Microphone Charging Case

Abstract

A microphone (348, 401, 500) can be provided in a charging case (208) for the wireless earphones (200). The charging case can be used for high quality recording (602) and placement of the microphone, as well as to aid the echo cancellation algorithm by measuring environmental noise (604). The microphone can be movably mounted (502) to adjust the noise cancellation or echo cancellation of another device, such as a mobile phone.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application relates generally to wireless earbud charging cases with microphones. [Background technology]

[0002] As recognized herein, wireless earbuds are a popular tool that people use to listen to audio without wires hanging around their necks. Earbuds are typically paired with a portable audio source, such as a cell phone, via Bluetooth. Summary of the Invention

[0003] As will be further understood herein, the wireless earphones can be used dually as microphone support to extend the functionality of a user's mobile system to enhance the microphone signal from a mobile phone, and for other purposes.

[0004] A high-quality microphone can be placed in a charging case for wireless earbuds. This charging case can be used for high-quality recording and microphone placement, as well as to measure environmental noise to assist echo cancellation algorithms. This microphone can be removably mounted to adjust noise cancellation or echo cancellation for another device, such as a mobile phone.

[0005] Thus, the assembly includes left and right earbuds configured to engage a person's ears to reproduce audio, a charging case for the assembly configured to charge batteries within the left and right earbuds, and at least one microphone mounted in the charging case and configured to generate a signal representative of sound.

[0006] In some examples, the charging case includes a lid and a base pivotally connected to the lid and defining at least one contact for supplying current to at least one of the earbuds to recharge a battery therein, and the microphone is attached to the lid. In other examples, the microphone is attached to the base. Optionally, the microphone is coupled to a movable arm coupled to the charging case, allowing a person to move the microphone relative to the charging case. The microphone is movable between a flush position in which the armed microphone is flush with the charging case and a raised position in which the microphone is raised away from the charging case.

[0007] In a non-limiting example, an input device can be provided on the charging case and operable to change the characteristics of the microphone output, the input device can include a rotatable dial, and the characteristics can include sound field size.

[0008] In another aspect, a method includes charging left and right earbuds using at least one charging case having first and second receptacles configured to hold the left and right earbuds, respectively, and further including generating, using the charging case, at least one signal representative of sound.

[0009] In another aspect, an apparatus includes at least one earbud configured to be placed in a person's ear and provide audio to the ear. The apparatus further includes at least one charging case configured to charge at least one battery in the earbud and at least one microphone mechanically coupled to the charging case for generating a signal indicative of sound. The apparatus further includes at least one Bluetooth transceiver configured to transmit a sound signal to a device based on the signal indicative of sound.

[0010] The details of the present application, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts and in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary system in accordance with the present principles; [Figure 2] 1 illustrates an exemplary earbud next to an earbud charging case according to the present principles. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary earbud, charging case, and mobile device according to the present principles. [Figure 4] Shows the wireless charging case with the microphone in the home position. [Figure 5] Shows the wireless charging case with the microphone in the raised position. [Figure 6] 1 illustrates exemplary logic in exemplary flow chart form in accordance with present principles. [Figure 7] 10 is an exemplary screenshot of an exemplary user interface that may be displayed on any display disclosed herein in accordance with the present principles. [Figure 8] 10 is an exemplary screenshot of an exemplary user interface that may be displayed on any display disclosed herein in accordance with the present principles. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present disclosure generally relates to computer ecosystems, including aspects of consumer electronics (CE) device networks, such as, but not limited to, computer gaming networks. The systems herein may include server and client components that may be connected via a network such that data may be exchanged between the client and server components. The client components may include one or more computing devices, including game consoles such as Sony PlayStation® or Microsoft, Nintendo, or other game consoles; virtual reality (VR) headsets; augmented reality (AR) headsets; portable televisions (e.g., smart TVs, Internet-enabled televisions); portable computers such as laptops and tablet computers; and other mobile devices, including smartphones, as well as additional examples described below. These client devices may operate in a variety of operating environments. For example, some of the client computers may employ, as examples, the Linux® operating system, a Microsoft operating system, or a Unix® operating system; an operating system manufactured by Apple or Google; or a Berkeley Software Distribution or Berkeley Standard Distribution (BSD) OS, including derivatives of BSD. These operating environments may be used to run one or more browsing programs, such as browsers made by Microsoft, Google, or Mozilla, or other browser programs that can access websites hosted by Internet servers described below. Also, operating environments according to present principles may be used to run one or more computer game programs.

