Earphone Drop Detection via Active Position Notification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication devices, such as Bluetooth-enabled earphones, cannot accurately detect and notify the user of a drop event, making it difficult to locate the device once lost.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a drop detection unit in communication devices that utilizes proximity and acceleration sensors to detect drops and transmit notification signals to paired devices, allowing for real-time detection and position specification of the dropped device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a tag is added to a communication device and communication is performed by a tag reader, then the communication device can be detected, but the position cannot be specified when the device is lost due to dropping
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having the tag reader detect the tag and determine position, the patent inverts the approach by having the dropped communication device itself transmit position information actively. The communication device uses its own sensors to detect the drop event and its location, then actively transmits this information via notification to paired devices, thereby solving the position specification problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication device performs self-detection of drop events using its built-in sensors (acceleration sensor, proximity sensor) and self-transmission of position information without requiring external detection equipment. This self-service capability enables the device to provide its own position information even when dropped and not in direct communication range.
2Ease of operation
If the communication device is small and lightweight, then it is portable and convenient, but it is easily lost due to dropping
Solution Approach 1:
The communication device performs preliminary detection of drop events using its sensors before the user can notice or react to the loss. The acceleration sensor and proximity sensor continuously monitor for drop conditions, and when a drop is detected, the device immediately begins transmitting position information, enabling proactive response to the loss situation.
3Reliability
If drop detection is implemented using sensors, then the device can detect drops, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the multi-functionality of sensors already present in the communication device. The acceleration sensor, originally used for fitness tracking or motion detection, and the proximity sensor, used for connection status detection, are repurposed to detect drop events. This approach adds drop detection capability without requiring entirely new dedicated sensors, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a communication device, a communication method, a communication system, and a program that enable recognition of a drop of the communication device. In a communication system including an earphone and a smartphone that perform Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication, when the earphone detects a drop, the earphone notifies the smartphone of the drop and transmits a drop position notification signal for providing a notification of its own position to the smartphone by the BLE communication. When notified of the drop of the smartphone, the smartphone vibrates a vibrator to notify the user that the earphone has dropped, and specifies and displays the position of the earphone on the basis of the drop position notification signal. The present disclosure can be applied to a communication system.