Audio output apparatus and method for operating audio output apparatus

• US 10,484,780 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2019
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Han, Sang Woo, Lee, Ji Ho, Lee, Hyun Jung
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Paul
• Application Number:
  US16/390,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20190246196A1
• Time in Patent Office: 211 Days
• Field of Search: 381 74
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6817 Ear canal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6844 Monitoring or controlling distance between sensor and tissue
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• 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

Abstract

Systems, methods, and audio output devices are described. In one aspect, an audio output device includes a communication module that communicates with an external electronic device, a speaker that outputs sound, a mounting detection sensor that detects whether the audio output device is mounted on a user of the audio output device, and a control circuit that is electrically connected with the communication module, the speaker, and the mounting detection sensor. The control circuit wirelessly connects the external electronic device with the audio output device using the communication module if the mounting of the audio output device is detected by the mounting detection sensor, receives audio data from the external electronic device through the wireless connection, and outputs the audio data using the speaker.

Claims

1. An audio output device comprising:

a communication circuit to communicate with an external electronic device;

a speaker;

an acceleration sensor;

a proximity sensor; and

a controller electrically coupled with the communication circuit, the speaker, the acceleration sensor, and the proximity sensor, wherein the controller is configured to;

obtain acceleration data using the acceleration sensor;

detect a proximity of an external object with respect to the audio output device using the proximity sensor, based at least in part on a determination that the obtained acceleration data satisfies a specified acceleration condition;

establish a wireless connection between the audio output device and the external electronic device using the communication circuit, based at least in part on a determination that the proximity satisfies a specified proximity condition;

receive audio data from the external electronic device via the wireless connection; and

output a sound via the speaker based at least in part on the audio data.

2. The audio output device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to:

receive, as at least part of the audio data, audio data corresponding to a sound source being output by the external electronic device via the wireless connection.

3. The audio output device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to:

stop outputting the sound based at least in part on a determination that the audio output device is not mounted to a user of the audio output device.

4. The audio output device of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to:

release the wireless connection based at least in part on a determination that the audio output device is not mounted to the user of the audio output device.

5. The audio output device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to:

establish another wireless connection between the audio output device and another audio output device using the communication circuit; and

transmit at least a portion of data associated with the sound to the other audio output device via the other wireless connection.

6. The audio output device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to:

receive a user input to control the outputting of the sound; and

transmit control data corresponding to the user input to the external electronic device via the wireless connection.

7. The audio output device of claim 6, further comprising a touch pad electrically connected with the controller, wherein the controller is configured to:

activate the touch pad based at least in part on the determination that the proximity satisfies the specified proximity condition; and

perform the receiving of the user input using the touch pad.

8. The audio output device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to:

output via the speaker, a notification indicating that the wireless connection is established.

9. The audio output device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to:

automatically perform the establishing of the wireless connection, based at least in part on a determination that the external electronic device was previously connected to the audio output device.

10. The audio output device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to:

activate the acceleration sensor at least temporarily while the audio output device is disconnected from the external electronic device.

11. An audio output device comprising:

a speaker;

an acceleration sensor;

a proximity sensor;

a communication circuit to communicate with an external electronic device; and

a controller, wherein the controller is configured to;

detect that the audio output is mounted on a user of the audio output device using the acceleration sensor and the proximity sensor;

establish a wireless connection between the audio output device and the external electronic device using the communication circuit, based at least in part on a determination that the audio output device is mounted on the user;

receive audio data corresponding to a sound source being output by the external electronic device via the wireless connection; and

output a sound, via the speaker, based at least in part on the audio data.

12. The audio output device of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to:

stop outputting the sound based at least in part on a determination that the audio output device is not mounted to the user.

13. The audio output device of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to:

release the wireless connection based at least in part on a determination that the audio output device is not mounted to the user.

14. The audio output device of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to:

establish another wireless connection between the audio output device and another audio output device using the communication circuit; and

transmit at least a portion of data associated with the audio data to the other audio output device via the other wireless connection.

15. The audio output device of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to:

receive a user input to control the outputting of the sound; and

transmit control data corresponding to the user input to the external electronic device via the wireless connection.

16. The audio output device of claim 15, further comprising a touch pad electrically connected with the controller, wherein the controller is configured to:

activate the touch pad based at least in part on the determination that the audio output is mounted on the user; and

perform the receiving of the user input using the touch pad.

17. The audio output device of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to output, via the speaker, a notification indicating that the wireless connection is established.

18. An audio output device comprising:

a first sensor;

a second sensor;

a communication circuit configured to communicate with an external electronic device;

a speaker configured to output sound; and

a controller, wherein the controller is configured to;

obtain first sensing data using the first sensor;

obtain second sensing data using the second sensor based at least in part on a determination that the first sensing data satisfies a first specified condition;

determine that the audio output device is mounted on a user of the audio output device based at least on a determination that the second sensing data satisfies a second specified condition; and

establish a wireless connection between the audio output device and the external electronic device using the communication circuit, based at least in part on the determination that the audio output device is mounted on the user and another determination that the external electronic device has been connected to the audio output device.

19. The audio output device of claim 18, wherein the controller is configured to:

receive audio data from the external electronic device via the wireless connection;

output a sound, via the speaker, based at least in part on the audio data.

20. The audio output device of claim 18, wherein the controller is configured to:

receive a user input to control the outputting of the sound; and

transmit control data corresponding to the user input to the external electronic device via the wireless connection.