Audio badge

Abstract

The application relates to measuring technology intended to detect and record signals, and more particularly to devices with functions for making an audio recording of user speech. The present utility model addresses the technical problem of creating an audio badge that has high performance characteristics but smaller dimensions than the prior art, and more particularly a thickness of not more than 6 mm and overall dimensions of not more than 7040 mm, and a weight of not more than 25-33 g when combined with a magnetic holder. The technical result of the claimed utility model is an increase in user-friendliness because of the reduced dimensions and weight of the device. For this purpose, the claimed audio badge comprises a housing that is designed to be fastenable to a user's clothing. The device is also equipped with a printed circuit board having disposed thereon a microphone, a power component, an accelerometer, a microcircuit of a memory for long-term data storage, a Wi-Fi communication module and a microcontroller connected to the aforementioned components. The device housing is comprised of a rear panel with lateral surfaces which is provided with depressions for receiving the components disposed on the inner surface of the printed circuit board. The outer surface of the printed circuit board serves as a front panel of the device housing. The audio badge is further provided with a detachable panel configured for placement on the outer face of the printed circuit board.

Description

[0001] Audio badge

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

[0003] The prior art includes devices designed to detect and record signals with audio recording functions (audio badges), such as CN201091286Y, IPC class A44C 3 / 00, H04N 5 / 225, H04N5 / 76, published July 30, 2008. However, these devices, due to their design features, have standard dimensions that do not provide comfortable use when placed on clothing.

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

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

[0006] Thus, the technical problem is to create an audio badge that has high technical characteristics, while having smaller dimensions relative to the prototype, in particular, a thickness not exceeding 6 mm, overall dimensions not exceeding 70 x 40 mm and a weight not exceeding 23-25 ​​grams without a magnetic holder and 25-33 grams with a magnetic holder.

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

[0008] The technical problem is solved due to the fact that the audio badge contains a housing, designed with the possibility of being attached to the user's clothing, a printed circuit board on which a microphone, a power supply, an accelerometer, a long-term memory chip, a Wi-Fi communication module and a microcontroller connected to them are located, while the device housing is a back panel made with side surfaces and provided with mating recesses designed to receive elements located on the inner surface of the printed circuit board, while the front surface of the printed circuit board performs the function of the front panel of the device housing, in addition, the audio badge is provided with an overlay panel made with the possibility of its placement on the front side of the printed circuit board.

[0009] The design of the device housing in the form of a panel, made with side surfaces and with recesses designed to receive elements located on the inner surface of the printed circuit board, allows for the compact placement of the printed circuit board with elements installed on it in the housing.

[0010] Also, due to the fact that the front surface of the printed circuit board functions as the front panel of the device's housing, the thickness of the device has been reduced to 6 mm and its weight has been reduced to 25-33 grams due to the absence of one of the housing's surfaces, which makes the device more convenient to use when placed on clothing.

[0011] Equipping the audio badge with an overlay panel, designed with the possibility of its placement on the front side of the printed circuit board, allows for the implementation of the purpose of the utility model, since the overlay panel is designed with the possibility of applying information about the user, and also allows for the creation of a multi-user device less than 6 mm thick and weighing 25-33 grams due to the fact that the thickness of the overlay panel does not exceed 1 mm.

[0012] Equipping the device with a microphone, a power supply, an accelerometer, a long-term memory chip, a Wi-Fi communication module, and a microcontroller connected to them, all located on the inside of the printed circuit board, allows the utility model to achieve its intended purpose.

[0013] The device's printed circuit board can also be equipped with a USB connector to enable software installation for flashing, reflashing, and updating the software version.

[0014] Any known computing device capable of collecting, processing and storing audio data can be used as a microcontroller, for example, Espressif ESP32-U4WDH or Espressif ESP32-D0WD.

[0015] MEMS PDM or 12S microphones can be used as microphones, such as SPH0645LM4H-B or XST-ML-2666-3526-DB1Z1.

[0016] The overlay panel can be made of metal, plastic, or another material no more than 1 mm thick. The overlay panel simultaneously contains user information, adds a high aesthetic appeal to the audio badge, and also serves as a protective element for the printed circuit board. User information can be placed on the overlay panel using any known method, such as embossing, engraving, electrochemical etching, etc.

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

[0018] In addition, the device's printed circuit board is equipped with contacts designed to charge the battery.

[0019] Also, at least two magnets may be placed on the end of the audio badge body, creating a clamping force for the contacts intended for charging the battery when the device is placed on the charging station.

