Awareness intelligence headphone

• US 10,425,717 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2015
• Issued: 09/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HoMedics USA, LLC
• Original Assignee: SR Homedics, LLC
• Inventors: Angel, Jr., Donald Earl
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Paul
• Assistant Examiner(s): Odunukwe, Ubachukwu A
• Application Number:
  US14/616,506
• Publication Number:
  US 20150222977A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,691 Days
• Field of Search: 381 56, 381 58, 381103, 381 716, 381 74, 381 57, 381 714, 455569, 455557, 455575, 455550, 455556, 704273, 704244, 704275, 704202
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 5/165 Equalizers; Volume or gain control in limited frequency bands
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/105 Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1083 Reduction of ambient noise active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/01 Input selection or mixing for amplifiers or loudspeakers for hearing aids H04R25/43
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/01 Hearing devices using active noise cancellation
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for an awareness intelligence headphone with an always listening mode. Headphone units share the ability to output audio sound to a user, but may not provide additional functionality that users may require. A headphone unit with the always listening mode is used to analyze ambient noise surrounding the headphone unit in order to detect predetermined sounds, issue alerts to a user, and respond to an input command from the user.

Claims

1. A method for an always listening function of an earpiece including a speaker unit, a processor and an audio receiving device, the method comprising the earpiece processor:

analyzing ambient noise received by the audio receiving device and surrounding the earpiece; and

upon detection of a pre-determined sound, performing the following steps;

executing an alert to a user of the earpiece,

receiving an input command from the user in response to the alert, the input command indicating whether to provide the ambient noise to the user,

manipulating an audio playback of the earpiece by including the ambient noise in the audio playback if the input command indicates providing the ambient noise to the user, and

reducing a volume of the ambient noise in the audio playback in response to a pre-determined time period during which there is no detection of the pre-determined sound.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-determined sound comprises a name of the user, a greeting, or a combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert is an adjustment to a power supplied to the earpiece.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the input command is a head gesture of the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-determined sound comprises one or more of a siren, horn, or other sound that represents a danger to the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein manipulating the audio playback comprises pausing the audio playback or continuing the audio playback uninterrupted.

7. A method for an always listening function of an earpiece including a speaker unit, a processor and an audio receiving device, the method comprising the earpiece processor:

analyzing ambient noise received by the audio receiving device and surrounding the earpiece; and

upon detection of a voice above a threshold volume in the ambient noise, performing the following steps;

allowing the voice to pass through the speaker unit to a user of the earpiece,

simultaneously continuing audio playback through the speaker unit while allowing the voice to pass through to the user via the speaker unit, and

reducing a volume of the ambient noise in the audio playback in response to a pre-determined time duration during which there is no detected voice above the threshold volume.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the threshold volume is above or near the volume of a voice of a person talking in a conversational setting.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the audio receiving device comprises a microphone.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein a balance between a volume of the voice and a volume of the audio playback is adjusted by the user of the earpiece.

11. An earpiece, comprising:

a speaker unit;

an audio receiving device;

a port to receive an input audio signal from an external audio device; and

a processor including instructions executable for analyzing ambient noise received by the audio receiving device and surrounding the earpiece, manipulating audio playback to a user of the earpiece by including the ambient noise in an audio playback through the speaker unit, comparing ambient noise to a pre-determined sound, and reducing a volume of the ambient noise in the audio playback in response to a pre-determined time duration during which there is no detection of the pre-determined sound.

12. The earpiece of claim 11, wherein the audio receiving device comprises a microphone or other component to record ambient noise.

13. The earpiece of claim 11, wherein manipulating audio playback comprises pausing audio playback or continuing audio playback uninterrupted.

14. The earpiece of claim 13, wherein the input audio signal produces the audio playback directed through the speaker unit to the user of the earpiece.

15. The earpiece of claim 11, wherein the audio receiving device is included on an exterior surface of the earpiece.

16. The earpiece of claim 11, wherein the earpiece is an ear bud.

17. A method for an earpiece including a speaker unit;

a processor and an audio receiving device, the method comprising the earpiece processor;

upon a user of the earpiece selecting one of multiple always listening modes, performing the following steps;

emitting sound to the user via the speaker unit,

executing an alert to a user of the earpiece,

receiving an input command from the user in response to the alert, the input command indicating whether to provide an ambient noise to the user,

comparing ambient noise to a pre-determined sound,

manipulating an audio playback of the earpiece by including the ambient noise in the audio playback through the speaker unit if the input command indicates providing the ambient noise to the user, and

reducing a volume of the ambient noise in the audio playback in response to a pre-determined time duration during which there is no detection of the pre-determined sound.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein each of the multiple always listening modes is specific to a different environment.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the different environment includes one of an outdoor setting, an indoor setting, an office setting, a crowded room, and environments having different levels of ambient noise and number of people.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein each of the multiple always listening modes include a distinct set of conditions.