Optical signal control method and ear clip type earphone
Through the optical signal control method of tilting the circuit board and mirror reflection of the horn housing in the ear clip earphones, the signal interference and design complexity in the ear clip earphone in the ear clip earphone are solved, and efficient and economical in-ear detection effect is achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202510533071.6
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-04-25
- Publication Date
- 2025-08-08
AI Technical Summary
The existing ear clip earphone in-ear detection technology has problems such as signal interference, complex design and increased cost. Especially when combined with optical and capacitive use, the additional ear hook wire increases signal interference and manufacturing difficulty, affecting the user experience.
By setting an inclination angle on the circuit board of the ear clip headphones, the light signal emitted by the transmitter tube is mirrored to a specific target area through the speaker housing, avoiding the optical signal directly or indirectly reflecting to the receiving tube, and combining with the coating area on the speaker housing to absorb unnecessary light signals, simplifying the internal layout.
It effectively reduces signal interference, simplifies design, reduces production costs, improves user experience and product aesthetics, and achieves accurate in-ear inspection.
Smart Images

Figure CN120455886A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present application relates to the fields of communication technology and headphone equipment technology, and in particular to an optical signal control method and an ear-clip headphone. Background Art
[0002] In the design of clip-on earphones, in-ear detection is a crucial element in ensuring the earphones are correctly inserted into the ear canal, enabling intelligent operations such as automatically playing / pausing music and answering / ending calls. Currently, one solution involves adding an earclip cable to the existing clip-on design, placing the optical sensor inside the earphone itself, close to the user's ear canal. In theory, this approach can more accurately detect the contact between the earphone and the ear canal, reducing the influence of external environmental factors.
[0003] However, in practice, adding an earhook cable not only complicates the already simple headphone cable, affecting the product's aesthetics and comfort, but also increases the number of wires in the earhook cable. The additional wires complicate the manufacturing process, potentially making the earhook cable thicker and heavier, and reducing the user experience. More importantly, the additional cables and sensor components may cause signal interference, especially when the earphones are compactly designed. This interference effect is particularly significant, affecting the normal operation of the sensor and the accuracy of in-ear detection.
[0004] In summary, existing ear clip headphone in-ear detection technologies, whether using a combination of optical and capacitive methods or improving sensor layout by adding ear hook wires, all have problems of increased cost, complex design, and signal interference to varying degrees. Summary of the Invention
[0005] The embodiments of the present application provide an optical signal control method, device, and ear-clip headphones to at least solve the technical problem in the prior art of adding an ear-hook wire to place the sensor inside the single body of the ear-clip headphones in order to solve the problem of in-ear detection and false touch prevention of ear-clip headphones, thereby causing the ear-hook wire to cause signal interference.
[0006] According to one aspect of an embodiment of the present application, a light signal control method is provided, which is applied to ear clip headphones, including: transmitting a light signal through a transmitting tube arranged on a circuit board, wherein the circuit board is tilted at a target angle, and the light signal emitted by the transmitting tube is affected by the tilt of the circuit board, and then reflected by the mirror surface of the speaker housing to a target area, wherein the target area is different from the area where the receiving tube on the circuit board is located.
[0007] Optionally, a coating area is provided on the speaker housing, and the coating area is an area opposite to the transmitting tube, and the coating area can absorb the light signal emitted by the transmitting tube.
[0008] Optionally, after the optical signal emitted by the transmitting tube is blocked by a target object located between the circuit board and the speaker housing, part of the optical signal is reflected to the receiving tube.
[0009] Optionally, after a portion of the optical signal is reflected to the receiving tube, the strength of the received signal is detected by the receiving tube; and the in-ear state of the ear clip earphone is determined based on the signal strength.
[0010] Optionally, the optical signal control method in the present application also includes: detecting the surface curvature of the speaker housing and the surface curvature of the lens, wherein the lens is used to protect the transmitting tube and the receiving tube; and determining the target tilt angle of the circuit board based on the surface curvature of the speaker housing and the surface curvature of the lens.
[0011] Optionally, the target angle ranges from 5° to 10°.
[0012] Optionally, the transmitting tube and the receiving tube are arranged as optical sensors between the battery compartment and the speaker housing of the earphone.
[0013] According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present application, an ear-clip headphone is further provided, comprising: a circuit board, wherein a transmitting tube and a receiving tube are provided on the circuit board, and the circuit board is tilted at a target angle; wherein, after an optical signal emitted by the transmitting tube is affected by the tilt of the circuit board, the optical signal is reflected by the mirror surface of the speaker shell of the ear-clip headphone to a target area, wherein the target area is different from the area where the receiving tube is located.
[0014] Optionally, the speaker housing further includes: a coating area, wherein the coating area is an area opposite to the transmitting tube, and the coating area can absorb the light signal emitted by the transmitting tube.
[0015] Optionally, the ear-clip earphone further includes: a battery compartment for placing batteries, wherein the transmitting tube and the receiving tube are arranged between the battery compartment and the speaker housing as optical sensors.
[0016] Optionally, the target tilt angle of the circuit board relative to the battery ranges from 5° to 10°.
