Comparative analysis of sensors to control power status for wireless earpieces

• US 10,469,931 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2018
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Original Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Inventors: Martin, Toby, Hirsch, Eric Christian, Klein, Volker, Begusch, Christian, Lackus, Matthias, Loermann, Arne D., Hviid, Nikolaj
• Primary Examiner(s): Laekemariam, Yosef K
• Application Number:
  US16/170,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20190069067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 376 Days
• Field of Search: 381 7, 381 17, 381 26, 381 74, 381362, 381367, 381370, 381311, 381309, 381328
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1025 Accumulators or arrangements for charging secondary cells per se H01M10/00; charging in general H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/03 Aspects of the reduction of energy consumption in hearing devices

Abstract

A system, method, and wireless earpieces for managing power settings. Sensor measurements are performed utilizing a first sensor array of the wireless earpieces to detect light and motion. Sensor measurements are performed utilizing a second sensor array of the wireless earpieces to detect light and motion. The sensor measurements are analyzed from the first sensor array and the second sensor array. A determination is made whether a change event is detected in response to the sensor measurements. The change event is confirmed as detected. The wireless earpieces enter a full power mode in response to the change event being confirmed.

Claims

1. A method for managing power settings utilizing a set of wireless earpieces comprising a left wireless earpiece and a right wireless earpiece, the method comprising:

performing sensor measurements utilizing at least a sensor of the left wireless earpiece to detect light, wherein the sensor of the left wireless earpiece is an infrared sensor array positioned exterior to a left ear of the user and visible when worn;

performing sensor measurements utilizing at least a sensor of the right wireless earpiece to detect light, wherein the sensor of the right wireless earpiece is a sensor array positioned exterior to a right ear of the user and visible when worn;

analyzing the sensor measurements from the sensor of the left wireless earpiece and the sensor of the right wireless earpiece using a processor within the set of wireless earpieces;

determining whether a change event is detected in response to the sensor measurements using the processor within the set of wireless earpieces and if the change event is not detected activating a low power mode for the wireless earpieces;

confirming the change event is detected using the processor within the set of wireless earpieces and if the change event is not confirmed activating the low power mode for the wireless earpiece; and

entering a full power mode for the wireless earpieces in response to the change event being confirmed;

wherein in the full power mode a first set of functions of the set of wireless earpieces is enabled and wherein in the low power mode, a second set of functions are enabled to preserve battery life for the set of wireless earpieces, the first set of functions including functions not included within the second set of functions.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

linking the set of wireless earpieces with a communications device, wherein at least one of the left wireless earpiece and the right wireless earpiece is linked with the communications device utilizing a Bluetooth connection.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating an alert indicating a power status of the wireless earpieces.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the confirming comprises:

comparing the sensor measurements of the left wireless earpiece with the sensor measurements of the right wireless earpiece to confirm the change event is detected.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

utilizing additional sensor measurements from sensors of the wireless earpieces to confirm the change event is detected.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is an optical sensor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor can detect motion.

8. A wireless earpiece, comprising:

a frame for fitting in an ear of a user;

a processor disposed within the frame for controlling functionality of the wireless earpiece;

a plurality of sensors including at least a first sensor array and a second sensor array for performing sensor measurements including sensors for detecting changes in light and motion, wherein an infrared sensor is located on an exterior portion of the wireless earpiece visible when worn by the user;

a transceiver communicating with at least a wireless device;

wherein the processor analyzes the sensor measurements from the first sensor array and the second sensor array, determines whether a change event is detected in response to the sensor measurements, if the change event is detected then confirms the change event is detected based upon the first and second sensor measurements, and enters a full power mode of the wireless earpiece in response to the change event being confirmed and a low power mode if the change event is not detected or the change event is not confirmed;

wherein in the full power mode a first set of functions of the wireless earpiece is enabled and wherein in the low power mode, a second set of functions of the wireless earpiece are enabled in order to preserve battery life for the wireless earpiece, the first set of functions including functions not included within the second set of functions.

9. The wireless earpiece of claim 8, wherein the transceiver establishes a Bluetooth link with the wireless device.

10. The wireless earpiece of claim 8, wherein the processor further communicates an alert indicating a power status of the wireless earpiece.

11. The wireless earpiece of claim 8, wherein the processor confirms the change event by comparing the sensor measurements of the first sensor array with the sensor measurements of the second sensor array.

12. The wireless earpiece of claim 8, wherein the first sensor array is comprised of optical sensors.

13. The wireless earpiece of claim 8, wherein the first and or second sensor array can detect motion.

14. A set of wireless earpieces comprising:

a processor for executing a set of instructions, the processor disposed within one of a right wireless earpiece and a left wireless earpiece within the set of wireless earpieces; and

a memory for storing the set of instructions disposed within one of the right wireless earpiece and the left wireless earpiece, wherein the set of instructions are executed to;

perform sensor measurements utilizing a first sensor array of the right wireless earpiece within the set of wireless earpieces to detect light, at least one sensor within the first sensor array, and wherein the first sensor array of the right wireless earpiece is positioned on an exterior portion of the right wireless earpiece and visible when worn by the user;

perform sensor measurements utilizing a second sensor array of the left wireless earpiece within the set of wireless earpieces to detect light, at least one sensor within the second sensor array, and wherein the second sensor array of the left wireless earpiece is positioned on an exterior portion of the left wireless earpiece and visible when worn by the user;

analyze the sensor measurements from the first sensor array and the second sensor array with the processor;

determine by the processor whether a change event is detected in response to the sensor measurements and if the change event is not detected to enter a low power mode;

confirm the change event is detected at the processor in response to determining a change event is detected; and

enter a full power mode for the wireless earpieces in response to the change event being confirmed by the processor and if the change event is not confirmed enter the low power mode;

wherein in the full power mode a first set of functions of the wireless earpiece is enabled and wherein in the low power mode, a second set of functions of the wireless earpiece are enabled to preserve battery life for the wireless earpiece, the first set of functions including functions not included within the second set of functions.

15. The set of wireless earpieces of claim 14, wherein the set of instructions are further executed to:

link the set of wireless earpieces with a communications device, wherein at least one of the set of wireless earpieces are linked with the communications device utilizing a Bluetooth connection.

16. The set of wireless earpieces of claim 14, wherein the set of instructions are further executed to:

communicate an alert indicate a power status of the wireless earpieces.

17. The set of wireless earpieces of claim 14, wherein the set of instructions for confirming comprises:

comparing the sensor measurements of the first sensor array with the sensor measurements of the second sensor array to confirm the change event is detected.

18. The set of wireless earpieces of claim 14, wherein the first sensor array is comprised of optical sensors.

19. The set of wireless earpieces of claim 14, wherein the first and or second sensor array can detect motion.