Headphone Interaction Control Using Ear Canal Acoustic Signals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing headphones face challenges in accurately detecting user interactions due to the difficulty in precisely targeting sensors within the ear canal, leading to increased operational complexity and hardware costs without providing a natural interactive experience.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a feedback microphone to collect ear canal audio signals generated by bone-conducted vibrations during user interactions, combined with a processor for feature extraction and an interactive operation identification model, allows for determining the tightness level and controlling playback status without additional sensors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional sensors are placed in the ear canal to detect user interactions, then interaction detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinteraction detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor placement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical sensors with acoustic field-based detection. The feedback microphone collects sound waves generated by user interactions (such as tapping or rubbing the headphones) and transmits them to the processor, which identifies interactions through acoustic signal analysis. This substitution eliminates the need for complex mechanical sensors and their precise placement in the ear canal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces sound waves as an intermediary medium to detect user interactions. Instead of directly detecting mechanical contact with sensors, the system uses acoustic signals as a mediator to carry information about user actions from the ear canal environment to the processing system, simplifying the detection mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If multiple sensors are added to improve interaction detection, then detection accuracy is improved, but hardware cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinteraction detection accuracyVSAvoidhardware cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive mechanical sensors with a feedback microphone that is already present in the headphone system. By repurposing the existing microphone for interaction detection through acoustic signal analysis, the system achieves improved detection accuracy without adding costly hardware components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the feedback microphone multi-functional by using it for both audio feedback collection and interaction detection. This universal utilization of the existing component eliminates the need for dedicated interaction sensors, reducing hardware costs while maintaining detection capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If sensors are placed in the ear canal for interaction detection, then detection capability is improved, but ease of operation decreases due to difficulty in precisely targeting sensors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinteraction detection capabilityVSAvoidsensor targeting difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the requirement for precise mechanical sensor targeting with acoustic field-based detection. Users can interact with the headphones through natural movements (tapping, rubbing) that generate detectable sound waves, eliminating the need for precise sensor contact and significantly improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 reduces operational difficulty, lowers hardware costs, and enhances user experience by enabling intuitive control through limb-based interactions, while maintaining a compact headphone design.

Implementation Method 1

an audio signal generated by transmitting vibration generated by an interactive operation to the ear canal through bone conduction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBone conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP4247002B1Method for controlling headphones, and headphone

Publication Date: 2025.10.15 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD

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AI summary

The disclosure relates to the technical field of control, in particular to a method for controlling headphones, and headphones. The headphones include a feedback microphone and a speaker. The method includes: obtaining (S100) an ear canal audio signal by collecting an audio signal in an ear canal by the feedback microphone; obtaining (S200) an audio signal feature parameter by conducting feature extraction on the ear canal audio signal; obtaining (S300) a tightness level of the headphones in a current wearing status; generating (S400) an audio feature to be identified according to the audio signal feature parameter and the tightness level; inputting (S500) the audio feature to be identified into a preset interactive operation identification model, and outputting an identification result; determining (S600) a control instruction corresponding to the interactive operation identifier; and controlling (S700) a playback status of the speaker according to the control instruction.