Assisted listening device
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- an antenna to receive audio signals over a wireless interconnect;
circuitry to process the audio signals;
a body case housing the circuitry, the body case including at least a first input/output (I/O) control to adjust a level of volume for playback of the audio signals, at least a second I/O control to concentrate the audio signal on a selected audible frequency range capable of being heard by the user, and an input jack; and
an earpiece including an interconnect adapted for coupling to the input jack.
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Abstract
According to one embodiment of the invention, a method of operation involves concurrently receiving spread-spectrum wireless signals from a plurality of sources by a listening device for a hearing-impaired user. These spread-spectrum wireless signals comprise audio in a digital format. The audio is filtered so as to retain audio within a specified audible frequency range set by the hearing-impaired user. The filtered audio is converted into an analog format, and thereafter, is subsequently output for perception by the user. This provides a cost-effective solution for the hearing-impaired in order to avoid unwanted ambient noise normally amplifier by conventional hearing aids.
24 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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an antenna to receive audio signals over a wireless interconnect;
circuitry to process the audio signals;
a body case housing the circuitry, the body case including at least a first input/output (I/O) control to adjust a level of volume for playback of the audio signals, at least a second I/O control to concentrate the audio signal on a selected audible frequency range capable of being heard by the user, and an input jack; and
an earpiece including an interconnect adapted for coupling to the input jack. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus comprising:
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an antenna to transmit audio signals in a digital format over a wireless interconnect;
a body case including an input jack and a bias control configured to bias the audio signals transmitted over the antenna to enable determination of a directional position of a user of the apparatus to a listener receiving the audio signals; and
a microphone to receive the audio signals in an analog format, the microphone including an interconnect adapted for coupling to the input jack. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus comprising:
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a body case including an antenna and a connector;
a first receiver module adapted for coupling to the connector and the antenna, the first receiver module to process a signal including audio received over a first communication channel; and
a second receiver module adapted for coupling to a connector of the first receiver module and the antenna, the second receiver module to process a signal including audio received over a second communication channel. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method comprising:
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concurrently receiving spread-spectrum wireless signals from a plurality of sources by a listening device for a hearing-impaired user, the spread-spectrum wireless signals comprise audio in a digital format;
filtering the audio in the digital format to retain the audio within a specified audible frequency range set by the hearing-impaired user;
converting the filtered audio into an analog format; and
outputting the filtered, analog audio to be perceived by the hearing-impaired user.
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22. An apparatus comprising:
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a microphone to receive the audio signals in an analog format;
a body case in communications with the microphone, the body case including circuitry to receive the audio signals in the analog format and to convert the audio signals in the analog format into audio signals in a digital format;
an antenna to transmit audio signals in the digital format over a wireless interconnect; and
an infrared detector circuitry that, when activated, enables communications between the microphone and the body case and disables communications between the microphone and the body case when deactivated.
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Specification