AUDIO TRANSCEIVER FOR TRANSMITTING TO AND RECEIVING FROM THE EAR CANAL

• US 3,819,860 A
• Filed: 09/10/1971
• Issued: 06/25/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert N. Miller
• Original Assignee: Robert N. Miller
• Inventors: Miller, Robert N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Claffy, Kathleen H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leaheey, Jon Bradford
• Application Number:
  US05/179,450
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 179/1P,1A,1R,1E,1UW,146,115.5BS,17E,182R,180
• US Class Current: 381/380
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/105 Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/22 for obtaining desired frequency characteristic only circuit for combining transducers having different responses H04R3/00; for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/46 Special adaptations for use as contact microphones, e.g. on musical instrument, on stethoscope throat mountings H04R1/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication

Abstract

An ear-borne transceiver for transmitting and receiving audio information signals comprises an ear piece having a semi-rigid support body portion formed and adapted to be inserted and snugly received in the outer ear canal. The inserted portion of the support body includes a first and second audio passageway therealong for respectively carrying sound waves therethrough. A uni-directional acoustical filter device is disposed in each of the passageways which respectively serve to pass sounds from and to the ear canal. A microphone element receives sounds from the ear canal via one of the passageways and converts the received sounds into electrical signals to be supplied to a transmitting cable means. A receiving or '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'speaker'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' element also carried by the support body receives electrical signals via a transmit/receive cable means and serves to convert such electrical signals to sounds to be transmitted into the other of the two passageways. The filter device in each passageway serves to dissipate the power or energy of selected acoustical sounds above a predetermined level so as to limit the transmission and receipt of audio to that portion lying substantially in the voice range. Abrasive background noise is thereby eliminated from signals both as transmitted and as received.

Claims

1. An ear-borne transceiver system of a type employing cable means for transmitting and receiving audio information signals comprising an ear piece having a semi-rigid body portion formed and adapted to be inserted and snugly received in the outer ear canal, said body portion including first and second independent, separate passageways therealong for passing sounds respectIvely from and to said ear canal, uni-directional acoustical filter means in each said passageway, said filter means in said first and second passageways being oriented respectively in opposite directions therein for dissipating the power of those sounds above a predetermined power level, a microphone disposed to receive those sounds passing via said first passageway for converting the received sounds into electrical signals supplied to said cable means, and a speaker element disposed to receive electrical signals via said cable means for converting such signals to sounds transmitted into said second passageway.

2. An ear-borne transceiver system of a type having transmit and receive channels and employing cable means for transmitting and receiving audio information signals comprising an ear piece of semi-rigid material forming a body portion adapted to be snugly received in the ear canal, said body portion including a pair of separate and distinct passageways therealong for respectively passing sound waves primarily in opposite directions to each other, said passageways serving to continuously couple both the transmit and receive channels to said ear canal, a protective envelope carried by said ear piece, a microphone element disposed in said envelope to receive sounds via one of said passageways for converting the received sounds to electrical signals supplied to said cable means, and a speaker element disposed in said envelope to receive electrical signals via said cable means for converting same to sounds to be transmitted primarily via the other one of said passageways.