EARPIECES WITH GESTURE CONTROL
First Claim
1. An earpiece wearable by a user and usable with a second device of the user, the earpiece comprising:
- a housing mountable on an ear of the user;
a receiver that couples wirelessly with the second device to receive audio output from the second device;
a directional speaker positioned on the housing that, when the housing is mounted on the ear of the user, transmits the audio output selectively into the ear canal; and
a controller incorporated in the housing that, when upon detecting a gesture by the user, alters the audio output of the directional speaker.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Many types of earpiece devices are available for various scenarios, such as hearing aids and headphones. However, many types of earpieces exhibit various disadvantages relating to the discretion, privacy, and/or security. For example, some earpieces are observable when worn by the user (e.g., over-head and over-ear headphones); some earpieces play sound that is audible to other users; and some earpieces enable interaction with second devices (e.g., mobile phones) through overt interaction a physical control, such as manually pressing a button on the earpiece. Presented herein are earpieces that rest within an ear canal and selectively transmit audio through a speaker into the ear canal while reducing obstruction of ambient sound, and that enable interaction with second devices through gestures, such as nodding or tilting the head, rather than overt physical interactions. These and other design considerations may facilitate discreet use of the device and the privacy of the user.
110 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An earpiece wearable by a user and usable with a second device of the user, the earpiece comprising:
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a housing mountable on an ear of the user; a receiver that couples wirelessly with the second device to receive audio output from the second device; a directional speaker positioned on the housing that, when the housing is mounted on the ear of the user, transmits the audio output selectively into the ear canal; and a controller incorporated in the housing that, when upon detecting a gesture by the user, alters the audio output of the directional speaker. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An earpiece wearable by a user and usable with a second device of the user, the earpiece comprising:
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a housing mountable on an ear of the user and comprising a directional speaker selectively oriented toward an ear canal of the user; a receiver that; receives audio output from the second device through a wireless protocol, and conducts the audio output received from the second device to the directional speaker; and a controller that, when upon detecting a gesture by the user, alters the audio output of the directional speaker. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An earpiece set wearable by a user and usable with a second device of the use, the earpiece set comprising:
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at least two housings respectively mountable on an ear of the user; for at least one housing, at least one receiver that couples wirelessly with the second device to receive audio output from the second device; for respective housings, a directional speaker positioned on the housing that, when the housing is mounted on the ear of the user, transmits the audio output selectively toward the ear canal; and for at least one housing, a controller incorporated in the housing that, when upon detecting a gesture by the user, alters the audio output of the directional speaker. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification