Patent Description:
With increased popularity of portable media players and mobile phones in recent years, the use of headphones has become commonplace. In the following disclosure, the term "headphones" will be used to refer to over-the-ear headphones as well as in-ear headphones or earbuds.

Headsets are a type of headphone comprising one or multiple microphones and can thus provide the equivalent functionality of a telephone handset with hands-free operation. Headsets are made with either a single-earpiece (mono) or a double-earpiece (mono to both ears or stereo). Among the many applications for headsets, besides personal use for audio consumption and communication, are aviation, theatre or television studio intercom systems, and console or PC gaming. These applications all need some form of user control for adjusting e.g. volume level, audio mixing proportions, or active noise cancelling (ANC) effect.

However, in small and portable headphones such as true wireless stereo (TWS) headsets, it is challenging to create a good physical user interface due to the small physical size and the lack of visible feedback (the user cannot directly see the headset when operating it). Many existing solutions use a set of push buttons for user control, but it is difficult for the user to locate the function of each pushbutton due to the small size and close location to other buttons.

Another solution is to use a rotating volume knob as a user interface for user control, but the existing physical components for implementing this (typically a potentiometer or rotary encoder) are often prohibitively tall (in the direction of the rotation pivot) for use in TWS and other portable headsets.

The document <CIT> shows a headset with a turnable ear hook with two off positions. Especially, the turnable hook acts as a switch for turning the headset on or off.

The document <CIT> also shows a headset. The headset comprises a touch panel for operating different functions of the headset.

The document <CIT> shows a magnetic rotation detector and a lens barrel comprising said rotation detector.

The document <CIT> shows a travel direction detector for detecting the travel direction of a magnetic body, using magnetic sensors.

The present invention is defined by independent claim <NUM>.

It is an object to provide a device for improved user control in headsets which overcomes or at least reduces the problems mentioned above.

The foregoing and other objects are achieved by the features of independent claim <NUM>.

According to a first aspect, there is provided an earphone device according to claim <NUM>.

The combination of one or multiple magnetized portion(s) arranged on a dial (control knob) to intermittently engage with a magnetic sensor in the earphone housing allows for a reduced size dial with a flat physical structure that can be integrated in small sized and light TWS headsets.

An additional benefit of the combined dial-earphone with this magnetic sensing arrangement is that a large diameter dial can be used for the earphone which allows for improved user interface experience. Another additional benefit is that all the above-mentioned benefits can be obtained while not increasing or only marginally increasing the overall size of the earphone unit, thus still allowing a light and portable structure that can be fitted in or over an ear canal.

In a possible implementation form of the first aspect the earphone device comprises two magnetic sensors arranged to, in response to rotation of the dial, subsequently engage with the same at least one magnetized portion, wherein the order in which the two magnetic sensors engage with the magnetized portion indicates a rotational direction of the dial.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect the two magnetic sensors are configured to respectively generate a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal in response to engaging with the at least one magnetized portion; wherein a difference signal between the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal can show a positive pulse and a negative pulse; and wherein the order of the positive pulse and the negative pulse in the difference signal indicates a rotational direction of the dial.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect the dial comprises a pivot having a cylindrical body and extending from the central point of the dial, wherein the dial is rotatably attached to the housing through the pivot; and the at least two magnetic sensors are arranged in the housing with a substantially similar radial distance from the pivot.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect the dial comprises:.

The dial comprises at least one magnetic film strip applied to a first surface of the dial facing the housing, thereby defining the at least one magnetized portion.

The dial comprises a plurality N of magnetic film strips applied to the first surface with intermittent gaps in a rotationally symmetrical arrangement, wherein the intermittent gaps define the non-magnetized portions. In possible embodiments the number N of magnetic film strips preferably ranges between <NUM> < N < <NUM>, more preferably N=<NUM>.

Each magnetic film strip is arranged to cover a circular sector of the dial.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect the earphone device comprises a single magnetic sensor; and each of the plurality of magnetic film strips comprises a non-symmetrical shape configured to, in response to rotation of the dial, either gradually engage with the magnetic sensor or abruptly engage with the magnetic sensor, thereby indicating a rotational direction of the dial.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect the earphone device further comprises a speaker configured to generate acoustic waves in response to an input audio signal; wherein the dial is a volume knob arranged to adjust at least one of the overall output level of the speaker or a balance between signal components of the input audio signal. In further possible embodiments the dial may be arranged to adjust further aspects of the audio signal, such as spectral balance.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect at least a portion of the housing is configured to fit into an ear canal or to substantially cover the opening of an ear canal of a user of the earphone device; the housing comprising a first side, and a second side opposite to the first side; wherein the speaker is arranged in the housing facing outwards from the second side and configured to generate sound waves for delivery towards the inside of the ear canal; and wherein the dial is rotatably attached to the first side.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect the magnetic sensor is a magnetometer configured to measure the direction, strength, or relative change of a magnetic field at a particular location.

In a further possible implementation form of the first aspect the magnetometer is a small-scale microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) magnetic field sensor.

According to a second aspect, there is provided a system comprising:.

