Voice communication device with foreign language translation

• US 20030115068A1
• Filed: 12/13/2001
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peter V Boesen
• Original Assignee: Peter V Boesen
• Inventors: Boesen, Peter V.
• Granted Patent: US 8,527,280 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/277
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/40 Processing or translation of natural language natural language analysis G06F40/20; semantic analysis G06F40/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/58 Use of machine translation, e.g. for multi-lingual retrieval, for server-side translation for client devices or for real-time translation
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/005 Language recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/10 Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones H04R1/28 takes precedence; stereophonic headphones H04R5/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/406 microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/01 Hearing devices using active noise cancellation
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/09 Non-occlusive ear tips, i.e. leaving the ear canal open, for both custom and non-custom tips H04R2460/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers

Abstract

Methods and devices for voice communications and foreign language translation are disclosed. One method includes selecting one of a plurality of microphones of an earpiece unit, receiving a selected voice communication of a first language from the selected microphone and translating the selected voice communication from the first language to a second language, the second language different from the first to create a translated voice communication, and transducing the translated voice communication at a speaker within the earpiece unit. Preferably the microphones are oriented in different directions and are directional microphones. The present invention further optionally provides for the sensing and transmission of pulse oximeter measurements and temperature measurements.

Claims

1. A method of voice communication comprising:

selecting one of a plurality of microphones of an earpiece unit;

receiving a selected voice communication of a first language from the selected microphones;

translating the selected voice communication from the first language to a second language, the second language different from the first to create a translated voice communication; and

transducing the translated voice communication at a speaker within the earpiece unit.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of microphones is a directional microphone.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting the voice communication of a first language to a translation station and receiving the translated voice communication from the translation station.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of translating is performed by a processor disposed within the earpiece.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of microphones includes a front facing microphone, a rear facing, and a side facing microphone.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the second language is English.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first language is English and the second language is different from the first language.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the earpiece is nonocclusive.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of selecting is manually selecting.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of selecting is automatically selecting.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising scanning each of the plurality of directional microphones.

12. A method of voice communication comprising:

selecting one of a plurality of microphones of an earpiece unit;

receiving a selected voice communication of a first language from the selected microphone;

transmitting the selected voice communication from the earpiece unit to a translation device using a short range transmitter;

translating the selected voice communication at the translation device from the first language to a second language, the second language different from the first to create a translated voice communication;

transmitting the translated voice communication from the translation device to the earpiece unit using a short range transmitter;

transducing the translated voice communication at a speaker within the earpiece unit.

13. A method of voice communication comprising:

selecting one of a plurality of microphones of an earpiece unit;

receiving a selected voice communication of a first language from the selected microphones;

transmitting the selected voice communication from the earpiece unit using a short range transmitter;

receiving the selected voice communication with a short range receiver and sending the selected voice communication over a communications channel to a remote unit;

translating the selected voice communication at the remote unit from the first language to a second language, the second language different from the first to create a translated voice communication;

sending the translated voice communication from the remote unit over the communications channel;

transmitting the translated voice communication to the earpiece unit using a short range transmitter; and

transducing the translated voice communication at a speaker within the earpiece unit.

14. An earpiece for voice communication comprising:

an earpiece housing adapted for nonocclusive use such that the earpiece housing does not block the external auditory canal;

a plurality of microphones attached to the earpiece housing and oriented in different directions;

a selection switch for selecting one of the plurality of microphones electrically connected to each of the plurality of microphones;

a short range receiver disposed within the housing;

a speaker for transducing sound, the speaker attached to the earpiece housing and electrically connected to the short range receiver.

15. The earpiece of claim 14 further comprising a short range transmitter disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the selection switch and at least one of the plurality of microphones for transmitting a voice sound communication received by at least one of the plurality of microphones.

16. The earpiece of claim 14 further comprising an intelligent control operatively connected to the selection switch and the transmitter.

17. The earpiece of claim 16 further comprising a pulse oximeter operatively connected to the intelligent control, the intelligent control adapted to receive a pulse oximeter measurement from the pulse oximeter and send the pulse oximeter measurement to the transmitter.

18. The earpiece of claim 16 further comprising a temperature sensor operatively connected to the intelligent control, the intelligent control adapted to receive a temperature reading from the temperature sensor and send the temperature reading to the transmitter.

19. The earpiece of claim 14 further comprising an intelligent control disposed within the earpiece housing and electrically connected to the selection switch and the transmitter.

20. An earpiece for voice communication comprising:

an earpiece housing adapted for nonocclusive use such that the earpiece housing does not block the external auditory canal;

a plurality of microphones attached to the earpiece housing and oriented in different directions;

a selection switch for selecting one of the plurality of microphones electrically connected to each of the plurality of microphones; and

a speaker for transducing sound, the speaker attached to the earpiece housing.