Method and device for a touchless interface
First Claim
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1. A method for operating a earpiece device, comprising:
- converting a vibration energy associated with a touching of the earpiece into an electric signal by way of piezoelectric transduction;
from the electric signal, adjusting an energy and range of a projected touchless sensing field in air above a surface of the earpiece;
in the touchless sensing field, detecting a pause of a finger at an approximately center location by way of a timer and threshold;
based to the center location, adjusting a strength and range of the touchless sensing field upon detection of the pause;
responsive to the adjusting, initiating three-dimensional (3D) touchless sensing to acquire control of the earpiece via touchless finger movements;
determining a presence of finger within the touchless sensing field of the device;
tracking a touchless movement of the finger in air within the touchless sensing field;
adjusting a touchless control in accordance with the touchless movement.
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Abstract
A method (400) and device (100) for touchless control of an headset or earpiece is provided. The device can include a sensing unit (202) for determining (402) a presence of a finger within a proximity of the earpiece, tracking (404) a touchless movement of the finger in air within the proximity, selecting (410) the control in accordance with a movement of the finger, and adjusting (414) the control in accordance with the tracking. A circular movement of the finger can be tracked for scrolling through a list. Menu options in the list can be audibly played during the scrolling.
34 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for operating a earpiece device, comprising:
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converting a vibration energy associated with a touching of the earpiece into an electric signal by way of piezoelectric transduction; from the electric signal, adjusting an energy and range of a projected touchless sensing field in air above a surface of the earpiece; in the touchless sensing field, detecting a pause of a finger at an approximately center location by way of a timer and threshold; based to the center location, adjusting a strength and range of the touchless sensing field upon detection of the pause; responsive to the adjusting, initiating three-dimensional (3D) touchless sensing to acquire control of the earpiece via touchless finger movements; determining a presence of finger within the touchless sensing field of the device; tracking a touchless movement of the finger in air within the touchless sensing field; adjusting a touchless control in accordance with the touchless movement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An earpiece comprising:
a touchless sensing unit having at least two sensory elements for converting a vibration energy associated with a tapping of the earpiece into an electric signal by way of piezoelectric transduction; creating a low-energy short-range touchless sensing field in air above a surface of the earpiece from the electric signal; detecting a pause of a finger at an approximately center location by way of a timer and threshold in the touchless sensing field; adjusting a strength and range of the touchless sensing field upon detection of the pause according to the center location; initiating three-dimensional (3D) touchless sensing to acquire control of the earpiece via touchless finger movements responsive to the adjusting; determining a location of a finger within the touchless sensing field of the earpiece, tracking a movement of the finger in air within the touchless sensing field, adjusting at least one earpiece control in accordance with the movement. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A touchless earpiece suitable for use with an earpiece, comprising:
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a touchless sensing unit having at least two sensory elements for converting a vibration energy associated with a tapping of the earpiece into an electric signal by way of piezoelectric transduction; creating a low-energy short-range touchless sensing field in air above a surface of the earpiece from the electric signal; detecting a pause of a finger at an approximately center location by way of a timer and threshold in the touchless sensing field; adjusting a strength and range of the touchless sensing field upon detection of the pause according to the center location; initiating three-dimensional (3D) touchless sensing to acquire control of the earpiece responsive to the adjusting; determining a relative location and closeness of a finger around the center location of the touchless sensing field of the earpiece, tracking a movement of the finger in air within the touchless sensing field, adjusting at least one control in accordance with the location and movement, and an audio module for audibly presenting at least one entry of the control, wherein the touchless sensing unit allows a user to navigate through a menu list that is audibly played when the location of the finger or the movement of the finger corresponds to an entry. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification