Portable device and method for operating the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11076217-B2
Application number	US-202016879229-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 20, 2020
Priority date	Jul 11, 2019
Publication date	Jul 27, 2021
Grant date	Jul 27, 2021

Abstract

A portable device includes a microphone structure for converting a received audio signal into an electronic signal representing the received audio signal and for transceiving an ultrasonic wave by transmitting the ultrasonic wave and by receiving a reflection of the ultrasonic wave. The portable device includes a control unit for evaluating the reflection of the ultrasonic wave to obtain an evaluation result and for controlling an operation of the portable device based on the evaluation result.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A portable device comprising:
a microphone structure configured for converting a received audio signal into an electronic signal representing the received audio signal and for transceiving an ultrasonic wave by transmitting the ultrasonic wave and by receiving a reflection of the ultrasonic wave;
a control unit configured for evaluating the reflection of the ultrasonic wave so as to obtain an evaluation result and for controlling an operation of the portable device based on the evaluation result, wherein the portable device comprises a headphone, wherein the control unit is configured for deriving, from the reflected ultrasonic wave a pattern of an ear cup to which the headphone is applied and for determining at least one operation parameter of the headphone associated with the pattern and for controlling the headphone according to the operation parameter.

2. The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured for providing a wear detection so as to control the operation of the portable device.

3. The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured for evaluating the reflection of the ultrasonic wave so as to detect a presence of an object adjacent to the portable device and for controlling a function of the portable device into a first mode so as to control the operation of the portable device; and/or
for evaluating the reflection of the ultrasonic wave so as to detect an absence of an object adjacent to the portable device and for controlling the function of the portable device into a second mode so as to control the operation of the portable device.

4. The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured for:
determining a topography of an ear reflecting the ultrasonic wave and to determine at least one of a position of the headphone with respect to a left and/or right ear on a head and for adapting an operation of the headphone based on the position; and/or
determining an approach of an object towards the microphone structure and for controlling the headphone so as to prepare for an acoustic shock when the headphone is put on a head.

5. The portable device according to claim 1 , comprising an active noise cancelling function; wherein the microphone structure is an error microphone; wherein the control unit is configured for evaluating the reflection of the ultrasonic wave so as to detect a presence of an object adjacent to the portable device and for activating the active noise cancelling function based on the presence; and/or
for evaluating the reflection of the ultrasonic wave so as to detect an absence of an object adjacent to the portable device and for deactivating the active noise cancelling function based on the absence.

6. The portable device according to claim 5 , comprising an active noise canceller configured for active noise cancelling based on an adaptive controller configured for continuously executing an adaptation of a control of the active noise canceller based on the received audio signal;
wherein the adaptive controller is configured for pausing the adaptation during a time interval during which the ultrasonic wave is transceived; or
wherein the adaptive controller is configured for performing the adaptation unaffected by the ultrasonic wave.

7. The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured for controlling the microphone structure so as to transmit the ultrasonic wave at a frequency of at least 40 kHz and at most 120 kHz.

8. The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured for controlling the microphone structure so as to transceive the ultrasonic wave and for evaluating the reflection of the ultrasonic wave during a measurement intervals having a duration of at most 1 ms.

9. The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured for controlling the microphone structure so as to transceive the ultrasonic wave and for evaluating the reflection of the ultrasonic wave during a plurality of measurement intervals having a repetition rate of at least 10/s.

10. The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured for operating the microphone structure for converting the received audio signal and for transceiving the ultrasonic wave simultaneously or sequentially.

11. The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the microphone structure comprises a MEMS microphone structure.

12. A method for operating a headphone, the method comprising:
converting a received audio signal into an electronic signal representing the received audio signal;
transceiving an ultrasonic wave by transmitting the ultrasonic wave and by receiving a reflection of the ultrasonic wave;
evaluating the reflection of the ultrasonic wave so as to obtain an evaluation result; and
controlling an operation of the headphone based on the evaluation result by deriving, from the reflected ultrasonic wave a pattern of an ear cup to which the headphone is applied and for determining at least one operation parameter of the headphone associated with the pattern and for controlling the headphone according to the operation parameter.

13. A portable device comprising:
a microphone structure configured for converting a received audio signal into an electronic signal representing the received audio signal and for transceiving an ultrasonic wave by transmitting the ultrasonic wave and by receiving a reflection of the ultrasonic wave;
a control unit configured for evaluating the reflection of the ultrasonic wave so as to obtain an evaluation result and for controlling an operation of the portable device based on the evaluation result,
wherein the portable comprises a mobile phone having a display, and
wherein the control unit is configured for evaluating the reflection of the ultrasonic wave so as to detect a presence of an object adjacent to the mobile phone and for deactivating the display based on the presence; and/or for evaluating the reflection of the ultrasonic wave so as to detect an absence of an object adjacent to the mobile phone and for activating the display based on the absence.

Assignees

• Infineon Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Neumaier Daniel
• Bretthauer Christian
• Straeussnigg Dietmar

Classifications

• H04R5/033

  Headphones for stereophonic communication {(details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10)} · CPC title

• G10K11/1781

  characterised by the analysis of input or output signals, e.g. frequency range, modes, transfer functions · CPC title

• H04R2420/07

  Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones · CPC title

• H04R1/1083

  Reduction of ambient noise (active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06) · CPC title

• H04R1/08 Primary

  Mouthpieces; {Microphones;} Attachments therefor · CPC title