Electronic device

Abstract

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a first module including a first housing portion and electronic components accommodated in the first housing portion, a second module including a second housing portion and a battery and electronic components accommodated in the second housing portion, and a hinge having a pivot connected to the first housing portion and the second housing portion, respectively, so that the first module is rotatable with respect to the second module about an axis of the pivot to enable the electronic device to transition between a closed state in which the first housing portion and the second housing portion are engaged with each other to form a housing of the electronic device in which the battery and the electronic components of the first module and the second module are accommodated and an open state in which the first housing portion and the second housing portion are separated from each other to expose the battery, and in which the pivot of the hinge is disposed in the second housing portion so that the hinge is not visible from the outside in the closed state of the electronic device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to an electronic device, and more specifically, to an earphone assembly. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of technology, wearable electronic devices such as true wireless stereo (TWS) earphones, smartwatches, and fitness trackers have increasingly become an indispensable part of daily life. These electronic devices have brought great convenience to people's daily lives, but the non-removable battery technology they use has brought a series of problems.

[0003] First, battery performance begins to degrade after a certain number of charge-discharge cycles. For example, frequently used TWS earbuds may last for 5 to 6 hours when first purchased, but after a year or less of use, their battery life may be reduced to only 3 to 4 hours or even less. This decline in battery performance seriously affects the user experience.

[0004] Secondly, the current non-removable battery design limits the lifespan of the entire electronic device once battery performance degrades. Some users may choose to replace the entire electronic device due to shortened battery life, which undoubtedly increases the amount of electronic waste and puts considerable pressure on the environment.

[0005] In recent years, environmental issues have become a global focus. In order to reduce electronic waste and encourage the long-term use of devices, some countries have put forward requirements for removable batteries, hoping that manufacturers can design electronic devices with easily replaceable batteries, thereby extending the life of electronic devices and reducing electronic waste.

[0006] However, there is a lack of unified standards or solutions in the market regarding how to design a battery removal method that is both simple and reliable and does not affect the lifespan of electronic devices. Therefore, a new technology is needed to meet these requirements. Summary of the Invention

[0007] According to an aspect of this disclosure, an electronic device is provided, comprising: a first module including a first housing portion and electronic components housed within the first housing portion; a second module including a second housing portion and a battery and electronic components housed within the second housing portion; and a hinge having a pivot connected to the first housing portion and the second housing portion respectively, such that the first module is rotatable relative to the second module about an axis of the pivot, thereby enabling the electronic device to transition between a closed state and an open state, wherein in the closed state, the first housing portion and the second housing portion are engaged together to form a housing of the electronic device, the battery and the electronic components of the first and second modules are housed within the housing, and in the open state, the first housing portion and the second housing portion are separated from each other, exposing the battery, and wherein the pivot of the hinge is arranged in the second housing portion such that the hinge is not visible from the outside in the closed state of the electronic device. Attached Figure Description

[0008] This disclosure will be better understood with reference to the following figures and description. The components shown in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, and the emphasis should be on the principles illustrated in this disclosure. Furthermore, in the figures, the same reference numerals denote the same parts throughout.

[0009] Figure 1A A perspective view of an earphone assembly according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is shown;

[0010] Figure 1B It shows Figure 1A Another perspective view of the headphone components;

[0011] Figure 2A A cross-sectional view of an earphone assembly according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is shown, wherein the earphone assembly is in a closed state;

[0012] Figure 2B It shows Figure 2A An enlarged view of the dashed line portion;

[0013] Figure 2C An exploded view of a headphone assembly according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is shown;

[0014] Figure 3A and Figure 3B Perspective and sectional views of an earphone assembly according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure are shown, wherein the earphone assembly is in an open state;

[0015] Figure 3CA perspective view of the locking mechanism of the headphone assembly is shown separately;

[0016] Figure 4A and Figure 4B Cross-sectional views and partially exploded views of an earphone assembly according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure are shown respectively;

[0017] Figure 5A and Figure 5B Cross-sectional views of another embodiment of the locking mechanism in the headphone assembly are shown;

[0018] Figure 6A and Figure 6B Partial exploded views and cross-sectional views of an earphone assembly according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure are shown respectively. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The embodiments of this disclosure are described in detail below, and examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this disclosure, and should not be construed as limiting this disclosure.

