Electronic device

Abstract

To provide an electronic apparatus capable of extending a usable time in the electronic apparatus provided with a left unit and a right unit mounted with solar batteries.SOLUTION: The partner unit charging amount obtaining section 100L of the left ear phone unit 7L functioning as the main unit obtains the first charging amount of the rechargeable battery 100R transmitted from the right ear phone unit 14R functioning as the sub unit. The charging amount comparing section 8L compares the first charging amount with the second charging amount of the rechargeable battery 9L acquired by the own unit charging amount acquiring section 14L. As a result of the comparison between the first charged amount and the second charged amount by the charged amount comparing unit 11L, when the difference between the first charged amount and the second charged amount is equal to or larger than the first differential amount, the notifying unit 8L notifies the user of the fact.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic device that includes a left unit and a right unit. [Background technology]

[0002] Earphones are an example of an electronic device equipped with a left unit and a right unit. In recent years, wireless earphones that connect to music players such as smartphones via short-range wireless communication have become popular. Wireless earphones require a charger to charge the built-in rechargeable battery before use. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-42486 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] One idea is to equip wireless earphones with solar cells so that they can be used without a charger by charging the rechargeable batteries. Wireless earphones are worn in each ear, and music can be played while the solar cells charge the rechargeable batteries. However, differences in the amount of charge in the rechargeable batteries of the left and right units can occur depending on factors such as the degree to which the left and right units are obscured by hair or the way light hits the left and right units. As a result, the usable time of the wireless earphones will be limited to the operating time of the battery with the least amount of charge.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device that can extend the usable time of an electronic device that includes a left unit and a right unit equipped with solar cells. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides an electronic device comprising a left unit and a right unit, wherein the left unit and the right unit each have a solar cell, a rechargeable battery that is charged by power generated by the solar cell, a left and right unit communication unit that wirelessly communicates between the left unit and the right unit, and a unit charge amount acquisition unit that acquires the charge amount of the rechargeable battery that the unit has.

[0007] In the above electronic device, the sub-unit that functions as a sub-unit of the left unit and the right unit has a self-unit charge amount transmission unit that transmits the first charge amount of the rechargeable battery possessed by the sub-unit acquired by the self-unit charge amount acquisition unit to the main unit that functions as a main unit of the left unit and the right unit via the left / right unit communication unit.

[0008] In the above electronic device, the main unit has a counterpart unit charge amount acquisition unit that acquires the first charge amount transmitted from the sub-unit as the charge amount of the rechargeable battery of the counterpart unit, a charge amount comparison unit that compares the first charge amount acquired by the counterpart unit charge amount acquisition unit with the second charge amount of the rechargeable battery of the main unit acquired by the own unit charge amount acquisition unit, and a notification unit that notifies the users of the left unit and the right unit of the fact that, as a result of the comparison between the first charge amount and the second charge amount by the charge amount comparison unit, there is a difference between the two that is equal to or greater than a first difference value. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the electronic device of the present invention, the usable time of the electronic device including the left unit and right unit each equipped with a solar cell can be extended. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a wireless earphone as an electronic device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the solar cell of the right earphone unit of the wireless earphone, which is an electronic device according to one embodiment, is housed inside the main body. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a wireless earphone as an electronic device according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing basic processing executed by a wireless earphone as an electronic device according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process that may be additionally executed by a wireless earphone as an electronic device according to an embodiment after step S3 in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing advanced processing executed by a wireless earphone as an electronic device according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] An electronic device according to an embodiment will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiment described below in detail, the electronic device is a wireless earphone, but the electronic device is not limited to a wireless earphone.

[0012] 1, the wireless earphone 100 includes a left earphone unit 100L and a right earphone unit 100R. The left earphone unit 100L is the left unit of an electronic device according to an embodiment, and the right earphone unit 100R is the right unit of an electronic device according to an embodiment. The left earphone unit 100L and the right earphone unit 100R each include a main body 21, an earpiece 22 provided in front of the main body 21, and a downward protrusion 23.

[0013] Hemispherical solar cells 13L and 13R are provided at the rear ends of the main body 21 of the left earphone unit 100L and the right earphone unit 100R, respectively. The solar cell 13L consists of a left half 13La and a right half 13Lb, and the solar cell 13R consists of a left half 13Ra and a right half 13Rb. The solar cells 13L and 13R are configured so that, by lowering a slide switch 24 provided on the downward protrusion 23, the left half 13La and the right half 13Lb and the left half 13Ra and the right half 13Rb open, and the solar cells 13L and 13R are stored in the main body 21 as shown in FIG. 2.

[0014] It is preferable to use perovskite solar cells as the solar cells 13L and 13R. The shape of the solar cells 13L and 13R is not limited to a hemispherical shape. The solar cells 13L and 13R do not have to be divided into a left half 13La and a right half 13Lb, and a left half 13Ra and a right half 13Rb, respectively. As shown in FIG. 2, when the solar cells 13L and 13R are housed in the main body 21, the touch sensors 5L (shown in FIG. 2) and 5R provided on the main body 21 are configured to face the outside. The downward protrusion 23 is provided with power buttons 16L (shown in FIG. 2) and 16R.

[0015] The specific configuration of the left earphone unit 100L and the right earphone unit 100R will be described using Figure 3. The left earphone unit 100L and the right earphone unit 100R have the same configuration. The left earphone unit 100L includes a communication unit 1L, an audio processing unit 2L, a speaker 3L, a pairing information storage unit 4L, a touch sensor 5L, a left / right unit communication unit 6L, a partner unit charge level acquisition unit 7L, a charge level comparison unit 8L, and a self-unit charge level acquisition unit 9L. The left earphone unit 100L also includes a main / sub setting unit 10L, a notification unit 11L, a self-unit charge level transmission unit 12L, a solar cell 13L, a rechargeable battery 14L, a wearing sensor 15L, a power button 16L, and a power control unit 17L.

[0016] The right earphone unit 100R is given a reference numeral in which the L at the end of the reference numeral given to each component included in the left earphone unit 100L is replaced with an R.

[0017] 3, the left earphone unit 100L is a main unit that functions as the main unit of the left earphone unit 100L and the right earphone unit 100R. The right earphone unit 100R is a sub-unit that functions as a sub-unit. As will be described later, there are cases where the right earphone unit 100R serves as the main unit and the left earphone unit 100L serves as the sub-unit. One of the left earphone unit 100L and the right earphone unit 100R serves as the main unit and the other serves as the sub-unit.

[0018] In FIG. 3, among the components of the left earphone unit 100L and the right earphone unit 100R, components that are not actually operating are indicated by dashed lines.

[0019] The rechargeable batteries 14L and 14R are charged with power generated by the solar cells 13L and 13R, respectively. When the power button 16L is pressed, the power control unit 17L controls the rechargeable battery 14L to supply power from the rechargeable battery 14L to each component requiring power. This causes the left earphone unit 100L to start operating. If pairing information with the smartphone 200, which is an external device, is stored in the pairing information storage unit 4L, the smartphone 200 communicates with the communication unit 1L and automatically pairs with the left earphone unit 100L.

[0020] The main / sub setting unit 10L sets the left earphone unit 100L as the main unit after pairing the smartphone 200 with the left earphone unit 100L. The main / sub setting unit 10L activates the other unit charge amount acquisition unit 7L, charge amount comparison unit 8L, and notification unit 11L, and deactivates the own unit charge amount transmission unit 12L.

[0021] After the left earphone unit 100L has started operating, when the power button 16R of the right earphone unit 100R is pressed, the power control unit 17R controls the rechargeable battery 14R to supply power from the rechargeable battery 14R to each component that requires power. This causes the right earphone unit 100R to start operating. Because the smartphone 200 and the left earphone unit 100L are already paired, the right earphone unit 100R does not communicate with the communication unit 1R and is not paired with the smartphone 200. The communication unit 1R is essentially inactive.

