Earbuds with biometric sensing capabilities

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to earbuds with biometric sensing capabilities. Disclosed are earbuds configured with one or more biometric sensors. At least one of the biometric sensors is configured to press upward against a portion of the tragus to perform a biometric measurement. In some embodiments, the housing of the earbud can be symmetrical so that the earbud can be worn interchangeably in a user's left or right ear. In such embodiments, the earbud can include sensors and circuitry configured to determine and alter the operation of the earbud based on determining in which ear the earbud is positioned.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of an invention patent application filed on August 25, 2016, entitled “Earbuds with Biometric Sensing Functions” and with application number 202010049980.X. The invention patent application filed on August 25, 2016, entitled “Earbuds with Biometric Sensing Functions” and with application number 201680043834.8, is a divisional application of an invention patent application filed on August 25, 2016, entitled “Earbuds with Biometric Sensing Functions” and with application number 201680043834.8.

[0002] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0003] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. non-provisional patent application 14 / 856,298, filed on September 16, 2015, entitled “Earbuds with Biometric Sensing”; U.S. non-provisional patent application 14 / 856,344, filed on September 16, 2015, entitled “Earbuds with Biometric Sensing”; and U.S. non-provisional patent application 14 / 856,402, filed on September 16, 2015, entitled “Earbuds with Biometric Sensing.” Technical Field

[0004] The described embodiments generally relate to integrating biometric sensors into earbuds. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to positioning a biometric sensor along an outer surface of an earbud so that the biometric sensor can be placed in direct contact with a portion of a user's ear during use of the earbud. Background Art

[0005] Users of portable electronic devices have shown increasing interest in biometric tracking. Biometric sensors typically need to be close to, or even in direct contact with, the skin to accurately measure and track biometric parameters along the lines of heart rate, VO2, and core temperature. Requiring users to place sensors in direct contact with their skin to track these types of biometric data can be unwieldy, making biometric tracking more difficult to adopt. Therefore, mechanisms for unobtrusively measuring biometric parameters are desirable. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This disclosure describes various embodiments involving the various ways in which biometric sensors can be configured for optimal use with audio accessory devices.

[0007] The present invention discloses an earplug, which includes the following elements: a housing that defines an opening adjacent to a first end of the housing; a speaker that is disposed within the housing and oriented so that audio emitted by the speaker exits the housing through the opening defined by the housing; a biometric sensor that is positioned along an outer surface of the housing at the first end of the housing; and a compliant member that is coupled to the second end of the housing.

[0008] The present invention discloses an audio device, which includes the following elements: a first earbud and a second earbud, each earbud including: an earbud housing; a speaker disposed within the earbud housing and configured to project audio out of an opening defined by the earbud housing; a circuit configured to receive audio data and transmit the audio data to the speaker; and a compliant member coupled to the earbud housing.

[0009] The present invention discloses an earplug comprising the following elements: an earplug housing; a speaker disposed within the earplug housing; and a compliant member comprising a first end pivotally coupled to a first portion of the earplug housing and a second end pivotally coupled to a second portion of the earplug housing, the compliant member being configured to deform to conform to the internal geometry of a user's ear and to exert a force on the earplug housing when the earplug housing is worn by the user, the force positioning the earplug housing adjacent to the ear canal of the user's ear. The compliant member can take the form of an elastomeric ring. In some embodiments, the compliant member can be at least partially reinforced by a certain amount of flexible metal. The pivotal coupling between the compliant member and the earplug housing can take the form of a hinge with end stops. In some embodiments, the end stops can include contacts that help determine the rotational position of each end of the compliant member relative to the earplug housing.

[0010] The present invention discloses an audio device, which includes the following elements: a device housing having a size and shape suitable for at least partially inserting into a user's ear; a speaker, which is disposed in the device housing; a biometric sensor, which is disposed in the device housing and includes a sensing surface arranged along an outer surface of the device housing; and a processor, which is configured to use the value of a biometric parameter detected by the biometric sensor to determine the orientation of the device housing in the user's ear and adjust the operating state of the speaker according to the determined orientation.

[0011] A method for controlling the operation of an earbud is disclosed. The method includes receiving a signal from an orientation sensor of an earbud that is aligned with the earbud being worn in a first ear of a user; transmitting only a first audio channel of a multi-channel audio signal to a speaker unit of the earbud, the first audio channel being associated with the first ear of the user; and adjusting an operating state of a sensor of the earbud based on the signal received from the orientation sensor.

[0012] The present invention discloses an audio device comprising the following elements: a speaker; a wireless transceiver; a biometric sensor for measuring a biometric parameter of a user of the audio device; an energy storage device for providing power for the operation of the speaker, the biometric sensor, and the wireless transceiver; and an earbud housing enclosing the speaker, the wireless transceiver, the biometric sensor, and the energy storage device. The biometric parameter measured by the biometric sensor is used to determine the orientation of the earbud housing within the ear of the user of the audio device, and the determined orientation is then used to change the operating characteristics of the speaker.

[0013] The present invention discloses an earbud, which includes the following elements: an orientation sensor, which is configured to determine the orientation of the earbud in the ear of the earbud user; a microphone array, which includes a plurality of microphones; and a circuit, which is configured to adjust the operating state of the microphones in the microphone array according to information provided by the orientation sensor.

[0014] The present invention discloses an audio device, which includes the following elements: a device housing, which has a shape and size suitable for being at least partially inserted into a user's ear; an orientation sensor, which is configured to provide an orientation of the device housing relative to the user's ear; a microphone array, which is arranged in the device housing, and includes a first microphone, a second microphone and a third microphone; and a processor, which is configured to adjust the operating state of the first microphone and the second microphone according to the orientation of the device housing.

[0015] The present invention discloses an audio device comprising the following elements: a speaker; a wireless transceiver; a biometric sensor configured to measure both the orientation of the audio device in a user's ear and a biometric parameter; a microphone array; an energy storage device that provides power to the audio device; and an earbud housing that encloses the speaker, the microphone array, the wireless transceiver, the biometric sensor, and the energy storage device. The orientation of the earbud housing within the ear of the user of the audio device is used to adjust the operating state of the microphone array. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The present invention will be readily understood through the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which:

[0017] Figure 1 Exemplary apparatus suitable for use with the described embodiments is shown;

[0018] Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of an earbud device including a number of electronic components for supporting the described device functionality;

[0019] Figures 3A to 3B a diagram showing an earbud positioned in a user's ear and how a biometric sensor of the earbud contacts the user's tragus;

[0020] Figures 4A to 4B showing various views of an earplug having a biasing member in the form of a compliant member;

[0021] Figure 4C Shown Figures 4A to 4B How the compliant member depicted in FIG can be configured to provide a fixed amount of force to multiple users with different ear sizes;

[0022] Figures 5A to 5B shows how the biasing member can be interchangeably removed from the earplug via the locking channel;

[0023] Figures 6A to 6C shows a side view of an earplug having a biasing member in the form of a deformable ring pivotally coupled to the earplug;

[0024] 7A to 7C Shown Figures 6A to 6C A plurality of alternative embodiments of the deformable ring depicted in ;

[0025] Figures 8A to 8B shows how the deformable ring conforms to the ear of the earbud user;

[0026] Figure 9 An embodiment is shown in which the compliant member takes the form of a single compliant member having one end extending from the earplug;

[0027] FIG. 10A to FIG. 10B An earbud positioned within an ear of a user is shown, the earbud having a sensor configured to determine an orientation of the earbud;

[0028] Figure 11 An earbud having a housing defining a plurality of openings at a plurality of microphones for receiving audio content is shown; and

[0029] Figure 12A flow chart depicting a process for determining the orientation of an earbud within a user's ear is shown.

[0030] Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the described embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] This section describes representative applications of the methods and apparatus according to the present application. These examples are provided solely to add context and aid in understanding the embodiments. Therefore, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other cases, well-known processing steps have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the embodiments. Other applications are also possible, so that the following examples should not be considered limiting.

[0032] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in accordance with the described embodiments. Although these embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments, it is to be understood that these examples are not limiting; thus, other embodiments may be used and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the described embodiments.

[0033] Biometric sensors can take many forms and can be configured to measure a wide range of biometric parameters. Unfortunately, continuous, long-term monitoring of these biometric parameters can become troublesome and / or unwelcome if it interferes with any aspect of a user's daily life. One way to make the integration of biometric sensors into a user's daily life more accessible is to integrate them with a type of device that the user already utilizes. Alternatively, one or more biometric sensors can be integrated into a wearable device that can be worn unnoticeably.

[0034] Wearable devices that can be configured with biometric sensors include a set of headphones and separate earbuds. Because the earbud portion of the headphones resides at least partially within the user's ear canal during use, the outer surface of the earbud typically contacts various parts of the ear to help maintain the earbud in place within the user's ear. One exemplary type of biometric sensor that can be used to record a user's biometric parameters is a photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensor, which measures biometric parameters by emitting light and then measuring the reflectivity of that light off the skin. Changes in this reflectivity can be used to characterize the blood flow in the user's skin. Unfortunately, the outer surface of conventional earbuds often does not make sufficiently firm and / or consistent contact with the blood-rich portion of the ear to provide reliable biometric parameter measurements. One solution to this problem is to place a PPG sensor along the surface of the earbud, near the speaker opening at one end of the earbud. This way, when the speaker opening is aligned with the ear canal, the PPG sensor can contact the inward-facing surface of the ear's tragus. By adding a compliant member to the opposite end of the earbud, contact between the inward-facing surface of the ear's tragus and the PPG sensor can be maintained. The compliant member can then engage the opposing surface of the ear, known as the concha, so that the earplug is wedged between the two opposing surfaces of the ear. By selecting a compliant member formed of a compressible or deformable material, the earplug can fit properly in the ears of a wide variety of users.

[0035] The earbuds may also be equipped with various other sensors that may operate independently or in conjunction with the biometric sensors described above. For example, in some embodiments, the other sensors may take the form of orientation sensors to help the earbuds determine in which ear the earbuds are positioned and then adjust the operation of the earbuds based on that determination. In some embodiments, the orientation sensor may be a traditional inertial-based sensor, while in other embodiments, sensor readings from another biometric sensor, such as a proximity sensor or a temperature sensor, may be used to make orientation determinations.

[0036] Earbuds with the above-described sensors may also include additional sensors, such as microphones or microphone arrays. In some embodiments, at least two microphones from the microphone array may be arranged along a line pointing toward or at least close to the user's mouth. Using information received by one or more orientation sensors, a controller within the earbud may determine which microphones in the microphone array should be activated to achieve that configuration. By activating only those microphones arranged along a vector pointing toward or close to the mouth, ambient audio signals that are not emitted close to the mouth may be ignored by applying spatial filtering.

[0037] The following references Figures 1 to 12However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these drawings is for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting.

[0038] Figure 1 A portable media device 100 suitable for use with a variety of accessory devices is shown. Portable media device 100 can include a touch-sensitive display 102 configured to provide a touch-sensitive user interface for controlling portable media device 100 and, in some embodiments, for controlling any accessories to which portable media device 100 is electrically or wirelessly coupled. In some embodiments, portable media device 100 can include additional controls, such as, for example, button 104. Portable media device 100 can also include a plurality of hard-wired input / output (I / O) ports, specifically including a digital I / O port 106 and an analog I / O port 108. Accessory device 110 can take the form of an audio device including two separate earbuds 112 and 114. Each of earbuds 112 and 114 can include a wireless receiver or transceiver capable of establishing a wireless link 116 with portable media device 100. Accessory device 120, which can also be compatible with portable media device 100, can take the form of a wired audio device including earbuds 122 and 124. Earbuds 122 and 124 can be electrically coupled to each other and to connector plug 126 via multiple wires. In embodiments where connector plug 126 is an analog plug, sensors within either earbud 122 or 124 can receive power through analog I / O port 108 while transmitting data via a wireless protocol such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or the like. In embodiments where connector plug 126 interacts with digital I / O port 106, sensor data and audio data can freely pass through the wires during use of portable media device 100 and accessory device 120. It should be noted that when the wires attached to each earbud are attached along a line of symmetry of each earbud, or alternatively when the wires are attached via a pivoting coupling, earbuds 122 and 124 can be swapped between the left and right ears. When attached to digital I / O port 106, stereo channels can be swapped between the wires.

[0039] Figure 2A schematic diagram of an earbud 200 that can be incorporated into accessory device 110 as earbud 112 and / or earbud 114, or incorporated into accessory device 120 as earbud 122 and / or earbud 124 is shown. In some embodiments, earbud 200 can include a housing 202. Housing 202 can have a size and / or shape that allows it to be easily inserted into the ear of an end user. Housing 202 also defines an internal volume within which a number of electronic components can be distributed. In particular, a biometric sensor 204 can be located within or at least supported by housing 202. As depicted, biometric sensor 204 can be arranged within an opening in housing 202 and close the opening. In this way, biometric sensor 204 can have an outward-facing sensing surface that can interact with and measure external stimuli. The housing 202 may also include a protrusion 203 having an opening at its distal end that provides a passage through which audio signals may be transmitted out and into the ear canal of a user of the earbud 200, as indicated by the arrow.

[0040] In some embodiments, the biometric sensor 204 can take the form of a photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensor. A PPG sensor utilizes a pulse oximeter to illuminate a small area of ​​skin and measure changes in the skin's light absorption rate. The pulse oximeter can include one or more light emitting devices and one or more light collecting devices. In some embodiments, the light emitting device can take the form of a light emitting diode (LED), and the light collecting device can take the form of a photodiode to measure changes in light absorption rate. Changes in light absorption rate can be caused by different levels of blood flow within the skin during each cardiac cycle. Because the level of blood flow entering the skin can be affected by a variety of other physiological systems, this type of biometric monitoring system can provide multiple types of biometric information. By capturing waveforms associated with the level of blood flow circulating to the skin, multiple biometric parameters can be collected, including, for example, heart rate, blood volume, and respiratory rate. By using LEDs that emit light of different wavelengths, additional data can be collected, such as maximum VO2 (i.e., the maximum rate at which the body absorbs oxygen). By arranging the biometric sensor 204 in the depicted position relative to the housing 202, the biometric sensor 204 can be placed in contact with the tragus of the ear, which advantageously tends to contact an area with abundant blood flow, thereby enabling the sensor readings obtained by the pulse oximeter in the tragus area to be particularly accurate. In some embodiments, the biometric sensor 204 can take the form of a core temperature sensor. Other embodiments of the biometric sensor 204 include embodiments in which the biometric sensor takes the form of electrodes. When the earbuds are wired earbuds that are electrically coupled to another earbud using electrodes, multiple electrodes can collaborate to measure many different biometric parameters. In some embodiments, the multiple electrodes can be configured to measure the user's galvanic skin response (GSR). The GSR can be used to determine the amount of stress the user is feeling at any given moment. In some embodiments, when the multiple electrodes are configured as electrocardiogram (EKG) sensors or impedance cardiography (ICG) sensors, the multiple electrodes can be used to measure more detailed parameters of heart rate.

[0041] The biometric sensor 204 can be in electrical communication with at least a controller 206, which is responsible for controlling various aspects of the earbud 200. For example, the controller 206 can collect biometric sensor data recorded by the biometric sensor 204 and pass the data to an input / output (I / O) interface 208. The I / O interface 208 can be configured to transmit the biometric sensor data to another device, such as the portable media device 100, via a link 210. The link 210 can be generated in various ways. For example, when the I / O interface 208 takes a form suitable for use in an accessory such as Figure 1, link 210 can be a wireless link. Alternatively, link 210 can be transmitted via a wired connector, such as the wires depicted with accessory device 120. In addition to providing a conduit for transmitting biometric sensor data provided by biometric sensor 204, I / O interface 208 can also be used to receive audio content, which can be processed by controller 206 and sent to speaker 212. I / O interface 208 can also receive control signals from devices similar to portable media device 100 to perform tasks such as adjusting the volume output of speaker 212 or changing the sensitivity, priority, or duty cycle of biometric sensor 204. When I / O interface 208 takes the form of a wireless transceiver, I / O interface 208 can include an antenna configured to transmit and receive signals through an antenna window or opening defined by housing 202. This can be particularly important when housing 202 is formed from a radiopaque material. In some embodiments, the I / O interface 208 may also represent one or more external controls (e.g., buttons and / or switches) for performing tasks such as pairing the earbud 200 with another device or adjusting various settings of the earbud 200, such as volume.

[0042] The earbuds 200 may also include a memory 214 that can be configured to perform any number of tasks. For example, the memory 214 can be configured to store media content when the user of the earbuds 200 wants to use the earbuds 200 independently of any other device. In such a use case, the memory 214 can be loaded with one or more media files for independent playback. When the earbuds 200 are being used with another device, the memory 214 can also be used to buffer media data received from the other device. In the independent use case described above, the memory 214 can also be used to store sensor data recorded by the biometric sensor 204. Once the two devices are connected, the sensor data can be sent to one device along the line of the portable media device 100.

[0043] With the possible exception of the case where the I / O interface 208 is a wired interface that can provide power to the earbud 200 from another device or power source, a battery 216 is typically used to power the operation of the earbud 200. The battery 216 can provide the energy required to perform any of a number of tasks, including maintaining the wireless link 210, powering the controller 206, driving the speaker 212, powering the biometric sensor 204, and powering any other sensors 218. Although the other sensors are shown as general blocks, the other sensors 218 can include sensors such as microphones, orientation sensors, proximity sensors, or any other sensors suitable for improving the user experience of the earbud 200. In some embodiments, one or more of the sensors 218 can be used in conjunction with the biometric sensor 204 to improve accuracy or calibrate various results. It should be noted that the other sensors 218 are not required in all embodiments described herein.

[0044] The earplug 200 may also include a compliant member 220 coupled to the outer surface of the housing 202. The compliant member 220 may be configured to provide an interference fit to the earplug 200 within the user's ear. Since the size and shape of any particular user's ears may vary greatly, the compliant member allows the earplug 200 to conform to many different ear shapes and sizes. In addition, in some configurations, the compliant member 220 may be removable, so that the overall size of the earplug 200 can be further customized for any user's ear using a variety of compliant member sizes and shapes. The compliant member 220 can be made of any of many different types of materials, including, for example, open-cell foam, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), etc. In some embodiments, the material used to construct the compliant member 220 can be configured to provide greater force on the user's ear, thereby forming a more secure fit within the user's ear. A compliant member constructed in this way can be better suited for sports.

[0045] Figures 3A to 3B A view of the housing 202 is shown positioned within the ear of a user. Figure 3A An interference region 302 is depicted, representing the interface area between the biometric sensor 204 and the user's tragus 304. Figure 3B Depicts how the protrusion 203 may be positioned within the user's ear canal to minimize the amount of power lost as the audio content leaves the housing 202. Figures 3A to 3B The compliant member 220 is not explicitly identified, but it is understood that the housing 202 may include a rear compliant portion integrated within the housing 202 that can accommodate a certain amount of compression, thereby allowing the housing 202 to be securely positioned within the user's ear. Figure 3BAs depicted, the housing 202 of the earplug 300 is compressed between the tragus 304 and the concha 306 of the depicted ear, thereby preventing the earplug 300 from moving out of the ear and maintaining a consistent amount of pressure sufficient to keep the biometric sensor 204 consistently engaged in the interference region 302.

[0046] Figures 4A to 4B 2 shows a view of the housing 202 and compliant member 220 of the earplug 200 positioned within the ear of a user. In particular, the frictional forces acting on the compliant member 220 are Figure 4A The depicted forces illustrate how the compressive and frictional forces generated between compliant member 220 and the concha of the ear can help retain earplug 200 within the user's ear. Figure 4A Also shown Figure 2 This is a slight variation of the compliant member design depicted in FIG, because compliant member 220 is located within a channel defined by housing 202. In this way, housing 202 can be made significantly larger while still allowing compliant member 220 to deform within the channel to produce a fit and feel that is satisfactory to the user of earbud 200. Figure 4B A top view and a side view of earplug 200 are shown. In particular, the uncompressed length dimension of compliant member 220 can be approximately 9 mm. It should be noted that this length is given for exemplary purposes only, and varying lengths are possible and even desirable to accommodate the various ear geometries of different users.