[0020] Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used herein shall have the common meanings understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. In the description of this disclosure, it should be understood that the terms “center,” “vertical,” “lateral,” “upper,” “lower,” “front,” “rear,” “left,” “right,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” and “outer,” etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, are used only for the convenience of describing this disclosure and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limiting this disclosure. Furthermore, the terms “first” and “second” are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0021] This disclosure provides an electronic device comprising: a first module including a first housing portion and electronic components housed within the first housing portion; a second module including a second housing portion and a battery and electronic components housed within the second housing portion; and a hinge having a pivot connected to the first housing portion and the second housing portion, such that the first module is rotatable relative to the second module about an axis of the pivot, thereby enabling the electronic device to transition between a closed state and an open state, wherein the pivot of the hinge is arranged in the second housing portion such that the hinge is not visible from the outside in the closed state of the electronic device.

[0022] This disclosed configuration allows users to safely and reliably replace the batteries in TWS earphones or other small electronic devices themselves, for example, when the battery life of the device has significantly decreased, avoiding the need to replace the entire device unnecessarily due to battery degradation. This reduces the amount of electronic waste and is more environmentally friendly. Furthermore, by arranging the hinge pivot within the second housing portion, the hinge is not visible from the outside when the device is closed, and therefore is an invisible or concealed hinge. This disclosed configuration also minimizes the impact on the product's appearance while allowing for battery replacement.

[0023] In one or more embodiments of this disclosure, the hinge includes a first arm having a curved portion connecting the pivot to the first housing portion, the curved portion extending to form a plane perpendicular to the axis of the pivot. Such a hinge with a curved portion is easy to manufacture and can be effectively concealed from the outside while enabling transitions between a closed and open state.

[0024] In one or more embodiments of this disclosure, at the joint, the second housing portion is laterally inward relative to the first housing portion and has a shoulder, and the electronic device further includes a sealing ring that laterally surrounds the outer side of the second housing portion and vertically abuts against the shoulder and the first housing portion, respectively. Specifically, the second housing portion has a notch at the joint, in the region corresponding to the hinge, opening towards the first housing portion, the notch being covered by the sealing ring. This sealing ring effectively seals the assembly gap between the two housing portions to meet waterproof design requirements, allowing the electronic device with an invisible hinge and sealing ring to minimize the impact on the device's appearance and lifespan while allowing battery replacement. Furthermore, the combined design of the sealing ring and the notch has particular benefits: not only does it allow the electronic device to be opened with less resistance at the start of opening, making opening and closing smoother, but also, in the open state, the invisible hinge can compress the sealing ring at the notch in the second housing portion, thereby allowing the electronic device to be opened to a greater extent.

[0025] In one or more embodiments of this disclosure, the hinge pivot is arranged between the battery and the second housing portion, wherein in the closed state, the bent portion of the first arm protrudes toward the battery, and a recess extending perpendicular to the axis of the pivot is provided on the side of the battery facing the bent portion, the bent portion of the first arm being partially accommodated in the recess in the closed state. With the aid of a specially shaped battery, the installation of the hinge can be better accommodated and assembly interference avoided. On the other hand, a larger capacity battery can be provided while meeting the hinge assembly requirements.

[0026] In one or more embodiments of this disclosure, an electronic device includes a locking mechanism for locking the electronic device in a closed state. The locking mechanism includes a laterally extending locking latch and a support portion connected to the locking latch, the support portion being elastically deformable to allow the locking latch to move from a locked position to an unlocked position. The locking mechanism enables easy and efficient locking of the electronic device in a closed state.

[0027] Figure 1A A perspective view of an earphone assembly 100 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is shown, and Figure 1B Another perspective view of the headphone assembly 100 is shown. Figures 1A to 1B In the illustrated embodiment, the earphone assembly 100 is a TWS earphone. In some other embodiments according to this disclosure, the earphone assembly 100 may be any suitable wireless earphone.

[0028] As shown in the figure, the headphone assembly 100 includes a first headphone portion 110, a second headphone portion 150, and a sealing ring 170, which is disposed at the junction of the first headphone portion 110 and the second headphone portion 150. The headphone assembly 100 also includes a locking member 130, which is capable of locking the headphone assembly 100 in a closed state (i.e., Figures 1A to 1B In the closed state, the first earphone portion 110 and the second earphone portion 150 are selectively locked. In the closed state, the hinge 140 (as shown) that hinges the first earphone portion 110 and the second earphone portion 150 to each other... Figure 2A (As shown) is not visible from the outside of the headphone assembly 100.

[0029] The first earphone portion 110 includes an in-ear portion 102 that defines a sound channel 102a. The earphone assembly 100 also includes earcups (not shown), typically made of silicone or other soft materials. When the earphone assembly 100 is worn on a user's ear, the in-ear portion 102 of the earphone assembly 100 is at least partially disposed within the user's ear canal. When the earphone assembly 100 is in operation, audio generated by the speaker of the earphone assembly 100 is transmitted to the user's ear canal through the sound channel 102a of the in-ear portion 102.

[0030] Figure 2A A cross-sectional view of an earphone assembly according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is shown, wherein the earphone assembly is in a closed state. Figure 2B It shows Figure 2A An enlarged view of the dashed section. Figure 2C An exploded view of an earphone assembly 100 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 3A and Figure 3BPerspective and sectional views of an earphone assembly 100 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure are shown, wherein the earphone assembly 100 is in an open state, in which a first earphone portion 110 is pivoted away from a second earphone portion 150. Figure 3C A perspective view of the locking member 130 of the headphone assembly 100 is shown separately.

[0031] like Figure 2A and Figure 2C As shown, the first earphone portion 110 of the headphone assembly 100 includes a first housing portion 120, an in-ear portion 102 protruding from the first housing portion 120, a speaker 114 housed in the first housing portion 120, and several other electronic components (not shown). The speaker 114 is acoustically connected to the channel 102a of the in-ear portion 102, such that when the headphone assembly 100 is in operation, the audio generated by the speaker 114 is transmitted through the channel 102a of the in-ear portion 102. The second earphone portion 150 of the headphone assembly 100 includes a second housing portion 160 and a battery 152, a circuit board 154, and several other electronic components (not shown) housed in the second housing portion 160. The second housing portion 160 includes two parts: a middle housing portion 160a and a bottom housing portion 160b. A large circuit board 154 is first mounted in the bottom housing portion 160b and then combined with the middle housing portion 160a.

[0032] The headphone assembly 100 includes a hinge 140 for hinged together a first housing portion 120 and a second housing portion 160. The hinge 140 includes a pivot 142 and a first arm 144 connecting the pivot 142 to the first housing portion 120 and a second arm 146 connecting the pivot 142 to the second housing portion 160 (see...). Figure 2C Pivot 142 is arranged in the second housing portion 160 and spaced apart from the first housing portion 120. By connecting pivot 142 to the first housing portion 120 and the second housing portion 160 respectively, the first earphone portion 110 is able to rotate about pivot 142 relative to the second earphone portion 150, thereby enabling the earphone assembly 100 to... Figure 2A The closed state shown is the same as Figures 3A to 3B The diagram shows the transition between open and closed states. In the closed state, the first housing portion 120 and the second housing portion 160 are joined together to form the housing of the headphone assembly 100, in which the battery 152, the electronic components of the first headphone portion 110, and the electronic components of the second headphone portion 150 are housed. In the open state, the first housing portion 120 and the second housing portion 160 are separated from each other, thereby exposing the battery 152 for replacement.

[0033] like Figure 2A and Figure 3BAs shown, the first arm 144 has a curved portion 144a. The curved portion 144a extends to form a plane perpendicular to the axis of the pivot 142. Figure 2A In the closed position shown, the curved portion 144a protrudes toward the battery 152. Figure 3B In the open state shown, the curved portion 114a includes a portion located outside the second housing portion 160 and extending in a direction close to the second housing portion 160. This design ensures that the first earphone portion 110 can pass over the second earphone portion 150 and continue downward until the separation between the two portions allows for battery 152 replacement. Furthermore, in the open state, the middle portion of the curved portion 144a is located directly above the second housing portion 160, or the curved portion 144a is partially located inside and partially outside the second housing portion 160 in the open state. The curved portion 144a here has an arcuate profile. Note that the arcuate profile does not necessarily have to be a circular arc of only one curvature; it can be a combination of several circular arcs of different curvatures, or one or more other arcs, such as parabolic and / or non-circular hanging arcs, or a combination of one or more circular arcs with one or more parabolic and / or non-circular hanging arcs, etc.

[0034] Figures 4A to 4B Cross-sectional and partially exploded views of an earphone assembly 100 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure are shown, wherein a hinge 140 is shown as being connected to a first housing portion 120 and a second housing portion 160. Figures 4A to 4B As shown, the first arm 144 of hinge 140 includes a bent portion 144a, a first stop portion 144b for attachment to the first housing portion 120, and a connecting portion 144c attached between the bent portion 144a and the first stop portion 144b. The bent portion 144a and the connecting portion 144c extend in a plane perpendicular to the axis of pivot 142, and the first stop portion 144b projects from both sides of said plane and extends parallel to the axis of pivot 142. The second arm 146 of hinge 140 extends in the same plane as pivot 142 and includes a second stop portion 146a for attachment to the second housing portion 160. The first stop portion 144b extends parallel to the axis of pivot 142.

