Automatic Ear Detection for Customized Audio Signal Fitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Audio devices, such as mobile phones and music players, operate in a monaural manner and fail to distinguish between the unique hearing characteristics of each ear, resulting in a lack of customized sound experience for users.
Innovation Solution
An electronic mechanism within the host device identifies the in-use ear using inertial measurement units and touch sensors, and adjusts audio signals accordingly, allowing for automatic fitting and enhancement tailored to the specific ear's hearing characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the audio device operates in a monaural manner without distinguishing between ears, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but the audio customization and hearing characteristics adaptation are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects which ear the user is using and applies appropriate audio filtering without requiring manual input. The device serves itself by using sensors to identify ear usage and autonomously adjusting audio signals, eliminating the need for users to manually select ears while still providing customized audio experience
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes audio parameters (filtering, equalization) based on detected ear usage. Different audio parameters are applied when left or right ear is detected, allowing the system to adapt audio characteristics to match the specific ear's hearing characteristics while maintaining automatic operation
2Adaptability or versatility
If the user manually preselects which ear to use, then audio customization can be achieved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to extra steps and restrictions on ear switching
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects which ear the user is using and applies appropriate audio filtering without requiring manual input. The device serves itself by using sensors to identify ear usage and autonomously adjusting audio signals, eliminating the need for users to manually select ears while still providing customized audio experience
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors ear usage through sensors and adjusts audio signals in real-time based on feedback. When the user switches ears, the system detects this change and automatically adapts the audio filtering, providing seamless transition without requiring user intervention or preselection
3Ease of operation
If the device automatically identifies the in-use ear using sensors, then the ease of operation is improved by eliminating preselection steps, but the device complexity increases due to additional electronic mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses existing sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, microphone) for multiple purposes: detecting ear usage, determining device orientation, and analyzing audio characteristics. This multi-functionality approach allows the system to achieve automatic ear identification without adding separate dedicated hardware, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method are provided for automatic fitting of all audio signals according to the ear in which a user is using to receive audio signals from a host device. The host device incorporates an audio signal fitting device, which may comprise an inquirer configured to query the host device for an in-use audio producing transducer; an electronic mechanism configured to identify an ear which a user is using to receive audio signals from a host device, based on the in-use audio producing transducer; and a notifier configured to instruct the host device, based on the identified ear, to output a channel of audio signals to the in-use audio producing transducer. The ear in use may be deduced from inertial data. The instructions may specify a particular channel of audio signals, or enhancement thereof to adjust for characteristics of the identified ear, for example by applying frequency-specific gain adjustments to adjust for frequency response characteristics of the identified ear, and/or to adjust for a detected or typical signal pathway used to transmit a signal to the identified ear.