Earphone Attachment State Detection for Accurate Sound Localization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing music reproducing systems using motion and biometric sensors face issues with incorrect sound-image localization and musical piece selection due to wrong sensor outputs during earphone attachment or reattachment, requiring a reset operation to correct settings.

Innovation Solution

A music reproducing system with an attachment-state detecting mechanism that differentiates between ongoing-attachment and attachment-complete states, suppressing or canceling sensor output ineffectiveness during attachment to prevent incorrect processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If sensor output is used during earphone attachment, then real-time music reproduction control is achieved, but incorrect sound-image localization and musical piece selection occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereal-time music reproduction controlVSAvoidsound-image localization accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of attachment state using touch sensor output before utilizing main sensor output for music reproduction control. By detecting the attachment state in advance and determining whether the earphones are being attached or have been attached, the system prepares the appropriate processing mode, thereby preventing incorrect sound-image localization while maintaining real-time control capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If reset operation is required after earphone attachment, then correct settings are restored, but user operation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesettings correctnessVSAvoiduser operation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically determines attachment-complete state based on touch sensor output patterns and autonomously restores correct settings without requiring user intervention. The detection controller monitors touch sensor signals, identifies when attachment is complete, and automatically resets sound-image localization parameters, thereby maintaining settings correctness while eliminating the need for manual reset operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If sensor output is suppressed during attachment, then incorrect processing is prevented, but real-time control responsiveness is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing accuracyVSAvoidcontrol responsiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the attachment process into distinct phases: attachment phase (where touch sensor output is monitored and main sensor output is suppressed) and post-attachment phase (where main sensor output is utilized for real-time control). By dividing the process into these segments based on touch sensor state transitions, the system prevents incorrect processing during attachment while maintaining rapid responsiveness once attachment is complete

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8315406B2Music reproducing system and information processing method

Publication Date: 2012.11.20 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

A music reproducing system has a music reproducing unit and a transducer unit connected to the music reproducing unit. The transducer unit includes a transducer, a main sensor, and attachment-state detector. The music reproducing unit includes an information processing part and a detection controller.