[0047] Figure 4C A graph showing stress versus strain for an exemplary compliant member 220 is depicted. By careful selection of materials, Figure 4C This illustrates how the amount of stress provided by compliant member 220 can be made to remain substantially the same over a wide range of strains. For example, a user with a smaller ear size that results in a length change of approximately 50% will experience only slightly more stress than a user with a larger ear that ultimately compresses compliant member 220 by only approximately 20%. In this way, a compliant member of a particular size can accommodate ears of a wide range of sizes while substantially maintaining the amount of force applied to the user's ear. This avoids situations where compliant member 220 exerts an uncomfortable amount of force, or conversely, a force that is insufficient to retain earplug 200 within the ear.

[0048] Figures 5A to 5B An embodiment is shown in which the compliant member 220 can be conveniently removed from the housing 202. In this embodiment, Figure 5AA connection feature 502 is shown attached to the compliant member 220. In some embodiments, the connection feature 202 may simply serve as a convenient mechanism for replacing the compliant member 220 with a larger compliant member, a smaller compliant member, or a compliant member formed of a different material. As depicted, the connection feature 502 also serves as an extension of the housing 202. In some embodiments, the connection feature 502 may include add-on modules along the lines of additional storage for customized media or software content, additional biometric sensors or orientation sensors, and / or additional battery cells. For example, the customized software content may include a mobile application for use with a device similar to the portable media device 100. When the connection feature 502 includes additional sensors, the sensors within the connection feature 502 may provide additional functionality to the earbuds. For example, the sensors within the connection feature 502 may take the form of a temperature sensor, a capacitive sensor, a microphone, or an electrode. Once the connection feature 502 is coupled to the housing 202 , any sensors within the connection feature 502 may begin providing sensor data and / or collaborating with sensors disposed within the housing 202 to collect sensor data.

[0049] The connection feature 502 also includes a puzzle-piece-shaped protrusion 504 that engages within the channel defined by the housing 202. The protrusion 504 can include a locking feature 506, which can take the form of a spring-loaded ball bearing that helps secure the connection feature 502 to the housing 202 once the connection feature 502 is properly aligned with the housing 202. In some embodiments, the protrusion 504 can include an environmental seal at each end that is used to prevent sweat or moisture from intruding between the interface of the protrusion 504 and the channel defined by the housing 202.

[0050] Figure 5BThe figure shows how the protrusion 504 can also include one or more electrical contacts 508. The electrical contacts 508 can mate with electrical contacts positioned within the channel defined by the housing 202. Thus, when the contacts 508 are aligned with the contacts of the housing 202, a stable electrical connection is formed between the connection feature 502 and the components within the housing 202. This stable electrical connection can be used to facilitate sensor communication, as briefly discussed above, and / or to provide access to the memory onboard connection feature 502 using the housing 202. When communication between the connection feature 502 and the housing 202 is initially established, the connection feature 502 can provide an identifier to a controller within the housing 202 so that the controller understands the additional functionality added by the connection feature 502. In some embodiments, the identifier can be communicated to the user in various ways. For example, the user can be notified of the new functionality by an audio signal broadcast by the earbuds or even by sending a message to the media player along the wires of the portable media player 100.

[0051] Figure 6A A side view of an alternative embodiment is shown in which compliant member 602 takes the form of a loop of flexible material, each of its two ends being pivotally coupled to housing 202 at two different locations. The pivotal coupling can be achieved via hinges 604 and 606. Hinges 604 and 606 can be configured to provide ranges of motion 608 and 610, respectively. In some embodiments, range of motion 608 can be the same as range of motion 610, while in other embodiments, the two ranges can be slightly or significantly different. Hinges 604 and 606 allow compliant member 602 to have a considerable range of motion, which can help compliant member 602 conform to a wide range of ear shapes and geometries. In some embodiments, the end stops associated with each of hinges 604 and 606 can take the form of electrical contacts that transmit position information to a controller of earbud 200. In this configuration, earbud 200 can be configured to alter its playback based on the information provided by the electrical contacts.

[0052] For example, Figure 6B 6 shows a configuration in which hinge 604 is positioned against one end stop and hinge 606 is positioned against the other end stop. In such a configuration, controller 206 of earbud 200 can be configured to emit audio consistent with the right channel or the channel of the user's right ear. Figure 6C, the controller 206 can only deliver the left channel or music that is consistent with the user's left ear. This configuration will enable the earbud 200 to be interchangeable between the left ear and the right ear. In some embodiments, the earbud 200 can be configured to enter a power saving mode when both hinges 604 and 606 are not positioned at the end stop. Such a configuration will be useful in configurations where at least one of the hinges 604 and 606 will necessarily be at the end stop if the earbud is properly inserted into the user's ear. Any of these automated features can be enabled or disabled via a device configured to control the operation of the earbud 200. The hinges 604 and 606 can also include a spring-based biasing member that returns the compliant member 602 to Figure 6A This will prevent the contacts from being actuated when not in use and will also provide a consistent user experience when the earbud is placed in the user's ear.

[0053] 7A to 7C Shown with Figures 6A to 6C Various alternative earplug configurations similar to those depicted in . Figure 7A In the embodiment, the compliant member takes the form of two wings 702 and 704, each having one end pivotally coupled to the housing 202. In this configuration, the wings 702 and 704 are arranged to be pivotally coupled to the housing 202 while still including the compliant member. Figures 6A to 6C In the case of the hinge stops discussed in the depicted embodiment, they can function independently of each other. Figure 7B One embodiment is shown having a flexible material loop 706 reinforced by two metal reinforcement members 708 and 710. This configuration may be desirable to increase the stiffness of the loop 706 in situations where the loop 706 would otherwise not provide a sufficiently secure fit to securely hold the earbud 200 within the ear of the user of the earbud 200. By leaving the central portion of the loop 706 free of reinforcement material, the portion of the loop 706 that contacts the concha of the user's ear can be significantly softer and provide a more comfortable fit and user experience. Figure 7C A configuration is shown in which reinforcement member 712 takes the form of a continuous length of reinforcement material embedded within ring 706, which can provide uniform stiffness and resistance to ring 706. The thickness of the material used to construct reinforcement member 712 can be adjusted to achieve a desired amount of resistance in ring 706.

[0054] Figure 8A It shows how the ring 802 in the undeformed configuration is incompatible with the shape of the user's ear, and also depicts the directions in which a force F can be applied to the ring 802 to deform the ring 802 to position the ring within the user's ear. Figure 8B Shown with Figure 6B, and illustrates how the natural geometry of the ear causes this type of deformation of the ring 802. Because the hinge 606 is configured to accommodate rotation of the bottom end of the ring past a horizontal position, any force applied through the hinge 606 does not tend to push the housing 202 out of the seated position, but rather ultimately applies a force F to the housing 202 having a downward component that tends to hold the housing 202 securely in place when utilized.

[0055] Figure 9 Shown with Figure 7A The wings are similar in configuration to those depicted in FIG; however, the arrangement Figure 9 This is to illustrate how it might be desirable to have only the upper wing 902, as the lower wing 904 can get in the way and be more difficult to position within the ear. In a single-wing configuration, the user would be able to differentiate which ear to place each earbud in by selecting the earbud that fits within the ear in an orientation that positions the wing with the upper portion facing the user's ear. The upper wing 902 can be formed from an elastomeric material and have a conformable blunt end that can be comfortably positioned within the user's ear. The width and elasticity of the upper wing 902 can be adjusted to provide the desired fit.

[0056] FIG. 10A to FIG. 10B A side view and a partial cross-sectional view, respectively, of the multi-sensor earbud 1000 positioned within the ear of a user are shown. Figure 10A Indicated are sensing areas 1002 and 1004 of the multi-sensor earbud 1000. When sensors associated with sensing areas 1002 and 1004 are able to identify direct contact between the associated sensing areas and the surface of the ear, those sensors can be used to determine the orientation of the multi-sensor earbud 1000 within the ear. Figure 10A and Figure 10BThis illustrates why this occurs because, regardless of which ear the multi-sensor earbud 1000 is positioned in, one of the sensing areas 1002 and 1004 is in direct contact with the ear, while the other sensing area is not. One type of sensor that can detect contact between a sensing area and an ear is a proximity sensor. A proximity sensor can take the form of an infrared light emitter and receiver. By emitting infrared light and receiving the infrared light that bounces back from the ear, the proximity sensor can determine the distance between the corresponding sensing area and the ear. By measuring the distance between the proximity sensor and the nearest object, the proximity sensor associated with sensing area 1004 may be able to confirm that the multi-sensor earbud 1000 is in the user's right ear. Another type of sensor that can facilitate orientation determination is a temperature sensor. If the multi-sensor earbud 1000 includes two temperature sensors, one associated with each sensing area, the controller or processor within the multi-sensor earbud 1000 can be configured to compare the two temperature readings and, based on the temperature difference, determine: (a) whether the earbud is actually inserted into the ear; and (b) the orientation of the multi-sensor earbud 1000 within the ear. In addition to being used as a temperature sensor, a temperature sensor that is determined to be in direct contact with the user's ear can also be used to provide core temperature information, while a second temperature sensor can be configured to provide ambient temperature. In the depicted embodiment, the temperature sensor associated with sensing area 1004 will sense a significantly higher temperature than the temperature associated with sensing area 1002. A capacitive sensor can also be used to detect positive contact between the sensing area and the user's ear.

[0057] Any of the above-described sensor configurations may also be used to identify whether the earbud is actually inserted into the user's ear. The power management utility may be adapted to manage the operating state of the multi-sensor earbud 1000 based on this information. The multi-sensor earbud 1000 may include many operating states, including, for example, a media playback mode, a standby mode, a disabled mode, and a noise cancellation mode. When the power management utility determines that the multi-sensor earbud 1000 is no longer being worn, it may be configured to change the operating state from playback or noise cancellation mode to standby or disabled mode. Although many examples of unconventional orientation sensors have been discussed, it will be appreciated that inertial orientation sensors may also be used, and are contemplated within the scope of the present invention. As will be appreciated, a basic orientation sensor will also be able to distinguish between two opposite orientations.

[0058] Figure 11 An earbud 1100 is shown positioned within an ear of a user. A housing 1102 of the earbud 1100 includes a plurality of microphone openings through which audio signals can propagate to microphones disposed within the housing 1102 of the earbud 1100. Figure 11Two front microphone openings 1104 and 1106 are depicted, along with one rear microphone opening 1108, arranged in a triangular configuration. These microphone openings can be arranged in a symmetrical configuration so that the earbud 1100 can operate in a consistent manner regardless of which ear the earbud 1100 is positioned in. The microphones positioned within the earbud housing 1102 and behind each microphone opening can be configured for many different purposes. In some embodiments, the operating mode of each microphone can be adjusted based on orientation data collected by an orientation sensor of the earbud 1100, as described above with respect to FIG. 10A to FIG. 10B described.

[0059] Once one or more orientation sensors configured to provide orientation information provide orientation data to a controller within the earbud 1100, the controller can compare the signals received from the two microphones using a spatial filtering process that removes any audio information that does not arrive within a range of 10 to 20 degrees on either side of the direction 1110 along which both microphone openings 1106 and 1108 are arranged. Spatial filtering can be performed in a variety of ways, but in one particular embodiment, a time difference of arrival technique can be used, which involves comparing the time at which an audio signal is received at a first microphone to the time at which the same audio signal is received at a second microphone to determine a time delay. Although calculating the time difference of arrival typically requires three sampling points to determine the direction of arrival, only two sampling sources are required in this type of configuration because the microphone openings 1106 and 1108 are aligned with the direction of the desired sampling source.

[0060] In some embodiments, all content arriving first at microphone opening 1108 can be disregarded, while all content arriving first at microphone opening 1106 can be used and processed. This allows recording of only audio content arriving from the direction the user is facing. In some embodiments, the delay associated with audio signals propagating directly in direction 1110 may be known. To accommodate a certain amount of variation in the direction of arrival of the user's speech, any delay within 20% of the known delay period can be processed. In yet other embodiments, the microphone array can be configured to collect only the highest percentage of audio with the longest delay period when audio first arrives at microphone opening 1106. This configuration may be desirable if the user wishes to record ambient audio signals when not actively speaking. For example, the microphone array can switch between a mode in which only the user is being recorded and a mode in which ambient audio is collected after a predetermined period of time has passed during which no speech from the user has been detected. In some embodiments, any errors caused by variations between the direction of speech arriving at the microphone array and the orientation of microphone openings 1106 and 1108 can be mitigated by calibration software configured to adjust the collection window based on these variations. In some embodiments, the calibration software may be hosted on a device such as portable media device 100 .

[0061] In some embodiments, the unused microphone opening 1104 can be configured to perform other functions. For example, a controller within the earbud 1100 can be configured to process the audio content received by the microphone positioned behind the microphone opening 1104 in order to provide the earbud 1100 with noise cancellation capabilities. In some embodiments, the noise cancellation provided by the earbud 1100 can be configured to provide selective noise cancellation that allows any audio received within a 10 to 20 degree window to pass through, while in other embodiments, substantially all audio can be filtered out. This way, during a conversation, a person's own voice will not obstruct a speaker from hearing other speakers attempting to enter or participate in the conversation. In some embodiments, the microphone associated with the microphone opening 1104 can be used in conjunction with other microphones to provide more detailed information about the direction of origin of the audio signal. Alternatively, the microphone associated with the microphone opening 1104 can simply be disabled or turned off until orientation data indicating a change in the orientation of the earbud 1100 is provided. In some embodiments, a change in orientation data indicating that earbud 1100 has been placed in the user's other ear will cause the functions performed by the microphones associated with microphone openings 1104 and 1106 to be swapped. Alternatively, housing 1102 may include only two microphone openings, such as only openings 1106 and 1108. In such an embodiment, if the user uses one earbud 1100 in each ear, only one earbud's microphone opening will be pointed toward the user's mouth. The orientation data or the audio sampling process can be used to determine which earbud's microphone opening is aligned with the user's mouth.

