Smart case power utilization control system and method

• US 9,800,966 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2016
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Original Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Inventors: Hirsch, Eric Christian, Knothe, Marius, Boesen, Peter Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Bernardi, Brenda
• Application Number:
  US15/245,036
• Publication Number:
  US 20170064429A1
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3866 carried on the head
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• 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 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/03 Aspects of the reduction of energy consumption in hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/028 switching on or off only a part of the equipment circuit blocks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system, method, and smart case for managing wireless earpieces. The wireless earpieces are detected proximate the smart case. The power utilized by the wireless earpieces is lowered in response to detecting the wireless earpieces proximate the smart case. The wireless earpieces are charged utilizing a battery of the smart case in response to determining the wireless earpieces require charging.

Claims

1. A method for managing wireless earpieces utilizing a smart case, comprising:

detecting the wireless earpieces proximate the smart case, the smart case comprising a frame securing the wireless earpieces, a logic engine controlling the functionality of the smart case, a first interface electrically interfacing the wireless earpieces with the smart case, a battery charging the wireless earpieces in response to contact with the first interface, and a second interface charging the battery;

lowering power utilized by the wireless earpieces for a low power mode in response to detecting the wireless earpieces proximate the smart case; and

charging the wireless earpieces utilizing the battery of the smart case in response to determining the wireless earpieces require charging.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the smart case includes a display for displaying information corresponding to the smart case and the wireless earpieces.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the information includes at least a battery status of the smart case and the wireless earpieces.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless earpieces are charged and synchronize data in the low power mode.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the smart case entering a low power mode in response to not detecting the wireless earpieces proximate the smart case.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the charging is performed utilizing inductive charging.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting further comprises:

sensing an electrical interface between the wireless earpieces and the smart case.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing at least a visual indicator in response to the battery of the smart case dropping below a minimum threshold value.

2. A method for managing wireless earpieces utilizing a smart case, comprising:

detecting the wireless earpieces proximate the smart case;

lowering power utilized by the wireless earpieces for a low power mode in response to detecting the wireless earpieces proximate the smart case;

charging the wireless earpieces utilizing the battery of the smart case in response to determining the wireless earpieces require charging; and

recharging the wireless earpieces in response to the wireless earpieces remaining in the smart case for a threshold time period to condition and manage battery life of the batteries of the wireless earpieces.

6. A method for managing wireless earpieces utilizing a smart case, comprising:

detecting the wireless earpieces proximate the smart case;

lowering power utilized by the wireless earpieces for a low power mode in response to detecting the wireless earpieces proximate the smart case;

charging the wireless earpieces utilizing the battery of the smart case in response to determining the wireless earpieces require charging; and

downloading data gathered by sensors of the wireless earpieces for storage in a memory of the smart case.

8. A method for managing wireless earpieces utilizing a smart case, comprising:

detecting the wireless earpieces proximate the smart case;

lowering power utilized by the wireless earpieces for a low power mode in response to detecting the wireless earpieces proximate the smart case;

charging the wireless earpieces utilizing the battery of the smart case in response to determining the wireless earpieces require charging; and

synchronizing data gathered by the wireless earpieces with a memory of the smart case.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

communicating the data gathered by the wireless earpieces from the smart case to an external device in response to connecting the external device to the smart case.

11. A method for managing wireless earpieces utilizing a smart case, comprising:

detecting the wireless earpieces proximate the smart case;

lowering power utilized by the wireless earpieces for a low power mode in response to detecting the wireless earpieces proximate the smart case; and

charging the wireless earpieces utilizing the battery of the smart case in response to determining the wireless earpieces require charging;

wherein the detecting is performed by a near field communication between the smart case and the wireless earpieces.

13. A method for managing wireless earpieces utilizing a smart case, comprising:

detecting the wireless earpieces proximate the smart case;

lowering power utilized by the wireless earpieces for a low power mode in response to detecting the wireless earpieces proximate the smart case; and

charging the wireless earpieces utilizing the battery of the smart case in response to determining the wireless earpieces require charging;

wherein the charging further comprises;

charging the wireless earpieces to a threshold level.

15. A method for managing wireless earpieces utilizing a smart case, comprising:

detecting the wireless earpieces proximate the smart case;

lowering power utilized by the wireless earpieces for a low power mode in response to detecting the wireless earpieces proximate the smart case; and

charging the wireless earpieces utilizing the battery of the smart case in response to determining the wireless earpieces require charging; and

modifying the performance of the wireless earpieces utilizing the smart case.

16. A smart case for wireless earpieces, comprising:

a frame securing the wireless earpieces;

a logic engine controlling the functionality of the smart case;

a first interface electrically interfacing the wireless earpieces with the smart case;

a battery controlled by the logic engine charging the wireless earpieces in response to contact with the first interface; and

a second interface charging the battery, wherein the logic engine commands the wireless earpieces to enter a low power mode in response to the wireless earpieces contacting the first interface.

17. The smart case of claim 16, further comprising:

a transceiver communicating with the wireless earpieces.

18. The smart case of claim 16, wherein the smart case includes a display for displaying information corresponding to the smart case and the wireless earpieces, wherein the information includes at least a battery status of the smart case and the wireless earpieces.

19. The smart case of claim 16, wherein the second interface is an inductive charger.