Wireless sound output device with charging function

A wireless sound output device includes a wireless earbud and a charging base. The wireless earbud is placed in the charging base. If a true wireless stereo Bluetooth controller of the wireless earbud detects that a mode switching circuit of the charging base is switched to a wireless Bluetooth receiver mode, an analog signal is transmitted to an audio source output hole of the charging base through an audio source analog signal output switching unit of the wireless earbud.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a wireless sound output device, and more particularly to a wireless sound output device with a charging function.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the popularization of portable electronic devices and the development of communication technology, people can browse the media resources stored in the device anytime and anywhere by using the portable electronic device, or play online audio and video data through the network connection. In order to avoid disturbing others or blocking the noise of the external environment, earbuds have become an indispensable accessory for portable electronic devices. Moreover, for making the earbuds more convenient to use and solving the problems of the wired earphones (e.g., easily entangled and damaged), many manufacturers have also begun to develop wireless earbuds with many functions. The wireless earbuds not only improve the user's operation flexibility but also allow the user to achieve a better experience when using the earbuds on different occasions.

However, the wireless earbuds still have some drawbacks. For example, since the wireless earbud is not equipped with the earbud cable, an independent power supply has to be provided in the wireless earbud to provide power for the earbud during operation. For maintaining the convenience and comfort of the wireless earbud, the wireless earbud can only use a power storage unit with less power storage amount. Since the electric quantity of the wireless earbud is insufficient after the wireless earbud has been used for a time period, the wireless earbud has to be charged frequently. In accordance with the conventional charging technology, a charging box or a charging dock is usually used to charge the wireless earbud. For charging the wireless earbud, the user has to take down the earbud and place the earbud in the charging box or the charging dock. After the charging process is completed, the earbud can be worn by the user. Since the charging process of the wireless earbud is frequently performed, the media playback experience is frequently interrupted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a wireless sound output device with a charging function. The wireless sound output device is capable of outputting sound, music or any other appropriate media source.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a wireless sound output device with a charging function is provided. The wireless sound output device includes a wireless earbud and a charging base. The wireless earbud includes a first power storage unit, a speaker unit, an audio source analog signal output switching unit, a true wireless stereo Bluetooth controller and a first connection port. The electric power for operating the wireless earbud is provided by the first power storage unit. The true wireless stereo Bluetooth controller receives a Bluetooth digital signal from a portable electronic device, converts the Bluetooth digital signal into an analog signal, and transmits the analog signal to the speaker unit through the audio source analog signal output switching unit. The wireless earbud is accommodated within the charging base. The charging base includes a mode switching circuit, a second connection port, a second power storage unit and an audio source output hole. When the second connection port is connected with the first connection port, the charging base is electrically connected with the wireless earbud. The audio source output hole is connected with a wired speaker. When the true wireless stereo Bluetooth controller detects that the mode switching circuit is switched to a wireless Bluetooth receiver mode, the first power storage unit is charged by the second power storage unit and the analog signal is transmitted from the audio source analog signal output switching unit to the audio source output hole.

Moreover, when the true wireless stereo Bluetooth controller detects that the mode switching circuit is switched to a charging mode, the second power storage unit charges the first power storage unit and the true wireless stereo Bluetooth controller stops receiving the Bluetooth digital signal.

In an embodiment, the charging base further includes a switching element. The mode switching circuit is switched to the wireless Bluetooth receiver mode or the charging mode through an operation of the switching element.

In an embodiment, the charging base further includes a charging port, and the charging port is connected with an external power source. The electric power from the external power source is transmitted to the second power storage unit through the charging port so as to charge the second power storage unit.

In an embodiment, the wired speaker is a wired earbud or a wired stereo device.

In an embodiment, the portable electronic device is a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a personal digital assistant, a smart phone or a game console.

In an embodiment, the charging base includes an accommodation structure, and the wireless earbud is accommodated within the accommodation structure.

In an embodiment, the second connection port is installed in the accommodation structure.

From the above descriptions, the present invention provides the wireless sound output device. The wireless sound output device of the present invention can receive the Bluetooth digital signal while the wireless earbud is charged by the charging base. After the received Bluetooth digital signal is converted into the analog signal, the analog signal is transmitted to the charging base and outputted from a wired earbud or a wired stereo device that is connected with the charging base. Consequently, the sound or the music can be played continuously. In such way, the process of playing the sound or the music is not paused during the frequent charging process of the wireless earbud.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Please refer toFIGS. 1 and 2.FIG. 1is a schematic perspective view illustrating a wireless sound output device according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2is a schematic system block diagram illustrating the wireless sound output device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 1, the wireless sound output device1comprises a pair of wireless earbuds10and a charging base20. An example of the charging base20includes but is not limited to a charging box or a charging dock. Each wireless earbud10comprises a first connection port15. The first connection port15has plural first metal contacts151,152,153and154. The charging base20comprises an accommodation structure201for accommodating the wireless earbuds10. The inner portion of the accommodation structure201has two second connection ports24corresponding to the first connection ports15. Each second connection port24has plural second metal contacts241,242,243and244corresponding to the first metal contacts151,152,153and154. Moreover, the surface of a housing of the charging base20is equipped with a switching element22, an audio source output hole25and a charging port26. In this embodiment, the switching element22is installed in a slot202of the charging base20. The top side of the slot202is marked with English texts (e.g., “on” and “off”) in order to prompt the user of the current operation status of the switching element22. The audio source output hole25and the charging port26are located under the switching element22sequentially. In some embodiments, the appearance of the charging base20is specially designed to have a portable type (e.g., a square portable type or a circular neck-hanging type).