[0013] Servers and / or gateways may be used, which may include one or more processors that execute instructions that configure the server to receive and transmit data over a network such as the Internet. Alternatively, the clients and servers may be connected via a local intranet or a virtual private network. The servers or controllers may be exemplified by game consoles such as a Sony PlayStation®, personal computers, etc.

[0014] Information may be exchanged between the client and the server over a network. For this purpose and for security, the server and / or client may include firewalls, load balancers, temporary storage, and proxies, as well as other network infrastructure for reliability and security. One or more servers may form an apparatus that implements a method for providing a secure community, such as an online social website or a gamer network, to network members.

[0015] The processor may be a single-chip or multi-chip processor capable of implementing logic through various wiring such as address lines, data lines, and control lines, as well as registers and shift registers.

[0016] Components included in one embodiment may be used in other embodiments in any suitable combination. For example, any of the various components described herein and / or shown in the drawings may be combined, substituted, or excluded from other embodiments.

[0017] "A system having at least one of A, B, and C" (and similarly "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" and "a system having at least one of A, B, and C") includes systems having A only, B only, C only, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and / or A, B, and C together.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 1 , an exemplary system 10 is shown, which may include one or more of the exemplary devices described above and further below in accordance with the present principles. A first exemplary device included in system 10 is a consumer electronics (CE) device, such as, but not limited to, an audio-video device (AVD) 12, e.g., an Internet-enabled TV with a TV tuner (equivalently, a set-top box that controls the TV). AVD 12 may alternatively be a computerized Internet-enabled (“smart”) phone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a head-mounted device (HMD) and / or headset, such as smart glasses or a VR headset, another wearable computerized device, a computerized Internet-enabled music player, computerized Internet-enabled headphones, a computerized Internet-enabled implantable device, such as an implantable skin device, etc. It should be understood that AVD 12 is nevertheless configured to implement the present principles (e.g., to communicate with other CE devices to implement the present principles, execute the logic described herein, and perform any other functions and / or operations described herein).

[0019] Thus, to realize these principles, AVD 12 can be established by some or all of the components shown. For example, AVD 12 can include one or more touch-enabled displays 14, which can be implemented by high-definition or ultra-high-definition "4K" or higher flat screens. Touch-enabled display 14 can include, for example, a capacitive or resistive touch-sensing layer having a grid of electrodes for touch sensing in accordance with the present principles.

[0020] The AVD 12 may also include one or more speakers 16 for outputting audio in accordance with the present principles and at least one additional input device 18, such as an audio receiver / microphone, for inputting audible commands to the AVD 12 to control it. The exemplary AVD 12 may also include one or more network interfaces 20 for communicating over at least one network 22, such as the Internet, a WAN, or a LAN, under the control of one or more processors 24. Accordingly, the interface 20 may be, but is not limited to, a Wi-Fi transceiver, such as a mesh network transceiver, which is an example of a wireless computer network interface. It should be understood that the processor 24 controls the AVD 12 to implement the present principles, including other elements of the AVD 12 described herein, such as controlling the display 14 to present images thereon and receiving input therefrom. It should be further noted that the network interface 20 may be a wired or wireless modem or router, or a wireless telephone transceiver, or other suitable interface, such as the Wi-Fi transceiver discussed above.

[0021] In addition to the above, AVD 12 may also include one or more input and / or output ports 26, such as a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI®) port or a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port for physically connecting to another CE device, and / or a headphone port for connecting headphones to AVD 12 to present audio from AVD 12 to a user through the headphones. For example, input port 26 may be connected, via wire or wireless, to a cable or satellite source 26a of audio-video content. Thus, source 26a may be a separate or integrated set-top box or satellite receiver. Alternatively, source 26a may be a game console or disc player containing content. When implemented as a game console, source 26a may include some or all of the components described below in connection with CE device 48.

[0022] AVD 12 may further include one or more computer memories / computer-readable storage media 28, such as non-transitory disk-based or solid-state storage, possibly embodied within the AVD chassis as a standalone device, or as a personal video recording device (PVR) or video disc player either internal or external to the AVD chassis for playing AV programs, or as removable memory media or a server as described below. In some embodiments, AVD 12 may also include a position or location receiver, such as, but not limited to, a cellular receiver, a GPS receiver, and / or an altimeter 30, configured to receive geographic location information from a satellite or cellular tower and provide that information to processor 24 and / or to determine the altitude at which AVD 12 is disposed in conjunction with processor 24. Component 30 may also be implemented by an inertial measurement unit (IMU), typically including a combination of motion sensors such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers, or by event-based sensors to determine the location and attitude of AVD 12 in three dimensions.

[0023] Continuing with the description of AVD 12, in some embodiments, AVD 12 may include one or more cameras 32, which may be thermal imaging cameras, digital cameras such as webcams, event-based sensors, and / or cameras integrated into AVD 12 and controllable by processor 24 to collect photographs / images and / or video in accordance with present principles. AVD 12 may also include a Bluetooth transceiver 34 and other near field communication (NFC) elements 36 for communicating with other devices using Bluetooth and / or NFC technology, respectively. An exemplary NFC element may be a radio frequency identification (RFID) element.

[0024] Continuing further, AVD 12 may include one or more auxiliary sensors 38 (e.g., motion sensors such as pressure-sensitive sensors, accelerometers, gyroscopes, cyclometers, or magnetic sensors, infrared (IR) sensors, optical sensors, speed and / or cadence sensors, event-based sensors, gesture sensors (e.g., for sensing gesture commands)) that provide input to processor 24. For example, one or more of auxiliary sensors 38 may include one or more pressure sensors forming a layer of touch-enabled display 14 itself, and may be, without limitation, piezoelectric pressure sensors, capacitive pressure sensors, piezoresistive strain gauges, optical pressure sensors, electromagnetic pressure sensors, etc.

[0025] The AVD 12 may also include an over-the-air television broadcast port 40 for receiving OTA television broadcasts, which provides input to the processor 24. In addition to the above, it should be noted that the AVD 12 may also include an infrared (IR) transmitter and / or an IR receiver and / or an IR transceiver 42, such as an IR Data Association (IRDA) device. A battery (not shown) may be provided to power the AVD 12, and may also be a kinetic energy harvester that can convert kinetic energy into power to charge the battery and / or power the AVD 12. A graphics processing unit (GPU) 44 and a field-programmable gate array 46 may also be included. One or more haptic / vibration generators 47 may be provided to generate haptic signals that can be sensed by a person holding or in contact with the device. The haptic generator 47 may vibrate all or a portion of the AVD 12 using an electric motor connected to a centered and / or unbalanced weight via a rotatable shaft of the motor (which may be controlled by a processor such as processor 24) so ​​that the shaft can rotate under the control of the motor to generate vibrations of various frequencies and / or amplitudes and simulated forces in various directions.

[0026] In addition to AVD 12, system 10 may include one or more other CE device types. In one example, first CE device 48 may be a computer game console that can be used to transmit computer game audio and video to AVD 12 via commands sent directly to AVD 12 and / or through a server, as described below, while second CE device 50 may include similar components as first CE device 48. In the example shown, second CE device 50 may be configured as a computer game controller operated by a player or a head-mounted display (HMD) worn by a player. The HMD may include a head-up transparent or non-transparent display for presenting AR / MR content or VR content, respectively.

[0027] In the illustrated example, only two CE devices are shown, but it should be understood that a fewer or greater number of devices may be used. The devices herein may implement some or all of the components shown for the AVD 12 and / or CE devices. Any of the components shown in the following figures may incorporate some or all of the components shown for the AVD 12.

[0028] Referring now to the aforementioned at least one server 52, it includes at least one server processor 54, at least one tangible computer-readable storage medium 56, such as disk-based or solid-state storage, and at least one network interface 58 that, under the control of the server processor 54, enables communication with other illustrated devices via the network 22, and may indeed facilitate communication between the server and client devices in accordance with the present principles. It should be noted that the network interface 58 may be, for example, a wired or wireless modem or router, a Wi-Fi transceiver, or other suitable interface, such as a wireless telephone transceiver.

[0029] Thus, in some embodiments, server 52 may be an entire internet server or server "farm," and may include and perform "cloud" functionality such that, in an exemplary embodiment for a network gaming application, devices of system 10 may access the "cloud" environment via server 52. Alternatively, server 52 may be implemented by one or more game consoles or other computers located in or near the same room as the other devices shown.

[0030] The components shown in the following figures may include some or all of the components shown in this specification. Any user interfaces (UIs) described herein may be integrated and / or extended, and UI elements may be mixed and matched between UIs.

[0031] For example, the earbuds and charging case may implement some or all of the components shown for the CE device in FIG. 1, and may include components specifically shown in the figures described below.

