Wearable electronic device

• US 9,955,248 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2017
• Issued: 04/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Baek, In Ho, Lee, So Young, Jung, Ji Yeon, Han, Sang Woo, Heo, Chang Ryong, Shim, In Seok
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US15/438,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20170164092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 351121, 351158, 36167903, 381 74, 381309, 381327, 381380, 381381, 455 412
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0241 using relative motion of the body parts to change the operational status of the telephone set, e.g. switching on/off, answering incoming call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/105 Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/0335 Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests for monophonic headphones H04R1/105

Abstract

A wearable electronic device is provided. The wearable electronic device includes a first part including a first sound output module, a second part including a second sound output module, a third part disposed between the first part and the second part, a flexible first connection unit configured to connect a first end of the first part and a first end of the third part, and a flexible second connection unit configured to connect a first end of the second part and a second end of the third part.

Claims

1. An audio device comprising:

a first sound device;

a second sound device;

a housing electrically coupled with the first sound device via a first flexible connector and electrically coupled with the second sound device via a second flexible connector, the housing comprising an input module to receive a user input or a sound from outside of the audio device;

a sensor to obtain information related to the first sound device or the second sound device; and

a processor adapted to;

determine that the first sound device is attached to the second sound device based at least in part on the information; and

deactivate the input module based at least in part on the determining that the first sound device is attached to the second sound device.

2. The audio device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is disposed in the first sound device or the second device and adapted to detect a magnetic field related to the first sound device or the second sound device, as at least part of the information.

3. The audio device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a hall sensor, an optical sensor, an accelerometer or any combination thereof.

4. The audio device of claim 1, wherein the housing has a length shorter than the length of the first sound device or the second sound device.

5. The audio device of claim 1, wherein the first sound device includes a first curved portion having a first curvature radius, and the second part includes a second curved portion having a second curvature radius substantially identical to the first curvature radius.

6. The audio device of claim 1, wherein the input module comprises a button, a touch key, a microphone or any combination thereof.

7. The audio device of claim 1, wherein the housing has a diameter greater than the diameter of the first flexible connector or the second flexible connector.

8. The audio device of claim 1, further comprising:

activate the input module based at least in part on a determination that the first sound device is separated from the second sound device.

9. The audio device of claim 8, wherein the processor is adapted to:

perform the activating further based at least in part on a determination that a separation between the first sound device and the second sound device is maintained during a specified time.

10. The audio device of claim 1, wherein the audio device comprises a necklace-type earphone, an electronic necklace, a smart glasses or a goggle.

11. An audio device comprising:

a first sound device;

a second sound device;

a sensor to obtain information related to the first sound device or the second sound device; and

a processor adapted to;

output, using the first sound device or the second sound device, a sound while the audio device is in a first power state;

determine that the first sound device is attached to the second sound device based at least in part on the information;

transition the audio device from the first power state to a second power state, based at least in part on the determining that the first sound device is attached to the second sound device; and

stop the outputting of the sound while the audio device is in the second power state.

12. The audio device of claim 11, wherein the sensor is disposed in the first sound device or the second device and adapted to detect a magnetic field related to the first sound device or the second sound device, as at least part of the information.

13. The audio device of claim 11, further comprising communication circuitry to establish, using the communication circuitry, a communication connection with an external electronic device, wherein the processor is adapted to:

obtain, using the communication connection, audio data corresponding to a content stored in the external electronic device or a call with respect to the external electronic device; and

perform the outputting based at least in part on the audio data.

14. The audio device of claim 13, wherein the processor is adapted to:

perform a noise cancellation with respect to a noise included in the audio data, as at least part of the outputting of the sound.

15. The audio device of claim 11, wherein a power consumption is greater when the audio device is in the first power state than when the audio device is in the second power state.

16. The audio device of claim 11, wherein the second power state comprises an inactive state, a low power state, a power-off state or any combination thereof.

17. The audio device of claim 11, further comprising a housing electrically coupled with the first sound device via a first flexible connector and electrically coupled with the second sound device via a second flexible connector, the housing comprising an input module including a button, a touch key or a microphone.

18. An audio device comprising:

communication circuitry to establish, a communication connection with an external electronic device;

a first sound device;

a second sound device;

a sensor to obtain information related to the first sound device or the second sound device; and

a processor adapted to;

determine, using the sensor, that one of the first and the second sound devices is presented at a first ear and another of the first and second sound devices is not presented at a second ear;

obtain, using the communication connection, a sound corresponding to a content stored in the external electronic device or a call with respect to the external electronic device; and

output the sound via the one of the first or second sound devices based at least in part on the determining, the outputting including refraining from outputting the sound via the other of the first and second sound devices.

19. The audio device of claim 18, wherein the processor is adapted to:

if a first audio signal corresponding to the content or the call is output via the external electronic device prior to the determining, output a second audio signal corresponding to the content or the call, as at least part of the outputting of the sound.

20. The audio device of claim 19, wherein the processor is adapted to:

perform a noise cancellation with respect to a noise included in the second audio signal, as at least part of the outputting of the second audio signal.