As shown inFIG. 2, the wireless earbud10comprises a true wireless stereo (TWS) Bluetooth controller11, an audio source analog signal output switching unit12, a speaker unit13, a first power storage unit14and the first connection port15. The true wireless stereo Bluetooth controller11is electrically connected with the audio analog signal output switching unit12and the first power storage unit14. The audio source analog signal output switching unit12is connected with the speaker unit13through a first audio source line P0. The first power storage unit14is connected with the first metal contacts151and152of the first connection port15through a power transfer line C1. The first metal contact151is a supply terminal (VCC). The first metal contact152is a ground terminal (GND). The true wireless stereo Bluetooth controller11is connected with the first metal contact153of the first connection port15through a detection line D1. The audio source analog signal output switching unit12is connected with the first metal contact154of the first connection port15through a second audio source line P1.

The charging base20comprises a mode switching circuit21, the switching element22, a second power storage unit23, the second connection port24, the audio source output hole25and the charging port26. The mode switching circuit21is electrically connected with the switching element22. The second power storage unit23is electrically connected with the charging port26. The charging port26can be connected with an external power source (e.g., a utility power source or any other appropriate power bank). Consequently, the electric power from the external source can be transmitted to the second power storage unit23through the charging port26in order to charge the second power storage unit23. The second power storage unit23is connected with the second metal contacts241and242of the second connection port24through a power transfer line C2. The second metal contact241is a supply terminal (VCC). The second metal contact242is a ground terminal (GND). The mode switching circuit21is connected with the second metal contact243of the second connection port24through a detection line D2. The audio source output hole25is connected with the second metal contact244of the audio source output hole25through a second audio source line P2.

Please refer toFIG. 2again. When the wireless earbud10is in a normal working state, the wireless earbud10is not disposed within the accommodation structure201of the charging base20to be charged. Meanwhile, the true wireless stereo Bluetooth controller11can receive a Bluetooth digital signal from a portable electronic device such as a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a personal digital assistant, a smart phone or a game console. Then, the true wireless stereo Bluetooth controller11converts the Bluetooth digital signal into an analog signal AS and transmits the analog signal AS to the audio analog signal output switching unit12. Then, the analog signal AS is transmitted from the audio analog signal output switching unit12to the speaker unit13through the first audio source line P0. Consequently, the analog signal AS is outputted from the speaker unit13in a form of sound or music.

When the wireless earbud10is disposed within the accommodation structure201of the charging base20to be charged (seeFIG. 1), the first connection port15of the wireless earbud10is coupled with the second connection port24of the charging base20. Since the first metal contacts151,152,153and154are respectively contacted with the second metal contacts241,242,243and244, the charging base20and the wireless earbud10are electrically connected with each other.

If the switching element22is moved to the right side (i.e., the prompt status is “off”), the mode switching circuit21is switched to a charging mode. In the charging mode, a mode switch/GPIO circuit (not shown) of the mode switching circuit21issues a low level signal. The true wireless stereo Bluetooth controller11detects the low level signal from the mode switching circuit21through the detection lines D1and D2. In response to the low level signal, the true wireless stereo Bluetooth controller11stops receiving the Bluetooth digital signal from the portable electronic device. Moreover, the second power storage unit23charges the first power storage unit14through the power transfer lines C1and C2.

Whereas, if the switching element22is moved to the left side (i.e., the prompt status is “on”), the mode switching circuit21is switched to a wireless Bluetooth receiver mode. In the charging mode, the mode switch/GPIO circuit (not shown) of the mode switching circuit21issues a high level signal. The true wireless stereo Bluetooth controller11detects the high level signal from the mode switching circuit21through the detection lines D1and D2. In response to the high level signal, the true wireless stereo Bluetooth controller11continuously receives the Bluetooth digital signal from the portable electronic device. At the same time, the audio analog signal output switching unit12switches the signal transfer path. That is, the analog signal AS is transmitted from the audio analog signal output switching unit12to the audio source output hole25through the second audio source lines P1and P2. Consequently, a media signal (e.g., sound or music) is outputted from a wired speaker (not shown) that is connected with the audio source output hole25. Moreover, the second power storage unit23continuously charges the first power storage unit14through the power transfer lines C1and C2.

Please refer toFIGS. 3A and 3B.FIGS. 3A and 3Bschematically illustrate two usage scenarios of the wireless sound output device according to the embodiment of the present invention. When the wireless earbud10is disposed within the accommodation structure201of the charging base20and the switching element22is moved to the left side (i.e., the prompt status is “on”), the wireless earbud10continuously receives the Bluetooth digital signal from the portable electronic device9. For example, the portable electronic device9is a smart phone. After the received Bluetooth digital signal is converted into the analog signal, the analog signal is transmitted to the audio source output hole25of the charging base20. As shown inFIG. 3A, an input terminal of a wired earbud EH is connected with the audio source output hole25. As shown inFIG. 3B, an input terminal of a wired stereo device SD is connected with the audio source output hole25. Consequently, a media signal (e.g., sound or music) can be outputted from the wired earbud EH or the wired stereo device SD according to the usage scenario.

From the above descriptions, the present invention provides the wireless sound output device. The wireless sound output device of the present invention can receive the Bluetooth digital signal while the wireless earbud is charged by the charging base. After the received Bluetooth digital signal is converted into the analog signal, the analog signal is transmitted to the charging base and outputted from a wired earbud or a wired stereo device that is connected with the charging base. Consequently, the sound or the music can be played continuously. In such way, the process of playing the sound or the music is not paused during the frequent charging process of the wireless earbud. In other words, the technologies of the present invention are industrially valuable.