[0035] Figure 4BThe diagram shows a first housing portion 120 having a first receiving portion 124 for receiving a first stop portion 144b, and a second housing portion 160 having a second receiving portion 168 for receiving a second stop portion 146a. The first receiving portion 124 is formed by a plurality of (here, three) stop blocks, each of which presses against the first stop portion 144b to ensure that the first arm 144 is positioned on the first housing portion 120. The second receiving portion 168 is formed by a plurality of (here, three) stop blocks, each of which abuts against the second stop portion 146a to ensure that the second arm 146 is positioned on the second housing portion 160. Furthermore, the portions of the first arm 144 that contact the first housing portion 120, namely the first stop portion 144b and the connecting portion 144c, can also be connected by a material bond to prevent loosening along the installation direction. Similarly, the portions of the second arm 146 that contact the second housing portion 160 can also be connected by a material bond.

[0036] The headphone assembly 100 also includes a specially shaped battery 152. Figure 2A In the illustrated embodiment, pivot 142 is arranged between battery 152 and second housing portion 160. A recess 152a extending perpendicular to the axis of pivot 142 is provided on the side of battery 152 facing the curved portion 144a, and the curved portion 144a of the first arm 144 can be partially accommodated in the recess 152a in the closed state. Figure 2C As shown, the battery 152 not only has a recess 152a on the side facing the curved portion 144a, but also has a flat battery end face 152b. This specific shape of the battery 152 allows for better adaptation to the installation of the hinge 140, thereby avoiding assembly interference. On the other hand, by designing the recess 152a, a larger capacity battery can be provided while meeting the assembly requirements of the hinge 140. In another embodiment of this disclosure, the battery 152 may be arranged at a lower or higher position relative to the pivot 142, depending on the actual needs. Therefore, the pivot 142 may also not be arranged between the battery 152 and the second housing portion 160, but at another position close to the second housing portion 160.

[0037] The headphone assembly 100 also includes a sealing ring 170. Figure 2BIn the closed state of the illustrated headphone assembly 100, the first housing portion 120 includes a laterally outer engagement portion 122, and the second housing portion 160 includes a laterally inner engagement portion 162 and a shoulder 164 adjacent to the engagement portion 162. The term "lateral" herein refers to the engagement surface of the first housing portion 120 and the second housing portion 160 of the headphone assembly 100, wherein the direction within the engagement surface is lateral, and the direction perpendicular to the engagement surface is vertical. The engagement portions 122 of the first housing portion 120 and the engagement portions 162 of the second housing portion 160 overlap each other. A sealing ring 170 surrounds the outside of the engagement portion 162 of the second housing portion 160, abutting upward against the engagement portion 122 of the first housing portion 120 and downward against the shoulder 164 of the second housing portion 160. This sealing ring 170 effectively seals the assembly gap between the two housing portions to meet waterproof design requirements. Figure 2C As can be seen, the second housing portion 160 has a notch 172 in the region corresponding to the curved portion 144a of the first arm 144, which opens toward the first housing portion 120. This notch 172 is covered by a sealing ring 170. By providing the notch 172, a shielding space is provided for the curved portion 144a of the first arm 144 to extend across the second housing portion 160 in the open state. Furthermore, the combined design of the sealing ring 170 and the notch 172 has particular advantages: not only does it allow the headphone assembly 100 to open with less resistance at the start of opening, thus making the opening and closing of the headphone assembly 100 smoother, but also, during the open state, the hinge 140 can compress the sealing ring 170 at the notch 172 of the second housing portion 160, thereby allowing the headphone assembly 100 to open to a greater extent.

[0038] In one or more embodiments of this disclosure, the first housing portion 120 may have an engagement portion located laterally inside and a shoulder adjacent to the engagement portion, and the second housing portion 160 may have an engagement portion located laterally outside. Accordingly, the sealing ring 170 surrounds the outer side of the engagement portion of the first housing portion 120 laterally and abuts against the engagement portion of the second housing portion 160 and the shoulder of the first housing portion 120 vertically, respectively.

