Earbud insertion sensing method with infrared technology
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An earbud comprising:
- a concha portion;
a canal portion;
a first infrared light transmitter disposed within a channel of the canal portion;
a second infrared light transmitter disposed in the concha portion;
an infrared light detector disposed in the concha portion; and
a controller configured to cause the first infrared light transmitter to transmit pulses of infrared light in a first pattern, to cause the second infrared light transmitter to transmit pulses of infrared light in a second pattern different from the first pattern, and to provide an indication of insertion of the earbud into an ear of a user responsive to the pulses of infrared light having the first pattern ceasing to be detected by the infrared light detector and the pulses of infrared light having the second pattern being detected by the infrared light detector.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An earbud includes an infrared light transmitter, an infrared light detector, and a controller configured to provide an indication of insertion of the earbud into an ear of a user responsive to detection of a pattern of signals from the transmitter at the detector.
60 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. An earbud comprising:
-
a concha portion; a canal portion; a first infrared light transmitter disposed within a channel of the canal portion; a second infrared light transmitter disposed in the concha portion; an infrared light detector disposed in the concha portion; and a controller configured to cause the first infrared light transmitter to transmit pulses of infrared light in a first pattern, to cause the second infrared light transmitter to transmit pulses of infrared light in a second pattern different from the first pattern, and to provide an indication of insertion of the earbud into an ear of a user responsive to the pulses of infrared light having the first pattern ceasing to be detected by the infrared light detector and the pulses of infrared light having the second pattern being detected by the infrared light detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method of reducing power consumption of an earbud, the method comprising:
-
determining whether the earbud is inserted into the ear of a user by monitoring a pattern of signals between a first infrared light transmitter disposed within a channel of a canal portion of the earbud, a second infrared light transmitter disposed in a concha portion of the earbud, and an infrared light detector disposed in the concha portion of the earbud, the first infrared light transmitter transmitting a first infrared light signal having a first pattern, the second infrared light transmitter transmitting a second infrared light signal having a second pattern different from the first pattern; and causing the earbud to transition from an active state to an inactive state responsive to determining that the earbud is not inserted in the ear of the user for more than a threshold amount of time. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A method of detecting insertion of an earbud into an ear of a user, the method comprising:
-
detecting a first infrared light signal transmitted from a first transmitter disposed in a channel of a canal portion of the earbud at an infrared detector disposed in a concha portion of the earbud; detecting a second infrared light signal transmitted from a second transmitter disposed in the concha portion of the earbud, the second infrared light signal having a different pattern than the first infrared light signal; and detecting a termination of receipt of the first infrared light signal at the infrared detector, the termination of the receipt of the first infrared light signal being indicative of the earbud being inserted into the ear of the user. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
-
21. A pair of earbuds comprising:
-
a first earbud comprising a first infrared light transmitter disposed in a concha portion of the first earbud, a second infrared light transmitter disposed in a channel of a canal portion of the first earbud, and a first infrared light detector disposed in the concha portion of the first earbud; a second earbud comprising a third infrared light transmitter disposed in a concha portion of the second earbud, a fourth infrared light transmitter disposed in a channel of a canal portion of the second earbud, and a second infrared light detector disposed in the concha portion of the second earbud; and a controller configured to; cause the first transmitter to emit a signal with a first predetermined modulation; cause the second transmitter to emit a signal with a second predetermined modulation, the second predetermined modulation being different in one of frequency or pattern from the first predetermined modulation; cause the third transmitter to emit a signal with a third predetermined modulation; cause the fourth transmitter to emit a signal with a fourth predetermined modulation, the fourth predetermined modulation being different in one of frequency or pattern from the third predetermined modulation; and provide an indication of insertion of the earbuds into ears of a user responsive to the signals from the second and fourth transmitters ceasing to be detected at the detectors.
-
Specification