METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING AUDIO SIGNALS
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
37 Claims
- 1. (canceled)
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2. An apparatus for transmitting vibrations, comprising:
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a first housing that is configured to engage at least a first tooth of a user; a first transducer disposed within or upon the first housing and configured to transmit vibrations to a surface of the at least a first tooth; and a first microphone adapted to receive an audio signal, wherein said apparatus produces an interference fit between the apparatus and at least two surfaces of the at least a first tooth. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of transmitting vibrations, comprising:
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providing an apparatus comprising a housing and a transducer disposed within or upon the housing; positioning the housing onto at least one tooth of a user, wherein said apparatus produces an interference fit between the apparatus and at least two surfaces of the at least one tooth; receiving a first audio signal via a first microphone; receiving a second audio signal via a second microphone; shifting a phase and/or amplitude and/or delay of the second audio signal such that a summation of the first and second audio signals mitigates or cancels the second audio signal resulting in a final signal; and vibrating the final signal through the transducer such that the transducer transmits the vibrations to the surface of the at least one tooth. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification