Directional hearing enhancement systems

• US 20040208333A1
• Filed: 04/15/2004
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Inventors: Tong, Peter P., Thomas, C. Douglass, Cheung, Kwok Wai
• Granted Patent: US 7,388,962 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/333
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/72 of terrestrial networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/03 Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/19 Arrangements of transmitters, receivers, or complete sets to prevent eavesdropping, to attenuate local noise or to prevent undesired transmission; Mouthpieces or receivers specially adapted therefor circuit arrangements for preventing eavesdropping H04M1/68; telephone cabinets E04H1/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/605 involving control of the receiver volume to provide a dual operational mode at close or far distance from the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/403 loud-speakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/023 Transducers incorporated in garment, rucksacks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/401 2D or 3D arrays of transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2217/03 Parametric transducers where sound is generated or captured by the acoustic demodulation of amplitude modulated ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/405 by combining a plurality of transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 1/00 Two-channel systems H04S5/00, H04S7/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/00 Systems employing more than two channels, e.g. quadraphonic H04S5/00, H04S7/00 take precedence

Abstract

A hearing enhancement system that enhances a user'"'"'s hearing based on a directional speaker is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system can include an interface unit that has a directional speaker and a microphone. The microphone captures input audio signals that are transformed into ultrasonic signals. The speaker transmits the ultrasonic signals, which are transformed into output audio signals by interaction with air. At least a portion of the output audio signals are modified to enhance the hearing of the user. Based on the system, the user'"'"'s ear remains free from any inserted objects and thus is free from annoying occlusion effects. Compared to existing hearing aids, the system is relatively inexpensive. In another embodiment, the system can also be used as a phone. In yet another embodiment, the system can also access audio signals from other portable or non-portable instruments, wired or wirelessly, such as from home entertainment units, phones, microphones at a conference or speakers at a movie theater.

Claims

1. A hearing enhancement system for a user comprising:

an interface unit that has a directional speaker attachable to clothing worn by the user and a microphone;

wherein

the microphone receives input audio signals, which are transformed into ultrasonic signals;

the speaker transmits the ultrasonic signals;

at least a portion of the ultrasonic signals is transformed into output audio signals by interaction with air;

the speaker directs the output audio signals towards at least one ear of the user from the worn position of the speaker; and

a portion of the input audio signals is amplified more than another portion to enhance the hearing of the user.

2. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 1 wherein the amplification is frequency dependent.

3. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 2 wherein the amplification focuses on higher audio frequencies.

4. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 2 wherein certain frequencies of the input audio signals are not amplified.

5. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 2 wherein the amplification depends on at least one characteristic of the hearing of the user.

6. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 5 wherein the at least one characteristic of the hearing of the user is determined through calibration.

7. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 1 wherein the system can be de-activated by the user.

8. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 1 wherein the system can be activated depending on at least one word said by the user.

9. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 1 wherein depending on the power level of the input audio signals, the system can be in a standby mode.

10. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 1 wherein depending on the average power level of the input audio signals, the system can be in a standby mode.

11. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 1 wherein the microphone is a directional microphone.

12. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 1 wherein the amplification reduces if the average power level of the input audio signals is higher than a preset threshold.

13. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 1 wherein the system further includes a rechargeable battery.

14. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 1 wherein the system also can function as a phone.

15. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 1 wherein the speaker is a phase array.

16. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 1 wherein the system can also access audio signals from another instrument through a wire connection, or wirelessly through a wireless local area network.

17. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 16 wherein the another instrument is a portable instrument.

18. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 16 wherein the instrument is an entertainment unit.

19. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 16 wherein the instrument is a phone.

20. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 16 wherein the instrument is related to a microphone at an event.

21. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 16 wherein the instrument is related to a speaker at an event.

22. A hearing enhancement system for a user comprising:

a directional speaker attachable to clothing worn by the user;

a microphone; and

a computing unit operatively coupled to the directional speaker and the microphone,

wherein the microphone receives input audio signals, and the computing unit transforms the input audio signals into modified audio signals by modifying certain frequencies differently than other frequencies to enhance the ability of the user to hear the input audio signals, and provides the modified audio signals to the directional speaker,

wherein the directional speaker outputs ultrasonic signals based on the modified audio signals.

23. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 22, wherein at least a portion of the ultrasonic signals output by the directional speaker are transformed into output audio signals by interaction with air.

24. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 22, wherein the directional speaker directs the ultrasonic signals towards at least one ear of the user from the worn position of the directional speaker.

25. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 22, wherein the computing unit is integral with the directional speaker.

26. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 22, wherein the computing unit is separate from the directional speaker but operatively couples with the directional speaker over a wireless link.

27. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 22, wherein the computing unit has a reduced power mode and a normal power mode, and wherein the computing unit can be automatically switched between the power modes based on characteristics of the input audio signals, thereby reducing power consumption by the computing unit.