Pressure sensing earbuds and systems and methods for the use thereof
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An audio system, comprising:
- a headset, comprising;
a headphone; and
a plurality of pressure sensors integrated in a portion of the headphone, wherein each pressure sensor is operative to provide at least one pressure signal proportional to an amount of force applied to the pressure sensor by a user'"'"'s ear when the portion of the headphone is worn in the user'"'"'s ear; and
a processor electrically coupled to the headset, wherein;
the processor is operative to;
receive the at least one pressure signal from each pressure sensor;
select a particular aural profile from at least three different aural profiles using the received pressure signals;
adjust a volume profile of at least one audio signal based on the selected particular aural profile; and
provide the at least one audio signal with the adjusted volume profile to the headphone; and
the headphone is operative to generate sound for receipt by the user'"'"'s ear based on the at least one audio signal with the adjusted volume profile.
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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.
24 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An audio system, comprising:
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a headset, comprising; a headphone; and a plurality of pressure sensors integrated in a portion of the headphone, wherein each pressure sensor is operative to provide at least one pressure signal proportional to an amount of force applied to the pressure sensor by a user'"'"'s ear when the portion of the headphone is worn in the user'"'"'s ear; and a processor electrically coupled to the headset, wherein; the processor is operative to; receive the at least one pressure signal from each pressure sensor; select a particular aural profile from at least three different aural profiles using the received pressure signals; adjust a volume profile of at least one audio signal based on the selected particular aural profile; and provide the at least one audio signal with the adjusted volume profile to the headphone; and the headphone is operative to generate sound for receipt by the user'"'"'s ear based on the at least one audio signal with the adjusted volume profile. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An audio system, comprising:
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a headphone comprising an in-ear housing portion; a plurality of pressure sensors provided at a plurality of locations by the in-ear housing portion, wherein each pressure sensor of the plurality of pressure sensors is operative to provide at least one pressure signal proportional to an amount of force applied to that pressure sensor by a user'"'"'s ear when the in-ear housing portion of the headphone is fit in the user'"'"'s ear; and a processor that is operative to; receive the at least one pressure signal from each pressure sensor of the plurality of pressure sensors; identify an appropriate aural profile from at least three distinct aural profiles using the received pressure signals; adjust at least one characteristic of at least one audio signal using a volume profile associated with the identified appropriate aural profile; and provide the at least one audio signal with the adjusted at least one characteristic to the headphone, wherein the headphone is operative to generate sound for receipt by the user'"'"'s ear based on the at least one audio signal with the adjusted at least one characteristic.
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26. A method for using a headphone that comprises a plurality of pressure sensors integrated into the headphone, the method comprising:
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receiving at least one pressure signal from each pressure sensor of the plurality of pressure sensors, wherein the at least one pressure signal from each pressure sensor of the plurality of pressure sensors is proportional to an amount of force applied to the pressure sensor by an ear canal of a user'"'"'s ear when the headphone is worn by the user'"'"'s ear; selecting a particular aural profile from at least three different aural profiles using the received pressure signals; adjusting at least one characteristic of an audio signal based on the selected particular aural profile; providing the adjusted audio signal to the headphone; and generating sound based on the adjusted audio signal with the headphone for receipt by the user'"'"'s ear.
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Specification