Patent Publication Number: US-2007105599-A1

Title: Assembly of a wireless earphone device and a charging base

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The invention relates to an assembly of a wireless earphone device and a charging base, more particularly to an assembly of a wireless earphone device and a charging base that is capable of audibly reproducing incoming audio signals intended for the earphone device when the latter is in a charging mode.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      With the improvement and stability of wireless communications techniques and quality, wireless earphones for use in conjunction with consumer electronic products, such as cellular phones and stereo systems, have found widespread applications. Examples are Bluetooth earphones, infrared earphones, etc.  
      Wireless earphones are generally powered by rechargeable batteries. When recharging is desired, the rechargeable batteries are recharged by a charging current through connection with a transformer or a USB cable, or through a battery charger. However, the wireless earphones are not available for use during the charging process, which can result in inconvenience to the user.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an assembly of a wireless earphone device and a charging base that has a sound source module to audibly reproduce incoming audio signals intended for the wireless earphone device when the latter is in a charging mode.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide an assembly of a wireless earphone device and a charging base that can charge the wireless earphone device through a battery unit.  
      Still another object of the present invention is to provide an assembly of a wireless earphone device and a charging base that has an audio recording and playback function.  
      Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an assembly of a wireless earphone device and a charging base that has a digital playback function.  
      Accordingly, an assembly of this invention includes a wireless earphone device and a charging base. The wireless earphone device includes a controller, a wireless transceiver unit coupled electrically to the controller, an earphone speaker coupled electrically to the controller for reproducing incoming signals, an earphone microphone coupled electrically to the controller for picking up outgoing signals, a rechargeable power supplying unit coupled electrically to the controller, and an earphone connector port coupled electrically to the controller and the rechargeable power supplying unit. The charging base includes a power supplying module, a sound source module, and a base connector port coupled electrically to the power supplying module and the sound source module. The wireless earphone device operates in a charging mode in response to connection of the earphone connector port to the base connector port, in which the rechargeable power supplying unit is charged by the power supplying module through the earphone and base connector ports, and in which the controller directs the incoming signals intended for the earphone speaker to the sound source module through the earphone and base connector ports so as to be audibly reproduced by the sound source module.  
      According to a second aspect of the present invention, a charging base for a wireless earphone device includes: a power supplying module; a sound source module; and a base connector port coupled electrically to the power supplying module and the sound source module and adapted to be connected electrically to the wireless earphone device so as to enable the power supplying module to supply a charging signal to the wireless earphone device and so as to enable the sound source module to audibly reproduce incoming signals received from the wireless earphone device. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of the first preferred embodiment of an assembly of a wireless earphone device and a charging base according to this invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment;  
       FIG. 3  is a circuit diagram of a power supplying module of the first preferred embodiment;  
       FIG. 4  is a circuit diagram of a sound source module of the first preferred embodiment;  
       FIG. 5  is a schematic block diagram of the audio recording module of the first preferred embodiment; and  
       FIG. 6  is a schematic block diagram of a charging base of the second preferred embodiment according to this invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first preferred embodiment of an assembly according to the present invention is shown to include a wireless earphone device  1  and a charging base  2 .  
      The wireless earphone device  1  in this embodiment is a high-frequency wireless earphone, such as a Bluetooth wireless earphone. The wireless earphone device  1  includes a controller  11 , a wireless transceiver unit  12  coupled electrically to the controller  11  for transmitting and receiving wireless signals, an earphone speaker  13  coupled electrically to the controller  11  for audibly reproducing incoming signals, an earphone microphone  14  coupled electrically to the controller  11  for picking up outgoing signals, a rechargeable power supplying unit  15  for supplying electric power to the controller  11 , the wireless transceiver unit  12 , the earphone speaker  13 , and the earphone microphone  14 , and an earphone connector port  16  coupled electrically to the controller  11  and the rechargeable power supplying unit  15 .  
      Specifically, when the wireless transceiver unit  12  receives an incoming audio signal in the form of a wireless signal, the wireless transceiver unit  12  converts the same to an electric signal for transmission to the controller  11 . The controller  11  then converts the incoming audio signal into analog form, and transmits the same to the earphone speaker  13 . When the user speaks, the earphone microphone  14  converts the sounds picked up thereby to an outgoing audio signal in the form of an electric signal, and transmits the same to the controller  11 . The controller  11  then digitizes the outgoing audio signal for transmission to the wireless transceiver unit  12  so as to convert the outgoing audio signal, which is in the form of a digitized electric signal, to a wireless signal for subsequent transmission.  
      The charging base  2  in this embodiment includes a power supplying module  21 , a sound source module  22 , and a base connector port  23  coupled electrically to the power supplying module  21  and the sound source module  22 .  
      The wireless earphone device  1  operates in a charging mode in response to connection of the earphone connector port  16  to the base connector port  23 , in which the rechargeable power supplying unit  15  is charged by the power supplying module  21  through the earphone and base connector ports  16 ,  23 , and in which the controller  11  directs the incoming signals intended for the earphone speaker  13  to the sound source module  22  through the earphone and base connector ports  16 ,  23  so as to be audibly reproduced by the sound source module  22 .  