[0032] 2 shows left and right earphones 200 capable of receiving a wireless signal from an audio source and converting that signal into sound that can be heard by a person wearing the earphones. In the example shown, earphones 200 are shaped to fit in each of a person's ears, and therefore have gently curved outer surfaces 202 configured for this purpose.

[0033] As shown, each earbud 200 includes at least one electrical contact 204 for engaging with a respective charging contact 206 of charging case 208, three electrical contacts 204 in the illustrated example. Charging contacts 206 align with and make contact with earbud contacts 204 to charge the battery within the respective earbud when the earbuds are placed in charging receptacle 210 of charging case 208. Charging receptacle 210 has a periphery 212 that matches a periphery 214 of earbuds 200, as can be seen with reference to FIG. 2 , so that earbuds 200 fit snugly within receptacle 210 during charging.

[0034] 3 illustrates exemplary components within earbuds 200 and charging case 208, as well as an audio source such as a mobile device 300. An alternating current (AC) power source 302, such as an electrical socket, can engage an AC-to-DC converter 306 within charging case 208 via cord 304. The output of converter 308 can be used to charge one or more batteries 310 within the charging case in the illustrated non-limiting example architecture. If desired, a direct current (DC) power source 312 can also engage charging case 208 to charge battery 310. In the illustrated example architecture, charging contacts 206 are electrically connected to battery 310 via earbud contacts 204 to provide DC power when the earbuds are placed in receptacle 210 of charging case 208 to charge one or more batteries 314 within earbuds 200. It should be understood that charging case battery 310 may be omitted, and charging case contacts 206 may be directly connected to DC power source 312 and / or AC-to-DC converter 308.

[0035] One or more batteries 314 in the earphones 200 power one or more processors 316, which access one or more disk-based or solid-state computer storage 318 within the earphones, and play audio on one or more speakers 320 within the earphones 200. Audio may be received by wireless signal from an audio source, such as a mobile device 300, which may be configured as a wireless telephone, via one or more wireless interfaces 322, such as one or more transceivers, such as a Bluetooth transceiver and / or a Wi-Fi transceiver. The earphones 200 may also include one or more sensors 324, such as a motion sensor, for purposes disclosed below.

[0036] Mobile device 300 may include one or more wireless interfaces 326, such as one or more transceivers, such as a Bluetooth transceiver and / or a Wi-Fi transceiver, for communicating with earphones 200. Mobile device 300 may also include one or more processors 328 that access one or more disk-based or solid-state computer storage 330, which may contain audio tracks. Mobile device 300 may include one or more displays 332, one or more cameras 334, and one or more audible and / or visual and / or tactile alarms 336 controlled by processor 328.

[0037] In the illustrated example, in addition to the charging components described above, the charging case 208 may include one or more wireless interfaces 338, such as a Bluetooth transceiver and / or a Wi-Fi transceiver, controlled by one or more processors 340 that access one or more disk-based or solid-state computer storage devices 342. The processor 340 may also communicate with one or more sensors 344, such as a motion sensor, one or more audible and / or visual and / or tactile alarms 346, one or more microphones 348, and one or more imagers 350, such as a still or video camera. The charging case 208 may further include a human-operable phone selector 352 and a computer selector 354 for increasing or decreasing the mix of audio played by the earphones 200 from a mobile device 300 and a laptop or laptop / PC 356, respectively, which may communicate with any or all of the components shown in FIG. 3 . Note that while FIG. 3 shows the phone selector 352 and the computer selector 354 implemented in hardware, the selectors may also be implemented in software, for example, using a touch-sensitive display.

[0038] 4 and 5 illustrate an earbud charging case that may be implemented by any of the charging cases herein, in which a lid 400 is foldably joined to a base 402 along a hinge 404. In the configuration shown, the charging case is in an open configuration to allow placement of the earbuds into charging receptacles 406. The lid 400 can be folded downward relative to the base 402 to a closed configuration in which the receptacle 406 is covered by the lid 400. For purposes disclosed below, in the example shown, a dial or other input device 408 may be provided on the base 402 to rotate in clockwise and counterclockwise directions as indicated by arrow 410. It should be understood that in other embodiments, the dial 408 may be provided on the lid 400. It should further be understood that the dial 408 may be a software dial displayed on a touch display or a hardware dial rotatably attached to the charging case.

[0039] In Figure 4, microphone 401 is attached to lid 400 to provide a signal representing sound. In Figure 5, microphone 500 is provided on base 402. Figure 5 also illustrates that microphone 401 may be included if desired, it being understood that microphone 401 on lid 400 may be omitted if microphone 500 is provided on base 402.

