Management and assistance system for the deaf

• US 20060167687A1
• Filed: 01/21/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lawrence Kates
• Inventors: Kates, Lawrence
• Granted Patent: US 7,356,473 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/235
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/00 Teaching, or communicating with, the blind, deaf or mute audible presentation of material to be studied G09B5/04; devices or methods for replacing direct visual or auditory perception by another kind of perception A61F9/08, A61F11/04; audible indication of meter readings or of colour G01D7/12; watches for blind persons G04B25/02; speech analysis, speech recognition G10L; sound-recording or reproducing, per se G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/009 Teaching or communicating with deaf persons G09B21/04 takes precedence; deaf and dumb persons G09B21/00

Abstract

A computer-aided communication and assistance system that uses a signal processing and other algorithms in a processor in wireless communication with a microphone system to aid a deaf person. An instrumented communication module receives information from one or more microphones and provides textual and, optionally, stimulatory information to the deaf person. In one embodiment, a microphone is provided in a piece of jewelry or clothing. In one embodiment, a wireless (or wired) earpiece is provided to provide microphones and vibration stimulators.

Claims

1. An assistance system, comprising:

a headset module; and

a communication module configured to communicate with said headset module using wireless two-way handshaking communication, said communication module configured to use data from a plurality of microphones in said headset module to provide classification of sounds, to provide warnings, and to provide a display of speech to text.

2. The system of claim 1, said communication module further comprising an acoustic input device.

3. The system of claim 1, said communication module further comprising an acoustic output device.

4. The system of claim 1, said communication module further comprising a vibrator device.

5. The system of claim 1, said communication module further comprising a keypad input device.

6. The system of claim 1, said communication module further comprising an infrared receiver.

7. The system of claim 1, said communication module further comprising an infrared transmitter.

8. The system of claim 1, said communication module further comprising a GPS receiver.

9. The system of claim 1, said communication module further comprising an inertial motion unit.

10. The system of claim 1, said communication module further comprising a 2-axis inertial motion unit.

11. The system of claim 1, said communication module further comprising a 3-axis inertial motion unit.

12. The system of claim 1, said communication module further comprising an accelerometer.

13. The system of claim 1, said communication module further comprising an RF location system.

14. The system of claim 1, said communication module further comprising a second microphone configured to pick up speech by a user.

15. The system of claim 1, said management system further comprising a microphone configured to pick up ambient sounds in preference to user speech.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a video camera.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a facial recognition system.

18. The system of claim 1, said management system further comprising a video monitor.

19. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more repeaters.

20. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more location system units disposed about an area.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein one or more of said location system units are configured to use infrared radiation for location and tracking of said communication module.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein one or more of said location system units are configured to use acoustic waves for location and tracking of said communication module.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein one or more of said location system units are configured to use electromagnetic waves for location and tracking of said communication module.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein one or more of said location system units further comprise motion detectors for a home security system.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein said communication device comprises a cellular telephone.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein said communication device comprises GPS receiver, said communication device configured to obtain location information from one or more location microphones.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein said communication device is configured to provide warning information to said user of sounds is other parts of a house.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein said communication device is configured to provide GPS waypoint information to said user.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein said communication device is configured to distinguish between speech and warning sounds.

30. An assistance system, comprising:

a plurality of acoustic sensors provided to a vehicle,

a signal processor configured to receive data provided by one or more of said plurality of acoustic sensors; and

a cockpit display configured to visually warn a driver of a warning sound outside the vehicle, said cockpit display configured to indicate a direction of the warning sound and an identification of the warning sound.

31. The system of claim 30, said cockpit display further configured to indicate an estimated distance to the warning sound.