      Since the earphone connector port  16  is coupled electrically to the controller  11  and the rechargeable power supplying unit  15 , external charging power can be transmitted to the rechargeable power supplying unit  15  via the earphone connector port  16  so that the rechargeable power supplying unit  15  can use the charging power for charging and for supplying the wireless earphone device  1  with the necessary power (e.g., the power required by the controller  11  and the wireless transceiver unit  12 ) to ensure continued operation of the wireless earphone device  1  in the charging mode. The controller  11  can selectively transmit the incoming audio signals to the earphone connector port  16  or the earphone speaker  13  for playback, and can selectively receive the outgoing audio signals from the earphone connector port  16  or the earphone microphone  14 . In this embodiment, when the earphone connector port  16  of the wireless earphone device  1  is coupled electrically to the charging base  2 , i.e., the wireless earphone device  1  operates in the charging mode, the controller  11  is set to transmit and receive incoming and outgoing audio signals to and from the earphone connector port  16 .  
      In this embodiment, the base connector port  23  and the earphone connector port  16  are 10-pin electrical connectors. However, the base connector port  23  and the earphone connector port  16  may be electrical connectors with a different number of pins, and should not be limited to that which is disclosed herein.  
      The power supplying module  21  supplies the charging base  2  with the necessary power, and generates a charging signal required for charging the wireless earphone device  1 . Specifically, referring to  FIG. 3 , the power supplying module  21  of this embodiment has a charging port  211  adapted to be connected to an external power source (such as a 6V direct current source), and includes a replaceable battery unit  212 . Referring back to  FIG. 2 , the power supplying module  21  may be connected to one end  30  of a power cable  3  through the charging port  211 . The other end  31  of the power cable  3  is terminated by a USB connector for connection to a USB interface of an electronic device (not shown) such that the power supplying module  21  can utilize the power of the electronic device. The power supplying module  21  converts the power coming from the external power source or the replaceable battery unit  212  into power required by the wireless charging base  2 , and generates the charging signal of 10V, for instance, for the wireless earphone device  1 . Two ends of the replaceable battery unit  212  are connected electrically to Pin  5  and Pin  6  of the base connector port  23  so as to output the charging signal through Pin  5  and Pin  6 . Certainly, Pin  5  and Pin  6  of the earphone connector port  16  are also connected electrically to the rechargeable power supplying unit  15 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 4 , the sound source module  22  in this embodiment includes an audio reproducing circuit  221  having a speaker  222 . Pin  3  and Pin  4  (not shown) of the earphone connector port  16  are connected electrically to the controller  11  such that the controller  11  is able to direct the incoming audio signals to the sound source module  22  when the wireless earphone device  1  operates in the charging mode. The audio reproducing circuit  221  is connected to Pin  3  and Pin  4  of the base connector port  23 . The audio reproducing circuit  221  receives the incoming audio signals from the wireless earphone device  1 , and transmits the processed audio signals to the speaker  222  for playback. Furthermore, Pin  1  and Pin  2  (not shown) of the earphone connector port  16  are connected electrically to the controller  11  such that the controller  11  is able to receive outgoing audio signals from the charging base  2  when the wireless earphone device  1  operates in the charging mode. The sound source module  22  further includes a base microphone  223  connected electrically to Pin  1  and Pin  2  of the base connector port  23 . The base microphone  223  picks up the user&#39;s voice that serves as the outgoing audio signals directed to the controller  11  through the earphone and base connector ports  16 ,  23  when the wireless earphone device  1  is operated in the charging mode.  
      When the earphone connector port  16  of the wireless earphone device  1  is connected electrically to the base connector port  23  of the charging base  2 , the charging signal generated by the power supplying module  21  can be transmitted to the rechargeable power supplying unit  15  of the wireless earphone device  1  through Pin  5  and Pin  6  of the base connector port  23  for charging the wireless earphone device  1 . At the same time, the controller  11  of the wireless earphone device  1  can transmit the incoming audio signal received by the wireless transceiver unit  12  to the audio reproducing circuit  221  through Pins  3  and Pins  4  of the earphone and base connector ports  16 ,  23  to be played back by the speaker  222 . The outgoing audio signal picked up by the base microphone  223  is transmitted to the controller  11  through Pin  1  and Pin  2  of the earphone and base connector ports  16 ,  23  to enable the controller  11  to transmit the outgoing audio signal to the wireless transceiver unit  12  for conversion to a wireless signal for subsequent output.  
      Thus, even if the wireless earphone device  1  is in the charging mode, playback or picking up of audio signals can still proceed using the charging base  2 , thereby eliminating the prior art drawback of having to discontinue use of the wireless earphone device  1  during charging. Moreover, the user can utilize the charging base  2  as a speaker or pick-up device for the wireless earphone device  1 , thereby avoiding any discomfort caused by prolonged wearing of the wireless earphone device  1 , as well as possible adverse effects on the user&#39;s auditory organs.  
      The first preferred embodiment further has a recording and playback function. Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the charging base  2  further includes a user input unit  24 , an audio recording module  25  coupled electrically to the user input unit  24 , and a memory unit  26  coupled electrically to the audio recording module  25  and adapted to store data for subsequent access by the audio recording module  25 . The memory unit  26  in this embodiment is a flash memory.  
      As best shown in  FIG. 4 , the sound source module  22  further includes a recording microphone  225  and a microphone coupling circuit  224  that interconnects the recording microphone  225  and the audio recording module  25  such that audio signals picked up by the recording microphone  225  can be fed into the audio recording module  25  through the microphone coupling circuit  224 . The audio reproducing circuit  221  of the sound source module  22  is also coupled to the audio recording module  25 .  
      The audio recording module  25  is operable in a recording mode in response to user operation of the user input unit  24  for recording the audio signals picked up by the recording microphone  225  in the memory unit  26 . The audio recording module  25  is further operable in a playback mode in response to user operation of the user input unit  24  so as to enable the audio reproducing circuit  221  to audibly reproduce the audio signals recorded in the memory unit  26  through the speaker  222 .  
      Preferably, the user input unit  24  includes RECORD, PLAY and STOP pushbuttons (not shown). When the RECORD pushbutton is pressed, a record command is inputted into the audio recording module  25  to place the audio recording module  25  in the recording mode. When the PLAY pushbutton is pressed, a play command is inputted into the audio recording module  25  to place the audio recording module  25  in the playback mode. When the STOP pushbutton is pressed, a stop command is inputted into the audio recording module  25  to stop operation of the audio recording module  25 .  
      The audio recording module  25  is a chip having an audio signal processing function, such as SPCE061A. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the audio recording module  25  primarily includes a microprocessor  251 , an analog-to-digital converter (ADC)  252  connected electrically to the microphone coupling circuit  224 , and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC)  253  connected electrically to the audio reproducing circuit  221 .  
      When the audio recording module  25  receives a record command from the user input unit  24 , the recording microphone  225  is able to pick up surrounding sound as audio signals, which are fed into the analog-to-digital converter  252  through the microphone coupling circuit  224 . The analog-to-digital converter  252  digitizes the audio signals for transmission to the microprocessor  251 . The microprocessor  251  converts the audio signals to sound data for storage in the memory unit  26  to perform a recording operation. If a play command is received, the microprocessor  251  of the audio recording module  25  retrieves the data stored in the memory unit  26 , and converts the data to audio signals for transmission to the digital-to-analog converter  253 . The digital-to-analog converter  253  converts the audio signals into analog form, and transmits the analog signals to the audio reproducing circuit  221 , which transmits the signals to the speaker  222  to play back the retrieved data. The audio recording module  25  will stop operation whenever a stop command is received during the process of a recording or playback operation. The charging base  2  of the first preferred embodiment has a dual function of recording and reproducing sounds.  
      The charging base  2  of this invention may incorporate other functions, such as a digital music playback function, and should not be limited to that which is disclosed hereinabove. Referring to  FIG. 6 , in the second preferred embodiment of this invention, the charging base  2 ′ includes a digital playback module  25 ′, instead of the audio recording module  25 . The digital playback module  25 ′ is coupled electrically to the user input unit  24 ′, the audio reproducing circuit  221  (see  FIG. 4 ) of the sound source module  22 ′, and the memory unit  26 ′. The memory unit  26 ′ stores a plurality of audio files, such as MP3 music files. In this embodiment, the digital playback module  25 ′ includes a digital music codec device  251 ′ for encoding and decoding audio files such as MP3 music files, and a digital-to-analog converter  252 ′. When the digital playback module  25 ′ receives a play command inputted by the user through the user input unit  24 ′, the digital music codec  251 ′ retrieves the audio files from the memory unit  26 ′ for decoding, and then transmits the decoded audio files to the digital-to-analog converter  252 ′, which converts the audio files into analog form for subsequent transmission to the sound source module  22 ′ for playback. Thus, the user can also utilize the charging base  2 ′ of the second preferred embodiment as a digital music player.  
      In sum, not only can the charging base  2 ,  2 ′ of this invention be used to charge the wireless earphone device  1 , it can also be used to audibly reproduce incoming audio signals intended for the wireless earphone device  1  and to pick up outgoing audio signals for transmission to the wireless earphone device  1  when the wireless earphone device  1  is operated in the charging mode. Besides, the charging base  2 ,  2 ′ can serve as a playback and recording medium for the wireless earphone device  1  to eliminate user discomfort due to prolonged wearing of the wireless earphone device  1 . In addition, the arrangement of a replaceable battery unit  212  allows for charging of the wireless earphone device  1  in an outdoor environment where an external power source is not readily available. Furthermore, the charging base  2 ,  2 ′ is provided with an audio recording module  25  or a digital playback module  25 ′ to enhance the functionality thereof. 
          While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.