SPECTATOR BROADCAST SYSTEM WITH AN EAR MOUNTED RECEIVER

• US 20080192951A1
• Filed: 02/08/2007
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Edward Moura
• Original Assignee: Edward Moura
• Inventors: Moura, Edward
• Application Number:
  US11/672,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20080192951A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/69 Optical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/27 specially adapted for broadcast systems covered by groups H04H20/53 - H04H20/95

Abstract

A spectator broadcast system includes a transmitter for broadcasting over one or more broadcast channels and a light weight ear mounted receiver for selectively receiving one or more broadcast channels. The receiver comprises a radio circuit, a speaker, control means comprising an on/off function and volume control, a power source, a channel selector switch and a semi-transparent case adapted to mount comfortably over the ear of a wearer by means of an ear hanging member. A light source is included to illuminate the case. In another embodiment spread spectrum technology is used. The system is adapted to broadcast over distances and at power levels permitted by the authorities.

Claims

1. A spectator broadcast system with an ear mounted receiver comprising:

a. a transmitter adapted for radiating energy in an omni-directional pattern over one or more broadcast channels simultaneously;

b. an ear mounted receiver adapted for receiving said energy over said one or more channels simultaneously and converting the energy into audible sounds, said ear mounted receiver comprising;

i. an electrical circuit for converting the received energy into electrical signals and audio output;

ii. a speaker for converting said electrical signals into said audible sound;

iii. control means comprising an on/off function and volume control;

iv. means for selecting between the one or more broadcast channels;

v. a power source for driving said circuit and said speaker; and

,

vi. a case adapted to mount comfortably over the ear of a wearer for the duration of a spectator event wherein said case is further adapted to contain said electrical circuit, said speaker, said control means and said power source.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the energy takes the form of one of radio energy, ultrasound energy, infra-red light energy or inductive energy.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the energy is radio energy transmitted in a frequency modulation mode and wherein the electrical circuit is a radio circuit adapted to receive frequency modulated radio energy and convert them into audible sounds.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the electrical circuit, the control means, the selecting means, the speaker and the power source are mounted to a printed circuit board.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the ear mounted receiver further includes a light source mounted to said printed circuit board, and wherein said light source has a first illuminated mode when the ear mounted receiver is on and a second non-illuminated mode when the ear mounted receiver is off.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the case is manufactured from ecologically advantageous and semi-transparent thermoplastic material, and further wherein the light source has sufficient brightness to illuminate the case.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said means for selecting between the one or more broadcast channels is a single push button mounted to the printed circuit board.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the transmitter and the ear mounted receiver are separated by a distance of up to one kilometer.

9. The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the transmitter and the ear mounted receiver are separated by a distance of more than one kilometer.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the transmitter broadcasts at a power level specified by the regulatory authorities so that the transmitter does not require a broadcast license.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the transmitter transmits generally at a frequency of between 200 MHz and 1 GHz.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the control means comprises a rotating disc mounted to the circuit board, and further wherein said rotating disc is adapted to control the on/off function and volume control of the ear mounted receiver.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the power source is one of a group of power sources comprising:

a replaceable non-rechargeable battery, a replaceable rechargeable battery, a non-replaceable non-rechargeable battery and a non-replaceable rechargeable battery, and wherein the power source has a life of up to 60 hours.

14. The system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the power source is a non-replaceable non-rechargeable battery having a life between 6 hours and 8 hours, and further wherein said non-replaceable battery non-rechargeable battery is sealed within the case.

15. A spectator broadcast system with an ear mounted receiver comprising:

a. a frequency modulation transmitter adapted for radiating radio energy in an omni-directional pattern over one or more broadcast channels simultaneously, wherein said transmitter transmits generally at a frequency of between 200 MHz and 1 GHz;

b. an ear mounted receiver adapted for receiving said radio energy over said one or more broadcast channels and converting the radio energy into audible sounds, wherein said ear mounted receiver and the transmitter are separated by a distance of up to one kilometer, and wherein the ear mounted receiver comprises;

i. an electrical circuit for converting the radio energy into electrical signals;

ii. a speaker for converting said electrical signals into said audible sounds;

iii. an on/off function switch adapted for volume control;

iv. a battery for driving said circuit and said speaker;

v. a channel selection switch comprising a single button so that the wearer can switch between the one or more broadcast channels;

vi. a light source for indicating that the ear mounted receiver is on and operating;

vii. a circuit board for mounting said electrical circuit, the speaker, said on/off switch, said light source, said channel selection switch and said battery; and

,

viii. an ecologically advantageous and semi-transparent thermoplastic case adapted to mount comfortably over the ear of a wearer for the duration of a spectator event wherein said case is adapted to contain said circuit board, and further wherein the light source has sufficient brightness to illuminate said case.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the distance between the transmitter and ear mounted receiver is more than one kilometer.

17. The system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the case is manufactured from recycled semi-transparent thermoplastic material.

18. The system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the case comprises a left side, a right side, a top, a bottom, a front, a back, a first body adapted to house said circuit board;

a second body adjacent to and integral with said first body, an ear hanging member fixed to said second body for hanging the case from the ear of a wearer and, a cushion disposed over the speaker and between the back of the case and said ear hanging member.

19. The system as claimed in claim 18 wherein the first body comprises a left arcuate side having a convex shape and a right arcuate side having a concave shape, wherein the said left arcuate side and said right arcuate side join to form a lozenge-shaped front surface having rounded corners.

20. The system as claimed in claim 19 wherein said front surface comprises a tear-shaped flat portion comprising a first flat circular area and a second flat tear-shaped area surrounding said first flat circular area, wherein the first flat circular area is adapted to mount graphics.

21. The system as claimed in claim 20 wherein said first flat circular area is raised above the second flat-tear shaped area to more prominently display said graphics.

22. The system as claimed in claim 21 wherein the front surface further comprises a raised area semi-surrounding said tear-shaped flat portion, wherein said raised area comprises a bottom bulbous horizontal section that is adapted to contain the battery and an upright section that is adapted to mount the second body.

23. The system as claimed in claim 22 wherein the second body is mounted to the first body on the right side of the case, and further wherein the second body comprises a first vertical portion having a top and a bottom and mounted to the first body and a second horizontal portion projecting rearward a predetermined distance from the top of the first vertical portion, wherein said second horizontal portion is adapted to support said ear hanging member, and wherein said predetermined distance is sufficient to permit placement of said cushion between the back of the case and the ear hanging member without compression of the cushion.

24. The system as claimed in claim 23 wherein the ear hanging member comprises a first end flexibly fixed to the second horizontal portion and a second free end.

25. The system as claimed in claim 24 wherein the ear hanging member first end is integral to the second horizontal portion, and further wherein there is permitted a limited amount of flexibility about the ear hanging member first end to accommodate placement of the ear mounted receiver over the ear of the wearer.

26. The system as claimed in claim 25 wherein the first end of the ear hanging member is pinned to the second horizontal portion so that there is permitted a limited amount of biased rotation about the first end of the ear hanging member.

27. The system as claimed in claim 25 where, in profile, the ear hanging member has a top section and a bottom section in vertical alignment and a middle section slightly bowed away from the back of the case in order to permit comfortable placement of the ear mounted receiver on the ear of the wearer.

28. The system as claimed in claim 27 wherein said middle section is further adapted to push the ear of the wearer towards the cushion in order to maintain a close fit between the wear of the wearer and the cushion.

29. The system as claimed in claim 28 wherein the first end of the ear hanging member further comprises a cusp depending there from, said cusp adapted to engage the ear of the wearer in order to maintain the ear mounted receiver on the ear.