Already with smart sensors, the AirPods can detect if they are in-ear, and this technology could be further improved in the upcoming builds of Apple's wireless audio accessory. In the not so distant future, the AirPods could unbox with air pressure sensors purportedly for better confirmation that they in actual use.
Pointing a recently approved Apple patent titled "Acoustic in-ear detection for a hearable device," AppleInsider said a planned model of the AirPods could include air pressure that will determine ear insertion and ensuing usage.
"The method processes the obtained pressure signal to determine that the earphone is in a state of use, and in response, performs at least one of (1) outputting an audio signal through the speaker signifying that the earphone is in use (2) establishing a wireless connection with a media playback device to exchange data between the earphone and the media playback device, or combination thereof," the report quoted the Apple patent as saying.
The approved patent was credited to Hongfeng Wang, Chen Na, and Ryan Moriyama as co-inventors, and all are assumed as working for Apple.
If the innovation gets to see a practical application, the objective is to make in-ear detection more accurate, and with the use of air pressure, the likelihood of false positives is hope to be minimized if not eliminated.
The current generation AirPods are with optical sensors and accelerometers, which make for usage detection that is accurate enough. It is unclear, though, if air pressure will replace the sensors in place or the new tech will complement the existing tech.
According to iMore, the AirPods in their current form can be activated unintentionally as many users have reported that the accessory turns on while in the pocket. This will be corrected by the use of an air sensor as the technology "wouldn't require a perfect seal around the tip of your AirPods."
In addition, the alternative sensor technology will reduce the possibility of unintended activation whether the AirPods are inside the user's pocket or merely placed on a table or other forms of a surface. That's because air pressure sensors don't require the creation of air-tight seal by the ear tip.
As the patent explained, optical sensors and accelerometers can oftentimes easily react to low-frequency emissions from an imperfect seal. This scenario could trigger accidental activation, which explains why the latest AirPods could still have false positives.
The patent also envisions to save battery as the AirPods will not function when not in-ear or in actual usage state.
There is no assurance though that air pressure sensor will be actually deployed in AirPods releases, and it follows too that the feature making it to the 2020 version of the listening accessory is still up in the air.
