Audio badge

Abstract

The invention relates to measuring technology. An audio badge comprises a housing, a printed circuit board, a microphone, a power element, an accelerometer, a long-term memory chip, a Wi-Fi communication module, a microcontroller and a flexible screen. The screen is connected to a port by a ribbon cable that wraps around an end face of the printed circuit board, said end face having a recess configured therein for accommodating the ribbon cable. The device housing is comprised of a lower panel with side and end surfaces and with mating depressions for receiving the components of the printed circuit board. The side surfaces and one of the end surfaces of the lower panel are provided with guide ledges for installation of a cover panel. The technical result is a reduction in the overall dimensions and weight of the device.

Description

[0001] Audio badge

[0002] The invention relates to measuring equipment intended for detecting and recording signals, in particular, to devices with functions for audio recording of user speech.

[0003] The prior art includes devices designed to detect and record signals with audio recording functions (audio badges), such as CN201091286 Y, IPC class A44C 3 / 00, H04N 5 / 225, H04N5 / 76, published July 30, 2008. However, these devices, due to their design features, have standard dimensions that do not provide comfortable use when placed on clothing.

[0004] Also known from the prior art is an audio badge, adopted as a prototype, the essence of which is disclosed in patent RU 188579 U1, IPC class G09F 3 / 20, H04R 5 / 027, published on April 17, 2019. The badge comprises a housing designed to be attached to the user's clothing, a printed circuit board containing a microphone, a battery, an accelerometer, a Wi-Fi communication module, and a microcontroller connected to them. The dimensions of the audio badge housing are 90 x 60 x 6.5 mm.

[0005] However, the design of this device is quite large, which reduces the ease of use.

[0006] Thus, the technical problem is to create an audio badge that has high technical characteristics, while having smaller dimensions relative to the prototype, in particular, a thickness not exceeding 6 mm, overall dimensions not exceeding 73 x 40.5 mm and a weight not exceeding 23-25 ​​grams without a magnetic holder and 25-33 grams with a magnetic holder.

[0007] The technical result of the claimed device is to increase ease of use by reducing the dimensions and weight of the device.

[0008] The technical problem is solved due to the fact that the audio badge contains a housing made with the possibility of being attached to the user's clothing, a printed circuit board on which a microphone, a power source, an accelerometer, a long-term memory chip, a Wi-Fi communication module and a microcontroller connected to them are located, while the audio badge is equipped with a flexible screen located on the front surface of the printed circuit board, the cable of which is connected to a connector located on the inner surface of the printed circuit board by bending around one of its ends, on which a recess is made, intended for placing the cable in such a way that the cable does not extend beyond the external dimensions of the edge of the printed circuit board, and the body of the device is a bottom panel made with side and end surfaces and provided with mating recesses intended for receiving elements located on the inner surface of the printed circuit board, in addition,the side surfaces and one of the end surfaces of the bottom panel are provided with guide protrusions designed for installing an overlay panel made with a transparent window for a flexible screen and a cutout for a touch button located on the front surface of the printed circuit board.

[0009] Equipping the device with a microphone, a power supply, an accelerometer, a long-term memory chip, a Wi-Fi communication module, and a microcontroller connected to them, all located on the inside of the printed circuit board, allows the utility model to achieve its intended purpose.

[0010] The use of a flexible screen and connection of the cable to a connector located on the back side of the printed circuit board by bending one of the ends of the printed circuit board made it possible to place the microcontroller and other elements, in particular, the accelerometer, the Wi-Fi module on the printed circuit board under the cable of the flexible screen, which in turn contributed to a reduction in the thickness of the device to 6.2 mm or less and the overall dimensions of the device to dimensions not exceeding 73 x 40.5 mm.

[0011] By creating a recess on the end of the printed circuit board to accommodate the cable so that it does not extend beyond the outer dimensions of the printed circuit board edge, the overall dimensions of the device can be reduced to no more than 70x40 mm, and the thickness of the device to no more than 6.2 mm.

[0012] The design of the device body in the form of a bottom panel equipped with recesses designed to receive elements located on the inner surface of the printed circuit board, as well as the provision of the side and one of the end surfaces of the bottom panel with guide projections designed to install an overlay panel having a thickness not exceeding 1 mm and made with a transparent window for a flexible screen and a cutout for a touch button located on the front surface of the printed circuit board, made it possible to reduce the thickness of the device to dimensions not exceeding 6.2 mm, due to the lightening of the structure and at the same time reliable fixation of the overlay panel.

[0013] The printed circuit board is also equipped with a USB connector for installing software for flashing, reflashing and updating the software version.

[0014] Additionally, the device's printed circuit board is equipped with contacts for charging the battery. At least two magnets may also be located on the end surface of the audio badge's bottom housing, creating a clamping force on the battery charging contacts when the device is placed on the charging station.

[0015] Any known computing device capable of collecting, processing and storing audio data can be used as a microcontroller, for example, Espressif ESP32-U4WDH or Espressif ESP32-D0WD.

[0016] MEMS PDM or I2S microphones can be used as microphones, for example, SPH0645LM4H-B or XST-ML-2666-3526-DB1Z1.

[0017] The device's battery has a capacity of 400 to 800 mAh and can be mounted to the inside of the PCB by gluing it in place. This solution allows the device's thickness to be reduced to 6 mm while using a high-capacity battery, providing up to 16 hours of continuous operation.

[0018] The essence of the device is explained by drawings.

[0019] Fig. 1 shows a general view of the device (front side).

[0020] Fig. 2 shows a printed circuit board with elements placed on it (front side).

[0021] Fig. 3 shows a printed circuit board with elements placed on it (reverse side).

[0022] Fig. 4 shows the bottom panel of the device (general view).

[0023] The device body is a bottom panel 1, made with side 2 and end 3 surfaces and equipped with mating recesses designed to receive elements located on the inner surface of the printed circuit board 4.

[0024] In this case, the side surfaces 2 of the bottom panel 1, as well as one of the end surfaces 3, are provided with guide protrusions 5, intended for installing an overlay panel 6, made with a transparent window for a flexible screen 7 and a cutout for a touch button 8, located on the front surface of the printed circuit board.

[0025] To ensure secure attachment of cover panel 6, projections 5, which act as guides along which cover panel 6 slides during installation, may occupy 1 / 5 of the side surface length, with their maximum length being the same as the side surface of bottom panel 1. The thickness of cover panel 6 does not exceed 1 mm and can be made of plastic, metal, or another material. The window of cover panel 6 is made of a transparent material, such as plastic. Thus, cover panel 6, while being thin, serves as a protective element for printed circuit board 4 and also contributes to the aesthetic appeal of the audio badge.

[0026] The device body is designed to be attached to the user's clothing. The mounting element can be magnetic (a magnetic holder). To do this, a metal plate or magnet is attached to the bottom panel 1 of the device using double-sided adhesive tape. The mating part of the mounting element, a magnet of a corresponding shape, is designed to be attached to the inside of clothing to securely hold the audio badge.

[0027] The cable 9 of the flexible screen 7 is connected to the connector 10, located on the inner surface of the printed circuit board 4, by bending around one of its ends, on which a recess 11 is made, intended for placing the cable 9 in such a way that the cable 9 does not extend beyond the external dimensions of the edge of the printed circuit board 4.

[0028] An audio badge solves the problem of collecting and analyzing data on the quality of established processes at an enterprise when an employee interacts with clients or with other employees in cases where voice communication is used.

[0029] For this purpose, the device is equipped with a microphone 12, a power supply 13, an accelerometer that allows determining the orientation of the audio badge, a long-term memory chip 14, a wireless Wi-Fi communication module and a microcontroller 15 connected to them, all located on the inner side of the printed circuit board 4.

[0030] Additionally, the device may be equipped with a battery charge indicator. The bottom panel 1, where the device's charge indicator is located, is thinned such that a green indicator is visible through the bottom panel 1 of the device's housing when connected to an external power source, and a yellow indicator is visible when the battery is charging.

[0031] The device can also be equipped with an audio badge status indicator.

[0032] The audio badge works as follows.

[0033] When the audio badge is removed from the charging station and / or upon the employee's scheduled work time, the audio badge begins recording audio. Audio signals received from microphone 12 and microcontroller 15 are written to internal memory, which is a long-term memory chip 14. The device also records accelerometer readings, surrounding Wi-Fi hotspots, and information about the name and / or image currently displayed on the display. The display displays the employee's name and / or selected image, according to a configuration that may include the employee's work schedule. The employee can also, if desired, select the desired name and / or image from the configuration using a touch button.

[0034] Records of the selected and displayed employee name and / or image are used to automatically identify the employee wearing a specific audio badge at a specific time, as the ability to change the name on the display allows one device to be used by multiple employees at different times.

[0035] Using Wi-Fi hotspots and their signal strength, the audio badge can create zones where audio recording is permitted (public work areas) and where recording is prohibited (for example, employee-only areas). When processed, including by recording surrounding Wi-Fi hotspots, it can determine, if necessary, whether an employee is in a particular room at a specific time.

[0036] Accelerometer recordings are used to determine whether an employee is wearing an audio badge. Accelerometer data is also analyzed to determine the employee's body position and / or the location of the audio badge on the employee's body.

[0037] At the end of a work shift, the employee places the audio badge, which has 16-pin contacts, on a charging station equipped with spring-loaded contact pins and magnets. These magnets, when interacting with magnets located on the end of the audio badge's bottom panel on the inside, create a clamping force and ensure precise placement of the audio badge on the charging station, ensuring tighter contact, and a strong, secure connection.

[0038] Once placed on the charging station, the audio badge transmits accumulated data to the server via a local media hub, either directly via Wi-Fi or a USB connector, depending on the configuration. Additionally, the audio badge automatically updates its configuration and firmware from the server or media hub via a wireless Wi-Fi module or a USB port. The data transmitted from the device is then processed in quality control, process analytics, and HR management systems, both automatically and with the help of controllers. It can also be integrated with other systems.

[0039] The device is assembled as follows. Printed circuit board 4, complete with the components required for its intended purpose, is placed in the bottom panel 1 of the device housing. Next, cover panel 6 is installed into the guide projections 5 of bottom panel 1 and moved along the guides to the opposite end of bottom panel 1.

[0040] Thus, the development of the technical design of the audio badge made it possible to create a device with reduced dimensions and weight compared to its closest analogues, while maintaining similar high technical characteristics, increasing its ease of use.

Claims

Utility model formula An audio badge comprising a housing configured to be attached to the user's clothing, a printed circuit board on which a microphone, a power source, an accelerometer, a long-term memory chip, a Wi-Fi communication module and a microcontroller connected thereto are placed, characterized in that the audio badge is provided with a flexible screen placed on the front surface of the printed circuit board, the cable of which is connected to a connector located on the inner surface of the printed circuit board by bending around one of its ends, on which a recess is made intended for placing the cable in such a way that the cable does not extend beyond the outer dimensions of the edge of the printed circuit board, and the housing of the device is a bottom panel made with side and end surfaces and provided with mating recesses intended to receive elements located on the inner surface of the printed circuit board, in addition, the side and one of the end surfaces of the bottom panel are provided with guide protrusions,designed for installation of an overlay panel made with a transparent window for a flexible screen and a cutout for a touch button located on the front surface of the printed circuit board.

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