WO2025199734A1

WO2025199734A1 - Electronic device

Info

Publication number: WO2025199734A1
Application number: PCT/CN2024/083769
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yijun Shi
Original assignee: Harman International Industries Inc
Current assignee: Harman International Industries Inc
Priority date: 2024-03-26
Filing date: 2024-03-26
Publication date: 2025-10-02
Anticipated expiration: 2026-09-26

Abstract

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device comprises: a first module comprising a first housing portion and electronic elements housed in the first housing portion; a second module comprising a second housing portion and a battery and electronic elements housed in the second housing portion; and a hinge having a pivot, the pivot being connected to the first housing portion and the second housing portion, respectively, such that the first module is capable of rotating about the axis of the pivot with respect to the second module so as to enable the transition of the electronic device between a closed state and an open state, wherein in the closed state, the first housing portion and the second housing portion are joined together with each other to form a housing for the electronic device in which the battery and the electronic elements of the first module and the second module are housed, and in the open state, the first housing portion and the second housing portion are separated from each other, leaving the battery exposed, and wherein the pivot of the hinge is arranged in the second housing portion, so that the hinge is not visible externally in the closed state of the electronic device.

Description

ELECTRONIC DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an electronic device and, more specifically, to an earphone assembly.

BACKGROUND

With the rapid development of technology, wearable electronic devices such as true wireless stereo (TWS) earphones, smart watches, bracelets, etc. have increasingly become an integral part of daily life. These electronic devices bring great convenience to people's daily lives, but the non-removable battery technology used inside them poses a series of problems.

First of all, the performance of batteries starts to degrade after a certain number of charging and discharging cycles. For example, a frequently used TWS earphone may last 5-6 hours when first purchased, but after a year or less of use, its battery life may be reduced to only 3-4 hours or even less, and this decline in battery performance seriously affects the user's experience.

Secondly, the current non-removable battery design makes the service life of the whole electronic device limited after the battery performance drops. Some users may choose to replace the entire electronic device because of the reduced battery life, which undoubtedly increases the amount of e-waste and puts considerable pressure on the environment.

In recent years, environmental issues have become a global concern. In order to reduce e-waste and encourage the long-term use of devices, some countries have put forward the requirement of removable batteries in the hope that manufacturers may design electronic devices in which batteries may be easily replaced, thus extending the service life of electronic devices and reducing e-waste.

However, there is a lack of uniform standards or solutions in the market as to how to design a battery removal method that is both simple and reliable and does not affect the service life of electronic devices. Therefore, there is a need for a new technology to fulfill the above requirements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an electronic device comprising: a first module comprising a first housing portion and electronic elements housed in the first housing portion; a second module comprising a second housing portion and a battery and electronic elements housed in the second housing portion; and a hinge having a pivot, the pivot being connected to the first housing portion and the second housing portion, respectively, such that the first module is capable of rotating about the axis of the pivot with respect to the second module so as to enable the transition of the electronic device between a closed state and an open state, wherein in the closed state, the first housing portion and the second housing portion are joined together with each other to form a housing for the electronic device in which the battery and the electronic elements of the first module and the second module are housed, and in the open state, the first housing portion and the second housing portion are separated from each other, leaving the battery exposed, and wherein the pivot of the hinge is arranged in the second housing portion, so that the hinge is not visible externally in the closed state of the electronic device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will be better understood by reference to the following drawings and description. The components shown in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, instead, emphasis should be placed upon the principles illustrated by the disclosure. Moreover, in the figures, like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the drawings.

FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of an earphone assembly according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 1B illustrates a perspective view of another angle of the earphone assembly of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A illustrates a sectional view of an earphone assembly according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein the earphone assembly is in a closed state;

FIG. 2B illustrates an enlarged view of the dashed portion of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C illustrates an exploded view of an earphone assembly according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate perspective and sectional views of an earphone assembly according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein the earphone assembly is in an open state;

FIG. 3C illustrates a perspective view of a locking member of the earphone assembly separately;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a sectional view and a partial exploded view, respectively, of an earphone assembly according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate sectional views of another embodiment of a locking mechanism in an earphone assembly, respectively;

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate a partial exploded view and a sectional view, respectively, of an earphone assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below, and examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, with the same or similar labeling in each drawing denoting the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described below by reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are used only for the purpose of explaining the present disclosure and are not to be construed as a limitation of the present disclosure.

Unless otherwise defined, technical terms or scientific terms used herein shall have the ordinary meaning understood by a person of ordinary skill in the field to which this disclosure belongs. In the description of the present disclosure, it is to be understood that the terms "center, " "vertical, " "lateral, " "up" , "bottom" , "front" , "back" , "left" , "right" , "vertical" , "horizontal" , "top" , "bottom" "inside, " "outside, " and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on those shown in the accompanying drawings, solely for the purpose of facilitating a description of the present disclosure and simplifying the description, and not to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore is not to be construed as a limitation of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

The present disclosure provides an electronic device comprising: a first module comprising a first housing portion and electronic elements housed in the first housing portion; a second module comprising a second housing portion and a battery and electronic elements housed in the second housing portion; and a hinge having a pivot, the pivot being connected to the first housing portion and the second housing portion, respectively, such that the first module is capable of rotating about the axis of the pivot with respect to the second module so as to enable the transition of the electronic device between a closed state and an open state, and wherein the pivot of the hinge is arranged in the second housing portion, so that the hinge is not visible externally in the closed state of the electronic device.

This configuration of the present disclosure allow, on the one hand, a user to safely and reliably replace the batteries of a TWS earphone or other small electronic device on his/her own, e.g., in case of a significant decrease in the battery life of the electronic device, the user may replace the batteries, avoiding unnecessary replacement of the entire electronic device due to the decrease in the battery life. This reduces the amount of e-waste and is more environmentally friendly. On the other hand, by arranging the pivot of the hinge in the second housing portion, the hinge is not visible externally in the closed state of the electronic device, and thus the hinge is an invisible hinge or a hidden hinge. This configuration of the present disclosure may also minimize the impact on the appearance of the product while allowing for replaceable batteries.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the hinge comprises a first arm with a curved portion connecting the pivot to the first housing portion, the curved portion extending to form a plane perpendicular to the axis of the pivot. Such hinges with curved portions are easy to produce and may effectively be made invisible from the outside, while at the same time enabling transition between a closed state and an open state.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the second housing portion is located laterally inwardly with respect to the first housing portion at the joint and is provided with a shoulder, and the electronic device further comprises a sealing ring, the sealing ring being looped to the outer side of the second housing portion in the lateral direction, and resting against the shoulder and against the first housing portion in the vertical direction, respectively. In particular, the second housing portion is provided at the joint with a notch open towards the first housing portion in a region corresponding to the hinge, the notch being covered by the sealing ring. This sealing ring is effective in sealing the assembly gap between the two housing portions to meet the waterproof design requirements, so that the electronic device with the invisible hinge and the sealing ring minimizes the impact on the appearance and service life of the electronic device while allowing for replaceable batteries. In addition the combined design of the sealing ring and the notch has the particular benefit of not only permitting the electronic device to be opened with less resistance at the beginning of the opening, making the opening and closing of the electronic device smoother, but also in the open state the invisible hinge is able to squeeze the sealing ring at the notch of the second housing portion, making the electronic device to open to a greater extent.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the pivot of the hinge is arranged between the battery and the second housing portion, wherein the curved portion of the first arm protrudes toward the battery in the closed state, a recess extending perpendicularly to the axis of the pivot is provided on one side of the battery toward the curved portion, the curved portion of the first arm being capable of being partially accommodated in the recess in the closed state. By means of the specially shaped battery, it is possible to better adapt the installation of the hinge and to avoid assembly interference. On the other hand, it is possible to provide a larger capacity battery while meeting the assembly requirements of the hinge.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the electronic device comprises a locking mechanism for locking the electronic device in the closed state, the locking mechanism comprising a laterally extending locking latch and a support portion connected to the locking latch, the support portion being capable of elastically deforming so as to allow the locking latch to be moved from a locked position to an unlocked position. The locking mechanism enables easy and effective realization of locking the electronic device in the closed state.

FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of the earphone assembly 100 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, and FIG. 1B illustrates a perspective view of another angle of the earphone assembly 100. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1B, the earphone assembly 100 is a TWS earphone. In some other embodiments according to the present disclosure, the earphone assembly 100 may be any suitable wireless earphone.

As shown, the earphone assembly 100 includes a first earphone portion 110 and a second earphone portion 150 and a sealing ring 170, the sealing ring 170 being arranged at a joint of the first earphone portion 110 and the second earphone portion 150. The earphone assembly 100 further comprises a locking member 130, the locking member 130 being capable of selectively locking the first earphone portion 110 and the second earphone portion 150 in a closed state of the earphone assembly 100, i.e., a state as shown in FIGS. 1A-1B. In the closed state, the hinge 140 (shown in FIG. 2A) that hinges the first earphone portion 110 and the second earphone portion 150 to each other is not visible on the outside of the earphone assembly 100.

The first earphone portion 110 includes an in-ear portion 102, which defines a sound channel 102a. The earphone assembly 100 also includes earcups (not shown in the figures) , which are typically made of a silicone material or other soft material. When the earphone assembly 100 is worn over a user's ear, the in-ear portion 102 of the earphone assembly 100 is at least partially disposed in the user's ear canal. When the earphone assembly 100 is operating, audio generated by the speaker of the earphone assembly 100 is transmitted into the user's ear canal through the sound channel 102a of the in-ear portion 102.

FIG. 2A illustrates a sectional view of an earphone assembly according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein the earphone assembly is in a closed state. FIG. 2B illustrates an enlarged view of the dashed portion of FIG. 2A. FIG. 2C illustrates an exploded view of the earphone assembly 100 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate perspective and sectional views of the earphone assembly 100 in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein the earphone assembly 100 is in an open state in which the first earphone portion 110 is pivoted away from the second earphone portion 150. FIG. 3C illustrates a perspective view of a locking member 130 of the earphone assembly 100 separately.

As seen in FIGS. 2A and 2C, the first earphone portion 110 of the earphone assembly 100 includes a first housing portion 120, an in-ear portion 102 protruding from the first housing portion 120, and a speaker 114 housed in the first housing portion 120, as well as a number of other electronic elements (not labeled in the figures) . The speaker 114 is acoustically connected to the sound channel 102a of the in-ear portion 102 such that audio generated by the speaker 114 is transmitted through the sound channel 102a of the in-ear portion 102 when the earphone assembly 100 is operating. The second earphone portion 150 of the earphone assembly 100 includes a second housing portion 160 and a battery 152, a circuit board 154, and a number of other electronic elements (not shown in the figures) housed in the second housing portion 160. The second housing portion 160 comprises two portions, a middle housing portion 160a and a bottom housing portion 160b. The large-sized circuit board 154 is first mounted in the bottom housing portion 160b, which is then combined with the middle housing portion 160a.

The earphone assembly 100 includes a hinge 140 for hinging the first housing portion 120 and the second housing portion 160 to each other. The hinge 140 comprises a pivot 142 and a first arm 144 connecting the pivot 142 to the first housing portion 120 and a second arm 146 connecting the pivot 142 to the second housing portion 160 (see Figure 2C) . The pivot 142 is arranged in the second housing portion 160 and spaced apart from the first housing portion 120 by a distance. By connecting the pivot 142 to the first housing portion 120 and the second housing portion 160, respectively, the first earphone portion 110 is enabled to rotate around the pivot 142 with respect to the second earphone portion 150, thereby enabling the earphone assembly 100 to transition between the closed state shown in FIG. 2A and the open state shown in FIGS. 3A-3B. In the closed state, the first housing portion 120 and the second housing portion 160 are joined together with each other to form a housing for the earphone assembly 100, in which the battery 152, the electronic elements of the first earphone portion 110 and the electronic elements of the second earphone portion 150 are housed, and in the open state, the first housing portion 120 and the second housing portion 160 are separated from each other, leaving the battery 152 exposed for replacement.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 3B, the first arm 144 has a curved portion 144a. the curved portion 144a extends to form a plane perpendicular to the axis of the pivot 142. The curved portion 144a protrudes toward the battery 152 in the closed state shown in FIG. 2A. In the open state shown in FIG. 3B, the curved portion 114a comprises a portion located outside of the second housing portion 160 and extending toward a direction approaching the second housing portion 160. This is designed in such a way as to ensure that the first earphone portion 110 is able to cross over the second earphone portion 150 and continue downwardly until the degree of separation between these two portions permits replacement of the battery 152. In addition, the middle portion of the curved portion 144a is located directly above the second housing portion 160 in the open state, or the curved portion 144a is located partially within the second housing portion 160 and partially outside the second housing portion 160 in the open state. The curved portion 144a has herein an arcuate profile. It is noted herein that the arcs of the arcuate profile need not be circular arcs of only one curvature, but may also be a combination of several circular arcs of different curvatures, or one or more other arcs such as parabolic and/or hanger necks of non-circular arcs, or may also be a combination of one or more circular arcs with one or more parabolic and/or hanger necks of non-circular arcs and the like.

FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate sectional and partially exploded views of the earphone assembly 100 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein the hinge 140 is shown connected to the first housing portion 120 and the second housing portion 160. As seen in FIGS. 4A-4B, the first arm 144 of the hinge 140 includes a curved portion 144a, a first stop portion 144b for attachment to the first housing portion 120, and a connecting portion 144c attached between the curved portion 144a and the first stop portion 144b. The curved portion 144a and the connecting portion 144c extend in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the pivot 142, and the first stop portion 144b protrudes from the plane on both sides and extends parallel to the axis of the pivot 142. The second arm 146 of the hinge 140 extends in the same plane as the pivot 142 and includes a second stop portion 146a for attachment to the second housing portion 160. The first stop portion 144b extends parallel to the axis of the pivot 142.

FIG. 4B shows that the first housing portion 120 is provided with a first accommodation portion 124 for accommodating the first stop portion 144b, and the second housing portion 160 is provided with a second accommodation portion 168 for accommodating the second stop portion 146a. The first accommodation portion 124 is formed by a plurality, herein three, of stop blocks that are each pressed against the first stop portion 144b to ensure that the first arm 144 is positioned on the first housing portion 120. The second accommodation portion 168 is formed by a plurality, herein by three stop blocks which are each against the second stop portion 146a to ensure positioning of the second arm 146 on the second housing portion 160. Furthermore, the portions of the first arm 144 in contact with the first housing portion 120, i.e. the first stop portion 144b and the connecting portion 144c may additionally be connected by means of material bonding to avoid loosening along the mounting direction. Similarly, the portion of the second arm 146 in contact with the second housing portion 160 may additionally be connected by means of material bonding.

The earphone assembly 100 further comprises a specially shaped battery 152. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, a pivot 142 is arranged between the battery 152 and the second housing portion 160. A recess 152a extending perpendicular to the axis of the pivot axis 142 is provided on the side of the battery 152 towards the curved portion 144a, and the curved portion 144a of the first arm 144 is able to be partially accommodated in the recess 152a in the closed state. As shown in FIG. 2C, the battery 152 is not only provided with a recess 152a on the side toward the curved portion 144a, but also has a flat battery end surface 152b. This particular shape of the battery 152 enables a better adaptation to the installation of the hinge 140, thus avoiding assembly interference. On the other hand, by designing the recess 152a it is possible to simultaneously provide a larger capacity battery while meeting the assembly requirements of the hinge 140. In another one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the battery 152 may be arranged at a lower or higher position with respect to the pivot 142, depending on practical needs. Thus the pivot 142 may also be arranged not between the battery 152 and the second housing portion 160, but at another position close to the second housing portion 160.

The earphone assembly 100 further comprises a sealing ring 170. In the closed state of the earphone assembly 100 as shown in FIG. 2B, the first housing portion 120 comprises a joint portion 122 located laterally outwardly and the second housing portion 160 comprises a joint portion 162 located laterally inwardly as well as a shoulder portion 164 adjacent to the joint portion 162. The term "laterally" is used herein with respect to a joint surface of the first housing portion 120 and the second housing portion 160 of the earphone assembly 100, where the direction within the joint surface is lateral and the direction perpendicular to the joint surface is vertical. The joint portion 122 of the first housing portion 120 and the joint portion 162 of the second housing portion 160 are stacked on each other. The sealing ring 170 is looped on the outer side of the joint portion 162 of the second housing portion 160 and rests upwardly against the joint portion 122 of the first housing portion 120 and downwardly against the shoulder portion 164 of the second housing portion 160. This sealing ring 170 is effective in sealing the assembly gap between the two housing portions to meet the waterproof design requirements. As may be seen in FIG. 2C, the second housing portion 160 is provided with a notch 172 open towards the first housing portion 120 in the region corresponding to the curved portion 144a of the first arm 144, the notch 172 being covered by the sealing ring 170. By providing the notch 172, a sheltered space is provided for the curved portion 144a of the first arm 144 to cross the second housing portion 160 in an open state. In addition the combined design of the sealing ring 170 and the notch 172 has the particular benefit of not only allowing the earphone assembly 100 to be opened with less resistance at the beginning of the opening, resulting in a smoother opening and closing of the earphone assembly 100, but also the hinge 140 being able to squeeze the sealing ring 170 at the notch 172 of the second housing portion 160 during the open state, allowing the earphone assembly 100 to be opened to a greater extent.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the first housing portion 120 may be provided with a joint portion and a shoulder portion adjacent to the joint portion located laterally inwardly, and the second housing portion 160 may be provided with a joint portion located laterally outwardly. Accordingly, the sealing ring 170 is laterally looped on the outer side of the joint portion of the first housing portion 120 and is vertically positioned against the joint portion of the second housing portion 160 and against the shoulder portion of the first housing portion 120.

