Earbud Capacitive Wearing Detection to Prevent False Touch

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing earbud wearing detection systems often misjudge the wearing state due to false touch, leading to inaccurate detection when the earbud is placed on a table or held by hand, which affects battery life and user experience.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an earbud with multiple capacitive sensing units at different positions, where the maximum capacitance values from all sensors are used to determine the wearing state, reducing false positives and improving accuracy by ensuring that all sensors are not simultaneously touched, thus preventing misjudgment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If capacitance detection scheme is used for wearing detection, then structure is simple and cost is low, but false touch occurs causing misjudgment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoiddetection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the detection function into multiple independent capacitive sensing units positioned at different locations (first sensing unit on the earbud body, second sensing unit on the stem). Each unit independently detects capacitance changes, and the system integrates their outputs to make a final wearing determination. This segmentation allows the system to distinguish between accidental touches and genuine wearing events, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and reliable detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If optical scheme or infrared sensor scheme is used for wearing detection, then detection accuracy is improved, but structure becomes complicated and cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the capacitive sensing units serve multiple functions: they detect both wearing events and touch operations on the earbud. By positioning sensing units at different locations and analyzing their respective capacitance changes, the system can distinguish between wearing detection (both units activated) and touch operation (only one unit activated). This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate optical or infrared sensors, achieving accurate detection without increased structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 approach significantly enhances the accuracy of wearing detection, preventing false activation and improving battery life by ensuring the earbud only wakes up and responds when correctly worn, thereby optimizing energy usage.

Implementation Method 1

the sensor circuitry includes a capacitive sensing unit configured to generate a body contact signal in response to contact with a human body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP3855757B1Earphone and method for implementing wearing detection and touch operation
Publication Date: 2023.03.22 SHENZHEN GOODIX TECH CO LTD
  • EP3855757B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2c
  • EP3855757B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4b
  • EP3855757B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The present application relates to the field of earbuds, and in particular, to an earbud and a method for implementing a wearing detection and a touch operation. The earbud includes at least two wearing sensors; each of the at least two wearing sensors comprises one or more capacitive sensing units, and a maximum detected capacitance value or a sum of detected capacitance values of the capacitive sensing units of each of the at least two wearing sensors is used as a maximum detection value of the wearing sensor; and the wearing sensors are arranged at different positions where a head of the earbud is in direct contact with skin tissues in the ear, and the earbud is determined to be in a worn state when the maximum detection value of each of the at least two wearing sensors is not smaller than a wearing threshold. In addition, the present application also provides a method for implementing a wearing detection and a touch operation for the earbud, including: acquiring capacitance values of all the at least two wearing sensors; judging whether the maximum detection value of each of the at least two wearing sensors is not smaller than a wearing threshold; and if yes, judging that the earbud is in a worn state, and setting a touch sensor to be in a working state.