Wireless transmitting and receiving systems including ear microphones

• US 4,334,315 A
• Filed: 05/05/1980
• Issued: 06/08/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GENS Engineering Co. Ltd
• Original Assignee: GENS Engineering Co. Ltd
• Inventors: Ono, Hiroshi, Mizoi, Kazutoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): NG, JIN FAY
• Application Number:
  US06/146,675
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 455/11, 455/7, 455/41, 455/54, 455/89, 455/100, 455/351, 179/107 R, 179/107 E, 179/107 BC, 179/107 H, 179/157, 179/156 R, 179/102, 179/182 R
• US Class Current: 455/11.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3866 carried on the head
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/14 Relay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/083 Special constructions of mouthpieces
• 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 1/46 Special adaptations for use as contact microphones, e.g. on musical instrument, on stethoscope throat mountings H04R1/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 17/02 Microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers

Abstract

A wireless transmitting and receiving system includes an ear microphone of the vibration pick-up type for picking up bone-conducted voice signals through an external auditory ear canal wall of a wearer. A portable case is disposed adjacent the wearer'"'"'s ear and a wireless device is attached adjacent the wearer but spaced from the portable case. A transmitter of a transmitting circuit for transmitting the output signals of the ear microphone is housed in the portable case. A receiver of a receiving circuit is housed in the wireless device and receives signals from outside the system. The transmitting and receiving circuits provide a wireless connection between the portable case and the wireless device permitting two-way communication through one ear of the wearer.

Claims

1. A wireless transmitting and receiving system for use in two-way communication with a remote transmitter-receiver, comprising

an ear microphone for picking up bone-conducted voice signals through an external auditory canal wall of one ear of a wearer thereof;

a portable case having first mounting means for supporting said portable case adjacent the one ear of the wearer, and housing a first transmitter;

a wireless device having second mounting means for supporting said wireless device adjacent the wearer but spaced from said portable case and said ear microphone, and housing a second transmitter and first and second receivers;

said transmitters and receivers forming a communication loop including

a first link with said first transmitter for transmitting output signals of said ear microphone, said second receiver for receiving signals transmitted from said first transmitter and said second transmitter for transmitting signals received by said second receiver to the remote transmitter-receiver; and

a second link with said first receiver for receiving signals transmitted from the remote transmitter-receiver;

whereby said first and second links provide a wireless connection between said portable case and said wireless device and permit wireless communication signals to be transmitted and received between the one ear of the wearer in which said ear microphone is mounted and the remote transmitter-receiver.

2. A wireless transmitting and receiving system according to claim 1, wherein said second link comprises a third transmitter for transmitting output signals of said first receiver, a third receiver receiving signals transmitted from said third transmitter, and a speaker for acoustically converting output signals of said third receiver;

said third transmitter being housed in said wireless device;

said third receiver and said speaker being housed in said portable case.

3. A wireless transmitting and receiving system according to claim 1, wherein said second link comprises a speaker housed in said wireless device, the speaker acoustically converting output signals of said first receiver to signals audible by the one ear of the wearer in which said ear microphone is mounted and by the other ear of the wearer.

4. A wireless transmitting and receiving system according to claim 1, wherein said second link comprises a loop antenna for electromagnetically inducing output signals of said first receiver, an induction coil electromagnetically coupled to said loop antenna, and a speaker for acoustically converting output signals of said induction coil;

said antenna being connected to said wireless device and extending adjacent to said portable case;

said induction coil and said speaker being housed in said portable case.

5. A wireless transmitting and receiving system according to claim 1, wherein said portable case is of ear hanging type.

6. A wireless transmitting and receiving system according to claim 1, wherein said portable case is of the external auditory canal insertion type.

7. A wireless transmitting and receiving system for use in two-way communication with a remote transmitter-receiver, comprising

an ear microphone for picking up bone-conducted voice signals through an external auditory canal wall of one ear of a wearer thereof;

a portable case having first mounting means for supporting said portable case adjacent the one ear of the wearer, and housing a first transmitter, a first receiver and a speaker;

a wireless device having second mounting means for supporting said wireless device adjacent the wearer but spaced from said portable case and said ear microphone, and housing a second receiver and a second transmitter;

said transmitters, receivers and speaker forming a communication loop including

a first link with said first transmitter for transmitting output signals of said ear microphone to the remote transmitter-receiver; and

a second link with said second receiver for receiving signals transmitted from the remote transmitter-receiver, said second transmitter for transmitting output signals of said second receiver, said first receiver for receiving signals transmitted from said second transmitter, and said speaker for acoustically converting output signals of said first receiver;

whereby said first and second links provide a wireless connection between said portable case and said wireless device and permit wireless communication signals to be transmitted and received between the one ear of the wearer in which said ear microphone is mounted and the remote transmitter-receiver.

8. A wireless transmitting and receiving system according to claim 7, wherein said ear microphone is connected through a sound tube to said portable case and sound outputs of said speaker are introduced through said sound tube to said ear microphone.

9. A wireless transmitting and receiving system for use in two-way communication with a remote transmitter-receiver, comprising

an ear microphone for picking up bone-conducted voice signals through an external auditory canal wall of one ear of a wearer thereof;

a portable case having first mounting means for supporting said portable case adjacent the one ear of the wearer, and housing a first transmitter, a speaker and an induction coil;

a wireless device having second mounting means for supporting said wireless device adjacent the wearer but spaced from said portable case and said ear microphone, housing a first receiver and having a loop antenna connected thereto and extending adjacent to said portable case;

said transmitter, speaker, induction coil, receiver and antenna forming a communication loop including

a first link with said first transmitter for transmitting output signals of said ear microphone to the remote transmitter-receiver; and

a second link with said first receiver for receiving signals transmitted from the remote transmitter-receiver, said antenna for electromagnetically inducing output signals of said first receiver, said induction coil electromagnetically coupled to said loop antenna, and said speaker for acoustically converting output signals of said induction coil;

whereby said first and second links provide a wireless connection between said portable case and said wireless device and permit communication signals to be transmitted and received between the one ear of the wearer in which said ear microphone is mounted and the remote transmitter-receiver.

10. A wireless transmitting and receiving system according to claim 9, wherein said ear microphone is connected through a sound tube to said portable case and sound outputs of said speaker are introduced through said sound tube to said ear microphone.