Apparatus and method for detecting earphone removal and insertion
AssigneeKnowles Electronics, LLC
InventorsSarmad Qutub, William A. Ryan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
At least one electrical value for a plurality of frequencies is measured over a range of frequencies. An impedance is calculated based upon the at least one electrical value for each of the plurality of frequencies in the frequency range, the calculating producing a plurality of impedances. A maximum impedance from the plurality of impedances and a frequency associated with the maximum impedance are determined. The frequency is compared to a predetermined threshold, and based upon the comparing it is determined whether an earphone has been removed from the ear of a wearer.
Claims20
A method of determining whether an earphone front volume is occluded and on the ear of a wearer, wherein a speaker of the earphone creates sound energy in the earphone front volume in response to electrical signals, the method comprising:
- measuring at least one electrical value of the electrical signals used by the speaker to create the sound energy in the earphone front volume for a plurality of frequencies over a range of frequencies;
- calculating an impedance based upon the at least one electrical value for each of the plurality of frequencies in the frequency range, the calculating producing a plurality of impedances;
- determining a maximum impedance from the plurality of impedances and a frequency associated with the maximum impedance;
- comparing the frequency to a predetermined threshold, and based upon the comparing determining whether the earphone front volume in which the speaker creates sound energy is or is not occluded and whether the earphone has been removed from the ear of a wearer.
An apparatus for determining whether an earphone has been removed from the ear of a wearer, wherein a speaker of the earphone creates sound energy in a speaker front volume in response to electrical signals, the apparatus comprising:
- a measurement device configured to measure at least one electrical value of the electrical signals used by the speaker to create the sound energy in the speaker front volume for a plurality of frequencies over a range of frequencies;
- a processing device coupled to the measurement device, the processing device configured to calculate an impedance based upon the at least one electrical value for each of the plurality of frequencies in the frequency range, the calculating producing a plurality of impedances, the processing device configured to determine a maximum impedance from the plurality of impedances and a frequency associated with the maximum impedance, the processing device configured to compare the frequency to a predetermined threshold, and based upon the comparing determining whether the speaker front volume in which the speaker creates sound energy is or is not occluded and whether the earphone has been removed from the ear of the wearer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.