KR20200063013A - Earphone charging case - Google Patents

Abstract

An earphone charging case according to some embodiments of the present invention is provided. The case may include: a lower cover including a first containing space for receiving a first earphone and a second containing space for receiving a second earphone; an upper cover fixed to the lower cover by a hinge to be opened/closed; a charging terminal provided in each of the first containing space and the second containing space; and a power supply portion for supplying power to the first earphone and the second earphone through the charging terminals, respectively.

Description

Earphone charging case {EARPHONE CHARGING CASE}

The present disclosure relates to an earphone charging case, and more particularly, to an earphone charging case provided with a speaker.

Earphones are miniaturized speakers that are inserted into the ears so that the speaker's sound can be emitted directly into the user's ear. Because it has no work, it is widely used to listen to the sound of portable devices such as mobile phones and MP3 players.

Recently, Bluetooth (more specifically, Bluetooth Classic Audio) deviates from the traditional concept of earphones (headsets) that receive and play sound source signals from external systems (e.g., smartphones, wearable devices, PCs, etc.) connected by a wired cable. Wireless earphones (headsets) that receive and reproduce sound source signals wirelessly through a radio frequency (RF) communication channel such as A2DP protocol or Bluetooth Low Energy Audio have been widely used. In addition, there is an earphone case that can easily store wireless earphones and also provides a charging function.

However, since the Bluetooth earphone is designed and manufactured to emit sound directly into the user's ear, it is difficult for multiple users to listen to the sound source together.

Accordingly, in addition to the ability to easily store and charge the Bluetooth earphone, additionally, for a device including a function of the wireless speaker to receive (connected) playback information from the Bluetooth earphone so that multiple users can listen to a sound source together Demand can exist in the industry.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2008-0039628

The present disclosure has been devised in response to the background art described above, and aims to provide a case for charging an earphone.

The technical problems of the present disclosure are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure for solving the above-described problems, an earphone charging case is disclosed. The case includes: a lower cover including a first storage space accommodating the first earphones and a second storage space accommodating the second earphones; An upper cover fixed to the lower cover and hinged to be opened and closed; A charging terminal provided in each of the first storage space and the second storage space; A power supply unit supplying power to each of the first earphone and the second earphone through the charging terminal; A data terminal provided in at least one of the first storage space and the second storage space; An acoustic data receiver configured to receive acoustic data from at least one of the first earphone and the second earphone through the data terminal; An audio output unit provided to output sound in an outer direction of the lower cover; And a control unit controlling the sound output unit to output sound based on the sound data received by the sound data receiving unit.

In addition, the first storage space, a first magnetic portion for generating a magnetic attraction between the first storage space and the first earphone; further comprises; the second storage space, the second storage space and the It may further include; a second magnetic unit for generating a magnetic attraction between the second earphones.

In addition, when it is recognized that at least one of the first earphone and the second earphone is received through the charging terminal, the control unit may turn off at least one of the first earphone and the second earphone. .

In addition, the case, a switch that is sliding to the first position by the user's operation; further includes, the control unit, when the switch is sliding to the first position, turn on the first earphone, the The second earphone is turned off, and the acoustic data receiving unit may receive the acoustic data from the first earphone through the data terminal.

In addition, the acoustic data, the first earphone is received from the external terminal connected to the wireless communication unit and the wireless communication unit of the first earphone activated when the switch is turned on as the switch is sliding to the first position It can be one data.

In addition, when the switch is slid to the first position, the controller recognizes whether the first earphone and the second earphone are received through the data terminal, and the first earphone and the second earphone are When it is recognized that it is received, the first control signal is transmitted to the first earphone through the data terminal so that the first earphone is turned on, and the second control signal is transmitted through the data terminal so that the second earphone is turned off. It can be transmitted to the second earphone.

In addition, when receiving alarm data from at least one of the first earphone and the second earphone through the data terminal, the controller may control the sound output unit to output an alarm based on the alarm data. .

In addition, the sound output unit may be at least one of a dynamic speaker and a piezoelectric speaker.

In addition, the audio output unit, a decoder for performing a decoding operation for separating the audio data into a high-pitched region and a low-pitched region of stereo; An amplifier for amplifying acoustic data separated into the high-pitched region and the low-pitched region; A stereo speaker outputting a sound source in a high-pitched tone region among the amplified sound data; And a woofer speaker outputting a sound source in a low-pitched region among the amplified sound data.