[0062] In addition to swapping the functionality of the microphones associated with microphone openings 1104 and 1106, when a user is actively using a set of earbuds 1100, the microphones can periodically sample the audio from both earbuds, at which point a processor within one or both of the earbuds 1100 or within a paired device along the line of the portable media device 100 can compare the two samples and direct the earbud with the better quality to be activated while placing the other microphones of the earbud in standby or periodic sampling mode. Furthermore, because the operation of the microphones can consume battery power, the microphone within one earbud can be activated when the battery level of that earbud is significantly greater than that of the other earbuds.

[0063] Figure 12A flowchart illustrating a method for determining the orientation of an earbud within a user's ear is shown. In a first block 1202, a processor or controller of the earbud receives a signal from an orientation sensor of the earbud, indicating that the earbud's orientation is consistent with the first audio channel of a multi-channel audio signal. The orientation sensor can take a variety of forms, including but not limited to conventional inertial sensors, temperature sensors, proximity sensors, capacitive sensors, and the like. In a second block 1204, the processor transmits only the first audio signal of the multi-channel audio signal to a speaker unit. If the multi-channel audio signal is stereo, the first audio channel may represent either the left or right channel of the multi-channel audio signal. Alternatively, the orientation sensor information can be used to continuously update the channel information. For example, if it is determined that only a single earbud is in use, the channels can be combined into a mono channel or a combined channel, thereby creating virtual left and right channels within a single earbud. This allows for a more consistent audio experience by preventing the loss of content normally routed through the removed earbud. In block 1206, the operational state of the earbud sensors is adjusted based on the orientation sensor data from the orientation sensor. In some embodiments, the biometric sensor can be arranged to focus its readings on a portion of the body that is most likely to provide high-quality biometric parameters. For example, light emitted from a PPG sensor can be angled to focus on a portion of the tragus that is likely to be well-blooded. In another embodiment, the orientation sensor data can be used to determine which sensors should be activated and / or deactivated. In some embodiments, the roles or operational states of the sensor array can be assigned based on the orientation data. In this way, the orientation information can be utilized to optimize the user experience of one or more earbuds.

[0064] The various aspects, embodiments, specific implementations or features of the embodiments may be used individually or in any combination. The various aspects of the embodiments may be implemented by software, hardware, or a combination of hardware and software. The embodiments may also be implemented as computer-readable code on a computer-readable medium for controlling production operations, or as computer-readable code on a computer-readable medium for controlling a production line. A computer-readable medium is any data storage device that can store data that can then be read by a computer system. Examples of computer-readable media include read-only memory, random access memory, CD-ROM, HDD, DVD, magnetic tape, and optical data storage devices. The computer-readable medium may also be distributed among network-coupled computer systems so that the computer-readable code is stored and executed in a distributed manner.

[0065] In the above description, for the purpose of explanation, the specific nomenclature used provides a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these specific details are not required to practice the embodiments. Therefore, the foregoing description of specific embodiments is presented for the purpose of illustration and description. These descriptions are not intended to be considered exhaustive or to limit the embodiments described to the precise forms disclosed. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations are possible based on the above teachings.

[0066] The present invention relates to an earplug, which includes: a housing that defines an opening adjacent a first end of the housing; a speaker that is disposed within the housing and oriented so that audio emitted by the speaker exits the housing through the opening defined by the housing; a biometric sensor that is positioned along an outer surface of the housing at the first end of the housing; and a compliant member that is coupled to the second end of the housing.

[0067] In some embodiments, the first end is positioned on an end of the housing opposite the second end.

[0068] In some embodiments, when the earbud is positioned for use within the user's ear, the compliant member engages the concha of the ear to press the biometric sensor against the surface of the tragus of the ear.

[0069] In some embodiments, the earbud has a symmetrical geometry so that the earbud can be worn and operated interchangeably in either ear of the user.

[0070] In some embodiments, the biometric sensor is selected from a heart rate sensor, a VO2 sensor, a GSR (galvanic skin response) sensor, an electrocardiogram (EKG) sensor, an impedance cardiography (ICG) sensor, and a temperature sensor.

[0071] In some embodiments, the compliant member is removable, and the removable compliant member includes an energy storage device having contacts that power the earbud when attached to the earbud.

[0072] In some embodiments, the compliant member is pivotally coupled to the housing at two different locations.

[0073] In some embodiments, the compliant member comprises an elastomeric ring at least partially reinforced with spring steel.

[0074] In some embodiments, the elastomeric ring is pivotally coupled to the housing by a hinge at each end of the ring.

[0075] The present invention also relates to an audio device, which includes: a first earbud and a second earbud, each earbud including: an earbud housing; a speaker, which is disposed within the earbud housing and is configured to project audio out of an opening defined by the earbud housing; a circuit, which is configured to receive audio data and transmit the audio data to the speaker; and a compliant member coupled to the earbud housing.

[0076] In some embodiments, when the earbuds are positioned for listening in the user's ears, the force applied by the compliant member of each earbud presses the surface of the earbud housing against the tragus surface of the audio device user's ear.

[0077] In some embodiments, each earbud further comprises a biometric sensor, wherein the biometric sensor occupies a surface of the earbud that is pressed against the tragus surface of the ear.

[0078] In some embodiments, each earbud also includes a sensor that determines whether the earbud is positioned in the user's left or right ear.

[0079] In some embodiments, the earbud further includes circuitry for selecting an audio channel associated with the ear in which the earbud is positioned.

[0080] In some embodiments, each earbud further includes a cable extending from the earbud housing, the cable electrically coupled to a connector adapted to receive audio content.

[0081] The present invention also relates to an earplug, comprising: an earplug housing; a speaker disposed within the earplug housing; and a compliant member comprising a first end pivotally coupled to a first portion of the earplug housing and a second end pivotally coupled to a second portion of the earplug housing, the compliant member being configured to deform to conform to the internal geometry of a user's ear and to exert a force on the earplug housing when the earplug housing is worn by the user, the force positioning the earplug housing adjacent to the ear canal of the user's ear.

[0082] In some embodiments, the earbud housing includes a removable connection feature having a protrusion positioned within a channel defined by a portion of the earbud housing, and wherein the first end and the second end of the compliant member are pivotally coupled to the removable connection feature, the removable connection feature allowing the compliant member to be separated from the earbud housing.

[0083] In some embodiments, the earbud further includes a processor configured to select which channel of the audio source to send to the speaker based on a rotational position of the first end of the compliant member relative to the first portion of the earbud housing.

[0084] In some embodiments, each end of the compliant member is pivotally coupled to the earbud housing by a hinge having a limited range of motion controlled by an end stop, each end stop including a mechanical stop that prevents the end of the compliant member from passing through a predetermined angle relative to the earbud housing.

[0085] In some embodiments, each end stop includes an electrical contact that sends a signal to circuitry within the earbud indicating the rotational position of the associated end of the compliant member relative to the earbud housing when the electrical contact is engaged.

[0086] The present invention also relates to an earbud, which includes: an orientation sensor, which is configured to determine the orientation of the earbud in the ear of the earbud user; a microphone array, which includes a plurality of microphones; and a circuit, which is configured to adjust the operating state of the microphones in the microphone array according to information provided by the orientation sensor.

[0087] In some embodiments, the orientation sensor comprises an accelerometer.

[0088] In some embodiments, the microphone array includes three microphones arranged in a triangular geometry.

[0089] In some embodiments, adjusting the operational state of the microphones includes assigning two of the three microphones to record audio, the assigned microphones being arranged along a line oriented toward the user's mouth.

[0090] In some embodiments, the circuit records only a portion of the audio detected by the two microphones, the portion of the audio corresponding to audio arriving from the direction of the user's mouth.

[0091] In some embodiments, the circuit includes a processor that determines which portion of the audio is arriving from the direction of the user's mouth by performing a time difference of arrival determination.

[0092] In some embodiments, the circuit is further configured to select an audio channel from the multi-channel audio source based on information provided by the orientation sensor.

[0093] In some embodiments, when information from the orientation sensor indicates that the earbud is positioned in the user's right ear, the circuit selects the right channel from the audio source, and when the orientation sensor indicates that the earbud is positioned in the user's left ear, the circuit selects the left channel from the audio source.

[0094] In some embodiments, the orientation sensor comprises a proximity sensor that determines the orientation of the earbud by measuring the distance between a surface of the earbud housing and the user's ear.

[0095] In some embodiments, the orientation sensor comprises a temperature sensor that determines the orientation of the earbud housing by measuring the external temperature of at least two regions of an outer surface of the housing.

[0096] The present invention also relates to an audio device, which includes: a device housing having a shape and size suitable for at least partially inserting into a user's ear; an orientation sensor, which is configured to provide an orientation of the device housing relative to the user's ear; a speaker, which is disposed in the device housing; a microphone array, which is disposed in the device housing, the microphone array including a first microphone, a second microphone and a third microphone; and a processor, which is configured to adjust the operating state of the speaker, the first microphone and the second microphone according to the orientation of the device housing.

[0097] In some embodiments, the operating states of the first microphone and the second microphone include an audio recording state, a disabled state, and a noise cancellation state.

[0098] In some embodiments, the orientation sensor includes a temperature sensing assembly comprising one or more sensing surfaces disposed along an exterior surface of the device housing.

[0099] In some embodiments, the temperature sensing assembly includes a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor, and the temperature sensing assembly is configured to determine the orientation of the audio device by determining which sensing surface is in direct contact with the ear surface.

[0100] In some embodiments, the processor is configured to measure core body temperature using temperature data received from a temperature sensor in contact with the ear, and to measure ambient temperature using temperature data received from a temperature sensor not in contact with the ear.

[0101] In some embodiments, the audio device further comprises a biometric sensor selected from the group consisting of a heart rate sensor, a VO2 sensor, a GSR (galvanic skin response) sensor, an EKG sensor, an ICG sensor, and a temperature sensor.

[0102] In some embodiments, the shape and size of the device housing are symmetrical, and the symmetry of the device housing allows the audio device to be worn in either ear of a user.

[0103] The present invention also relates to an audio device, which includes: a speaker; a wireless transceiver; a biometric sensor, which is configured to measure both the orientation of the audio device in the user's ear and a biometric parameter; a microphone array; an energy storage device, which provides power to the audio device; and an earbud housing, which encloses the speaker, the microphone array, the wireless transceiver, the biometric sensor and the energy storage device, wherein the operating state of the microphone array is adjusted by utilizing the orientation of the earbud housing in the ear of the user of the audio device.

[0104] In some embodiments, the biometric parameter is the user's core temperature.

[0105] In some embodiments, the microphone array includes three microphones arranged in a triangular configuration.

[0106] In some embodiments, adjusting the operating state of the microphone array includes disabling one of the three microphones when data from the biometric sensor indicates that the microphone is not aligned with another of the microphones and the user's mouth.

Claims

1. An earplug comprising: earbud housing; a first microphone and a second microphone configured to monitor sound input from a user and to monitor external environmental sound input; a biometric sensor configured to measure a biometric parameter of the user; a third microphone configured to operate in a disabled state; and A processor is configured to process the voice input from the user and change the operating state of the third microphone from a disabled state to an operating state of the first microphone based on the measured biometric parameter of the user, so that the roles of the first microphone and the third microphone are swapped.

2. The earplug according to claim 1, wherein Biometric sensors are arranged along the outer surface of the earbud housing.

3. The earplug according to claim 1, wherein The third microphone is disabled in the disabled state and monitors sound input from a user of the earbud in the operational state.

4. The earplug according to claim 1, wherein The biometric sensor is also configured to determine the orientation of the earbud housing within the user's ear.

5. The earplug according to claim 1, wherein The first microphone and the second microphone provide spatial filtering that prioritizes audio waves arriving from a direction corresponding to the user's mouth.

6. The earplug according to claim 1, wherein The biometric sensor is selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, a photoplethysmography sensor, a galvanic skin response sensor, a VO2 sensor, an electrocardiogram, and an impedance cardiography sensor.

7. The earplug according to claim 1, wherein The biometric sensor is a first biometric sensor, and the earbud further includes a second biometric sensor that, together with the first biometric sensor, provides orientation data of the earbud when the earbud is in the user's ear.

8. An earplug comprising: earbud housing; a first biometric sensor and a second biometric sensor coupled to the earbud housing and configured to measure a biometric parameter of the user; a first microphone and a second microphone configured to monitor sound input from a user and to monitor external environmental sound input; a third microphone configured to operate in a disabled state; and A processor is configured to compare the biometric parameters measured by the biometric sensor to change the state of the third microphone from the disabled state to the operational state of the first microphone, so that the roles of the first microphone and the third microphone are swapped.

9. The earplug according to claim 8, wherein The first biometric sensor and the second biometric sensor are temperature sensors.