[0040] With the understanding that the same discussion of microphone 500 on base 402 can also apply to microphone 401 on lid 400, microphone 500 may be coupled to a movable arm 504 that is coupled to the charging case, allowing a person to move the microphone relative to the charging case, as indicated by arrow 502, between a flush position in which the armed microphone is flush with the charging case, and a raised position (shown in dashed lines in FIG. 5 ) in which the microphone is raised away from the charging case. Arm 504 may include one or more links. In the latter case, each link may be movably coupled to the next with a hinge or joint to provide greater articulation.

[0041] 6 illustrates logic that may be performed by any of the processors herein, alone or in combination with other processors. For example, voice processing may be performed by a processor in the charging case itself to output or recognize a hardware-level wake word or basic voice command functionality, in addition to other logic described below.

[0042] Starting at block 600, input is received from microphone 401 on the charging case lid 400 and / or microphone 500 on the charging case base 402. Below, reference is made to "microphone," with the understanding that the reference applies to either or both microphones.

[0043] Proceeding to block 602, the signal from the microphone is recorded. The signal may be uploaded to a server or nearby device, such as the cell phone 300 shown in FIG. 3, so that the user can take verbal notes or speak into the microphone for other purposes.

[0044] Furthermore, block 604 indicates that the signal can be used, for example, for noise cancellation. For example, a signal from the microphone of the charging case can be a signal of ambient noise and can be subtracted from a signal from the microphone of the mobile phone 300 where a user is speaking near the charging case. Similarly, the signal from the microphone of the charging case can be used for echo cancellation.

[0045] Proceeding to block 606, the user may be instructed to move the microphone for better echo or noise cancellation, as further described below with reference to Figures 7 and 8. Additionally, in block 608, the user may be instructed to change the sound field shape by rotating the dial 402 shown in Figures 4 and 5.

[0046] This is further shown in Figures 7 and 8. A display 700, such as any display disclosed herein that communicates with the charging case, e.g., via Bluetooth, may prompt the user at 702 to move the charging case's microphone to improve its functionality, e.g., to improve noise cancellation or echo cancellation. Figure 8 shows a prompt 800 for the user to turn the dial 402 of Figures 4 and 5. At 802, the user may be notified that they have turned the dial too far; in the example shown, the user has turned the dial too far in the narrow beam direction and needs to move it back slightly in the wide beam direction to widen the microphone's sound field.

[0047] Although particular embodiments have been shown and described in detail herein, it should be understood that the subject matter encompassed by this invention is limited only by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. left and right earphones configured to engage the person's ears to reproduce audio; a charging case configured to charge batteries in the left and right earbuds; at least one microphone attached to the charging case and configured to generate a signal representative of sound; The assembly, wherein the microphone is coupled to a movable arm that is coupled to the charging case, thereby allowing a person to move the microphone relative to the charging case.

2. 10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the charging case includes a lid and a base pivotally connected to the lid and defining at least one contact for supplying current to at least one of the earbuds to recharge a battery therein, the microphone being attached to the lid.

3. 10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the charging case includes a lid and a base pivotally connected to the lid and defining at least one contact for supplying current to at least one of the earbuds to recharge a battery therein, the microphone attached to the base.

4. 10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the microphone is movable between a flush position in which the armed microphone is flush with the charging case and a raised position in which the microphone is raised away from the charging case.

5. An assembly as described in claim 1, comprising an input device on the charging case that can be operated to change the characteristics of the microphone output.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the input device comprises a rotatable dial.

7. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the characteristics include a sound field size.

8. at least one earphone configured to be placed in a person's ear to provide audio to said ear; at least one charging case configured to charge at least one battery in the earbud; at least one microphone mechanically coupled to the charging case for generating a signal indicative of sound; at least one Bluetooth transceiver configured to transmit a sound signal to a device based on the signal indicative of sound; an input device on the charging case operable to change the characteristics of the output of the microphone; The device, wherein the microphone is coupled to a movable arm that is coupled to the charging case, thereby allowing a person to move the microphone relative to the charging case.

9. 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the charging case includes a lid and a base pivotally connected to the lid and defining at least one contact for supplying current to the at least one earbud to recharge a battery therein, the microphone being mounted to the lid.

10. 10. The device of claim 9, wherein the charging case includes a lid and a base pivotally connected to the lid and defining at least one contact for supplying current to the at least one earbud to recharge a battery therein, the microphone attached to the base.

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