MEASUREMENT OF SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL AND PHASE AT EARDRUM BY SENSING EARDRUM VIBRATION
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Abstract
A hearing assistance device for measuring sound pressure at a tympanic membrane of a user'"'"'s ear, the device comprising a housing adapted to be worn at least partially in an ear canal of the user a laser source coupled to the housing and adapted to project a beam of laser energy at the tympanic membrane a sensor for receiving reflected laser energy directed at the tympanic membrane, and a processor connected to the sensor and adapted to estimate the sound pressure level and phase at the tympanic membrane from a signal generated from the sensor. Additional examples provide a hearing device for measuring sound pressure at the tympanic membrane using ultrasonic signals. Further examples provide a hearing device for measuring sound pressure at the tympanic membrane using magnetic sources and sensors.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1-7. -7. (canceled)
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8. A hearing assistance device for measuring sound pressure at a user'"'"'s tympanic membrane, the device comprising:
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a housing adapted to be worn at least partially in an ear canal of the user; a magnetic field source coupled to the user'"'"'s tympanic membrane; a coil sensor coupled to the housing and adapted to generate a signal indicative of the movement of the tympanic membrane using the magnetic field source; and a processor connected to the coil sensor and adapted to estimate the sound pressure level at the tympanic membrane using a signal generated from the coil sensor. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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12. A method of estimating sound pressure in an ear canal of a user, the method comprising:
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attaching a magnetic material to a tympanic membrane in the ear canal of the user; inserting a magnetic pickup coil in the ear canal; generating a signal indicative of movement of the tympanic membrane using the magnetic pickup coil; and estimating sound pressure in the ear canal using the signal indicative of movement of the tympanic membrane. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 28)
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Specification