Automatically detecting an earpiece mode based on whether a duct is sealed or unsealed
US12309541B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 15, 2023 |
| Grant date | May 20, 2025 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 9, 2043 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04R2460/11
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An earpiece includes a portion that seals the earpiece in the user's ear, preventing or reducing sounds from an external environment (e.g., the outside world) from entering the user's ear canal and being heard by the user. The earpiece also includes a duct from the user's ear canal to the external environment, which may be open or closed. Whether the duct is open or closed is automatically determined, such as based at least in part on audio measurements at a microphone of the earpiece. When the duct is open, sounds can pass from the external environment to the user's ear canal, active noise cancellation (ANC) is disabled, and an appropriate equalization (EQ) setting is used. When the duct is closed, sounds from the external environment are prevented from passing through to the user's ear canal (or are reduced), ANC is enabled, and an appropriate EQ setting is used.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.