# US 12,008,163 B1 · Earbud sensor assembly

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- Number: US 12,008,163 B1
- Document ID: US12008163B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 18/178,968
- Filed: 2023-03-06
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2023-03-06
- Assignees: Naqi Logix Inc.
- Applicants: Naqi Logix Inc.
- Inventors: R K K Durga Rao Manchem; Sanandan Sudhir; Jaymin Oza; Prayas Rokde; David Segal
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12008163B1

## CPC

- G06F 3/015: {Input arrangements based on nervous system activity detection, e.g. brain waves [EEG] detection, electromyograms [EMG] detection, electrodermal response detection}
- A61B 5/256: Wearable electrodes, e.g. having straps or bands
- A61B 5/389: Electromyography [EMG]
- A61B 5/6817: {Ear canal}
- G06F 3/017: {Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883)}
- A61B 2562/0209: Special features of electrodes classified in A61B5/24, A61B5/25, A61B5/283, A61B5/291, A61B5/296, A61B5/053
- A61B 2562/04: Arrangements of multiple sensors of the same type
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling devices through gestures sensed via an earbud. The earbud can include a set of electrodes configured to contact particular anatomic locations on an individual's ear. Based on electrophysiologic signals sensed via the electrode assembly, the system can identify gestures being performed by the user and control the external device accordingly.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An earbud comprising:
a gestural sensor configured to detect movement data indicative of a gesture being performed by a user;
a first electrode positioned to physically contact a concha of an ear of the user when the earbud is worn by the user;
a second electrode positioned to physically contact a tragus of the ear when the earbud is worn by the user;
a third electrode positioned to physically contact a triangular fossa of the ear when the earbud is worn by the user; and
a controller coupled to the gestural sensor, the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode, the controller programmed to:
receive an electrophysiologic measurement from each of the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode, wherein a first electrophysiological measurement from the first electrode corresponds to an electrophysiological signal indicative of the gesture being performed by the user, a second electrophysiological measurement from the second electrode corresponds to a baseline electrophysiological signal, and a third electrophysiological measurement from the third electrode corresponds to a common mode signal,
determine the gesture being performed by the user based on (i) a comparison of the electrophysiological signal indicative of the gesture to the baseline electrophysiological signal and the common mode signal and (ii) the movement data from the gestural sensor, and
transmit the determined gesture to an external device for control thereof.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The earbud of claim 1, wherein the electrophysiologic measurements are selected from the group consisting of, electrocardiogram (ECG), an electroencephalogram (EEG), or an electromyography (EMG).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The earbud of claim 1, wherein each of the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode comprise a size from about 5 mm to about 6 mm.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The earbud of claim 1, wherein the external device comprises a virtual reality headset.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The earbud of claim 1, wherein each of the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode comprise at least one of an elastomer, silicone, a metal, a ceramic, a carbon nanotube material, composites thereof, or combinations thereof.

### Claim 6

A system comprising:
an earbud comprising:
a gestural sensor configured to detect movement data indicative of a gesture being performed by a user,
a first electrode positioned to physically contact a concha of an ear of a user when the earbud is worn by the user,
a second electrode positioned to physically contact a tragus of the ear when the earbud is worn by the user,
a third electrode positioned to physically contact a triangular fossa of the ear when the earbud is worn by the user, and
a controller coupled to the gestural sensor, the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode, the controller programmed to:
receive an electrophysiologic measurement from each of the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode, wherein a first electrophysiological measurement from the first electrode corresponds to an electrophysiological signal indicative of the gesture being performed by the user, a second electrophysiological measurement from the second electrode corresponds to a baseline electrophysiological signal, and a third electrophysiological measurement from the third electrode corresponds to a common mode signal, and
determine the gesture being performed by the user based on (i) a comparison of the electrophysiological signal indicative of the gesture to the baseline electrophysiological signal and the common mode signal and (ii) the movement data from the gestural sensor; and
an external device communicably coupled to the earbud, the external device programmed to:
receive the determined gesture from the controller of the earbud, and
perform an action in response to the determined gesture.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the electrophysiologic measurements are selected from the group consisting of, electrocardiogram (ECG), an electroencephalogram (EEG), or an electromyography (EMG).

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein each of the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode comprise a size from about 5 mm to about 6 mm.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the external device comprises a virtual reality headset.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the action comprises at least one of changing a field of view of the virtual reality headset or changing a mode of the virtual reality headset.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein each of the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode comprise at least one of an elastomer, silicone, a metal, a ceramic, a carbon nanotube material, composites thereof, or combinations thereof.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The earbud of claim 1, wherein the gestural sensor comprises at least one of a gyroscope, an accelerometer, or a pressure sensor configured to detect an inner ear pressure of the user.

### Claim 13 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the gestural sensor comprises at least one of a gyroscope, an accelerometer, or a pressure sensor configured to detect an inner ear pressure of the user.