US-12619306-B2 - Wearable control system and method to control an ear-worn device

US12619306B2US 12619306 B2US12619306 B2US 12619306B2US-12619306-B2

Abstract

The invention is related to a wearable control system ( 1 ) configured to control an ear-worn device ( 5 ). The wearable control system ( 1 ) comprises at least a first processor ( 71 ) configured to execute a computer programme, comprising instructions related to a plurality of user-selection elements, and to receive a user input. The wearable control system ( 1 ) comprises a wearable remote-control device ( 10, 12 ) comprising a wireless interface configured to communicate with the ear-worn device ( 5 ), and a user interface comprising at least one sensor ( 20 ) configured to sense an operation of a user and configured to output a signal indicative of the detected operation. The first processor ( 71 ) is further configured to receive the signal from the user interface and to convert the signal from a user input to generate and transmit an information on a state of a user-selection element and causing the ear-worn device ( 5 ) to present that information to the user ( 100 ) by auditory display being indicative of the state of the at least one user-selection element.

Inventors

Pauline O'Callaghan

Assignees

BOSE CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20220421
Priority Date: 20210421

Claims (15)

1 . A wearable control system configured to control an ear-worn device, wherein the wearable control system comprises at least a first processor, wherein the first processor is configured to execute a computer programme stored on a non-transitory storage medium of the system, comprising instructions to provide, generate and arrange a plurality of user-selection elements, and to receive a user input for selecting one or more user-selection elements or to rearrange the user-selection elements, a wearable remote-control device, wherein the wearable remote-control device comprises a wireless interface configured to communicate with the ear-worn device, and a user interface comprising at least one sensor configured to detect an operation by a part of a hand of a user, and wherein the user interface is configured to output a signal indicative of the detected operation, wherein the first processor is further configured to receive the signal from the user interface and to convert the signal from the user interface into a user input and submit said user input to the computer programme for selecting and/or rearranging the user-selection elements, and to generate and transmit an information about a state of at least one user-selection element of the user-selection elements, upon response from the computer programme, that a selection and/or a rearrangement has been executed, to the ear-worn device causing the ear-worn device to present the information about the state of the at least one user-selection element to the user by auditory display, wherein said auditory display is indicative of the state of the at least one user-selection element, wherein the wearable remote-control device is finger-wearable or wherein the wearable remote-control device is a part of a charge case, a small device which fits in a pocket, a wristband, a pendant, a brooch, or a keyring.
2 . The wearable control system according to claim 1 , wherein the user interface comprises a haptic feedback mechanism.
3 . The wearable control system according to claim 1 , wherein the wearable remote-control device is a ring wearable on a finger.
4 . The wearable control system according to claim 1 , wherein the wearable remote-control device comprises at least one biometric sensor and/or wherein the wearable remote-control device comprises a gesture recognition module based on an inertial measurement unit.
5 . The wearable control system according to claim 1 , wherein the wearable remote-control device comprises a near field communication module.
6 . The wearable control system according to claim 1 , wherein the wearable remote-control device comprises the first processor.
7 . The wearable control system according to claim 1 , wherein the wearable control system comprises an intermediary device, wherein the intermediary device is a computing device, wherein the intermediary device comprises the first processor.
8 . The wearable control system according to claim 1 , wherein the wearable remote-control device is configured to be implantable.
9 . The wearable control system according to claim 1 , wherein the wearable control system is configured to control a further device, wherein the further device is a pair of smart glasses, a smart contact lens, a retina projection device, a virtual reality headset, an artificial reality headset, a computing device, a smart phone, a laptop, a computer, a game console, a hi-fi system, a projector or a car function.
10 . The wearable control system according to claim 1 , wherein the wearable control system comprises the ear-worn device.
11 . A method for controlling an ear-worn device, by a wearable control system, according to claim 1 , comprising the steps of executing a computer programme stored on a non-transitory storage medium of the wearable control system, comprising instructions to provide, generate and arrange a plurality of user-selection elements, and to receive a user input for selecting one or more user-selection elements or to rearrange the user-selection elements by the first processor, establishing communication between the wearable control system and an ear-worn device via a wireless interface of the wearable remote-control device, detection of an operation by a part of a hand of a user at an at least one sensor of a user interface, outputting a signal indicative of the detected operation by the user interface, receiving the signal from the user interface by the first processor and converting the signal from the user interface into a user input and submitting said user input to the computer programme for selecting and/or rearranging the user-selection elements, and to generate and transmit an information about a state of at least one user-selection element of the user-selection elements, upon response from the computer programme, that a selection and/or a rearrangement has been executed, to the ear-worn device causing the ear-worn device to present the information about the state of the at least one user-selection element to the user by auditory display, wherein said auditory display is indicative of the state of the at least one user-selection element.
12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the state of the at least one user-selection element is presented to the user by a pre-defined non-speech sound, wherein the pre-defined non-speech sound is indicative of the state of the at least one user-selection element.
13 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the state of the at least one user-selection element is presented to the user by a pre-defined speech sound, wherein the pre-defined speech sound is indicative of the state of the at least one user-selection element.
14 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the state of the at least one user-selection element is presented to the user by a spatial auditory display.
15 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with a data structure comprising instructions which, when the is executed by the first processor of the wearable control system according to claim 1 , causes the ear-worn device to present the information on the state of the at least one user-selection element to the user by auditory display, wherein said auditory display is indicative of the state of the at least one user-selection element.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is the U.S. National Stage of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2022/060633 filed Apr. 21, 2022, which claims priority to European Patent Application Ser. No. 21/169,746.1 filed Apr. 21, 2021. The invention relates to a wearable control system to control an ear-worn device. Further, the invention teaches a method to control the ear-worn device. Additionally, the invention relates to an associated computer programme. Ear-worn devices are widely used and used in different areas. For instance, an ear-worn device can be a true wireless earbud, a hearable, a hearing aid or an industrial headset. A well-known limitation of current ear-worn devices is a poor user interface, such that the functions are limited and/or the handling is difficult. Users of hearing aids have long bemoaned the lack of control they have over their devices; this is usually limited to a single physical switch on the hearing aid to choose between 2-3 pre-set hearing profiles. Modern digital hearing aids sometimes employ a smartphone application to give users more control over their devices, but this requires removing the user from the environment to look at the phone. This can be inconvenient, for example when struggling to hear someone in a noisy bar and needing to adjust hearing settings. Some hearing aid companies offer remote control devices similar in appearance and functionality to TV remotes or electronic car keys. These devices are limited in functionality and can be inconvenient to carry and access quickly. With the recent proliferation of wireless earbuds in the consumer market, user interface issues have been at the forefront of product reviews. Earbuds with tactile buttons can cause discomfort as pressing these buttons pushes the whole device against the inside of the ear. Touch sensors on earbuds are plagued by false positives and unintentional activation, e.g. accidentally hanging up a call when adjusting the position of the earbud in the ear. Force sensors or well-placed buttons, e.g. requiring the use of the index finger and thumb squeezing together to activate, have proved to be the most popular solution, however the lack of real estate on an ear-worn device usually limits the manufacturer to 1-3 buttons, corresponding to limited functions (e.g. pause, play, activate noise cancelling). Often the buttons require ‘double tap’ or ‘press and hold’ actions, slowing down the interaction for the user. As with hearing aids, wireless earbud manufacturers often provide an accompanying smartphone application to allow more advanced control of the earbuds. In addition to this earbud control application, the user is likely to interact with multiple other smartphone applications when using the earbuds, e.g. to change the song or to find the place in an audiobook. Each of these interactions requires the user to take out the smartphone and look at it, often removing himself/herself from the current environment, e.g. while out on a run or in a ‘flow’ state while working. Increasingly, the user interface requirements of hearing aid users and wireless earbud users are merging, with many hearing aids allowing Bluetooth streaming and many wireless earbuds allowing control of the user's auditory environment. The limitations of current user interfaces for these devices are holding back their potential as devices that extend human abilities. Hence, there is a need of a wearable control system to control an ear-worn device in an easy and reliable manner. Particularly, there is a need for a user interface device and method that allows fast, reliable, non-visual control of an ear-worn device. This objective is attained by the system according to claim 1, the method according to claim 11 and the computer programme according to claim 15. Preferred embodiments are claimed in the sub claims and described hereafter. A first aspect of the invention is related to a wearable control system configured to control an ear-worn device, particularly a hearable. The wearable control system comprises at least a first processor, wherein the first processor is configured to execute a computer programme stored on a non-transitory storage medium of the system, comprising instructions to provide, generate and arrange a plurality of user-selection elements, and to receive a user input for selecting one or more user-selection elements or to rearrange the user-selection elements. The wearable control system comprises a wearable remote-control device, wherein the wearable remote-control device comprises a wireless interface configured to communicate with the ear-worn device, and a user interface comprising at least one sensor configured to sense an operation by a part of a hand of a user, and wherein the user interface is configured to output a signal indicative of the detected operation. The first processor is further configured to receive the signal from the user interface and to convert the signal from the user interface