PRESSURE SENSING EARBUDS AND SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR THE USE THEREOF

• US 20150264472A1
• Filed: 05/21/2015
• Published: 09/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Aase, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 10,063,960 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/03 Synergistic effects of band splitting and sub-band processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/15 Determination of the acoustic seal of ear moulds or ear tips of hearing devices

Abstract

Pressure sensing earbuds and systems are disclosed. The earbuds can include one or more pressure sensors to determine the size and shape of a user'"'"'s ear. The pressure signals can be relayed back to a processor, which may use them to dynamically optimize the volume levels delivered for frequencies over the audible range for a particular user.

Claims

1-26. -26. (canceled)

27. An audio system, comprising:

a headset, comprising;

at least one headphone; and

at least one pressure sensor integrated in the at least one headphone, wherein the at least one pressure sensor is operative to provide at least one pressure signal.

28. The audio system of claim 27, wherein the at least one headphone is a non-occluding earbud.

29. The audio system of claim 27, wherein the at least one headphone is an occluding earbud.

30. The audio system of claim 27, wherein the at least one headphone is an over-the-ear headphone.

31. The audio system of claim 27, further comprising a processor electrically coupled to the headset, wherein the processor is operative to receive the at least one pressure signal from the at least one pressure sensor.

32. The audio system of claim 31, wherein the processor is further operative to determine a size of a user'"'"'s ear based on the received at least one pressure signal when the at least one headphone is worn by the user'"'"'s ear.

33. The audio system of claim 32, wherein the processor is further operative to adjust a volume profile of at least one audio signal based on the determined size.

34. The audio system of claim 33, wherein the processor is further operative to provide the at least one audio signal with the adjusted volume profile to the at least one headphone.

35. The audio system of claim 32, wherein the processor is further operative to:

access a library comprising a plurality of aural profiles, wherein each aural profile of the plurality of aural profiles comprises at least one ear size and an associated frequency response;

compare the determined size of the user'"'"'s ear with the plurality of aural profiles to determine a particular ear size of the plurality of aural profiles that best fits the determined size of the user'"'"'s ear;

select a particular aural profile of the plurality of aural profiles that is associated with the determined particular ear size;

adjust at least one characteristic of at least one audio signal based on the frequency response of the selected particular aural profile; and

provide the at least one audio signal with the adjusted at least one characteristic to the at least one headphone.

36. The audio system of claim 35, wherein the processor is operative to adjust the at least one characteristic of the at least one audio signal by adjusting volume levels over a plurality of frequency ranges based at least on the frequency response of the selected particular aural profile.

37. The audio system of claim 35, wherein the processor is operative to adjust the at least one characteristic of the at least one audio signal based on the frequency response of the selected particular aural profile and based on an input command from the user.

38. The audio system of claim 31, wherein the processor is further operative to:

process the received at least one pressure signal;

adjust at least one characteristic of at least one audio signal based on the processed at least one pressure signal; and

provide the at least one audio signal with the adjusted at least one characteristic to the at least one headphone.

39. The audio system of claim 31, wherein the processor is further operative to:

determine whether the at least one headset is being worn by a user based on the received at least one pressure signal; and

control playback of media based on the determination of whether the at least one headset is being worn by the user.

40. The audio system of claim 39, wherein the processor is further operative to cease playback of media when it is determined that the at least one headset is not being worn by the user.

41. The audio system of claim 31, wherein one of the following is true:

the processor at least partially resides within the at least one headphone; and

the processor is operative to receive the at least one pressure signal from the at least one pressure sensor over a wireless interface.

42. The audio system of claim 27, wherein:

the at least one pressure sensor comprises;

an elastomeric material; and

first and second contacts disposed adjacent to the elastomeric material; and

the first and second contacts are operative to form a closed circuit via the elastomeric material when the elastomeric material receives an applied pressure that exceeds a threshold.

43. The audio system of claim 42, wherein the elastomeric material is a quantum tunneling composite.

44. The audio system of claim 42, wherein the first and second contacts are laser etched structures.

45. The audio system of claim 42, wherein:

the elastomeric material comprises first and second sides; and

the first and second contacts are disposed on the first side.

46. The audio system of claim 42, wherein:

the elastomeric material comprises first and second sides;

the first contact is disposed on the first side; and

the second contact is disposed on the second side.

47. The audio system of claim 42, wherein:

the at least one headphone comprises a housing comprising an outer surface; and

the at least one pressure sensor is integrated within the housing such that the at least one pressure sensor does not extend beyond the outer surface.

48. The audio system of claim 47, wherein:

the housing further comprises at least one recessed cutout; and

the at least one pressure sensor is mounted in the at least one recessed cutout.

49. The audio system of claim 48, wherein the elastomeric material fills in the at least one recessed cutout and forms part of the outer surface.

50. The audio system of claim 47, wherein the first and second contacts extend from the outer surface to an inner surface of the housing.

51. An audio system, comprising:

at least one headphone;

at least one pressure sensor that is operative to provide at least one pressure signal; and

a processor that is operative to adjust an audio signal for use by the at least one headphone based on the at least one pressure signal.

52. A method for using a headphone that comprises at least one pressure sensor integrated into the headphone, the method comprising:

receiving at least one pressure signal from the at least one pressure sensor;

adjusting at least one characteristic of an audio signal based on the at least one received pressure signal; and

providing the adjusted audio signal to the headphone.