Ear-Worn Audio Guidance for Locating Misplaced Mobile Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Misplacing personal mobile electronic devices, such as smartphones, often causes inconvenience and distress, and existing technologies do not effectively assist in locating them.
Innovation Solution
An ear-worn device equipped with a control circuit, microphone, electroacoustic transducer, motion sensor, and power supply circuit, capable of issuing a location command to a mobile device to trigger a locating signal, and providing guidance to the user through virtual 3-D audio or recorded sounds to help locate the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional notification methods are used to locate mobile devices, then the device can be found when nearby, but the user experiences inconvenience and distress when the device is misplaced or lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (such as a smartwatch or portable player) that acts as a mediator between the user and the misplaced mobile device. This intermediary can send commands to the mobile device and relay information back to the user, enabling location tracking and guidance even when the mobile device is not directly accessible or visible to the user
2Reliability
If the mobile device emits a locating signal continuously, then the device can be located easily, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by having the mobile device emit locating signals at intervals rather than continuously. The intermediary device can trigger these periodic signals on demand or at scheduled times, maintaining the ability to locate the device while significantly reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous signal emission
3Ease of operation
If the ear-worn device provides detailed guidance including virtual 3-D audio and recorded sounds, then the user can locate the device more effectively, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into the intermediary device, including playback of recorded sounds, generation of virtual 3-D audio cues, provision of turn-by-turn directions, and display of location information. By consolidating these diverse guidance mechanisms into a single wearable device, the system provides comprehensive location assistance without proportionally increasing overall system complexity
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
Effectively assists in locating misplaced mobile devices by emitting a locating signal and guiding the user to the device's actual, previous, or projected location, reducing the inconvenience and distress of misplacement.
Implementation Method 1
an electroacoustic transducer for generating sound in electrical communication with the control circuit
Implementation Method 2
a motion sensor in electrical communication with the control circuit
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments herein relate to ear-worn devices that can be used to locate other devices such as mobile electronic devices. In a first aspect, an ear-worn device is included having a control circuit, a microphone in electrical communication with the control circuit, an electroacoustic transducer for generating sound in electrical communication with the control circuit, a motion sensor in electrical communication with the control circuit, and a power supply circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit, wherein the ear-worn device is configured to issue a location command to a mobile electronic device and wherein the location command triggers the mobile electronic device to emit a locating signal. Other embodiments are also included herein.