The locking mechanism of the earphone assembly 100 may be designed in a variety of ways. In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the locking mechanism comprises a laterally extending latch and a support portion connected to the latch, the support portion being capable of elastically deforming so as to allow the latch to be moved from a locked position to an unlocked position. The locking member 130 illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2C and 3A-3C is one embodiment of a locking mechanism. As seen in particular from FIG. 3C, the locking member 130 comprises an elastically deformable base plate 132, which forms the support portion, and a locking post 134 extending from the base plate 132, which forms the latch. The base plate 132 is positioned at both ends on a corresponding structure of the second housing portion 160 and is fixedly connected between the ends to the locking post 134. The base plate 132 further comprises two bent portions 136, each of which defines a concave portion 136a. The locking post 134, or an extension thereof, is located between the two concave portions 136a. As seen in FIG. 2B, the joint portion 122 of the first housing portion 120 is provided with a locking aperture 122a, the joint portion 162 of the second housing portion 160 is provided with a locking aperture 162a, and the locking aperture 122a of the joint portion 122 of the first housing portion 120 and the locking aperture 162a of the joint portion 162 of the second housing portion 160 are aligned with each other. In the closed state of the earphone assembly 100 illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the locking member 130 is in a locked position, i.e., the locking post 134 of the locking member 130 passes through the locking apertures 122a and the locking apertures 162a that are aligned with each other, thereby locking the first housing portion 120 and the second housing portion 160 in the position illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2B, i.e., the closed state of the earphone assembly 100.

When it is necessary to open the earphone assembly 100, for example, to perform a battery replacement operation on the earphone assembly 100, a user may use, for example, a needle-like object (not shown) to press against the locking post 134 in the direction of the arrow F of FIG. 2B, thereby causing the locking member 130 and its locking post 134 to be moved in the direction of the arrow F from its locked position to the unlocked position. In the unlocked position of the locking member 130 or the locking post 134 thereof, the locking post 134 of the locking member 130 is outside of the locking aperture 122a of the first housing portion 120 such that the first earphone portion 110 or the first housing portion 120 of the earphone assembly 100 may pivotally shift around the hinge 140 with respect to the second earphone portion 150 or the second housing portion 160, thereby placing the earphone assembly 100 placed in an open state.

FIGS. 3A and 3C shows the structure of the locking member 130 and the structure in the second housing portion 160 that mates with the locking member 130. The second housing portion 160 includes a joint portion 162 and two columns 166 adjacent to and spaced apart from the joint portion 162. When the locking member 130 is mated in the second housing portion 160, the base plate 132 of the locking member 130 is placed or sandwiched between the joint portion 162 and the two columns 166 of the second housing portion 160, wherein each bent portion 136 of the locking member 130 leans against each of the columns 166, and each concave portion 136a of the bent portion 136 mates with each of the two columns 166 such that the locking member 130 is suitably held in position. At this point, the locking post 134 or an extension thereof is positioned between or midway between the two columns 166. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the locking member 130 is a one-piece molded member. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, the locking member 130 is made of a metal, such as steel, such that the base plate 132 of the locking member 130 is elastic. In the closed state of the earphone assembly 100, when a user presses against the locking post 134 with a needle-like object in the direction indicated by arrow F of FIG. 2B, the base plate 132 of the locking member 130 undergoes an elastic deformation such that the locking post 134 of the locking member 130 is able to exit from the locking aperture 122a of the joint portion 122, permitting the first earphone portion 110 or the first housing portion 130 to pivot away from the second earphone portion 150 or the second housing portion 160 around the hinge 140.

In one or more embodiments, the diameter of the locking post 134 of the locking member 130 is on the order of millimeters, such as 1 mm or 1-2 mm, and in the closed state of the earphone assembly 100, the locking post 134 of the locking member 130 is retracted with respect to the locking aperture 122a of the first housing portion 120. As a result, in the daily use of the earphone assembly 100, the locking post 134 of the locking member 110 is hidden, does not affect the appearance of the earphone assembly, and will not be touched by mistake and cause the earphone assembly 100 to be opened accidentally. Thus, the locking member 130 of the present disclosure may very reliably keep the earphone assembly 100 in a closed state.

