Search

EP-3834269-B1 - SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CHARGING WIRELESS AUDIO DEVICES

EP3834269B1EP 3834269 B1EP3834269 B1EP 3834269B1EP-3834269-B1

Inventors

  • UEDA, JOJI

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20190802

Claims (15)

  1. A wireless audio device (14), comprising: a communication module (16) configured to enable the wireless audio device to communicate wirelessly; a battery (18); a charging interface (24) configured to establish a power transfer connection to the battery from a power source (12); a memory (36) configured to store paired history data (38) indicating that the wireless audio device has been paired to an audio source upon the audio device being wirelessly paired; and a controller (32) configured to: detect (52) the power transfer connection; determine (54) a charge level of the battery; check (56) the memory for the paired history data; and generate (66) a control signal for selectively disabling (68) the power transfer connection to prevent the charge level from exceeding a preset threshold unless the memory contains the paired history data.
  2. A charging system (10) comprising the wireless audio device (14) and the power source (12) of claim 1, wherein the power source is arranged as a charging case.
  3. The charging system (10) of claim 2, wherein the power transfer connection is automatically established between the battery of the wireless audio device and an auxiliary battery of the charging case when the wireless audio device is arranged in the charging case.
  4. The charging system (10) of claim 2, wherein the charging case comprises a switch configured to selectively disable the power transfer connection based on the control signal.
  5. The charging system (10) of claim 2, wherein the controller comprises a first controller comprised by the charging case and a second controller comprised by the wireless audio device.
  6. The wireless audio device (14) of claim 1, further comprising a switch configured to selectively disable the power transfer connection based on the control signal.
  7. The wireless audio device (14) of claim 1, comprising one or more headphones.
  8. The wireless audio device (14) of claim 1, wherein the charging interface comprises a conductive element, an induction coil, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.
  9. A portable charging case (12;12') adapted for a wireless audio device (14; 14') as set out in claim 1, comprising: a charging interface (22;22') configured to establish a power transfer connection with the wireless audio device; an auxiliary battery (26) configured to charge a battery of the wireless audio device via the power transfer connection; a controller (32) configured to: receive a control signal from the wireless audio device; and disable the power transfer connection in response to the control signal to prevent a charge level of the battery from exceeding a preset threshold.
  10. The portable charging case (12;12') of claim 9, wherein the controller comprises a switch configured to disable the power transfer connection.
  11. The portable charging case (12; 12') of claim 9, comprising a receptacle complementarily formed to receive the wireless audio device therein.
  12. A method of selectively charging a battery of a wireless audio device (14) comprising: detecting (54) a power transfer connection between a battery (18) of the wireless audio device and a power source (12); determining (54) a charge level of the battery; checking (56) memory of the wireless audio device for paired history data that indicates that the wireless audio device has wirelessly paired to one or more audio sources; and generating (66) a control signal to disable the power transfer connection to prevent the charge level from exceeding a preset threshold unless the memory contains the paired history data.
  13. The method of claim 12, wherein the power transfer connection is disabled via operation of a switch.
  14. The method of claim 12, wherein the detecting, checking, determining, and generating are performed by a controller of the wireless audio device.
  15. The method of claim 12, further comprising permitting the battery to fully charge if the paired history data is identified.

Description

Background The disclosure relates to battery charging systems and methods, and, particularly, to systems and methods for charging wireless audio devices. A prior art wireless audio device is disclosed in US 2011/006736 A1 in a different context and with a different purpose from the present invention. Summary The present invention relates to a wireless audio device according to claim 1, a charging system according to claim 2, a portable charging case according to claim 9 and a method of selectively charging a battery of a wireless audio device according to claim 12. Advantageous embodiments are recited in dependent claims of the appended set of claims. In one aspect, a wireless audio device includes a communication module configured to enable the wireless audio device to communicate wirelessly; a battery; a charging interface configured to establish a power transfer connection to the battery from a power source; a memory configured to store paired history data indicating that the wireless audio device has been paired to an audio source upon the audio device being wirelessly paired; and a controller configured to detect the power transfer connection; determine a charge level of the battery; check the memory for the paired history data; and generate a control signal for selectively disabling the power transfer connection to prevent the charge level from exceeding a preset threshold unless the memory contains the paired history data. In another aspect, a charging system includes the wireless audio device and the power source, wherein the power source is arranged as a charging case. In one example, the power transfer connection is automatically established between the battery of the wireless audio device and an auxiliary battery of the charging case when the wireless audio device is arranged in the charging case. In one example, the charging case comprises a switch configured to selectively disable the power transfer connection based on the control signal. In one example, the controller comprises a first controller comprised by the charging case and a second controller comprised by the wireless audio device. In one example, the wireless audio device further comprising a switch configured to selectively disable the power transfer connection based on the control signal. In one example, the switch is located between the battery and the charging interface. In one example, the switch comprises an electrical relay, a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing. In one example, the wireless audio device comprises one or more headphones. In one example, the charging interface comprises a conductive element, an induction coil, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing. In another aspect, a portable charging case for a wireless audio device may include a charging interface configured to establish a power transfer connection with the wireless audio device; an auxiliary battery configured to charge a battery of the wireless audio device via the power transfer connection; a controller configured to: receive a control signal from the wireless audio device; and disable the power transfer connection in response to the control signal to prevent a charge level of the battery from exceeding a preset threshold. In one example, the controller comprises a switch configured to disable the power transfer connection. In one example, the charging case further comprises a receptacle complementarily formed to receive the wireless audio device therein. In one example, the receptacle is configured to automatically establish the power transfer connection via the charging interface when the wireless audio device is received in the receptacle. In one example, the control signal comprises a charge level of the battery. In another aspect, a method of selectively charging a battery of a wireless audio device includes detecting a power transfer connection between a battery of the wireless audio device and a power source; determining a charge level of the battery; checking memory of the wireless audio device for paired history data that indicates that the wireless audio device has wirelessly paired to one or more audio sources; and generating a control signal to disable the power transfer connection to prevent the charge level from exceeding a preset threshold unless the memory contains the paired history data. In one example, the power transfer connection is disabled via operation of a switch. In one example, the detecting, checking, determining, and generating are performed by a controller of the wireless audio device. In one example, the controller comprises a state of charge sensor that is configured to perform the determining. In one example, the method further includes permitting the battery to fully charge if the paired history data is identified. Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a charging system for