Earbud case with wireless radio shutdown feature

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9961431-B2
Application number	US-201615273677-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 22, 2016
Priority date	Sep 30, 2015
Publication date	May 1, 2018
Grant date	May 1, 2018

Abstract

A case for a portable listening device includes a lid and a lid sensor to detect if the lid is in an open or a closed position. The case further includes circuitry configured to turn on a wireless radio within the portable listening device when the lid sensor detects the lid is moved from the closed position to the open position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A case for an electronic device having a wireless radio, the case comprising:
a housing having a cavity configured to receive the electronic device;
a lid attached to the housing and operable between a closed position where the lid covers the cavity and an open position where the lid is displaced from the cavity; and
circuitry configured to detect (1) when the lid is moved from the closed position to the open position and in response turn ON the wireless radio and (2) when the lid is moved from the open position to the closed position and in response turn off the wireless radio.

2. The case of claim 1 wherein the circuitry comprises a lid sensor that generates an open signal when the lid moves from the closed position to the open position, and the circuitry is configured to turn ON the wireless radio in response to the open signal.

3. The case of claim 1 further comprising an electrical connector having a first contact positioned within the cavity to electrically connect to a second contact on the electronic device when the electronic device is received within the cavity.

4. The case of claim 3 wherein the circuitry turns ON the wireless radio in the electronic device by sending an instruction to the electronic device over the first contact.

5. The case of claim 4 wherein the electrical connector also provides an electrical connection that enables the case to charge a rechargeable battery within the electronic device.

6. The case of claim 4 further comprising a device detector configured to detect when the electronic device is received within the cavity, and wherein the circuitry will not send the instruction to the electronic device unless the device detector detects the electronic device is received within the cavity.

7. The case of claim 2 wherein the lid sensor comprises a Hall-effect sensor.

8. The case of claim 1 wherein the electronic device comprises a portable listening device.

9. A case for an electronic device having a wireless radio, the case comprising:
a housing having a cavity configured to receive the electronic device;
a lid attached to the housing and operable between a closed position where the lid conceals the cavity and an open position where the lid is displaced from the cavity; and
circuitry configured to detect when the lid is moved from the open position to the closed position and in response turn OFF the wireless radio.

10. The case of claim 9 wherein the circuitry further comprises a lid sensor that generates a closed signal when the lid moves from the open position to the closed position, and the circuitry is configured to turn OFF the wireless radio in response to the closed signal.

11. The case of claim 9 further comprising an electrical connector having a first contact positioned within the cavity to electrically connect to a second contact on the electronic device when the electronic device is received within the cavity.

12. The case of claim 11 wherein the circuitry turns OFF the wireless radio in the electronic device by sending an instruction to the electronic device over the first contact.

13. The case of claim 12 wherein the electrical connector also provides an electrical connection that enables the case to charge a rechargeable battery within the electronic device.

14. The case of claim 12 further comprising a device detector configured to detect when the electronic device is received within the cavity, and wherein the circuitry will not send the instruction to the electronic device unless the device detector detects the electronic device is received within the cavity.

15. An enclosure for an electronic device having a wireless radio, the enclosure comprising:
a housing having a cavity configured to receive the electronic device;
a lid attached to the housing and operable between a closed position where the lid conceals the electronic device within the enclosure and an open position that allows the electronic device to be removed from the enclosure; and
circuitry configured to generate a signal to turn on the wireless radio in response to a the lid moving from the closed position to the open position and to turn off the wireless radio in response to the lid moving from the open position to the closed position.

16. The enclosure of claim 15 wherein the circuitry further comprises a lid sensor that generates an open signal when a user moves the lid from the closed position to the open position and generates a close signal when the lid moves from the open position to the closed position, and wherein the circuitry is configured to turn ON the wireless radio in response to the open signal and to turn OFF the wireless radio in response to the close signal.

17. The enclosure of claim 16 further comprising one or more electronic device detectors configured to detect when the electronic device is placed in the cavity.

18. The enclosure of claim 17 wherein the circuitry is configured to turn OFF the wireless radio in the electronic device when the one or more electronic device detectors detect that the electronic device is received within the cavity and the lid sensor detects the lid in the closed position.

19. The enclosure of claim 18 wherein the circuitry is further configured to turn ON the wireless radio of the electronic device when the one or more electronic device detectors detect that the electronic device is received within the cavity and the lid sensor detects the lid in the open position.

20. The enclosure of claim 17 wherein the lid sensor comprises a Hall-effect sensor.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Mcpeak James L
• CHANDRAMOHAN Chandrahas Aralaguppe
• Watson Robert Doran
• Panecki Lee M
• Yang Shannon X
• Rich Zachary C

Classifications

• H04R2201/105

  Manufacture of mono- or stereophonic headphone components · CPC title

• H02J7/42

  with electronic devices having internal batteries, e.g. mobile phones · CPC title

• H02J7/731

  specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A45C11/00 Primary

  Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 (specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48) · CPC title

• H02J7/70

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title