[0017] Optionally, the ear-clip earphone further includes: a lens, which is arranged on the periphery of the circuit board and is used to protect the transmitting tube and the receiving tube on the circuit board.
[0018] According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present application, an optical signal control device is also provided, wherein the optical signal control device includes: a control unit for transmitting an optical signal through a transmitting tube arranged on a circuit board, wherein the circuit board is tilted at a target angle, and the optical signal emitted by the transmitting tube is affected by the tilt of the circuit board, and the optical signal is reflected to a target area through the mirror surface of the speaker housing, wherein the target area is different from the area where the receiving tube on the circuit board is located.
[0019] According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present application, a computer-readable storage medium is further provided, wherein a computer program is stored in the computer-readable storage medium. When the computer program is executed, the device where the computer-readable storage medium is located executes the above-mentioned optical signal control method.
[0020] According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present application, an electronic device is also provided, wherein the electronic device includes one or more processors and a memory, the memory being used to store one or more programs, wherein when the one or more programs are executed by one or more processors, the one or more processors execute the above-mentioned optical signal control method.
[0021] In the present application, a method for controlling an optical signal that can be applied to ear clip headphones is provided. The method includes: transmitting an optical signal through a transmitting tube arranged on a circuit board, wherein the circuit board is tilted at a target angle, and the optical signal emitted by the transmitting tube is affected by the tilt of the circuit board, and then reflected by the mirror surface of the speaker housing to a target area, wherein the target area is different from the area where the receiving tube on the circuit board is located.
[0022] From the above, it can be seen that by setting the circuit board to be tilted at a certain angle, the light signal emitted by the transmitting tube can be directed to a specific area of the speaker housing, which is reflected by the mirror to direct the light to a target area different from the location of the receiving tube. This strategy avoids unnecessary reflections of light directly inside the ear clip and reduces the multiple bounces of the signal inside the earphone, thereby effectively reducing the possibility of signal interference. In other words, the tilted circuit board layout combined with the specific optical path design ensures that when the earphones are not worn, the light signal emitted by the transmitting tube will not be directly or indirectly received by the receiving tube, preventing false touch problems caused by ambient light, reflections from the internal structure of the earphones, or user misoperation. This layout does not require additional ear hook wires, reduces the number of cables, and thus reduces the risk of signal interference caused by increased cables.
[0023] Through the above-mentioned innovative design, this application not only solves the signal interference problem caused by ear-hanging wires, but also avoids the increased cost of adding additional components. More importantly, the ear-clip headphone design without additional cables is more in line with the aesthetic pursuit of modern consumer electronic products, improving the overall appearance of the product, while reducing the weight of the headphones and increasing wearing comfort. Ultimately, it achieves the triple goals of cost control, performance optimization, and user experience improvement, providing a new, efficient, and economical solution for in-ear detection technology for ear-clip headphones.
[0024] It can be seen that the technical solution of the present application solves the problem of signal interference caused by adding an ear hook wire to the unit of the ear clip earphone in order to solve the problem of in-ear detection and anti-mistouch of the ear clip earphone in the prior art. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] The drawings described herein are used to provide a further understanding of the present application and constitute a part of the present application. The illustrative embodiments of the present application and their descriptions are used to explain the present application and do not constitute an improper limitation on the present application. In the drawings:
[0026] Figure 1 is a flow chart of an optional optical signal control method according to an embodiment of the present application;
[0027] Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of an optional ear-clip earphone according to an embodiment of the present application;
[0028] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an optional coating area according to an embodiment of the present application;
[0029] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of an optional target angle according to an embodiment of the present application;
[0030] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of an optional influencing factor of a target angle according to an embodiment of the present application;
[0031] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view of an optional ear-clip headphone according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0032] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present invention, the following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts should fall within the scope of protection of this application.
[0033] It should be noted that the terms "first", "second", etc. in the specification and claims of the present application and the above-mentioned drawings are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequential order. It should be understood that the data used in this way can be interchangeable where appropriate, so that the embodiments of the present application described herein can be implemented in a sequence other than those illustrated or described herein. In addition, the terms "including" and "having" and any of their variations are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions, for example, a process, method, system, product or device comprising a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units clearly listed, but may include other steps or units that are not clearly listed or inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices.
[0034] It should also be noted that the information (including but not limited to user device information, user personal information, etc.) and data (including but not limited to data used for analysis, stored data, displayed data, etc.) collected by this application are information and data authorized by the user or fully authorized by all parties, and the collection, storage, use, processing, transmission, provision, disclosure and application of relevant data comply with the relevant laws, regulations and standards of the relevant regions, take necessary confidentiality measures, do not violate public order and good morals, and provide corresponding operation entrances for users to choose to authorize or refuse. For example, an interface is set up between this system and relevant users or institutions. Before obtaining relevant information, it is necessary to send an acquisition request to the aforementioned user or institution through the interface, and obtain relevant information after receiving the consent information fed back by the aforementioned user or institution.
[0035] In the design of clip-on earphones, in-ear detection is a crucial element in ensuring the earphones are correctly inserted into the ear canal, enabling intelligent operations such as automatically playing / pausing music and answering / ending calls. Currently, clip-on earphones on the market primarily utilize two in-ear detection methods: optical and capacitive. Optical in-ear detection has been widely adopted in the industry due to its high accuracy, high stability, and immunity to ambient temperature and humidity. However, this technology presents unique challenges when applied to clip-on earphones.
[0036] In ear-clip headphones, due to the location limitations of the battery compartment and speaker, if an optical in-ear detection sensor is used alone, it may be difficult to effectively position the sensor due to the limited space inside the headphones, resulting in low detection efficiency or easy false touches. Therefore, the industry generally adopts a detection method that combines optical and capacitive methods to improve the accuracy and reliability of detection. The introduction of capacitive detection can indeed make up for the shortcomings of optical detection to a certain extent, especially when the contact between the headphones and the ears is poor or the ambient light varies greatly. However, this combination solution also brings additional costs and increased complexity of the software algorithm, which is not conducive to rapid product iteration and market promotion.
[0037] Another solution is to add an ear hook wire to the original design of the ear clip earphones, and place the optical sensor inside the earphone unit, that is, close to the user's ear canal. In theory, this method can more accurately detect the contact status between the earphone and the ear canal and reduce the influence of external environmental factors. However, in practice, adding an ear hook wire will not only make the originally simple headphone cable complicated, affecting the appearance and comfort of the product, but also increase the number of cores in the ear hook wire. The additional number of core wires will increase the difficulty of the manufacturing process, which may make the ear hook wire thicker and reduce the user experience. More importantly, the additional cables and sensor elements may cause signal interference. Especially when the internal layout of the earphones is compact, this interference effect is particularly significant, affecting the normal operation of the sensor and the accuracy of in-ear detection.
[0038] Among them, signal interference is mainly caused by electromagnetic compatibility issues between multiple electronic components inside the headphones. In ear clip headphones, sensors, speakers, batteries and other components are densely arranged. When ear hanging wires are added to arrange additional sensors, if these newly added wires are not properly shielded and isolated, they may interfere with other electronic components (such as the electromagnetic field generated by the vibration of the speaker), resulting in distortion of the detection signal, thereby causing false touches, unstable detection and other problems. In addition, the presence of additional cables also increases the attenuation and noise during signal transmission, further reducing the signal quality and the effectiveness of detection.
[0039] In summary, existing ear-clip headphone in-ear detection technologies, whether using a combination of optical and capacitive methods or improving sensor layout by adding ear hooks, all have problems of increased cost, complex design, and signal interference to varying degrees. These problems limit the performance optimization of ear-clip headphones in in-ear detection, and also have a negative impact on the user's wearing experience and the market competitiveness of headphones. Therefore, exploring a solution that can effectively avoid false touches without adding additional costs and interference has become a key technical problem that needs to be solved in the field of ear-clip headphone design.
[0040] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to an embodiment of the present application, an embodiment of an optical signal control method is provided. It should be noted that the steps shown in the flowchart of the accompanying drawings can be executed in a computer system such as a set of computer-executable instructions, and although a logical order is shown in the flowchart, in some cases, the steps shown or described can be executed in an order different from that shown here.
[0041] Figure 1 is a flow chart of an optional optical signal control method according to an embodiment of the present application, such as Figure 1 As shown, the method includes the following steps:
[0042] Step S101 , transmitting an optical signal through a transmitting tube provided on a circuit board, wherein the circuit board is tilted at a target angle.
[0043] In step S102 , after being affected by the tilt of the circuit board, the optical signal emitted by the transmitting tube is reflected by the mirror surface of the speaker housing to a target area, where the target area is different from the area where the receiving tube on the circuit board is located.
[0044] Alternatively, this application proposes a novel optical signal control method specifically optimized for in-ear detection in ear clip headphones. The core of this method is to precisely control the emission and reflection paths of optical signals to prevent non-target signals from being received, thereby improving the accuracy and stability of in-ear detection while reducing system complexity and potential signal interference issues.
[0045] According to the technical solution of this application, the circuit board (e.g., PCB) inside the earclip earphone is designed to be tilted at a certain angle. The main purpose of this design is to adjust the propagation direction of the optical signal, ensuring that the optical signal emitted by the transmitting tube does not directly illuminate the receiving tube on the circuit board, but instead travels along a predetermined path and is ultimately directed to the target area. The selection of the tilt angle is crucial to effectively avoid reflections from the internal structure.
[0046] Optionally, when the light signal emitted by the transmitter hits the speaker housing, it encounters a pre-designed mirror reflection area. This special treatment of this area allows the light signal to be reflected in a predetermined direction, effectively preventing random scattering and multiple reflections of light inside the headset, reducing signal loss and the risk of false triggering.
[0047] Optionally, the target area is defined as an area clearly distinguishable from the location of the receiving tube. For example, the target area can be located outside the earphone or near the user's ear canal. Through the synergistic effect of the circuit board's tilt and mirror reflection, the light signal is guided to the target area rather than directly irradiating the receiving tube. This design ensures that when the earphones are not worn, the emitted light signal will not be reflected by the internal structure of the earphones and reach the receiving tube again, effectively preventing accidental touches and signal misinterpretation.
[0048] It should be noted that traditional earclip headphone in-ear detection methods often cause signal interference due to complex internal structures or excessive cabling. This application significantly reduces internal reflections through the tilted circuit board and directional design of the target area, thereby reducing the possibility of signal interference and improving the purity of the detection signal.
[0049] When the earphones are not worn, the optical signal is reflected by the mirror and directed to the target area separated from the receiving tube, rather than returning directly to the receiving tube, thereby effectively avoiding false triggering of the signal when not worn, and enhancing the intelligence and accuracy of in-ear detection. In addition, compared with traditional solutions that require the addition of additional ear-hanging wires or other sensors, this application can achieve the same or even better in-ear detection effects only by tilting the circuit board and local mirror reflection processing. This design simplifies the internal layout of the earphones, reduces the use of additional components, and thus reduces production costs. Moreover, the layout without additional cables reduces the weight and volume of the ear-clip earphones, making the earphones lighter, more stylish, and improving wearing comfort. At the same time, the stable in-ear detection function ensures the intelligence of audio playback, providing users with a more convenient and efficient user experience.
[0050] In summary, the optical signal control method of the present application effectively solves the signal interference and false triggering problems existing in the in-ear detection of traditional ear-clip headphones by finely adjusting the tilt angle of the circuit board and the reflection path of the optical signal. At the same time, it achieves significant optimization effects in cost control and user experience, and provides an innovative technical path for the intelligent design of ear-clip headphones.
[0051] In an optional embodiment, a coating area is provided on the speaker housing, and the coating area is an area opposite to the transmitting tube, and the coating area can absorb the light signal emitted by the transmitting tube.
[0052] Optionally, to address false triggering and signal purity issues that may occur during in-ear detection for ear clip headphones, this application also introduces an innovative design concept of providing a specific coating area on the speaker housing. This coating area primarily targets the area facing the sensor's transmitting tube. Its core function is to effectively absorb the light signal emitted by the transmitting tube, thereby significantly reducing the impact of internal reflected light on the receiving tube.
[0053] Optionally, inside the ear clip headphones, the transmitting tube and the receiving tube are usually located on a circuit board, and the speaker, as another important component, has a shell surface that becomes a potential reflection surface for the propagation of optical signals. In the present application, the coating area is precisely set in the area opposite the transmitting tube, that is, the area where the light signal emitted by the transmitting tube is directly irradiated or may be indirectly reflected. By performing a special coating treatment on this area, the emitted light can be greatly absorbed to prevent it from being directly or indirectly reflected to the receiving tube, thereby reducing unnecessary signal feedback and avoiding system misjudgment.
[0054] Optionally, the coating area can be made of a material with high light absorption and low reflectivity, for example, a dark, opaque coating such as black ink. These materials can absorb most of the emitted light and convert it into heat or other forms of energy, effectively reducing the intensity of the reflected light signal. This ensures that the signal received by the receiving tube primarily comes from the actual contact between the earphone and the ear or ear canal, rather than random reflections from within the earphone.
[0055] It should be noted that by providing a coating on the opposite area of the transmitting tube, the present application effectively shields the light reflection inside the earphones and improves the purity of the in-ear detection signal. When not worn, the light signal emitted by the transmitting tube will be significantly absorbed when it contacts the coated area, reducing the possibility of reflected light returning to the receiving tube, thereby avoiding false triggering. In the worn state, the light signal can penetrate into the ear or ear canal, and return to the receiving tube through reflection from the skin and tissue. The changes in the light signal intensity in this process can be accurately captured, providing a clear and effective signal for in-ear detection.
[0056] In addition, another significant advantage of the coating design is its structural optimization and cost control. In traditional solutions, in order to reduce internal reflections, it may be necessary to add complex structures or additional components, such as adding ear hooks to arrange sensors, which not only increases manufacturing costs, but also may affect the appearance design and wearing comfort of the headphones. In contrast, this application avoids the need to add additional components by adding a coating area to the existing structure, simplifies the internal structure of the headphones, reduces production costs, and at the same time maintains the lightness and aesthetics of the ear clip headphones.
[0057] This demonstrates that by providing a highly efficient light-absorbing coating in specific areas of the speaker housing, this application effectively reduces the impact of internally reflected light on in-ear detection, improving signal purity and detection accuracy. This design not only addresses the challenges of signal interference and false triggering, but also achieves cost control through structural optimization, ultimately providing users with a more intelligent, comfortable, and economical earcup product, significantly improving the user experience.
[0058] In an optional embodiment, after the optical signal emitted by the transmitting tube is blocked by a target object located between the circuit board and the speaker housing, a portion of the optical signal is reflected to the receiving tube.
[0059] Alternatively, the target object can be the ear canal, human skin, or other material that may be between the circuit board and the speaker housing. Imagine a user wearing clip-on earphones, with the optical sensor inside the earphones ready to perform in-ear detection. The circuit board is equipped with a light-emitting diode (LED) as a transmitter for emitting light signals, and a photodiode as a receiver for receiving reflected light signals. The light emitted by the LED propagates within the earphones until it encounters a target object in its path—in this case, the wall of the user's ear canal and the skin surface inside the ear canal.
