Earbud Don/Doff Detection for Mono Audio and Auto Pause
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Solution Overview
Problem
Headsets and headphones in body-worn stowage mode lack operational functionality, particularly in terms of audio delivery and playback control, as they are not designed for use without both earpieces, leading to issues like lost audio channels and inconvenient playback management.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating don/doff detection mechanisms in earbuds and headsets to determine wearing modes and adjust audio settings, signal processing, and playback controls accordingly, allowing for stereo or monaural output and playback pause/resume based on the earbud's state, enabling use in various wearing configurations without losing audio content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the headset is worn in body-worn stowage mode, then the headset can be easily carried and fashionable, but the ringer volume is not sufficiently loud to be heard
Solution Approach 1:
The headset system dynamically adjusts ringer volume based on detected wearing mode. When body-worn stowage mode is detected, the system automatically increases ringer volume to ensure audibility, while maintaining normal volume levels for in-ear or on-ear wearing modes. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between ease of carrying and ringer volume sufficiency.
2Manufacturing precision
If the ringer volume is set at a higher level for body-worn mode, then the ringer is sufficiently loud when played through the ear piece speakers, but it would be too loud when worn in-the-ears or on-the-ears
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic volume adjustment based on real-time detection of wearing mode. The ringer volume is automatically increased only when body-worn stowage mode is detected, while maintaining appropriate volume levels for in-ear or on-ear modes. This prevents excessive loudness in traditional wearing modes while ensuring sufficient volume when worn on the body.
Solution Approach 2:
The headset incorporates sensors that detect the wearing mode and provide feedback to the control system. Based on this feedback, the system automatically adjusts the ringer volume to the appropriate level, preventing excessive loudness when worn in-the-ears or on-the-ears while ensuring sufficient volume for body-worn mode.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If one ear piece is removed, then the user can hear outside interrupts and talk to somebody nearby, but one channel (left or right) of the content is lost
Solution Approach 1:
When only one ear piece is detected as worn, the system merges both the left and right audio channels into a single monaural output that is delivered through the single worn ear piece. This allows the user to maintain awareness of outside sounds while still receiving complete audio content through both channels, eliminating the information loss that would otherwise occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The audio output configuration dynamically changes based on the number of ear pieces detected as worn. When both ear pieces are worn, stereo output is maintained. When one ear piece is removed, the system automatically switches to monaural output, merging both channels into the single active ear piece to prevent loss of audio information.
4Ease of operation
If the user removes earpieces to talk to somebody or listen to something in the immediate vicinity, then the user can interact with the environment, but the multimedia continues to play unless the user enters a pause command
Solution Approach 1:
The headset system automatically detects when ear pieces are removed and autonomously pauses multimedia playback without requiring user intervention. When the ear pieces are reinserted, the system automatically resumes playback. This self-service functionality eliminates the need for users to manually pause or manage playback, saving time and maintaining convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensors to detect the presence or absence of ear pieces and provides feedback to the playback control system. Based on this feedback, the system automatically pauses playback when ear pieces are removed and resumes when they are reinserted, eliminating the need for manual pause commands and reducing time loss.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatuses for headset wearing mode based operation are presented. A headset system includes a first earbud and a second earbud. One or both earbuds have a detector which indicates whether the earbud is donned or doffed. Operation of the headset is modified based on the donned or doffed status of the earbuds.