Multi-mode operation wireless earphone system and control method thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a multi-mode operation wireless earphone system and a control method thereof, and relates to the technical field of multi-mode interaction and intelligent control of wireless earphones, the system comprises a left earphone, a right earphone and a charging box; the left earphone and the right earphone are independently arranged, respectively comprise a wireless communication module, and can establish and maintain independent wireless connection with different audio source devices at the same time; the system supports switching among multiple working modes, including an independent mode, a stereo mode and a monaural mode; the earphone further comprises a trigger mechanism which is arranged on the earphone body and the charging box and used for receiving user operation to start working mode switching. According to the invention, the left earphone and the right earphone are supported to independently play audio streams of different devices in parallel, multiple working modes are switched by one key, and the earphone body and the charging box are provided with dual physical control inlets, so that flexible and efficient multi-device audio management and convenient user interaction are realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of multi-mode interaction and intelligent control technology for wireless headphones, and particularly to a wireless headphone system with multi-mode operation and its control method. Background Technology

[0002] With the widespread adoption of smart terminal devices (such as personal mobile phones, office computers, and tablets), it has become common for users to own and use multiple devices simultaneously. Current mainstream true wireless stereo (TWS) earbuds typically offer two fixed operating modes: stereo mode, where the left and right earbuds act as a single audio receiver connected to a single audio source device to provide a stereo experience; and single-ear mode, where only one earbud is used for calls or listening to audio. Although some commercially available true wireless earbuds claim to support multi-device connectivity, their technical implementation is essentially based on rapid switching of a single audio channel between different paired devices using time-division multiplexing. This means they cannot allow the left and right earbuds to independently receive and play audio streams from different devices, lacking true parallel processing capabilities. Therefore, when users need to focus on two different audio sources simultaneously (such as answering a phone call while participating in an online meeting on a computer), existing earbuds cannot meet the demand. Users must manually disconnect one device and reconnect to the other, resulting in audio interruptions, missed information, and cumbersome operation. The operating mode configuration of existing earbuds is highly dependent on the dedicated application of the paired mobile phone. Once the device is changed, the corresponding application is not installed, or the mobile phone is not nearby, advanced function configurations are unavailable, and the earbuds can only perform basic playback functions. Furthermore, traditional headphones typically only have preset stereo and mono modes, requiring a mobile app or complex touch controls for mode switching. This makes it difficult to quickly and intuitively adjust modes based on real-time application scenarios (such as multitasking, immersive audio-visual experiences, or environmental awareness) without a mobile phone. Since the headphones themselves lack a display screen, users must rely on lengthy touch gestures and indistinguishable audio prompts for blind operation when selecting multiple functions, resulting in a high learning curve and a high risk of accidental triggering. Simultaneously, existing headphone systems lack the ability to detect changes in device connection topology; for example, they cannot proactively detect the connection of a second device and provide optimized operating modes based on scenario requirements. While the charging case integrates control circuitry, communication units, and indicator lights, its function is primarily limited to charging and storing the headphones, with internal resources underutilized and not yet expanded into an auxiliary control system or status management terminal.

[0003] In summary, in response to users' growing demand for multi-device collaborative audio, existing true wireless earphone technology suffers from technical shortcomings such as insufficient flexibility in connection modes, lack of parallel processing capabilities, high dependence on operation and configuration, low level of intelligence, and limited utilization of hardware resources. There is an urgent need for a wireless earphone system that can intelligently and flexibly switch between different working modes and support parallel audio processing of multiple devices. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, the present invention proposes a multi-mode operation wireless earphone system and its control method to solve the problems of rigid multi-device connection and inconvenient interaction in the prior art.

[0005] The specific technical solution of this invention is as follows: A multi-mode wireless earphone system includes: a left earphone, a right earphone, and a charging case; the left and right earphones are independently configured and each includes a wireless communication module, capable of simultaneously establishing and maintaining independent wireless connections with different audio source devices; the system supports switching between multiple operating modes, including independent mode, stereo mode, and mono mode; it also includes a trigger mechanism located on the earphone body and the charging case, used to receive user input to initiate operating mode switching; in independent mode, the left and right earphones connect to different audio source devices and independently play parallel audio streams; in stereo mode, the left and right earphones establish synchronous communication, with one earphone acting as the master device to connect to the audio source device and synchronize the audio stream to the other earphone as a slave device for joint playback; in mono mode, only one earphone connects to the audio source device and plays audio; the system also includes a control module, running a state machine to manage mode switching, audio routing, and connection configuration, and the control module initiates mode selection state based on the trigger mechanism signal.

[0006] Specifically, in independent mode, the radio frequency layer and protocol layer of the left earphone are independent of the right earphone, and it can maintain a first wireless connection with the first audio source device and decode and play the first audio stream through its wireless communication module; the radio frequency layer and protocol layer of the right earphone are independent of the left earphone, and it can maintain a second wireless connection with the second audio source device and decode and play the second audio stream through its wireless communication module; the first audio stream and the second audio stream are played in parallel without interruption, the left earphone and the right earphone manage the connection status through an internal wireless link but do not perform audio stream synchronization, and multiple audio sources can be processed simultaneously without switching operations; the control module monitors the device connection in real time to ensure the stability of parallel playback.

[0007] Specifically, in stereo mode, the control module designates one of the left or right earbuds as the master device to connect to the audio source device, and the other earbud as the slave device to establish synchronous communication with the master device through an internal wireless link; the master device decodes the audio stream and forwards it to the slave device through the internal wireless link to achieve an immersive experience where the master device and the slave device play the same audio stream together; audio playback is not interrupted when switching modes; the control module optimizes audio routing to maintain low latency and high sound quality when starting stereo mode.

[0008] Specifically, in single-ear mode, the control module activates only one of the left or right earbuds to connect to the audio source device for audio playback, while the other earbud enters a low-power standby state; the mode switching response trigger mechanism operates without affecting connection stability; single-ear mode is prioritized for calls or environmental awareness scenarios, and the control module automatically manages the power consumption of the earbuds in standby mode.

[0009] Specifically, the triggering mechanism includes a first triggering mechanism disposed on the earphone body, which responds to the user's long press operation for a period of time or more to activate the mode selection state; the system interrupts the current audio playback and outputs the selectable mode information through voice prompts; based on the subsequent click operation, it receives the user's selection instruction and confirms the target working mode; after the selection is completed, the control module performs mode switching and resumes normal playback.

[0010] Specifically, the triggering mechanism includes a second triggering mechanism located in the charging case, which is used to respond to the status of the earphones inside the charging case and user operations. When the user presses and holds the triggering mechanism of the charging case, the indicator light cycles through different colors, each color corresponding to a working mode. When the user releases the button, the mode of the currently displayed color is locked. The charging case control circuit writes the mode configuration instruction into the earphone memory, so that the earphones automatically enter the target working mode the next time they are taken out.

[0011] Specifically, the control module integrates multimodal interactive guidance, including voice guidance, tactile operation selection feedback, and audio confirmation output. In the mode selection state, the system prompts the currently available modes through voice broadcast, and the user selects the mode by clicking with the headphones. The system provides tactile feedback to enhance the operation perception. Finally, the system confirms the target mode through audio output, forming a closed-loop interactive process. This eliminates visual dependence and improves the accuracy of blind operation.

[0012] Specifically, the control module includes an active intelligent suggestion algorithm that monitors the connection status changes of the left and right earbuds in real time. When it detects that the left earbud is connected to the first audio source device and the right earbud is newly connected to the second audio source device, or when it detects a call from a paired device in stereo mode, the system pauses the current audio playback and suggests switching to independent mode through voice prompts. A timer is started to wait for user confirmation. If the user confirms, the switch is executed to avoid information loss.

[0013] A control method for a multi-mode wireless earphone system includes: receiving a mode switching activation signal from the earphone body or the charging case trigger mechanism; responding to the activation signal and entering a mode selection state; providing the user with working mode selection feedback through voice prompts or indicator lights; receiving a mode selection command based on the user's input selection command; the control module controlling the left and right earphones to switch to the target working mode according to the command, and performing audio routing reconfiguration and connection management; and running a state machine to maintain stability after mode switching.

[0014] Specifically, receiving the activation signal includes: when the first trigger mechanism of the earphone body is pressed and held, the system plays a voice prompt and outputs selectable mode information in a loop, and the user inputs the command through a subsequent click operation; when the second trigger mechanism of the charging case is pressed and held, the indicator light displays the mode options in a loop, and the user releases the button to confirm the target mode; the method ensures that if the connection fails during switching, it automatically returns to the previous state and notifies the user.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: 1. An innovative parallel dual-channel audio architecture is provided, which enables the left and right earphones to operate completely independently at the hardware radio frequency layer and protocol layer, so that the earphones can establish and maintain a stable connection with two different audio source devices at the same time, independently decode and play two parallel audio streams, thereby effectively eliminating the interruption problem when switching between multiple devices. 2. Develop a multi-mode configurable system, defining core working modes including an independent mode for parallel audio playback on two devices, a stereo mode for immersive audio-visual experience, and a mono mode for calls or environmental awareness. Users can switch modes instantly through a hardware trigger mechanism without relying on a mobile application, significantly solving the technical problems of fixed mode configuration and inconvenient switching. 3. It adopts a dual physical interaction entry design that eliminates dependence on mobile terminals. The earphone itself is triggered for real-time mode adjustment during use, while the charging case is triggered for scene pre-configuration and batch settings in offline mode, ensuring consistency and convenience of cross-platform and device operation. 4. Construct a multimodal guided interaction process for screenless devices, design voice guidance function, tactile operation selection feedback mechanism and audio confirmation output for the headphone body to form a closed-loop interaction system, which cleverly transforms complex visual menu operation into touch operation that can be implemented without additional learning, greatly improving the accuracy of interaction and user operation experience. 5. Develop a proactive intelligent suggestion mechanism based on changes in connection topology. The system monitors changes in the connection environment in real time and analyzes them based on preset rules and algorithms. It then proactively generates voice prompts to recommend a better working mode, thus realizing a technological transformation from a passive tool to a proactive auxiliary function. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the multi-mode operation wireless earphone system of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the external structure of the earphone body of the present invention, which shows one possible location of the triggering mechanism; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the external structure of the charging box of the present invention, which shows the triggering mechanism and indicator lights on the charging box; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the state transition of the wireless earphone system of the present invention. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the process of mode switching via the trigger mechanism of the earphone body according to the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the process of mode switching via the charging box trigger mechanism of the present invention.

[0018] In the picture: 100 - Left earphone; 101 - Main control chip; 102 - Wireless communication module; 103 - Audio codec; 104 - Speaker; 105 - Microphone; 106 - Trigger mechanism; 107 - Battery and management circuit; 200 - Right earphone; 201 - Main control chip; 202 - Wireless communication module; 203 - Audio codec; 204 - Speaker; 205 - Microphone; 206 - Trigger mechanism; 207 - Battery and management circuit; 300 - Internal wireless link; 400 - Charging case; 401 - Trigger mechanism; 402 - Indicator light; 403 - Control circuit; 501 - Stereo; 502 - Independent; 503 - Single earphone; 504 - Power off. Detailed Implementation

[0019] To make the technical problems to be solved, the technical solutions, and the beneficial effects of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0020] This invention proposes a multi-mode wireless earphone system and its control method, namely: a true wireless stereo (TWS) earphone system and its control method that supports flexible switching between multiple operating modes. Figure 1 As shown, the system includes a left earphone and a right earphone, each of which integrates an independent wireless communication module for establishing a wireless connection with an external audio source device, as well as a control module for managing the wireless connection, audio routing, and controlling the switching of the earphones between various working modes, thereby achieving diverse functions and flexible operation.

[0021] From a system hardware perspective, both the left and right earbuds are equipped with a main control chip, which undertakes important tasks such as overall control, mode switching logic, and audio processing. The main control chip can adopt a more powerful single-chip architecture or a dual-chip architecture optimized for independent modes. In addition, it includes Bluetooth or other wireless communication modules to support pairing and connection with multiple devices; an audio codec is used for encoding and decoding audio signals; speakers and microphones are responsible for audio output and input, respectively; and a trigger mechanism is located on the earbuds and / or charging case to receive the user's mode switching commands. The trigger mechanism can take various forms, such as... Figure 2 As shown, this could be a physical button, capacitive touchpad, or pressure-sensitive area for convenient user operation; the battery and management circuitry provide power to the earphones and manage battery usage. The left and right earphones communicate and synchronize via an internal wireless link (such as NFC or Bluetooth Low Energy), a feature particularly important in stereo mode. The system also includes a charging case with an internal trigger mechanism, such as... Figure 3 As shown, there is a function button; an indicator light is used to display the status and current mode of the headphones; the control circuit is responsible for communicating with the headphones inside the case and executing mode switching commands.

[0022] The system is configured to switch between multiple operating modes, including at least standalone mode, stereo mode, and mono mode. In standalone mode, the left earbud's RF and protocol layers are independent of the right earbud. It maintains a first wireless connection with a first audio source device via its own wireless communication module and plays a first audio stream. Similarly, the right earbud's RF and protocol layers are independent of the left earbud. It maintains a second wireless connection with a second audio source device via its own wireless communication module and plays a second audio stream. The first and second audio streams can be played in parallel. In stereo mode, the left and right earbuds establish synchronous communication via an internal wireless link. One earbud acts as the master device, connecting to the audio source device and synchronizing the audio stream to the other earbud, which acts as the slave device, thus achieving simultaneous audio playback. Mono mode means that only one earbud (left or right) establishes a connection with the audio source device and plays audio. The system can initiate the operating mode switch in response to operation of a first trigger mechanism on the left and / or right earbud, or operation of a second trigger mechanism on the charging case. The charging case is equipped with a second trigger mechanism. When a preset operation is performed on it, the system controls the charging case's indicator module to cycle through multiple working modes using different colors or flashing frequencies, and determines the target working mode based on the indicator module's state at the end of the operation. If the first trigger mechanism is pressed and held (for more than 3 seconds), the system enters mode selection mode and outputs available mode information via voice prompts. Then, it receives the user's selection command by detecting subsequent clicks on the first trigger mechanism.

[0023] The control module also has a monitoring function, which monitors the connection status of the left and right earbuds. When it detects that the left earbud is connected to the first audio source device and the right earbud has established a new connection with the second audio source device, or when it detects a call initiated by a paired device in stereo mode, the control module will proactively suggest to the user that they switch to standalone mode.

[0024] In terms of system control algorithms, the core control algorithm of the wireless earphone system is based on a state machine and runs on the earphone main control chip and charging case control circuit. It can realize functions such as mode judgment, switching execution and intelligent suggestions.

[0025] The main mode management algorithm runs continuously after the system is powered on, primarily responsible for listening to events and calling corresponding sub-modules. Its steps include: initialization, which involves reading the working mode configuration stored in memory before the last shutdown and attempting to restore the connection with the audio source device according to that configuration; event listening loop, continuously detecting input signals from the headphone trigger mechanism and charging case trigger mechanism, while monitoring the connection status changes of each wireless communication module, such as connection establishment, disconnection, and signal quality; event distribution, where if a long-press trigger signal is detected, the "manual mode switching algorithm" is invoked; if a specific change in connection status is detected, such as successful connection to a second device, the "intelligent mode suggestion algorithm" is invoked; if a shutdown command is received, the current mode state is saved to memory, and then the system is shut down; and state maintenance, where if no event is triggered, the audio routing and synchronization logic in the current working mode is maintained.

[0026] The manual mode switching algorithm is used to respond to the user's explicit switching intention and provides two interaction paths.

[0027] One type is the headphone-side trigger path, such as... Figure 5 As shown, the input is a long press signal (duration > T1, e.g., 3 seconds) from either earphone trigger mechanism. The process involves the system entering interactive mode, interrupting current audio playback, playing the prompt "Please select mode," starting a selection timer (duration T2, e.g., 5 seconds), and looping mode prompts (e.g., "Independent" for the left earphone and "Stereo" for the right earphone). Within timer T2, if a single click is detected on the left earphone, "Independent mode" is pre-selected; if a single click is detected on the right earphone, "Stereo mode" is pre-selected; if another long press is detected, the currently pre-selected mode is immediately confirmed (or cancelled if no pre-selection is found). After timer T2 expires, if a pre-selected mode is found, it is automatically confirmed; otherwise, the interactive mode exits, and the original mode is restored. The output is confirmation of the target mode and invocation of the "Mode Execution Sub-algorithm."

[0028] Another type is the charging case trigger path, such as... Figure 6As shown, the input is that the earbuds are in place inside the charging case, and the charging case's trigger mechanism is pressed and held. The process involves the charging case control circuit reading the current state of the earbuds via electrical contacts. Indicator lights on the control case cycle through different colors; for example, blue represents stereo, green represents independent, and red represents single earbud. The moment the user releases the button, the mode corresponding to the currently displayed color is locked, and the charging case encodes this mode and writes it to the earbuds' non-volatile memory. The output is that the mode configuration has been saved. The next time the earbuds are removed, the initialization process will read and apply this configuration.

