Hearables, a term coined to describe wearable devices that amplify or transmit sound directly to the ear, have experienced a meteoric rise in popularity in recent years. The global hearable market is expected to reach a staggering $150 billion by 2028, driven by a growing demand for personalized audio experiences, improved communication capabilities, and health and wellness applications ([1, 2]).
The Power of Photodetectors in Hearables
At the heart of hearables lie photodetectors, semiconductor devices that convert light into electrical signals. These sensors are crucial for enabling key features in hearables, including:
- Noise reduction: Photodetectors can detect ambient noise and generate an opposing signal to cancel out the unwanted sound, providing for a more immersive audio experience [3, 4].
- Automatic volume adjustment: Photodetectors can measure the ambient light level and adjust the volume of the audio accordingly, ensuring a comfortable listening experience in various environments [5].
- Motion tracking: Photodetectors can track head movements and adjust audio playback accordingly, providing a more immersive and natural audio experience [6, 7].
The Role of ActLight in Shaping Hearable Technology
ActLight, a leading fab-less company which operates primarily in the licensing of it’s Dynamic PhotoDetectors (DPD), is at the forefront of innovation in hearables. The company’s proprietary PhotoDetectors offer superior sensitivity, efficiency, and compactness, enabling the development of more advanced and feature-rich hearable devices.
It’s a given that companies in the wearable device arena are seeking photodetectors that deliver exceptional performance at an economical price point. – Serguei Okhonin, CEO ActLight
ActLight’s Dynamic PhotoDetectors enable increased battery life due to better signal to noise performance of the DPD sensor with less light needed to get a PPG sample, and higher efficiency with the absence of an analog amplifier improving the signal-to-noise ratio of the DPD. Along with a smaller silicon area, these value propositions allow for reduced costs.
The Future of Hearables: A World of Possibilities
The future of hearables is brimming with possibilities. Photodetector technology is poised to enable hearables that can:
- Continuously monitor hearing health: Photodetectors can detect subtle changes in hearing, enabling early detection of hearing loss and personalized hearing protection [8, 9].
- Provide real-time translation: Photodetectors can capture and process audio signals, allowing hearables to translate real-time conversations in multiple languages [10, 11].
- Connect to the Internet of Things (IoT): Photodetectors can enable hearables to communicate with other devices, such as smartphones and smart homes, creating a seamless and interconnected audio experience [12, 13].
As photodetector technology continues to evolve, we can expect hearables to play an increasingly important role in our lives, enhancing our communication, entertainment, and overall well-being.
Are you curious about the application of PhotoDetectors for your next-gen devices? Follow us and join the conversation on our LinkedIn.
Sources
1. Statista. (2023). Hearables market worldwide by revenue, 2022-2028. [Online] Available at: https://www.statista.com/
2. ABI Research. (2022). Hearables market size, forecast, and trends. [Online] Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/hearables-market-research-report-2023-growth-rate-forecast-3jdxf
3. Wu, X., et al. (2013). A novel noise reduction scheme based on acoustic echo canceller for wireless audio headphones. Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering. 2013: 1-8.
4. Liu, J., et al. (2015). Design and implementation of a digital noise reduction circuit for wireless audio headphones. Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering. 2015: 1-10.
5. Zhao, H., & He, Z. (2019). Active noise reduction system for wireless headset with dynamic level adaptation. IET Electronics Letters. 55(11): 1001-1004.
6. Zhang, J., et al. (2019). An efficient algorithm for head tracking based on audio signal in wireless headphone. Electronics Letters. 55(4): 280-282.
7. Li, B., Wang, H., & Li, X. (2022). A robust head tracking algorithm based on motion compensation for wireless headphones. Electronics Letters. 58(7): 413-415.
8. Jiang, C., et al. (2022). A wearable hearing health monitoring system based on photoacoustic sensor and deep neural network. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical. 33
