Bone Conduction Transducer Audio Routing for Privacy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio devices, such as headphones and earphones, suffer from sound leakage, which can broadcast private audio content to others nearby, compromising privacy.
Innovation Solution
A computer system determines whether a communication is private and routes its audio content through a bone conduction transducer for private communications, minimizing sound leakage, or through speakers for non-private content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If audio content is routed through speakers of open-back headphones, then sound can be heard by the user, but sound leaks into the ambient environment and is heard by others nearby
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments audio output into two separate channels: a private channel using bone conduction transducers for private audio content, and a public channel using speakers for non-private content. This segmentation allows the system to address sound leakage by directing private audio through a different transmission medium (bone conduction) that does not leak into the environment, while maintaining speaker functionality for content that is intended to be heard by others.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces bone conduction transducers as an intermediary device that converts audio signals into mechanical vibrations transmitted through the skull to the inner ear. This intermediary mechanism bypasses the air conduction path that causes sound leakage, providing a private audio channel that does not broadcast content to the surrounding environment.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If audio content is routed through a bone conduction transducer, then privacy is maintained and sound does not leak, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal audio output system that can handle both private and public audio content through a single integrated device. The system includes both bone conduction transducers and speakers, with intelligent routing logic that automatically directs appropriate audio content to the suitable channel based on privacy requirements, eliminating the need for separate devices for private and public audio consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic audio routing that can switch between bone conduction and speaker output based on real-time detection of privacy requirements. The system dynamically analyzes audio content characteristics and automatically routes private content to bone conduction transducers while directing non-private content to speakers, providing adaptive privacy protection without requiring manual user configuration.
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
This solution effectively maintains privacy by ensuring that private audio content is only audible to the user, while non-private content can be heard by others, thereby addressing the issue of sound leakage.
Implementation Method 1
a bone conduction transducer that outputs the audio as mechanical vibrations of the user's skull
Data Source
AI summary
A method for routing audio content through an electronic device that is to be worn by a user. The method obtains a communication and determines whether the communication is private. In response to determining that the communication is private, the method drives a bone conduction transducer of the electronic device with an audio signal associated with the communication. In response to determining that the communication is not private, however, the method drives a speaker of the electronic device with the audio signal.