[0039] The locking mechanism of the headphone assembly 100 can be designed in a variety of ways. According to one or more embodiments of this disclosure, the locking mechanism includes a laterally extending latch and a support portion connected to the latch, the support portion being elastically deformable to allow the latch to move from a locked position to an unlocked position. Figures 2A to 2C and Figures 3A to 3C The locking member 130 shown is one embodiment of the locking mechanism. Specifically, as... Figure 3CAs shown, the locking member 130 includes an elastically deformable base plate 132 forming a support portion and a locking post 134 extending from the base plate 132 to form a latch. The base plate 132 is positioned at both ends on corresponding structures of the second housing portion 160 and is fixedly connected to the locking post 134 between its ends. The base plate 132 also includes two bent portions 136, each bent portion defining a concave portion 136a. The locking post 134 or an extension thereof is located between the two concave portions 136a. Figure 2B As shown, the first housing portion 120 has a locking hole 122a at its joint portion 122, and the second housing portion 160 has a locking hole 162a at its joint portion 162, and the locking holes 122a of the first housing portion 120 and the second housing portion 160 are aligned with each other. Figure 2A and Figure 2B In the closed state of the earphone assembly 100 shown, the locking member 130 is in the locked position, that is, the locking pin 134 of the locking member 130 passes through the locking holes 122a and 162a aligned with each other, thereby locking the first housing portion 120 and the second housing portion 160 in place. Figures 2A to 2B The position shown indicates the closed state of the headphone assembly 100.

[0040] When it is necessary to open the headphone assembly 100, for example when performing a battery replacement operation on the headphone assembly 100, the user can, for example, use a needle-like object (not shown) along... Figure 2B Press the locking pin 134 in the direction of arrow F, thereby moving the locking member 130 and its locking pin 134 from their locked position to the unlocked position in the direction of arrow F. In the unlocked position of the locking member 130 or its locking pin 134, the locking pin 134 of the locking member 130 is located outside the locking hole 122a of the first housing portion 120, so that the first earphone portion 110 or the first housing portion 120 of the earphone assembly 100 can pivot about the hinge 140 relative to the second earphone portion 150 or the second housing portion 160, thereby placing the earphone assembly 100 in the open state.

[0041] Figure 3A and Figure 3CThe structure of the locking member 130 and the structure in the second housing portion 160 that mates with the locking member 130 are shown. The second housing portion 160 includes an engagement portion 162 and two posts 166 adjacent to and spaced apart from the engagement portion 162. When the locking member 130 is engaged in the second housing portion 160, the base plate 132 of the locking member 130 is placed or sandwiched between the engagement portion 162 of the second housing portion 160 and the two posts 166, wherein each bent portion 136 of the locking member 130 abuts against each of the posts 166, and each concave portion 136a of the bent portion 136 mates with each of the two posts 166, such that the locking member 130 is properly held in place. At this time, the locking post 134 or its extension is located between or between the two posts 166. In one or more embodiments of this disclosure, the locking member 130 is a one-piece molded member. In other embodiments of this disclosure, the locking member 130 is made of a metal (such as steel), such that the base plate 132 of the locking member 130 is resilient. In the closed state of the headphone assembly 100, when the user uses a needle-like object along... Figure 2B When the locking pin 134 is pressed in the direction indicated by arrow F, the base plate 132 of the locking member 130 undergoes elastic deformation, allowing the locking pin 134 of the locking member 130 to disengage from the locking hole 122a of the engagement portion 122, thereby allowing the first earphone portion 110 or the first housing portion 130 to pivot about the hinge 140 away from the second earphone portion 150 or the second housing portion 160.

[0042] In one or more embodiments, the locking post 134 of the locking member 130 has a diameter on the order of millimeters, such as 1 mm or 1 to 2 mm, and in the closed state of the headphone assembly 100, the locking post 134 of the locking member 130 is retracted relative to the locking hole 122a of the first housing portion 120. Therefore, in everyday use of the headphone assembly 100, the locking post 134 of the locking member 110 is concealed, does not affect the appearance of the headphone assembly, and will not be accidentally touched, causing the headphone assembly 100 to open unintentionally. Thus, the locking member 130 of this disclosure can reliably hold the headphone assembly 100 in the closed state.

[0043] For the headphone assembly 100, only a very limited number of battery replacements are typically required throughout its lifespan, such as 1 to 3 times. For such a limited number of replacements, the unlocking method of this disclosure (using a pin to press the locking pin 134 in the locking hole 122a of the first housing portion 120) is relatively simple. In other embodiments, a button may be used instead of a pin and locking mechanism, and the headphone assembly can be opened by pressing the button to disengage the locking mechanism from its locked position.

