Tap detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11622187-B2
Application number	US-202016832002-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2020
Priority date	Mar 28, 2019
Publication date	Apr 4, 2023
Grant date	Apr 4, 2023

Abstract

The disclosed technology generally relates to a hearing device configured to detect tapping based on input from at least two sensors of the hearing device. The tapping can relate to a tapping gesture that includes a single tap or double tapping. In response to the single or double tap, the hearing device can perform an operation to modify the device (e.g., change the mode, change, or modify a setting, provide a sound, or perform a task). The first sensor can be an accelerometer configured to detect a change in acceleration of the hearing device and the second sensor can include a photodiode to detect a change in distance between the hearing device and the ear with the hearing device. The disclosed technology can be implemented in a method and comprises a computer-readable medium storing instructions to perform the method.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A hearing device comprising:
a processor configured to control operation of the hearing device; and
a memory, electronically coupled to the processor, storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the hearing device to perform operations, the operations comprising:
determine a context for the hearing device based on a classification of ambient sound received at the hearing device, the classification corresponding to one or more of speech, speech in noise, noise, or music;
determine, based on the classification of the ambient sound, a first recommended setting for the hearing device and a second recommended setting for the hearing device;
select the first recommended setting for use by the hearing device;
activate, in response to the determining of the context, a tap gesture feature to cause the hearing device to begin waiting for a tapping signal;
receive the tapping signal from a first sensor configured to detect a change in acceleration of the hearing device;
receive a verification signal from a second sensor;
based on the received tapping signal and the received verification signal, determine that the tapping signal relates to a tap gesture associated with the hearing device; and
use, based on the tap gesture, the second recommended setting instead of the first recommended setting.

2. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein the second sensor comprises a photodiode configured to measure a change in a distance between the second sensor and an ear, wherein the hearing device is at least partially in contact with the ear.

3. The hearing device of claim 2 , wherein the measured distance between the second sensor and the ear is a parameter used to determine that the tapping signal relates to the tap gesture.

4. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is an accelerometer and wherein the second sensor comprises a photodiode.

5. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein the tap gesture is associated with single or double tapping.

6. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein the context is further based on a wireless communication signal from an external device received at the hearing device, and wherein the wireless communication signal is from a mobile device and the wireless communication signal is related to answering or rejecting a phone call.

7. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein determining that the tapping signal relates to the tap gesture further comprises:
determine that a threshold of the verification signal has been met.

8. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein the second sensor comprises a temperature sensor, a capacitive sensor, a microphone configured to generate a sound when tapped, a mechanical sensor configured to detect touch, an antenna, a pressure sensor, or a magnetic sensor configured to detect proximity of an ear to the hearing device.

9. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein one or more classification algorithms are used to determine the context, the classification algorithms including at least one of rule-based and minimum-distance classifiers, a Bayes classifier, a neural network, or a hidden Markov model.

10. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to cause the hearing device to adjust a tapping sensitivity threshold of the hearing device based on the context.

11. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein the classification is based on amplitude modulations, spectral profile, harmonicity, amplitude onsets, and rhythm.

12. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein the first recommended setting and the second recommended setting each have a substantially equal recommendation probability.

13. A method to detect a tap gesture, the method comprising:
determining a context for a hearing device based on a classification of ambient sound received at the hearing device, the classification corresponding to one or more of speech, speech in noise, noise, or music;
determining, based on the classification of the ambient sound, a first recommended setting for the hearing device and a second recommended setting for the hearing device;
selecting the first recommended setting for use by the hearing device;
activate, in response to the determining of the context, a tap gesture feature to cause the hearing device to begin waiting for a tapping signal;
receiving the tapping signal from a first sensor configured to detect a change in acceleration of the hearing device;
receiving a verification signal from a second sensor;
based on the received tapping signal and the received verification signal, determining that the tapping signal relates to a tap gesture associated with the hearing device; and
directing, based on the tap gesture, the hearing device to use the second recommended setting instead of the first recommended setting.

14. The method of claim 13 , the context is further based on a wireless communication signal from an external device received at the hearing device or information received from an accelerometer.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the verification signal includes information associated with a change in a distance between an ear in physical contact with the hearing device and the second sensor.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor cause a hearing device to perform operations, the operations comprising:
determine a context for the hearing device based on a classification of ambient sound received at the hearing device, the classification corresponding to one or more of speech, speech in noise, noise, or music;
determine, based on the classification of the ambient sound, a first recommended setting for the hearing device and a second recommended setting for the hearing device;
select the first recommended setting for use by the hearing device;
activate, in response to the determining of the context, a tap gesture feature to cause the hearing device to begin waiting for a tapping signal;
receive the tapping signal from a first sensor configured to detect a change in acceleration of the hearing device;
receive a verification signal from a second sensor;
based on the received tapping signal and the received verification signal, determine that the tapping signal relates to a tap gesture associated with the hearing device; and
use, based on the tap gesture, the second recommended setting instead of the first recommended setting.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise:
adjust a tapping period based on determining that a quiet period or shock period time has expired before detecting the second tap.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the context for the hearing device is further based on a wireless communication signal from an external device received at the hearing device or information received from an accelerometer.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the verification signal is associated with a change of impedance of an antenna of the hearing device.

Assignees

• Sonova Ag

Inventors

• Thielen Anne

Classifications

• G06F2200/1636

  Sensing arrangement for detection of a tap gesture on the housing · CPC title

• G06F1/3278

  Power saving in modem or I/O interface · CPC title

• G06F1/3215

  Monitoring of peripheral devices · CPC title

• G06F1/3231

  Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users · CPC title

• G06F1/1656

  Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories (mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203) · CPC title