Earbuds with biometric sensing

• US 9,699,546 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2015
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Erik L., Stringer, Christopher J., Rohrbach, Matthew Dean, Siahaan, Edward, Qian, Phillip, Strongwater, Daniel Max, LeBlanc, Jason J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TUAN DUC
• Application Number:
  US14/856,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20170078785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14557 specially adapted to extracorporeal circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6817 Ear canal
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/105 Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1083 Reduction of ambient noise active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/406 microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/109 Arrangements to adapt hands free headphones for use on both ears
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/03 Connection circuits to selectively connect loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/03 Aspects of the reduction of energy consumption in hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/005 for combining the signals of two or more microphones specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S

Abstract

This application relates to earbuds configured with one or more biometric sensors. At least one of the biometric sensors is configured to be pressed up against a portion of the tragus for making biometric measurements. In some embodiments, the housing of the earbud can be symmetric so that the earbud can be worn interchangeably in either a left or a right ear of a user. In such an embodiment, the earbud can include a sensor and circuitry configured to determine and alter operation of the earbud in accordance to which ear the earbud is determined to be positioned within.

Claims

1. An earbud, comprising:

a housing defining an opening proximate a first end of the housing;

a speaker disposed within the housing and oriented so that audio emitted by the speaker exits the housing through the opening defined by the housing;

a biometric sensor positioned along an exterior surface of the housing at the first end of the housing and an elastomeric loop pivotally coupled to a second end of the housing by a hinge at each end of the elastomeric loop.

2. The earbud as recited in claim 1, wherein the first end is positioned on an opposite end of the housing from the second end.

3. The earbud as recited in claim 1, wherein when the earbud is positioned for use within an ear of a user, the elastomeric loop engages the concha of the ear to compress the biometric sensor against a surface of the tragus of the ear.

4. The earbud as recited in claim 1, wherein the earbud has a symmetric geometry that allows the earbud to be worn and operated interchangeably in either ear of a user.

5. The earbud as recited in claim 1, wherein the biometric sensor is positioned along an exterior surface of the housing at the first end of the housing and selected from the group consisting of a heart rate sensor, a GSR (galvanic skin response) sensor, an electrocardiogram (EKG) sensor, an impedance cardiography (ICG) sensor and a temperature sensor.

6. The earbud as recited in claim 1, wherein the elastomeric loop is removable and wherein the removable elastomeric loop includes contacts that electrically couple the housing with the elastomeric loop when the removable elastomeric loop is attached to the housing.

7. The earbud as recited in claim 1, wherein the elastomeric loop is pivotally coupled to two different locations on the housing.

8. The earbud as recited in claim 1, wherein the elastomeric loop is at least partially reinforced by spring steel.