Method and system for switched battery charging and loading in a stereo headset

• US 8,229,144 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2008
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hsu, David, Walley, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Ha Tran T
• Assistant Examiner(s): QUINTO, KEVIN V
• Application Number:
  US12/013,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20090180649A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,656 Days
• Field of Search: 381/74, 381/123, 381/124, 381/309, 381/311, 381/330, 381/384, 381/1, 381/300, 455/575.2, 455/569.1, 455571-574
• US Class Current: 381/311
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/10 Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones H04R1/28 takes precedence; stereophonic headphones H04R5/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1025 Accumulators or arrangements for charging secondary cells per se H01M10/00; charging in general H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

Methods and systems for wireless communication are disclosed and may include controlling a loading and/or a charging of a battery source in each earpiece of the wireless stereo headset. The loading control may include switching between the battery sources powering the headset. A remaining power level may be monitored for each of the battery sources. Both earpieces in the headset may be powered utilizing one or both of the battery sources. One of the earpieces in the headset may be powered utilizing one of the battery sources. A total usage time may be stored for each of the battery sources. The loading and charging of the battery sources may be controlled by equalizing the total usage time for each of the battery sources. The earpieces in the headset may be coupled via a tether line, or may be coupled wirelessly.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

in a wireless stereo headset comprising a battery source in each earpiece of said wireless stereo headset, controlling loading and/or charging of each of said battery sources of said wireless stereo headset and storing a total usage time for each of said battery sources.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising switching between said battery sources powering said wireless stereo headset for said controlling of said loading.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising monitoring a remaining power level of each of said battery sources.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising powering both of said earpieces in said wireless stereo headset utilizing both of said battery sources.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising powering one of said earpieces in said wireless stereo headset utilizing one of said battery sources.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising powering both of said earpieces in said wireless stereo headset utilizing one of said battery sources.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising controlling said loading of said battery sources by equalizing said total usage time for each of said battery source.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising controlling said charging of said battery sources by equalizing said total usage time for each of said battery source.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said earpieces in said wireless stereo headset are coupled via a tether line.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said earpieces in said wireless stereo headset are coupled wirelessly to each other.

11. A system for wireless communication, the system comprising:

one or more circuits in a wireless stereo headset, said wireless stereo headset comprising a battery source in each earpiece of said wireless stereo headset, said one or more circuits control loading and/or charging of each of said battery sources in said wireless stereo headset and stores a total usage time for each of said battery sources.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits switches between said battery sources powering said wireless stereo headset for said loading control.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits monitors a remaining power level of each of said battery sources.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits enables powering both of said earpieces in said wireless stereo headset utilizing both of said battery sources.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits enables powering one of said earpieces in said wireless stereo headset utilizing one of said battery sources.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits enables powering both of said earpieces in said wireless stereo headset utilizing one of said battery sources.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits controls said loading of said battery sources by equalizing said total usage time for each of said battery source.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits controls said charging of said battery sources by equalizing said total usage time for each of said battery source.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein said earpieces in said wireless stereo headset are coupled via a tether line.

20. The system according to claim 11, wherein said earpieces in said wireless stereo headset are coupled wirelessly to each other.

21. A system for wireless communication, comprising:

in a wireless stereo headset comprising a battery source in each earpiece of said wireless stereo headset, said wireless stereo headset comprising means for controlling loading and/or charging of each of said battery sources of said wireless stereo headset and means for storing a total usage time for each of said battery sources.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said wireless stereo headset further comprises means for controlling said loading of said battery sources by equalizing said total usage time for each of said battery source.