For the earphone assembly 100, only a very small number of battery replacements, such as 1-3, are typically required throughout its lifetime. For such a limited number of replacements, the unlocking method of the present disclosure (using a pin to press against the locking post 134 in the locking aperture 122a of the first housing portion 120) is a relatively simple method. In other embodiments, instead of using the pin and locking mechanism, a button may be provided and the locking mechanism may be disengaged from its locked position by pressing the button, thereby opening the earphone assembly.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate sectional views of another embodiment of the locking mechanism in the earphone assembly 100, wherein FIG. 5A illustrates an overall view of the locking mechanism in the locked position (left view) and a detail marked with circle A in the overall view (right view) , and FIG. 5B illustrates an overall view of the locking mechanism in the unlocked position (left view) and a detail marked with circle B in the overall view (right view) . The second housing portion 160 is placed above for ease of illustration. The locking mechanism is provided as a cantilever 190 fixed at one end, the cantilever 190 being an injection molded part integrally molded with the second housing portion 160 and capable of elastic deformation. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the cantilever 190 may also be an injection molded part integrally molded with the first housing portion 120. As may be seen in the figures, the fixed end of the cantilever 190 forms the support portion, the free end of the cantilever 190 is provided with a protrusion 190a forming the latch, and the first housing portion 120 is provided with a recess 120a for cooperating with the protrusion 190a, and is provided with a perforation 120b for permitting the cantilever 190 to be pushed from the outside. The outer side (bottom in the figure) of the protrusion 190a of the cantilever 190 is provided with a chamfer 190b so as to reduce resistance due to the protrusion 190a during downward insertion of the cantilever 190 into the first housing portion 120, thereby allowing the cantilever 190 to enter into the locked position illustrated in FIG. 5A, wherein the protrusion 190a is embedded in the recess 120a such that the first housing portion 120 is locked in a closed state. When a user inserts a needle-like object into the perforation 120b and presses against the cantilever 190, the cantilever 190 undergoes elastic deformation and the protrusion 190a is able to exit from the recess 120a, thereby entering the unlocked position illustrated in FIG. 5B, permitting the first housing portion 120 to pivot away from the second housing portion 160 around the hinge 140 not shown herein.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate a partial exploded view and a sectional view, respectively, of an earphone assembly 100 in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein another embodiment of the hinge 140 is employed. The hinge 140 is herein a single-arm hinge including a pivot 142 and a first arm 144, without a second arm. The connection of the pivot 142 to the second housing portion 160 is achieved by means of a seat 174 being injection-molded into the second housing portion 160. The seat 174 includes two portions each molded with a recess 174a to accommodate two ends of the pivot 142. The first arm 144 includes a curved portion 144a, a first stop portion 144b, and a connecting portion 144c disposed between the curved portion 144a and the first stop portion 144b. The first stop portion 144b may be accommodated in a first accommodating portion 120c of the first housing portion 120.

The seat 174 may take a variety of forms. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the pivot 174 may be constructed to include two dome-shaped recesses opposite each other. The pivot 142 is accordingly provided with spherical ends adapted to fit into the dome-shaped recesses, such that the seat is capable of forming a support for the two ends of the pivot. The pivot 142 is illustrated in the drawings as having a cylindrical shape. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the pivot 142 may also be provided in any shape, such as a spherical or spheroidal shape. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the pivot 142 may also be provided to form an integral member with the first arm 144.

Referring again to FIGS. 3A-3B, the interface dividing the first earphone portion 110 and the second earphone portion 150 is in the vicinity of an upper surface of the battery 152 such that, in the open state of the earphone assembly 100, the battery 152 housed within the second housing portion 160 of the second earphone portion 150 is exposed. In the open state of the earphone assembly 100, there is no any other electronic device or the like above the battery 152, so that a user is able to remove the battery 152 from the second housing portion 160 of the second earphone portion 150 and replace it.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the earphone assembly 100 also includes a flexible circuit board 148 in the vicinity of the hinge 140. By using the flexible circuit board 148, the speaker 114 (and other electronic elements) of the first earphone portion 110 and the battery 152 and circuit board 154 (and other electronic elements) of the second earphone portion 150 may be reliably electrically connected at all times, regardless of whether the earphone assembly 100 is in an open state or closed state.

In the description above, the present disclosure is described in connection with TWS earphones or wireless earphones. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that TWS earphones or wireless earphones are typically used in pairs and that the structure and function of the two earphones are essentially the same, and the other earphone of the pair will not be described in detail herein. In other embodiments according to the present disclosure, the TWS earphone or wireless earphone may have any suitable structure different from the illustrated structure.

The present disclosure is described above in connection with TWS earphones or wireless earphones. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and in additional embodiments according to the present disclosure, the present disclosure may be applicable to any suitable wearable electronic device, such as a smartwatch or a bracelet, for example, or other suitable electronic device with a rechargeable battery.

According to one or more embodiments of the disclosure, the present disclosure may be implemented as follows.

Item 1: An electronic device comprising a first module comprising a first housing portion and electronic elements housed in the first housing portion; a second module comprising a second housing portion and a battery and electronic elements housed in the second housing portion; and a hinge having a pivot, the pivot being connected to the first housing portion and the second housing portion, respectively, such that the first module is capable of rotating about the axis of the pivot with respect to the second module so as to enable the transition of the electronic device between a closed state and an open state, wherein in the closed state, the first housing portion and the second housing portion are joined together with each other to form a housing for the electronic device in which the battery and the electronic elements of the first module and the second module are housed, and in the open state, the first housing portion and the second housing portion are separated from each other, leaving the battery exposed, and wherein the pivot of the hinge is arranged in the second housing portion, so that the hinge is not visible externally in the closed state of the electronic device.

Item 2: The electronic device according to item 1, wherein the hinge comprises a first arm connecting the pivot to the first housing portion, the first arm comprising a curved portion, the curved portion extending to form a plane perpendicular to the axis of the pivot.

Item 3: The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 2, wherein the curved portion comprises a portion located outside of the second housing portion in the open state and extending toward a direction approaching the second housing portion.

Item 4: The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein the curved portion has an arcuate profile.

Item 5: The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein the first arm comprises a first stop portion for attachment to the first housing portion extending parallel to the axis of the pivot, and the first housing portion is provided with a first accommodation portion for accommodating the first stop portion.

Item 6: The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 5, wherein the first arm further comprises a connecting portion connecting the curved portion to the first stop portion, the connecting portion extending in the same plane as the curved portion.

Item 7: The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 6, wherein the hinge further comprises a second arm connecting the pivot to the second housing portion, the second arm extending in the same plane as the pivot and comprising a second stop portion for attachment to the second housing portion extending parallel to the axis of the pivot, the second housing portion being provided with a second accommodation portion for accommodating the second stop portion.

Item 8: The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 7, wherein the pivot is arranged between the battery and the second housing portion, wherein the curved portion of the first arm protrudes toward the battery in the closed state.

Item 9: The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 8, wherein a recess extending perpendicularly to the axis of the pivot is provided on one side of the battery toward the curved portion, the curved portion of the first arm being capable of being partially accommodated in the recess in the closed state.

Item 10: The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 9, wherein the battery is provided with a flat end face on the side of the battery towards the curved portion, the recess being arranged on the end face.

Item 11: The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 10, wherein the electronic device further comprises a sealing ring, one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion being laterally inwardly located and provided with a shoulder at the joint, and the other being laterally outwardly located at the joint, the sealing ring being laterally looped to the outer side of the one, and vertically resting against the shoulder and against the other one, respectively.

Item 12: The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 11, wherein the second housing portion is laterally inwardly located at the joint with respect to the first housing portion, wherein the second housing portion is provided at the joint with a notch open toward the first housing portion in a region corresponding to the hinge, the notch being covered by the sealing ring.

Item 13: The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 12, wherein the electronic device comprises a locking mechanism for locking the electronic device in the closed state, the locking mechanism comprising a laterally extending latch and a support portion connected to the latch, the support portion being capable of elastically deforming so as to allow the latch to be moved from a locked position to an unlocked position.

Item 14: The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 13, wherein the locking mechanism is a metallic member, the latch being in the form of a column and the support portion being in the form of a sheet, the support portion being positioned at both ends on a corresponding structure of the second housing portion and being fixedly connected to the latch between the ends, the first housing portion and the second housing portion being stacked on each other laterally at the joint and each having a locking aperture, the latch being provided so as to be capable of extend into the locking aperture and be capable of being pushed externally.

Item 15: The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 14, wherein the corresponding structure of the second housing portion comprises a joint portion and two columns adjacent to and spaced apart from the joint portion, wherein the support portion of the locking mechanism is sandwiched between the joint portion and the columns, and wherein the locking latch, or an extension of the locking latch, is between the two columns.

Item 16: The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 15, wherein the support portion further comprises a bent portion, the bent portion forming two concave portions for mating with the two columns.

Item 17: The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 16, wherein the locking mechanism is a cantilever configured on one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the fixed end of the cantilever forming the support portion, the free end of the cantilever being provided with a protrusion forming the locking latch, and the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion being provided with a recess for mating with the protrusion and with a perforation for permitting the cantilever to be pushed from the outside.

Item 18: The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 17, wherein the cantilever is provided with a chamfer on the outer side of the protrusion.

Item 19: The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 18, wherein the cantilever is an injection molded part integrally molded onto the first housing portion or the second housing portion.

Item 20: The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 19, wherein the electronic device comprises a flexible circuit board, the flexible circuit board being provided in the vicinity of the hinge for electrically connecting the battery and electronic elements of the second module to the electronic elements of the first module.

Item 21: The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 20, wherein the interface dividing the first module and the second module is in the vicinity of a surface of the battery such that in the open state of the electronic device, the battery housed in the second housing portion is exposed.

Item 22: The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 21, wherein the electronic device is a wireless earphone, wherein the electronic elements of the first module comprise a speaker assembly.

Item 23: The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 22, wherein the electronic device is a wearable electronic device, wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery.

Systems and methods have been described in general terms as an aid to understanding details of the disclosure. In some instances, well-known structures, materials, and/or operations have not been specifically shown or described in detail to prevent obscuring aspects of the disclosure. In other instances, specific details have been given to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosure. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms, for example to adapt to a particular system or apparatus or situation or material or component, without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Therefore, the disclosures and descriptions herein are intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosure is not to be restricted except considering the attached claims and their equivalents.

