Wireless Earbud Dialog Mode for Automatic Ambient Sound Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of wireless audio devices face inconvenience when trying to hear ambient sounds while listening to music, as activating the ambient sound feature can be complex and often leads to the device being removed rather than the feature being activated, resulting in a poor user experience.
Innovation Solution
A wireless audio device equipped with an audio receiving circuit, acceleration sensor, communication circuit, processor, and memory that detects user utterances to automatically enter a dialog mode for outputting ambient sounds and ends the mode if no voice is detected for a specified time, allowing seamless interaction with the environment without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the ambient sound providing function is activated to allow users to hear external sounds, then the user can hear ambient sounds, but the user is disturbed from listening to music
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic switching between different audio modes (ambient sound mode and music playback mode) based on user needs. The wireless audio device can transition between these states seamlessly, allowing the ambient sound function to be activated only when needed for conversations or environmental awareness, while maintaining music playback as the default state. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction by making the system flexible rather than static.
2Ease of operation
If the ambient sound providing function is deactivated to avoid disturbance during music listening, then the music listening experience is improved, but the user cannot hear external sounds when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the wireless audio device to automatically detect when the user needs ambient sound through voice activity detection and motion sensing. When the device detects that the user is speaking or moving (indicating a conversation or need for environmental awareness), it automatically activates the ambient sound mode without requiring manual user intervention. This self-service capability maintains an excellent music listening experience by default while automatically providing ambient sound when needed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the user manually activates the ambient sound providing function through electronic device settings, then the user can hear ambient sounds, but the operation becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical operation of navigating electronic device settings with automatic sensor-based detection. Instead of requiring the user to physically interact with buttons, sliders, or software menus to activate ambient sound, the system uses voice activity detection and motion sensors to automatically determine when ambient sound should be enabled. This substitution of automatic sensing for manual control dramatically reduces operational complexity while maintaining full adaptability.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the user removes the wireless audio device to hear ambient sounds, then the user can hear external sounds clearly, but the user experience deteriorates and convenience is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the wireless audio device itself as an intermediary to transmit ambient sounds to the user's ears. Rather than requiring the user to remove the device to hear external sounds, the device's microphones capture ambient sounds and transmit them through the device's speakers or bone conduction transducers, allowing the user to hear clearly while keeping the device in place. This intermediary function preserves both ambient sound clarity and user convenience simultaneously.
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
Improves user experience by providing ambient sound based on wearer interaction, enhancing sound quality, and meeting user intentions by automatically controlling the dialog mode based on voice agent operations, thus simplifying the interaction with the environment.
Implementation Method 1
detect an utterance of a user of the wireless audio device by using the acceleration sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless audio device is provided. The wireless audio device includes an audio receiving circuit, an audio output circuit, an acceleration sensor, a communication circuit, a processor, and a memory. The memory may store instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the wireless audio device to detect an utterance of a user of the wireless audio device by using the acceleration sensor, enter a dialog mode in which at least some of ambient sounds received by the audio receiving circuit are output through the audio output circuit, in response to detecting the utterance of the user, and end the dialog mode if no voice is detected for a specified time or longer by using the audio receiving circuit in the dialog mode.