Control of audio output state based on wireless charging

• US 8,559,659 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2011
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Chu, Inchang, Lee, Jaesung
• Primary Examiner(s): Ensey, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yu, Norman
• Application Number:
  US13/250,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20120294463A1
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 379/413, 379/433.08, 381/150, 381/365, 381/375, 381/388, 455572-574, 320/114
• US Class Current: 381/150
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use

Abstract

According to the present disclosure, there is provided a wireless power receiver configured to provide a continuous phone call environment or content reproduction environment while at the same time conveniently performing wireless charging during the phone call or content reproduction by controlling to activate the operation of an audio output module provided in a wireless power receiver and change an output path of the audio signal when the wireless power receiver is detected. To this end, a wireless power receiver according to an embodiment disclosed herein can include an audio output module; a power receiving unit configured to receive a wireless power signal; and a control unit configured to detect a wireless power transmitter located in a charging region associated with the wireless power signal using the wireless power signal, and activate the operation of the audio output module when the wireless power transmitter is detected.

Claims

1. A wireless power receiver, comprising:

a first audio output module;

a power receiving unit configured to receive a wireless power signal; and

a control unit configured to detect a wireless power transmitter located in a charging region associated with the wireless power signal using the wireless power signal, and change the operation of the first audio output module from a deactivated state to an activated state when the wireless power transmitter is detected,

wherein the control unit is further configured to change an operation of the first audio output module from a deactivated state to an activated state before connection or contact between the wireless power receiver and the wireless power transmitter.

2. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, further comprising:

a second audio output module,

wherein the control unit changes the operation of the second audio output module from an activated state to a deactivated state when the operation of the first audio output module is activated.

3. The wireless power receiver of claim 2, wherein the first audio output module is a speakerphone speaker, and

wherein the second audio output module is a handset speaker or a headphone speaker.

4. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the control unit switches the operation mode of the wireless power receiver from a handset mode to a speakerphone mode when the wireless power transmitter is detected.

5. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, further comprising:

an interface unit configured to transmit an audio signal to an audio output device connected thereto,

wherein the control unit suspends a transmission of the audio signal when the operation of the first audio output module is activated.

6. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the control unit deactivates the operation of the first audio output module when the wireless power transmitter is not detected.

7. The wireless power receiver of claim 6, wherein the control unit switches the operation mode of the wireless power receiver from a speakerphone mode to a handset mode when the wireless power transmitter is not detected.

8. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the power receiving unit detects the wireless power transmitter based on a strength of the wireless power signal.

9. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the power receiving unit receives power in a wireless manner from the wireless power transmitter when the wireless power transmitter is detected.

10. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, further comprising:

a display unit configured to output a menu for activating the operation of the first audio output module; and

an input unit configured to receive an input for selecting a menu to activate the operation of the first audio output module,

wherein the control unit activates the operation of the first audio output module upon receiving the input.

11. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, further comprising:

an output configured to output an indicator indicating an active state of the operation of the first audio output module.

12. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to ignore a signal to change the operation of the first audio output module when the first audio output module is in an activated state.

13. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to change the operation of the first audio output module before the wireless power transmitter is capable of transmitting power.

14. The wireless power receiver of claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to ignore detection of a wireless power transmitter when the first audio output is activated.

15. A wireless charging apparatus, comprising:

a wireless power transmitter configured to transmit a wireless power signal, the wireless power signal forming a charging region; and

a wireless power receiver having a first audio output module and a second audio output module, the wireless power receiver configured to receive wireless power signal from the wireless power transmitter and perform a charging operation according to the received wireless power signal,

wherein the wireless power transmitter is further configured to detect the wireless power receiver located in the charging region and output a first control signal for changing an audio output path to the wireless power receiver, the first control signal being included in the wireless power signal, and

wherein the wireless power receiver is further configured to change the audio output path from the second audio output module to the first audio output module based on the received first control signal,

wherein the wireless power transmitter is further configured to output a second control signal for changing an audio output path to the wireless power receiver when the wireless power transmitter is not detected, the second control si˜

,nal bein˜

included in the wireless power signal, and

wherein the wireless power receiver is further configured to change the audio output path from the first audio output module to the second audio output module based on the received second control signal.

16. The wireless charging apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first audio output module is a speakerphone speaker, and

wherein the second audio output module is a handset speaker or a headphone speaker.

17. The wireless charging apparatus of claim 15, wherein the wireless power receiver switches the operation mode of the wireless power receiver from a handset mode to a speakerphone mode according to the first control signal.

18. The wireless charging apparatus of claim 15, wherein the wireless power receiver comprises:

a control unit configured to control changing the audio output path of the wireless power transmitter based on the control signal included in the received wireless power signal; and

an interface unit configured to transmit an audio signal to an audio output device connected thereto,

wherein the control unit is further configured to;

decode the received wireless power signal and check whether the operation of the first audio output module is in active state according to the control included in the received wireless power signal; and

activate the operation of the first audio output module when the first audio output module is not in an active state and deactivate the operation of the second audio output module.

19. The wireless charging apparatus of claim 18, wherein the wireless power receiver further comprises:

a display unit configured to output a menu for activating the operation of the first audio output module; and

an input unit configured to receive an input for selecting a menu to activate the operation of the first audio output module,

wherein the control unit activates the operation of the first audio output module upon receiving the input.

20. The wireless charging apparatus of claim 18, wherein the wireless power receiver further comprises an output configured to output an indicator indicating an active state of the operation of the first audio output module.

21. The wireless charging apparatus of claim 18, wherein the control unit is configured to ignore a signal to change the operation of the first audio output module when the first audio output module is in an activated state.