[0060] Reflection Control When Not Wearing: When the earphones are not being worn, the specific tilt of the circuit board prevents the light signals emitted by the LEDs from being blocked by the speaker housing or the circuit board itself, reducing the possibility of the light signals directly or indirectly reaching the receiver. Even if some light is redirected by structural reflection, the special black coating on the circuit board facing the transmitter further absorbs this light, ensuring no significant reflection signals when the earphones are not being worn, preventing false triggering.
[0061] Human body reflections when wearing the headphones: When the headphones are worn correctly, meaning the light signals emitted by the LEDs can directly or indirectly reach the ear canal and human skin, the situation is quite different. As biological tissues, the ear canal and skin possess specific optical properties, including reflection and scattering capabilities. When the headphones are worn, the light signals are partially reflected or scattered upon encountering the ear canal walls and skin. These reflected light signals follow a specific path along the ear canal or skin surface, ultimately being partially or completely captured by the receiver tube, triggering the in-ear detection mechanism.
[0062] As can be seen above, the tilted circuit board angle and blackening of the area facing the transmitter effectively control the optical signal's propagation path when the earphones are not worn, preventing unnecessary reflections and false touches. When the earphones are properly worn, the reflective properties of the ear canal and skin are fully utilized, ensuring a strong enough optical signal to trigger the receiver, achieving accurate in-ear detection.
[0063] Optionally, in an actual usage scenario, when the user correctly wears the ear clip earphones into the ear canal, the light signal emitted by the LED will directly or indirectly contact the structure or skin inside the ear canal. The curved path of the ear canal and the microstructure of the skin will scatter and reflect light, and part of the reflected light will return to the inside of the earphone along a specific path and eventually be captured by the receiving tube. The intensity of the light signal received by the receiving tube is sufficient to confirm that the earphones are in the ears, thereby activating various functions of the earphones, such as automatically playing music, answering calls, etc. At the same time, when not worn, the light signal is effectively blocked by the speaker housing and circuit board structure, and the absorption of the blackened area ensures that the receiving tube receives almost no reflected light signal when not worn, avoiding any false triggering, and reflecting the significant technical advantages of this application in signal control and in-ear detection accuracy.
[0064] In an optional embodiment, after a portion of the optical signal is reflected to the receiving tube, the strength of the received signal can be detected by the receiving tube, and then the in-ear status of the ear clip earphone can be determined based on the signal strength.
[0065] Optionally, the optical sensor inside the earphones includes a transmitting tube that is responsible for emitting light signals. The medium and feedback path encountered by the emitted light signal will be different when the earphones are worn or not worn. For example, when the earphones are worn in the ears, the light signal will directly or indirectly contact the inner wall of the ear canal or the skin of the ear, generating a specific reflection intensity. After the light signal emitted by the transmitting tube encounters the medium, part of the signal will be reflected back into the earphones. At this time, the receiving tube is responsible for detecting the intensity of these reflected light signals. The receiving tube can sense changes in signal strength and convert these changes into electrical signals, which are then transmitted to the earphone control system.
[0066] Alternatively, when the headphones are not being worn, the emitted light signal is either absorbed by the internal structure of the headphones or reflected by a mirror to an area far away from the receiving tube. This means that the intensity of the reflected light signal received by the receiving tube is very low, almost close to zero. Based on this, the control system can determine that the headphones are not being worn and pause audio output or perform other preset operations to save power and prevent sound leakage.
[0067] When the earphones are properly worn in the ears, the light signal emitted by the transmitting tube will come into contact with the ear canal or skin, generating a strong reflected signal. This part of the reflected signal will return to the inside of the earphone along a specific path and be captured by the receiving tube. Because the reflectivity and reflection angle of the ear canal or skin are different from the static structure inside the earphones, the signal strength received by the receiving tube will be significantly improved. The control system of the earphones monitors the changes in the received signal strength. Once it exceeds the preset threshold, it can be considered that the earphones are in the ears, and then the corresponding playback control logic will be activated, such as automatically playing music, answering calls, etc.
[0068] It should be noted that the headphone control system compares the real-time signal strength detected by the receiving tube with a preset strength threshold to determine the earphone's in-ear status. This judgment logic is designed to be quite intelligent and sensitive, and can quickly respond to changes in the user's wearing movements, ensuring seamless connection and switching of headphone functions.
[0069] For example, the control system can pre-set two thresholds: one for determining whether the headphones are not being worn (threshold L), and the other for confirming whether the headphones are in the ears (threshold H). Generally, threshold L is set very low to eliminate interference from reflections from the internal structure of the headphones; threshold H is set based on the average reflection intensity of the ear canal and skin to ensure that the signal enhancement when the headphones are worn can be accurately detected.
[0070] When the received light signal strength rapidly increases from below threshold L to above threshold H, the control system immediately activates headphone functions, such as starting music playback or turning on the microphone. Conversely, if the strength drops from above threshold H to below threshold L, indicating that the headphones have been removed, the system will stop audio output, turn off the microphone, and enter standby mode to conserve power.
[0071] It's worth noting that the automated in-ear detection feature significantly enhances user convenience and the intelligence of the headphones. Users no longer need to manually turn the headphones on or off; simply putting them on or taking them off automatically senses and responds. Furthermore, this intelligent control helps extend the battery life of the headphones, reduces power waste, and enhances the overall user experience.
[0072] In an alternative embodiment, the control system can detect the surface curvature of the speaker housing and the surface curvature of the lens, where the lens is used to protect the transmitting and receiving tubes. The target angle of the circuit board tilt is then determined based on the surface curvature of the speaker housing and the surface curvature of the lens.
[0073] Alternatively, the speaker housing not only houses the sound driver but also influences the propagation of light signals from the internal optical sensor. The shape and tilt of its surface curvature can affect the reflection path of the light signal, significantly impacting the accuracy of in-ear detection. Different designs or manufacturing batches can result in subtle variations in curvature, requiring the control system to be adaptable to account for these uncertainties.
[0074] Secondly, lenses primarily protect the transmitting and receiving tubes from dust and damage, while also aiding in light diffusion and focusing. The curvature of the lens surface determines its refraction and reflection properties of light signals, directly impacting their effective transmission and detection. Due to manufacturing processes, lens curvature can vary from one individual to another, which also needs to be accounted for by the control system.
[0075] For example, the control system first needs to collect data on the curvature of the speaker housing and lens surfaces. This can be achieved through an initial calibration phase or built-in sensors to obtain information on the geometric characteristics of these key components, including curvature and angle. After obtaining this data, the control system applies pre-defined mathematical models and algorithms to analyze the impact of the curvature of the speaker housing and lens surfaces on the optical signal path. Based on these analysis results, the system can calculate the theoretically optimal circuit board tilt angle to ensure that the optical signal emitted by the transmitter tube avoids direct reflection back to the receiver tube while maintaining sufficient signal strength to penetrate the ear canal or skin and return a portion to the receiver tube. Finally, the control system instructs mechanical or electronic components (such as motors, servo mechanisms, or adjustable circuit board brackets) to adjust the circuit board tilt angle until the calculated target angle is achieved. This process can be instantaneous or gradually optimized through a self-learning algorithm as the user wears the headphones to adapt to the individual ear canal shape and wearing habits.
[0076] For example, suppose a certain model of ear clip headphones undergoes precise measurement of the curvature of the speaker housing and lens surface of each individual before leaving the factory by the control system. Based on this data, the control system uses an algorithm to calculate the optimal circuit board tilt angle for the headphones, for example, 7°. However, as the headphones are worn by different users, the control system discovers that due to differences in ear canal structure, the light signal reflection may not be consistent with expectations for some users. At this point, the control system will initiate an adaptive adjustment program, using the built-in fine-tuning mechanism to gradually adjust the tilt angle of the circuit board until it finds the angle that best matches the user's ear canal characteristics and wearing method, which may be 6.5° or 7.5°, or even finer adjustments. This real-time adjustment process ensures that every user can get the most accurate in-ear detection experience, regardless of the shape of their ear canal.
[0077] In this way, the present application not only improves the versatility and accuracy of the in-ear detection function of the ear clip-on headphones, but also realizes personalized and intelligent product performance optimization through close collaboration between the control system and hardware components, providing users with a better user experience.
[0078] In an optional embodiment, the target angle ranges from 5° to 10°.
[0079] Optionally, in actual applications, the target angle of 5° to 10° is not fixed but can be adjusted appropriately based on the specific design of the headphones, the characteristics of the target user group, and manufacturing constraints. For example, for sports headphones, a higher angle within the range may be preferred to enhance diffraction of the light signal and reduce false alarms caused by strenuous exercise; while for products pursuing an extreme design, a lower angle within the range may be preferred to maintain the smoothness and aesthetics of the headphones' lines.
[0080] It should be noted that the larger the target angle, the less likely it is to be reflected by the speaker housing to the receiving tube, but the thickness of the lens will vary, and the transmission signal detected by the human body will also be less; the smaller the target angle, although the transmission signal detected by the human body is more, it is easier to be reflected by the speaker housing to the receiving tube.
[0081] In addition, the control system can also dynamically adjust the tilt angle of the circuit board of individual headphones based on user feedback data (such as the success rate of in-ear detection and the frequency of false triggering) through a self-learning algorithm, achieving more personalized adaptation and more precise functional performance. This process may include initial calibration when the user first uses the headphones, and continuous optimization of the headphones based on user habits during subsequent use, so that the setting within the 5° to 10° angle range can achieve the best balance of performance and experience.
[0082] In an optional embodiment, the transmitting tube and the receiving tube are arranged as optical sensors between the battery compartment and the speaker housing of the earphone.
[0083] Optionally, the space of ear-clip headphones is limited, especially between the two key areas of the battery compartment and the speaker housing. Placing the transmitting tube and the receiving tube here not only utilizes the available space inside the headphones, but also avoids interference with other components (such as microphones, buttons, etc.), ensuring the independence and effectiveness of the optical sensor, and ensuring that the user can firmly contact the skin after wearing the headphones to achieve optical in-ear detection. In addition, there is a certain cavity between the battery compartment and the speaker housing, which provides an ideal optical signal transmission path for air and potential reflective surfaces (such as the ear canal or skin). The light signal emitted by the transmitting tube can pass through this cavity directly or indirectly and is eventually captured by the receiving tube, realizing effective transmission and detection of the light signal. By placing the transmitting tube and the receiving tube on the side of the battery compartment instead of directly facing the speaker housing, the false reflection generated by the internal structure of the headphones can be reduced, especially when the circuit board is tilted at a specific angle. This design strategy can further reduce the possibility of internal reflection and improve the accuracy of in-ear detection.
[0084] According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present application, an ear-clip headphone is further provided, comprising: a circuit board, wherein a transmitting tube and a receiving tube are provided on the circuit board, and the circuit board is tilted at a target angle; wherein, after the light signal emitted by the transmitting tube is affected by the tilt of the circuit board, the light signal is reflected by the mirror surface of the speaker shell of the ear-clip headphone to a target area, wherein the target area is different from the area where the receiving tube is located.
[0085] Optionally, Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of an optional ear-clip earphone according to an embodiment of the present application, such as Figure 2As shown in the figure, the circuit board (PCB) inside the earclip earphones is tilted at a specific angle. This design primarily aims to adjust the propagation direction of the optical signal, ensuring that the light signal emitted by the transmitting tube does not directly hit the receiving tube on the PCB. Instead, it travels along a predetermined path and is ultimately directed to the target area. The selection of the tilt angle is crucial to effectively avoid reflections from the internal structure.
[0086] Optionally, when the light signal emitted by the transmitter hits the speaker housing, it encounters a pre-designed mirror reflection area. This special treatment of this area allows the light signal to be reflected in a predetermined direction, effectively preventing random scattering and multiple reflections of light inside the headset, reducing signal loss and the risk of false triggering.
[0087] Optionally, the target area is defined as an area clearly distinguishable from the location of the receiving tube. For example, the target area can be located outside the earphone or near the user's ear canal. Through the synergistic effect of the circuit board's tilt and mirror reflection, the light signal is guided to the target area rather than directly irradiating the receiving tube. This design ensures that when the earphones are not worn, the emitted light signal will not be reflected by the internal structure of the earphones and reach the receiving tube again, effectively preventing accidental touches and signal misinterpretation.
[0088] It should be noted that traditional earclip headphone in-ear detection methods often cause signal interference due to complex internal structures or excessive cabling. This application significantly reduces internal reflections through the tilted circuit board and directional design of the target area, thereby reducing the possibility of signal interference and improving the purity of the detection signal.
[0089] like Figure 2 As shown, the ear clip earphones also include a battery and a lens. The lens is arranged on the periphery of the circuit board to protect the transmitting tube and the receiving tube on the circuit board from dust and damage, and also helps to diffuse and focus the light.
[0090] In an optional embodiment, the speaker housing further includes: a coating area, wherein the coating area is an area opposite to the transmitting tube, and the coating area can absorb the light signal emitted by the transmitting tube.
[0091] Optionally, Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an optional coating area according to an embodiment of the present application, such as Figure 3 As shown, the coating area is mainly used to process the area opposite to the sensor's transmitting tube. Its core function is to effectively absorb the light signal emitted by the transmitting tube, thereby significantly reducing the impact of internal reflected light on the receiving tube.
[0092] Optionally, inside the ear clip headphones, the transmitting tube and the receiving tube are usually located on a circuit board, and the speaker, as another important component, has a shell surface that becomes a potential reflection surface for the propagation of optical signals. In the present application, the coating area is precisely set in the area opposite the transmitting tube, that is, the area where the light signal emitted by the transmitting tube is directly irradiated or may be indirectly reflected. By performing a special coating treatment on this area, the emitted light can be greatly absorbed to prevent it from being directly or indirectly reflected to the receiving tube, thereby reducing unnecessary signal feedback and avoiding system misjudgment.
[0093] Optionally, the coating area can be made of a material with high light absorption and low reflectivity, for example, a dark, opaque coating such as black ink. These materials can absorb most of the emitted light and convert it into heat or other forms of energy, effectively reducing the intensity of the reflected light signal. This ensures that the signal received by the receiving tube primarily comes from the actual contact between the earphone and the ear or ear canal, rather than random reflections from within the earphone.
[0094] In an optional embodiment, the ear-clip earphones further include: a battery compartment for placing batteries, wherein the transmitting tube and the receiving tube are arranged between the battery compartment and the speaker housing as optical sensors.
[0095] In an optional embodiment, the target tilt angle of the circuit board relative to the battery ranges from 5° to 10°.
[0096] Optionally, Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of an optional target angle according to an embodiment of the present application, such as Figure 4 As shown, the target angle can be understood as the tilt angle of the circuit board relative to the battery.
