Audio Signal Hand Covering Gesture Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for user interaction with electronic devices require dedicated sensors for detecting hand-covering gestures, which limits their effectiveness in various ambient environments.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device equipped with a speaker, microphone, and processor analyzes audio signals to detect hand-covering gestures without additional sensors, using predefined audio patterns and machine learning algorithms to differentiate between ambient conditions and identify hand-covering inputs based on waveform, magnitude, and signal strength changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If additional dedicated sensors are used to detect hand-covering gestures, then detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehand-covering gesture detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the speaker and microphone serve dual functions: audio output/input and hand-covering gesture detection. The speaker emits test signals while the microphone captures both ambient sound and hand-covering gestures, eliminating the need for dedicated sensors and reducing device complexity while maintaining detection capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The device uses its own built-in audio components (speaker and microphone) to perform the detection function that would otherwise require external sensors. The speaker generates test signals and the microphone captures the resulting acoustic changes, allowing the device to self-diagnose hand-covering gestures without additional hardware

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Device complexity

If audio signal analysis is used to detect hand-covering gestures without additional sensors, then device complexity is reduced, but detection accuracy in varying ambient environments deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor quantityVSAvoidhand-covering gesture detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically adjusts the threshold value for detecting hand-covering gestures based on ambient environment analysis. The processor compares the test signal with the captured signal and modifies the threshold parameter according to environmental conditions (such as ambient noise levels), thereby maintaining high detection accuracy across different settings while using only built-in audio components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the audio signal captured by the microphone and compares it with the originally emitted test signal from the speaker. This feedback mechanism allows the processor to distinguish between ambient environmental changes and actual hand-covering gestures by analyzing the differences and adjustments in the returned signal, maintaining accuracy without additional sensors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables accurate detection of hand-covering gestures in any ambient environment without additional sensors, enhancing user interaction and reducing hardware requirements.

Implementation Method 1

output at regular intervals a sound based on a first audio signal of a predefined pattern configured to detect hand covering via the speaker

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroacoustic transduction:

Implementation Method 2

acquire a second audio signal from the sound via the microphone

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustoelectric transduction:

Data Source

PatentEP3588266B1Method for detecting input using audio signal, and electronic device therefor
Publication Date: 2023.04.26 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3588266B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3588266B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3588266B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

Various embodiments of the present disclosure may provide an electronic device for detecting an input. The electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may comprise: a speaker; a microphone; and a processor coupled to the speaker and the microphone. The processor may be configured to output a sound through the speaker on the basis of a first audio signal; obtain a second audio signal from the sound through the microphone; detect an input on the basis of a result of comparison between the first audio signal and the inputted second audio signal; and perform an operation according to the input.