The patent describes a pair of over-the-ear headphones, similar to the popular Beats, which has two cups that are attached by a head strap.Special sensors would be placed along the inside of the headphones that could detect the orientation of the device. ‘Any suitable type of sensor can be used including, for example, a mechanical sensor, a photoresistive sensor, a capacitance sensor, a proximity sensor, an IR sensor, an ambient light sensor, a Hall effect sensor, a resistive sensor, a sensor detecting impedance or voltage changes due to a contact between the headphones and a user, or any suitable combination thereof,’ reads the patent.
For example, a proximity sensor could detect that wearer’s ear and know that it should be in headphone mode – this way the sensors will not activate speaker mode and damage the user’s eardrum. But when the cups are turned outward and on their side, the sensors will know to turn up the volume for speaker mode. The patent illustrates that its EarPods and AirPods could also be redesigned with this technology.