METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING AUDIO SIGNALS

• US 20070280492A1
• Filed: 02/07/2007
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Abolfathi, Amir
• Granted Patent: US 7,801,319 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/317
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0093 Features of implants not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0098 Immediate loaded implants
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/46 Special adaptations for use as contact microphones, e.g. on musical instrument, on stethoscope throat mountings H04R1/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/31 Aspects of the use of accumulators in hearing aids, e.g. rechargeable batteries or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/67 Implantable hearing aids or parts thereof not covered by H04R25/606
• 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 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/602 of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/604 of acoustic or vibrational transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/606 acting directly on the eardrum, the ossicles or the skull, e.g. mastoid, tooth, maxillary or mandibular bone, or mechanically stimulating the cochlea, e.g. at the oval window
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response

Abstract

Various methods and apparatus for processing audio signals are disclosed herein. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such an oral appliance may be a custom-made device which can enhance and/or optimize received audio signals for vibrational conduction to the user. Received audio signals may be processed to cancel acoustic echo such that undesired sounds received by one or more intra-buccal and/or extra-buccal microphones are eliminated or mitigated. Additionally, a multiband actuation system may be used where two or more transducers each deliver sounds within certain frequencies. Also, the assembly may also utilize the sensation of directionality via the conducted vibrations to emulate directional perception of audio signals received by the user. Another feature may include the ability to vibrationally conduct ancillary audio signals to the user along with primary audio signals.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting two or more auditory signals through conducted vibrations, comprising:

receiving a first auditory signal via at least one microphone;

receiving a second auditory signal via the at least one microphone;

multiplexing the first and second auditory signals into a combined signal; and

transmitting the combined signal through the bone of a user via at least one transducer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a first auditory signal comprises receiving a primary auditory signal via an intra-buccal microphone.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein receiving a second auditory signal comprises receiving one or more ancillary auditory signals.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a second auditory signal comprises receiving the second auditory signal wirelessly via a receiver.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein multiplexing further comprises adjusting a parameter of the first and/or second auditory signals.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting comprises transmitting the combined signal such that the first and second auditory signals are conducted in parallel relative to one another to the user.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting comprises transmitting the combined signal such that the first and second auditory signals are conducted in series relative to one another to the user.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting comprises transmitting the combined signal such that the first and second auditory signals are conducted in both parallel and series relative to one another to the user.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting comprises vibrating the at least one transducer along at least one tooth of the user.