Performing an operation at a headphone system
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- receiving, in a first earpiece, a magnetic field emitted by a magnetic field source of an acoustic transducer of a second earpiece of a headphone, wherein the magnetic field source includes a magnet comprising part of a motor structure configured to generate sound and an additional magnet;
determining a change in an intensity of the magnetic field satisfies a threshold indicating a change in position of the headphone;
determining, based at least in part on information obtained from one or more other types of sensors associated with the headphone, the change in position of the headphone; and
in response to the change in position of the headphone determined by the change in the intensity of the magnetic field and the information obtained from the one or more other types of sensors, initiating an operation at the headphone or a device in communication with the headphone, wherein when it is determined that the headphone is on a user'"'"'s head, a notification of an incoming phone call, message or other notification is provided to the user via an audible sound output by the first and second earpieces of the headphone, and when it is determined that the headphone is off the user'"'"'s head, a notification of an incoming phone call, message or other notification is provided to the user via tactile sensation such as a vibration or an audible sound output by the first and second earpieces of the headphone with the sound being optimized for shared listening mode so the sound is more likely to be heard by the user.
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Abstract
An on/off head detection system uses magnetic field intensity to determine a configuration, position, and/or orientation of a headphone. In some implementations, the system may determine whether a headphone is on or off a user'"'"'s head. The system includes a magnetic field sensor configured to detect a magnetic field emitted by a magnetic field source associated with an earpiece of the headphone. A control module determines an intensity of the magnetic field and whether the intensity of the magnetic field satisfies a threshold. An operational mode associated with the headphone or an associated device is performed in response to the intensity of the magnetic field satisfying the threshold.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving, in a first earpiece, a magnetic field emitted by a magnetic field source of an acoustic transducer of a second earpiece of a headphone, wherein the magnetic field source includes a magnet comprising part of a motor structure configured to generate sound and an additional magnet; determining a change in an intensity of the magnetic field satisfies a threshold indicating a change in position of the headphone; determining, based at least in part on information obtained from one or more other types of sensors associated with the headphone, the change in position of the headphone; and in response to the change in position of the headphone determined by the change in the intensity of the magnetic field and the information obtained from the one or more other types of sensors, initiating an operation at the headphone or a device in communication with the headphone, wherein when it is determined that the headphone is on a user'"'"'s head, a notification of an incoming phone call, message or other notification is provided to the user via an audible sound output by the first and second earpieces of the headphone, and when it is determined that the headphone is off the user'"'"'s head, a notification of an incoming phone call, message or other notification is provided to the user via tactile sensation such as a vibration or an audible sound output by the first and second earpieces of the headphone with the sound being optimized for shared listening mode so the sound is more likely to be heard by the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A headphone comprising:
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a magnetic field sensor configured to detect a magnetic field emitted by a magnet comprising part of a motor structure configured to generate sound within the headphone and by an additional magnet; and a control module configured to; determine a change in an intensity of the magnetic field satisfies a threshold indicating a change in position of the headphone; determining based at least in part on information obtained from one or more other types of sensors associated with the headphone, the change in position of the headphone; and in response to the change in position of the headphone determined by the change in the intensity of the magnetic field and the information obtained from the one or more other types of sensors, perform an operational mode-associated with at least one of the headphone or a device in communication with the headphone, wherein when it is determined that the headphone is on a user'"'"'s head, a notification of an incoming phone call, message or other notification is provided to the user via an audible sound output the headphone, and when it is determined that the headphone is off the user'"'"'s head, a notification of an incoming phone call, message or other notification is provided to the user via tactile sensation such as a vibration or an audible sound output by the headphone with the sound being optimized for shared listening mode so the sound is more likely to be heard by the user. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A headphone system comprising:
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a first acoustic transducer; a second acoustic transducer; a magnetic field sensor configured to detect a magnetic field emitted by a magnet comprising part of a motor structure configured to generate sound within the first acoustic transducer or the second acoustic transducer and by an additional magnet; a control module configured to; determine a change in an intensity of the magnetic field satisfies a threshold indicating a change in position of the headphone; determining, based at least in part on information obtained from one or more other types of sensors associated with the headphone, the change in position of the headphone; and in response to the change in position of the headphone determined by the change in the intensity of the magnetic field and the information obtained from the one or more other types of sensors, perform an operational mode associated with at least one of the headphone or a device in communication with the headphone, wherein when it is determined that the headphone is on a user'"'"'s head, a notification of an incoming phone call, message or other notification is provided to the user via an audible sound output by the first and second earpieces of the headphone, and when it is determined that the headphone is off the user'"'"'s head, a notification of an incoming phone call, message or other notification is provided to the user via tactile sensation such as a vibration or an audible sound output by the first and second earpieces of the headphone with the sound being optimized for shared listening mode so the sound is more likely to be heard by the user. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification