# US 12,213,804 B2 · Earbud with temperature sensing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,213,804 B2 - Document ID: US12213804B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/849,941 - Filed: 2022-06-27 - Published: 2023-12-28 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2022-06-27 - Assignees: Pixart Imaging Inc. - Applicants: Pixart Imaging Inc. - Inventors: Wei-Lun Sung; Po-Wei Yu; Chih-Ming Sun - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12213804B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/6817: {Ear canal} - A61B 5/0008: {Temperature signals} - A61B 5/01: Measuring temperature of body parts {; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue} (clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20) - H04R 1/1016: {Earpieces of the intra-aural type} - A61B 2562/04: Arrangements of multiple sensors of the same type - H04R 1/1091: {Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083} - H04R 1/345: {for loudspeakers} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) ## Abstract An earbud with temperature sensing is provided, and the earbud includes a housing, a speaker and a first temperature sensor. The housing defines a first opening and a second opening. The speaker is disposed within the housing and oriented so that audio emitted by the speaker exits the housing through the first opening defined by the housing. The first temperature sensor is positioned along an interior surface of the housing and aligned with the second opening in the housing for non-contact temperature sensing. In response to the earbud being positioned for use within an ear of a user, the second opening aligns with an inner side of the tragus close to the ear canal, the cavum conchae, an inner edge of the antitragus, or the cheek close to the ear, such that the first temperature sensor detects a body temperature of the user through the second opening. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An earbud with temperature sensing, comprising: a housing defining a first opening, a second opening and a third opening; a speaker disposed within the housing and oriented so that audio emitted by the speaker exits the housing through the first opening defined by the housing; a first temperature sensor positioned along an interior surface of the housing and aligned with the second opening in the housing for non-contact temperature sensing; a second temperature sensor positioned along the interior surface of the housing and aligned with the third opening in the housing for non-contact temperature sensing, wherein, in response to the earbud being positioned for use within an ear of a user, the second opening aligns with one of an inner side of the tragus close to the ear canal, the cavum conchae, and an inner edge of the antitragus, and the third opening aligns with the cheek close to the ear, such that the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor detect a body temperature of the user through the second opening and the third opening, respectively, and the body temperature is estimated by considering sensor data of the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The earbud according to claim 1, wherein the housing further includes a first protrusion with the first opening at a distal end of the first protrusion that provides the first opening through which the audio emitted by the speaker exits the housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The earbud according to claim 2, further comprising an ear cap pivotally coupled to the distal end of the first protrusion by a hinge. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The earbud according to claim 1, wherein the housing further includes a second protrusion with the second opening at a distal end of the second protrusion that provides the second opening corresponding to the cheek close to the ear. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The earbud according to claim 1, further comprising: a processor disposed within the housing and configured to receive sensor data from the first temperature sensor, wherein the processor is configured to determine from the sensor data whether the earbud is inserted in the user's ear. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The earbud according to claim 5, further comprising: a wireless transceiver disposed within the housing; and an energy storage device disposed within the housing and providing power for operation of the earbud. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The earbud according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of sensor positioning pins positioned along the interior surface of the housing and around the second opening in the housing, such that the first temperature sensor aligns with the second opening by engaging the plurality of sensor positioning pins. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The earbud according to claim 1, wherein the housing further defines a fourth opening, and the earbud further comprises: a third temperature sensor positioned along the interior surface of the housing and aligned with the fourth opening in the housing for non-contact temperature sensing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The earbud according to claim 8, wherein, in response to the earbud being positioned for use within an ear of a user, the second opening, the third opening and the fourth opening respectively align with three of the inner side of the tragus close to the ear canal, the cavum conchae, the inner edge of the antitragus, and the cheek close to the ear, such that the first temperature sensor, the second temperature sensor and the third temperature sensor detect the body temperature of the user through the second opening, the third opening and the fourth opening, respectively. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The earbud according to claim 1, wherein the housing further defines a fourth opening and a fifth opening, and includes a second protrusion with the fifth opening at a distal end of the second protrusion that provides the fifth opening corresponding to the cheek close to the ear, and the earbud further comprises: a third temperature sensor positioned along the interior surface of the housing and aligned with the fourth opening in the housing for non-contact temperature sensing; and a fourth temperature sensor positioned along the interior surface of the housing and aligned with the fifth opening in the housing for non-contact temperature sensing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The earbud according to claim 10, wherein, in response to the earbud being positioned for use within an ear of a user, the second opening, the third opening, the fourth opening and the fifth opening respectively align with the inner side of the tragus close to the ear canal, the cavum conchae, the inner edge of the antitragus; and wherein the first temperature sensor, the second temperature sensor, the third temperature sensor and the fourth temperature are configured to detect the body temperature of the user through the second opening, the third opening the fourth opening and the fifth opening, respectively. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The earbud according to claim 1, wherein the first temperature sensor includes: a routing layer; a sensor chip mounted on the routing layer; an internal housing encapsulating the sensor chip and the routing layer, wherein the internal housing has a through via corresponding to a sensing area of the sensor chip; and an external housing encapsulating the internal housing on a thermal isolation layer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The earbud according to claim 12, wherein the first temperature sensor further includes a cover filter positioned between the internal housing and the external housing and aligned with the through via, and the cover filter contacts with the internal housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The earbud according to claim 12, wherein the internal housing is a metal housing, and the external housing is a plastic housing.