Directional hearing enhancement systems

• US 7,388,962 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2004
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Inventors: Tong, Peter P., Thomas, C. Douglass, Cheung, Kwok Wai
• Primary Examiner(s): Young; Wayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): PENDLETON, DIONNE
• Application Number:
  US10/826,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20040208333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,524 Days
• Field of Search: 381312-316, 381320-322, 381/329
• US Class Current: 381/381
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/72 of terrestrial networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/03 Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/19 Arrangements of transmitters, receivers, or complete sets to prevent eavesdropping, to attenuate local noise or to prevent undesired transmission; Mouthpieces or receivers specially adapted therefor circuit arrangements for preventing eavesdropping H04M1/68; telephone cabinets E04H1/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/605 involving control of the receiver volume to provide a dual operational mode at close or far distance from the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/403 loud-speakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/023 Transducers incorporated in garment, rucksacks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/401 2D or 3D arrays of transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2217/03 Parametric transducers where sound is generated or captured by the acoustic demodulation of amplitude modulated ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/405 by combining a plurality of transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 1/00 Two-channel systems H04S5/00, H04S7/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/00 Systems employing more than two channels, e.g. quadraphonic H04S5/00, H04S7/00 take precedence

Abstract

A hearing enhancement system that enhances a user'"'"'s hearing based on a directional speaker is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system can include an interface unit that has a directional speaker and a microphone. The microphone captures input audio signals that are transformed into ultrasonic signals. The speaker transmits the ultrasonic signals, which are transformed into output audio signals by interaction with air. At least a portion of the output audio signals are modified to enhance the hearing of the user. Based on the system, the user'"'"'s ear remains free from any inserted objects and thus is free from annoying occlusion effects. Compared to existing hearing aids, the system is relatively inexpensive. In another embodiment, the system can also be used as a phone. In yet another embodiment, the system can also access audio signals from other portable or non-portable instruments, wired or wirelessly, such as from home entertainment units, phones, microphones at a conference or speakers at a movie theater.

Claims

1. A hearing enhancement system for a user, comprising:

an interface unit that has a directional speaker and a microphone;

wherein

the microphone receives input audio signals, which are transformed into ultrasonic signals,

the speaker transmits the ultrasonic signals,

at least a portion of the ultrasonic signals is transformed into output audio signals in air,

a portion of the output audio signals is amplified more than another portion to enhance the hearing of the user, and

wherein the directional speaker is configured to be spaced apart from at least one of the ears of the user so that at least a portion of the ultrasonic signals is transformed into output audio signals outside the at least one of the ears of the user, to be received by the at least one of the ears of the user.

2. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 1 wherein the amplification is frequency dependent.

3. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 2 wherein certain frequencies of the input audio signals are not amplified.

4. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 2 wherein the amplification depends on at least one characteristic of the hearing of the user.

5. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 4,

wherein the at least one characteristic of the hearing of the user is determined through calibrating the hearing of the user,

wherein the system is configured to allow the amplification to be changed as a function of frequency, and

wherein the user can change the amplification in view of the calibration results.

6. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 2 wherein at least a portion of the audio frequencies that is higher in frequency than another portion of the audio frequencies receives greater amplification.

7. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 1 wherein the system can be de-activated by the user.

8. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 1 wherein when the system is not activated, the system can be activated depending on at least one word spoken by the user.

9. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 1

wherein the input audio signals have a power level, and

wherein depending on the power level of the input audio signals, the system can be in a standby mode.

10. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 1

wherein the input audio signals have an average power level, and

wherein depending on the average power level of the input audio signals, the system can be in a standby mode.

11. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 1 wherein the microphone is a directional microphone.

12. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 1

wherein the input audio signals have an average power level, and

wherein the amplification is reduced or limited if the average power level of the input audio signals is higher than a preset threshold.

13. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 1 wherein the system further includes a rechargeable battery.

14. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 1 wherein the system also can function as a phone.

15. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 1,

wherein the system includes more than one directional speaker,

wherein the phases of the ultrasonic signals driving at least two of the speakers differ by a preset value, and

wherein the direction of the output audio signals can be changed by changing the preset value.

16. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 1 wherein the system can also access audio signals from another instrument through a wire or a wireless connection.

17. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 16 wherein the another instrument is a portable instrument.

18. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 16 wherein the another instrument is an entertainment unit.

19. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 16 wherein the another instrument is a phone.

20. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 16,

wherein the another instrument is a microphone at an event, and

wherein audio signals are accessed from another instrument through a wireless connection.

21. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 16,

wherein the another instrument is a speaker at an event, and

wherein audio signals are accessed from another instrument through a wireless connection.

22. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 1,

wherein the amplification is frequency dependent,

wherein the amplification depends on at least one characteristic of the hearing of the user,

wherein the at least one characteristic of the hearing of the user is determined through calibrating the hearing of the user,

wherein the system is configured to allow the amplification to be changed as a function of frequency,

wherein the system can be in a standby mode to reduce power consumption by the system,

wherein the system further includes a rechargeable battery, and

wherein the system also can function as a phone.

23. A hearing enhancement system for a user, comprising:

a directional speaker,

a microphone; and

a computing unit operatively coupled to the directional speaker and the microphone,

wherein the microphone receives input audio signals,

wherein the directional speaker outputs ultrasonic waves based on the input audio signals,

wherein the directional speaker is configured to be spaced apart from at least one of the ears of the user so that at least a portion of the ultrasonic signals is transformed into output audio signals outside the at least one of the ears of the user, to be received by the at least one of the ears of the user, and

wherein the computing unit is configured to modify the output audio signals at least by modifying certain frequencies differently than other frequencies to enhance the hearing of the user.

24. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 23,

wherein the speaker is attachable to the clothing worn by the user, and

wherein the directional speaker can direct the ultrasonic waves towards at least one ear of the user from the worn position of the directional speaker.

25. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 23, wherein the computing unit is integral with the directional speaker.

26. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 23, wherein the computing unit is separate from the directional speaker but operatively couples with the directional speaker over a wireless link.

27. A hearing enhancement system as recited in claim 23, wherein the computing unit has a reduced power mode and a normal power mode, and wherein the computing unit can be automatically switched between the power modes based on at least one characteristic of the input audio signals, thereby reducing power consumption by the computing unit.