IN-EAR EARPHONE WITH CAPACITIVE SENSING FUNCTION

• US 20110182457A1
• Filed: 12/20/2010
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Merry Electronics Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Merry Electronics Company Limited
• Inventors: Yang, Chien-Cheng, Liang, Hui-Yin, Ho, Shi-Pan, Yen, Yu-Huan, Tung, Chiu-Yun, Tsai, Ju-Mei, Tsai, Ming-Hung
• Application Number:
  US12/973,036
• Publication Number:
  US 20110182457A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/380
• 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

Abstract

An in-ear earphone with a capacitive sensing function is provided. The earphone includes a case, a speaker, a circuit board, and a capacitive sensing unit. The case has an extension tube and an accommodating portion. An ear tip is sleeved on the extension tube. The accommodating portion accommodates the speaker, the circuit board, and the capacitive sensing unit. A sound emitting surface of the speaker faces the extension tube. The circuit board is electrically connected to the speaker, and a sensing chip is disposed on the circuit board. The capacitive sensing unit includes a sensor and a conducting element. The sensor is electrically connected to the sensing chip through the conducting element. When the extension tube is inserted into an ear canal of a user, the sensor returns a sensing signal to the sensing chip, and the sensing chip sends a control signal to control sound output of the speaker.

Claims

1. An in-ear earphone with a capacitive sensing function, comprising:

a case, having an accommodating portion and an extension tube, wherein an ear tip is sleeved on the extension tube;

a speaker, disposed in the accommodating portion, wherein a sound emitting surface of the speaker faces the extension tube;

a circuit board, disposed in the accommodating portion, and electrically connected to the speaker, wherein a sensing chip is disposed on the circuit board; and

a capacitive sensing unit, comprising a sensor and a conducting element, wherein the sensor is disposed in the case, and is electrically connected to the sensing chip through the conducting element;

wherein when the extension tube of the case is inserted into an ear canal of a user, the sensor returns a sensing signal to the sensing chip through the conducting element, and the sensing chip sends a control signal according to a capacitance change of the sensing signal, so as to control an operation of the speaker.

2. The in-ear earphone with a capacitive sensing function according to claim 1, wherein the case has a front case and a rear case, the extension tube extends from a front end of the front case, and a back end of the front case is combined with the rear case to form the accommodating portion.

3. The in-ear earphone with a capacitive sensing function according to claim 2, wherein a signal wire is electrically connected to the circuit board and the signal wire is electrically connected to an electronic device after passing through the rear case.

4. The in-ear earphone with a capacitive sensing function according to claim 1, wherein the conducting element is a wire.

5. The in-ear earphone with a capacitive sensing function according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a copper ring and the copper ring is disposed at an inner periphery of the extension tube.

6. The in-ear earphone with a capacitive sensing function according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a copper ring and the copper ring is disposed on an outer periphery of the extension tube.

7. The in-ear earphone with a capacitive sensing function according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a metal piece on the speaker.

8. The in-ear earphone with a capacitive sensing function according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a copper foil and the copper foil is disposed on an inner periphery of the case.

9. The in-ear earphone with a capacitive sensing function according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a metal terminal and the metal terminal is disposed on an inner periphery of the case.

10. The in-ear earphone with a capacitive sensing function according to claim 1, wherein the ear tip and the extension tube are made of a conductive material, and the ear tip, the extension tube, and the sensor are electrically connected.

11. The in-ear earphone with a capacitive sensing function according to claim 1, wherein the ear tip and the extension tube are made of a conductive material, and the sensor is formed by the ear tip and the extension tube.

12. The in-ear earphone with a capacitive sensing function according, to claim 1, wherein the ear tip and the extension tube are coated by a conductive material, and the ear tip, the extension tube, and the sensor are electrically connected.

13. The in-ear earphone with a capacitive sensing function according to claim 1, wherein the ear tip and the extension tube are coated by a conductive material, and the sensor is formed by the ear tip and the extension tube.