On head detection by capacitive sensing BCT

• US 9,998,817 B1
• Filed: 12/04/2015
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Liu, Jianyi
• Primary Examiner(s): Etesam, Amir
• Application Number:
  US14/959,239
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• 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 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers

Abstract

The present application describes on-head detection by a capacitive sensing bone conduction transducer (BCT) system and applications thereof. An example apparatus includes a wearable computing device comprising: (1) the BCT comprising a transducer coupled to a BCT frame, wherein (a) the BCT frame couples the BCT to a component of the wearable computing device, (b) at least a portion of the BCT frame is conductive, wherein the conductive portion of the BCT frame is arranged to capacitively couple the BCT to a wearer when the wearable computing device is worn, and (c) the BCT is configured to receive and be driven by an audio signal; (2) a capacitive sensor controller; and (3) at least one connective component that further couples the conductive portion of the BCT frame to the capacitive sensor controller.

Claims

1. A wearable computing device comprising:

a bone conduction transducer (BCT) comprising a transducer coupled to a BCT frame, wherein the BCT is configured to receive and be driven by an audio signal, wherein the BCT frame couples the BCT to a component of the wearable computing device, wherein the BCT frame is rigid and holds the transducer such that when the transducer is driven by the audio signal, vibration of the transducer is transferred to a wearer when the wearable computing device is worn, and wherein at least a portion of the BCT frame that holds the transducer is conductive so as to capacitively couple the BCT to a wearer when the wearable computing device is worn;

a capacitive sensor controller; and

at least one connective component that further couples the conductive portion of the BCT frame to the capacitive sensor controller, wherein the BCT coupled to the conductive portion of the BCT frame detects a level of capacitance between the BCT and a surrounding medium.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one connective component is arranged to isolate the detected level of capacitance and the audio signal that drives the BCT.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the capacitive sensor controller is configured to:

receive data indicating the detected level of capacitance between the BCT and the surrounding medium;

compare the received data with a threshold capacitance level; and

based on the comparison, provide an indication to the wearable computing device.

4. The capacitive sensor controller of claim 3, wherein the capacitive sensor controller is configured to provide the indication that the wearable computing device is donned, and wherein the indication causes the wearable computing device to operate in a first state.

5. The capacitive sensor controller of claim 3, wherein the capacitive sensor controller is configured to provide the indication that the wearable computing device is doffed, wherein the indication causes the wearable computing device to operate in a second state, and wherein the wearable computing device consumes less power in the second state than in the first state.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the capacitive sensor controller configured to compare the received data with the threshold capacitance level comprises the capacitive sensor controller determining that the received data is greater than or equal to the threshold capacitance level.

7. The device of claim 3, wherein the threshold capacitance level is greater than a level of capacitance corresponding to capacitive coupling between the BCT and naturally-occurring environmental mediums.

8. The device of claim 3, wherein the wearable computing device is operable to:

(a) provide notifications in the first state and (b) refrain from providing notifications in the second state.

9. The device of claim 3, wherein the wearable computing device is operable to:

(a) sense inputs on a touchpad in the first state and (b) refrain from sensing inputs on the touchpad in the second state.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein a weatherproof housing protects the capacitive sensor controller, the conductive frame, and the BCT.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the conductive portion of the frame is constructed with steel, alloy, aluminum, or iron.

12. A method comprising:

detecting, via a wearable computing device, data indicating a level of capacitance between a bone conduction transducer (BCT) and a surrounding medium, wherein the wearable computing device comprises;

(1) the BCT comprising a transducer coupled to a BCT frame, wherein the BCT is configured to receive and be driven by an audio signal, wherein the BCT frame couples the BCT to a component of the wearable computing device, wherein the BCT frame is rigid and holds the transducer such that vibration of the transducer when driven by the audio signal is transferred to a wearer when the wearable computing device is worn, and wherein at least a portion of the BCT frame that holds the transducer is conductive so as to capacitively couple the BCT to a wearer when the wearable computing device is worn;

(2) a capacitive sensor controller; and

(3) at least one connective component that further couples the conductive portion of the BCT frame to the capacitive sensor controller;

receiving data indicating the detected level of capacitance between the BCT and the surrounding medium;

comparing the received data with a threshold capacitance level; and

based on the comparison, providing an indication.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein providing the indication further comprises providing the indication that the wearable computing device is donned, and wherein the indication causes the wearable computing device to operate in a first state.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein providing the indication further comprises providing the indication that the wearable computing device is doffed, wherein the indication causes the wearable computing device to operate in a second state, and wherein the wearable computing device consumes less power in the second state than in the first state.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein comparing the received data with the threshold capacitance level further comprises determining that the received data is greater than or equal to the threshold capacitance level.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the threshold capacitance level is greater than a level of capacitance corresponding to capacitive coupling between the BCT and naturally-occurring environmental mediums.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the wearable computing device is operable to:

(a) provide notifications in the first state and (b) refrain from providing notifications in the second state.

18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, that when executed by a wearable computing device, cause the wearable computing device to perform functions comprising:

detecting data indicating a level of capacitance between a bone conduction transducer (BCT) and a surrounding medium, wherein the wearable computing device comprises;

(1) the BCT comprising a transducer coupled to a BCT frame, wherein the BCT is configured to receive and be driven by an audio signal, wherein the BCT frame couples the BCT to a component of the wearable computing device, wherein the BCT frame is rigid and holds the transducer such that vibration of the transducer when driven by the audio signal is transferred to a wearer when the wearable computing device is worn, and wherein at least a portion of the BCT frame that holds the transducer is conductive so as to capacitively couple the BCT to a wearer when the wearable computing device is worn;

(2) a capacitive sensor controller; and

(3) at least one connective component that further couples the conductive portion of the BCT frame to the capacitive sensor controller;

receiving data indicating the detected level of capacitance between the BCT and the surrounding medium;

comparing the received data with a threshold capacitance level; and

based on the comparison, providing an indication.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein providing the indication further comprises providing the indication that the wearable computing device is donned, and wherein the indication causes the wearable computing device to operate in a first state.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein providing the indication further comprises providing the indication that the wearable computing device is doffed, wherein the indication causes the wearable computing device to operate in a second state, and wherein the wearable computing device consumes less power in the second state than in the first state.