10. The earplug according to claim 8, wherein The third microphone is disabled when the earbud is in the disabled state and is operable when the earbud is in the operational state.

11. The earplug according to claim 8, wherein The processor is configured to determine the orientation of the earbud housing within the user's ear by comparing the biometric parameters measured by the biometric sensor.

12. The earplug according to claim 8, wherein The first biometric sensor is selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, a photoplethysmography sensor, a galvanic skin response sensor, a VO2 sensor, an electrocardiogram, and an impedance cardiography sensor.

13. The earbud of claim 8, further comprising a wireless transceiver configured to receive audio data.

14. The earbud of claim 13, further comprising a speaker disposed within the earbud housing and configured to generate sound waves based on the received audio data.

15. An earplug comprising: shell; a speaker disposed in the housing; a first microphone and a second microphone configured to monitor sound input from a user and to monitor external environmental sound input; a biometric sensor disposed in the housing and at least partially exposed at an outer surface of the housing, the biometric sensor being configured to measure a biometric parameter of the user; a third microphone configured to operate in a disabled state; and A processor is configured to process the voice input from the user and change the operating state of the third microphone from a disabled state to an operating state of the first microphone based on the measured biometric parameter of the user, so that the roles of the first microphone and the third microphone are swapped.

16. The earplug according to claim 15, wherein The biometric sensor is a first biometric sensor and the earbud further includes a second biometric sensor, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the orientation of the housing within the user's ear by comparing input received by the first biometric sensor and the second biometric sensor.

17. The earplug according to claim 16, wherein The first biometric sensor and the second biometric sensor are temperature sensors.

18. The earplug according to claim 15, wherein The first microphone and the second microphone provide spatial filtering of the audio waves that prioritizes audio waves arriving from a direction corresponding to the user's mouth.

19. An earplug comprising: earbud housing; a sensor coupled to the earbud housing and configured to generate data related to a position of the earbud housing within an ear of a user of the earbud; a microphone array disposed within the earbud housing and comprising a first microphone and a second microphone; circuitry configured to determine, based at least on the data, whether the earbud is inserted into a user's left ear or into a user's right ear and to adjust an operating state of the microphone array based on the circuitry's determination that the earbud is inserted into the left ear or the right ear; and A compliant member is configured to secure the earbud to the user's ear and has a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end being pivotally coupled to the earbud housing at a first fixed position and a second fixed position, respectively, the compliant member comprising a flexible material loop having a first portion and a second portion, and a reinforcement member is disposed within the first portion of the flexible material loop such that the first portion of the flexible material loop has a higher stiffness than the second portion of the flexible material loop.

20. The earplug according to claim 19, wherein The microphone array includes three microphones arranged in a triangular geometry.

21. The earplug according to claim 20, wherein Adjusting the operational state of the microphone array includes assigning two of the three microphones to record audio, the assigned microphones being arranged along a line oriented toward a mouth of the user.

22. The earplug according to claim 21, wherein The circuit records only a portion of the audio detected by the two microphones, the portion of the audio corresponding to audio arriving from the direction of the user's mouth.

23. The earplug according to claim 22, wherein The circuit includes a processor that determines which portion of the audio is arriving in the direction of the user's mouth by performing a time difference of arrival determination.

24. The earplug according to claim 19, wherein The circuit is further configured to select an audio channel from a multi-channel audio source based on information provided by the sensor.

25. The earplug according to claim 19, wherein The sensor is an inertial sensor.

26. The earplug according to claim 19, wherein The sensor includes an infrared proximity sensor that generates orientation data by measuring the distance between a surface of an earbud housing of the earbud and an ear of a user.

27. The earplug according to claim 19, wherein The sensor includes a temperature sensor that generates orientation data by measuring an external temperature of at least two regions of an outer surface of the earbud housing.

28. An earplug comprising: a housing defining an interior cavity and a sound port exiting the interior cavity and including a first opening and a second opening extending through the housing to the interior cavity; a speaker disposed in the interior cavity and aligned with the sound port; a microphone array disposed within the internal cavity, the microphone array comprising a first microphone associated with the first opening and a second microphone associated with the second opening; one or more sensors coupled to the housing and configured to generate first sensor data; a processor disposed within the housing and operably coupled to receive first sensor data from the one or more sensors, the processor configured to determine, based on the sensor data, whether the earbud is inserted into the user's left ear or the user's right ear and adjust an operating state of the microphone array accordingly; as well as A sensor module is removably coupled to the housing, the sensor module being configured to generate second sensor data and provide additional functionality to the earbud.

29. The earplug according to claim 28, wherein The different operating states of the first microphone and the second microphone include an audio recording state, a disabled state, and a noise canceling state.

30. The earplug of claim 28, wherein The one or more sensors include a temperature sensing assembly including one or more sensing surfaces disposed along an exterior surface of the housing.

31. The earplug according to claim 30, wherein The temperature sensing assembly includes a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor, and the temperature sensing assembly is configured to determine the orientation of the earbud by determining which sensing surfaces are in direct contact with a surface of the ear.

32. The earplug according to claim 31, wherein The processor is configured to measure core body temperature using temperature data received from the temperature sensor in contact with the ear and to measure ambient temperature using temperature data received from the temperature sensor not in contact with the ear.

33. The earplug of claim 28, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a biometric sensor selected from the group consisting of a heart rate sensor, a VO2 sensor, a GSR galvanic skin response sensor, an EKG sensor, and an ICG sensor.

34. The earplug of claim 28, wherein The shape and size of the housing are symmetrical, and the symmetry of the housing allows the earplug to be worn in either ear of the user.

35. An audio device comprising: speaker; Wireless transceiver; a sensor configured to measure the orientation of the audio device in the user's ear; microphone array; energy storage devices to power audio equipment; an earbud housing enclosing the speaker, the microphone array, the wireless transceiver, the sensor, and the energy storage device, the earbud housing defining a channel; a processor configured to determine, based at least on the orientation of the audio device as measured by the sensor, into which ear of the user the audio device is inserted and to change an operational state of the microphone array accordingly; a sensor module including a protrusion configured to engage the channel so that the sensor module can be removably coupled to the earbud housing, the sensor module being operably coupled to generate sensor data and provide additional functionality to the earbud; and A first plurality of electrical contacts are disposed within the channel and a second plurality of electrical contacts are disposed on the protrusion, wherein when the sensor module is operably coupled to the earbud, the second plurality of electrical contacts are aligned with the first plurality of electrical contacts to transmit sensor data between the sensor module and the circuit within the earbud.

36. The audio device of claim 35, wherein The sensor is an inertial sensor.

37. The audio device of claim 35, wherein The microphone array includes three microphones arranged in a triangular configuration.

38. The audio device of claim 35, wherein Changing the operational state of the microphone array includes disabling one of the three microphones, data from the sensor indicating that the disabled microphone is misaligned with another of the microphones and a user's mouth.

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