US-12621618-B2 - Method for guiding mounting of wearable device

US12621618B2US 12621618 B2US12621618 B2US 12621618B2US-12621618-B2

Abstract

An electronic device according to various embodiments comprises: an ear tip detachable from the electronic device; a microphone; a speaker; a sensor module comprising at least one sensor configured to sense information of the electronic device; memory storing a leaking sound profile representing the relationship between the magnitude of a signal leaking out of an object on which the electronic device is mounted among signals being output from the electronic device, and the frequency of the signals being output; and at least one processor, comprising processing circuitry, operatively connected with the microphone, the speaker, and the memory. At least one processor, individually and/or collectively, may be configured to: output first signals using the speaker; use the microphone to receive a second signal leaking out of the object on which the electronic device is mounted among the first signals; obtain signal characteristics representing the relationship between a magnitude of the second signal and the frequency of the second signal; determine, based on the information obtained from the sensor module, the leaking sound profile, and the comparison result of the signal characteristics, whether the electronic device is properly mounted and whether the ear tip has been properly selected; provide a mounting guide for the electronic device in response to determining that the electronic device is not properly mounted; and provide an ear tip selection guide in response to determining that the ear tip is not properly mounted.

Inventors

Jaesung Park
Seeyoun KWON
Anant BAIJAL

Assignees

SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20240327
Priority Date: 20211018

Claims (20)

1 . An electronic device comprising: an ear tip configured to be attached to/detached from the electronic device; a microphone; a speaker; a sensor module comprising at least one sensor configured to sense information of the electronic device; memory configured to store a leaked sound profile indicating a relation between a magnitude of signals leaked out of an object on which the electronic device is mounted, among signals output by the electronic device, and a frequency of signals which are output; and at least one processor, comprising processing circuitry, operatively connected to the microphone, the speaker, and the memory, the memory storing instruction that, when executed by the at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, cause the electronic device to: output first signals using the speaker; receive a second signal leaked out of the object on which the electronic device is mounted, among the first signals, using the microphone; acquire signal characteristics representing a relation between the magnitude of the second signal and the frequency of the second signal; determine whether the electronic device is properly mounted and whether the ear tip is properly selected, based on a result of comparing information acquired from the sensor module, the leaked sound profile, and the signal characteristics; provide an electronic device mounting guide in response to determining that the electronic device is not properly mounted; and provide an ear tip selection guide in response to determining that the ear tip is not properly mounted.
2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to: output test signals using the speaker; and generate the leaked sound profile by mapping the magnitude of sounds leaked out of the object on which the electronic device is mounted, among the test signals, and a frequency band of the test signals.
3 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, individually and/or collectively cause the electronic device to: receive an external signal occurring outside the electronic device using the microphone; and generate the leaked sound profile, further based on the magnitude of the external signal.
4 . The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, cause the electronic device to: distinguish the second signal and the external signal, among signals received by the microphone, using a feedback loop.
5 . The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, cause the electronic device to: generate the leaked sound profile using an artificial intelligence algorithm.
6 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, cause the electronic device to: determine whether the electronic device is properly mounted, based on the magnitude of the first signals.
7 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, cause the electronic device to: provide the electronic device mounting guide or the ear tip selection guide by providing an audio notice using the speaker.
8 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, cause the electronic device to: provide the electronic device mounting guide or the ear tip selection guide, based on physical characteristics of a user on which the electronic device is mounted.
9 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a communication module comprising communication circuitry, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, cause the electronic device to: establish communication connection to an external server using the communication module; and acquire the leaked sound profile from the external server and store the acquired leaked sound profile in the memory.
10 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, cause the electronic device to: store the leaked sound profile as a lookup table (LUT).
11 . A method for guiding an electronic device to be mounted, the method comprising: outputting first signals using a speaker; receiving a second signal leaked out of an object on which the electronic device is mounted, among the first signals, using a microphone; acquiring signal characteristics comprising a magnitude and frequency of the second signal; determining whether the electronic device is properly mounted and whether an ear tip is properly selected by comparing information acquired from a sensor module, a leaked sound profile, and the signal characteristics; providing an electronic device mounting guide in response to determining that the electronic device is not properly mounted; and providing an ear tip selection guide in response to determining that the ear tip is not properly mounted.
12 . The method of claim 11 , comprising: outputting test signals using the speaker; and generating the leaked sound profile by mapping the magnitude of sounds leaked out of the object on which the electronic device is mounted, among the test signals, and a frequency band of the test signals.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the generating of the leaked sound profile comprises: receiving an external signal occurring outside the electronic device using the microphone; and generating the leaked sound profile, further based on the magnitude of the external signal.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the generating of the leaked sound profile comprises distinguishing the second signal and the external signal, among signals received by the microphone, using a feedback loop.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the generating of the leaked sound profile comprises generating the leaked sound profile using an artificial intelligence algorithm.
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the determining of whether the electronic device is properly mounted comprises further determining whether the electronic device is properly mounted, based on the magnitude of the first signals.
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the providing of the guide comprises providing the electronic device mounting guide or the ear tip selection guide by providing an audio notice using the speaker.
18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the providing of the guide comprises providing the electronic device mounting guide or the ear tip selection guide, based on physical characteristics of a user on which the electronic device is mounted.
19 . An electronic device comprising: a display; a communication module comprising communication circuitry; a memory; and at least one processor, comprising processing circuitry, operatively connected to the display, the communication module, and the memory, wherein the at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to: establish communication connection to an external device using the communication module; acquire information regarding a mounting state of the external device from the external device; determine whether the external device is properly mounted utilizing a leaked sound profile, the leaked sound profile indicating at least a relation between magnitude of signals leaked out of the external device and signals output by the external device; and transmit the information regarding the mounting state and output the visualized information to the display.
20 . The electronic device of claim 19 , wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to: execute a determined application; generate graphic object indicating a method for mounting the external device, based on an input regarding the application; and output the generated graphic object to the display such that the method for mounting the external device is provided to a user as a guide.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/KR2022/015838 designating the United States, filed on Oct. 18, 2022, in the Korean Intellectual Property Receiving Office and claiming priority to Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2021-0138803, filed on Oct. 18, 2021, 10-2021-0159115, filed on Nov. 18, 2021, and 10-2022-0002051, filed on Jan. 6, 2022, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. BACKGROUND Field The disclosure relates to an electronic device and, for example, to a technology for guiding a user on properly mounting a wearable device. Description of Related Art In line with development of mobile communication technologies and hardware/software technologies, portable electronic devices (hereinafter, referred to as electronic devices) can output audio signals. An electronic device may be connected to a wearable device in a wired or wireless manner so as to transfer audio signals thereto. The electronic device may transfer audio signals to the wearable device using a wireless communication technology such as Bluetooth, and the wearable device may transfer audio signals to the user using a speaker mounted thereon. The wearable device may be mounted on the user's body (for example, ears) so as to provide the user with audio signals. Wearable devices may have end portions configured in various shapes. For example, wearable devices may include an open type designed to be worn around the user's ears or a canal type designed to fit snugly inside ears. A canal-type wearable device may further include an ear tip that can be attached to/detached from an end portion. Ear tips may be manufactured in various shapes and sizes, and may be attached to electronic devices for user convenience. When a wearable device is used while being mounted on the user's ears, audio signals may leak. For example, a large amount of audio signals leaking while music is played at a high volume may inconvenience people nearby. The amount of leakage from a wearable device may be determined by the type of the wearable device, the rear design thereof, and transducers included in the wearable device, and other factors. A wearable device including an open-type in-ear may have a larger amount of leakage than a wearable device including a closed-type in-ear. A wearable device having open-type rear design may have a larger amount of leakage than a closed-type wearable device. A wearable device including a transducer that emits sounds in both directions (for example, a planar magnetic transducer) may have a larger amount of leakage than wearable devices including other types of transducers (for example, a dynamic transducer and a balanced armature transducer). A conventional wearable device may be structured to closely contact the object (for example, the user's ears) on which the same is mounted, in order to prevent and/or reduce audio signals output therefrom from leaking out. For example, a canal-type wearable device may be designed to have a nozzle portion inserted into the ear canal and to have an ear tip configured to block the entrance. However, there is a problem in that, if the user incorrectly wears an in-ear-type wearable device, sounds will leak out. A canal-type wearable device has a problem in that, if the user selects an ear tip that is inappropriate for his/her physique, sounds will leak out. In such cases, users of wearable devices fail to receive audio signals with the sound quality intended by the manufacturer. SUMMARY Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method wherein, if a user incorrectly wears a wearable device as described above, thereby having a problem receiving the audio source, the user is guided on properly wearing the wearable device such that he/she can enjoy the sound quality intended by the manufacturer. A wearable device according to various example embodiments may include: an ear tip configured to be attached to/detached from the wearable device, a microphone, a speaker, a sensor module including at least one sensor configured to sense information including at least one of ambient temperature, illuminance, and distance of an electronic device, a memory configured to store a leaked sound profile indicating a relation between the magnitude of signals leaked out of an object on which the wearable device is mounted, among signals output by the wearable device, and the frequency of signals which are output, and at least one processor, comprising processing circuitry, operatively connected to the microphone, the speaker, and the memory. At least one processor, individually and/or collectively, may be configured to control the wearable device to: output first signals using the speaker, receive a second signal leaked out of the object on which the electronic device is mounted, among the first signals, using the microphone, acquire signal characteristics repre