Patent Application
20130038458
The present invention generally relates to apparatuses having a sensor attached to a headset and to controlling the headset according to the sensed information.
Active headsets have recently become very popular. An active headset consumes power from a battery. The battery can be a primary cell inside the headset, a rechargeable cell inside the headset, or the headset may receive power from a battery in a supplying device, for example, a battery of a mobile phone.
A headset typically contains a switch by which the user can switch the headset on and off. While being “ON” the headset will consume power from the battery. When the battery becomes empty, the battery must be replaced or recharged before the headset can be used again.
According to a first example aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus comprising:
a strain sensor configured to sense strain in a connecting part between a first part and a second part of a headset; and
a circuitry configured to cause a change in the state of the headset in accordance with the sensed strain.
In certain example embodiments, said causing a change in the state of the headset comprises deactivating or activating the headset. In other embodiments, said causing a change in the state of the headset comprises pausing a connection in the headset, and/or switching the headset or the connection into a standby mode, and/or switching the headset or the connection into a mode with a lowered power consumption, and/or transferring sounds or voice from the headset, after a delay, into an external speaker or similar. Said causing a change in the state of the headset may comprise switching the headset or its communication connection from an activated state or operational mode (such as turned on mode or connection mode) into a deactivated state or operational mode (such as turned off or standby mode).
In certain example embodiments, the strain sensor comprises a strain gauge whose electrical resistance changes upon deformation. The strain gauge may be used to control the headset, for example, to activate and/or deactivate the headset.
Based on sensed strain the apparatus may deduce whether the headset is worn by the user or whether it has been taken off, and for example, deactivate the headset accordingly.
In certain example embodiments, the apparatus is configured to detect a change in the strain via detecting a change in the electrical resistance of the strain sensor.
In certain example embodiments concerning deactivation of the headset, the deactivation comprises switching power off from the headset.
In certain example embodiments concerning deactivation of the headset, the deactivation comprises deactivating an active noise cancellation function.
In certain example embodiments, the circuitry is configured to cause the change in the state of the headset in accordance with a detected change in the sensed strain.
In certain example embodiments, the change leading to the change in the state of the headset is a change from a strained condition to a non-strained condition.
In certain example embodiments, the apparatus is configured to cause the change in the state of the headset only after an intentional predetermined delay has occurred after a detected change in the sensed strain.
In certain example embodiments, the first part and the second part are earpieces or end parts of the apparatus, and the connecting part is a spring or a spring-like member, such a headband or a neckband, to which the strain sensor is attached. In an example implementation the appropriate sensor elements of the strain sensor are located in the connecting part, whereas the logics of the strain sensor are located in one of the earpieces.
In certain example embodiments, the circuitry is an analog circuitry.
In certain example embodiments, the apparatus comprises a switch to activate the headset.
In certain example embodiments, the apparatus is an active headset. It may be a battery operated headset, that is, it may consume power from a battery. It may be a low power device. The apparatus may be an active noise cancellation headset and/or a headset for a communication device, such as a mobile handset or phone. The headset may be a wireless headset. It may be a Bluetooth headset or another short range communication headset. It may be a headband or a neckband model. Strain gauge resistors may be fixed to a headband or a neckband depending on the model.
In certain example embodiments, a strain gauge is integrated into a headset (or headphones). The strain gauge senses whether the headset is worn by the user or if it has been taken off. Once it is sensed that it has been taken off, after a certain delay time the headset will power off and stop draining battery. The delay is set long enough that simply momentarily moving the headset does not cause the headset to turn off. In example embodiments involving active noise cancellation headsets, deactivating an active noise cancellation function in the active noise cancellation headset may be implemented similarly.
According to a second example aspect of the invention there is provided a method comprising:
sensing strain with a strain sensor in a connecting part between a first part and a second part of a headset; and
causing a change in the state of the headset based on the sensed strain.
In certain example embodiments, said causing a change in the state of the headset comprises deactivating or activating the headset. In other embodiments, said causing a change in the state of the headset comprises pausing a connection in the headset, and/or switching the headset or the connection into a standby mode, and/or switching the headset or the connection into a mode with a lowered power consumption, and/or transferring sounds or voice from the headset, after a delay, into an external speaker or similar. Said causing a change in the state of the headset may comprise switching the headset or its communication connection from an activated state or operational mode (such as turned on mode or connection mode) into a deactivated state or operational mode (such as turned off or standby mode).
In certain example embodiments, it is detected by a headset with a strain gauge whether the headset is worn or if it is left unused.
In certain example embodiments, the method comprises detecting a change in the strain via detecting a change in the electrical resistance of the strain sensor.
In certain example embodiments concerning deactivation of the headset, the deactivation comprises switching power off from the headset.
In certain example embodiments concerning deactivation of the headset, the deactivation comprises deactivating an active noise cancellation function.
In certain example embodiments, the method comprises causing the change in the state of the headset based on a detected change in the sensed strain.
In certain example embodiments, the method comprises causing the change in the state of the headset based on a detected change from a strained condition to a non-strained condition.
In certain example embodiments, the method comprises causing the change in the state of the headset only after an intentional predetermined delay has occurred after a detected change in the sensed strain.
Different non-binding example aspects and embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in the foregoing. The above embodiments are used merely to explain selected aspects or steps that may be utilized in implementations of the present invention. Some embodiments may be presented only with reference to certain example aspects of the invention. It should be appreciated that corresponding embodiments may apply to other example aspects as well. Any appropriate combinations of the embodiments may be formed.
The invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
In the following description, like numbers denote like elements.
It should be noted that although the example embodiments presented in the following mainly focus to deactivating a headset based on information sensed by a strain sensor, this is not to be considered limitative. The invention should therefore not be restricted to the deactivating embodiments only, but should be understood to cover also other embodiments, for example embodiments in which any other change in the state of the headset is caused based on the sensed information.
The headset 100 comprises a strain sensor 105 integrated to the headset. In an example implementation, an appropriate sensor element (or sensor elements) of the strain sensor 105 are integrated in the headband 112, whereas the logics of the strain sensor 105 are located in one of the earpieces 101, 102. In an example embodiment the strain sensor 105 comprises a strain gauge. In an example embodiment, the strain gauge is a film-like component. The strain gauge or a strain gauge film in an example implementation is attached to a bending surface of the spring or spring-like member of the headband 112. The strain sensor 105 is thereby protected inside the headband 112 (below the protecting surface of the headband 112). In an example implementation, the strain sensor 105 is fixed to the spring or spring-like member by glue.
In an alternative embodiment, instead of having the logics of the strain sensor 105 merely in one of the earpieces 101, 102, the logics or part of it is placed with the strain sensor 105, such as the strain gauge. It may comprise an appropriate switching driver unit or similar.
The strain sensor 105, such as the strain gauge, in an example embodiment forms a component of its own. In one implementation it comprises an on/off switch with a sheet, a flex, some appropriate components and wires.
In the top right drawing of
In an example embodiment, the strain sensor 105 is configured to obtain information about, for example, whether the headset 100 is worn by the user or not. According to an example embodiment of the invention, when the headset 100 is worn by the user, the headset is in a strained condition. This strain is detected by the strain sensor 105. When the headset 100 is not worn by the user, the headset is in a less-strained or non-strained condition. This is, again, detected by the strain sensor 105.
According to an example embodiment, once the headset 100 enters the “Taken Off” state, a delay circuit illustrated by the timer 107 shown in the top right drawing of
Once the headset 100 deactivates, the power consumption of the headset 100 finishes or reduces compared to an active state.
In embodiments concerning deactivation of the headset, deactivation of the headset may comprise for example switching power off from the headset 100 or deactivating only a (power consuming) function of the headset 100. The deactivation may comprise closing a connection, such as a Bluetooth connection in a Bluetooth headset, or entering a standby mode. In the event the headset is, for example, an active noise cancellation headset, the deactivation of the headset may comprise deactivation of the noise cancellation function only. Alternatively, the deactivation may comprise switching the power of the headset off entirely. In other embodiments, based on the sensed strain, the sounds or voice from the headset is transferred, after a delay, into an external speaker or similar. In certain example embodiments, based on the sensed strain, the headset is switched from a first operating mode into a second operating mode, the second operating mode consuming less power than the first operating mode.
As the spring or spring-like element, to which the strain gauge with resistors 221-224 is tightly attached, is deformed due to experienced tension, the strain gauge is also deformed causing the electrical resistance of the resistors 221-224 to change. This will be detected by the comparator circuit 230, which will provide an output signal to a delay circuit comprising a delay arrangement implemented for example by a resistor-capacitor circuit, such as a resistor 241 and a capacitor 242.
The delay circuit controls a power off switch 250 with an output signal (Power off signal). The switch can be a FET transistor or similar. When the headset 100 is worn by the user, the continuous tension experienced by the strain gauge keeps the power off signal low. A headset battery 260 feeds power to headset electronics 270. When the power off signal is low, the power off switch 250 remains closed and the headset electronics 270 powered on. When there is a change in the tension (for example the user takes the headset 100 off her/his head), this is detected by the comparator circuit 230, the power off signal becomes high after a delay produced by the delay circuit, and the power off switch 250 opens deactivating the power supply from the battery 260 to the headset electronics 270. In alternative embodiments, the switch 250 is similarly used to cause any other appropriate change in the state of the headset.
In certain example embodiments, if the headset is taken back in use within the delay time, the delayed deactivation is slowly reversed by the circuitry, and the headset continues its normal function. In alternative embodiments in which the comparator function and/or the delay function is implemented for example by a processor in the headset, more logic can be implemented by the processor. For example, a short movement on the headband or neckband can be programmed to reset the delay time.
One or more of the embodiments of the invention may provide one or more of the following technical effects. A power off function on active headsets by the use of a strain gauge may be implemented. A simple and economic hardware solution may be achieved. An apparatus may be realized without expensive conductive materials. Simple analog models providing a deactivation function without any microcontrollers or microprocessors may be provided. Only a simple analog circuit is needed for strain detection and to activate a power off switch.
The foregoing description has provided by way of non-limiting examples of particular implementations and embodiments of the invention a full and informative description of the best mode presently contemplated by the inventors for carrying out the invention. It is however clear to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted to details of the embodiments presented above, but that it can be implemented in other embodiments using equivalent means or in different combinations of embodiments without deviating from the characteristics of the invention.
Furthermore, some of the features of the above-disclosed embodiments of this invention may be used to advantage without the corresponding use of other features. As such, the foregoing description shall be considered as merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention, and not in limitation thereof. Hence, the scope of the invention is only restricted by the appended patent claims.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/FI2010/050332 | 4/23/2010 | WO | 00 | 10/18/2012 |
