U.S. patent application number 13/689617 was filed with the patent office on 2014-05-29 for electronic devices and accessories with media streaming control features.
This patent application is currently assigned to Apple Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is APPLE INC.. Invention is credited to Alessandro Pelosi.
Application Number | 20140146982 13/689617 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50773333 |
Filed Date | 2014-05-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140146982 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pelosi; Alessandro |
May 29, 2014 |
Electronic Devices and Accessories with Media Streaming Control
Features
Abstract
An electronic device may play audio content to a user through a
pair of earphones. The audio content may be content that is stored
locally on the electronic device or may be streaming content that
is provided by an online service. Control circuitry in the
electronic device may monitor ear presence sensor structures in the
earphones to determine whether the earphones are present in the
ears of the user. In response to determining that the earphones
have been removed from the ears of the user, the control circuitry
may communicate with the online service provider. Communicating
with the online service provider may include sending media
streaming control commands to the online service provider. The
media streaming control commands may, for example, include media
streaming pause commands that instruct the online service provider
to pause the audio content in response to the earphones being
removed from the ears of the user.
Inventors: |
Pelosi; Alessandro; (San
Francisco, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
APPLE INC. |
Cupertino |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Apple Inc.
Cupertino
CA
|
Family ID: |
50773333 |
Appl. No.: |
13/689617 |
Filed: |
November 29, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
381/174 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/165 20130101;
H04R 1/1041 20130101; H04R 29/001 20130101; H04R 1/1016 20130101;
H04R 1/1008 20130101; H04R 1/1091 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
381/174 |
International
Class: |
H04R 3/00 20060101
H04R003/00 |
Claims
1. A method for operating an electronic device that is configured
to play audio for a user from an online service provider through a
pair of earphones having sensor structures, comprising: with
control circuitry in the electronic device, receiving information
from the sensor structures indicating whether the earphones are
present in the ears of the user; and in response to receiving
information from the sensor structures indicating that the
earphones are not present in the ears of the user, communicating
with the online service provider using the control circuitry.
2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein communicating with the
online service provider comprises sending a media streaming control
command to the online service provider.
3. The method defined in claim 2 wherein the media streaming
control command comprises a media streaming pause command that
instructs the online service provider to pause the audio that is
being played for the user.
4. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the audio comprises an
audio advertisement being played to the user through the earphones
and wherein receiving the information from the sensor structures
comprises receiving information indicating that the user has
removed the earphones while the audio advertisement was being
played for the user.
5. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the sensor structures
comprise a temperature sensor and wherein receiving the information
from the sensor structures comprises receiving a temperature
measurement from the temperature sensor.
6. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the electronic device
comprises cellular telephone transceiver circuitry, the method
further comprising: receiving the audio for the user from the
online service provider over a wireless communications link using
the cellular telephone transceiver circuitry; and in response to
receiving the information from the sensor structures indicating
that the earphones are not present in the ears of the user,
terminating the audio that is being played for the user.
7. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the electronic devices is
configured to play the audio from the online service provider via
an application on the electronic device, the method further
comprising: in response to receiving the information from the
sensor structures indicating that the earphones are not present in
the ears of the user, closing the application on the electronic
device.
8. A method of using an electronic device of a user listening to
audio through earphones that are coupled to the electronic device
to communicate with service provider computing equipment over a
communications network, comprising: with ear presence detectors in
the earphones, determining whether the earphones are present in the
ears of the user; and in response to determining that the earphones
have been removed from the ears of the user, sending information to
the service provider computing equipment over the communications
network.
9. The method defined in claim 8 wherein the communications network
comprises the internet and wherein sending the information to the
service provider comprises sending media streaming commands to the
service provider computing equipment over the internet.
10. The method defined in claim 9 further comprising: receiving the
audio from the service provider computing equipment over the
communications network.
11. The method defined in claim 10 wherein sending the media
streaming commands to the service provider computing equipment
comprises sending a media streaming pause command that instructs
the service provider computing equipment to pause the audio to
which the user is listening.
12. The method defined in claim 8 wherein sending the information
to the service provider computing equipment comprises sending user
data to the service provider computing equipment indicating that
the user has removed the earphones during an audio advertisement
provided by the service provider computing equipment.
13. The method defined in claim 8 wherein the ear presence
detectors comprise at least one temperature sensor and wherein
determining whether the earphones are present in the ears of the
user comprises measuring at least one temperature at the
earphones.
14. An electronic device configured to receive audio content from
an online service provider, comprising: an audio connector
configured to receive an audio connector of earphones having sensor
structures that determine whether the earphones are present in the
ears of a user; and control circuitry configured to: monitor the
sensor structures to determine whether the earphones are present in
the ears of the user, and communicate with the online service
provider in response to determining with the sensor structures that
the earphones are not present in the ears of the user.
15. The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the
electronic device comprises cellular transceiver circuitry and
wherein the electronic device is configured to receive the audio
content from the online service provider using the cellular
transceiver circuitry.
16. The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the online
service provider comprises an internet radio service and wherein
the electronic device is configured to play the audio content from
the internet radio service to the user through the earphones.
17. The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the audio
content comprises streaming audio content and wherein communicating
with the online service provider comprises sending a pause command
that instructs the online service provider to pause the streaming
audio content.
18. The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the audio
content comprises a streaming audio advertisement and wherein
communicating with the online service provider comprises sending
user data to the online service provider.
19. The electronic device defined in claim 18 wherein the user data
comprises information indicating that the user has removed the
earphones during the streaming audio advertisement.
20. The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the sensor
structures comprise temperature sensors and wherein the control
circuitry in the electronic device is configured to monitor the
temperature sensors to determine whether the earphones are present
in the ears of the user.
21. The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the sensor
structures comprise ultrasonic acoustic sensors and wherein the
control circuitry in the electronic device is configured to monitor
the ultrasonic acoustic sensors to determine whether the earphones
are present in the ears of the user.
22. The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the sensor
structures comprise capacitive sensor electrodes and wherein the
control circuitry in the electronic device is configured to monitor
the capacitive sensor electrodes to determine whether the earphones
are present in the ears of the user.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] This relates to electronic devices and, more particularly,
to electronic devices with accessories such as earphones.
[0002] Accessories such as earphones are often used with media
players, cellular telephones, computers, and other electronic
devices. There can be difficulties associated with using earphones.
For example, a user who is using earphones to listen to streaming
audio content provided by an online service may occasionally need
to remove the earphones. When doing so, the user may miss content
that is being played. For example, a user may not be able to
manually stop audio content before removing the earphones, causing
some of the content to be played without the user's full attention.
Playing streaming audio content while the user is not listening is
not only wasteful of the electronic device's battery life but also
wasteful of cellular data usage, of which the user may only be
allotted a certain amount per month.
[0003] This type of situation is also undesirable for online
service providers, which are typically required to pay for each
song played (regardless of whether or not a user is listening).
[0004] It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide
improved ways in which to control operation of an electronic device
coupled to an accessory.
SUMMARY
[0005] An electronic device may receive audio content from an
online service provider such as an internet radio service or other
online service provider. The electronic device may play the audio
content for a user through a pair of earphones.
[0006] The earphones may have sensor structures that determine
whether or not the ears of a user are present in the vicinity of
the earphones.
[0007] Control circuitry in the electronic device may monitor the
sensor structures to determine whether the earphones are in or on
the ears of the user. In response to determining that the earphones
have been removed from the ears of the user, the control circuitry
may communicate with the online service provider.
[0008] Communicating with the online service provider may include
sending media streaming control commands to the online service
provider. The media streaming control commands may include a media
streaming pause command that instructs the online service provider
to pause the streaming audio content in response to the earphones
being removed from the ears of the user.
[0009] The audio content provided by the online service provider
may include an audio advertisement. The control circuitry may send
information to the online service provider indicating that the
earphones have been removed from the ears of the user during the
audio advertisement.
[0010] The electronic device may communicate with computing
equipment associated with the online service provider over a
communications network such as the internet.
[0011] Further features of the invention, its nature and various
advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and
the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an illustrative system in which an
electronic device with wireless communications circuitry may
communicate with an online service provider in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of an illustrative
electronic device and associated accessory in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative electronic
device and associated accessory in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a diagram of an illustrative accessory showing how
sensor signals may be conveyed from ear presence sensor structures
in the accessory to an audio connector in the accessory in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an illustrative speaker
housing such as an earbud speaker housing that has ear presence
sensor structures in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an illustrative speaker
housing such as an in-ear speaker housing that has ear presence
sensor structures in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of illustrative earphones such
as over-the-ear headphones that have ear presence sensor structures
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view of an earphone housing
of the type that may be provided with sensor structures for
detecting the presence of an ear or other external object in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 9 is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in
using an accessory and electronic device in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] Electronic device accessories may be provided with the
ability to sense the presence of external objects. For example, an
earphone accessory may be provided with sensing structures such as
user detection sensors that can determine whether or not the
earphones (i.e., the earphone speakers) are located in or on the
ears of a user.
[0022] Information gathered by the sensor structures may be used to
control audio content that is provided to the user through the
earphones. For example, information gathered by the sensor
structures may be used to control audio content provided by online
services such as internet radio and other streaming content
providers. Controlling the playback of streaming content from an
electronic device based on whether or not the user is wearing
earphones associated with the electronic device may optimize the
electronic device's battery life, may optimize the electronic
device's cellular data usage, and may also prove beneficial for the
online service provider by reducing the amount of content played
without a user listening.
[0023] An illustrative system in which an electronic device may
communicate with an online service provider such as an online
streaming content provider is shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1,
system 60 may include a communications network such as network 48.
Communications network 48 may include wired and wireless local area
networks and wide area networks (e.g., the internet). Equipment
such as computing equipment 46 may be used in implementing online
services. Computing equipment 46 may include one or more networked
computers (e.g., servers) on which software is run to implement
software-based services. The services that are hosted using
computing equipment such as computing equipment 46 may include
video server services, audio server services, web page services,
communications services, media playback services, online storage
services, social networking services, games, etc. Online service
computing equipment 46 may, for example, include a streaming
content provider such as an internet radio service or other
streaming content provider). The servers that are used in
implanting online services may be implemented using one or more
computers that are located at one or more different geographic
locations.
[0024] Electronic devices 10 may communicate with online service
computing equipment 46 over communications network 48. In a typical
wired connection arrangement, an electronic device may be connected
to network 48 using a cable. The cable may connect the electronic
device to equipment in network 48. For example, link such as link
50 of FIG. 1 may be used to interconnect an electronic device to
network 48 (e.g., using a modem). Wireless links may also be formed
as part of links 50 or other links in system 60.
[0025] For example, an electronic device may have a wireless local
area network adapter that allows the device to communicate
wirelessly with wireless local area network equipment such as
wireless local area network equipment 52. Wireless local area
network equipment 52 may, for example, be a router or access point
that supports IEEE 802.11 communications (sometimes referred to as
WiFi.RTM.). As illustrated in FIG. 1, one or more electronic
devices 10 may be connected to the network by forming a local
wireless link such as one of links 56 with equipment 52.
[0026] In addition to forming local wireless links, electronic
devices 10 may form remote wireless links (i.e., links that may
cover distances of a mile or more). Links of this type may be made,
for example, with cellular telephone base stations such as cellular
telephone base stations 54. In the example of FIG. 1, one of
cellular base stations 54 is shown as forming a remote wireless
communications link 56 with an associated one of electronic devices
10.
[0027] Wireless local area network equipment 52 and cellular base
stations 54 may be connected to other equipment in network 48 using
wired or wireless links (shown as links 50 in FIG. 1). Because
wireless local area network equipment 52 and cellular base stations
54 serve to provide access to network 48, equipment 52 and cellular
base stations 54 may serve as part of communications network 48 and
are sometimes referred to as forming wireless network equipment.
Other wireless equipment may also be used in network 48 and in
forming wireless connections to network 48. The example of FIG. 1
is merely illustrative.
[0028] A perspective view of a system of the type that may be used
in system 60 is shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, system 8 may
include electronic device 10 and accessory 20. Device 10 of FIG. 2
may be portable electronic equipment such as a cellular telephone,
a tablet computer, a media player, a wrist-watch device, a pendant
device, an earpiece device, a notebook computer, other compact
portable devices, or other electronic equipment such as a computer
monitor with an integrated computer, a computer monitor, a desktop
computer, a set-top box, or a television.
[0029] Electronic device 10 may include a display such as display
14. Display 14 may be a touch screen that incorporates a layer of
conductive capacitive touch sensor electrodes or other touch sensor
components or may be a display that is not touch-sensitive. Display
14 may include an array of display pixels formed from liquid
crystal display (LCD) components, an array of electrophoretic
display pixels, an array of plasma display pixels, an array of
organic light-emitting diode display pixels, an array of
electrowetting display pixels, or display pixels based on other
display technologies. Configurations in which display 14 includes
display layers that form liquid crystal display (LCD) pixels may
sometimes be described herein as an example. This is, however,
merely illustrative. Display 14 may include display pixels formed
using any suitable type of display technology.
[0030] Display 14 may be protected using a display cover layer such
as a layer of transparent glass or clear plastic. Openings may be
formed in the display cover layer. For example, an opening may be
formed in the display cover layer to accommodate a button such as
button 16 and an opening such as opening 18 may be used to form a
speaker port.
[0031] Device 10 may have a housing such as housing 12. Housing 12,
which may sometimes be referred to as an enclosure or case, may be
formed of plastic, glass, ceramics, fiber composites, metal (e.g.,
stainless steel, aluminum, etc.), other suitable materials, or a
combination of any two or more of these materials.
[0032] Housing 12 may be formed using a unibody configuration in
which some or all of housing 12 is machined or molded as a single
structure or may be formed using multiple structures (e.g., an
internal frame structure, one or more structures that form exterior
housing surfaces, etc.). The periphery of housing 12 may, if
desired, include walls. One or more openings may be formed in
housing 12 to accommodate connector ports, buttons, and other
components. For example, an opening may be formed in the wall of
housing 12 to accommodate audio connector 24 and other connectors
(e.g., digital data port connectors, etc.). Audio connector 24 may
be a female audio connector (sometimes referred to as an audio
jack) that has two pins (contacts), three pins, four pins, or more
than four pins (as examples). Audio connector 24 may mate with male
audio connector 22 (sometimes referred to as an audio plug) in
accessory 20.
[0033] Accessory 20 may be a pair of earphones (e.g., earbuds or
earphones with other types of speakers), other audio equipment
(e.g., an audio device with a single earphone unit), or other
electronic equipment that communicates with electronic device 10.
The use of a pair of earphones in system 8 is sometimes described
herein as an example. This is, however, merely illustrative.
Accessory 10 may be implemented using any suitable electronic
equipment.
[0034] It should be understood that the term "earphones" may refer
to any suitable type of audio headset (e.g., headphones,
over-the-ear headphones, earbuds, earbud-type headphones with ear
hooks, in-ear headphones that extend partially into the ear canal,
etc.).
[0035] As shown in FIG. 2, accessory 20 may include a
communications path such as cable 26 that is coupled to audio plug
22. Cable 26 may contain conductive lines (e.g., wires) that are
coupled to respective contacts (pins) in audio connector 22. The
conductive lines of cable 26 may be used to route audio signals
from device 10 to speakers in earphone units 28. Earphone units 28
(which may sometimes be referred to as speakers, speaker housings,
or earphone housings) may include sensor structures for determining
when earphone units 28 have been placed within the ears of a user.
Microphone signals may be gathered using a microphone mounted in
controller unit 30. Controller unit 30 may also have buttons that
receive user input from a user of system 8. A user may, for
example, manually control the playback of media by pressing button
30A to play media or increase audio volume, by pressing button 30B
to pause or stop media playback, and by pressing button 30C to
reverse media playback or decrease audio volume (as examples).
[0036] The circuitry of controller 30 may communicate with the
circuitry of device 10 using the wires or other conductive paths in
cable 26 (e.g., using digital and/or analog communications
signals). The paths in cable 26 may also be coupled to speaker
drivers in earphones 28, so that audio signals from device 10 may
be played through the speakers in speaker housings 28. Electronic
device 10 may regulate the volume of sound produced by earphones 20
by controlling the audio signal strength used in driving the
speakers in speaker housings 28.
[0037] Sensor signals from sensor structures in earphones 20 may be
conveyed to device 10 using the conductive paths of cable 26.
Electronic device 10 may process the sensor signals and take
suitable action based on a determination of whether or not
earphones 20 are in or on the ears of a user.
[0038] A schematic diagram showing illustrative components that may
be used in device 10 and accessory 20 of system 8 is shown in FIG.
3. As shown in FIG. 3, electronic device 10 may include control
circuitry 32 and input-output circuitry 34. Control circuitry 32
may include storage and processing circuitry that is configured to
execute software that controls the operation of device 10. Control
circuitry 32 may be implemented using one or more integrated
circuits such as microprocessors, application-specific integrated
circuits, memory, and other storage and processing circuitry.
[0039] Input-output circuitry 34 may include components for
receiving input from external equipment and for supplying output.
For example, input-output circuitry 34 may include user interface
components for providing a user of device 10 with output and for
gathering input from a user.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 3, input-output circuitry 34 may include
communications circuitry 36. Communications circuitry 36 may be
used to form local and remote wireless links such as links 56 of
FIG. 1. Local wireless links may be formed using wireless local
area network transceiver 64 (e.g., IEEE 802.11 and Bluetooth.RTM.).
Remote wireless links may be formed using cellular telephone
transceiver 62. Communications circuitry 36 may be used to handle
wireless signals in communications bands such as the 2.4 GHz and 5
GHz WiFi.RTM. bands, cellular telephone bands, and other wireless
communications frequencies of interest. Communications circuitry 36
may also include wired communications circuitry such as circuitry
for communicating with external equipment over serial and/or
parallel digital data paths.
[0041] Input-output devices 38 may include buttons such as sliding
switches, push buttons, menu buttons, buttons based on dome
switches, keys on a keypad or keyboard, or other switch-based
structures. Input-output devices 38 may also include status
indicator lights, vibrators, display touch sensors, speakers,
microphones, camera sensors, ambient light sensors, proximity
sensors, and other input-output structures.
[0042] Electronic device 10 may be coupled to components in
accessory 20 using cables such as cable 26 of accessory 20.
Accessory 20 may include speakers such as a pair of speaker drivers
40 (e.g., a left speaker and a right speaker). If desired,
accessory 20 may include more than one driver per speaker housing
28. For example, each speaker housing 28 in accessory 20 may have a
tweeter, a midrange driver, and a bass driver (as an example).
Speaker drivers 40 may be mounted in earbuds or other speaker
housings. The use of left and right speaker housings to house
respective left and right speaker drivers 40 is sometimes described
herein as an example.
[0043] If desired, accessory 20 may include user input devices 42
such as buttons (see, e.g., the buttons associated with button
controller 30 of FIG. 2), touch-based input devices (e.g., touch
screens, touch pads, touch buttons), a microphone to gather voice
input, and other user input devices.
[0044] To determine whether or not the speaker housings in which
speaker drivers 40 have been mounted are located in or on the ears
of a user, accessory 20 may be provided with user detection sensor
structures 44. User detection sensor structures 44 may be
configured to detect whether or not earphones 20 have been placed
in or on the ears of a user. User detection sensors 44 may be
formed from acoustic-based sensors such as ultrasonic
acoustic-based sensors, from capacitive sensors, from temperature
sensors, from force sensors, from resistance-based sensors, from
light-based sensors, and/or from switch-based sensors or other
mechanical sensors (as examples). Control circuitry 45 in accessory
20 (e.g., storage and processing circuits formed from one or more
integrated circuits or other circuitry) and/or control circuitry 32
of electronic device 10 may use information from sensor structures
44 in determining which actions should be automatically taken by
device 10.
[0045] In force-based sensor schemes, the resistance of a
compressible foam may be measured or a strain gauge output can be
monitored. When force is present, electronic device 10 can conclude
that earphones 20 have been inserted into or mounted on a user's
ears, whereas when force is not present, electronic device 10 can
conclude that earphones 20 are not being worn by the user. Force
indicative of a user's ear pressing against earphones 20 may also
be monitored using piezo-electric force sensors or other force
sensors.
[0046] A diagram of accessory 20 illustrating how sensor signals
may be conveyed from ear presence sensor structures 44 to an
electronic device such as device 10 is shown in FIG. 4. As shown in
FIG. 4, accessory 20 may include left speaker driver 40L with
associated left ear presence sensor 44L and right speaker driver
40R with associated right ear presence sensor 44R. If desired, only
one of speaker drivers 40L and 40R may have an associated ear
presence sensor. The example of FIG. 4 in which both left and right
speaker drivers have an associated ear presence sensor is merely
illustrative.
[0047] Cable 26 may include common cable segment 35 that branches
into two cable segments 33L and 33R. Cable segments 33L, 33R, and
35 may each include any suitable number of wires. For example,
cable segment 33L may include a first wire associated with left
channel audio and a second wire that serves as ground. Cable
segment 33R may include a first wire associated right channel audio
and a second wire that serves as ground. Cable segment 35 may, for
example, include a first wire associated with left channel audio, a
second wire associated with right channel audio, a third wire that
serves as ground, and a fourth wire associated with microphone
signals (e.g., microphone signals from a voice microphone in
controller unit 30 of FIG. 2).
[0048] If desired, there may be additional wires in cable 26. For
example, segment 33L may include a wire associated with sensor
signals from left ear presence sensor 44L and segment 33R may
include a wire associated with sensor signals from right ear
presence sensor 44R.
[0049] If desired, sensor signals from ear presence sensors 44 may
be conveyed over the electrical paths used for analog audio. For
example, sensor signals may encoded as digital signals using a
modulation scheme (e.g., amplitude modulation, frequency
modulation, phase modulation, other suitable modulation techniques,
etc.). With this type of configuration, accessory 20 may include a
controller such as controller 31 having communications circuitry
configured to receive sensor signals from ear presence sensors 44
and to modulate the sensor signals on the existing audio paths in
cable segment 35. For example, circuitry 31 may receive sensor
signals from sensor 44L and 44R and may modulate the sensor signals
on a right channel audio wire, a left channel audio wire, and/or a
microphone wire (as examples).
[0050] Audio connector 22 may have any suitable number of contacts.
For example, connector 22 may be a three-contact audio connector
(sometimes referred to as a tip-ring-sleeve (TRS) connector) or
connector 22 may be a four-contact audio connector (sometimes
referred to as a tip-ring-ring-sleeve (TRRS) connector). In
configurations where cable 26 includes a designated wire for sensor
signals from ear presence sensors 44, connector 22 may include an
additional contact to be used for handling the sensor signals. In
configurations where sensor signals are modulated on existing audio
wires, connector 22 need not include additional contacts for
handling sensor signals.
[0051] An illustrative earbud speaker housing with an ear presence
sensor is shown in FIG. 5. In the example of FIG. 5, earbud 28 has
a housing such as housing 66 in which one or more speaker drivers
such as speakers 40 of FIG. 3 are mounted.
[0052] Conductive structures such as conductive mesh structures 68
and 70 may be mounted in housing 66. As shown in FIG. 5, for
example, mesh structures 68 and 70 may be mounted in the front of
housing 66 so that sound from the speakers inside earbud housing 66
may pass through the holes of the mesh. If desired, earbud 28 may
contain microphone structures (e.g., when implementing noise
cancellation features in earbud 28). The use of mesh when forming
electrode structures 68 and 70 may allow ambient sound to be picked
up by the noise cancellation microphones in housing 66.
[0053] Mesh electrodes 68 and 70 (e.g., metal screen structures) or
other conductive structures in earbud 28 may be used as first and
second terminals in a resistive (resistance-based) sensor. Control
circuitry in housing 66 may be used to apply a voltage across the
first and second terminals while measuring how much current flows
as a result. The control circuitry may use information on the
voltage and current signals that are established between electrodes
68 and 70 to determine whether or not earbud 28 has been placed in
the ear of a user. In the absence of the user's ear, the resistance
between electrodes 68 and 70 will be relatively high. When,
however, earbud 28 has been placed into a user's ear, contact
between electrodes 68 and 70 and the flesh of the ear will give
rise to a lower resistance path between electrodes 68 and 70. To
determine whether or not earbud 28 has been placed within the
user's ear, the control circuitry of earbud 28 (and/or control
circuitry 32 of FIG. 3) may measure the resistance between
electrodes 68 and 70 and may compare the measured resistance to a
predetermined threshold. When the measured resistance is below the
predetermined threshold, device 10 can conclude that earbud 28 has
been placed in the ear of the user. When the measured resistance
exceeds the predetermined threshold, device 10 can conclude that
earbud 28 is out of the ear.
[0054] In addition to or instead of using mesh 68 and 70 to measure
the resistance of the user's ear, mesh electrodes 68 and 70 may be
used as capacitive sensor electrodes (e.g., to make mutual
capacitance measurements or to make self capacitance measurements).
Different capacitance values may be detected in the presence and
absence of the user's ear in the vicinity of electrodes 68 and 70.
This allows device 10 to use the capacitance measurements to
determine whether or not earbud 28 is in, on, or out of the user's
ear.
[0055] If desired, earbud 28 may include a sealing member such as
sealing member 72. Sealing member 72 may be used to form a seal
between user's ear and earbud 28 that helps block ambient noise
while also forming an enclosed cavity adjacent to the ear canal. In
addition to or instead of using mesh 68 and 70 to detect the
presence of a user's ear, an ear presence sensor such as ear
presence sensor 74 may be embedded in or formed on sealing member
72.
[0056] As an example, ear presence sensor 74 may be a temperature
sensor configured to measure a temperature adjacent to sealing
member 72. Different temperature values may be detected in the
presence and absence of the user's ear in the vicinity of sealing
member 72. Device 10 may use temperature information provided by
temperature sensor 74 to determine whether or not earbud 28 is in,
on, or out of the user's ear.
[0057] As an additional example, ear presence sensor 74 may be a
pressure or force sensor configured to measure a pressure or force
against sealing member 72. Different pressure or force values may
be detected in the presence and absence of the user's ear in the
vicinity of sealing member 72. Device 10 may use information
provided by sensor 74 to determine whether or not earbud 28 is in,
on, or out of the user's ear.
[0058] These examples are, however, merely illustrative. If
desired, sensor 74 may be a capacitive sensor, a switch-based
sensor (e.g., sensor 74 may be a mechanical switch that is actuated
when a user's ear is present or absent), or any other suitable type
of sensor configured to detect the presence and/or absence of a
user's ear.
[0059] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an illustrative in-ear
speaker housing with an ear presence sensor. In the example of FIG.
6, in-ear earbud 28 includes sealing members 76 configured to
extend partially into the ear canal of a user's ear. Earphones of
the type shown in FIG. 6 are sometimes referred to as ear-canal
headphones.
[0060] As shown in FIG. 6, ear presence sensor 74 may be embedded
in or formed on one of sealing members 76. Ear presence sensor 74
may be a temperature sensor, a pressure or force sensor, a
capacitive sensor, a switch-based sensor (e.g., sensor 74 may be a
mechanical switch that is actuated when earbud 28 is inserted or
removed from a user's ear), or any other suitable type of sensor
configured to detect the presence and/or absence of a user's
ear.
[0061] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of illustrative over-the-ear
headphones having one or more user detection sensors. In the
example of FIG. 7, accessory 20 includes a headband such as
headband 78 with left and right over-the-ear speaker housings 28. A
sealing member such as sealing member 80 may be a ring or layer of
foam or may be any other suitable type of ear pad configured to
form a seal around the user's ear to block out ambient noise.
[0062] As shown in FIG. 7, accessory 20 may include one or more
user detection sensors such as user detection sensors 82 and 84.
User detection sensors 84 may be embedded in or formed on sealing
members 80 and may be configured to detect the presence and absence
of a user's ears in the vicinity of speaker housings 28. User
detection sensor 82 may be embedded in or formed on headband
portion 78 and may be configured to detect the presence and absence
of a user's head adjacent to headband 78. When information from
sensor 82 indicates that a user's head is not present, device 10
can conclude that the user is not wearing headphones 20. When
information from sensor 82 indicates that a user's head is present,
device 10 can conclude that the user is wearing headphones 20.
[0063] User detection sensors 82 and 84 may be temperature sensors,
pressure or force sensors, capacitive sensors, acoustic-based
sensors, switch-based sensors (e.g., sensors formed form mechanical
switches that are actuated when a user's ear or head is present or
absent), or any other suitable type of sensor configured to detect
the presence and/or absence of a user's ear.
[0064] A cross-sectional side view of an illustrative earbud with a
speaker driver and an associated ear presence sensor is shown in
FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 8, earbud 28 may have a housing such as
housing 66. Speaker 40 may be mounted within housing 66 overlapping
an acoustic grill formed from structures such as mesh 68 and 70 or
other acoustic mesh. During operation, sound 88 may pass through
the acoustic mesh. For example, speaker 40 may produce sound that
is received by a user's ear or other external object 80.
[0065] When external object 80 is sufficiently close to earbud 28,
the presence of external object 80 may be detected. For example,
control circuitry 45 (or control circuitry 32 in device 10) may
measure the resistance between mesh electrodes 68 and 70 using
conductive paths 82 or may use capacitance measurements in
monitoring for the presence of object 80. The measured resistance
(or capacitance) may then be used to determine whether earbud 28 is
in the user's ear or is out of the user's ear. Control circuitry 45
(or control circuitry 32 in device 10) may also use sensors such as
sensor 44 of FIG. 8 to monitor for the presence or absence of
external objects such as the user's ear. As shown in FIG. 8, sensor
44 may have a transmitter such as transmitter 44TX and may have a
receiver such as receiver 44RX. During operation of sensor 44,
sensor 44 may transmit signals such as signal 84 and may gather
reflected signals such as signal 86. The strength of received
signal 86 may be used to measure whether or not external object 80
is in the presence of earbud 28.
[0066] Sensor 44 may, for example, be a sensor that emits and
receives acoustic signals. For example, transmitter 44TX may be a
signal transducer that transmits acoustic signals 84. Receiver 44RX
may be a signal receiver that measures the amount or quality of
acoustic signal 84 that is reflected as reflected signal 86 from
external object 80. When the amount or quality of acoustic signal
that is reflected from external object 80 is low or fits a specific
profile, circuitry 45 can conclude that earbud 28 is not in the
user's ear. When the amount or quality of acoustic signal that is
reflected from external object 80 is high or fits a specific
profile, circuitry 45 can conclude that earbud 28 is currently in
the user's ear.
[0067] Signal transducer 44TX may be configured to transmit
ultrasonic signals and/or acoustic signals in the audible range.
Signal transducer 44TX may, for example, transmit ultrasonic
signals during audio playback (e.g., while speaker driver 40 is
playing audio content for a user), whereas acoustic signals in the
audible range may be transmitted when audio content is not being
played by speaker driver 40 (e.g., between songs).
[0068] If desired, signal receiver 44RX may be used to receive
acoustic signals that have been transmitted by speaker driver 40
and reflected from external object 80. With this type of
configuration, signal transmitter 44TX may not be required. The
echo of the audio content transmitted by speaker driver 40 and
received by receiver 44RX may be indicative of whether or not
earbud 28 is present at the user's ear.
[0069] Device 10 may use information from sensor structures 44
(FIG. 3) to control audio content that is provided to the user
through the earphones. For example, device 10 may control content
from an online service provider (e.g., online service computing
equipment 46 of FIG. 1) based on whether or not earphones 20 are
being worn by a user. Device 10 may communicate with the online
service provider in response to receiving information from sensor
structures 44. When information from sensor structures 44 indicates
that earphones 20 are not in or on a user's ears, device 10 may
pause, stop, or mute content playback, may lower the playback
volume (i.e., audio signal drive strength), may close the
application providing the content, and/or may take other suitable
actions.
[0070] If desired, information gathered by user detection sensors
44 may be provided to the online service that is providing the
audio content. For example, device 10 may send user data to the
online content provider indicating when a user removes earphones 20
while listening to content provided by the online content provider
(e.g., during an advertisement, during a particular song, etc.).
This type of information may allow the online service provider to
optimize the services and advertisements it provides to the
user.
[0071] A flow chart of illustrative steps involved in in using
system 8 is shown in FIG. 9. During the operations of step 92,
earphones 20 may be located in or on the ears of a user and device
10 may be operated normally while using sensor circuitry 44 to
monitor for the presence or absence of speaker housings 28 of
accessory 20 in or on the ears of a user. In configurations where
earphones 20 are over-the-ear headphones (FIG. 7), sensor circuitry
44 may be used to monitor the presence or absence of the user's
head near headband 78 or the presence or absence of the user's ears
near over-the-ear speaker housings 28. Circuitry 32 (and/or
circuitry 45, if desired) may be used in evaluating sensor data and
taking appropriate action. Configurations in which control
circuitry 32 is used in taking action based on sensor data are
sometimes described herein as an example.
[0072] Examples of operations that may be performed by device 10
during step 92 include audio-based operations such as playing media
content using an audio signal strength that results in a playback
volume that is appropriate for listening through earphones 20,
providing a user with audio associated with a telephone call,
providing audio associated with a video chat session to the user,
or otherwise presenting audio content through earphones 20. Audio
may be played in stereo so that left and right earbuds receive
corresponding left and right channels of audio, may be played using
a multi-channel surround sound scheme, or may be played using a
monophonic (mono) sound scheme in which both the left and right
channels of audio are identical.
[0073] The media content may be media content that is stored
locally on electronic device 10 or may be streaming media content
that is provided by an online service (e.g., an online radio
service or other internet-based content provider such as online
service computing equipment 46 of FIG. 1). For example, electronic
device 10 may receive streaming audio content from computing
equipment associated with an online service provider over a
communications network.
[0074] During the monitoring operation of step 92, device 10 can
use user detection sensors 44 to determine whether or not earphones
20 are in or on the user's ears.
[0075] If, during the operations of step 92, it is determined that
earphones 20 have been removed from the user's ears, device 10 may
take suitable action at step 94. For example, device 10 may
communicate with the online service provider in response to
determining that the earphones are out of the user's ears.
Communicating with the online service provider may include sending
media streaming control commands to the online service provider.
The media streaming control commands may, for example, include a
media streaming pause command that instructs the online service
provider to pause the audio content that is being transmitted to
the electronic device over the communications network.
Communicating with the online service provider may also include
sending user data to the online service provider indicating that
the earphones have been removed from the user's ears during an
audio advertisement.
[0076] Other suitable actions that may be taken by device 10 in
response to the user removing earphones 20 from the user's ears
include pausing, stopping, or muting the media playback, adjusting
the playback volume (audio signal drive strength), closing the
application on device 10 that is running the online service that is
providing the media, and/or sending user data to the online service
(as examples). User data that may be sent to the online service may
include information about when the user removes earphones 20 (e.g.,
during what type of content the user removes earphones 20, how
often the user removes earphones 20, how long the earphones 20 are
removed from the user's ears, etc.). For example, electronic device
10 may send user data to the online service provider indicating
that the earphones have been removed from the user's ears during an
audio advertisement. In configurations where the audio content to
which the user is listening is received from the online service
over a wireless communications link, step 94 may include
terminating the audio content to which the user is listening in
response to the earphones being removed from the user's ears.
[0077] After taking suitable actions at step 94, device 10 can be
operated in an earphones-off mode (step 96). For example, device 10
may operate with paused, stopped, or muted audio playback during
step 94. In situations where the actions taken during step 94
included sending user data to the online service without pausing,
stopping, muting, or otherwise adjusting the audio content provided
by the online service, step 96 may include operating device 10
normally (e.g., continuing to provide audio content from the online
service).
[0078] During the operations of step 96, ear presence sensor
structures 44 may be used to monitor for the presence of earphones
20 in or on the ears of the user.
[0079] If, during the operations of step 96, sensor structures 44
determine that earphones 20 have been placed in or on the user's
ears, appropriate action may be taken at step 98. Suitable actions
that may be taken by device 10 in response to earphones 20 being
placed in or on the user's ears include resuming media playback,
restoring a previous volume level of the media playback, opening
the application on device 10 that runs the online service that
provides the media, and/or sending user data to the online service
(as examples). Operations may then proceed to step 92, where device
10 may operate in an earphones-on mode while monitoring sensor
structures 44 to determine when earphones 20 are removed from the
user's ears.
[0080] The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of
this invention and various modifications can be made by those
skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of
the invention. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented
individually or in any combination.
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