[0022] The main / sub setting unit 10R sets the right earphone unit 100R as a sub-unit because the right earphone unit 100R is not paired with the smartphone 200. The main / sub setting unit 10R deactivates the other unit charge amount acquisition unit 7R, charge amount comparison unit 8R, and notification unit 11R, and activates the own unit charge amount transmission unit 12R.

[0023] The smartphone 200 and the communication unit 1L of the left earphone unit 100L communicate with each other in accordance with any short-range wireless communication standard, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark), as indicated by the dashed-dotted lines. Similarly, the left and right unit communication units 6L and 6R communicate with each other in accordance with any short-range wireless communication standard, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark), as indicated by the dashed-dotted lines.

[0024] The communication unit 1L receives audio data including left and right audio transmitted from the smartphone 200. The audio processing unit 2L performs D / A conversion on the audio data for the left audio and supplies it to the speaker 3L. As a result, the speaker 3L outputs the left audio. The audio processing unit 2L supplies the audio data for the right audio to the left / right unit communication unit 6L. The left / right unit communication unit 6L transmits the audio data for the right audio to the left / right unit communication unit 6R. The audio processing unit 2R performs D / A conversion on the audio data for the right audio and supplies it to the speaker 3R. As a result, the speaker 3R outputs the right audio.

[0025] If the right earphone unit 100R is the main unit and the communication unit 1R is communicating with the smartphone 200, the left / right unit communication unit 6R transmits audio data of the left sound to the left / right unit communication unit 6L.

[0026] In the left earphone unit 100L, the own unit charge amount acquisition unit 9L acquires the charge amount (second charge amount) of the rechargeable battery 14L of the left earphone unit 100L, which is the own unit. In the right earphone unit 100R, the own unit charge amount acquisition unit 9R acquires the charge amount (first charge amount) of the rechargeable battery 14R of the right earphone unit 100R, which is the own unit. The own unit charge amount transmission unit 12R supplies the charge amount of the rechargeable battery 14R acquired by the own unit charge amount acquisition unit 9R to the left / right unit communication unit 6R. As a result, the left / right unit communication unit 6R transmits the charge amount of the rechargeable battery 14R to the left / right unit communication unit 6L.

[0027] In the left earphone unit 100L, the partner unit charge amount acquisition unit 7L acquires the charge amount of the rechargeable battery 14R received by the left / right unit communication unit 6L of the partner right earphone unit 100R. The charge amount comparison unit 8L compares the charge amount of the rechargeable battery 14R with the charge amount of the rechargeable battery 14L. The charge amount comparison unit 8L supplies the comparison result to the main / sub setting unit 10L and the notification unit 11L.

[0028] If the charge amount comparison unit 8L compares the charge amounts of the rechargeable battery 14L and the rechargeable battery 14R and finds that there is a difference between them that is equal to or greater than the first difference value, the notification unit 11L notifies the user of the wireless earphone 100. The notification unit 11L may notify the user which of the charge amounts of the rechargeable battery 14L and the rechargeable battery 14R is greater or less.

[0029] Specifically, the notification unit 11L supplies audio data to the audio processing unit 2L, warning that there is a difference of at least a first difference between the charge amounts of the rechargeable batteries 14R and 14L. The speaker 3L outputs an audible warning. The audible warning may be a beep or a message such as "There is a difference in the charge amounts between the left and right earphones." The notification unit 11L may notify the user only when the wearing sensor 15L detects that the left earphone unit 100L is worn in the user's ear.

[0030] The user receives a notification (warning) that the difference in the charge levels of the rechargeable batteries 14L and 14R of the left earphone unit 100L and the right earphone unit 100R is equal to or greater than the first difference value. This allows the user to change their body position or to avoid being obscured by their hair by the left earphone unit 100L or right earphone unit 100R with the lesser charge level. This allows the wireless earphone 100 to be used for a longer period of time.

[0031] If the left earphone unit 100L and the right earphone unit 100R have the same shape and are interchangeable, the notification unit 11L may recommend that the user wear the left earphone unit 100L in their right ear and the right earphone unit 100R in their left ear. When the wearing sensor 15L detects that the left earphone unit 100L has been removed from the user's left ear, the left earphone unit 100L swaps the left and right audio data as follows.

[0032] As an example, the wearing sensors 15L and 15R can detect whether the left earphone unit 100L and the right earphone unit 100R are worn in the user's ears by emitting light and detecting whether or not the light is reflected or how the light is reflected.

[0033] The audio processing unit 2L of the left earphone unit 100L D / A converts the audio data of the right audio instead of the audio data of the left audio and supplies it to the speaker 3L. The left / right unit communication unit 6L transmits the audio data of the left audio instead of the audio data of the right audio to the left / right unit communication unit 6R.

[0034] If the right earphone unit 100R is the main unit and the left earphone unit 100L is the sub-unit, the left / right unit communication unit 6R transmits audio data for the left audio to the left / right unit communication unit 6L. Therefore, in this case, the left / right unit communication unit 6R simply transmits audio data for the right audio to the left / right unit communication unit 6L instead of audio data for the left audio.

[0035] The difference between the charge amount of the rechargeable battery 14R and the charge amount of the rechargeable battery 14L that is equal to or greater than the first difference value may be due to factors such as the left earphone unit 100L and the right earphone unit 100R being hidden to different degrees by hair or being hit by different light. If the user swaps the left earphone unit 100L and the right earphone unit 100R, it is highly likely that the difference between the charge amount of the rechargeable battery 14R and the charge amount of the rechargeable battery 14L will become less than the first difference value.

[0036] The usable time of the wireless earphone 100 can be extended by swapping the left earphone unit 100L and the right earphone unit 100R.

[0037] When the result of comparing the first charge amount with the second charge amount by the charge amount comparison unit 8L shows that the second charge amount is less than the first charge amount and that there is a difference between the two amounts that is equal to or greater than the second difference value, the main unit and the sub-unit should be swapped as follows: The main / sub setting unit 10L of the left earphone unit 100L instructs the communication unit 1L to disconnect communication with the smartphone 200 in order to set itself as the new sub-unit.

[0038] If pairing information with the smartphone 200 is stored in the pairing information storage unit 4R of the right earphone unit 100R, the right earphone unit 100R automatically pairs with the smartphone 200. The main / sub setting unit 10R sets its own unit as a new main unit. The main / sub setting unit 10R instructs the left / right unit communication unit 6R to transmit audio data for the left sound to the left / right unit communication unit 6L.

[0039] Because the left earphone unit 100L is not paired with the smartphone 200, the main / sub setting unit 10L sets the left earphone unit 100L as a new sub-unit.

[0040] In this way, the right earphone unit 100R serves as a main unit, and the left earphone unit 100L serves as a sub-unit.

[0041] The wireless earphone 100 described above shows an example in which the wireless earphone 100 operates in a charging mode in which the rechargeable batteries 14L and 14R are charged by the solar cells 13L and 13R. As shown in Fig. 2, the solar cells 13L and 13R may be housed in the main body 21 with the touch sensors 5L and 5R facing the outside, and the wireless earphone 100 may operate in a sensor mode in which the wireless earphone 100 is operated by the touch sensors 5L and 5R.

[0042] It is preset how the smartphone 200 is controlled when the touch sensors 5L and 5R are touched in different ways. As an example, if the touch sensor 5L is touched once while audio data is being played back, the wireless earphone 100 stops the playback of the audio data by the smartphone 200. If the touch sensor 5L is touched once while playback is stopped, the wireless earphone 100 restarts the playback of the audio data by the smartphone 200.

[0043] The basic processing executed by the wireless earphone 100 will be described using the flowchart shown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 4, in step S1, the main unit determines whether it is in solar battery charging mode based on the position of the slide switch 24. If it is in charging mode (YES), in step S2, the main unit determines whether there is a difference of at least a first difference between the charge amount of the rechargeable battery 14L in the left earphone unit 100L and the charge amount of the rechargeable battery 14R in the right earphone unit 100R.