The technical solutions that can be obtained in the present disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned solutions, and other solutions that are not mentioned are clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below. Will be understandable.

The present disclosure can provide an earphone charging case.

The effects obtainable in the present disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other effects not mentioned may be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. .

Various aspects are now described with reference to the figures, in which like reference numerals are used collectively to refer to similar elements. In the following embodiments, for illustrative purposes, a number of specific details are presented to provide a holistic understanding of one or more aspects. However, it will be apparent that such aspect(s) may be practiced without these specific details.
1 is a block diagram illustrating an earphone charging case according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.
2 is a conceptual view looking at an example of an earphone charging case according to some embodiments of the present disclosure in one direction.
3 is a view for explaining an example in which the earphone is stored in the lower cover of the earphone charging case according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.
4 is a view for explaining an example of a speaker provided in the earphone charging case according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.
5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of turning on earphones stored in an earphone charging case according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Various embodiments and/or aspects are now disclosed with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, a number of specific details are disclosed to assist in the overall understanding of one or more aspects. However, it will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art of the present disclosure that this aspect(s) can be practiced without these specific details. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative aspects of the one or more aspects. However, these aspects are exemplary and some of the various methods in the principles of the various aspects may be used, and the descriptions described are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Specifically, "an embodiment", "example", "a good", "an example", etc., as used herein is not to be construed as any aspect or design described being better or more advantageous than another aspect or designs. It may not.

Hereinafter, the same or similar components are assigned the same reference numbers regardless of the reference numerals, and overlapping descriptions thereof are omitted. In addition, in the description of the embodiments disclosed herein, when it is determined that detailed descriptions of related known technologies may obscure the gist of the embodiments disclosed herein, detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. In addition, the accompanying drawings are only for easy understanding of the embodiments disclosed in the present specification, and the technical spirit disclosed herein is not limited by the accompanying drawings.

The terminology used herein is for describing the embodiments and is not intended to limit the present disclosure. In the present specification, the singular form also includes the plural form unless otherwise specified in the phrase. As used herein, “comprises” and/or “comprising” does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other components other than the components mentioned.

Although the first, second, etc. are used to describe various elements or components, it goes without saying that these elements or components are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element or component from another element or component. Therefore, it goes without saying that the first element or component mentioned below may be the second element or component within the technical spirit of the present disclosure.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the present specification may be used as meanings commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. In addition, terms defined in the commonly used dictionary are not ideally or excessively interpreted unless specifically defined.

In addition, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or”. That is, unless specified otherwise or unclear in context, "X uses A or B" is intended to mean one of the natural inclusive substitutions. That is, X uses A; X uses B; Or, if X uses both A and B, "X uses A or B" can be applied in either of these cases. It should also be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to and includes all possible combinations of one or more of the listed related items.

In addition, the terms "information" and "data" as used herein can often be used interchangeably with each other.

When a component is said to be "connected" or "connected" to another component, it is understood that other components may be directly connected or connected to the other component, but other components may exist in the middle. It should be. On the other hand, when a component is said to be "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another component, it should be understood that no other component exists in the middle.

The suffixes "modules" and "parts" for components used in the following description are given or mixed only considering the ease of writing the specification, and do not have meanings or roles that are distinguished from each other.

Elements or layers, referred to as "on" or "on" of another component or layer, refer to the other layer or other component in the middle, as well as directly above the other component or layer. Include all intervening cases. On the other hand, when a component is referred to as “directly on” or “directly above”, it indicates that no other component or layer is interposed in the middle.

The spatially relative terms “below”, “beneath”, “lower”, “above”, “upper”, etc., are as shown in the figure. It can be used to easily describe a correlation with a component or other components. The spatially relative terms should be understood as terms including different directions of the device in use or operation in addition to the directions shown in the drawings.

For example, when a component shown in the drawing is turned over, a component described as "below" or "beneath" of another component will be placed "above" another component. Can be. Accordingly, the exemplary term “below” can include both the directions below and above. Components can also be oriented in different directions, and thus spatially relative terms can be interpreted according to orientation.

The objectives and effects of the present disclosure, and technical configurations for achieving them, will be clarified by referring to the embodiments described below in detail together with the accompanying drawings. In describing the present disclosure, when it is determined that a detailed description of a known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present disclosure, the detailed description will be omitted. And terms to be described later are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present disclosure, which may vary according to a user's or operator's intention or practice.

However, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, and may be implemented in various different forms. Only the present embodiments are provided to make the present disclosure complete, and to fully inform the person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure belongs, the present disclosure is only defined by the scope of the claims. . Therefore, the definition should be made based on the contents throughout this specification.

2 is a conceptual view of one example of an earphone charging case according to some embodiments of the present disclosure viewed from one direction. 3 is a view for explaining an example in which the earphone is stored in the lower cover of the earphone charging case according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In the description of FIG. 1 with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3, overlapping contents as described above will not be described again, and will be mainly described below.

Referring to FIG. 2, the earphone charging case 100 may include a lower cover 110 and an upper cover 120. In addition, the earphone charging case 100 may be formed in a rectangular cross-sectional shape. However, the shape of the earphone charging case 100 is not limited thereto.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the lower cover 110 and the upper cover 120 of the earphone charging case 100 are fixed by a hinge and may be rotatable. That is, the lower cover 110 and the upper cover 120 of the earphone charging case 100 can be opened or closed by rotating the hinge about the axis.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the inner portion of the lower cover 110 of the earphone charging case 100 may be filled with a protective member (eg, sponge, plastic, etc.). Here, the protective member filled in the inner portion of the lower cover 110 may include a first storage space 111 and a second storage space 112.

Referring to FIG. 3, the first earphone 210 may be stored in the first storage space 111. Also, the second earphone 220 may be stored in the second storage space 112. However, the earphone 200 accommodated in each of the above-described first storage space 111 and the second storage space 112 is not limited thereto.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the earphone 200 may be fixed to the storage space of the earphone charging case 100 by magnetic force. Specifically, the first storage space 111 may include a first magnetic unit that generates a magnetic force between the first storage space 111 and the first earphone 210. In addition, the second storage space 112 may include a second magnetic unit that generates magnetic force between the second storage space 112 and the second earphone 220. Therefore, the earphone charging case 100 and the earphone 200 can be stably combined.

Referring to FIG. 2 again, the earphone charging case 100 is provided with an interface unit in one area of each of the first storage space 111 and the second storage space 112 of the lower cover 110 in which the earphone 200 is stored. 130).

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the interface unit 130 may include a charging terminal 131. Here, the charging terminal 131 may be provided in each of the first storage space 111 and the second storage space 112 of the earphone charging case 100. In addition, the charging terminal 131 is connected to the earphone 200 so that the power supply unit 150 can supply power to the earphone 200 stored in each of the first storage space 111 and the second storage space 112. Can be. In addition, the charging terminal 131 may be connected to the earphone 200 to include a positive terminal and a negative terminal so that power can be supplied.

Specifically, the control unit 170 of the earphone charging case 100 is the earphone 200 stored in each of the first storage space 111 and the second storage space 112 through the charging terminal 131 of the interface 130 ), the power supply unit 150 may be controlled to supply power.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the control unit 170 of the earphone charging case 100 may recognize whether each of the first earphone 210 and the second earphone 220 is stored through the charging terminal 131. .

Specifically, the control unit 170 may recognize whether electricity is supplied through the positive and negative terminals of the charging terminal 131 provided in each of the first storage space 111 and the second storage space 112. In addition, the control unit 170 may recognize whether the earphone 200 is stored according to whether the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal are energized.

The control unit 170 may include at least one of the first earphone 210 and the second earphone 220 recognized as being accommodated in at least one of the first storage space 111 and the second storage space 112 of the earphone charging case 100. One power can be turned off. Specifically, the control unit 170 may transmit a control signal to turn off the power through the data terminal 132 as at least one of the first earphone 210 and the second earphone 220 recognized as received. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the power may be turned off as the earphone 200 recognizes that it is stored in the earphone charging case 100. Therefore, the power is turned off while the earphone 200 is being charged to prevent unnecessary wasted power consumption.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the interface unit 130 may include a data terminal 132. Here, the data terminal 132 may be provided in at least one of the first storage space 111 and the second storage space 112.

In one example, the data terminal 132 is provided in the first storage space 111 and may not be provided in the second storage space (and vice versa). In this case, the control unit 170 of the earphone charging case 100 sounds from the first earphone 210 stored in the first storage space 111 through the data terminal 131 provided in the first storage space 111. Data can be received. Also, the control unit 170 may control the sound output unit 160 to output sound based on the received sound data.

