How Wireless Earbuds Detect Hand Gestures Using Invisible Light or Sound
A system for wireless earbuds that uses pulses of infrared light or ultrasound to detect hand movements near the ear, allowing users to control devices without touching them.
Original patent title: “Near field gesture control system and method”
A system for wireless earbuds that uses pulses of infrared light or ultrasound to detect hand movements near the ear, allowing users to control devices without touching them. Granted to Bragi GmbH in 2018 with 23 claims and 1 forward citation.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a way for small earbuds to 'see' hand gestures by bouncing invisible energy pulses off a user's fingers. The earbud contains an emitter that sends out pulses of infrared light or ultrasound and a detector that measures how those pulses bounce back. To save battery, the device normally pulses slowly, but it automatically speeds up the sampling rate once it detects an object nearby. The processor then analyzes these reflections to figure out if you swiped your finger or tapped the device, even while underwater.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover gesture control that relies on physical touch or mechanical buttons.
- Does not cover gesture detection that uses external cameras or sensors located outside the earbud housing.
- Does not cover voice-activated commands or speech recognition.
- Does not cover gesture systems that do not use a proximity-based sampling rate adjustment.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The system saves significant power by dynamically increasing the sampling rate only when an object is detected, rather than constantly pinging at high frequency.
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
Bragi Dash Pro
Modern waterproof true wireless earbuds with touch-free interfaces
Why it matters
The bigger picture
As earbuds have become smaller, physical buttons have become difficult to use, especially during exercise or while swimming. This technology provides a way to control audio or phone functions without needing a screen or tactile switches, which is essential for waterproof, button-less wearable designs.
Filed
August 23, 2016
Granted
April 17, 2018
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Bragi GmbH pioneered these 'hearable' technologies, but major players like Apple, Samsung, and Sony have since integrated similar proximity-based sensing into their flagship wireless earbuds to manage play/pause and volume controls.
Market impact
This patent helped define the 'hearables' category, where the earbud acts as a standalone interface rather than just a speaker. It pushed the industry toward sensor-rich designs that allow for seamless control in environments where touch is impractical, such as during swimming or high-intensity sports.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a way for small earbuds to 'see' hand gestures by bouncing invisible energy pulses off a user's fingers. The earbud contains an emitter that sends out pulses of infrared light or ultrasound and a detector that measures how those pulses bounce back. To save battery, the device normally pulses slowly, but it automatically speeds up the sampling rate once it detects an object nearby. The processor then analyzes these reflections to figure out if you swiped your finger or tapped the device, even while underwater.
The clever bit
The system saves significant power by dynamically increasing the sampling rate only when an object is detected, rather than constantly pinging at high frequency.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover gesture control that relies on physical touch or mechanical buttons.
- Does not cover gesture detection that uses external cameras or sensors located outside the earbud housing.
- Does not cover voice-activated commands or speech recognition.
- Does not cover gesture systems that do not use a proximity-based sampling rate adjustment.
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
6/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
15/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
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
$78K – $250K
Midpoint $156K · 10.2 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
23 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Hviid, N., Förstner, F. C., & Hirsch, E. C. (2018). How Wireless Earbuds Detect Hand Gestures Using Invisible Light or Sound (U.S. Patent No. 9,949,013). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9949013/airpods-charging-case
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Wireless Earbuds Detect Hand Gestures Using Invisible Light or Sound cover?
A system for wireless earbuds that uses pulses of infrared light or ultrasound to detect hand movements near the ear, allowing users to control devices without touching them.
Who owns patent US 9949013?
Bragi GmbH owns this patent, granted in 2018.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on April 17, 2038, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 9949013 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 1 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
As earbuds have become smaller, physical buttons have become difficult to use, especially during exercise or while swimming. This technology provides a way to control audio or phone functions without needing a screen or tactile switches, which is essential for waterproof, button-less wearable designs.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover gesture control that relies on physical touch or mechanical buttons.
Patent monitoring