Headphones Body-Touch Command Input via Acoustic Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques that detect knocking on headphones to output commands are inconvenient as they require shifting the headphones back to the original position after knocking, leading to reduced usability.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a microphone and speaker in the headphones to detect touch sounds, allowing users to input commands by touching their body, eliminating the need to physically manipulate the headphones and preventing casing displacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If knocking detection on headphone casing is used to output commands, then command input function is provided, but headphone position shifts and usability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical knocking detection system with an acoustic field-based system. Instead of detecting mechanical vibrations from tapping the headphone casing, the system uses a microphone to detect acoustic waves generated by the user touching their own body. This substitution eliminates the need for physical manipulation of the headphones while maintaining automated command input functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the user's body as an intermediary medium. The microphone detects touch sounds produced when the user touches their body, which then triggers command output. This intermediary approach allows command input without direct contact with the headphones, preventing position shifts while enabling automated control.
2Extent of automation
If acceleration sensor is used to detect knocking, then command detection is enabled, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the microphone, which is already present in most headphones for other functions, to capture acoustic copies of touch sounds. Instead of adding a specialized acceleration sensor, the system repurposes existing acoustic sensing capabilities to detect touch operations, thereby enabling command detection without increasing device cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the microphone multi-functional by using it not only for its traditional purposes (noise cancellation, voice assistant activation) but also for detecting touch sounds to trigger commands. This universal usage of existing components eliminates the need for additional specialized sensors, reducing overall device complexity and cost.
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 users to input commands without directly operating the headphones, maintaining usability and minimizing the need for costly acceleration sensors, thus preventing casing displacement and enhancing user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a microphone configured to receive touch sound produced when a touch is performed on a user
Data Source
AI summary
Headphones include: a speaker configured to output sound based on an input signal; a microphone configured to receive touch sound produced when a touch is performed on a user; and a command output device configured to, on the basis of a sound signal derived from the touch sound received by the microphone, determine a touch operation corresponding to the touch performed on the user, to output a command corresponding to the touch operation.