Claims

An electronic device comprising

a first module comprising a first housing portion and electronic elements housed in the first housing portion;

a second module comprising a second housing portion and a battery and electronic elements housed in the second housing portion; and

a hinge having a pivot, the pivot being connected to the first housing portion and the second housing portion, respectively, such that the first module is capable of rotating about the axis of the pivot with respect to the second module so as to enable the transition of the electronic device between a closed state and an open state, wherein in the closed state, the first housing portion and the second housing portion are joined together with each other to form a housing for the electronic device in which the battery and the electronic elements of the first module and the second module are housed, and in the open state, the first housing portion and the second housing portion are separated from each other, leaving the battery exposed, and

Wherein the pivot of the hinge is arranged in the second housing portion, so that the hinge is not visible externally in the closed state of the electronic device.
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the hinge comprises a first arm connecting the pivot to the first housing portion, the first arm comprising a curved portion, the curved portion extending to form a plane perpendicular to the axis of the pivot.
The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the curved portion comprises a portion located outside of the second housing portion in the open state and extending toward a direction approaching the second housing portion.
The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the curved portion has an arcuate profile.
The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the first arm comprises a first stop portion for attachment to the first housing portion extending parallel to the axis of the pivot, and the first housing portion is provided with a first accommodation portion for accommodating the first stop portion.
The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the first arm further comprises a connecting portion connecting the curved portion to the first stop portion, the connecting portion extending in the same plane as the curved portion.
The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the hinge further comprises a second arm connecting the pivot to the second housing portion, the second arm extending in the same plane as the pivot and comprising a second stop portion for attachment to the second housing portion extending parallel to the axis of the pivot, the second housing portion being provided with a second accommodation portion for accommodating the second stop portion.
The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the pivot is arranged between the battery and the second housing portion, wherein the curved portion of the first arm protrudes toward the battery in the closed state.
The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein a recess extending perpendicularly to the axis of the pivot is provided on one side of the battery toward the curved portion, the curved portion of the first arm being capable of being partially accommodated in the recess in the closed state.
The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the battery is provided with a flat end face on the side of the battery towards the curved portion, the recess being arranged on the end face.
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device further comprises a sealing ring, one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion being laterally inwardly located and provided with a shoulder at the joint, and the other being laterally outwardly located at the joint, the sealing ring being laterally looped to the outer side of the one, and vertically resting against the shoulder and against the other one, respectively.
The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the second housing portion is laterally inwardly located at the joint with respect to the first housing portion, wherein the second housing portion is provided at the joint with a notch open toward the first housing portion in a region corresponding to the hinge, the notch being covered by the sealing ring.
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a locking mechanism for locking the electronic device in the closed state, the locking mechanism comprising a laterally extending latch and a support portion connected to the latch, the support portion being capable of elastically deforming so as to allow the latch to be moved from a locked position to an unlocked position.
The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein the locking mechanism is a metallic member, the latch being in the form of a column and the support portion being in the form of a sheet, the support portion being positioned at both ends on a corresponding structure of the second housing portion and being fixedly connected to the latch between the ends, the first housing portion and the second housing portion being stacked on each other laterally at the joint and each having a locking aperture, the latch being provided so as to be capable of extend into the locking aperture and be capable of being pushed externally.
The electronic device according to claim 14, wherein the corresponding structure of the second housing portion comprises a joint portion and two columns adjacent to and spaced apart from the joint portion, wherein the support portion of the locking mechanism is sandwiched between the joint portion and the columns, and wherein the locking latch, or an extension of the locking latch, is between the two columns.
The electronic device according to claim 14, wherein the support portion further comprises a bent portion, the bent portion forming two concave portions for mating with the two columns.
The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein the locking mechanism is a cantilever configured on one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the fixed end of the cantilever forming the support portion, the free end of the cantilever being provided with a protrusion forming the locking latch, and the other of the first housing portion and the second housing portion being provided with a recess for mating with the protrusion and with a perforation for permitting the cantilever to be pushed from the outside.
The electronic device according to claim 17, wherein the cantilever is provided with a chamfer on the outer side of the protrusion.
The electronic device according to claim 17, wherein the cantilever is an injection molded part integrally molded onto the first housing portion or the second housing portion.
The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the electronic device comprises a flexible circuit board, the flexible circuit board being provided in the vicinity of the hinge for electrically connecting the battery and electronic elements of the second module to the electronic elements of the first module.
The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the interface dividing the first module and the second module is in the vicinity of a surface of the battery such that in the open state of the electronic device, the battery housed in the second housing portion is exposed.
The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the electronic device is a wireless earphone, wherein the electronic elements of the first module comprise a speaker assembly.
The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the electronic device is a wearable electronic device, wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery.