Wearable Audio Device Head Orientation Speaker Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable audio devices used in VR/AR environments often experience changes in audio loudness spectrum when the user turns their head, disrupting the immersive experience due to the relative positioning of audio ports and ears, especially when speakers are small or lacking in power.
Innovation Solution
A wearable electronic device with an anterior pendant providing a combined left and right channel audio output and a posterior pendant delivering separate left and right channel audio, using motion detectors to adjust speaker output settings based on head orientation, ensuring a consistent audio loudness spectrum.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If external speakers are used to provide audio output for VR/AR devices, then audio power and fidelity are improved, but the audio loudness spectrum changes noticeably when the user turns their head
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the audio output from multiple speakers based on detected head orientation. Motion detectors continuously monitor head position and the system real-time modifies speaker output settings to compensate for head turns, maintaining consistent audio loudness spectrum despite changes in relative speaker-to-ear positioning
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes audio output parameters (volume levels, frequency distribution) of different speakers based on detected head orientation. By adjusting these parameters in response to head movement, the system compensates for the natural changes in audio spectrum that occur when the user turns their head, thereby maintaining stable perceived audio output
2Weight of moving object
If integrated speakers are used in VR/AR devices, then device portability is improved, but audio power and fidelity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines output from multiple small integrated speakers to create a centralized stereo image. By coordinating multiple small speakers working together rather than relying on a single large speaker, the system achieves improved audio power and fidelity while maintaining the portability benefits of small integrated speakers
Solution Approach 2:
The audio output system is divided into multiple separate speaker units distributed on the VR/AR device. Rather than using one large integrated speaker, the system segments the audio output across multiple smaller speakers, allowing each to remain small and lightweight while collectively providing sufficient audio power and fidelity
3Manufacturing precision
If headphones or earbuds are used to deliver high fidelity audio, then audio fidelity is improved, but user comfort and ease of operation deteriorate due to ear occlusion
Solution Approach 1:
The audio output is extracted from the traditional in-ear delivery method (headphones/earbuds) and relocated to external speakers on the VR/AR device. This extraction allows users to keep their ears open to the environment while still receiving high fidelity audio through the external speaker system with dynamic head-tracking compensation
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes first electronic device in communication with a second electronic device. The first electronic device has one or more motion detectors determining an orientation of the first electronic device in three-dimensional space and a first communication device communicating an indication of the orientation of the first electronic device to the second electronic device. The second electronic device has at least a first audio output and a second audio output delivering audio signals to an environment of the second electronic device. A second communication device receives the indication of the orientation of the first electronic device in the three-dimensional space. One or more processors cause at least one of the first audio output and/or the second audio output to alter the audio signals when the orientation of the first electronic device in the three-dimensional space changes.