Earbud case with wireless radio shutdown feature

• US 9,961,431 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2016
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: McPeak, James L., Chandramohan, Chandrahas Aralaguppe, Watson, Robert Doran, Panecki, Lee M., Yang, Shannon X., Rich, Zachary C.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, THANG V
• Application Number:
  US15/273,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20170094395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/00 Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/24 Etuis for purposes not covered by a single one of groups A45C11/02 - A45C11/22, A45C11/26, A45C11/32 - A45C11/38
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/005 Hinges
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/02 Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/1069 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/001 for portable audio devices, e.g. headphones or MP3-players
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2013/026 Inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/02 Internal fittings of containers made by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/44
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/16 hinged for upward or downward movement cigar or cigarette receptacles A24F15/00; suitcases, ètuis A45C; casings for cosmetic substances with hinged covers A45D40/22; toolboxes B25H3/02; hinges of door or similar type E05D ; boxes for switchboards with hinged covers H02B1/066
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/83 Use of a magnetic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/521 Sealing between contact members and housing, e.g. sealing insert
• 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 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• 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 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6033 for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets arrangements for preventing acoustic echo H04M9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/02 Casings; Cabinets ; Supports therefor; Mountings therein H04R1/28 takes precedence ; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-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 1/1058 : Manufacture or assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1075 : Mountings of transducers in earphones or headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/2826 : for loudspeaker transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/2857 : for loudspeaker transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/345 : for loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/105 : Manufacture of mono- or stereophonic headphone components
• 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: H04R 2460/09 : Non-occlusive ear tips, i.e. leaving the ear canal open, for both custom and non-custom tips H04R2460/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/17 : Hearing device specific tools used for storing or handling hearing devices or parts thereof, e.g. placement in the ear, replacement of cerumen barriers, repair, cleaning hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 : Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/025 : Magnetic circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/06 : Loudspeakers

Abstract

A case for a portable listening device includes a lid and a lid sensor to detect if the lid is in an open or a closed position. The case further includes circuitry configured to turn on a wireless radio within the portable listening device when the lid sensor detects the lid is moved from the closed position to the open position.

Claims

1. A case for an electronic device having a wireless radio, the case comprising:

a housing having a cavity configured to receive the electronic device;

a lid attached to the housing and operable between a closed position where the lid covers the cavity and an open position where the lid is displaced from the cavity; and

circuitry configured to detect (1) when the lid is moved from the closed position to the open position and in response turn ON the wireless radio and (2) when the lid is moved from the open position to the closed position and in response turn off the wireless radio.

2. The case of claim 1 wherein the circuitry comprises a lid sensor that generates an open signal when the lid moves from the closed position to the open position, and the circuitry is configured to turn ON the wireless radio in response to the open signal.

3. The case of claim 1 further comprising an electrical connector having a first contact positioned within the cavity to electrically connect to a second contact on the electronic device when the electronic device is received within the cavity.

4. The case of claim 3 wherein the circuitry turns ON the wireless radio in the electronic device by sending an instruction to the electronic device over the first contact.

5. The case of claim 4 wherein the electrical connector also provides an electrical connection that enables the case to charge a rechargeable battery within the electronic device.

6. The case of claim 4 further comprising a device detector configured to detect when the electronic device is received within the cavity, and wherein the circuitry will not send the instruction to the electronic device unless the device detector detects the electronic device is received within the cavity.

7. The case of claim 2 wherein the lid sensor comprises a Hall-effect sensor.

8. The case of claim 1 wherein the electronic device comprises a portable listening device.

9. A case for an electronic device having a wireless radio, the case comprising:

a housing having a cavity configured to receive the electronic device;

a lid attached to the housing and operable between a closed position where the lid conceals the cavity and an open position where the lid is displaced from the cavity; and

circuitry configured to detect when the lid is moved from the open position to the closed position and in response turn OFF the wireless radio.

10. The case of claim 9 wherein the circuitry further comprises a lid sensor that generates a closed signal when the lid moves from the open position to the closed position, and the circuitry is configured to turn OFF the wireless radio in response to the closed signal.

11. The case of claim 9 further comprising an electrical connector having a first contact positioned within the cavity to electrically connect to a second contact on the electronic device when the electronic device is received within the cavity.

12. The case of claim 11 wherein the circuitry turns OFF the wireless radio in the electronic device by sending an instruction to the electronic device over the first contact.

13. The case of claim 12 wherein the electrical connector also provides an electrical connection that enables the case to charge a rechargeable battery within the electronic device.

14. The case of claim 12 further comprising a device detector configured to detect when the electronic device is received within the cavity, and wherein the circuitry will not send the instruction to the electronic device unless the device detector detects the electronic device is received within the cavity.

15. An enclosure for an electronic device having a wireless radio, the enclosure comprising:

a housing having a cavity configured to receive the electronic device;

a lid attached to the housing and operable between a closed position where the lid conceals the electronic device within the enclosure and an open position that allows the electronic device to be removed from the enclosure; and

circuitry configured to generate a signal to turn on the wireless radio in response to a the lid moving from the closed position to the open position and to turn off the wireless radio in response to the lid moving from the open position to the closed position.

16. The enclosure of claim 15 wherein the circuitry further comprises a lid sensor that generates an open signal when a user moves the lid from the closed position to the open position and generates a close signal when the lid moves from the open position to the closed position, and wherein the circuitry is configured to turn ON the wireless radio in response to the open signal and to turn OFF the wireless radio in response to the close signal.

17. The enclosure of claim 16 further comprising one or more electronic device detectors configured to detect when the electronic device is placed in the cavity.

18. The enclosure of claim 17 wherein the circuitry is configured to turn OFF the wireless radio in the electronic device when the one or more electronic device detectors detect that the electronic device is received within the cavity and the lid sensor detects the lid in the closed position.

19. The enclosure of claim 18 wherein the circuitry is further configured to turn ON the wireless radio of the electronic device when the one or more electronic device detectors detect that the electronic device is received within the cavity and the lid sensor detects the lid in the open position.

20. The enclosure of claim 17 wherein the lid sensor comprises a Hall-effect sensor.