METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING AUDIO SIGNALS
First Claim
1. An apparatus for transmitting vibrations, comprising:
- air actuatable transducer engageable with at least one tooth; and
an electronics assembly engageable with the at least one tooth,wherein the actuatable transducer and the electronics assembly are engageable to the at least one tooth with an interference fit.
4 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.
12 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for transmitting vibrations, comprising:
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air actuatable transducer engageable with at least one tooth; and an electronics assembly engageable with the at least one tooth, wherein the actuatable transducer and the electronics assembly are engageable to the at least one tooth with an interference fit. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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2. The apparatus of claim further comprising at least one microphone in communication with the electronic assembly.
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10. An apparatus for transmitting vibrations comprising:
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a transducer housing engageable with at least one tooth; and an electronics housing engageable with the at least one tooth, wherein the transducer housing and the electronics housing are engageable to the at least one tooth with an interference fit. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for transmitting vibrations comprising:
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a transducer housing engageable with a tooth; and an electronics housing engageable with the tooth or another tooth, wherein the transducer housing is biased to press against the tooth and the electronics housing is biased to press against the tooth or the another tooth to secure the apparatus to the tooth and/or the another tooth. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification