Asymmetric Earbud Audio Segmentation for Ambient Awareness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sound output devices, such as headphones and earphones, often fail to ensure that users can effectively hear important ambient sounds or notifications when they are engaged with audio playback, leading to missed information due to sound masking or lack of attention.
Innovation Solution
A sound output device comprising a first outputter for one ear, a second outputter for the other ear, a first detector to sense object approaches, and a controller that adjusts sound output to prioritize playback or call audio and masking sounds based on detected gestures or environmental changes, allowing users to focus on ambient sounds by replaying previous audio or applying masking noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sound output devices output audio playback or call audio to one ear, then users can enjoy audio content or communicate effectively, but users may miss important ambient sounds or notifications due to sound masking
Solution Approach 1:
The sound output device segments the audio output by ear: the first ear receives audio playback or call audio through the first outputter, while the second ear receives masking sound through the second outputter. This segmentation allows different functional sounds to be delivered to different ears simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between maintaining audio playback reliability and preserving ambient sound awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
The device applies local quality by providing different sound treatments to each ear based on local conditions detected by the detector. When the detector identifies an object approach or environmental change, the controller selectively applies masking sound to one ear while maintaining audio output in the other ear, creating localized sound quality adjustments that address both information preservation and audio reliability.
2Ease of operation
If users focus on audio playback, then they can enjoy music or calls, but they fail to notice important ambient sounds or notifications
Solution Approach 1:
The detector acts as an intermediary between the environment and the sound output system. It detects objects or environmental changes and transmits this information to the controller, which then adjusts the masking sound output accordingly. This intermediary mechanism enables automatic adaptation to environmental conditions while maintaining audio playback, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and environmental awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
The sound output device dynamically adjusts its operation based on real-time environmental feedback. The controller modifies the masking sound parameters (such as volume or frequency) in response to detector signals, creating a dynamic system that adapts to changing conditions. This dynamic behavior allows the device to maintain audio enjoyment while responding to important environmental cues.
Data Source
AI summary
A sound output device, a sound output method, and a program with improved functionality and/or usability are provided. The sound output device includes a first outputter, a second outputter, a first detector, and a controller. The first outputter is configured to output sound to one ear of a user. The second outputter is configured to output sound to the other ear of the user. The first detector is configured to detect an approach of an object in a vicinity of the first outputter. The controller is configured to cause the first outputter to output first sound including at least one of certain playback sound or certain call audio and cause the second outputter to output second sound including certain masking sound on a basis of the first detector detecting the approach of the object.