Electronic device for adjusting power to an earphone transmitter

• US 10,292,591 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2016
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Matsuda, Munehito
• Primary Examiner(s): Gedeon, Brian T
• Application Number:
  US15/274,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20170007131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0062 Arrangements for scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6817 Ear canal

Abstract

At least one processor is configured to control transmission of infrared rays from an infrared transmitter. A signal reception unit is configured to receive waveform signals of the infrared rays received by an infrared receiver. The at least one processor is configured to measure pulses of a user who wears an earphone based on the waveform signals and to control a transmission pattern of the infrared rays from the infrared transmitter based on which of accuracy in measurement of pulses and power saving is prioritized.

Claims

1. An electronic device configured to control an earphone which includes an infrared transmitter and an infrared receiver, the electronic device comprising:

at least one processor configured to control transmission of infrared rays from the infrared transmitter; and

a reception unit configured to receive waveform signals of the infrared rays received by the infrared receiver,

the at least one processor being configured to measure pulses of a user who wears the earphone based on the waveform signals and to control a transmission pattern of the infrared rays from the infrared transmitter based on which of accuracy in measurement of the pulses and power saving is prioritized, wherein accuracy in measurement is prioritized when the earphone is not properly attached to the user'"'"'s ear as indicated by the received infrared rays including external light.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein

the at least one processor is configured to increase transmission power of the infrared rays when the accuracy in measurement is prioritized and to decrease transmission power of the infrared rays when the power saving is prioritized.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein

the at least one processor is configured to make an interval between transmission pulses of the infrared rays shorter when the accuracy in measurement is prioritized and to make an interval between transmission pulses of the infrared rays longer when the power saving is prioritized.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein

the at least one processor is configured to stop transmission of the infrared rays when the power saving is prioritized.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein

the at least one processor is configured to successively transmit transmission pulses of the infrared rays when the accuracy in measurement is prioritized and to measure the pulses by using an average value of reflection pulses corresponding to the respective transmission pulses of the infrared rays.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein

the at least one processor is configured to prioritize the accuracy in measurement when attachment of the earphone to an ear is confirmed or when probability of attachment of the earphone to the ear is determined as relatively high and to prioritize the power saving when probability of attachment of the earphone to the ear is determined as relatively low.

7. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein

the at least one processor is configured to prioritize the accuracy in measurement when reflected light of the infrared rays transmitted from the infrared transmitter is included in the received infrared rays.

8. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein

the at least one processor is configured to prioritize the accuracy in measurement during a certain period immediately after connection of the earphone to the electronic device as compared with a period outside the certain period.

9. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein

the at least one processor is configured to prioritize the power saving when a certain period of time has elapsed without detection of attachment of the earphone to the ear after connection of the earphone to the electronic device.

10. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein

the at least one processor is configured to operate an application, and

the at least one processor is configured to prioritize the accuracy in measurement during a certain period immediately after launch of a specific application with the earphone being connected to the electronic device, as compared with a period outside the certain period.

11. The electronic device according to claim 6, the electronic device comprising a detection unit configured to detect movement or stop of the electronic device, wherein

the at least one processor is configured to prioritize the power saving during a period in which the earphone is connected to the electronic device and the electronic device is detected to be in a rest state, as compared with a period outside the period.

12. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein

the at least one processor is configured to prioritize the accuracy in measurement from immediately after start of measurement until detection that the received infrared rays include reflected light of the infrared rays transmitted from the infrared transmitter and configured to prioritize the power saving after detection.

13. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein

the at least one processor is configured to prioritize the accuracy in measurement when the pulses are expected to be equal to or greater than a prescribed value as compared with when the pulses are expected to be smaller than the prescribed value.

14. The electronic device according to claim 1, the electronic device comprising a detection unit configured to detect an amount of movement of the electronic device per unit time, wherein

the at least one processor is configured to prioritize the accuracy in measurement when an amount of movement of the electronic device per unit time is equal to or greater than a prescribed value.

15. The electronic device according to claim 1, the electronic device comprising a storage unit configured to store a measurement value of the pulses, wherein

the at least one processor is configured to prioritize the accuracy in measurement when a past measurement value of pulses which is stored in the storage unit is equal to or greater than a prescribed value.

16. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein

the at least one processor is configured to prioritize the power saving during a period in which the earphone is connected to the electronic device and the electronic device is in a power saving mode, as compared with a period outside the period.

17. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein

the reception unit is configured to control drive of the infrared receiver in accordance with the transmission pattern of the infrared rays.

18. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein

the at least one processor is configured to notify that the earphone is not attached to an ear when the received infrared rays do not include reflected light of the infrared rays transmitted from the infrared transmitter.

19. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein

the at least one processor is configured to notify that the earphone is not properly attached to an ear when the received infrared rays include the external light.

20. An electronic device configured to control an earphone including an optical transmitter and an optical receiver, the electronic device comprising:

at least one processor configured to control transmission of light from the optical transmitter; and

a reception unit configured to receive a waveform signal of light received by the opticaleceiver; and

a detection unit configured to detect movement of the electronic device,

the at least one processor being configured to measure pulses of a user who wears the earphone based on a waveform signal of the received light and to control a transmission pattern of light from the optical transmitter based on which of accuracy in measurement of the pulses and power saving is prioritized, and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to prioritize the power saving during a period in which the earphone is connected to the electronic device and the electronic device is detected to be in a rest state.