil 104 and include magnets 1 16. Notably, the earbud reception area 106 does not have any mechanical coupling mechanisms (e.g., a slot, a hook, a snap-in fitting, and the like. Rather, the magnets 1 16 may hold the earbud in place via a magnetic connection.

[0013] In addition, the magnetic coil 104 may be used to wirelessly charge an earbud battery using power drawn from the battery 1 14 of the apparatus 100. For example, the magnetic coil 104 may be formed via a loop of conductive wires around a magnet or magnetic bar. The magnetic coil 104 may act as an inductor. As electric current from the battery 1 14 is passed through the magnetic coil 104, the magnetic coil 104 may create an electromagnetic field around the magnet coil 104 which can be used to transfer voltage to an earbud battery of the earbud. In some implementations, the magnets 1 16 may also be used to wirelessly charge the earbud battery or transfer data.

[0014] In some implementations, the electric current can be reversed in the magnetic coil 104 to draw power from the earbud when a battery charge level of the battery 1 14 is low. For example, if the earbud battery is charged and the battery charge level of battery 1 14 is low, the magnetic coil 104 may be used to draw power from the earbud battery to recharge the battery 1 14 to extend the life of the battery 1 14.

[0015] In one example, the wireless charging via the battery 1 14 and the magnetic coil 104 may be controlled by the processor 102. The audio output interface 108 may generate sound that can be output to the earbud via a wired or wireless connection. In one example, the wireless connection may be established between the apparatus 100 and the earbud via the wireless communication element 1 10. For example, the wireless communication element 1 10 may be a Bluetooth® radio that can establish a Bluetooth® wireless pairing with the earbud. The wireless communication element 1 10 may be any type of wireless transmitter, radio or beacon that uses any type wireless communication protocol to connect to the earbud (e.g., radio frequency (RF), Zigbee®, a personal area network (PAN), and the like).

[0016] FIGs. 2-4 illustrate various examples of different designs of the earbud reception area 106. FIG. 2 illustrates two separate earbud reception areas 106 on a back side of the apparatus 100. Each earbud reception area 106 may correspond to each earbud of a pair of earbuds 202. The earbud reception area 106 may be molded to have a similar shape as the earbuds 202 (e.g., a left earbud and a right earbud). For example, if the earbuds 202 have a cone shape, the earbud reception area 106 may also have a cone shape. The earbud reception area 106 may be formed as a slight depression in the housing 1 12 of the apparatus 100. For example, if the earbuds 202 were a cylindrical shape, the earbud reception area 106 may have a depression that is half of a cylinder in the housing 1 12.

[0017] In one example, each earbud reception area 106 may have a corresponding magnetic coil 104 and a corresponding magnet 1 16. Each earbud reception area 106 may be located over each corresponding magnetic coil 104. As a result, the earbuds 202 may be coupled to the earbud reception area 106 via a magnetic connection with the magnet 1 16 and an earbud battery 204 may be optimally located over and near each magnetic coil 104 to be wirelessly recharged. In one implementation, the housing of the earbuds 202 may be made of metal or have a metallic portion that is coupled or connected to the magnet 1 16. In another implementation, the earbuds 202 may include a magnet that connects to the magnet 1 16 via the magnetic connection. It should be noted that although two magnetic coils 104 and two magnets 1 16 are illustrated in FIG. 2 that a single magnetic coil 104 and a single magnet 1 16 could also be deployed.

[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of an earbud reception area 106 that is formed as an indentation, a hole or an opening 306 along a side 308 of the housing 1 12 of the apparatus 100. For example, an earbud reception area 106 may be created on a left side for a left earbud and an earbud reception area 106 may be created on a right side for a right earbud. As a result, a user may intuitively know which earbud fits into which ear.

[0019] In one example, the magnetic coil 104 may be located near a tip of the opening 306. In addition, magnets 1 16 may be located near the opening 306. As a result, as the earbud 302 is moved into the opening 306, the magnets 1 16 may draw the earbud 302 into the opening 306 via a magnetic connection so that the user feels a "snap." The earbud battery 304 may be located near a tip of the earbud 302 to optimize a location of the earbud battery 304 relative to the magnetic coil 104 for wireless recharging. Once the earbud 302 is positioned in the opening 306, the magnetic coil 104 may be used to wirelessly recharge the earbud battery 304. [0020] In one implementation, a sensor or sensors 310 may be located near the earbud reception area 106. For example, the sensors 310 may slide in when pressed by the insertion of the earbud 302, as indicated by the two-way arrows. The sensor 310 may contact a switch that sends a signal to the processor 102 that the magnetic connection is detected or established, as discussed in further detail below with reference to method 600 and FIG. 6. The sensor 310 is one example of a sensor. Other implementations may include the sensor 310 being built into the magnetic coil 104 to detect a change in a characteristic of the magnetic coil 104 when the magnetic connection is established, the sensor 310 being built into the housing 1 12 to detect a change in the resistance when the earbud 302 contacts the housing at the earbud reception area 106, and the like.

[0021 ] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of an earbud reception area 106 that is formed as a tray 406. For example, the apparatus 100 may be a laptop computer. As optical drives are becoming obsolete in laptop computers, the area previously occupied by an optical drive may be used for the tray 406 to having the earbud reception area 106. The tray 406 may slide in and out of the housing 1 12 of the apparatus 100 via any mechanical means.

[0022] The earbud reception area 106 on the tray 406 may have a shape similar to the shape of the earbuds 402, as described above. In one example, the magnetic coil 104 and magnets for establishing the magnetic connection to the earbuds 402 may be located inside of the tray 406. As a result, when the earbuds 402 are placed into the earbud reception area 106, the earbuds 402 may be held in place via a magnetic connection to the magnets (not shown). The magnetic coil 104 may wirelessly recharge the earbud batteries 404 of the earbuds 402.

[0023] It should be noted that FIGs. 2-4 provide examples of how the earbud reception area 106 can be added to the apparatus 100. However, the exact location, size and shape of the earbud reception area 106 on the housing 1 12 of the apparatus 100 may vary and the examples should not be considered limiting. Other locations, shapes and sizes of the earbud reception area 106 on the housing 1 12 of the apparatus 100 may be within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 5 illustrates another example of an apparatus 500. In one example, the apparatus 500 may be similar to the apparatus 100. For example, the apparatus 500 may also be a mobile endpoint device (e.g., a mobile telephone, a smart phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, and the like).

[0025] In one example, the apparatus 500 may include a processor 502 and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium 504. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium 504 may include instructions 506, 508, 510 and 512 that when executed by the processor 502, cause the processor 502 to perform the functions described above.

[0026] In one example, the instructions 506 may include instructions to detect a magnetic connection to an earbud connected to a housing of the mobile endpoint device. The instructions 508 may include instructions to determine that an earbud battery of the earbud has an earbud battery charge level below a first threshold. The instructions 510 may include instructions to determine that a battery of the mobile endpoint device has a battery charge level above a second threshold. The instructions 512 may include instructions to activate a magnetic coil to recharge the earbud battery of the earbud using power drawn from the battery of the mobile endpoint device.

[0027] FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram of an example method 600 for charging an earbud via a mobile endpoint device. In one example, the blocks of the method 600 may be performed by the apparatus 100 or 500.

[0028] At block 602, the method 600 begins. At block 604, the method 600 detects a magnetic connection to an earbud connected to a housing of the mobile endpoint device. For example, the resistance on a magnetic coil may change or some other property of the magnetic coil may change when the magnetic coil is connected to the earbud. In another example, a sensor may be located near or on the magnetic coil to detect the presence of the earbud connected to the housing. For example, the sensor may be a resistive sensor on the housing. When the earbud is connected to the housing via the magnetic connection, the resistance on the housing may change indicating the presence of the earbud. [0029] At block 606, the method 600 determines that an earbud battery of the earbud has an earbud battery charge level below a first threshold. Once the magnetic connection to the earbud is detected, the earbud battery information may be exchanged. In one implementation, the earbud battery charge level may be measured via the magnetic connection. In another implementation, the earbud battery charge level may be communicated to the mobile endpoint device via the wireless communication connection used to connect the earbuds to the mobile endpoint device.

[0030] In one example, the first threshold may be predetermined to optimize usage of the battery of the mobile endpoint device and the earbud battery. For example, since the earbud typically uses a very small amount of battery, the first threshold may be set to a low level e.g., 25% of a total level of charge, e.g., fully charged battery. In another example, the first threshold may be 50%.

[0031 ] In one implementation, the first threshold may be dynamically changed. For example, when the mobile endpoint device is connected to an external power source (e.g., plugged into a wall outlet), the first threshold may be 100%. In other words, if the earbud battery is not fully charged, the mobile endpoint device may attempt to recharge the earbud battery while connected to the external power source. However, once the mobile endpoint device is disconnected, the first threshold may be changed to 50%. In other words, the mobile endpoint device will stop charging the earbud battery until the earbud battery charge level falls below 50% at some later time, while disconnected.

[0032] At block 608, the method 600 determines that a battery of the mobile endpoint device has a battery charge level above a second threshold. In one implementation, the mobile endpoint device may charge the earbud battery if the battery of the mobile endpoint device has enough power in the battery to operate the mobile endpoint device. For example, the mobile endpoint device may not recharge the earbud battery if the recharging the earbud battery would result in draining all of the power of the battery of the mobile endpoint device.

[0033] In one implementation, the second threshold may be predetermined. A user may set the second threshold to any desired level via the mobile endpoint device. For example, the user may want at least 20% of the battery to remain in the mobile endpoint device in case of an emergency and set the second threshold to 20%. As a result, if the battery charge level of the mobile endpoint device falls below 20%, the mobile endpoint device may not recharge the earbud battery even if the earbud battery charge level is below the first threshold.

[0034] At block 610, the method 600 activates a magnetic coil to recharge the earbud battery of the earbud using power drawn from the battery of the mobile endpoint device. When the earbud battery charge level is below the first threshold and the battery charge level of the mobile endpoint device is above the second threshold, the magnetic coil may be activated to begin wireless recharging of the earbud battery.

[0035] In one implementation, after the magnetic coil is activated, the mobile endpoint device may continuously monitor the earbud battery charge level and the battery charge level of the mobile endpoint device to determine when the magnetic coil should be deactivated. In one example, a stop threshold may be used to determine when the magnetic coil should be deactivated. The stop threshold may be a predefined percentage of a full charge level of the earbud battery.

[0036] For example, to optimize the power stored in the battery of the mobile endpoint device, the earbud battery may not be recharged to a full charge. Rather, the earbud battery may be recharged to a sufficient amount to last until a user returns home to plug the mobile endpoint device into a wall outlet. In one example, the stop threshold may be 33% or 50%. As a result, when the earbud battery charge level exceeds the stop threshold (e.g., 33%), then the magnetic coil may be deactivated to stop the wireless charging of the earbud battery.

[0037] In another example, the stop threshold may be a full charge level of the earbud battery. For example, the user may desire to have the earbud battery fully recharged.

[0038] In another example, the magnetic coil may be deactivated when the battery charge level of the battery of the mobile endpoint device falls below the second threshold. For example, the battery charge level of the battery may have been slightly above the second threshold when the magnetic coil was activated. However, during the course of recharging the earbud battery, the battery level of the mobile endpoint device may fall below the second threshold. As a result, the magnetic coil may be deactivated to stop the wireless charging.

[0039] In another implementation, the power from the earbud battery may be used to recharge the battery of the mobile endpoint device. In other words, the direction of charging of the magnetic coil may be reversed to recharge the battery of the mobile endpoint device via the earbud battery.

[0040] For example, the user may have recharged the earbud battery to a full charge. Over the course of a day the user may not have used the earbuds, but used the mobile endpoint device for various tasks. As a result, the battery of the mobile endpoint device may be close to a zero charge or fall below a low battery threshold (e.g., 5%, 10%, and the like). Detecting that the battery has fallen below the low battery threshold, the mobile endpoint device may reverse the charging direction of the magnetic coil to recharge the battery of the mobile endpoint device using power drawn from the earbud battery.

[0041] In one example, the graphical user interface of the mobile endpoint device may be used to set the first threshold, the second threshold, the stop threshold and the low battery thresholds. In one implementation, the graphical user interface may display an icon to display a charging progress of the earbud battery.

[0042] In another example, a light emitting diode (LED) may be used near where the earbud reception areas are located on the housing of the mobile endpoint device to indicate charging progress. For example, no light may indicate no charge activity or connection, a red light may indicate that the earbud battery is being recharged and a green light may indicate that the earbud battery has reached the desired recharging level (e.g., full charge or exceeded the stop threshold).

[0043] In another example, audible tones or beeps may be used to indicate charging progress. For example, a first beep may be used to indicate charging of the earbud battery has begun. A second beep may be used to indicate that the magnetic coil has been deactivated and that the charging of the earbud battery has stopped. In another implementation, any combination of the graphical user interface, the LED or the audible tones may be used to indicate charging progress. At block 612, the method 600 ends.

[0044] It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

Claims

1 . An apparatus, comprising:

an audio output interface;

a wireless communication element for establishing a wireless connection between the audio output interface and an earbud; and

an earbud reception area on a housing enclosing the audio output interface, the wireless communication element, a magnetic coil and a magnet, wherein the earbud reception area couples the earbud to the housing via the magnet and recharges an earbud battery via the magnetic coil.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile endpoint device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the earbud reception area is a tray that slides in and out of the housing.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the earbud reception area is located on a back side of the housing and has a shape that corresponds to a shape of the earbud.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the earbud reception area comprises an opening in the housing and the magnetic coil is located on an inside of the housing at an end of the opening.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the earbud reception area is molded into the housing as a unitary piece.

7. A method, comprising:

detecting, by a processor of a mobile endpoint device, a magnetic connection to an earbud connected to a housing of the mobile endpoint device; determining, by the processor, that an earbud battery of the earbud has an earbud battery charge level below a first threshold;

determining, by the processor, that a battery of the mobile endpoint device has a battery charge level above a second threshold; and

activating, by the processor, a magnetic coil to recharge the earbud battery of the earbud using power drawn from the battery of the mobile endpoint device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

continuously monitoring, by the processor, the earbud battery charge level and the battery charge level.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

deactivating, by the processor, the magnetic coil when the earbud battery charge level exceeds a stop threshold or when the battery charge level falls below the second threshold.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the stop threshold comprises a full charge level of the earbud battery.

1 1 . The method of claim 9, wherein the stop threshold comprises a predefined percentage of a full charge level of the earbud battery.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

reversing, by the processor, a charging direction of the magnetic coil to recharge the battery of the mobile endpoint device using power drawn from the earbud battery when the battery charge level falls below a low battery threshold.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions executable by a processor of a mobile endpoint device, the non- transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising:

instructions to detect a magnetic connection to an earbud connected to a housing of the mobile endpoint device;

instructions to determine that an earbud battery of the earbud has an earbud battery charge level below a first threshold;

instructions to determine that a battery of the mobile endpoint device has a battery charge level above a second threshold; and

instructions to activate a magnetic coil to recharge the earbud battery of the earbud using power drawn from the battery of the mobile endpoint device.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, further comprising:

instructions to continuously monitor the earbud battery charge level and the battery charge level.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14, further comprising:

instructions to deactivate the magnetic coil when the earbud battery charge level exceeds a stop threshold or when the battery charge level falls below the second threshold.