[0029] The mode execution sub-algorithm is called by the main algorithm and is responsible for the underlying operations of mode switching. The input is the target mode command (independent / stereo / mono). The steps include connection management: if switching to independent mode, the audio stream binding between the left and right earbuds is released; the left earbud maintains or actively connects to "Device A" in the device list, and the right earbud maintains or actively connects to "Device B," with their audio streams completely independent. If switching to stereo mode, the left earbud is designated as the master device and connected to the target audio source; the right earbud acts as the slave device, synchronizing with the left earbud via an internal wireless link and receiving its forwarded high-quality audio stream. If switching to mono mode, only the target earbud (left or right) is used for connection and playback, while the other earbud enters a low-power standby state. Audio routing is reconfigured, resetting the data stream path of the audio codec according to the new mode's connection topology. State synchronization and notification update the system's internal state machine and notify the user of the switch completion via a prompt tone.

[0030] The intelligent mode suggestion algorithm analyzes the connection environment in the background and provides switching suggestions to the user at appropriate times. The trigger condition is a connection event reported by the wireless communication module, such as condition A: the left earpiece is already connected to device A, and the right earpiece establishes a new connection with device B; condition B: in stereo mode, but the system detects another paired device attempting to make a call. The process involves delaying for a short time (e.g., 2 seconds) to avoid momentary interference when either condition is met, pausing the current audio playback, playing a gentle suggestion prompt tone, such as "Multiple device connections detected, you can switch to independent mode, please confirm," and starting a suggestion confirmation timer (e.g., 10 seconds). Within the timer, if the user confirms via either earpiece, the "mode execution sub-algorithm" is immediately invoked to switch to the suggested mode; if the user does not operate, the timer expires, the original mode playback automatically resumes, and the suggestion is canceled. The priority rule is that intelligent suggestions do not interrupt ongoing manual switching processes; user manual operations always take precedence over system suggestions.

[0031] Regarding state machine and exception handling, the system maintains a deterministic state machine with the following state transition rules: Receiving a long-press power-off signal from any state will transition to the power-off state; stereo and standalone modes can be switched directly via manual or intelligent suggestions; stereo / standalone mode can be manually switched to single-ear mode; single-ear mode requires manual switching to stereo / standalone mode, and the system will prompt the user to select which mode to wake up the other earphone. For exception handling, if the connection fails during mode switching (e.g., the device is not within range), the system will automatically revert to the state before the switch and notify the user via a prompt tone.

[0032] Regarding system mode switching logic and user interaction, when triggered by the earbuds themselves, if the user presses and holds the trigger mechanism on either earbud for more than 3 seconds, the main control chip recognizes the long press signal and enters the "mode switching preparation state." The earbuds play a voice prompt "Mode switching," and the system enters the "mode selection state," with a voice prompt: "Left ear independent mode" or "Right ear stereo mode" (this is an example; the actual prompt can be customized). The user selects within a specific time window (e.g., 5 seconds). Clicking the left earbud selects "Independent mode," and the earbud confirms: "Independent mode"; clicking the right earbud selects "Stereo mode," and the earbud confirms: "Stereo mode." The user can confirm the selection by pressing and holding the trigger mechanism again, or the system can automatically confirm after 5 seconds of inactivity. The control module executes the switch. If switching to independent mode, the binding relationship between the left and right earbuds is released, and each maintains or searches for an independent connection. If switching to stereo mode, one earbud (master device) is designated to connect to the audio source, and the audio is synchronized to the other earbud (slave device) via an internal link. When triggered by the charging case, if... Figure 6 As shown, place the left and right earbuds into the charging case. The user presses and holds the trigger mechanism on the charging case. The charging case control circuit communicates with the earbuds via contacts inside the case, and the indicator lights begin to flash different colors in a cycle, representing different modes, such as blue for stereo and green for independent. When the user releases the button, the mode corresponding to the current indicator light color is selected. The charging case writes the mode configuration instruction into the earbuds' memory. The next time the user removes the earbuds, they will start and connect according to the newly configured mode. Figure 4 As shown, the state transitions demonstrate the permissible switching relationships between the three core modes (stereo, standalone, and mono). For example, it's possible to switch directly from stereo mode to standalone mode, and vice versa. The system can also be designed to enter a power-off state from any mode. Intelligent automatic switching can serve as a default rule; for example, when the system successfully establishes a standalone connection with two devices, it can automatically suggest or switch to standalone mode, but manual switching by the user has the highest priority.

[0033] The present invention also proposes a control method for the aforementioned wireless earphone system, comprising the steps of: receiving a mode switching start signal from a triggering mechanism; entering a mode selection state and providing mode selection feedback to the user through voice prompts (in response to operation of the first triggering mechanism) or display by an indicator module (in response to operation of the second triggering mechanism); receiving a mode selection command input by the user based on the feedback; and controlling the left and right earphones to switch to the target working mode according to the mode selection command, and executing the corresponding audio routing and connection configuration.

[0034] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: 1. A unique, truly parallel dual-channel audio architecture breaks through the traditional "master-slave" or "time-division multiplexing" architecture, achieving complete independence between the hardware RF layer and protocol layer of the left and right earphones. The left and right earphones can simultaneously establish and maintain stable connections with two different audio source devices, independently decoding and playing two audio streams, truly achieving a seamless parallel experience of "conference on one hand, phone on the other," fundamentally eliminating interruptions during switching between multiple devices.

[0035] 2. The user-programmable one-click multi-mode system innovatively defines three core working modes: independent mode (dual-device parallel operation), stereo mode (immersive audio-visual experience), and mono mode (call and environmental awareness). Users can switch modes within seconds through simple hardware triggering, without the need for a mobile app. The system response is instantaneous, completely solving the problems of fixed modes and inconvenient switching.

[0036] 3. The phone-free dual physical interaction design pioneers a dual hardware control interface: the earbuds themselves and the charging case. The earbuds themselves trigger instant mode switching during use; the charging case triggers pre-configuration and batch settings for offline scenarios. This design frees users from dependence on mobile apps, ensuring consistent and convenient cross-platform and cross-device user experience.

[0037] 4. Multimodal guided interaction for screenless devices: A closed-loop interaction process of "voice guidance + tactile selection + audio confirmation" was designed for the screenless headset. During switching, the voice clearly prompts the options, and the user selects through intuitive left and right clicks, finally receiving a clear result announcement. This solution elegantly transforms complex visual menu interactions into blind operation with zero learning cost, greatly improving the accuracy of the interaction and the user experience.

[0038] 5. Based on a connection topology-driven proactive intelligent suggestion engine, the system can perceive changes in the connection environment in real time, such as when a second device is successfully paired. Based on rules and learning algorithms, it proactively suggests a better working mode via voice. For example, when two devices are detected to be connected, the system will quietly prompt: "Should we switch to independent mode? Click to confirm," achieving an intelligent leap from a "passive tool" to a "proactive assistant."

[0039] 6. The charging case has been upgraded to a system control hub, deeply exploring its potential and transforming it from a simple "battery compartment" into an offline configuration center and status management terminal for the earphones. Through buttons and multi-color indicator lights on the charging case, users can preset all modes and clearly read the earphone status. This not only expands the product's functional boundaries but also creates a completely new paradigm for device interaction.

[0040] In summary, this invention, through the six closely related technological innovations mentioned above, systematically solves the core pain points of current wireless headphones in the multi-device era, such as rigid connectivity, inconvenient interaction, and insufficient intelligence. Its value lies in redefining headphones from an accessory to a single device into a personal audio hub capable of unified management and intelligent scheduling of audio streams from all of a user's digital devices. This is not merely an addition of functions, but a fundamental leap in product positioning and user experience, possessing significant technological advancement and market competitiveness.

[0041] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A wireless earphone system with multi-mode operation, characterized in that, include: The system comprises a left earbud, a right earbud, and a charging case. Each earbud is independently configured and includes a wireless communication module, enabling it to simultaneously establish and maintain independent wireless connections with different audio source devices. The system supports switching between multiple operating modes, including independent mode, stereo mode, and mono mode. It also includes a trigger mechanism located on both the earbuds and the charging case, used to receive user input to initiate mode switching. In independent mode, the left and right earbuds connect to different audio source devices and independently play parallel audio streams. In the stereo mode, the left and right earbuds establish synchronous communication, with one earbud acting as the master device to connect to the audio source device and synchronize the audio stream to the other earbud for simultaneous playback; in the mono mode, only one earbud connects to the audio source device and plays audio; the system also includes a control module, which runs a state machine to manage mode switching, audio routing, and connection configuration, and the control module initiates mode selection based on trigger mechanism signals.

2. The wireless earphone system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In the independent mode, the radio frequency layer and protocol layer of the left earphone are independent of the right earphone, and it can maintain a first wireless connection with the first audio source device and decode and play the first audio stream through its wireless communication module; The radio frequency layer and protocol layer of the right earphone are independent of the left earphone. It can maintain a second wireless connection with the second audio source device and decode and play the second audio stream through its wireless communication module. The first audio stream and the second audio stream can be played in parallel without interruption. The left and right earphones manage the connection status through an internal wireless link but do not synchronize the audio streams. Multiple audio sources can be processed simultaneously without switching operations. The control module monitors the device connection in real time to ensure the stability of parallel playback.

3. The wireless earphone system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In the stereo mode, the control module designates one of the left or right earbuds as the master device to connect to the audio source device, and the other earbud as the slave device to establish synchronous communication with the master device through an internal wireless link; the master device decodes the audio stream and forwards it to the slave device through the internal wireless link to achieve an immersive experience of the master device and the slave device playing the same audio stream together; audio playback is not interrupted when switching modes; the control module optimizes audio routing to maintain low latency and high sound quality when the stereo mode is activated.

4. The wireless earphone system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In the single-ear mode, the control module activates only one of the left or right earbuds to connect to the audio source device for audio playback, while the other earbud enters a low-power standby state; the mode switching response trigger mechanism operates without affecting connection stability. The single-ear mode is prioritized for calls or environmental awareness scenarios, and the control module automatically manages the power consumption of the earphone in standby mode.

5. The wireless earphone system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The triggering mechanism includes a first triggering mechanism disposed on the earphone body, which responds to the user's long press operation for a period of time or more to activate the mode selection state; the system interrupts the current audio playback and outputs the selectable mode information through voice prompts; based on the subsequent click operation, it receives the user's selection instruction and confirms the target working mode; after the selection is completed, the control module performs mode switching and resumes normal playback.

6. The wireless earphone system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The triggering mechanism includes a second triggering mechanism disposed in the charging case, which is used to respond to the status of the earphones inside the charging case and user operations; when the user presses and holds the triggering mechanism of the charging case, the indicator light displays different colors in a cycle, and each color corresponds to a working mode; when the user releases the button, the mode of the currently displayed color is locked; the charging case control circuit writes the mode configuration instruction into the earphone memory, so that the earphones automatically enter the target working mode the next time they are taken out.

7. The wireless earphone system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The control module integrates multimodal interactive guidance, including voice guidance, tactile operation selection feedback, and audio confirmation output. In the mode selection state, the system prompts the currently available modes through voice broadcast, and the user selects the mode by clicking with the headphones. The system provides tactile feedback to enhance the operation perception. Finally, the system confirms the target mode through audio output, forming a closed-loop interactive process. This eliminates visual dependence and improves the accuracy of blind operation.

8. The wireless earphone system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The control module includes an active intelligent suggestion algorithm that monitors the connection status changes of the left and right earbuds in real time. When it detects that the left earbud is connected to the first audio source device and the right earbud is newly connected to the second audio source device, or when it detects a call from a paired device in stereo mode, the system pauses the current audio playback and suggests switching to independent mode through voice prompts. A timer is started to wait for user confirmation. If the user confirms, the switch is executed to avoid information loss.

9. A control method for a multi-mode operating wireless earphone system, characterized in that, include: Receives a mode switching activation signal from the earbuds or the charging case trigger mechanism; responds to the activation signal and enters the mode selection state; The system provides users with feedback on their working mode selection through voice prompts or indicator lights; it receives mode selection commands based on user input; the control module controls the left and right earpieces to switch to the target working mode according to the commands, and performs audio routing reconfiguration and connection management; and it runs a state machine to maintain stability after mode switching.

10. The control method for the wireless earphone system as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The method of receiving the start signal includes: when the first trigger mechanism of the earphone body is pressed for a long press, the system plays a voice prompt and outputs selectable mode information in a loop, and the user inputs the command through a subsequent click operation; when the second trigger mechanism of the charging case is pressed for a long press, the indicator light displays the mode options in a loop, and the user releases the button to confirm the target mode; the method ensures that if the connection fails during switching, it automatically returns to the previous state and notifies the user.

Images