[0044] If there is no difference equal to or greater than the first difference value in step S2 (NO), the main unit repeats the processes of steps S1 and S2. If there is a difference equal to or greater than the first difference value in step S2 (YES), the main unit notifies the user of this in step S3 and proceeds to step S6.

[0045] If the main unit is not in the charging mode (NO) in step S1, it is operating in the sensor mode, and therefore, in step S4, it determines whether or not touch sensor 5L or 5R has been operated. If touch sensor 5L or 5R has not been operated (NO), the main unit repeats the processing of step S4. If touch sensor 5L or 5R has been operated (YES), in step S5, the main unit controls smartphone 200 in accordance with the operation of touch sensor 5L or 5R, and proceeds to processing in step S6.

[0046] In step S6, the main unit determines whether the power button 16L or 16R was pressed to turn off the power to the wireless earphone 100. If the power was not turned off (NO), the main unit repeats the processing from step S1 onwards. If the power was turned off (YES), the main unit ends the processing.

[0047] After notifying the user in step S3, the main unit may execute the processes of steps S11 to S13 shown in Fig. 5. In Fig. 5, in step S11, the main unit recommends swapping the left earphone unit 100L with the right earphone unit 100R. In step S12, the main unit determines whether the wearing sensor 15L or 15R of the main unit has detected removal from the ear.

[0048] If the wearing sensor 15L or 15R detects removal from the ear (YES), the wireless earphone 100 swaps the left earphone unit and the right earphone unit in step S13 and proceeds to step S6 in Fig. 4. If the wearing sensor 15L or 15R does not detect removal from the ear (NO), the main unit proceeds to step S6.

[0049] The advanced processing executed by the wireless earphone 100 will be explained using the flowchart shown in Fig. 6. In Fig. 6, in step S21, the main unit determines whether it is in solar battery charging mode based on the position of the slide switch 24. If it is in charging mode (YES), in step S22, the main unit determines whether there is a difference of at least a second difference between the charge amount of the rechargeable battery 14L in the left earphone unit 100L and the charge amount of the rechargeable battery 14R in the right earphone unit 100R.

[0050] If the difference is not equal to or greater than the second difference value in step S22 (NO), the main unit repeats the processes of steps S21 and S22. If the difference is equal to or greater than the second difference value in step S22 (YES), the main unit determines in step S23 whether the charge amount of the rechargeable battery of the main unit is less than the charge amount of the rechargeable battery of the sub-unit. If the charge amount of the rechargeable battery of the main unit is not less than the charge amount of the rechargeable battery of the sub-unit (NO), the main unit repeats the processes of steps S21 to S23.

[0051] If the charge level of the rechargeable battery in the main unit is less than the charge level of the rechargeable battery in the sub-unit in step S23 (YES), the wireless earphone 100 swaps the main unit and sub-unit in step S23 and proceeds to step S27.

[0052] If the main unit is not in the charging mode (NO) in step S21, it is operating in the sensor mode, and therefore, in step S25, it determines whether or not touch sensor 5L or 5R has been operated. If touch sensor 5L or 5R has not been operated (NO), the main unit repeats the processing of step S25. If touch sensor 5L or 5R has been operated (YES), the main unit controls smartphone 200 in step S26 in accordance with the operation of touch sensor 5L or 5R, and proceeds to processing in step S27.

[0053] In step S27, the main unit determines whether the power button 16L or 16R was pressed to turn off the power to the wireless earphone 100. If the power was not turned off (NO), the main unit repeats the processing from step S21 onwards. If the power was turned off (YES), the main unit ends the processing.

[0054] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 1L, 1R Communication Department 2L, 2R audio processing section 3L, 3R speakers 4L, 4R Pairing information storage section 5L, 5R touch sensor 6L, 6R left and right unit communication section 7L, 7R Other unit charge amount acquisition section 8L,8R charge amount comparison section 9L, 9R Self unit charge amount acquisition section 10L, 10R Main and sub settings section 11L,11R Notification section 12L, 12R own unit charge amount transmitter 13L,13R solar cell 14L, 14R rechargeable battery 15L, 15R mounted sensor 16L, 16R Power button 17L, 17R Power supply control section 21 Main body 22 earpiece 23 Downward protrusion 24 Slide switch 100 Wireless Earphones 100L Left earphone unit 100R Right earphone unit

Claims

1. A left unit and a right unit are provided. The left unit and the right unit are Solar cells and a rechargeable battery that is charged by the power generated by the solar cell; a left and right unit communication section for wirelessly communicating between the left unit and the right unit; a self-unit charge amount acquisition unit that acquires the charge amount of the rechargeable battery included in the self-unit; and The sub-unit that functions as a sub-unit of the left unit and the right unit is a self-unit charge amount transmitting unit that transmits, via the left / right unit communication unit, a first charge amount of the rechargeable battery of the sub-unit that is acquired by the self-unit charge amount acquiring unit to a main unit that functions as a main unit of the left unit and the right unit; The main unit comprises: a counterpart unit charge amount acquisition unit that acquires the first charge amount transmitted from the sub-unit as a charge amount of the rechargeable battery of the counterpart unit; a charge amount comparison unit that compares the first charge amount acquired by the counterpart unit charge amount acquisition unit with a second charge amount of the rechargeable battery of the main unit acquired by the self-unit charge amount acquisition unit; a notification unit that notifies users of the left unit and the right unit when a difference between the first charge amount and the second charge amount is equal to or greater than a first difference value as a result of the comparison between the first charge amount and the second charge amount by the charge amount comparison unit; have electronic equipment.

2. the electronic device is an earphone, the left unit and the right unit are a left earphone unit and a right earphone unit to be worn on the left ear and the right ear of the user, respectively; the left earphone unit and the right earphone unit each have a communication unit that wirelessly communicates with an external device, the communication unit of the main unit receives audio data including left and right audio transmitted from the external device, The left-right unit communication section of the main unit transmits audio data of the right audio to the left-right unit communication section of the sub-unit if the main unit is the left earphone unit, and transmits audio data of the left audio to the left-right unit communication section of the sub-unit if the main unit is the right earphone unit. The electronic device according to claim 1 .

3. the left earphone unit and the right earphone unit each have a wearing sensor that detects whether the left earphone unit and the right earphone unit are worn on the left ear and the right ear of the user, respectively; when there is a difference between the first charge amount and the second charge amount that is equal to or greater than the first difference value, the notification unit recommends that the user wear the left earphone unit in the user's right ear and the right earphone unit in the user's left ear; When at least the wearing sensor of the main unit detects that the main unit has been removed from the left ear or the right ear of the user, the left / right unit communication unit of the main unit switches to and transmits left audio data if the main unit is transmitting right audio data to the left / right unit communication unit of the sub-unit, and switches to and transmits right audio data if the main unit is transmitting left audio data to the left / right unit communication unit of the sub-unit. The electronic device according to claim 2 .

4. The left unit and the right unit are a main / sub setting unit that sets one of the left unit and the right unit as the main unit and the other as the sub unit, When the result of the comparison between the first charge amount and the second charge amount by the charge amount comparison unit shows that there is a difference between the two by a second difference value or more that is larger than the first difference value and the second charge amount is smaller than the first charge amount, the main / sub setting unit of the main unit sets its own unit as a new sub unit, and the main / sub setting unit of the sub unit sets its own unit as a new main unit. The electronic device according to claim 1 .

5. The left unit and the right unit are Further comprising a communication unit for wirelessly communicating with an external device, the communication unit of the main unit communicates with the external device; the communication unit of the sub-unit does not communicate with the external device, the main / sub setting section of the main unit instructs the communication section of the main unit to disconnect communication with the external device when setting the main unit as a new sub unit; When the communication unit of the sub-unit newly communicates with the external device, the main / sub setting unit of the sub-unit newly sets the sub-unit as the main unit.

5. The electronic device according to claim 4.

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