Microphone-Based Touch Gesture Detection in Headsets

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional devices face challenges in detecting touch gestures without additional hardware, particularly in environments where noise or physical contact can lead to false gesture identification, and existing touch sensors may increase costs unnecessarily.

Innovation Solution

Utilizing microphones already present in devices for detecting ambient sound and touch gestures, processing their output to distinguish between intended touch gestures and other inputs, and employing techniques like statistical signal analysis and state-based filtering to improve detection accuracy and specificity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If additional touch sensors are added to detect gestures, then gesture detection accuracy is improved, but device cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegesture detection accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling the microphone to serve dual purposes: capturing ambient sound for audio processing and detecting touch gestures through acoustic signals generated by finger contact. This eliminates the need for separate touch sensors while maintaining gesture detection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical touch sensors with an acoustic detection system. Instead of using capacitive or resistive touch sensors that directly detect finger contact, the system uses microphones to detect acoustic signals generated by finger contact with the device surface, substituting a mechanical sensing system with an acoustic one.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If microphones are used for gesture detection, then device cost is reduced, but false identification from noise and physical contact occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidgesture detection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms through state-based filtering that continuously monitors and adjusts detection based on contextual information. The system uses feedback from previous detections, user behavior patterns, and environmental context to distinguish between intentional gestures and false triggers from noise or incidental contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting detection thresholds and filtering parameters based on environmental conditions, audio signal characteristics, and contextual state. The system modifies detection sensitivity and filtering strength in real-time to adapt to varying noise levels and usage scenarios, reducing false identifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If statistical signal analysis is applied to microphone output, then gesture specificity is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegesture specificityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing signal processing operations in advance and maintaining ready-state filters and detection parameters. The system pre-processes audio signals to identify potential gesture candidates and maintains contextual state information, enabling faster response when actual gestures occur without requiring full analysis from scratch.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 reliable and cost-effective touch gesture detection in devices like headsets, minimizing false identifications and integrating gesture recognition without the need for additional sensors, while maintaining effective audio processing capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

a microphone (mounted to a frame) might generate an output signal (an electrical signal) in response to exertion of force (e.g., a touch) to the microphone or frame which causes the microphone to vibrate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical vibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

in response to incidence at the microphone of a pressure wave which has propagated through the air to the microphone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic wave incidence: Sound

Data Source

PatentUS9042571B2Method and system for touch gesture detection in response to microphone output

Publication Date: 2015.05.26 DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORP

AI summary

In some embodiments, a method for processing output of at least one microphone of a device (e.g., a headset) to identify at least one touch gesture exerted by a user on the device, including by distinguishing the gesture from input to the microphone other than a touch gesture intended by the user, and by distinguishing between a tap exerted by the user on the device and at least one dynamic gesture exerted by the user on the device, where the output of the at least one microphone is also indicative of ambient sound (e.g., voice utterences). Other embodiments are systems for detecting ambient sound (e.g., voice utterences) and touch gestures, each including a device including at least one microphone and a processor coupled and configured to process output of each microphone to identify at least one touch gesture exerted by a user on the device.