CN112995826A

CN112995826A - Wireless listening device and charging base

Info

Publication number: CN112995826A
Application number: CN201911392174.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 高上地; 戴朝辉; 吴玲敏
Original assignee: GN Audio AS
Current assignee: GN Audio AS
Priority date: 2019-12-16
Filing date: 2019-12-30
Publication date: 2021-06-18
Anticipated expiration: 2039-12-30
Also published as: CN112995826B

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a wireless listening device and a charging base. The wireless listening device system (1) comprises a wireless listening device (2) and a charging base (3). The listening device (2) comprises a first earpiece (8), a connection strap (4) extending from the first earpiece, a rechargeable battery (5) and a strap contact (6) arranged on the connection strap (4). The charging base (3) comprises a belt support (10) with a supporting contact (7), whereby the listening device (2) can reside in the base such that the belt contact (6) is in electrical contact with the supporting contact (7), whereby the rechargeable battery (5) can be charged. The connecting strap (4) and the strap supporting piece (10) are adapted to engage within a contact range (X) within which the connecting strap (4) and the strap supporting piece (10) are displaceable relative to each other in a longitudinal direction (11) of the connecting strap (4). The strip contact (6) and the support contact (7) are realized to be in electrical contact with each other at any position within the contact range (X).

Description

Wireless listening device and charging base

Technical Field

The invention relates to a wireless listening device system comprising a wireless listening device (wireless listening device) and a charging base, wherein the wireless listening device comprises a first earpiece, a connection strap extending from the first earpiece, a rechargeable battery and a strap contact (band contact) arranged on the connection strap, and wherein the charging base comprises a strap support having a support contact, whereby the listening device may reside in the base such that the strap contact is in electrical contact with the support contact, whereby the rechargeable battery may be charged.

Background

US 7,639,832B 2 discloses a listening device according to the preamble. A disadvantage of this system is that the user must carefully align the belt and support contacts to ensure proper docking for charging. There is a need for a more convenient system in which a user can dock a listening device to a charging base in an easy yet reliable manner.

Disclosure of Invention

The hearing device system according to the preamble is characterized in that the connection strip and the strip support are adapted to engage within a contact range in which the connection strip and the strip support can be displaced relative to each other in the longitudinal direction of the connection strip, and that the strip contact and the support contact are realized to be in electrical contact with each other at any position within the contact range. Thus, the user does not have to precisely align the belt contact and the support contact when docking the listening device. The connecting band and the band support need only be aligned over a contact range in the transverse direction and in the longitudinal direction. This makes it easier and faster for the user to dock the listening device.

According to an embodiment, the connecting band is a headband comprising a bottom face facing the head of the user when the listening device is worn, an opposite top face facing away from the head of the user when the listening device is worn, and two opposite side faces connecting the bottom face and the top face.

According to an embodiment, the belt contact is provided on the bottom surface.

According to one embodiment, the belt contact is disposed in the recess so that a surface thereof is set back from a remaining surface of the bottom surface. Therefore, the contact portion can be made of a hard metal material without causing discomfort to the user when worn.

According to one embodiment, the belt contact is made of a soft conductive material, such as conductive silicone rubber. If the headband is provided with such a contact portion, a level of comfort comparable to that of a conventional headband without a contact portion can be maintained.

According to another embodiment, the belt contact is provided on a side face. With this solution, the bottom surface can be made of any material in order to optimize the comfort for the user wearing the listening device.

According to an embodiment, the tape contacts are implemented as two separate rows of interconnecting contacts. Such a solution would be advantageous for different reasons, for example, to enable the strap to be bent to accommodate different head sizes or for simple design purposes, etc. .

According to an embodiment, the belt contact is realized as a longitudinal rail extending in the longitudinal direction of the connecting belt. These tracks may be at least 4cm, 6cm, 8cm, 10cm, 12cm, 14cm or 16cm long.

According to an embodiment, the supporting contact is realized as a point-like contact, e.g. a pogo pin.

According to an embodiment, the supporting contact is realized as a longitudinal rail. These tracks may be at least 4cm, 6cm, 8cm, 10cm, 12cm, 14cm or 16cm long.

According to an embodiment, the belt contact is realized as a point contact, e.g. a spring pin.

