Wearable Audio Head Orientation Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable audio systems lack the ability to seamlessly manage multiple conversations or audio interactions without user intervention, as they cannot discern the direction the user is facing to automatically route audio signals to appropriate destinations.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating dual microphones positioned on either side of the neck or shoulder housing, a processor compares audio signals to determine the user's head orientation, allowing for automatic routing of audio to different destinations such as voice user interfaces, virtual personal assistants, or voice calls based on the user's direction of gaze.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If wearable audio systems use traditional single-microphone or omnidirectional audio capture, then the system structure remains simple, but the system cannot discern user directionality and cannot automatically route audio to different destinations
Solution Approach 1:
The audio capture system is segmented into multiple directional microphone elements arranged in specific patterns (e.g., cardioid, omnidirectional, hypercardioid patterns) around the wearable device. Each microphone captures audio from its specific directional sector, enabling the system to determine user orientation and route audio accordingly. This segmentation of the audio capture function into directional components resolves the contradiction by providing directionality through modular microphone elements rather than a single complex omnidirectional sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable audio system integrates multiple functions into a single device: audio capture from multiple directions, head orientation detection, automatic audio routing to different destinations (speaker, VUI, VPA, STT, voice call, recording, messaging), and user interface control. This multi-functionality allows the system to automatically manage multiple conversations and audio interactions without requiring separate devices, thereby achieving high automation while managing device complexity through consolidation.
2Ease of operation
If the system provides manual control options for audio routing, then the user has control over audio destinations, but the user must manually manipulate controls which reduces hands-free interaction
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines user orientation using microphone array processing and head tracking sensors, then self-routes audio signals to appropriate destinations without user intervention. The system monitors head orientation changes and dynamically switches between audio destinations (speaker, VUI, VPA, STT, voice call, recording, messaging) based on where the user is facing, enabling completely hands-free operation while maintaining versatile audio routing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors user head orientation through sensors and microphone array analysis, providing real-time feedback about the user's facing direction. Based on this feedback, the system automatically adjusts audio routing decisions, switching between destinations as the user turns their head. This closed-loop feedback mechanism maintains adaptability while eliminating manual controls, as the system responds autonomously to user orientation changes.
3Measurement precision
If the system manages multiple conversations simultaneously without directionality detection, then the system can handle multiple audio streams, but it cannot determine which conversation the user intends to engage with
Solution Approach 1:
The audio signal processing is segmented into separate directional analysis channels, with each microphone or microphone element pair processing signals independently to determine spatial origin. The system divides the audio sphere into directional sectors and analyzes which sector contains the user's voice, providing precise head orientation detection. This segmented processing approach enables accurate directionality measurement while managing computational complexity through parallel processing of directional components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds the spatial dimension of head orientation to the traditional audio signal processing. By incorporating head tracking sensor data and directional microphone analysis, the system transforms 1D audio signals into 3D spatial information about user orientation. This dimensional enhancement allows precise determination of which conversation the user intends to engage with, while the added complexity is managed through efficient multi-dimensional signal fusion algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus is configured to rest on a wearer's neck or shoulders, and has a first microphone positioned at a first position located on the right side of the wearer, when the apparatus is worn, and a second microphone positioned at a second position located on the left side of the wearer. A processor receives audio signals output by the first and second microphones, and compares the audio signals from the first microphone to the audio signals from the second microphone. Based on the comparison, the processor determines whether the wearer's head is rotated to the right, left, or center, during an instance of the user speaking. Based on the determination, the processor selects a first one of at least two audio signal destinations, and provides the audio signal from at least one of the microphones to the first selected audio signal destination.