[0097] In an optional embodiment, the target angle can be adjusted, which is mainly affected by the surface curvature of the speaker housing and the surface curvature of the lens. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of an optional influencing factor of a target angle according to an embodiment of the present application, such as Figure 5 As shown, the thickness of the lens will cause uneven light, resulting in inaccurate detection during the refraction of light. That is to say, the larger the target angle, the less likely it is to be reflected by the speaker housing to the receiving tube, but the thickness of the lens will vary, and the transmission signal detected by the human body will also be less; the smaller the target angle, although the transmission signal detected by the human body is more, it is easy to be reflected by the speaker housing to the receiving tube.
[0098] In an optional embodiment, Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of an optional ear-clip earphone according to an embodiment of the present application, Figure 6As shown, the speaker housing is located in the area opposite to the receiving tube and the transmitting tube. The surface curvature of this area and the surface curvature of the lens can affect the size of the target angle.
[0099] According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present application, an optical signal control device is also provided, including: a control unit for transmitting an optical signal through a transmitting tube arranged on a circuit board, wherein the circuit board is tilted at a target angle, and the optical signal emitted by the transmitting tube is affected by the tilt of the circuit board, and the optical signal is reflected to a target area through the mirror surface of the speaker housing, wherein the target area is different from the area where the receiving tube on the circuit board is located.
[0100] According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present application, a computer-readable storage medium is further provided, wherein a computer program is stored in the computer-readable storage medium. When the computer program is executed, the device where the computer-readable storage medium is located executes the above-mentioned optical signal control method.
[0101] According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present application, an electronic device is also provided, wherein the electronic device includes one or more processors and a memory, the memory being used to store one or more programs, wherein when the one or more programs are executed by one or more processors, the one or more processors execute the above-mentioned optical signal control method.
[0102] The serial numbers of the above embodiments of the present application are for description only and do not represent the advantages or disadvantages of the embodiments.
[0103] In the above embodiments of the present application, the description of each embodiment has its own focus. For parts that are not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant description of other embodiments.
[0104] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed technical content can be implemented in other ways. Among them, the device embodiments described above are only exemplary. For example, the division of the units can be a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of units or modules, which can be electrical or other forms.
[0105] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the present embodiment.
[0106] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of the present application may be integrated into a single processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into a single unit. The aforementioned integrated units may be implemented in the form of hardware or software functional units.
[0107] If the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application is essentially or the part that contributes to the prior art or all or part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, and the computer software product is stored in a storage medium, including a number of instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: various media that can store program codes, such as a USB flash drive, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a mobile hard disk, a magnetic disk or an optical disk.
[0108] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present application. It should be pointed out that for ordinary technicians in this technical field, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the present application. These improvements and modifications should also be regarded as the scope of protection of the present application.
Claims
1. A light signal control method, characterized in that: The optical signal control method is applied to ear clip-on headphones, and the optical signal control method includes: A light signal is emitted by a transmitting tube arranged on a circuit board, wherein the circuit board is tilted at a target angle. After being affected by the tilt of the circuit board, the light signal emitted by the transmitting tube is reflected to a target area through a mirror surface of the speaker housing, wherein the target area is different from the area where the receiving tube on the circuit board is located.
2. The optical signal control method according to claim 1, wherein: A coating area is provided on the speaker housing, and the coating area is an area opposite to the transmitting tube. The coating area can absorb the light signal emitted by the transmitting tube.
3. The optical signal control method according to claim 1, wherein: After the optical signal emitted by the transmitting tube is blocked by a target object located between the circuit board and the speaker housing, a portion of the optical signal is reflected to the receiving tube.
4. The optical signal control method according to claim 3, wherein: After the partial signal of the optical signal is reflected to the receiving tube, the method further includes: detecting the received signal strength by the receiving tube; The in-ear status of the ear-clip earphone is determined according to the signal strength.
5. The optical signal control method according to claim 1, wherein: The method further comprises: detecting the surface curvature of the speaker housing and the surface curvature of the lens, wherein the lens is used to protect the transmitting tube and the receiving tube; The target angle at which the circuit board is tilted is determined according to the surface curvature of the speaker housing and the surface curvature of the lens.
6. The optical signal control method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The target angle ranges from 5° to 10°.
7. The optical signal control method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The transmitting tube and the receiving tube are arranged as optical sensors between the battery compartment and the speaker housing of the earphone.
8. An ear clip-on headset, characterized in that: include: A circuit board, wherein a transmitting tube and a receiving tube are provided on the circuit board, and the circuit board is tilted at a target angle; Among them, after the optical signal emitted by the transmitting tube is affected by the tilt of the circuit board, the optical signal is reflected to the target area through the mirror surface of the speaker shell of the ear clip headphone, wherein the target area is different from the area where the receiving tube is located.
9. The ear clip-on headphone according to claim 8, wherein: The speaker housing also includes: The coating area is an area opposite to the transmitting tube, and the coating area can absorb the optical signal emitted by the transmitting tube.
10. The ear clip-on headphone according to claim 8, wherein: The ear clip-on headphones further include: A battery compartment for placing batteries, wherein the transmitting tube and the receiving tube are arranged between the battery compartment and the speaker housing as optical sensors; the target angle of the circuit board relative to the battery ranges from 5° to 10°; The lens is arranged on the periphery of the circuit board and is used to protect the transmitting tube and the receiving tube on the circuit board.
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