Optical Electro-Mechanical Hearing Devices With Separate Power and Signal Components
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device to transmit an audio signal, the device comprising:
- at least one light source configured to transmit the audio signal with at least one wavelength of light;
at least one detector configured to detect the audio signal and generate at least one electrical signal in response to the at least one wavelength of light;
a transducer supported with and configured to vibrate at least one of an eardrum, an ossicle or a cochlea; and
active circuitry coupled to the at least one detector and the transducer to drive the transducer in response to the electrical signal.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device to transmit an audio signal comprises at least one light source configured to transmit the audio signal with at least one wavelength of light. At least one detector is configured to detect the audio signal and generate at least one electrical signal in response to the at least one wavelength of light. A transducer is supported with and configured to vibrate at least one of an eardrum, an ossicle or a cochlea. Active circuitry is coupled to the transducer to drive the transducer in response to the at least one electrical signal, so as to provide the user with high quality sound.
-
Citations
35 Claims
-
1. A device to transmit an audio signal, the device comprising:
-
at least one light source configured to transmit the audio signal with at least one wavelength of light; at least one detector configured to detect the audio signal and generate at least one electrical signal in response to the at least one wavelength of light; a transducer supported with and configured to vibrate at least one of an eardrum, an ossicle or a cochlea; and active circuitry coupled to the at least one detector and the transducer to drive the transducer in response to the electrical signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A system to transmit an audio signal, the system comprising:
-
an input transducer assembly comprising at least one light source configured to emit at least one wavelength of light; and an output transducer assembly comprising, at least one detector configured to detect the at least one wavelength of light, active circuitry coupled to the at least one detector; a transducer electrically coupled to the active circuitry, the transducer configured to vibrate at least one of an eardrum, an ossicle, or a cochlea of the user in response to the at least one wavelength of light. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A method of transmitting an audio signal, the method comprising:
-
emitting at least one wavelength of light from at least one light source; detecting the at least one wavelength of light to generate an electrical signal; and vibrating at least one of an eardrum, an ossicle, or a cochlea of the user in response to the electrical signal. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
-
-
27. A device to stimulate a target tissue, the device comprising:
-
at least one light source configured to transmit a pulse width modulated light signal comprising at least one wavelength of light; at least one detector coupled to the target tissue to stimulate the target tissue in response to the modulated light signal. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. A method of stimulating a target tissue, the method comprising:
-
emitting a pulse width modulated light signal comprising at least one wavelength of light from at least one light source; and stimulating the target tissue in response to the modulated light signal. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
-
-
35. A device to transmit an audio signal comprising sound to a user, the device comprising:
-
means for transmitting the audio signal; and means for detecting the audio signal such that the user hears the sound.
-
Specification