System for voice capture via nasal vibration sensing

Abstract

The present disclosure pertains to a system for voice capture via nasal vibration sensing. A system worn by a user may be able to sense vibrations through the nose of the user when the user speaks, generate an electronic signal based on the sensed vibration and generate voice data based on the electronic signal. In this manner, the system may capture a user's voice while also screening out external noise (e.g., based on the sound dampening properties of the human skull). An example system may include a wearable frame (e.g., eyeglass frame) on which is mounted at least one sensor and a device. The at least one sensor may sense vibration in the nose of a user and may generate the electronic signal based on the vibration. The device may receive the electronic signal from the at least one sensor and may generate voice data based on the electronic signal.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A system to capture a voice of a user, comprising:
 a frame wearable by a user;   at least one sensor mounted to the frame, wherein the at least one sensor is to generate an electronic signal based on vibration sensed in a nose of the user when the user talks; and   a device mounted to the frame, wherein the device is to at least receive the electronic signal from the at least one sensor and process the electronic signal to generate voice data; and   circuitry configured to:
 determine whether nasal vibration is sensed by the at least one sensor; and 
 cause the performance of a corrective action when it is determine that no nasal vibration has been sensed, said corrective action comprising providing an audible notification, visible notification, tactile notification, or a combination thereof to said user. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the frame is for eyeglasses. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one sensor is incorporated within at least one nosepiece for the eyeglasses. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein two sensors are embedded in two sides of the nosepiece. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the two sensors are coupled in series and the device is to receive a combined electronic signal generated by the two sensors. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the device is to select to process the electronic signal generated from one of the two sensors. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a piezoelectric diaphragm to generate the electronic signal. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises at least control circuitry to generate the voice data from the electronic signal. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the control circuitry is to determine whether the voice data includes a local command, and if determined to include a local command, perform at least one activity based on the local command. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises at least communication circuitry to transmit the voice data to an external device. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the device comprises at least user interface circuitry to allow the user to interact with the system. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the user interface circuitry is to generate sound based on audio data received from the external device via the communication circuitry. 
     
     
         13 . A method for capturing voice data from a user, comprising:
 activating sensing for nasal vibration in a wearable system;   sensing nasal vibration with at least one sensor in the wearable system;   generating an electronic signal based on the nasal vibration;   generating voice data based on the electronic signal;   determining whether nasal vibration has been sensed by the at least one sensor; and   causing the performance of a corrective action when it is determined that nasal vibration has not been sensed by the at least one sensor, said corrective action comprising providing an audible notification, visible notification, tactile notification, or a combination thereof to said user.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein performing corrective action comprises at least one of reinitiating the wearable system or sensing with another sensor in the wearable system. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 determining whether the voice data comprises a local command; and   performing at least one activity based on a determination that the voice data comprises at least one local command.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 generating sound based on audio data received in the wearable system.   
     
     
         17 . At least one machine-readable storage device having stored thereon, individually or in combination, instructions for capturing voice data from a user that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 activate sensing for nasal vibration in a wearable system;   sense nasal vibration with at least one sensor in the wearable system;   generate an electronic signal based on the nasal vibration;   generate voice data based on the electronic signal;   determining whether nasal vibration has been sensed by the at least one sensor; and   causing the performance of a corrective action when it is determined that nasal vibration has not been sensed by the at least one sensor, said corrective action comprising providing an audible notification, visible notification, tactile notification, or a combination thereof to said user.   
     
     
         18 . The storage device of  claim 18 , wherein the instructions to perform corrective action comprise instructions to at least one of reinitiate the wearable system or sense with another sensor in the wearable system. 
     
     
         19 . The storage device of  claim 18 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 determine whether the voice data comprises a local command; and   perform at least one activity based on a determination that the voice data comprises at least one local command.   
     
     
         20 . The storage device of  claim 18 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 generate sound based on audio data received in the wearable system.