Image capture and earpiece sizing system and method

• US 9,050,029 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2011
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harman International Industries Incorporated (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Harman International Industries Incorporated (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Burgett, Seth, Daniels, Richard J., Rajaram, Bharat, Wetle, Michael D., An, Tonya
• Primary Examiner(s): TORRENTE, RICHARD T
• Application Number:
  US12/985,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20110164128A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,615 Days
• Field of Search: 381/60, 381/380, 348/333.01
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1076 for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters A61B3/1005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1079 using optical or photographic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1058 Manufacture or assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/105 Manufacture of mono- or stereophonic headphone components

Abstract

A method and system for sizing an earpiece include situating a calibration device proximate a user'"'"'s ear. The user holds an image capture device so as to aim the image capture device at the user'"'"'s ear. The user then touches and holds a random area of the touch screen display and releases the touch screen display to activate the image capture device and capture an image of the user'"'"'s ear and the calibration device. The captured image is then analyzed and an earpiece size is determined based on the analysis of the image.

Claims

1. A method for a user to self-size an earpiece for the user'"'"'s ear using a software, the method comprising:

the user situating a calibration device proximate the user'"'"'s ear;

the user holding a hand-held image capture device adjacent to but spaced from the user'"'"'s ear the image capture device having a touch screen display that operates the image capture device when contact with the touch screen display is removed;

the user aiming the image capture device at the user'"'"'s ear and the calibration device while touching the touch screen of the image capture device;

the user releasing the touch screen display to activate the image capture device and capture a two-dimensional image of the user'"'"'s ear together with the calibration device proximate to the user'"'"'s ear, wherein the calibration device is a reference object having one or more known dimensions;

the user submitting a single captured two-dimensional image having both the user'"'"'s ear and calibration device for processing to determine an appropriate earpiece size implemented by performing the software.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the user comparing the single captured two-dimensional image to at least one predetermined acceptable image.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the image capture device is a mobile phone.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the calibration device is an earbud.