Communication device and method for deaf and mute persons

• US 6,240,392 B1
• Filed: 08/29/1997
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BCMC LLC
• Original Assignee: Hanan Butnaru, Wesley O. Krueger
• Inventors: Butnaru, Hanan, Krueger, Wesley O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorvil, Richemond
• Application Number:
  US08/920,820
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: 704/271, 704/272, 704/270, 704/258, 704/200, 704/201, 704/231, 704/276
• US Class Current: 704/271
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/009 Teaching or communicating with deaf persons G09B21/04 takes precedence; deaf and dumb persons G09B21/00

Abstract

A communication device for deaf, hearing impaired, or mute persons comprises a processor control system which makes use of a microphone and a speech recognizer to receive and process audio data (speech or non-speech) to determine whether or not a dangerous situation exits within the environment surrounding the user. The system comprises a key pad and/or stylus and tablet information input system to accommodate communication from the user to the persons in the surrounding environments and a visual display capability to transmit the information so acquired by way of a projection apparatus in the form of characters and in the language to which the user is accustomed. Indicator signals which correspond to dangerous or cautionary situations relating to abnormally loud noises, or readily recognized sound patterns, such as a siren may also be displayed to the user, as may be information related geographic location, distance to a preset destination, or other personally useful information.

Claims

1. A communication system for deaf, hearing impaired, or mute persons, comprising:

a message reception means for receiving audio information;

an information conversion means to convert said audio information into speech data, said information conversion means being in communication with said message reception means;

a data processing means for organizing said speech data into a symbolic representation of said speech data, said data processing means being in communication with said information conversion means;

a visual display means for displaying said symbolic representation, said display means being in communication with said data processing means;

a message entry means for acquisition of user messages, said message entry means being in communication with said data processing means; and

a message transmission means for conversion of said user messages into message data and transmission of said message data into the surrounding environment, said message transmission means being in communication with said data processing means.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said message reception means further comprises a microphone.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said message reception means further comprises a microphone and a filter.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said information conversion means comprises a speech recognizer.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said information conversion means comprises a continuous speech recognizer.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said data processing means comprises a personal computer.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said data processing means comprises a personal digital assistant.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said display means is affixed to a pair of eye glasses.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said display means is affixed to a headband.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said display means comprises a liquid crystal display.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said display means comprises a see-through liquid crystal display.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said display means comprises a retinal scanner.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said display means comprises a holographic projection system.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising a storage device, said storage device being in communication with said data processing means.

15. The system of claim 1 further comprising a cellular telephone, said cellular telephone being in communication with said information conversion means and said message transmission means.

16. The system of claim 1 further comprising a remote data transceiver, said transceiver being in communication with said information conversion means and said message transmission means.

17. A method of communication for deaf, hearing impaired, or mute persons, comprising the steps of:

receiving audio information;

first converting said audio information into speech data;

second converting said speech data into a symbolic representation of said data;

displaying said symbolic representation in a visual format;

acquiring user messages; and

transmitting said messages to the surrounding environment in the form of audio information.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said receiving step is accomplished with a microphone.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said receiving step is accomplished with a microphone and a filter.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said first converting step is accomplished with a speech recognizer.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein said second converting step is accomplished with a personal computer.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein said displaying step is accomplished with a liquid crystal display.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein said displaying step is accomplished with a see-through liquid crystal display.

24. The method of claim 17 wherein said displaying step is accomplished with a retinal scanner.

25. The method of claim 17 wherein said displaying step is accomplished with a holographic projector.

26. A communication system for deaf, hearing impaired, or mute persons, comprising:

a message reception means for receiving audio information;

a data processing means to convert said audio information into speech data and organize said speech data into a symbolic representation of said speech data, said data processing means being in communication with said message reception means;

a display means for displaying said symbolic representation, said display means being in communication with said data processing means;

a message entry means for acquisition of user messages, said message entry means being in communication with said data processing means; and

a message transmission means for conversion of said user messages into message data and transmission of said message data into the surrounding environment, said message transmission means being in communication with said data processing means.

27. The system of claim 26 further comprising a remote data transceiver, said transceiver being in communication with said data processing means and said message transmission means.