Personal ambient sound referenced annunciator
First Claim
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1. A personal annunciator responsive to present ambient sound conditions in the immediate vicinity of the user who is unable to recognize changes in ambient sound level, comprising:
- (a) a small portable housing,(b) an indicator connected to said housing,(c) ambient sound receiving means disposed in the housing for picking up the continually varying present ambient sound in the vicinity of the housing and producing a variable amplitude signal reflecting the varying amplitude of the present ambient sound,(d) activating signal generating means disposed in the housing and connected to the output of the ambient sound receiving means for receiving the variable amplitude signal therefrom and producing an activating signal only when an abrupt amplitude increase occurs within a fixed predetermined interval, said amplitude being greater by a fixed predetermined increment than the varying sound level received immediately therebefore to which it is referenced, and(e) the activating signal generating means is connected to the indicator, which on receipt of the activating signal gives the user a non-audible type warning signal which he can readily recognize.
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Abstract
A personally worn or portable annunciator device for alerting, warning, training, communicating or diagnostic use for people especially those with hearing impairments. This device which can be activated locally or remotely has as one of its means of generating a tactile sensation a transducer or buzzer, as well as a visual light both of which are activated automatically upon the detection of an audio signal substantially above the local ambient noise, or by a RF signal remotely generated by an auxiliary unit.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A personal annunciator responsive to present ambient sound conditions in the immediate vicinity of the user who is unable to recognize changes in ambient sound level, comprising:
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(a) a small portable housing, (b) an indicator connected to said housing, (c) ambient sound receiving means disposed in the housing for picking up the continually varying present ambient sound in the vicinity of the housing and producing a variable amplitude signal reflecting the varying amplitude of the present ambient sound, (d) activating signal generating means disposed in the housing and connected to the output of the ambient sound receiving means for receiving the variable amplitude signal therefrom and producing an activating signal only when an abrupt amplitude increase occurs within a fixed predetermined interval, said amplitude being greater by a fixed predetermined increment than the varying sound level received immediately therebefore to which it is referenced, and (e) the activating signal generating means is connected to the indicator, which on receipt of the activating signal gives the user a non-audible type warning signal which he can readily recognize. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9)
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7. The personal annunciator as set forth in claims l, 3 or 4, wherein:
(a) the activating signal generating means includes an automatic ambient sound level signal adjusting circuit.
Specification