Systems and methods for directing audio output of a wearable apparatus

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for directing the audio output of a wearable device having a plurality of speakers. In one implementation, the system may include an image sensor configured to capture one or more images from an environment of the user of the wearable apparatus, a plurality of speakers, and at least one processing device. The at least one processing device may be configured to analyze the one or more images to determine at least one indicator of head orientation of the user of the wearable apparatus, select at least one of the plurality of speakers based on the at least one indicator of head orientation, and output the audio to the user of the wearable apparatus via the selected at least one of the plurality of speakers.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A wearable apparatus for providing audio to a user of the wearable apparatus, the wearable apparatus comprising:
 an image sensor configured to capture one or more images from an environment of the user of the wearable apparatus;   a plurality of speakers; and   at least one processor configured to:
 analyze the one or more images to determine at least one indicator of head orientation of the user of the wearable apparatus based on a position of a body part of the user; 
 estimate at least one distance between at least a portion of the head of the user and at least one of the plurality of speakers; 
 select at least one of the plurality of speakers based on the at least one indicator of head orientation and the at least one estimated distance; and 
 output the audio to the user of the wearable apparatus via the selected at least one of the plurality of speakers. 
   
     
     
         27 . The wearable apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the body part is a head of the user. 
     
     
         28 . The wearable apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the body part is an ear of the user. 
     
     
         29 . The wearable apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the body part is a nose of the user. 
     
     
         30 . The wearable apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the body part is an eye of the user. 
     
     
         31 . The wearable apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one indicator of head orientation of the user of the wearable apparatus is based on a position or orientation of the body part of the user relative to another body part of the user. 
     
     
         32 . The wearable apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein at least one of the body part or the another body part is at least one of: a nose of the user, an ear of the user, an eye of the user, a chin of the user, a neck of the user, a shoulder of the user, or a head of the user. 
     
     
         33 . The wearable apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one indicator of head orientation of the user of the wearable apparatus is based on a position or orientation of the body part of the user relative to a feature represented in the one or more images. 
     
     
         34 . The wearable apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine the body part is associated with the user based on the body part occupying a threshold amount of space in at least one of the one or more images. 
     
     
         35 . The wearable apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine the body part is associated with the user based on a relative size of the body part in comparison to an anticipated size. 
     
     
         36 . The wearable apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein analyzing the one or more images comprises comparing at least one of the one or more images to a stored image. 
     
     
         37 . The wearable apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the plurality of speakers are oriented in different directions, and the different directions are associated with targeted objects. 
     
     
         38 . The wearable apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the selected at least one speaker has a direction that is closest to an estimated direction of a head of the user. 
     
     
         39 . The wearable apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the selected at least one speaker is associated with a range of directions that includes an estimated direction of a head of the user. 
     
     
         40 . A method for providing audio to a user of a wearable apparatus, the method comprising:
 analyzing one or more images to determine at least one indicator of head orientation of the user of the wearable apparatus based on a position of a body part of the user;   estimating at least one distance between at least a portion of the head of the user and at least one of a plurality of speakers;   selecting at least one of the plurality of speakers based on the at least one indicator of head orientation and the at least one estimated distance; and   outputting the audio to the user of the wearable apparatus via the selected at least one of the plurality of speakers.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the body part is at least one of: a head of the user, an ear of the user, a nose of the user, or an eye of the user. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the at least one indicator of head orientation of the user of the wearable apparatus is based on a position or orientation of the body part of the user relative to another body part of the user. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the at least one indicator of head orientation of the user of the wearable apparatus is based on a position or orientation of the body part of the user relative to a feature represented in the one or more images. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising determining the body part is associated with the user based on at least one of:
 the body part occupying a threshold amount of space in at least one of the one or more images; or   a relative size of the body part in comparison to an anticipated size.   
     
     
         45 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium for providing audio to a user of a wearable apparatus, the computer-readable medium containing instructions that when executed by at least one processor cause the at least one processor to perform steps, comprising:
 analyzing one or more images to determine at least one indicator of head orientation of the user of the wearable apparatus based on a position of a body part of the user;   estimating at least one distance between at least a portion of the head of the user and at least one of a plurality of speakers;   selecting at least one of the plurality of speakers based on the at least one indicator of head orientation and the at least one estimated distance; and   outputting the audio to the user of the wearable apparatus via the selected at least one of the plurality of speakers.