How Wearable Tech Uses 3D Sound to Guide Visually Impaired People
A system that builds a 3D map of the world and uses spatial audio to act as a virtual guide, helping visually impaired users navigate around obstacles.
Original patent title: “Systems and methods for generating spatial sound information relevant to real-world environments”
A system that builds a 3D map of the world and uses spatial audio to act as a virtual guide, helping visually impaired users navigate around obstacles. Granted to California Institute of Technology in 2019 with 9 claims.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The system uses sensors to build a 3D model of the user's surroundings and tracks their position within that model in real time. It creates a '3D guide avatar'—a virtual point in space—that moves along a safe path. To help the user follow this path, the system generates spatial sound. By adjusting the volume and timing of audio between the left and right headphones, it tricks the brain into hearing a sound originating from a specific point in the real world. For example, if the user needs to turn left to avoid a wall, the system plays a sound that seems to come from that specific direction, effectively acting as an audio beacon.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover systems that rely solely on GPS without local 3D sensor data for obstacle detection.
- Does not cover standard text-to-speech navigation that provides verbal instructions (e.g., 'turn left in 50 feet') without spatial audio cues.
- Does not cover non-spatial audio systems that play sounds at equal volume in both ears regardless of the user's orientation.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The system doesn't just describe the world; it uses 'spatial sound' to map virtual objects onto the user's physical environment, making the navigation cues feel like they are coming from the real world rather than a computer.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Wearable headsets with depth-sensing cameras
Smart glasses with spatial audio output
Smartphone-based navigation apps utilizing AR sensors
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology aims to improve the independence of visually impaired individuals by providing a more intuitive way to navigate complex environments. By using spatial audio, it reduces the cognitive load of interpreting traditional verbal directions, allowing users to 'hear' their path through the world.
Filed
April 28, 2017
Granted
July 23, 2019
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) holds this patent, which serves as a foundational piece of intellectual property for researchers in assistive technology. Companies like Microsoft with their Soundscape project and various startups focused on AR audio navigation are exploring similar concepts of spatial sound for accessibility.
Market impact
This patent contributes to the growing field of 'audio augmented reality,' where digital information is layered over the real world via sound. It highlights a shift in assistive tech from simple verbal prompts to immersive sensory experiences, potentially setting a standard for how future wearable navigation devices interact with users.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The system uses sensors to build a 3D model of the user's surroundings and tracks their position within that model in real time. It creates a '3D guide avatar'—a virtual point in space—that moves along a safe path. To help the user follow this path, the system generates spatial sound. By adjusting the volume and timing of audio between the left and right headphones, it tricks the brain into hearing a sound originating from a specific point in the real world. For example, if the user needs to turn left to avoid a wall, the system plays a sound that seems to come from that specific direction, effectively acting as an audio beacon.
The clever bit
The system doesn't just describe the world; it uses 'spatial sound' to map virtual objects onto the user's physical environment, making the navigation cues feel like they are coming from the real world rather than a computer.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover systems that rely solely on GPS without local 3D sensor data for obstacle detection.
- Does not cover standard text-to-speech navigation that provides verbal instructions (e.g., 'turn left in 50 feet') without spatial audio cues.
- Does not cover non-spatial audio systems that play sounds at equal volume in both ears regardless of the user's orientation.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
6/20
Moderate scope
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$24K – $77K
Midpoint $48K · 10.9 yr remaining · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
9 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Meister, M., & Liu, Y. (2019). How Wearable Tech Uses 3D Sound to Guide Visually Impaired People (U.S. Patent No. 10,362,429). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10362429/find-my-network
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US10362429"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4965188 · 1990
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes.
Cetus Corp
US 4235871 · 1980
How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently
This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured.
Individual
More to explore
More in Consumer Electronics
US 7657849 · 2010 · Apple Inc
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
US 7479949 · 2009 · Apple Inc
How Touchscreens Understand Your Finger Swipes and Scrolls
US 4528643 · 1985 · FPDC Inc
How Stores Make Custom Products On-Demand with Remote Approval
US 7469381 · 2008 · Apple Inc
How Touchscreens Show and Snap Back When You Scroll Past an Edge
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Wearable Tech Uses 3D Sound to Guide Visually Impaired People cover?
A system that builds a 3D map of the world and uses spatial audio to act as a virtual guide, helping visually impaired users navigate around obstacles.
Who owns patent US 10362429?
California Institute of Technology owns this patent, granted in 2019.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on July 23, 2039, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology aims to improve the independence of visually impaired individuals by providing a more intuitive way to navigate complex environments. By using spatial audio, it reduces the cognitive load of interpreting traditional verbal directions, allowing users to 'hear' their path through the world.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover systems that rely solely on GPS without local 3D sensor data for obstacle detection.
Same assignee
More from California Institute of Technology
Patent monitoring