Voice transmission system and method for high ambient noise conditions

• US 5,208,867 A
• Filed: 04/05/1990
• Issued: 05/04/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intellx Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Intellx Incorporated
• Inventors: Stites, George M. III
• Primary Examiner(s): WIEDER, KENNETH A
• Application Number:
  US07/504,971
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 381/151, 381/163, 381/169, 381/187, 381/68.6, 381/205, 381/72, 181/135
• US Class Current: 381/361
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• 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: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/08 Mouthpieces; Microphones; Attachments therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/43 Signal processing in hearing aids to enhance the speech intelligibility
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/61 Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/407 Circuits for combining signals of a plurality of transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/652 Ear tips; Ear moulds hybrid ear moulds or post-processing thereof for their customisation H04R25/659
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/658 Manufacture of housing parts

Abstract

An earpiece has a structural configuration effective to removably interlock its outer surface contiguously to the outer ear auricle of the earpiece wearer. A microphone substantially exclusively receives, from the air of the external auditory canal, outbound voice sounds caused by the reverse modulation of the tympanic membrane when the earpiece wearer speaks. An outbound audio circuit is electrically connected to the microphone which converts the outbound voice sounds to electrical voice signals. The outbound audio circuit amplifies the outbound electrical voice signals to a preselected fixed level output gain and removes noise from the voice signals. Specific features of the invention are directed to a two-way communication system, the structure of a speaker/microphone module, the structural configuration of an earpiece assembly, specific control circuitry, and a particular assembly for conducting a method of communicating voice sounds substantially exclusively from the air of the external auditory canal while substantially eliminating audio vibration pickup of sound signals by bone conduction. The voice transmission system and method effect intelligible voice communication in an environment having ambient noise at a level greater than 90 decibels.

Claims

1. A voice transmission system comprising:

a) earpiece means having sound dampening means and an outer surface effective to removably interlock contiguously to the outer ear auricle of a wearer of the earpiece means,

b) first speaker means for sending inbound sounds and first microphone means for receiving outbound voice sounds respectively to and from the tympanic membrane of said wearer,

c) said first speaker means and first microphone means being structurally and electrically connected to a circuit board member to form a speaker/microphone module,

d) said circuit board member including means for electrically connecting and transmitting inbound electrical audio signals to the first speaker means and means for electrically connecting and transmitting outbound electrical voice signals from the first microphone means to control circuit means,

e) said control circuit means including outbound audio circuit means and inbound audio circuit means, said outbound audio circuit means being electrically connected to said first microphone means and said inbound audio circuit means being electrically connected to said first speaker means,

f) second speaker means disposed at a location remote from said person for receiving said outbound electrical voice signals from the first microphone means, and

g) second microphone means disposed at a location remote from said person for forwarding said inbound electrical audio signals to said first speaker means,

h) said sound dampening means being disposed to isolate the earpiece means for substantially eliminating audio vibration pickup of sound transmitted by bone and tissue conduction.

2. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein

the earpiece means includes flexible tube members at one end thereof having end ports which open outwardly from a canal extension section,

each of said tube members being connected at the other end thereof to a respective voice sound inlet of the first microphone means and a sound outlet of the first speaker means,

said speaker/microphone module is encapsulated in a molded rigid material and disposed within the earpiece means.

3. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein

the earpiece means includes flexible tube members at one end thereof having end ports which open outwardly from a canal extension section,

each of said tube members being connected at the other end thereof to a respective voice sound inlet of the first microphone means and a sound outlet of the first speaker means,

said speaker/microphone module is disposed at a location remote from said earpiece means.

4. A system as defined in claim 3 wherein

said outbound audio circuit means includes amplifier means and processor means,

said amplifier means being effective to amplify an intelligible electrical audio signal to a preselected fixed level output gain for producing an increased gain audio signal having a voice portion and a noise portion,

said processor means being effective to separate the noise portion from the voice portion for producing a clear voice sound to be transmitted by said second speaker means.

5. A system as defined in claim 4 wherein the inbound audio circuit means is effective to send inbound electrical audio signals from said second microphone means to the first speaker means which responsively sends sounds to the external auditory canal of said wearer.

6. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said second speaker means and said second microphone means are disposed in a single transceiver unit at the same remote location.

7. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said control circuit means includes switch means for alternately activating the inbound audio circuit means and the outbound audio circuit means.

8. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein

the earpiece means includes two separate and independent sound passageway means having end ports open to respectively send and receive sounds to and from the tympanic membrane of said wearer,

one of the passageway means being connected to the first speaker means and the other passageway means being connected to the first microphone means.

9. A system as defined in claim 8 wherein each of the two sound passageway includes a hollow flexible tube coupled to a respective sound output port and sound input port of the speaker/microphone module.

10. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein

the earpiece means includes a sound transmitting section having two separate and independent sound passageway means having end ports open to respectively send and receive sounds to and from the tympanic membrane of said wearer,

said sound dampening means includes an ear sealing surface portion composed of conformable material that contiguously interlocks with the structure of said wearer'"'"'s outer ear auricle.

11. A system as defined in claim 10 wherein said sound dampening means includes an external sound barrier portion contiguous to said ear sealing surface portion.

12. A system as defined in claim 11 wherein

said sound barrier portion is composed of barrier foam and has barrier surface membrane, and

said ear sealing surface portion has a sealing surface membrane.

13. A voice transmission system comprising:

a) earpiece means having a structural configuration with an outer surface effective to removably interlock contiguously to the outer ear auricle of a wearer of the earpiece means, said earpiece means includes a sound transmitting section removably secured to a sound dampening section,

b) first speaker means for sending inbound sounds and first microphone means for receiving outbound voice sounds respectively to and from the tympanic membrane of said wearer,

c) said first speaker means and first microphone means being structurally and electrically connected to a circuit board member to form a speaker/microphone module,

d) said circuit board member including means for electrically connecting and transmitting inbound electrical audio signals to the first speaker means and means for electrically connecting and transmitting outbound electrical voice signals from the first microphone means to control circuit means,

e) said control circuit means including outbound audio circuit means and inbound audio circuit means, said outbound audio circuit means being electrically connected to said first microphone means and said inbound audio circuit means being electrically connected to said first speaker means,

f) second speaker means disposed at a location remote from said person for receiving said outbound electrical voice signals from the first microphone means, and

g) second microphone means disposed at a location remote from said person for forwarding said inbound electrical audio signals to said first speaker means.

14. A system as defined in claim 13 wherein said sound dampening section includes an external sound barrier portion contiguous to an ear sealing surface portion.

15. A system as defined in claim 13 wherein said sound dampening section includes a surface recess having a shape and size sufficient to receive the sound transmitting section.

16. A system as defined in claim 15 wherein said surface recess includes means for removably mounting the sound transmitting section to the sound dampening section.

17. A voice transmission system comprising:

a) earpiece means including two separate and independent sound passageway means having end ports open to respectively send and receive sounds directly to and from the tympanic membrane of a wearer of the earpiece means,

b) control circuit means for alternately transmitting sound through one of the passageway means while the other passageway means is precluded from the transmission of sound,

c) said one of the passageway means being effective when open, to send inbound sound from speaker means to cause modulation of the tympanic membrane of said wearer,

d) said other passageway means being effective when open, to receive outbound voice sound caused by reverse modulation of the tympanic membrane of said wearer, when speaking, for directing said voice sound to microphone means,

e) said control circuit means, said speaker means and microphone means being located outside the earpiece means, and

f) means for disposing the speaker means and microphone means at a location on the wearer'"'"'s body away from the wearer'"'"'s head.

18. A system as defined in claim 17 wherein

the earpiece means includes a structural configuration with an outer surface effective to removably interlock contiguously to the outer ear auricle of the wearer,

said structural configuration being effective to substantially eliminate audio vibration pick-up of sound signals via bone and tissue conduction through the earpiece means.

19. A system as defined in claim 17 wherein

said structural configuration includes a body portion and a canal extension section projecting outwardly from the body portion into the external auditory canal of said wearer,

said body portion being composed of a pliable material which substantially conforms to the ear surface profile of the wearer and forms a thin, flexible outer shell defining an inner sound attenuating chamber into which the two sound passageway means extend from their respective end ports.

20. A system as defined in claim 17 wherein each of the two sound passageway means includes a hollow flexible tube connected to a respective sound output means of the speaker means and sound input means of the microphone means.

21. A system as defined in claim 17 wherein said control circuit means is disposed at a location remote from the earpiece means and includes inbound audio circuit means to send electrical sound signals and outbound audio circuit means connected to receive electrical voice sound signals, respectively, to the speaker means and from the microphone means.

22. A system as defined in claim 21 wherein said microphone means and speaker means are structurally and electrically connected to a circuit board member within a speaker/microphone module,

said outbound audio circuit means is electrically connected to the microphone means via the circuit board member and said inbound audio circuit means is electrically connected to the speaker means via the circuit board member.

