Apple has filed for a patent application on sensors, attached to earbuds and headphones, that could detect the presence of an ear and play audio only when needed.
The application, published on Thursday by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), describes a method by which Apple earbuds and now, headphones, would use a wide range of sensors, including temperature, pressure, capacitive, and acoustics to determine whether a person's head or ear is in range to hear audio.
The idea, according to the application, is to take out the user interaction required to stop playing audio in its current form. Users will remove their earbuds or headphones, click the pause button on their audio player, and close the application. With help from the sensors, whenever the audio technology is removed from the ear or head region, Apple's technology could technically perform all of those actions automatically.
The technology in the patent application, which might or might not make its way to an Apple product, is all the more relevant in the wake of Apple's announcement on Wednesday that it has acquired Beats Electronics for $3 billion. The acquisition gives Apple control over a brand widely believed to be delivering high-quality headphones that maximize the so-called "cool" factor.
It's unlikely, given the nature of the application, that Apple filed it with a Beats acquisition in mind, but the coincidental publishing of it makes it all the more relevant for the company's future plans. Currently, audio devices simply take output and feed it into the user's ears. Whether it's Apple's own earbuds or Beats headphones, the sensor technology could be bundled and add extra functionality.
The addition of more functionality could be a key component in Apple's plans. After announcing its deal with Beats on Wednesday, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that the deal reflects what the companies believe they "can produce for the future." Cook also said in a statement that he wants to work with Beats "to create the most innovative music products and services in the world."
Apple shares are up $6.16, or 1 percent, to $630.17 in early trading on Thursday.
(Via Patently Apple)
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