Wireless Earbud Pose Detection with Neutral-Frame Coaching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wearable electronic devices, such as wireless ear buds, lack the capability to provide effective exercise coaching and feedback based on user head movements, limiting their functionality in enhancing user performance during routines.

Innovation Solution

Ear buds equipped with orientation sensors, such as accelerometers, gather orientation data in a first reference frame and rotate it into a neutral frame for analysis using a user head pose look-up table, providing audible feedback and coaching on head movement routines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If wireless ear buds are equipped with orientation sensors to provide exercise coaching, then the functionality and user experience are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexercise coaching functionalityVSAvoidsensor and processing system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ear buds are designed to perform multiple functions: audio playback, orientation sensing, exercise coaching, and pose detection. By making the ear buds multi-functional, the patent avoids requiring separate devices for each function, thereby improving versatility while managing the complexity increase through integrated design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

A host electronic device serves as an intermediary between the ear buds and the exercise coaching system. The host device receives orientation data from the ear buds, processes it through pose recognition algorithms, and provides coaching feedback. This intermediary approach allows the ear buds to remain relatively simple while still enabling complex coaching functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If accelerometer data is processed and rotated into neutral reference frame for pose detection, then measurement precision is improved, but the processing time and computational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehead pose detection accuracyVSAvoiddata processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calibration to determine the rotation matrix that transforms the ear bud's reference frame to the neutral reference frame. This calibration is done beforehand, so during actual exercise coaching, the system only needs to apply the pre-computed rotation matrix rather than performing complex real-time calculations, thereby reducing processing time while maintaining precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex real-time pose recognition algorithms with a simpler approach using pre-computed rotation matrices and threshold-based pose classification. Instead of using sophisticated machine learning models or complex kinematic calculations during exercise, the system uses straightforward matrix multiplication and comparison against predefined thresholds, significantly reducing computational requirements and processing time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If real-time feedback and coaching are provided during exercise routines, then user performance is improved, but the energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexercise routine effectivenessVSAvoidear bud energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides feedback periodically rather than continuously. The accelerometer samples orientation data at regular intervals during the exercise routine, and feedback is provided at these periodic sampling points. This periodic approach maintains reliable exercise coaching while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring and feedback

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic 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 effective exercise coaching and feedback, ensuring users perform head movement routines correctly by categorizing poses and providing real-time guidance and alerts, enhancing user experience and exercise efficacy.

Implementation Method 1

gather orientation data in a first reference frame such as a reference frame associated with the ear buds

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAccelerometer: Accelerometer

Implementation Method 2

use a rotation matrix to rotate the data in the first reference frame into a second reference frame such as a neutral reference frame

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotation matrix transformation:

Data Source

PatentUS20250240553A1Wireless Ear Bud System With Pose Detection

Publication Date: 2025.07.24 APPLE INC

AI summary

Ear buds may have sensors to gather orientation information such as accelerometer measurements during user movements. A host electronic device may communicate wirelessly with the ear buds and may form part of an ear bud system that supplies the user with coaching and feedback while evaluating user performance of a head movement routine or other exercise routine. During operation, the ear buds may gather accelerometer data in a first reference frame such as a reference frame associated with the ear buds and may use a rotation matrix to rotate the data in the first reference frame into a second reference frame such as a neutral reference frame with a fixed orientation to the earth. The data in the neutral reference frame may be analyzed using a user head pose look-up table to categorize measured user head positions as corresponding to respective user head poses.