Accelerometer-based control of wearable audio recorders

• US 8,112,281 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2008
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enbiomedic Co.
• Original Assignee: Enbiomedic Co.
• Inventors: Yeung, King-Wah Walter, Yeung, Wei-Wei Vivian
• Primary Examiner(s): MCFADDEN, SUSAN IRIS
• Application Number:
  US12/337,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20090164219A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 704/270
• US Class Current: 704/270
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 3/002 Position, e.g. inclination dependent switches
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/02 Detectors of external physical values, e.g. temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors

Abstract

Accelerometer-based orientation and/or movement detection for controlling wearable audio recorders, such as wrist-worn audio recorders, resulting in button-free operation of the audio recorders. Operating a button-free wearable audio recorder does not rely on conventional switches that are often small, difficult to operate, and not very reliable. A wrist-worn audio recorder can use an accelerometer to detect the natural orientation and/or movement of a user'"'"'s wrist and subsequently activate a corresponding audio-recorder function, for instance recording or playback, without requiring the user to remember to activate the audio-recorder function. In addition, a wearable audio recorder with a vibration mechanism can use this method to remind a user of an undesirable repeated movement, such as restless leg movement. In such applications, and many others, accelerometer-based control of a wearable audio recorder offers significant advantages over conventional means of control, particularly in terms of ease of use and durability.

Claims

1. A method for activating an audio-recorder function of a wearable audio recorder, comprising:

(a) acquiring acceleration data of a wearable audio recorder; and

(b) using said acceleration data to activate an audio-recorder function of said wearable audio recorder.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of using said acceleration data to activate an audio-recorder function of said wearable audio recorder comprises using said acceleration data to compute an orientation of said wearable audio recorder to activate an audio-recorder function when said orientation is a predetermined orientation.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein said audio-recorder function is audio recording, and said predetermined orientation is an orientation of said wearable audio recorder in front of the mouth of a user who wears said wearable audio recorder on a wrist.

4. The method according to claim 2 wherein said audio-recorder function is playback of recorded audio data, and said predetermined orientation is an orientation of said wearable audio recorder in predetermined proximity of an ear of a user who wears said wearable audio recorder.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of using said acceleration data to activate an audio-recorder function of said wearable audio recorder comprises using said acceleration data to compute a movement of said wearable audio recorder to activate an audio-recorder function when said movement is a predetermined movement.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of using said acceleration data to activate an audio-recorder function of said wearable audio recorder comprises using said acceleration data to compute an orientation and a movement of said wearable audio recorder to activate an audio-recorder function when said orientation is a predetermined orientation and said movement is a predetermined movement.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein said audio-recorder function is audio recording, said predetermined orientation is an orientation of said wearable audio recorder in front of the mouth of a user who wears said wearable audio recorder on a wrist, and said predetermined movement is a natural movement of said user'"'"'s wrist wearing said wearable audio recorder for said user to move said wearable audio recorder to said predetermined orientation in front of the mouth of said user.

8. The method according to claim 6 wherein said audio-recorder function is playback of recorded audio data, said predetermined orientation is an orientation of said wearable audio recorder in predetermined proximity of an ear of a user who wears said wearable audio recorder on a wrist, and said predetermined movement is a natural movement of said user'"'"'s wrist wearing said wearable audio recorder for said user to move said wearable audio recorder to said predetermined orientation of said wearable audio recorder in predetermined proximity of said ear of said user.

9. A wearable device, comprising:

(a) a wearable audio recorder;

(b) a three-axis accelerometer for acquiring acceleration data of said wearable audio recorder; and

(c) a detection means for using said acceleration data to activate an audio-recorder function of said wearable audio recorder.

10. The wearable device according to claim 9 wherein said detection means comprises a means for using said acceleration data to compute an orientation of said wearable audio recorder to activate an audio-recorder function when said orientation is a predetermined orientation.

11. The wearable device according to claim 9 wherein said detection means comprises a means for using said acceleration data to compute a movement of said wearable audio recorder to activate an audio-recorder function when said movement is a predetermined movement.

12. The wearable device according to claim 9 wherein said detection means comprises a means for using said acceleration data to compute an orientation and a movement of said wearable audio recorder to activate an audio-recorder function when said orientation is a predetermined orientation and said movement is a predetermined movement.

13. The wearable device according to claim 12 wherein said wearable audio recorder is a wrist-worn audio recorder.

14. The wearable device according to claim 9 wherein said detection means comprises a means for using said acceleration data to compute a movement of said wearable audio recorder to activate playing back of a reminding audio message after said movement matches a predetermined movement a predetermined number of times.

15. The wearable device according to claim 14 wherein said detection means further comprises a vibration mechanism, which vibrates said wearable audio recorder for reminding a user who wears said wearable audio recorder after said movement matches said predetermined movement said predetermined number of times.