The wireless listening device system according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the contact range is at least 4cm, 6cm, 8cm, 10cm, 12cm, 14cm or 16 cm. The longer the range, the lower the accuracy required when the user docks the listening device.

According to an embodiment, the belt contact comprises a first central contact having a first polarity and a second contact having a second polarity on each side of the first contact.

According to an embodiment, the support contact comprises a first central contact having a first polarity and a second contact having a second polarity on each side of the first contact.

Drawings

The present invention will be explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings showing preferred embodiments of the invention, in which,

fig. 1 is a front view of a wireless listening device system including a wireless listening device and a charging base, wherein the listening device is disposed in a first charging position, according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first embodiment;

fig. 4 is a perspective view of the first embodiment with the listening device removed from the charging base;

fig. 5 is a front view of the first embodiment in which the listening device is disposed at a second charging position;

fig. 6 is a perspective view of the first embodiment in which the listening device is disposed in a second charging position;

fig. 7 is a front view of the first embodiment in which the listening device is disposed at a third charging position;

fig. 8 is a perspective view of the first embodiment in which the listening device is disposed in a third charging position;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a listening device of a wireless listening device system according to a second embodiment;

fig. 10 is a front view of a wireless listening device system of a second embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a schematic transverse cross-sectional view through a portion of a second embodiment wireless listening device system;

fig. 12 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a portion of a wireless listening device system according to a third embodiment;

fig. 13 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a portion of a wireless listening device system according to a fourth embodiment;

fig. 14 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a portion of a wireless listening device system according to a fifth embodiment;

fig. 15 is a schematic transverse cross-sectional view of a portion of a wireless listening device system according to a sixth embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a schematic transverse cross-sectional view of a portion of a wireless listening device system according to a seventh embodiment;

fig. 17 is a schematic transverse cross-sectional view of a portion of a wireless listening device system according to an eighth embodiment;

fig. 18 is a schematic transverse cross-sectional view of a portion of a wireless listening device system according to a ninth embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the first embodiment in a relative charging position as compared to the charging position shown in FIG. 3; and

fig. 20 is a logic switch for solving the polarity problem.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 is a front view of a wireless headset system 1 including a wireless listening device 2 and a charging base 3 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The listening device is a wireless headset 3 comprising a first earpiece 8, a second earpiece 18, a headband 4 connecting the first earpiece 8 and the second earpiece 18, and a microphone arm 9 extending from the first earpiece 8. The headset 2 is wireless and therefore has a rechargeable battery 5 in the first earpiece 8. The battery 5 is in electrical contact with the headband contact 6 (see fig. 4) on the headband 4. The headband 4 comprises a bottom face 12 facing the user's head when the headset 2 is worn, an opposite top face 14 facing away from the user's head when the listening device 2 is worn, and two side faces 13 connecting the bottom face 12 and the top face 14. Details of the speaker, microphone, sound processing electronics, radio transceiver, etc., not relevant to the present invention, will not be described herein. The charging base 3 includes a base 16, a rod 15 extending from the base 16, and a belt support 10 at the upper end of the rod 15. In fig. 1, the headset 2 is rested on the band support 10 in a first charging position by the headband 4, wherein the headband contact 6 is in contact with the support contact 7 (see fig. 4). The base 3 includes electronics and a power source that are not relevant to the present invention and therefore will not be described further herein.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the headset system 1 with the headset 2 in the first charging position. The headband 4 is received in a recess 17 in the upper surface of the band support 10.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the headset 1 in the first charging position.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the first embodiment, in which the earphone 1 is removed from the charging base 3. The headband contact is embodied as two longitudinal rails 6 that run on the bottom surface 12 of the headband 4 in the longitudinal direction 11 of the headband 4. The supporting contacts are realized as two short parallel rails 7 supporting the bottom of the groove 17. When the headband 4 is received in the support groove 17, the two strap contacts 6 are in contact with the two support contacts 7, whereby a charging current can flow to the battery 5 and charge the battery 5. The headband 4 is laterally held in place by the concave side walls 19.