[0044] Figure 5A and Figure 5BA cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the locking mechanism in the headphone assembly 100 is shown, wherein Figure 5A The diagram shows an overall view (left view) of the locking mechanism in the locked position, and a detail marked with a circle A within the overall view (right view). Figure 5B A general view (left view) of the locking mechanism in the unlocked position and a detail marked with circle B in the general view (right view) are shown. For clarity, the second housing portion 160 is positioned at the top. The locking mechanism is configured as a cantilever 190 fixed at one end, which is an injection-molded component integrally formed with the second housing portion 160 and capable of elastic deformation. In one or more embodiments of this disclosure, the cantilever 190 may also be an injection-molded component integrally formed with the first housing portion 120. As shown, the fixed end of the cantilever 190 forms a support portion, the free end of the cantilever 190 is provided with a protrusion 190a forming a latch, and the first housing portion 120 is provided with a recess 120a for engaging with the protrusion 190a and a through hole 120b for allowing the cantilever 190 to be pushed from the outside. The outer side (bottom of the figure) of the protrusion 190a of the cantilever 190 is provided with a chamfer 190b to reduce the resistance generated by the protrusion 190a during the downward insertion of the cantilever 190 into the first housing portion 120, thereby allowing the cantilever 190 to enter... Figure 5A The locking position is shown, where the protrusion 190a is embedded in the recess 120a, locking the first housing portion 120 in a closed state. When the user inserts a needle-like object into the perforation 120b and presses the cantilever 190, the cantilever 190 elastically deforms, and the protrusion 190a can disengage from the recess 120a, thereby entering... Figure 5B The unlocked position shown allows the first housing portion 120 to pivot about a hinge 140 (not shown) away from the second housing portion 160.

[0045] Figure 6A and Figure 6B Partial exploded and sectional views of an earphone assembly 100 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure are shown, in which another embodiment employs a hinge 140. The hinge 140 herein is a single-arm hinge including a pivot 142 and a first arm 144, without a second arm. The connection between the pivot 142 and the second housing portion 160 is achieved by a seat 174 injection-molded into the second housing portion 160. The seat 174 includes two portions, each molded with a recess 174a to receive the two ends of the pivot 142. The first arm 144 includes a bent portion 144a, a first stop portion 144b, and a connecting portion 144c disposed between the bent portion 144a and the first stop portion 144b. The first stop portion 144b is accommodating in a first receiving portion 120c of the first housing portion 120.

[0046] The seat 174 can take various forms. In one or more embodiments of this disclosure, the pivot 174 may be configured to include two dome-shaped recesses opposite each other. The pivot 142 is correspondingly provided with spherical ends adapted to fit into the dome-shaped recesses, such that the seat can form support for the two ends of the pivot. The pivot 142 shown in the figures has a cylindrical shape. In one or more embodiments of this disclosure, the pivot 142 may also be configured to be any shape, such as spherical or quasi-spherical. In one or more embodiments of this disclosure, the pivot 142 may also be configured to form an integral member with the first arm 144.

[0047] Refer again Figures 3A to 3B The interface separating the first earphone portion 110 and the second earphone portion 150 is located near the upper surface of the battery 152, such that when the earphone assembly 100 is in the open state, the battery 152, housed within the second housing portion 160 of the second earphone portion 150, is exposed. When the earphone assembly 100 is in the open state, there are no other electronic devices above the battery 152, allowing the user to remove and replace the battery 152 from the second housing portion 160 of the second earphone portion 150.

[0048] like Figure 3A As shown, the headphone assembly 100 also includes a flexible circuit board 148 near the hinge 140. By using the flexible circuit board 148, the speaker 114 (and other electronic components) of the first headphone section 110 can always be reliably electrically connected to the battery 152 and circuit board 154 (and other electronic components) of the second headphone section 150, regardless of whether the headphone assembly 100 is in the open or closed state.

[0049] In the foregoing description, this disclosure is described in conjunction with TWS earphones or wireless earphones. Those skilled in the art will understand that TWS earphones or wireless earphones are typically used in pairs, and the two earphones are substantially identical in structure and function, and the other earphone in the pair will not be described in detail herein. In other embodiments according to this disclosure, TWS earphones or wireless earphones may have any suitable structure different from the one shown.

[0050] The present disclosure has been described above in conjunction with TWS earphones or wireless earphones. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and in other embodiments of the present disclosure, the present disclosure may be applied to any suitable wearable electronic device, such as a smartwatch or wristband, or other suitable electronic device having a rechargeable battery.

[0051] According to one or more embodiments of this disclosure, this disclosure may be implemented as follows.

[0052] Item 1: An electronic device comprising: a first module including a first housing portion and electronic components housed in the first housing portion; a second module including a second housing portion and a battery and electronic components housed in the second housing portion; and a hinge having a pivot connected to the first housing portion and the second housing portion respectively, such that the first module is rotatable relative to the second module about an axis of the pivot, thereby enabling the electronic device to transition between a closed state and an open state, wherein in the closed state, the first housing portion and the second housing portion are engaged together to form a housing of the electronic device, the battery and the electronic components of the first and second modules are housed in the housing, and in the open state, the first housing portion and the second housing portion are separated from each other, exposing the battery, and wherein the pivot of the hinge is arranged in the second housing portion such that the hinge is not visible from the outside in the closed state of the electronic device.

