Earphone Speaker Temperature Sensing via Audio Frequency Shift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for biometric and aural sound measurements require dedicated hardware and electronics, increasing costs and development time, and are sensitive to background noise and user motion, limiting their use in everyday activities.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing off-the-shelf earphone output speakers as both audio output and input devices, with an audio processing circuit to record and process aural sound signals for temperature, pulse rate, and voice signal measurements, allowing for continuous monitoring during daily activities without the need for special sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If dedicated temperature sensors and electronics are added to earphones for body temperature measurements, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling the earphone output speaker to serve dual purposes: as an audio output device and as a temperature sensor. The speaker's existing components (diaphragm, coil, magnet) are utilized to detect temperature-induced frequency shifts, eliminating the need for dedicated temperature sensing hardware while achieving continuous body temperature monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical/physical temperature sensing components with an acoustic-based measurement approach. Instead of using thermistors or infrared sensors, the system uses frequency analysis of the speaker's electro-acoustic transducer to infer temperature, substituting a mechanical sensing system with an acoustic field-based measurement system
2Adaptability or versatility
If special sensors are incorporated into earphones for continuous monitoring, then measurement capability is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables standard off-the-shelf earphones to perform continuous temperature monitoring without modification by utilizing the existing output speaker in an unconventional way. The same speaker that plays audio content is also used as the sensing element, allowing continuous monitoring capability to be added to regular earphones without special manufacturing processes
Solution Approach 2:
The earphone's output speaker serves itself by performing both its primary function (audio output) and the secondary function (temperature sensing). The speaker's own physical properties (frequency response changes with temperature) are exploited to enable self-monitoring, eliminating the need for separate sensing components that would complicate manufacturing
3Measurement precision
If dedicated pulse rate sensors are added to earphones, then pulse rate measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by using the earphone output speaker to detect pulse rate through analysis of aural sounds in the ear canal. The speaker captures acoustic signals containing pulse rate information, and signal processing algorithms extract heart rate data, allowing pulse monitoring without dedicated pulse sensors or additional electronics
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the aural sound signals in the ear canal as an intermediary medium to transmit pulse rate information. Instead of direct electrical contact with the body (as in traditional pulse sensors), the system uses acoustic waves as the intermediary to carry physiological information from the body to the earphone's output speaker for analysis
4Measurement precision
If multiple microphones are used to reduce background noise in voice calls, then voice signal quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the earphone's output speaker to function as a voice signal source for phone calls by capturing aural sounds in the ear canal that contain the user's voice. This allows the output speaker to serve dual purposes: audio playback and voice input, eliminating the need for separate microphones while maintaining voice call functionality with noise reduction capabilities
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
Enables convenient and continuous biometric and environmental measurements using existing earphones, reducing costs and enhancing usability by leveraging standard earphone technology for voice signal processing and noise reduction in phone calls.
Implementation Method 1
Earphones for mobile devices contain dedicated electro-acoustic output transducers, also referred to as earphone output speakers, to play music and/or voice signals
Implementation Method 2
instructing an audio processing integrated circuit of a local client terminal to record a voice signal from the one or more electro-acoustic output transducer
Implementation Method 3
calculating a temperature value based on a frequency response between the audio signal and an output audio signal
Data Source
AI summary
In general, the subject matter described in this disclosure can be embodied in methods, systems, and computer-readable devices. An audio processing device plays a source audio signal, including causing the source audio signal to be audibly output by an electroacoustic transducer of a user earpiece. The audio processing device records, while playing the source audio signal, a recorded audio signal using the electroacoustic transducer. The audio processing device identifies one or more parameters that indicate how properties of the user earpiece affect playing of the source audio signal, at least one of the parameters being temperature dependent. The audio processing device determines a temperature value estimated to cause the source audio signal that was played by the audio processing device to result in the recorded audio signal, accounting for changes to the source audio signal that occur due to the one or more parameters.