[0020] The essence of the device is explained by drawings.

[0021] Fig. 1 shows a general view of the device (front side).

[0022] Fig. 2 shows a printed circuit board with elements placed on it (reverse side).

[0023] Fig. 3 shows the device body (general view).

[0024] The audio badge has a housing 1 designed to be attached to the user's clothing. The fastening element can be magnetic (a magnetic holder). To do this, a metal plate or magnet is attached to the back of the device's housing 1 using double-sided adhesive tape.

[0025] The mating part of the fastening, made in the form of a magnet of the corresponding shape, is intended for installation on the inside of clothing to securely fix the audio badge.

[0026] The device body 1 is a rear panel 2 made with side surfaces 3. In addition, the panel 2 has mating recesses designed to receive elements located on the inner surface of the printed circuit board 4, in particular, the battery 5, the long-term memory chip 6 and the microcontroller 7.

[0027] The overlay panel 8 is located on the front side of the printed circuit board 4.

[0028] The audio badge solves the problem of collecting and analyzing data on the quality of established enterprise processes during employee interactions with clients or other employees when voice communication is used. To achieve this, the device is equipped with a microphone (9), a battery (5), an accelerometer (which detects the audio badge's orientation and whether the user has worn it throughout the day), a long-term memory chip (6), a wireless Wi-Fi module, and a microcontroller (7) connected to them, all located on the internal surface of the printed circuit board.

[0029] Additionally, the device may be equipped with a battery charge indicator. Housing 1 is thinned in the area where the device's charge indicator is located, such that a green indicator is visible through housing 1 when connected to an external power source, and a yellow indicator is visible when the battery is charging.

[0030] The device can also be equipped with an audio badge status indicator.

[0031] The audio badge works as follows.

[0032] When the audio badge is removed from the charging station and / or the employee's working hours begin, the audio badge begins recording audio, and audio signals coming from the microphone 9 to the microcontroller 7 are recorded in the internal memory, which is a long-term memory chip 6. In addition, the device records accelerometer readings and surrounding Wi-Fi hotspots.

[0033] Using Wi-Fi hotspots and their signal strength, the audio badge can create zones where audio recording is permitted (public work areas) and where recording is prohibited (for example, employee-only areas). When processed, including by recording surrounding Wi-Fi hotspots, it can determine, if necessary, whether an employee is in a particular room at a specific time.

[0034] Accelerometer recordings are used to determine whether an employee is wearing an audio badge. Accelerometer data is also analyzed to determine the employee's body position and / or the location of the audio badge on the employee's body.

[0035] At the end of the work shift, the employee places the audio badge, which has contacts 10, on the charging station, which is equipped with spring-loaded response contacts and magnets, which, when interacting with magnets located on the end of the audio badge body on the inside (not shown in the figure), create a clamping force and allow for the precise placement of the audio badge on the charging station, ensuring a tighter contact, as well as a strong and tenacious connection.

[0036] Once placed on the charging station, the audio badge transmits accumulated data to the server via a local media hub, either directly via Wi-Fi or a USB connector, depending on the configuration. Furthermore, the audio badge automatically updates its configuration and firmware from the server or media hub via a wireless Wi-Fi module or a USB port. The data transmitted from the device is then processed in quality control, process analytics, and HR management systems, both automatically and with the help of controllers. It can also be integrated with other systems.

[0037] The device is assembled as follows.

[0038] The printed circuit board 4 assembled with the installed elements necessary for the implementation of the purpose is installed in the housing 1, which is a rear panel 2 made with side surfaces 3. Next, on the front side of the printed circuit board 4, an overlay panel 8 is installed with user data applied to it.

[0039] Thus, the development of the technical design of the audio badge made it possible to create a device with reduced dimensions and weight compared to its closest analogues, while maintaining similar high technical characteristics, increasing its ease of use.

Claims

Formula An audio badge comprising a housing adapted to be attached to the user's clothing, a printed circuit board on which a microphone, a power source, an accelerometer, a long-term memory chip, a Wi-Fi communication module and a microcontroller connected thereto are located, characterized in that the housing of the device is a back panel formed with side surfaces and provided with mating recesses designed to receive elements located on the inner surface of the printed circuit board, wherein the front surface of the printed circuit board performs the function of the front panel of the device housing, in addition, the audio badge is provided with an overlay panel adapted to be placed on the front side of the printed circuit board.

Images