Dynamically reactive, formable and wearable earpiece

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10440461-B2
Application number	US-201515762947-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2015
Priority date	Sep 25, 2015
Publication date	Oct 8, 2019
Grant date	Oct 8, 2019

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses and methods may provide for an earpiece that includes an audio subsystem and a longitudinal housing that is bendable between a substantially straight shape and a substantially curved shape. The longitudinal housing may contain the audio subsystem and include a flexible material. Additionally, a speaker may be coupled to the audio subsystem and positioned at an end of the longitudinal housing. In one example, the earpiece also includes a controller coupled to the flexible material, wherein the controller generates one or more control signals that cause the flexible material to automatically complete a bend of the longitudinal housing to the substantially curved shape.

First claim

We claim:

1. A system comprising:
a handheld device including a display, a network interface and one or more surfaces defining a recess, the handheld device to generate an audio signal via the network interface; and
an earpiece including,
an audio subsystem to receive the audio signal from the handheld device,
a longitudinal housing that is bendable between a substantially straight shape that fits within the recess and a substantially curved shape, wherein the longitudinal housing contains the audio subsystem and includes a flexible material,
a controller coupled to the flexible material, the controller to generate one or more control signals that cause the flexible material to complete a bend of the longitudinal housing to the substantially curved shape in response to detachment of the earpiece from the handheld device, and
a speaker coupled to the audio subsystem and positioned at an end of the longitudinal housing.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is to generate the one or more control signals based on one or more of schedule data or context data.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is to generate the one or more control signals in response to a manual trigger that corresponds to detachment of the earpiece from the handheld device.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the earpiece further includes one or more pressure sensors to generate one or more feedback signals, and wherein the controller is to discontinue generation of the one or more control signals based on the one or more feedback signals.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is to initiate a transition of the longitudinal housing from the substantially curved shape to the substantially straight shape in response to a manual trigger that corresponds to removal of the earpiece from an ear.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the earpiece further includes:
a battery port to receive power; and
a charger to supply power to the battery port.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flexible material includes one or more of a shape memory alloy, an electroactive polymer or an electromechanical bladder.

8. An earpiece comprising:
an audio subsystem;
a longitudinal housing that is bendable between a substantially straight shape and a substantially curved shape, wherein the longitudinal housing contains the audio subsystem and includes a flexible material;
a controller coupled to the flexible material, the controller to generate one or more control signals that cause the flexible material to automatically complete a bend of the longitudinal housing to the substantially curved shape in response to detachment of the earpiece from a handheld device; and
a speaker coupled to the audio subsystem and positioned at an end of the longitudinal housing.

9. The earpiece of claim 8 , wherein the controller is to generate the one or more control signals based on one or more of schedule data or context data.

10. The earpiece of claim 8 , wherein the controller is to generate the one or more control signals in response to a manual trigger that corresponds to detachment of the earpiece from a handheld device.

11. The earpiece of claim 8 , further including one or more pressure sensors to generate one or more feedback signals, wherein the controller is to discontinue generation of the one or more control signals based on the one or more feedback signals.

12. The earpiece of claim 8 , wherein the controller is to initiate a transition of the longitudinal housing from the substantially curved shape to the substantially straight shape in response to a manual trigger that corresponds to removal of the earpiece from an ear.

13. The earpiece of claim 8 , further including:
a battery port to receive power; and
a charger to supply power to the battery port.

14. The earpiece of claim 8 , wherein the flexible material includes one or more of a shape memory alloy, an electroactive polymer or an electromechanical bladder.

15. A method comprising:
generating, in response to a first manual trigger that corresponds to detachment of an earpiece from a handheld device, one or more control signals that cause a flexible material of the earpiece to automatically complete a bend of the earpiece to a substantially curved shape; and
initiating a transition of the earpiece from the substantially curved shape to the substantially straight shape in response to a second manual trigger that corresponds to removal of the earpiece from an ear.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the one or more control signals are generated based on one or more of schedule data or context data.

17. The method of claim 15 , further including discontinuing generation of the one or more control signals based on one or more feedback signals from one or more pressure sensors of the earpiece.

18. At least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions, which when executed by an earpiece, cause the earpiece to:
generate, in response to a first manual trigger that corresponds to detachment of the earpiece from a handheld device, one or more control signals that cause a flexible material of the earpiece to automatically complete a bend of the earpiece to a substantially curved shape; and
initiate a transition of the earpiece from the substantially curved shape to the substantially straight shape in response to a second manual trigger that corresponds to removal of the earpiece from an ear.

19. The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the one or more control signals are to be generated based on one or more of schedule data or context data.

20. The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the earpiece to discontinue generation of the one or more control signals based on one or more feedback signals from one or more pressure sensors of the earpiece.

Assignees

• Intel Corp
• Reynolds Derek J
• Magi Aleksander

Inventors

• Reynolds Derek J
• Magi Aleksander

Classifications

• H04R1/105

  Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks (for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335) · CPC title

• H04R2460/17

  Hearing device specific tools used for storing or handling hearing devices or parts thereof, e.g. placement in the ear, replacement of cerumen barriers, repair, cleaning hearing devices · CPC title

• H04R1/1091

  Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083 · CPC title

• H04R2420/07

  Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones · CPC title

• H04R1/1041 Primary

  Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements (switches in general H01H) · CPC title