Systems and methods for accelerometer usage in a wireless headset

• US 20100022269A1
• Filed: 07/25/2008
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Terlizzi, Jeffrey J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,290,545 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• 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 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

This includes systems and methods for accelerometer usage in a wireless headset. An accelerometer can be used to determine the location of a wireless headset. The determined location can be used to control and improve a noise cancellation system. In some embodiments, the determined location can be used in controlling the functions of buttons of the wireless headset. In some embodiments, the accelerometer can further be used to determine when the system is in use. If the system has not been in use for a predetermined amount of time, at least a portion of the wireless headset can be turned off to save power.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining a first angular position of a wireless headset; and

controlling an operation of the wireless headset based on the determined first angular position.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling an operation of the wireless headset comprises adjusting a button function of one or more buttons of the wireless headset based on the determined first angular position.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

determining a first angular position of the wireless headset comprises determining that a particular button of the one or more buttons is located on the upper side of the wireless headset; and

adjusting a button function comprises setting the particular button to perform a volume-up function.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein:

determining a first angular position of the wireless headset comprises determining that a particular button of the one or more buttons is located on the lower side of the wireless headset; and

adjusting a button function comprises setting the particular button to perform a volume-down function.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a second angular position of the wireless headset at a second time, wherein the first angular position is determined at a first time; and

determining, based on the first angular position and the second angular position, that the wireless headset has not substantially moved in a time period existing between the first time and the second time.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein controlling an operation of the wireless headset comprises turning off at least a part of the wireless headset in response to determining that the wireless headset has not substantially moved.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling an operation of the wireless headset comprises controlling a noise cancellation system of the wireless headset based on the determined angular position.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining that the angular position is greater than a breakpoint value, wherein controlling a noise cancellation system further comprises turning off all but one of a plurality of omni-directional microphones in response to determining that the angular position is greater than the breakpoint value.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein controlling a noise cancellation system comprises discarding audio signals received from outside of a cone-shaped region extending from the wireless headset.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein controlling a noise cancellation system further comprises determining a size of the cone-shaped region based on the determined angular position.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein discarding audio signals comprises:

choosing a first microphone and a second microphone from a plurality of omni-directional microphones of the noise cancellation system;

determining a first time when a particular audio signal reaches the first microphone;

determining a second time when the particular audio signal reaches the second microphone;

determining a time difference between the first time and the second time;

based on the time difference, determining whether the particular audio signal is received from outside the cone.

in response to determining that the particular audio signal is received from outside of the cone-shaped region, discarding the particular audio signal.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising choosing the first microphone and the second microphone based on the determined angular position of the wireless headset.

13. A system comprising:

a wireless headset comprising;

an accelerometer configured to generate a position signal, wherein the position signal is indicative of the angular position of the wireless headset; and

a processor that is configured to control an operation of the wireless headset based on the position signal.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the wireless headset comprises one or more buttons; and

the processor is further configured to adjust a button function of at least one of the buttons based on the position signal.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine from the position signal that a particular button of the one or more buttons is located on the upper side of the wireless headset; and

set the particular button to perform a volume-up function.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine from the position signal that a particular button of the one or more buttons is located on the lower side of the wireless headset; and

set the particular button to perform a volume-down function.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine from the position signal a first angular position at a first time;

determine from the position signal a second angular position at a second time; and

determine, based on the first angular position and the second angular position, that the wireless headset has not substantially moved in a time period existing between the first time and the second time.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to, in response to determining that the wireless headset has not substantially moved, turn off at least a part of the wireless headset.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to control the operation of the wireless headset based on the position signal by controlling a noise cancellation system of the wireless headset.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the wireless headset further comprises a plurality of omni-directional microphones and wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine from the position signal that the angular position of the wireless headset is greater than a breakpoint value; and

turn off all but one of the plurality of omni-directional microphones in response to determining that the angular position is greater than the breakpoint value.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein:

the wireless headset further comprises an input device configured to receive audio signals; and

the processor is further configured to discard audio signals received from outside of a cone-shaped region extending from the wireless headset.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a size of the cone-shaped region based on the position signal.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein:

the input device further comprises a plurality of omni-directional microphones; and

the processor is further configured to;

choose a first microphone and a second microphone from the plurality of omni-directional microphones;

determine a first time when a particular audio signal reaches the first microphone;

determine a second time when the particular audio signal reaches the second microphone;

determine a time difference between the first time and the second time;

based on the time difference, determine whether the particular audio signal is received from outside the cone-shaped region; and

in response to determining that the particular audio signal is received from outside of the cone-shaped region, discard the particular audio signal.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured to choose the first microphone and the second microphone based on the position signal.