23. A system as defined in claim 22 wherein the speaker/microphone module is encapsulated in a solid sound-proofing material.

24. A system as defined in claim 21 wherein

said outbound audio circuit means includes amplifier means and processor means,

said amplifier means being effective to amplify an intelligible electrical audio signal to a preselected fixed level output gain for producing an increased gain audio signal having a voice portion and a noise portion,

said processor means being effective to separate the noise portion from the voice portion for producing a clear voice sound to be transmitted by second speaker means remotely located away from said wearer.

25. A system as defined in claim 24 wherein the inbound audio circuit means is effective to send inbound electrical sound signals from remotely located second microphone means to the speaker means which is supported on the wearer'"'"'s body away from the wearer'"'"'s head for forwarding sounds to the external auditory canal of said wearer.

26. A system as defined in claim 17 wherein said control circuit means includes outbound audio circuit means, inbound audio circuit means and switch means for alternately activating the outbound audio circuit means and inbound audio circuit means,

the outbound audio circuit means being effective to receive electrical voice signals from microphone means which picks up outgoing voice sounds which are caused by the reverse modulation of the tympanic membrane and are obtained from the air within the external auditory canal of the wearer,

the inbound audio circuit means being effective to send inbound electrical sound signals to speaker means for transmitting sound to the external auditory canal of said wearer of the earpiece means.

27. A system as defined in claim 26 wherein

the outbound audio circuit means includes amplifier means and processor means,

said amplifier means being effective to amplify an intelligible electrical audio signal to a preselected fixed level output gain for producing a predetermined audio signal having an increased gain, a voice portion and a noise portion,

said processor means being effective to separate the noise portion from the voice portion for producing a clear voice sound to be transmitted by second speaker means disposed at a location remote from said wearer of the earpiece means.

28. A system as defined in claim 27 wherein

the earpiece means includes a structural configuration with an outer surface effective to removably interlock contiguously to the outer ear auricle of a wearer of the earpiece means,

said structural configuration further being effective to substantially eliminate audio vibration pick-up of sound signals via bone and tissue conduction when the earpiece means is disposed in the ear of said wearer.

29. An earpiece assembly for a voice transmission system, said assembly comprising:

a) an earpiece member having an outer surface effective to removably interlock contiguously to the outer ear auricle of a wearer of the earpiece member,

b) sound dampening means being effective to substantially eliminate audio vibration pickup of sound signals via bone conduction through the earpiece member,

c) said earpiece member including a canal extension section having open end ports and a length sufficient to dispose the open end ports at a spaced distance from the tympanic membrane to form an enclosed canal air chamber in the external auditory canal of said wearer,

d) one of said end ports open into a first sound passageway means to receive voice sounds produced by the reverse modulation of the tympanic membrane of said wearer and transmitted through the canal air chamber, and

e) the other of said end ports being opened into a second sound passageway means to send sounds through the canal air chamber to the tympanic membrane,

f) said sound dampening means including means located to isolate the canal extension section from the bone conduction of sound.

30. An assembly as defined in claim 29 wherein control circuit means alternately causes transmission of sound through one of the sound passageway means while the other sound passageway means is closed to the transmission of sound.

35. An assembly as defined in claim 29 wherein each of the two sound passageway means includes a hollow flexible tube connected to a respective sound outlet port of the speaker means and a sound inlet port of the microphone means.

31. An earpiece assembly for a voice transmission system, said assembly comprising:

a) an earpiece member having a structural configuration with an outer surface effective to removably interlock contiguously to the outer ear auricle of a wearer of the earpiece member,

b) said structural configuration further being effective to substantially eliminate audio vibration pickup of sound signals via bone conduction through the earpiece member,

c) said earpiece member including a canal extension section having open end ports and a length sufficient to dispose the open end ports at a spaced distance from the tympanic membrane to form an enclosed canal air chamber in the external auditory canal of said wearer,

d) one of said end ports open into a first sound passageway means to receive voice sounds produced by the reverse modulation of the tympanic membrane of said wearer and transmitted through the canal air chamber, and

e) the other of said end ports being opened into a second sound passageway means to send sounds through the canal air chamber to the tympanic membrane,

f) said earpiece member includes a speaker/microphone module which is encapsulated in a rigid material.

32. An assembly as defined in claim 31 wherein said module includes first speaker means and first microphone means structurally and electrically connected to a circuit board member.

33. An earpiece assembly for a voice transmission system, said assembly comprising:

a) an earpiece member having a structural configuration with an outer surface effective to removably interlock contiguously to the outer ear auricle of a wearer of the earpiece member,

b) said structural configuration further being effective to substantially eliminate audio vibration pickup of sound signals via bone conduction through the earpiece member,

c) said earpiece member including a canal extension section having open end ports and a length sufficient to dispose the open end ports at a spaced distance from the tympanic membrane to form an enclosed canal air chamber in the external auditory canal of said wearer,

d) one of said end ports opens into a first sound passageway means to receive voice sounds produced by the reverse modulation of the tympanic membrane of said wearer and transmitted through the canal air chamber,

e) the other of said end ports being opened into a second sound passageway means which delivers sounds to be transmitted through the canal air chamber to the tympanic membrane,

f) first speaker means which sends inbound sounds to the tympanic membrane via said second sound passageway means, and

g) first microphone means which receives outbound voice sounds, via said first sound passageway means, from the canal air chamber caused by reverse modulation of the tympanic membrane of said wearer,

h) said first speaker means and first microphone means are structurally and electrically connected to a circuit board member within a speaker/microphone module which is disposed at a location outside the earpiece member.

34. An assembly as defined in claim 33 wherein

said module is mounted to means for locating the module on the wearer'"'"'s body away from the wearer'"'"'s head,

said structural configuration includes a body portion composed of a pliable material which substantially conforms to the ear surface profile of the wearer and forms a thin, flexible shell defining an inner sound attenuating chamber through which the first and second sound passageway means extend to respective sound outlet and inlet ports of the first speaker means and first microphone means.

36. A method of communicating to a remote location a person'"'"'s outgoing voice sounds caused by reverse modulation of the tympanic membrane when said person speaks, said method comprising:

a) providing means for picking up said voice sounds substantially exclusively from the air within the external auditory canal of the person,

b) isolating the means for picking up said voice sounds for substantially eliminating audio vibration pickup of sound transmitted by bone and tissue conduction,

c) converting the voice sounds to amplified electrical voice signals without a noise portion, and

d) directing the amplified electrical voice signals to speaker means for transmitting a clear voice sound of said person at the remote location.

37. A method of communicating to a remote location a person'"'"'s outgoing voice sounds caused by reverse modulation of the tympanic membrane when said person speaks, said method comprising:

a) picking up said voice sounds substantially exclusively from the air within the external auditory canal of the person while substantially eliminating audio vibration pickup of sound transmitted by bone and tissue conduction,

b) converting the voice sounds to amplified electrical voice signals without a noise portion, and

c) directing the amplified electrical voice signals to speaker means for transmitting a clear voice sound of said person to the remote location,

d) said picking up step includes forming an enclosed air chamber within the external auditory canal,

e) said audio vibration eliminating step includes forming an inner sound attenuating chamber within a thin, flexible outer shell composed of pliable material which substantially conforms to the ear wall surface profile of the person and is effective to dampen sound vibration from the ear wall surface into the inner sound attenuating chamber,

f) said audio picking up step further includes directing said voice sounds from the air chamber through the inner attenuating chamber and to a sound inlet port of microphone means disposed at a location remote from the person'"'"'s ear.

38. A method of communicating to a remote location a person'"'"'s outgoing voice sounds caused by reverse modulation of the tympanic membrane when said person speaks, said method comprising:

a) picking up said voice sounds substantially exclusively from the air within the external auditory canal of the person while substantially eliminating audio vibration pickup of sound transmitted by bone and tissue conduction,

b) converting the voice sounds to amplified electrical voice signals without a noise portion, and

c) directing the amplified electrical voice signals to speaker means for transmitting a clear voice sound of said person to the remote location,

d) said voice sounds converting step includes forming outbound electrical voice signals from the outgoing voice sounds, eliminating a low frequency portion from the outgoing electrical signals to produce intelligible electrical audio signals, amplifying the intelligible audio signals to a preselected fixed level output gain to produce a predetermined increased gain electrical audio signal, processing the increased gain audio signal to separate the noise portion from the electrical audio signal, and transmitting the voice portion electrical signal to speaker means at the remote location.

39. A communication assembly for transmitting outgoing voice sounds caused by reverse modulation of the tympanic membrane of a person who is speaking, said assembly comprising:

a) means for picking up the outgoing voice sounds substantially exclusively from the air within the external auditory canal of the person speaking while substantially eliminating the audio vibration pickup of sound transmitted by bone conduction,

b) said voice sounds picking up means including sound dampening means and sound transmitting earpiece means having an outer shell composed of pliable material which substantially conforms to the ear wall surface profile of the person, and said sound dampening means being effective to dampen sound vibration from the ear wall surface into the sound transmitting earpiece means,

c) said sound transmitting earpiece means including a canal extension section having an outer surface spaced inwardly from the wall of the external auditory canal and including an open end port disposed a spaced distance from the tympanic member when the sound transmitting earpiece means is contiguously interlocked with the outer ear auricle of said person,

d) said sound dampening means including means disposed between the auditory canal wall and the outer surface of the canal extension section to isolate the extension section from bone conduction of sound, and

e) means for directing the outgoing voice sounds from the open end port to an inlet sound port of microphone means.

40. An assembly as defined in claim 39 wherein

said dampening means includes annular means disposed around the canal extension section,

said dampening means being composed of material effective to seal an enclosed air chamber between the extension section end port and the tympanic membrane.

41. An assembly as defined in claim 39 wherein said microphone means is disposed at a location remote from the sound transmitting earpiece means.

42. An assembly as defined in claim 39 wherein said outgoing voice sound directing means includes a flexible tube member with the open end port at one end thereof and being connected at the other end thereof to the inlet sound port.

43. An assembly as defined in claim 39 wherein

said outer shell defines an inner sound attenuating chamber, and

sound attenuating filler means is disposed in the inner sound attenuating chamber to dampen audio vibration pickup of sound waves to the outgoing voice sounds directing means.

44. An assembly as defined in claim 39 wherein two open end ports are located in the canal extension section and a flexible tube member extends from each end port through the inner sound attenuating chamber to respective sound inlet and sound outlet ports of microphone means and speaker means.

45. An assembly as defined in claim 44 wherein the microphone means and speaker means are structurally and electrically connected to a circuit board member which electrically connects said microphone means and said speaker means to a control circuit means.

46. An assembly as defined in claim 45 wherein

said microphone means and said speaker means forms a module which is encapsulated in rigid material, and

means disposing said encapsulated module at a location on an assembly user'"'"'s body remote from the user'"'"'s head.

47. A voice transmission assembly for communicating to a remote location a person'"'"'s outgoing voice sounds caused by reverse modulation of the tympanic membrane when said person speaks, said assembly comprising:

a) means for picking up said voice sounds substantially exclusively from the air within the external auditory canal of the person,

b) means for isolating the means for picking up said voice sounds for substantially eliminating audio vibration pickup of sound transmitted by bone and tissue conduction,

c) means for converting the voice sounds to amplified electrical voice signals without a noise portion, and

d) means for directing the amplified electrical voice signals to speaker means for transmitting a clear voice sound of said person at the remote location.

48. An assembly as defined in claim 47 wherein

said isolating means includes a thin, flexible outer shell composed of pliable material which substantially conforms to the ear wall surface profile of the person and is effective to dampen sound vibration from the ear wall surface of bone and tissue,

said voice sounds picking up means includes means for directing said voice sounds from the air chamber to a sound inlet port of a microphone means.

49. An assembly as defined in claim 47 wherein said voice sounds converting means includes means for forming outbound electrical voice signals from the outgoing voice sounds, means for eliminating a low frequency portion from the outgoing electrical signals to produce intelligible electrical audio signals, means for amplifying the intelligible audio signals to a preselected fixed level output gain to produce a predetermined increased gain electrical audio signal, means for processing the increased gain audio signal to separate the noise portion from the electrical audio signal, and means for transmitting the voice portion electrical signal to speaker means at the remote location.

50. An assembly as defined in claim 47, wherein

said means for picking up said voice sounds includes earpiece means for disposing an open end port a spaced distance from the tympanic member when the earpiece means is contiguously interlocked with the outer ear auricle of said person,

said isolating means includes dampening means for attenuating audio vibration pickup of sound transmitted by bone and tissue conduction to the open end port.

51. An assembly as defined in claim 50, wherein said dampening means is effective to seal an enclosed air chamber between the open end port and the tympanic membrane.

52. An assembly as defined in claim 50, wherein

said earpiece means includes canal extension means having an outer surface spaced inwardly from the wall of the external auditory canal of the person speaking, and

the dampening means is disposed between the auditory canal wall and the outer surface of the canal extension means.