Earphone Push Control for Volume Adjustment With Minimal Contacts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Open wearable stereo (OWS) headsets have limited interaction capabilities, particularly in efficiently adjusting volume levels, which affects user experience.

Innovation Solution

A headset control method that detects user-initiated push operations in specific directions and durations to adaptively adjust volume levels, incorporating features like preset durations and interaction detection to enhance efficiency and user interaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If OWS headset uses simple interaction contacts (tapping, pinching), then the headset structure remains simple, but volume adjustment capability is insufficient or execution efficiency is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevolume adjustment capabilityVSAvoidvolume adjustment efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic push operations with different directions (first direction for volume increase, second direction for volume decrease) and duration thresholds. The headset dynamically responds to the duration of the push operation to determine whether to adjust volume, enabling efficient volume control without adding complex physical contacts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of interaction from simple tap/count-based operations to duration-based push operations. By measuring the duration of the push operation and comparing it with a threshold, the system achieves more expressive control capabilities while maintaining the same simple contact interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If OWS headset maintains simple interaction contacts, then device complexity remains low, but interaction task execution capability is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinteraction task execution capabilityVSAvoidinteraction contact quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the simple push operation interface universal by enabling it to perform multiple interaction tasks including volume adjustment, playback control, and call management. The same contact interface adapts to different functions based on operation characteristics, eliminating the need for additional specialized contacts.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds the dimension of operation duration to the interaction model. Instead of relying on multiple types of contacts, the system uses a single contact type differentiated by temporal characteristics (duration), achieving enhanced functionality without increasing contact complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4694192A1Earphone control method, and earphone
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4694192A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4694192A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4694192A1 patent drawingFigure 3(1)~5

AI summary

This application discloses a headset control method and a headset. The method is performed by the headset. In the method, it is detected that a user triggers a first push operation of applying action force to the headset in a first direction or a second direction, and a volume adjustment function is started, where the first direction corresponds to a volume increase function in the volume adjustment function, and the second direction corresponds to a volume decrease function in the volume adjustment function; and after the volume adjustment function is started, it is detected that duration of the action force of the first push operation is greater than or equal to first preset duration, and a volume level of the headset is adjusted. In this application, the headset may start volume adjustment when detecting that the user triggers the first push operation on the headset. This improves a volume adjustment manner. In addition, the first push operation involves a small quantity of interaction contacts. This resolves a problem in the conventional technology that volume cannot be adjusted because the headset has a small quantity of interaction contacts.