Headset wireless charging dock

• US 9,653,940 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2015
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc. (Turtle Beach Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc. (Turtle Beach Corporation)
• Inventors: Schoene, Thomas Michael, Cochran, Scot Robert, Bourne, Nicholas Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US14/728,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20160359355A1
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 320108, 307104, 455573
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/00 Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00714 in response to battery charging or discharging current
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1008 Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type
• 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 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0235 where the received signal is a power saving command
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and system for a headset wireless charging dock, where the charging dock comprises a radio frequency (RF) radio, a charging induction coil, and a proximity sensor. The method may comprise sensing a presence of a headset using the proximity sensor, wirelessly charging a battery in the headset utilizing the charging induction coil, and wirelessly communicating commands, using the RF radio, to the headset to power down at least a portion of circuitry in the headset. The command may be communicated to the headset utilizing a protocol and a RF radio used by the headset to receive audio signals. The command communicated to the headset may power down audio processing circuitry in the headset. The charging induction coil may be inductively coupled to a coil in the headset to wirelessly charge the battery in the headset. The proximity sensor may comprise a Hall sensor.

Claims

1. A system for headset charging, the system comprising:

a charging dock comprising a radio frequency (RF) radio, a charging induction coil, and a proximity sensor, said charging dock being operable to;

sense a presence of a headset using the proximity sensor;

wirelessly charge a battery in the headset utilizing the charging induction coil; and

wirelessly communicate a command, using the RF radio, to the headset to power down at least a portion of circuitry in the headset.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the charging dock is operable to communicate the command to the headset utilizing a protocol used by the headset to receive audio signals.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the charging dock is operable to communicate the command to a RF radio in the headset that is used to receive audio signals.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the command communicated to the headset powers down audio processing circuitry in the headset.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the charging induction coil is inductively coupled to a coil in the headset to wirelessly charge the battery in the headset.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor comprises a Hall sensor.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the charging dock is operable to communicate a power down command to the headset when the charging dock senses the battery in the headset is fully charged.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the charging dock is operable to sense the battery in the headset is fully charged by a measurement of current in the charging induction coil.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the charging dock is operable to sense the battery in the headset is fully charged by receiving a charging complete message from the headset.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the headset comprises a gaming headset.

11. A method for charging a headset, the method comprising:

in a charging dock comprising a radio frequency (RF) radio, a charging induction coil, and a proximity sensor;

sensing a presence of a headset using the proximity sensor;

wirelessly charging a battery in the headset utilizing the charging induction coil; and

wirelessly communicating a command, using the RF radio, to the headset to power down at least a portion of circuitry in the headset.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising communicating the command to the headset utilizing a protocol used by the headset to receive audio signals.

13. The method of claim 11, comprising communicating the command to a RF radio in the headset that is used to receive audio signals.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the command communicated to the headset powers down audio processing circuitry in the headset.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the charging induction coil is inductively coupled to a coil in the headset to wirelessly charge the battery in the headset.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the proximity sensor comprises a Hall sensor.

17. The method of claim 11, comprising communicating a power down command to the headset when the charging dock senses the battery in the headset is fully charged.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising sensing the battery in the headset is fully charged by a measurement of current in the charging induction coil.

19. The method of claim 11, comprising sensing the battery in the headset is fully charged by receiving a charging complete message from the headset.

20. A system for charging a headset, the system comprising:

a charging dock comprising a radio frequency (RF) radio, a charging induction coil, and a Hall sensor, said charging dock being operable to;

sense a presence of a headset using the Hall sensor;

charge a battery in the headset by inductively coupling the charging induction coil to a coil in the headset; and

wirelessly communicate a command, using the RF radio, to the headset to power down at least a portion of circuitry in the headset.