Voice transmission apparatus with UWB

• US 6,952,483 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2002
• Issued: 10/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Peter V Boesen
• Original Assignee: Genesis Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Boesen, Peter V., Boesen, Jr., James F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ensey, Brian
• Application Number:
  US10/235,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20020196955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 381/23.1, 381/312, 381/314, 381/315, 381/321, 381/322, 381/326, 381/328, 381/329, 381/330, 381/151, 370/310, 370/312, 370/313, 370/342, 370/343, 455/89, 455/90.3, 455/100, 455/351, 379/430
• US Class Current: 381/326
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0256 wherein the modules are operable in the detached state, e.g. one module for the user interface and one module for the transceiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• 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 voice communication device such as an earpiece that provides for ultra short range transmission of voice sound information using ultra wide band (UWB) radio communications is disclosed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a voice communication device includes a speaker, a bone conduction sensor for sensing voice sound vibrations, and an UWB transceiver operatively connected to the speaker and the bone conduction sensor. According to another embodiment of the present invention, a voice communication device is disclosed that includes an earpiece housing, a speaker operatively connected to the earpiece housing for transducing audio, an air conduction sensor operatively connected to the housing for sensing voice sound information, a processor electrically connected to the speaker and the bone conduction sensor and disposed within the earpiece housing, and an UWB transceiver operatively connected to the processor.

Claims

1. A voice communication device, comprising:

an earpiece housing

a speaker operatively connected to the earpiece housing;

a bone conduction sensor for sensing voice sound vibrations operatively connected to the earpiece housing; and

an UWB transceiver operatively connected to the speaker and the bone conduction sensor and the earpiece housing.

2. The voice communication device of claim 1 further comprising a processor electricity connected to the bone conduction sensor and the UWB transceiver.

3. The voice communication device of claim 2 wherein the processor is adapted to perform digital signal processing.

4. The voice communication device of claim 3 further comprising an air conduction sensor operatively connected to the processor.

5. The voice communication device of claim 1 wherein the UWB transmitter transmits at a power of less than 1 mw.

6. The voice communication device of claim 1 wherein the UWB transmitter transmits at a power of less than 100 microwatts.

7. The voice communication device of claim 1 further wherein the UWB transceiver is at least partially disposed within the earpiece housing and the earpiece housing is adapted to be at least partially inserted into the external auditory canal of a user.

8. The voice communication device of claim 7 wherein the earpiece housing is adapted far fitting such that the earpiece housing does not block the external auditory canal.

9. The voice communication device of claim 4 wherein the processor is adapted to transmit both a signal from the air conduction sensor and a signal from the bone conduction sensor.

10. A voice communication device, comprising:

an earpiece housing;

a speaker operatively connected to the earpiece housing for transducing audio;

a bone conduction sensor operatively connected to the housing for sensing voice sound information;

a processor electrically connected to the speaker and the bone conduction sensor and disposed within the earpiece housing; and

an UWB transceiver operatively connected to the processor.

11. The voice communication device of claim 10 wherein the processor is adapted to perform digital signal processing.

12. The voice communication device of claim 10 further comprising an air conduction sensor operative connected to the processor.

13. The voice communication device of claim 10 wherein the UWB transmitter transmits at a power of less than 1 mw.

14. The voice communication device of claim 10 wherein the UWB transmitter transmits at a power of less than 100 microwatts.

15. The earpiece of claim 10 wherein the earpiece is adapted to be at least partially inserted into the external auditory canal of a user.

16. The earpiece of claim 15 wherein the earpiece is adapted for fitting such that the earpiece does not block the external auditory canal.

17. A voice communication device, comprising:

an earpiece housing;

a speaker operatively connected to the earpiece housing for transducing audio;

an air conduction sensor operatively connected to the housing for sensing voice sound information;

a processor electrically connected to the speaker and the air conduction sensor and disposed within the earpiece housing; and

an UWB transceiver operatively connected to the processor.

18. The voice communication device of claim 17 wherein the processor is adapted to perform digital signal processing.

19. The voice communication device of claim 17 wherein the UWB transmitter transmits at a power of less than 1 mw.

20. The voice communication device of claim 17 wherein the UWB transmitter transmits at a power of less than 100 microwatts.

21. A method of voice communications, comprising:

sensing vibrations using a bone conduction sensor of an earpiece;

digitally processing the sensed vibrations to form a voice communication signal;

transmitting the voice communications signal from the earpiece using an UWB transceiver.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising associating an identifier of the earpiece with the voice communications signal, transmitting the identifier of the earpiece and using the UWB transceiver.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising receiving a voice communication with the UWB transceiver, the voice communication having an identifier associated with the earpiece.

24. A method of voice communications, comprising:

sensing vibrations using at least one sensor of an earpiece;

digitally processing the sensed vibrations to form a voice communication signal;

transmitting the voice communications signal from the earpiece using an UWB transceiver.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one air conduction sensor.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one bone conduction sensor.