[0053] Item 2: The electronic device according to Item 1, wherein the hinge includes a first arm connecting the pivot to the first housing portion, the first arm including a bent portion extending to form a plane perpendicular to the axis of the pivot.

[0054] Item 3: The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 2, wherein the curved portion includes a portion located outside the second housing portion and extending in a direction close to the second housing portion in the open state.

[0055] Item 4: The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein the curved portion has an arcuate profile.

[0056] Item 5: An electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein the first arm includes a first stop portion for attachment to the first housing portion, the first stop portion extending parallel to the axis of the pivot, and the first housing portion is provided with a first receiving portion for receiving the first stop portion.

[0057] Item 6: The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 5, wherein the first arm further includes a connecting portion for connecting the curved portion to the first stop portion, the connecting portion extending in the same plane as the curved portion.

[0058] Item 7: The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 6, wherein the hinge further comprises a second arm connecting the pivot to the second housing portion, the second arm extending in the same plane as the pivot and including a second stop portion for attachment to the second housing portion, the second stop portion extending parallel to the axis of the pivot, and the second housing portion being provided with a second receiving portion for receiving the second stop portion.

[0059] Item 8: An electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 7, wherein the pivot is arranged between the battery and the second housing portion, wherein the bent portion of the first arm protrudes toward the battery in the closed state.

[0060] Item 9: An electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 8, wherein a recess extending perpendicular to the axis of the pivot is provided on the side of the battery facing the curved portion, and the curved portion of the first arm is partially accommodated in the recess in the closed state.

[0061] Item 10: An electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 9, wherein the battery has a flat end face on the side of the battery facing the curved portion, and the recess is provided on the end face.

[0062] Item 11: An electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 10, wherein the electronic device further comprises a sealing ring, one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion being located laterally inside at the joint and having a shoulder, and the other being located laterally outside at the joint, the sealing ring laterally surrounding the outside of the first portion and vertically abutting against the shoulder and the other portion, respectively.

[0063] Item 12: An electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 11, wherein the second housing portion is laterally inward relative to the first housing portion at the joint, wherein the second housing portion is provided at the joint, in a region corresponding to the hinge, with a notch opening toward the first housing portion, the notch being covered by the sealing ring.

[0064] Item 13: An electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 12, wherein the electronic device includes a locking mechanism for locking the electronic device in the closed state, the locking mechanism including a laterally extending latch and a support portion connected to the latch, the support portion being elastically deformable to allow the latch to move from a locked position to an unlocked position.

[0065] Item 14: An electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 13, wherein the locking mechanism is a metal member, the latch is columnar, and the support portion is sheet-like, the support portion being positioned at both ends on corresponding structures of the second housing portion and being fixedly connected to the latch between the two ends, the first housing portion and the second housing portion being laterally stacked on each other at the joint and each having a locking hole, the latch being configured to extend into the locking hole and be actuated from the outside.

[0066] Item 15: An electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 14, wherein the corresponding structure of the second housing portion includes a joining portion and two posts adjacent to and spaced apart from the joining portion, wherein the support portion of the locking mechanism is sandwiched between the joining portion and the posts, and wherein the locking latch or an extension of the locking latch is located between the two posts.

[0067] Item 16: The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 15, wherein the support portion further comprises a curved portion forming two concave portions for engaging with the two posts.

[0068] Item 17: An electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 16, wherein the locking mechanism is a cantilever disposed on one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the fixed end of the cantilever forming the support portion, the free end of the cantilever being provided with a protrusion forming the locking latch, and the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion being provided with a recess for engaging with the protrusion and a through hole for allowing the cantilever to be pushed from the outside.

[0069] Item 18: The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 17, wherein the cantilever is chamfered on the outside of the protrusion.

[0070] Item 19: The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 18, wherein the cantilever is an injection-molded component integrally formed on the first housing portion or the second housing portion.

[0071] Item 20: An electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 19, wherein the electronic device includes a flexible circuit board disposed near the hinge for electrically connecting the battery and the electronic components of the second module to the electronic components of the first module.

[0072] Item 21: An electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 20, wherein the interface dividing the first module and the second module is located near the surface of the battery, such that the battery housed in the second housing portion is exposed in the open state of the electronic device.

[0073] Item 22: An electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 21, wherein the electronic device is a wireless headset, and wherein the electronic components of the first module include a speaker assembly.

[0074] Item 23: An electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 22, wherein the electronic device is a wearable electronic device, and wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery.

