Power management for wireless earpieces

• US 10,542,340 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2016
• Issued: 01/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Original Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Inventors: Perianu, Vlad, Boesen, Peter Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Ojo, Oyesola C
• Application Number:
  US15/360,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20170155992A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• 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 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/00 Monitoring arrangements; Testing arrangements for hearing aids H04R25/30; detection of loudspeaker connection H04R5/04; sound-field adaptation dependent on speaker detection H04S7/308
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0251 using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system, method and wireless earpieces for managing power utilized by a pair of wireless earpieces. A signal strength is determined between the pair of wireless earpieces. Signal activity is determined for the pair of wireless earpieces. A low power mode is activated in response to determining the signal activity is below an activity threshold. The low power mode is activated for the one or more of the pair of wireless earpieces in response to the signal strength exceeding one or more signals thresholds.

Claims

1. A method for managing power utilized by a pair of wireless earpieces for use within ears of a user, comprising:

receiving biometric information from the user from a plurality of sensors of the pair of wireless earpieces;

determining a signal strength between the pair of wireless earpieces;

determining signal activity for the pair of wireless earpieces; and

activating a low power mode for the pair of wireless earpieces in response to a determination either (1) the signal activity between a first wireless earpiece and a second wireless earpiece or between a wireless device and the first or the second wireless earpiece is below an activity threshold or (2) the signal strength exceeds one or more signal thresholds;

wherein the one or more signal thresholds are determined utilizing the plurality of sensors of the pair of wireless earpieces to determine whether the first and the second wireless earpieces are being worn by the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal strength is determined utilizing an amplitude of a signal between the pair of wireless earpieces.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal activity is associated with communications between the pair of wireless earpieces and processes being performed by the pair of wireless earpieces.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the processes include at least playing music, performing communications, and tracking biometrics in response to a user request.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal activity is determined in response to communications between the pair of wireless earpieces and one or more external devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the activity threshold and the one or more signal thresholds are configured by a user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more signal thresholds indicate the pair of wireless earpieces are not being worn by a user.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

training the wireless earpieces to determine the one or more signal thresholds.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

activating a full power mode in response to the signal activity being above a signal threshold.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

activating a full power mode in response to determining the one or more signal strength thresholds are not exceeded.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal activity is determined for each of the pair of wireless earpieces separately, and wherein each of the wireless earpieces below the activity threshold is placed in the low power mode.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal strength includes a determination of the signal strength between a wireless device in communication with one or more of the pair of wireless earpieces.

13. A pair of wireless earpieces, each earpiece comprising:

a frame for fitting in an ear of a user;

a processor controlling functionality of a first wireless earpiece and a second wireless earpiece;

a plurality of sensors receiving biometric information from the user; and

a transceiver communicating with at least a wireless device;

wherein the processor of the first wireless earpiece determines a signal strength between the first wireless earpiece and the second wireless earpiece, determines signal activity indicating whether the first or the second wireless earpieces are performing an operation involving wireless communication, and activates a low power mode for the first and the second wireless earpieces in response to a determination either (1) the signal activity is below an activity threshold, or (2) the signal strength exceeds one or more signal thresholds; and

wherein the one or more signal thresholds are determined utilizing the plurality of sensors of the pair of wireless earpieces to determine whether the first and the second wireless earpieces are being worn by the user.

14. The pair of wireless earpieces of claim 13, wherein the signal activity is determined for each of the pair of wireless earpieces separately, and wherein each of the wireless earpieces below the activity threshold is placed in the low power mode.

15. The pair of wireless earpieces of claim 13, wherein the signal strength is determined utilizing an amplitude of a signal between the pair of wireless earpieces.

16. The pair of wireless earpieces of claim 13, wherein the signal activity is associated with communications between the pair of wireless earpieces and processes being performed by the pair of wireless earpieces.

17. The pair of wireless earpieces of claim 13, wherein the processor activates a full power mode in (1) response to the signal activity being above a signal threshold, or (2) determining the one or more signal strength thresholds are not exceeded.

18. A first and a second wireless earpiece for use within ears of a user comprising:

a processor for executing an application;

a plurality of sensors receiving biometric information from the user;

a transceiver communicating a wireless signal between the first and second wireless earpiece; and

a memory for storing the application, wherein the application is executed to;

determine a signal strength between the first and the second wireless earpieces;

determine signal activity for the pair of wireless earpieces, wherein the signal activity corresponds to wireless signal activity of the first or the second wireless earpiece in response to performing an operation on the first or the second wireless earpiece; and

activate a low power mode for the first and the second wireless earpieces in response to a determination either (1) the signal activity is below an activity threshold or (2) the signal strength exceeds one or more signal thresholds;

wherein the one or more signal thresholds are determined utilizing the plurality of sensors of the pair of wireless earpieces to determine whether the first and the second wireless earpieces are being worn by the user.

19. The first and the second wireless earpieces of claim 18, wherein the signal activity determines whether the first or the second wireless earpiece are being actively utilized by the user to play music, perform communications, receive voice commands from the user, provide guidance and/or perform noise cancellation.