AUDIO EYEGLASSES WITH GESTURE CONTROL

• US 20190373355A1
• Filed: 05/30/2018
• Published: 12/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Inventors: Lee, Vincent James, Krishnamurthy, Kapil, Savoy, Pavan, Trivedi, Mehul Amrit
• Granted Patent: US 10,820,086 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/105 Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335

Abstract

Various aspects include audio eyeglasses and methods for controlling audio eyeglasses. In some particular implementations, a method of controlling audio eyeglasses is disclosed. The method can include: detecting a reorient-and-hold gesture on the audio eyeglasses; initiating a timer in response to detecting the reorient-and-hold gesture; and in response to the timer exceeding a threshold period with the reorient-and-hold gesture maintained, powering off the audio eyeglasses.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of controlling audio eyeglasses, the method comprising:

detecting a reorient-and-hold gesture on the audio eyeglasses;

initiating a timer in response to detecting the reorient-and-hold gesture; and

in response to the timer exceeding a threshold period with the reorient-and-hold gesture maintained, powering off the audio eyeglasses.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the threshold period is equal to approximately 1-3 seconds.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein detecting the reorient-and-hold gesture comprises receiving a position indication from an inertial measurement unit (IMU) on the audio eyeglasses that the audio eyeglasses have been reoriented in a reoriented position.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the reoriented position comprises a range of approximately 0-15 degrees relative to a ground surface or greater than approximately 45-90 degrees relative to an immediately preceding measured orientation.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the timer is initiated in response to receiving the position indication from the IMU that the audio eyeglasses have been reoriented in the reoriented position.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the timer comprises a clock timer coupled with the IMU.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the audio eyeglasses are powered on prior to detecting the reorient-and-hold gesture.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the audio eyeglasses comprise a single tactile interface, and wherein powering off the audio eyeglasses is performed only by maintaining the reorient-and-hold gesture for a period exceeding the threshold period.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising, when the audio eyeglasses are powered off:

detecting a command at the single tactile interface; and

powering on the audio eyeglasses in response to detecting the command.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising placing the audio eyeglasses in an intermediate power state prior to powering off the audio eyeglasses, wherein the intermediate power state is initiated in response to the reorient-and-hold gesture being maintained for an intermediate threshold period that is shorter than the threshold period for powering off the audio eyeglasses.

11. Audio eyeglasses comprising:

an electro-acoustic transducer comprising a sound-radiating surface for providing an audio output;

an inertial measurement unit (IMU);

a power source connected to the electro-acoustic transducer and the IMU; and

a controller connected to the electro-acoustic transducer, the IMU and the power source, the controller configured to;

detect a reorient-and-hold gesture on the audio eyeglasses;

initiate a timer in response to detecting the reorient-and-hold gesture; and

in response to the timer exceeding a threshold period with the reorient-and-hold gesture maintained, powering off the audio eyeglasses.

12. The audio eyeglasses of claim 11, further comprising a frame comprising a lens region and a pair of arms extending from the lens region for resting on the head of a user, the frame containing the electro-acoustic transducer, the IMU, the power source and the controller.

13. The audio eyeglasses of claim 11, wherein the threshold period is equal to approximately 1-3 seconds.

14. The audio eyeglasses of claim 11, wherein detecting the reorient-and-hold gesture comprises receiving a position indication from the inertial measurement unit (IMU) that the audio eyeglasses have been reoriented, and wherein powering off the audio eyeglasses comprises disconnecting a power connection between the power source and the electro-acoustic transducer.

15. The audio eyeglasses of claim 14, wherein the reoriented position comprises a range of approximately 0-15 degrees relative to a ground surface or approximately greater than approximately 45-90 degrees relative to an immediately preceding measured orientation.

16. The audio eyeglasses of claim 14, wherein the timer is initiated in response to receiving the position indication from the IMU that the audio eyeglasses have been reoriented.

17. The audio eyeglasses of claim 14, wherein the timer comprises a clock timer coupled with the IMU.

18. The audio eyeglasses of claim 11, wherein the audio eyeglasses are powered on prior to detecting the reorient-and-hold gesture.

19. The audio eyeglasses of claim 11, further comprising a single tactile interface connected with the controller, wherein powering off the audio eyeglasses is performed only by maintaining the reorient-and-hold gesture for a period exceeding the threshold period.

20. The audio eyeglasses of claim 19, wherein the controller is further configured, when the audio eyeglasses are powered off, to:

detect a command at the single tactile interface; and

power on the audio eyeglasses in response to detecting the command,

wherein the single tactile interface comprises an actuatable button or a capacitive touch interface.