Ultrasonic Gesture Control for Miniaturized Earphones
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing TWS earphones face challenges in miniaturization due to power consumption issues with infrared IR control methods and the need for external plane spaces in capacitive touch controls, which are also sensitive to environmental factors like dust and sweat.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an ultrasonic transceiver and receiver in earphones to transmit and receive ultrasonic signals for gesture identification, allowing control through slide and slap gestures based on echo signals, reducing power consumption and requiring no external plane space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If infrared IR control method is used, then control functions can be achieved, but power consumption increases and device size increases due to requiring an opening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the infrared control system with an ultrasonic control system. The ultrasonic transceiver emits ultrasonic waves and receives echo signals to detect gestures, substituting the optical infrared mechanism with an acoustic-based mechanism that consumes less power and does not require external openings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces ultrasonic waves as an intermediary medium for control. Instead of using infrared light directly, the system emits ultrasonic waves that interact with the environment (reflect off objects, capture gestures) and return echo signals that are processed to determine user intentions, providing a low-power control mechanism.
2Area of stationary object
If capacitive touch control is used, then control functions are achieved, but device size increases due to requiring external plane space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces capacitive touch control with ultrasonic gesture recognition. Instead of requiring physical touch surfaces or plane spaces on the device, the ultrasonic transceiver detects gestures through air-borne ultrasonic waves and echo signals, eliminating the need for external control surfaces and enabling miniaturization.
3Reliability
If capacitive touch control is used, then control functions are achieved, but identification sensitivity decreases due to environmental factors like dust and sweat
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses ultrasonic waves as an intermediary that is less affected by environmental factors like dust and sweat compared to capacitive touch. The ultrasonic echo signals can penetrate or pass around contaminants, maintaining gesture detection sensitivity in various environmental conditions where capacitive touch would fail.
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
Enhances control sensitivity and user experience while facilitating miniaturization by using low-power ultrasonic technology for gesture recognition, independent of environmental factors.
Implementation Method 1
controlling the ultrasonic transceiver to transmit a first ultrasonic signal while the earphone is being worn; obtaining a first echo signal collected by the ultrasonic transceiver
Implementation Method 2
perform feature extraction and gesture identification based on a second echo signal collected by the ultrasonic transceiver and a third echo signal collected by the ultrasonic receiver
Data Source
AI summary
An earphone, an earphone control method and an earphone control device are provided. The earphone control method and the earphone control device are applied to an earphone arranged with an ultrasonic transceiver and an ultrasonic receiver. The method includes: controlling the ultrasonic transceiver to transmit a first ultrasonic signal while the earphone is being worn (S110); obtaining a first echo signal collected by the ultrasonic transceiver, determining whether there is an object within a preset range based on the first echo signal, and controlling, in a case that there is an object within the preset range (S120), the ultrasonic transceiver to transmit a second ultrasonic signal (S130); performing feature extraction and gesture identification based on a second echo signal collected by the ultrasonic transceiver and a third echo signal collected by the ultrasonic receiver to obtain an identification result (S140); and determining whether the identification result indicates a valid gesture based on a current operation mode of the earphone and preset gestures corresponding to the current operation mode, and controlling, in a case that the identification result indicates the valid gesture (S150), the earphone to perform an action based on an action instruction corresponding to the valid gesture (S160). According to the present disclosure, the earphone is controlled, improving the control sensitivity of the earphone and the user experience, and facilitating miniaturization of earphones.