Hearing assistance systems configured to detect and provide protection to the user from harmful conditions
First Claim
1. A hearing system that protects from damaging noise, the hearing system comprising:
- a frame configured to be worn on the head of a user;
a first transducer coupled to the frame, the first transducer including at least two microphones configured to receive an audio signal;
a converter configured to convert and to amplify the audio signal to an amplified representation of the audio signal, wherein the converter is configured to adjust the audio signal to an audio level non-damaging to hearing functions of the user; and
a second transducer for emitting the amplified representation of the audio signal to a pair of earbuds coupled to ears of the user and removably coupled to at least a portion of the frame, wherein the earbuds are configured to block environmental noise from reaching the ears of the user.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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 protect from damaging environmental noise, provide heightened hearing capabilities, collect and process physiological and physical measurements, and provide communication capabilities for interacting with other computing devices.
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Citations
76 Claims
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1. A hearing system that protects from damaging noise, the hearing system comprising:
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a frame configured to be worn on the head of a user; a first transducer coupled to the frame, the first transducer including at least two microphones configured to receive an audio signal; a converter configured to convert and to amplify the audio signal to an amplified representation of the audio signal, wherein the converter is configured to adjust the audio signal to an audio level non-damaging to hearing functions of the user; and a second transducer for emitting the amplified representation of the audio signal to a pair of earbuds coupled to ears of the user and removably coupled to at least a portion of the frame, wherein the earbuds are configured to block environmental noise from reaching the ears of the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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9-56. -56. (canceled)
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63. A method of protecting from damaging noise, the method comprising:
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processing an audio signal by a first transducer coupled to a frame configured to be worn on the head of a user, the first transducer further coupled to at least two microphones situated on the frame and configured to receive the audio signal; converting and amplifying the audio signal to an amplified representation of the audio signal by a converter, wherein the converting adjusts the audio signal to an audio level non-damaging to hearing functions of the user; and emitting the amplified representation of the audio signal, using a second transducer, to a pair of earbuds coupled to ears of the user and removably coupled to at least a portion of the frame, wherein the earbuds are configured to block environmental noise from reaching the ears of the user. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76)
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Specification