Bone conduction transducers for privacy
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsRobert D. Silfvast, Neal D. Evans, Nikolas T. Vitt, Jonathan D. Sheaffer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for routing audio content through an electronic device that is to be worn by a user. The method obtains a communication and determines whether the communication is private. In response to determining that the communication is private, the method drives a bone conduction transducer of the electronic device with an audio signal associated with the communication. In response to determining that the communication is not private, however, the method drives a speaker of the electronic device with the audio signal.
Claims21
(canceled)
A method performed by a programmed processor of a headset, the method comprising:
- receiving audio content;
- receiving, from a sensor of the headset, sensor data;
- determining whether the audio content is private based on the sensor data;
- and
- responsive to determining that the audio content is private, driving a bone conduction transducer (BCT) of the headset with an audio signal that comprises at least a portion of the audio content.
A headset comprising:
- a sensor;
- a bone conduction transducer (BCT);
- a processor;
- and
- memory having stored therein instructions which when executed by the processor cause the headset to:
- receive audio content,
- receive, from the sensor, sensor data,
- determine whether the audio content is private based on the sensor data, and
- responsive to a determination that the audio content is private, drive the BCT of the headset with an audio signal that comprises at least a portion of the audio content.
A processor of a headset that is configured to:
- receive audio content;
- receive, from a sensor of the headset, sensor data;
- determine whether the audio content is private based on the sensor data;
- and
- responsive to a determination that the audio content is private, drive a bone conduction transducer (BCT) of the headset with an audio signal that comprises at least a portion of the audio content.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.