As another example, the data terminal 132 may be provided in each of the first storage space 111 and the second storage space 112. In this case, the control unit 170 of the earphone charging case 100 may receive sound data from the earphone 200 stored in at least one of the first storage space 111 and the second storage space 112. Also, the control unit 170 may control the sound output unit 160 to output sound based on the received sound data.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the earphone charging case 100 may include a user input unit 140. Specifically, the user input unit 140 may include a mechanical (mechanical) input means (or buttons, switches, etc. located on the front or rear or side of the earphone charging case 100).

In one example, the earphone charging case 100 may include a switch 141 that can be moved to one side.

As another example, the earphone charging case 100 may include a switch 141 capable of moving a position on the inner surface of the lower cover 110.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, when the switch 141 is sliding to the first position, the controller 170 of the earphone charging case 100 may recognize whether the earphone 200 is accommodated. Specifically, when the switch 141 is slid to the first position, the control unit 170 may recognize whether the first earphone and the second earphone are received through the data terminal.

When it is recognized that the first earphone 210 and the second earphone 220 are received, the controller 170 transmits a first control signal to the first earphone 210 so that the first earphone 210 is turned on. And, the second earphone 220 may transmit a second control signal to the second earphone 220 to be turned off.

Meanwhile, when the first earphone 210 is turned on, the controller 170 may receive sound data from the first earphone 210 through the data terminal 132. Also, the control unit 170 may control the sound output unit 160 to output sound based on the received sound data.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the control unit 170 of the earphone charging case 100 may receive alarm data from the earphone 200 through the data terminal 132.

Specifically, when receiving the alarm data from at least one of the first earphone 210 and the second earphone 220 through the data terminal 132, the controller 170 outputs an alarm based on the received alarm data The audio output unit 160 can be controlled to do so. Accordingly, even if the earphone charging case 100 in which the earphone is stored is lost, the user can easily find it through the alarm sound.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the earphone charging case 100 may include a haptic module.

The haptic module generates various tactile effects that the user can feel. Vibration may be a typical example of the tactile effect generated by the haptic module. The intensity and pattern of vibration generated in the haptic module may be controlled by a user's selection or setting of the control unit 170. For example, the haptic module may synthesize different vibrations and output them sequentially or sequentially.

The haptic module can not only deliver a tactile effect through direct contact, but can also be implemented so that a user can feel the tactile effect through muscle sensations such as fingers or arms. Two or more haptic modules may be provided according to a configuration aspect of the earphone charging case 100.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, at least one haptic module may be provided inside the lower cover 110 of the earphone charging case 100. The control unit 170 may control the haptic module to output vibration when the earphone 200 is coupled to at least one of the first storage space 111 and the second storage space 112. Therefore, the user can intuitively recognize whether the earphone is coupled to the earphone charging case 100.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a wired earphone port may be provided on the lower cover 110 of the earphone charging case 100. In this case, when the wired earphone is connected to the earphone port, the controller 170 receives sound data from at least one of the first earphone 210 and the second earphone 220 through the data terminal 132, and the received sound Data can be converted into an acoustic signal and transmitted to an earphone port. Therefore, the user can listen to music through the wired earphone by attaching the wired earphone to the earphone charging case 100 even if there is no battery of the wireless earphone.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the lower cover 110 of the earphone charging case 100 may include a communication unit. In this case, the control unit 170 receives sound data from at least one of the first earphone 210 and the second earphone 220 through the data terminal 132, and receives the received sound data into each of a plurality of sound output devices It can transmit wirelessly. That is, the earphone charging case 100 may be used as a hub capable of simultaneously transmitting sound data to a plurality of sound output devices. Meanwhile, each of the plurality of sound output devices receiving sound data may respectively output sounds of various sound ranges. Therefore, the quality of the output sound can be improved.

4 is a view for explaining an example of a speaker provided in the earphone charging case according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In the description of FIGS. 1 to 3 in connection with FIG. 4, overlapping contents as described above will not be described again, and will be mainly described below.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, an audio output unit 160 may be provided on the bottom surface of the lower cover 110 of the earphone charging case 100. Therefore, the sound output unit 160 of the earphone charging case 100 may output sound in an external direction while the case is closed.

The sound output unit 160 may be at least one of a dynamic speaker and a piezoelectric speaker.

The sound output unit 160 may output sound corresponding to sound data received from the earphone 200. Here, the acoustic data may be data received from an external terminal (eg, a smart phone, a wearable device, a PC, etc.) to which the wireless communication unit of the earphone 200 and wireless communication are connected.

As illustrated, the sound output unit 160 may be built in the lower cover of the earphone charging case 100. The sound output unit 160 may include a decoder that performs a decoding operation to separate sound data received from the earphone 200 into a stereo high-pitched region and a low-pitched region. Also, the sound output unit 160 may include an amplifier that amplifies sound data separated into a high-pitched region and a low-pitched region, respectively.

Also, the sound output unit 160 may include a stereo speaker 161 that outputs a sound source in a high-pitched region among the amplified sound data. In addition, the sound output unit 160 may be mounted spaced apart from the stereo speaker 161 by a predetermined interval, and may include a woofer speaker 162 that outputs a sound source in a low-pitched region among amplified sound data.

When receiving sound data from the mobile terminal, the audio output unit 160 crosses over the sound of the middle/high and low ranges and outputs the audible sound by crossing over the sound of the middle/high and low ranges, respectively. You can make it possible to reproduce almost any frequency band. Therefore, the quality of the output sound can be improved.

5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of turning on earphones stored in an earphone charging case according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the control unit 170 of the earphone charging case 100 may recognize whether the switch 141 is slid to the first position.

If the control unit 170 does not recognize that the switch 141 is sliding to the first position (S110, No), the first earphone 210 and the second earphone 220 respectively stored in the earphone charging case 100 A control signal may be transmitted to each of the first earphone 210 and the second earphone 220 so that the power of is turned off.

When it is recognized that the switch 141 is sliding to the first position (S110, Yes), the control unit 170 may recognize whether each of the first earphone 210 and the second earphone 220 is received.

Specifically, the control unit 170 may recognize whether the earphone 200 is stored in the earphone charging case 100 through the interface unit 130.

In one example, the control unit 170 may recognize whether each of the first earphone 210 and the second earphone 220 is stored through the charging terminal 131.

Specifically, the control unit 170 may recognize whether electricity is supplied through the positive and negative terminals of the charging terminal 131 provided in each of the first storage space 111 and the second storage space 112. In addition, the control unit 170 may recognize whether the earphone 200 is stored according to whether the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal are energized.

As another example, the control unit 170 may recognize that at least one of the first earphone 210 and the second earphone 220 is received through the data terminal 132.

Specifically, the controller 170 may transmit the first signal to each of the first earphone 210 and the second earphone 220 through the data terminal 132. In addition, the control unit 170 may receive a second signal corresponding to the first signal from each of the first earphone 210 and the second earphone 220 through the data terminal 132. In this case, the control unit 170 may recognize that at least one of the first earphone 210 and the second earphone 220 is received, based on whether the second signal is received.

The control unit 170 may control the sound output unit 160 to output a preset sound when it is not recognized that each of the first earphone 210 and the second earphone 220 is stored (S120, No). (S130). Here, the preset sound may be a sound informing the user that at least one of the first earphone 210 and the second earphone 220 is not received.

When it is recognized that each of the first earphone 210 and the second earphone 220 is received (S120, Yes), the control unit 170 transmits the first control signal so that the first earphone 210 is turned on. 132) and transmits the second control signal to the second earphone 220 through the data terminal 132 so that the second earphone 220 is turned off (S140 ). ).

When the first earphone 210 is turned on in step S140, the controller 170 may receive sound data from the first earphone 210 through the data terminal. Here, the acoustic data may be data received by the first earphone 210 from the external terminal through the wireless communication unit.

The above-described steps in FIG. 5 may be changed in order as necessary, and at least one or more steps may be omitted or added. In addition, the above-described steps are only embodiments of the present disclosure, and the scope of rights of the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

Descriptions of the presented embodiments are provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present disclosure. Various modifications to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art of the present disclosure, and the general principles defined herein can be applied to other embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure should not be limited to the embodiments presented herein, but should be interpreted in the broadest scope consistent with the principles and novel features presented herein.

Claims (1)

As an earphone charging case,
A lower cover including each of a first storage space accommodating the first earphones and a second storage space accommodating the second earphones;
An upper cover fixed to the lower cover and hinged to be opened and closed;
A charging terminal provided in each of the first storage space and the second storage space; And
A power supply unit supplying power to each of the first earphone and the second earphone through the charging terminal;
Containing,
Earphone charging case.

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