[0075] Systems and methods have been generally described to aid in understanding the details of this disclosure. In some cases, well-known structures, materials, and / or operations have not been specifically shown or described in detail to prevent obscuring aspects of this disclosure. In other cases, specific details have been given to provide a thorough understanding of this disclosure. Those skilled in the art will recognize that this disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms, such as to suit a particular system or device or situation, or material or component, without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Therefore, the disclosure and description herein are intended to define the scope of this disclosure and not to limit it. Consequently, this disclosure is not limited except by consideration of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising A first module, the first module including a first housing portion and electronic components housed in the first housing portion; The second module includes a second housing portion and a battery and electronic components housed within the second housing portion; as well as A hinge having a pivot connected to a first housing portion and a second housing portion, respectively, allows the first module to rotate relative to the second module about the axis of the pivot, enabling the electronic device to transition between a closed state and an open state. In the closed state, the first and second housing portions are engaged together to form the housing of the electronic device, in which the battery and the electronic components of the first and second modules are housed. In the open state, the first and second housing portions are separated, exposing the battery. The hinge's pivot is arranged in the second housing portion such that the hinge is not visible from the outside when the electronic device is in the closed state.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the hinge includes a first arm connecting the pivot to the first housing portion, the first arm including a bent portion extending to form a plane perpendicular to the axis of the pivot.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the curved portion includes a portion located outside the second housing portion and extending in a direction close to the second housing portion in the open state.

4. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the curved portion has an arcuate profile.

5. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the first arm includes a first stop portion for attachment to the first housing portion, the first stop portion extending parallel to the axis of the pivot, and the first housing portion is provided with a first receiving portion for receiving the first stop portion.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the first arm further includes a connecting portion connecting the curved portion to the first stop portion, the connecting portion extending in the same plane as the curved portion.

7. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the hinge further comprises a second arm connecting the pivot to the second housing portion, the second arm extending in the same plane as the pivot and including a second stop portion for attachment to the second housing portion, the second stop portion extending parallel to the axis of the pivot, and the second housing portion being provided with a second receiving portion for receiving the second stop portion.

8. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the pivot is disposed between the battery and the second housing portion, wherein the bent portion of the first arm protrudes toward the battery in the closed state.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the battery has a recess extending perpendicular to the axis of the pivot on one side facing the curved portion, and the curved portion of the first arm is partially accommodated in the recess in the closed state.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the battery has a flat end face on the side of the battery facing the curved portion, and the recess is provided on the end face.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device further comprises a sealing ring, one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion being laterally inner at the joint and having a shoulder thereon, and the other being laterally outer at the joint, the sealing ring laterally surrounding the outer side of the first portion and vertically abutting the shoulder and the other portion, respectively.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the second housing portion is laterally inward relative to the first housing portion at the joint, wherein the second housing portion is provided at the joint, in a region corresponding to the hinge, with a notch opening toward the first housing portion, the notch being covered by the sealing ring.

13. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes a locking mechanism for locking the electronic device in the closed state, the locking mechanism including a laterally extending latch and a support portion connected to the latch, the support portion being elastically deformable to allow the latch to move from a locked position to an unlocked position.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the locking mechanism is a metal component, the latch is columnar, and the support portion is sheet-like, the support portion being positioned at both ends on corresponding structures of the second housing portion and fixedly connected to the latch between the two ends, the first housing portion and the second housing portion being laterally stacked on each other at the joint and each having a locking hole, the latch being configured to extend into the locking hole and be actuated from the outside.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the corresponding structure of the second housing portion includes a joining portion and two posts adjacent to and spaced apart from the joining portion, wherein the support portion of the locking mechanism is sandwiched between the joining portion and the posts, and wherein the locking latch or an extension of the locking latch is located between the two posts.

16. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the support portion further comprises a curved portion forming two concave portions for engaging with the two posts.

17. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the locking mechanism is a cantilever disposed on one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the fixed end of the cantilever forming the support portion, the free end of the cantilever being provided with a protrusion forming the locking latch, and the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion being provided with a recess for engaging with the protrusion and a through hole for allowing the cantilever to be pushed from the outside.

18. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the cantilever is chamfered on the outer side of the protrusion.

19. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the cantilever is an injection-molded component integrally formed on the first housing portion or the second housing portion.

20. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the electronic device includes a flexible circuit board disposed near the hinge for electrically connecting the battery and the electronic components of the second module to the electronic components of the first module.

21. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the interface dividing the first module and the second module is located near the surface of the battery, such that the battery housed in the second housing portion is exposed in the open state of the electronic device.

22. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the electronic device is a wireless headset, and wherein the electronic components of the first module include a speaker assembly.

23. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the electronic device is a wearable electronic device, and wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery.

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