Fig. 5 and 6 are a front view and a perspective view of the first embodiment in which the headset 2 is disposed in the second charging position. The headband contact portion 6 is approximately 16cm long and defines the "charging range" of the headband 4. Thus, the headband 4 may be placed in the support at any position within this range X and still be charged. The user does not need to carefully align the headband contact 6 with the support contact 7 each time the headset 2 is placed on the charging base 3 for charging. He need only be in the range X, which in this case is about 16 cm. However, other values are possible, for example, at least 4cm, 6cm, 8cm, 10cm, 12cm or 14 cm.

Fig. 7 and 8 are a front view and a perspective view of the first embodiment in which the headset 2 is disposed in the third charging position.

The longitudinal headband contact parts 6 may be made of a metal strip that is more or less flexible. However, it may also be made of a flexible, electrically conductive material, such as electrically conductive silicone rubber.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the headphone 2b of the wireless listening device system according to the second embodiment. Here, the headband contact parts 6b are implemented as longitudinal rails 6b extending in the longitudinal direction of the headband 4b on the side surfaces 13b of the headband 4 b. With this embodiment, the bottom surface 12b may be made of a soft, non-conductive material, which is comfortable for the user of the headset.

Fig. 10 is a front view of a wireless listening device system of a second embodiment.

Fig. 11 is a schematic transverse cross-sectional view through a portion of a second embodiment wireless listening device system. As shown, the headband contact portion 6b is disposed on a side 13b of the headband. The bottom surface 12b of the headband is made of a soft rubber material. The support contact portion 7b is provided on the inclined side wall 19b of the support groove 17 b.

Fig. 12 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a portion of a wireless listening device system according to a third embodiment. Here, the headband contact portion is a longitudinal rail 6c on the bottom surface 12c of the headband 4 c. The supporting contacts are a pair of more or less point-like contacts, e.g. spring pins 7 c.

Fig. 13 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a portion of a wireless listening device system according to a fourth embodiment. Here, the headband contact is a pair of more or less point-like contacts, e.g., spring pins 6 d. The support contact is shaped as a longitudinal rail 7d on the top surface of the support 10 d.

Fig. 14 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a portion of a wireless listening device system according to a fifth embodiment. Here, the headband contact portions are implemented as two rows of independent contact portions 6 e. The supporting contact portions are implemented as two small plate-like contact portions 7 e. The headband contact part 6e and the support contact part 7e are shaped and dimensioned such that each support contact part 7e will always contact the headband contact part 6e as long as it is within the range X of the headband contact part 6 e.

Fig. 15 is a schematic transverse cross-sectional view of a portion of a wireless listening system according to a sixth embodiment. Here, the headband contact is realized as a longitudinal rail 6f provided in a groove of the bottom surface 12 of the headband 4 f. The supporting contact is a pin-shaped contact 7f having a length such that it can extend into the headband contact 6f when the headset 2 is docked. The arrangement of the headband contact portion 6f at the bottom of the groove is advantageous in that it can be made of a hard metal material without causing discomfort to the user wearing the headset 2. The bottom surface 12 may be made of a pliable material.

Fig. 16 is a schematic transverse cross-sectional view of a portion of a wireless listening device system according to a seventh embodiment. Here, the headband 4g has three belt contact portions 6g, and the support 10g has three support contact portions 7. Each of the side surfaces 13 of the headband 4g has a longitudinal band contact portion 6g with a "-" polarity, while the bottom surface 12g of the headband 4g has a longitudinal contact portion 6g with a "+" polarity. The support grooves 17g have respective contact portions 7g with "+" polarity on the side walls and contact portions 7g with "-" polarity on the bottom wall. Therefore, no matter in which direction the user places the headband 4g on the support 10g, there is no problem in polarity.

Fig. 17 is a schematic transverse cross-sectional view of a portion of a wireless listening device system according to an eighth embodiment. This embodiment is also symmetrical similarly to the seventh embodiment, and has three pairs of

contact portions

6h, 7 h. All the belt contact portions 6h are provided on the bottom surface 12h of the headband 4h, and all the support contact portions 7h are provided on the bottom wall of the support groove 17 h.

Fig. 18 is a schematic transverse cross-sectional view of a portion of a wireless listening device system according to a ninth embodiment. This embodiment differs from the embodiment shown in fig. 17 only in that the headband includes only two contact portions 6 i. Whichever direction the user places the headband 4i, the two polarity band contact portions 6i and the support contact portions 7i will be connected.

