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Earphones With Sensors

A technology of capacitive sensors and earphones, which is applied in the direction of sensors, sensor components, microphones, etc., can solve the problems of automatically adjusting earphones, reducing power, battery life, etc.

Active Publication Date: 2019-04-02
APPLE INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

For example, it may be difficult or impossible to automatically adjust the operation of the headset to reduce power for extended battery life or to dynamically adjust media playback

Method used

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  • Earphones With Sensors
  • Earphones With Sensors
  • Earphones With Sensors

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0024] Electronic devices may have components such as speakers for presenting audio to a user. The electronic device may be a wearable device, such as a headset. The earphones may be worn over the ear or on the user's ear. Earhooks or other support structures may be used to help hold the earphones adjacent to the user's ears.

[0025] Sensors can be used in headsets to gather input from the user and from the environment. For example, an optical sensor may be used to determine whether the headset is worn by the user or placed on a table (for example). Capacitive sensors can also be used in headphones. For example, a capacitive sensor may be formed using capacitive sensor electrodes in the earhooks of a pair of earphones.

[0026] A capacitive sensor can be used to sense whether the headset is being worn by the user. Capacitive sensors can consume significantly less power than optical sensors, so, in some configurations, an optical sensor in a pair of earphones can be power...

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PUM

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Abstract

The invention relates to earphones with sensors. The invention discloses an electronic device, such as an earphone may have sensor circuitry. The sensor circuitry may include optical proximity sensorsand capacitive sensor circuitry. An ear support structure such as an ear hook may be used to hold the earphone adjacent to an ear of a user. In this position, a speaker in the earphone may be used topresent audio to the user. The ear hook may be formed from an insulating elastomeric polymer. A stainless steel wire or other bendable structural support member may be embedded within the elastomericpolymer. The bendable member may hold the ear hook in a desired bent shape after bending by the user. The capacitive sensor circuitry may include one or more capacitive sensor electrodes coupled to capacitance-to-digital converter circuitry. Control circuitry may activate the optical proximity sensors in response to detection of a capacitance to confirm that the earphone is being worn.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 019,432, filed June 26, 2018, and Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 562,987, filed September 25, 2017, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety way incorporated into this article. technical field [0002] The present invention relates generally to electronic devices, and more particularly to wearable electronic devices such as earphones. Background technique [0003] Cellular phones, computers, and other electronic devices generate audio signals for media playback operations and phone calls. Speakers in these electronic devices can be used to play audio to the user. Accessories such as headphones can also be used to play audio to the user. Headphones and other devices with speakers may contain audio processing circuitry and communication circuitry. Some headsets contain batteries to support wireless operation. [0004] Controlling the operation of a device such as a headset ...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): H04R1/10
CPCH04R1/1041H04R2201/105H04R1/1008H04R1/105H04R1/1066H04R2460/03H04R5/0335H04R2201/10
Inventor G·J·鲍威尔M-A·P·卡里诺纳琛
Owner APPLE INC
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