Radio communications apparatus with attenuating ear pieces for high noise environments

• US 6,175,633 B1
• Filed: 04/09/1997
• Issued: 01/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CavCom, Inc.
• Original Assignee: CavCom, Inc.
• Inventors: Morrill, Jeffrey C., Jonas, Gerald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Isen, Forester W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mei, Xu
• Application Number:
  US08/835,602
• Time in Patent Office: 1,378 Days
• Field of Search: 381/71.6, 381/328, 381/110, 381/72, 381/312, 381/323, 455/569, 455/570, 455/575, 455/90, 455/100, 455/351, 367/198, 367/199
• US Class Current: 381/71.6
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/32 the control being dependent upon ambient noise level or sound level
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/344 Muting responsive to the amount of noise (noise squelch) H03G3/345 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1083 Reduction of ambient noise active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06

Abstract

A preferred communications apparatus includes a pair of ear units coupled with a control unit that can be connected to a radio transceiver for delivery of audio signals therebetween. The control unit includes a VOX circuit. Each ear unit includes a transducer operable as an earphone, and one of the ear units is operable as a microphone. Additionally, each ear unit includes an ear piece configured for attenuating ambient sound and signal sufficiently to meet safety standards and sufficiently to prevent attenuated ambient sound from triggering the VOX circuit.

Claims

1. A communications apparatus comprising:

first and second ear units configured for placement in the respective ears of a person and including first and second transducers respectively

at least one of said transducers including earphone means for receiving audio signals, converting said audio signals to audible sound, and for delivering said audible sound to the respective ear canal of the person,

at least one of said transducers including microphone means for receiving audible sound and converting said audible sound to audio signals; and

a control unit including

means for coupling with said transducers,

means for coupling with a radio transceiver for receiving audio signals therefrom and for delivering audio signals so received to at least one of said transducers, and a VOX circuit including means for triggering in response to audio signals from at least one of said transducers and for delivering audio signals so received to a transceiver coupled therewith for radio transmission thereby,

means for maintaining said VOX circuit in a trigger condition for a predetermined time of about two seconds after cessation of audio signals received from said at least one of said transducers,

said ear units including respective ear pieces each including means for attenuating ambient sound by at least about 20 decibels and for attenuating ambient sound sufficiently to prevent triggering of said VOX circuit by attenuated ambient sound present in the ear canal of the person,

said first transducer being operable as said microphone means, said second transducer being operable as said earphone means, said control unit including means for delivering audio signals representative of the person speaking and received from said first transducer simultaneously to a radio transceiver coupled therewith and to said second transducer as a side tone.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, both of said transducers being operable as said microphone means.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said control unit including means for controlling the volume of said side tone.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said ear units including respective ear pieces with said transducers received therein respectively, each of said ear pieces being custom configured for conforming to the ear of the person and including structure for preventing any unattenuated sound from reaching the ear canal of the person.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said control unit including means for preventing triggering of said VOX circuit during the reception of audio signals from a radio transducer coupled therewith.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said control unit including a battery for supplying power thereto.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said control unit including means for receiving operating power from a radio transceiver coupled therewith.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7, said control unit including a battery for supplying power thereto and means for selecting between power from said battery and power from a radio transducer coupled therewith.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said control unit including means for adjusting the sensitivity of said VOX circuit.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said control unit including means for preventing the audible sound delivered by said transceiver from exceeding 95 decibels sound pressure level at the ear canal of a person wearing said ear pieces.

11. A communications apparatus comprising:

first and second ear units configured for placement in the respective ears of a person and including first and second transducers respectively

at least one of said transducers including earphone means for receiving audio signals, converting said audio signals to audible sound, and for delivering said audible sound to the respective ear canal of the person,

at least one of said transducers including microphone means for receiving audible sound and converting said audible sound to audio signals; and

a control unit including

means for coupling with said transducers,

means for coupling with a radio transceiver for receiving audio signals therefrom and for delivering audio signals so received to at least one of said transducers, and

a VOX circuit including means for triggering in response to audio signals from at least one of said transducers and for delivering audio signals so received to a transceiver coupled therewith for radio transmission thereby,

said ear units including respective ear pieces each including means for attenuating ambient sound by at least about 20 decibels and for attenuating ambient sound sufficiently to prevent triggering of said VOX circuit by attenuated ambient sound present in the ear canal of the person,

said control unit including means for triggering of said VOX circuit during the reception of audio signals from a radio transducer coupled therewith and for a predetermined time of about two seconds thereafter.

12. A communications apparatus comprising:

first and second ear units configured for placement in the respective ears of a person and including first and second transducers respectively,

at least one of said transducers including an earphone,

at least one of said transducers including a microphone,

a control unit including;

an input/output port capable of being coupled to said transducers,

a radio transceiver input port,

a radio transceiver output port,

an audio signal conduction path coupling said radio transceiver input port to said input/output port,

a VOX circuit connected to activate in response to audio signals received from said microphone and to deliver said audio signals to said radio transceiver,

a modified OR gate coupled to prevent said VOX circuit from triggering when said control unit is receiving audio signals from said radio transceiver, and

said ear units including respective form fitting ear pieces capable of attenuating ambient sound by at least about 20 decibels.

13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein said form fitting ear pieces are comprised of medical grade silicone.

14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12, said control unit including a sidetone amplifier coupled to deliver audio signals received from said microphone in a feedback path to said earphone.

15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 14, said control unit including a loudness control circuit coupled to control the gain of said sidetone amplifier.

16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12, only said first transducer including a microphone configured to operate, and said second transducer including an earphone configured to operate.

17. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12, both of said transducers including microphones configured to operate.

18. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12, said control unit including a power port capable of being connected to receive power from said radio transceiver.

19. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12, said control unit including a battery and a switching circuit capable of selecting between power from said battery or from said power input port.