External ear canal voice detection
First Claim
1. A system adapted for use in an ear having an ear canal, comprising:
- a first microphone adapted for use in the ear canal, the first microphone adapted to receive an occluded sound from about the ear canal;
a speaker adapted for use in the ear canal, the speaker adapted to transmit a processed remote sound to the ear canal,a processor coupled to the first microphone and the speaker, the processor adapted to process the occluded sound and the remote sound;
a wireless transceiver connected to the processor, the wireless transceiver adapted to receive the processed occluded sound from the processor, transmit a first wireless signal representing the occluded sound, and receive a second wireless signal representing the remote sound;
a voice operated exchange (VOX) circuit connected to the processor, the VOX circuit including;
an occluded sound gating module coupled to the first microphone, the occluded sound gating module adapted to blank or substantially attenuate the occluded sound; and
a remote sound gating module coupled to the wireless receiver, the remote sound gating module adapted to blank or substantially attenuate the remote sound; and
an earmold housing the first microphone, the speaker, the processor, the wireless transceiver, and the VOX circuit, the earmold configured for use as an in-the-ear (ITE) device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Ear-level full duplex audio communication systems each include one or two ear attachment devices, such as in-the-ear (ITE) or behind-the-ear (BTE) devices, that wirelessly communicates to a remote device such as a computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular phone, a walkie talkie, or a language translator. When used as a hearing aid, such a system allows a hearing impaired individual to communicate with or through the remote device, such as to talk to another person through a cellular phone. When being used as an ear piece wirelessly extended from the remote device, such system allows an individual with normal hearing to privately communicate with or through the remote device without the need of holding the device or wearing any device wired to the remote device. Each ear attachment device includes a voice operated exchange (VOX), housed within the device, to preserve energy and hence, maximize the period between battery replacement or recharges. The VOX also gates various sounds detected by the system to control possible echoes and ringing.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system adapted for use in an ear having an ear canal, comprising:
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a first microphone adapted for use in the ear canal, the first microphone adapted to receive an occluded sound from about the ear canal; a speaker adapted for use in the ear canal, the speaker adapted to transmit a processed remote sound to the ear canal, a processor coupled to the first microphone and the speaker, the processor adapted to process the occluded sound and the remote sound; a wireless transceiver connected to the processor, the wireless transceiver adapted to receive the processed occluded sound from the processor, transmit a first wireless signal representing the occluded sound, and receive a second wireless signal representing the remote sound; a voice operated exchange (VOX) circuit connected to the processor, the VOX circuit including; an occluded sound gating module coupled to the first microphone, the occluded sound gating module adapted to blank or substantially attenuate the occluded sound; and a remote sound gating module coupled to the wireless receiver, the remote sound gating module adapted to blank or substantially attenuate the remote sound; and an earmold housing the first microphone, the speaker, the processor, the wireless transceiver, and the VOX circuit, the earmold configured for use as an in-the-ear (ITE) device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system adapted for use in and about an ear having an ear canal, comprising:
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an in-the-ear (ITE) module including; a first microphone adapted for use in the ear canal, the first microphone adapted to receive an occluded sound from about the ear canal; and a speaker adapted for use in the ear canal, the speaker adapted to transmit a processed remote sound to the ear canal, a behind-the-ear (BTE) module attached to the ITE module, the BTE module including; a processor coupled to the first microphone and the speaker, the processor adapted to process the occluded sound and the remote sound; a wireless transceiver coupled to the processor, the wireless transceiver adapted to receive the processed occluded sound from the processor, transmit a first wireless signal representing the occluded sound, and receive a second wireless signal representing the remote sound; a voice operated exchange (VOX) circuit coupled to the processor, the VOX circuit including; an occluded sound gating module coupled to the first microphone, the occluded sound gating module adapted to blank or substantially attenuate the occluded sound; and a remote sound gating module coupled to the wireless transceiver, the remote sound gating module adapted to blank or substantially attenuate the remote sound. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method, comprising:
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detecting an occluded sound using a first microphone adapted for use in an ear canal; detecting an incoming radio signal representing a remote sound from the remote device; starting a voice operated exchange (VOX) housed within an ear-level communication device when at least one of the occluded sound and the incoming radio signal is detected if the VOX is not already on, the ear-level communication device being one of an in-the-ear (ITE) device and a behind-the-ear (BTE) device; gating the occluded sound on, and gating the remote sound off, when the occluded sound is detected while the incoming radio signal is not detected; and gating the remote sound on, and gating the occluded sound off, when the incoming radio signal is detected while the occluded sound is not detected. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification