MANAGEMENT AND ASSISTANCE SYSTEM FOR THE DEAF

• US 20080120103A1
• Filed: 01/29/2008
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nest Labs Incorporated (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nest Labs Incorporated (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Kates, Lawrence
• Application Number:
  US12/022,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20080120103A1
• 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 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 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.

2. The system of claim 1, said cockpit display further configured to indicate an estimated distance to the warning sound.