Hearing Assistance System

• US 20150319546A1
• Filed: 05/12/2015
• Published: 11/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hearglass, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Okappi, Inc.
• Inventors: Sprague, Peter J.
• Application Number:
  US14/710,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20150319546A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/06 Hearing aids construction of hearing aids H04R25/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2200/02 Magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/02 Bridges; Browbars; Intermediate bars nose engaging-surfaces G02C5/12
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/14 Side-members
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0339 Touch strips, e.g. orthogonal touch strips to control cursor movement or scrolling; single touch strip to adjust parameter or to implement a row of soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/0208 Noise filtering
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/105 Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1066 Constructional aspects of the interconnection between earpiece and earpiece support earpiece support for monophonic headphones H04R1/105; earpiece support for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/57 Aspects of electrical interconnection between hearing aid parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/61 Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/07 Use of position data from wide-area or local-area positioning systems in hearing devices, e.g. program or information selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/15 Transducers incorporated in visual displaying devices, e.g. televisions, computer displays, laptops
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/603 of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/609 of circuitry of electronic switches or control elements H04R25/603
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/65 : Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 : Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Abstract

The present universal wearable computing device relates to a hearing assistance system, device, method, and apparatus that provide a discreet approach to user hearing assistance, without relying on a conventional hearing aid. The hearing assistance system and the requisite electronics may be incorporated into frames that also function as eyeglasses with earphone(s) that may be connected to the frame to assist user hearing. An earphone may be configured with minimal electronics, such that a power source enable sound transmissions to the ear, is provided by a connection to the frame of the eyeglasses. In another example, the earphone is configured without any electronics and sound is transmitted to the user/listener'"'"'s ear(s) via a psychoacoustic system. The sound quality of the transmissions to the earphones may be optimized using a tuning/equalizer application operating from a computing device, such as an app on a mobile device. The tuning/equalizer application can be used by the user/listener to optimize volume input levels to the earphone(s). The hearing assistance system may also include lighting emitting technology and/or a text display to enhance the wearer'"'"'s ability to communicate with other individuals.

Claims

1. A hearing system that enhances a user'"'"'s ability to communicate, the hearing system comprising:

a frame configured to be worn on a head of the user;

a transducer coupled to the frame, the transducer including at least one microphone configured to receive an audio signal of speech of the user as an audio signal;

a converter coupled to the transducer, the converter configured to transform the audio signal to a text representation of the audio signal; and

a text display positioned across a top of the frame and coupled to the converter, the text display configured to present the text representation to individuals in proximity of the user.

2. The hearing system as in claim 1, wherein the text display is an LCD or OLED.

3. The hearing system as in claim 1, wherein the text representation is streamed in real-time across the text display.

4. The hearing system as in claim 1, wherein the converter is further configured to translate the text representation to a second text representation in a different language, the text display configured to present the second text representation to the individuals in proximity of the user.

5. The hearing system as in claim 1, further comprising a controller coupled to the frame, the controller configured to present on the text display input received from a device communicatively coupled to the controller.

6. The hearing system as in claim 5, wherein the controller receives and displays the input streamed in real-time as the text is entered at the device.

7. The hearing system as in claim 5, wherein the controller receives and displays programmed text stored on at least one of the controller or the device communicatively coupled to the controller.

8. The hearing system as in claim 1, wherein the frame is configured with light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

9. The hearing system as in claim 8, wherein a controller automatically actives the LEDs based on a condition or event.

10. The hearing system as in claim 9, wherein the event is at least one of GPS, WiFi, or Bluetooth detecting the user being in proximity to a friend on a shared social network.

11. The hearing system as in claim 9, wherein the event is one or more sensors coupled to the frame detecting a dangerous condition affecting the user.

12. The hearing system as in claim 11, wherein the dangerous condition includes at least one of detecting a medical condition of the user, toxic chemicals, smoke, elevated humidity levels, the user falling down, or the user falling asleep.

13. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the frame further includes a first capacitive touch sensitive area, wherein the user touching the first capacitive touch sensitive area translates into computer readable instructions, which retrieve and display the programmed text stored on the controller.

14. A computing system configured to enhance a user'"'"'s ability to communicate, the system including:

a frame configured to be worn on a head of the user;

a transducer coupled to the frame, the transducer including at least one microphone configured to receive an audio signal of speech of the user as an audio signal;

a converter coupled to the transducer, the converter configured to transform the audio signal to a text representation of the audio signal; and

an LED display coupled to the frame and coupled to the converter, the LED display configured to present the text representation.

15. The computing system as in claim 14, wherein the text display is an LCD or OLED.

16. The computing system as in claim 14, wherein the text representation is streamed in real-time across the text display.

17. The computing system as in claim 14, wherein the converter is further configured to translate the text representation to a second text representation in a different language, the text display configured to present the second text representation to the individuals in proximity of the user.

18. The computing system as in claim 14, further comprising a controller coupled to the frame, the controller configured to present on the text display input received from a device communicatively coupled to the controller.

19. The computing system as in claim 18, wherein the controller receives and displays the input streamed in real-time as the text is entered at the device.

20. A computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, such that when executed by at least one processor in a computing system configured to facilitate hearing that enhances a user'"'"'s ability to communicate, the hearing system including:

a frame configured to be worn on a head of the user;

a transducer coupled to the frame, the transducer including at least one microphone configured to receive an audio signal of speech of the user as an audio signal; and

a converter coupled to the transducer, the converter configured to transform the audio signal to a text representation of the audio signal; and

the computer program code being configured to cause a text display positioned across a top of the frame and coupled to the converter to present the text representation to individuals in proximity of the user.