Combining the earphone device in data connection with a host device allows for the earphone device to be implemented without own storage and with limited processing means, resulting in a simpler construction that enables a small size and lighter weight, which are of high importance in the case of TWS headsets.

In a possible implementation form of the second aspect the earphone device is a True Wireless Stereo (TWS) headset, the host device is a mobile smartphone, and the data connection is established using a Bluetooth protocol.

These and other aspects will be apparent from and the embodiment(s) described below.

<FIG> illustrates an earphone device <NUM> according to the present disclosure. The earphone device <NUM> comprises a housing <NUM> and a substantially flat, disk-shaped dial <NUM> (with a thickness substantially smaller than its diameter) rotatably attached to the housing. As shown in figure in the right, at least one magnetic sensor <NUM> is arranged in the housing <NUM>, while the dial <NUM> comprises at least one magnetized portion <NUM> and at least one non-magnetized portion <NUM>. The magnetized portion <NUM> is arranged in or on the dial <NUM> to, in response to rotation of the dial <NUM>, intermittently engage with the at least one magnetic sensor <NUM>, as will be explained below in more detail.

In an embodiment, the magnetic sensor <NUM> is a magnetometer configured to measure the direction, strength, or relative change of a magnetic field at a particular location. In an embodiment, the magnetometer is a small-scale microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) magnetic field sensor.

In one embodiment shown in <FIG>, two magnetic sensors 12A, 12B are arranged in the housing <NUM> to subsequently engage with the same magnetized portion(s) <NUM> as the dial <NUM> is rotating in any direction. In this embodiment, the order in which the two magnetic sensors 12A, 12B engage with the magnetized portion <NUM> indicates a rotational direction of the dial <NUM>, as will be explained below. Although in the figure the movement of a single magnetized portion <NUM> is considered for clarity, but the same principle can be used to detect the rotation of a plurality of magnetized portions <NUM> in a symmetrical or non-symmetrical arrangement, as will be illustrated later in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, the two magnetic sensors 12A, 12B are configured to respectively generate a first sensor signal <NUM> and a second sensor signal <NUM> in response to engaging with the at least one magnetized portion <NUM>. A difference signal <NUM> can then be calculated by subtracting the first sensor signal <NUM> from the second sensor signal <NUM>, which can then show a positive pulse <NUM> or a negative pulse <NUM> on the timeline graph. In other words, as the magnetized portion <NUM> moves from right to left, the difference signal <NUM> experiences as positive pulse <NUM>, followed by a negative pulse <NUM>. If the magnetized portion <NUM> had moved from left to right, the difference signal <NUM> would have been a negative pulse <NUM>, followed by a positive pulse <NUM>. Thus, the direction of movement can be detected by the sensor arrangement having two magnetic sensors 12A and 12B, which can thus be detected and used for controlling a function of the earphone device <NUM> (such as audio volume adjustment).

In <FIG>, the dial <NUM> and the housing <NUM> (or at least a portion of the housing <NUM> adjacent to the dial <NUM>) are arranged with substantially identical, circular cross-sections, with a pivot <NUM> arranged to connect the dial <NUM> and the housing <NUM>. In some embodiments only adjacent portions of the dial <NUM> and the housing <NUM> are arranged with circular cross-sections, the pivot <NUM> arranged to connect these adjacent portions at approximately their central points.

In <FIG>, the dial <NUM> comprises a pivot <NUM> with a cylindrical body extending from its central point, the dial <NUM> being rotatably attached to the housing <NUM> through the pivot <NUM>, and a magnetic sensor <NUM> (or two magnetic sensors 12A, 12B as explained above) arranged in the housing <NUM>, with a substantially similar radial <NUM> distance from the pivot <NUM>. In this embodiment the magnetic sensor(s) may function the same way as described above with respect to <FIG>, or below with respect to <FIG>, to detect movement of at least one magnetized portion <NUM> arranged on the dial <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the dial <NUM> comprises a first pivot 9A directly connected to the dial <NUM> and a second pivot 9B connected to the first pivot 9A through a gear system. In this embodiment, at least one magnet <NUM> (or magnetic film strip <NUM>) is arranged on a side surface of the second pivot 9B, thereby defining the at least one magnetized portion <NUM>, configured to intermittently engage with the at least one magnetic sensor <NUM> in response to rotation of the dial <NUM>. Thus, with such a gear mechanism a small rotation of the dial <NUM> can be transferred into a rapid rotation of the second pivot 9B, resulting in a sufficient rotation detection resolution for the dial <NUM>.

In the invention the dial <NUM> comprises at least one magnetic film strip <NUM> applied to a first (lower) surface of the dial <NUM> facing the housing <NUM>, thereby defining the at least one magnetized portion <NUM>.

In an embodiment shown in <FIG>, the dial <NUM> comprises a plurality N of magnetic film strips <NUM> applied to the first surface with intermittent gaps in a rotationally symmetrical arrangement, wherein the intermittent gaps define the non-magnetized portions <NUM>. Although in the figures the number N of magnetic film strips <NUM> is illustrated as N=<NUM> and N=<NUM>, in preferred embodiments the number N of magnetic film strips <NUM> may range between <NUM> < N < <NUM>, more preferably the number N of magnetic film strips <NUM> is N=<NUM>. Each magnetic film strip <NUM> is arranged to cover a circular sector of the dial <NUM> (as shown in the left), whereas in other examples not covered by the scope of claim <NUM> the magnetic film strips <NUM> cover rectangular segments.

In <FIG>, each of the plurality of magnetic film strips <NUM> comprises a non-symmetrical shape configured to, in response to rotation of the dial <NUM>, either gradually engage with a magnetic sensor <NUM> or abruptly engage with a magnetic sensor <NUM>, thereby indicating a rotational direction of the dial <NUM>. In this example not covered by the scope of claim <NUM> the earphone device <NUM> can comprise a single magnetic sensor <NUM>, due to the different shape of signal readouts as illustrated in <FIG>, showing the first (and only) sensor signal <NUM> both when the dial <NUM> of <FIG> is rotated clockwise (upper graph), compared to when the dial <NUM> is rotated counterclockwise (lower graph). The different shape of the signal <NUM> allows for easy detection of rotational direction, and the single sensor <NUM> allows for a simple and efficient construction.

<FIG> illustrates a earphone device <NUM>, wherein features that are the same or similar to corresponding features previously described or shown herein are denoted by the same reference numeral as previously used for simplicity. In this figure the earphone device <NUM> comprises a housing <NUM> that has at least a portion (such as an eartip) configured to fit into an ear canal <NUM> or to substantially cover the opening of an ear canal <NUM> of a user, wherein the housing <NUM> comprises a first side 3A, and a second side 3B opposite to the first side 3A. The dial <NUM> is rotatably attached to the first side 3A. A speaker <NUM> is also arranged in the housing <NUM> facing outwards from the second side 3B and configured to generate sound waves <NUM> for delivery towards the inside of the ear canal <NUM> in response to an input audio signal. The speaker <NUM> may comprise a front cavity and a back cavity isolated from the front cavity for optimal sound wave generation.

In an example, the dial <NUM> is a volume knob arranged to adjust at least one of the overall output level of the speaker <NUM> or a balance between signal components of the input audio signal.

The earphone device <NUM> may further comprise one or more microphone(s) <NUM> arranged in the housing <NUM> facing outwards from the first side 3A and configured to capture sound waves from the direction of the external environment <NUM>. In an embodiment (not shown), the earphone device <NUM> comprises at least two microphones <NUM> arranged in the housing <NUM> facing outwards from the first side 3A and configured to be oriented towards the mouth of a user of the earphone device <NUM> to enable acoustic beamforming.

The earphone device <NUM> may further comprise a voice accelerometer configured to detect presence of the voice of a user of the earphone device <NUM> via vibrations. These additional inputs can generate further input signals that can be used as further components to be mixed in the input audio signal for the speaker <NUM>, or to control other functions of the earphone device <NUM> (such as de-occlusion).

<FIG> shows a system comprising two earphone devices 1A and 1B in accordance with any above described embodiment, which may correspond to an implementation of a TWS earphone system configured to be used in a left and right ear of a user respectively, with no wired connection between the earphone devices 1A and 1B, and a host device <NUM> arranged in data connection with the at least one earphone device <NUM>.

In this figure, a first earphone device 1A comprises a rotatable dial <NUM> as described above, and a second earphone device 1B also comprises a rotatable dial <NUM> as described above. Rotation of any of the dials <NUM> can be used to adjust the output volume of the speakers <NUM>, or to adjust balance between signal components of the input audio signal for the speakers <NUM>.

The host device <NUM> may be a mobile smartphone and the data connection may e.g. be established using a Bluetooth or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol.

The various aspects and implementations have been described in conjunction with various embodiments herein. However, other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed subject-matter, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage.

Claim 1:
An earphone device (<NUM>) comprising:
a housing (<NUM>);
a dial (<NUM>) rotatably attached to said housing (<NUM>), said dial (<NUM>) being disk-shaped and comprising at least one magnetized portion (<NUM>) and at least one non-magnetized portion (<NUM>); and
at least one magnetic sensor (<NUM>) arranged in said housing (<NUM>);
wherein said at least one magnetized portion (<NUM>) is arranged to, in response to rotation of said dial (<NUM>), intermittently engage with said at least one magnetic sensor (<NUM>),
said dial (<NUM>) comprises at least one magnetic film strip (<NUM>) applied to a first surface of said dial (<NUM>) facing said housing (<NUM>), thereby defining said at least one magnetized portion (<NUM>),
wherein said dial (<NUM>) comprises a plurality N of magnetic film strips (<NUM>) applied to said first surface with intermittent gaps in a rotationally symmetrical arrangement, wherein said intermittent gaps define said non-magnetized portions (<NUM>);
wherein the number N of magnetic film strips (<NUM>) preferably ranges between <NUM> < N < <NUM>, more preferably N=<NUM>, and
wherein each magnetic film strip (<NUM>) is arranged to cover a circular sector of said dial (<NUM>).