Earbud Charging Case Bypass Power for Lost-Mode Finding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable electronic devices, such as True Wireless Stereo earphones, face challenges in extending battery life due to high power consumption when continuously transmitting RF signals for the finding function, leading to reduced usage time and difficulty in locating lost devices.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a first electronic device, a second electronic device, and a charging case with a boost circuit and bypass circuit, where the charging case can charge and directly supply power to the devices, allowing the first electronic device to identify its battery level, determine the main device, and switch to a lost mode to conserve power, while the second device enters a power-saving mode, and the charging case connects its battery via a bypass circuit to provide power efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wearable electronic device transmits RF signals repeatedly at regular time intervals to provide a finding function, then the ability to locate lost devices is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic RF signal transmission at regular time intervals instead of continuous transmission. The wearable electronic device transmits finding signals periodically, which maintains the ability to locate lost devices while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging case acts as an intermediary to provide power to the wearable electronic device. When the wearable device is placed in the charging case, the case's battery supplies power through a bypass circuit, enabling the device to maintain finding function operation without depleting its own battery.
2Reliability
If the wearable electronic device continuously operates with its own battery to provide finding function, then the device can independently locate lost devices, but usage time is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The charging case serves as a power intermediary that extends the wearable device's operational duration. The case contains a larger capacity battery that can continuously supply power to the wearable device through the bypass circuit, effectively extending usage time beyond what the small wearable battery can provide alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the power sources of the wearable device and charging case through the bypass circuit. This combination allows the system to utilize the larger capacity battery in the charging case while maintaining the wearable device's independence for finding operations.
3Device complexity
If the conventional charging case charges the wearable device only through the integrated charger IC, then the circuit configuration is simple, but power utilization efficiency is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power supply path into two independent circuits: a charging circuit through the integrated charger IC for battery charging, and a bypass circuit for direct power supply. This segmentation allows each circuit to serve its specific function efficiently without interfering with the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The bypass circuit acts as an intermediary power supply path that directly connects the charging case battery to the wearable device, bypassing the charger IC. This direct connection eliminates power conversion losses and improves power utilization efficiency while maintaining circuit simplicity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces power consumption, extends the usage time of wearable electronic devices by efficiently utilizing the charging case's battery power and enabling low-power operation in lost mode, thereby enhancing the ability to locate lost devices.
Implementation Method 1
a boost circuit configured to charge the first electronic device and/or the second electronic device with power of the third battery
Implementation Method 2
a bypass circuit configured to directly supply power from the third battery to the first electronic device and/or the second electronic device
Data Source
AI summary
A system according to an embodiment may include: a first electronic device, a second electronic device, and a charging case, wherein the first electronic device includes a first battery and a first processor; the second electronic device includes a second battery and a second processor; and the charging case includes a third battery, a boost circuit configured to charge the first electronic device and/or the second electronic device with power of the third battery, and a bypass circuit configured to directly supply power from the third battery to the first electronic device and/or the second electronic device, wherein the first processor of the first electronic device may be configured to: identify whether the first electronic device and/or the second electronic device are/is mounted on the charging case; identify a remaining capacity of the first battery and the second battery in response to the identification of being mounted and determine the first electronic device having a larger remaining battery capacity as a main electronic device; transmit a first request signal to a first external electronic device; switch to a lost mode to broadcast a first request signal at a specified period in response to the strength of the first response signal received from the first external electronic device; and transmit information related to the lost mode to the charging case, the second electronic device may be configured to: switch to a power saving mode in which the second electronic device does not perform an operation other than a designated function, wherein the charging case may be configured to connect the third battery and the bypass circuit based on information related to the lost mode and to provide the power of the third battery to the first electronic device using the bypass circuit.