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the first embodiment in an opposite charging position compared to the charging position shown in fig. 3. Here, the headset 2 is turned 180 degrees relative to the charging base.

Fig. 20 is a switching logic for solving the polarity problem occurring when the earphone is turned 180 degrees in the first to sixth embodiments. The switch includes a rectifier bridge or a diode bridge to provide an output of the same polarity to an input of either polarity.

In addition, the safety circuit may also ensure that the charging current does not flow until proper docking is sensed, for example, by a magnet in the headband and a hall sensor in the support.

The headset 2 itself may be provided with circuitry to protect it from short circuits and electrostatic discharge (ESD).

In the embodiment shown, the headset is a dual headset comprising two microphones. However, the present invention may also utilize a mono headset comprising only one microphone.

Instead of a headband, a neck strap may be used to dock the earphones.

The term "listening device" also includes headsets that are not capable of two-way communication.

The range X within the belt and the support, which can be displaced relative to each other, can be, for example, 4cm, 6cm, 8cm, 10cm, 12cm, 14cm or 16 cm.

Reference numerals

1 listening device system

2 Wireless listening device

3 charging base

4 headband/connecting band

5 rechargeable battery

6 with contact part

7 supporting contact part

8 first tin

9 microphone arm

10 strap support

11 longitudinal direction of headband

12 bottom surface of headband

13 sides of headband

14 top surface of headband

15 bar

16 base

17 support groove

18 second earpiece

19 side wall of groove

X charge range.

Claims

1. A wireless listening device system (1) comprising a wireless listening device (2) and a charging base (3), wherein the wireless listening device (2) comprises a first earpiece (8), a connection strap (4) extending from the first earpiece (8), a rechargeable battery (5) and a strap contact (6) provided on the connection strap (4), and wherein the charging base (3) comprises a strap support (10) with a supporting contact (7), whereby the wireless listening device (2) can reside in the base (3) such that the strap contact (6) is in electrical contact with the supporting contact (7), whereby the rechargeable battery (5) can be charged,

characterized in that the connection strip (4) and the strip support (10) are adapted to engage within a contact range (X) within which the connection strip (4) and the strip support (10) are displaceable in relation to each other in a longitudinal direction (11) of the connection strip (4), and in that the strip contact (6) and the support contact (7) are realized to be in electrical contact with each other at any position within this contact range (X).

2. The wireless listening device system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the connecting band is a headband (4) comprising: a bottom face (12) facing the user's head when wearing the wireless listening device (2), an opposite top face (14) facing away from the user's head when wearing the wireless listening device (2), and two opposite side faces (13) connecting the bottom face (12) and the top face (14).

3. The wireless listening device system (1) according to claim 2, wherein said belt contact (6) is provided on said bottom surface (12).

4. The wireless listening device system (1) according to claim 3, wherein the belt contact (7f) is arranged in a recess such that a surface of the belt contact is set back from a remaining surface of the bottom surface (12).

5. The wireless listening device system (1) according to claim 3, wherein the belt contact (6) is made of a soft conductive material, such as conductive silicone rubber.

6. The wireless listening device system (1) according to claim 2, wherein said belt contact (6) is provided on said side face (13).

7. The wireless listening device system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the belt contacts are implemented as two separate rows of interconnected contacts (6 e).

8. The wireless listening device system (1) according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein the belt contact (6a) is realized as a longitudinal rail extending along a longitudinal direction (11) of the connecting belt (4).

9. The wireless listening device system according to claim 8, wherein the supporting contact is realized as a point-like contact, e.g. a spring pin (7 c; 7 f).

10. The wireless listening device system (1) according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein the supporting contact (7d) is realized as a longitudinal rail.

11. The wireless listening device system (1) according to claim 10, wherein the belt contact is realized as a point-like contact, e.g. a spring pin (6 d).

12. The wireless listening device system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact range (X) is at least 4cm, 6cm, 8cm, 10cm, 12cm, 14cm or 16 cm.

13. The wireless listening device system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the belt contact (6 g; 6h) comprises: a first center contact having a first polarity and a second contact having a second polarity on each side of the first center contact.

14. The wireless listening device system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the supporting contact (7 g; 7h) comprises: a first center contact having a first polarity and a second contact having a second polarity on each side of the first center contact.