Apparatus and method for detecting earphone removal and insertion

This patent claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/083,530 entitled “Apparatus and Method for detecting earphone Removal and Insertion” filed Nov. 24, 2014, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

This application relates to acoustic devices and, more specifically, determining whether these devices have been inserted or removed from the ear.

Different types of acoustic devices have been used through the years. Acoustic devices are used in earphones that are inserted entirely or at least partially in the ear. The earphones may include a speaker that presents sound energy to the listener. For example, music may be played to the user. In addition, various other electronic devices may be included with or connected to the earphone such as application processors.

It has become advantageous to determine when an earphone has been removed from (or inserted into) the ear. For example, music may be desired to be played when the earphone is inserted, but not played when it has been removed. This may help to operate the devices more efficiently and save power.

Previous approaches have been either not entirely reliable at properly determining earphone insertion/deletion or have been complicated and/or costly to implement. The problems of previous approaches have resulted in some user dissatisfaction with these previous a.

For a more complete understanding of the disclosure, reference should be made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 comprises a block diagram of a system that is configured to determine earphone insertion and/or removal according to various embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 comprises a flowchart with corresponding graphs describing an approach for determining earphone removal and/or insertion according to various embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 comprises a graph showing the use of tolerances with the earphone insertion determination according to various embodiments of the present invention.

Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity. It will further be appreciated that certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. It will also be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions with respect to their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and study except where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

The present approaches provide for the determination of whether an earphone has been removed (or inserted) from a human ear. The determination of the disposition of the earphone is made automatically without user (listener) intervention. Moreover, the determination utilizes readily available electrical parameters that are readily available or provided at the earphone.

Referring now to FIG. 1 , one example of a system 100 that determines whether and earphone has been removed (or inserted) into an ear is described. As used herein “earphone” means a device that is inserted in or at last partially in the human ear. In another example, the earphone is disposed over the ear (i.e., it does not extend into the ear canal). In all examples, the earphone presents sound energy to the listener. The system 100 includes an application processor 102 , a codec 104 a class D amplifier 106 , a first resistor 108 , a second resistor 110 , a speaker 111 (with a speaker front volume 112 ). The system 100 is coupled to the ear or head 114 of a listener.

The application processor 102 may provide various applications (e.g., the playing of music) to the listener via the codec 104 and the class D amplifier 106 , which transform the digital signals of the application processor 102 into analog signals. In some examples, the class D amplifier 106 may be incorporated with the codec 104 . In other examples, the amplifier could be of different topology such as Class AB, Class H, or others

The first resistor 108 and second resistor 110 provide a structure by which a current measurement is obtained and provided to the DSP 116 . The speaker 111 (having the speaker front volume 112 ) presents signals from the application processor 102 to the listener. The speaker 111 may be any type of device that converts an electrical signal into sound energy and presents the sound energy to a listener. In one example, the speaker may be an armature-type speaker. In another example, it may be a dynamic speaker. The sound energy to be presented to the listener is created in the speaker front volume 112 .

It will be appreciated that an armature-type speaker includes a coil, yoke, magnets, and armature. Excitation of the coil with an electrical signal creates a changing magnetic flux that moves the armature. The armature is coupled to a diaphragm by a drive rod and movement of the armature moves the diaphragm within the front volume 112 to create sound that is presented to the listener.

A dynamic speaker includes a coil, a magnetic circuit, magnets, and a basket with diaphragm mechanically connected to the coil. Excitation of the coil with an electrical signal creates a changing magnetic flux that moves the coil and membrane. The coil moves the diaphragm and coil in unison (mimicking the action of a moving piston), causing sound to be produced. Consequently, movement of the membrane within the front volume 112 creates sound pressure that is presented to the listener.

The DSP 116 is any digital signal processing device that takes the signals received, and determines whether the earphone is removed (or inserted) into the ear based at least in part upon an evaluation of these signals. If the earphone has been removed and in one example, a pause signal 113 may be sent to the application processor 102 to pause the application processor 102 from providing sound energy to the listener.

In one example of the operation of the system 100 of FIG. 1 , current and voltage measurements are provided to the DSP 116 . These measurements are made across the resistors 108 and 110 and include V s (across resistor 108 ) and V r (across resistor 110 ). The measurements are also made across a wide frequency range.

An impedance value (Z) is calculated for each of the voltage and current values measured (at a particular frequency). A maximum impedance (Zmax) of all the impedance values measured across frequencies is next determined. From the maximum impedance, a frequency associated with the maximum impedance is determined (Fz)—this is the system resonance. A predetermined resonant frequency of the speaker 111 with an open front volume 112 is known (in other words, the natural resonance of the device is known). Also known is a predefined resonant threshold frequency that represents the system resonance when the speaker is connected to a cavity that is large enough to still be considered an open condition. If the determined frequency is at or below the predefined threshold frequency of the speaker 111 , the earphone is open (removed from the ear) and if the determined frequency is above the predefined threshold resonant frequency of the speaker 111 , the earphone is closed (inserted in or on the ear).

A tolerance can be used as well to make the determination of whether the earphone is on or in the ear. As shown in FIG. 3 , the system resonant frequency fz, can be compared to predetermined frequencies f 0 and f 1 . Tolerances of f 0 (for open position) and f 1 (for closed position) may be used. For example, if f z falls below f 0 , the earphone to be deemed in the open position and above f 1 for the earphone to be deemed to be in the closed position.

Based upon this determination, various control signals can be transmitted. In one example, a pause signal 113 may be sent to the application processor 102 to pause the application processor 102 in providing sound to the listener when the earphone is determined to be in the open position. Other commands or mode changes are possible when the earphone is removed from or placed over/in the ear.

Referring now to FIG. 2 , one example of for determining earphone removal and/or insertion is described.

At step 202 , voltages and currents 230 are measured over a frequency range. For example, the voltage and current at the input of the speaker may be measured for a plurality of frequencies. At step 204 the impedance 232 of each is calculated, for example, using Ohm's law.

At step 206 , the maximum impedance 234 is calculated. This may be accomplished, for example, by comparing all the impedance values from step 204 , and taking the maximum value.

At step 208 , the frequency 236 associated with the maximum impedance is determined. For example, a known response curve of the system may exist and the point on the response curve may be determined. Once this point has been determined, the associated frequency can be determined by examining the frequency (on the y-axis) of the curve

At step 210 , a determination is made as to whether the frequency determined at step 208 is above or below a predetermined threshold. If the determined frequency f z is at or below the predetermined resonant frequency of the speaker, the earphone is open (removed from the ear) and if the determined frequency is above the predetermined resonant frequency of the speaker, the earphone is closed (inserted in or placed on the ear). As explained above, tolerances can be associated with making these determinations.

As mentioned above, based upon this determination, various control signals can be transmitted. In one example, a pause signal may be sent to an application processor to pause the application processor in providing sound to the listener when the earphone is determined to be in the open position. Other examples of actions are possible.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. It should be understood that the illustrated embodiments are exemplary only, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention.