Audible event detector and analyzer for annunciating to the hearing impaired

• US 8,461,986 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2008
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wayne Harvey Snyder
• Original Assignee: Wayne Harvey Snyder
• Inventors: Snyder, Wayne Harvey
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): BURGDORF, STEPHEN R
• Application Number:
  US12/276,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20090154744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,660 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540, 340 41- 414, 3404071-4072, 340/FOR.418, 434/112, 434/114, 704271-276, 381313-316, 381/320, 381/FOR.112, 382190-191, 367/116
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/305 Self-monitoring or self-testing

Abstract

An electronic device for analyzing signal content derived from audible events, the device aiding the hearing impaired by annunciating events of interest including dangerous events. The device detects the presence of an event of interest by comparing characteristics of detected acoustic events with pre-determined reference characteristics, provides non-audible annunciators to indicate the presence of an event of interest, the type of event, and the direction from which the event is detected.

Claims

1. A warning device for the hearing impaired comprising:

an acoustic to electric device having an electrical output responding to an acoustic emission from an acoustic source;

a first signal path coupling the acoustic to electric device with an intermediate block;

one or more second signal paths coupling respective non-audible annunciators with the intermediate block;

within the intermediate block, an assessor element operable to assess one or more characteristics of the electrical output of the acoustic to electric device in a pre-determined frequency band;

within the intermediate block, a reference element including one or more reference sources for providing respective reference characteristics, each reference characteristic indicative of an audible event calling for immediate action;

within the intermediate block, a comparison element operable to cause operation of a particular non-audible annunciator when in the pre-determined frequency band at least one characteristic of the electrical output of the acoustic to electric device bears a pre-determined relationship with a reference characteristic;

the comparison element capable of comparing the strength of a recognized or an unrecognized audio signal in the electric output of the acoustic to electric device with a reference signal strength and causing operation of a particular non-audible annunciator when the audio signal strength bears a pre-determined relationship with the reference signal strength;

the comparison element capable of comparing the strength of an audio signal in a selected frequency band in the electric output of the acoustic to electric device with a reference signal strength and causing operation of a particular non-audible annunciator when the audio signal strength bears a pre-determined relationship with the reference signal strength;

first, second and third acoustic to electric devices having a pre-determined spatial arrangement relative to each other;

a sound triangulator utilizing signals from a plurality of the first, second and third acoustic to electric devices to obtain distance and direction to an acoustic source whose acoustic emission caused operation of a particular non-audible annunciator;

a radial display for pointing in the direction of the acoustic source;

wherein operation of a first annunciator alerts a hearing impaired person to assess the status of a second annunciator indicating the nature of the acoustic source and a third annunciator indicating the direction of the acoustic source; and

,

wherein the assessor element includes a plurality of analog band-pass filters;

each band pass filter coupled to the electrical output of an acoustic to electric device.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the comparison element includes a plurality of analog comparators, each comparator coupled to a) an output of a respective band pass filter for receiving a signal in a pre-determined frequency band, b) a respective reference source for receiving a reference characteristic and c) a particular non-audible annunciator for operating the particular annunciator.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein each of the band pass filters is tuned to a different frequency band and a respective reference characteristic is a pre-determined signal strength.

4. A warning device for the hearing impaired comprising:

an acoustic to electric device having an electrical output responding to an acoustic emission from an acoustic source;

a first signal path coupling the acoustic to electric device with an intermediate block;

one or more second signal paths coupling respective non-audible annunciators with the intermediate block;

within the intermediate block, an assessor element operable to assess one or more characteristics of the electrical output of the acoustic to electric device in a pre-determined frequency band;

within the intermediate block, a reference element including one or more reference sources for providing respective reference characteristics, each reference characteristic indicative of an audible event calling for immediate action;

within the intermediate block, a comparison element operable to cause operation of a particular non-audible annunciator when in the pre-determined frequency band at least one characteristic of the electrical output of the acoustic to electric device bears a pre-determined relationship with a reference characteristic;

the comparison element capable of comparing the strength of a recognized or an unrecognized audio signal in the electric output of the acoustic to electric device with a reference signal strength and causing operation of a particular non-audible annunciator when the audio signal strength bears a pre-determined relationship with the reference signal strength;

the comparison element capable of comparing the strength of an audio signal in a selected frequency band in the electric output of the acoustic to electric device with a reference signal strength and causing operation of a particular non-audible annunciator when the audio signal strength bears a pre-determined relationship with the reference signal strength;

first, second and third acoustic to electric devices having a pre-determined spatial arrangement relative to each other;

a sound triangulator utilizing signals from a plurality of the first, second and third acoustic to electric devices to obtain distance and direction to an acoustic source whose acoustic emission caused operation of a particular non-audible annunciator;

a radial display for pointing in the direction of the acoustic source;

wherein operation of a first annunciator alerts a hearing impaired person to assess the status of a second annunciator indicating the nature of the acoustic source and a third annunciator indicating the direction of the acoustic source;

wherein a signal from an electrical output of the acoustic to electric device is transformed into the frequency domain to provide a derived acoustic signature of the acoustic source; and

,

wherein a particular annunciator is operated when the derived acoustic signature bears a pre-determined relationship with a reference acoustic signature.

5. A warning device for the hearing impaired comprising:

an acoustic to electric device having an electrical output responding to an acoustic emission from an acoustic source;

a first signal path coupling the acoustic to electric device with an intermediate block;

one or more second signal paths coupling respective non-audible annunciators with the intermediate block;

within the intermediate block, an assessor element operable to assess one or more characteristics of the electrical output of the acoustic to electric device in a pre-determined frequency band;

within the intermediate block, a reference element including one or more reference sources for providing respective reference characteristics, each reference characteristic indicative of an audible event calling for immediate action;

within the intermediate block, a comparison element operable to cause operation of a particular non-audible annunciator when in the pre-determined frequency band at least one characteristic of the electrical output of the acoustic to electric device bears a pre-determined relationship with a reference characteristic;

the comparison element capable of comparing the strength of a recognized or an unrecognized audio signal in the electric output of the acoustic to electric device with a reference signal strength and causing operation of a particular non-audible annunciator when the audio signal strength bears a pre-determined relationship with the reference signal strength;

the comparison element capable of comparing the strength of an audio signal in a selected frequency band in the electric output of the acoustic to electric device with a reference signal strength and causing operation of a particular non-audible annunciator when the audio signal strength bears a pre-determined relationship with the reference signal strength;

first, second and third acoustic to electric devices having a pre-determined spatial arrangement relative to each other;

a sound triangulator utilizing signals from a plurality of the first, second and third acoustic to electric devices to obtain distance and direction to an acoustic source whose acoustic emission caused operation of a particular non-audible annunciator;

a radial display for pointing in the direction of the acoustic source;

wherein operation of a first annunciator alerts a hearing impaired person to assess the status of a second annunciator indicating the nature of the acoustic source and a third annunciator indicating the direction of the acoustic source;

wherein a signal from the electrical output of an acoustic to electric device is transformed into the frequency domain to provide a derived acoustic signature of the acoustic source; and

,

wherein a reference characteristic is a frequency band and frequency peaks in the derived acoustic signature falling within the reference frequency band cause operation of a particular non-audible annunciator.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein a digital signal processor is used in deriving the derived acoustic signature from the electrical output of an acoustic to electric device.

7. A method for the hearing impaired comprising the steps of:

providing an acoustic to electric device having an electrical output responding to an acoustic emission from an acoustic source;

providing a first signal path coupling the acoustic to electric device with an intermediate block;

providing one or more second signal paths coupling respective non-audible annunciators with the intermediate block;

within the intermediate block, assessing with an assessor element one or more characteristics of the electrical output of the acoustic to electric device in a pre-determined frequency band;

within the intermediate block, providing a reference element including one or more reference sources having respective reference characteristics, each reference characteristic indicative of an audible event calling for immediate action;

within the intermediate block, providing a comparison element operating a particular non-audible annunciator when in the pre-determined frequency band at least one characteristic of the electrical output of the acoustic to electric device bears a pre-determined relationship with a reference characteristic;

wherein the comparison element compares the strength of a recognized or an unrecognized audio signal in the electric output of the acoustic to electric device with a reference signal strength;

causing operation of a particular non-audible annunciator when the audio signal strength bears a pre-determined relationship with the reference signal strength;

wherein the comparison element compares the strength of an audio signal in a selected frequency band in the electric output of the acoustic to electric device with a reference signal strength;

causing operation of a particular non-audible annunciator when the audio signal strength bears a pre-determined relationship with the reference signal strength;

providing at least first, second and third acoustic to electric devices;

arranging the at least first, second and third acoustic to electric devices to have a pre-determined spatial arrangement relative to each other;

providing a sound triangulator;

utilizing signals from a plurality of the at least first, second and third acoustic to electric devices to obtain distance and direction to an acoustic source whose acoustic emission caused operation of a particular non-audible annunciator;

providing a radial display;

operating the radial display such that it points in the direction of the acoustic source;

operating a first annunciator to alert a hearing impaired person to assess the status of a second annunciator;

the second annunciator indicating the nature of the acoustic source;

operating a third annunciator indicating the direction of the acoustic source;

including a plurality of analog band-pass filters in the assessor element; and

,

coupling an electrical output of an acoustic to electric device to each band pass filter.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the steps of:

including a plurality of analog comparators in the comparison element;

coupling each analog comparator to an output of a respective band pass filter for receiving a signal in a pre-determined frequency band;

coupling each analog comparator to a respective reference source for receiving a reference characteristic; and

,

coupling each analog comparator to a particular non-audible annunciator for operating the particular non-audible annunciator.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

tuning each band pass filter to a different frequency band; and

,

providing a respective reference characteristic that is a pre-determined signal strength.

10. A method for the hearing impaired comprising the steps of:

providing an acoustic to electric device having an electrical output responding to an acoustic emission from an acoustic source;

providing a first signal path coupling the acoustic to electric device with an intermediate block;

providing one or more second signal paths coupling respective non-audible annunciators with the intermediate block;

within the intermediate block, assessing with an assessor element one or more characteristics of the electrical output of the acoustic to electric device in a pre-determined frequency band;

within the intermediate block, providing a reference element including one or more reference sources having respective reference characteristics, each reference characteristic indicative of an audible event calling for immediate action;

within the intermediate block, providing a comparison element operating a particular non-audible annunciator when in the pre-determined frequency band at least one characteristic of the electrical output of the acoustic to electric device bears a pre-determined relationship with a reference characteristic;

wherein the comparison element compares the strength of a recognized or an unrecognized audio signal in the electric output of the acoustic to electric device with a reference signal strength;

causing operation of a particular non-audible annunciator when the audio signal strength bears a pre-determined relationship with the reference signal strength;

wherein the comparison element compares the strength of an audio signal in a selected frequency band in the electric output of the acoustic to electric device with a reference signal strength;

causing operation of a particular non-audible annunciator when the audio signal strength bears a pre-determined relationship with the reference signal strength;

providing at least first, second and third acoustic to electric devices;

arranging the at least first, second and third acoustic to electric devices to have a pre-determined spatial arrangement relative to each other;

providing a sound triangulator;

utilizing signals from a plurality of the at least first, second and third acoustic to electric devices to obtain distance and direction to an acoustic source whose acoustic emission caused operation of a particular non-audible annunciator;

providing a radial display;

operating the radial display such that it points in the direction of the acoustic source;

operating a first annunciator to alert a hearing impaired person to assess the status of a second annunciator;

the second annunciator indicating the nature of the acoustic source;

operating a third annunciator indicating the direction of the acoustic source;

transforming a signal from the electrical output of an acoustic to electric device into the frequency domain;

using the transformed signal as a derived acoustic signature of the acoustic source; and

,

operating a particular annunciator when the derived acoustic signature bears a pre-determined relationship with a reference acoustic signature.

11. A method for the hearing impaired comprising the steps of:

providing an acoustic to electric device having an electrical output responding to an acoustic emission from an acoustic source;

providing a first signal path coupling the acoustic to electric device with an intermediate block;

providing one or more second signal paths coupling respective non-audible annunciators with the intermediate block;

within the intermediate block, assessing with an assessor element one or more characteristics of the electrical output of the acoustic to electric device in a pre-determined frequency band;

within the intermediate block, providing a reference element including one or more reference sources having respective reference characteristics, each reference characteristic indicative of an audible event calling for immediate action;

within the intermediate block, providing a comparison element operating a particular non-audible annunciator when in the pre-determined frequency band at least one characteristic of the electrical output of the acoustic to electric device bears a pre-determined relationship with a reference characteristic;

wherein the comparison element compares the strength of a recognized or an unrecognized audio signal in the electric output of the acoustic to electric device with a reference signal strength;

causing operation of a particular non-audible annunciator when the audio signal strength bears a pre-determined relationship with the reference signal strength;

wherein the comparison element compares the strength of an audio signal in a selected frequency band in the electric output of the acoustic to electric device with a reference signal strength;

causing operation of a particular non-audible annunciator when the audio signal strength bears a pre-determined relationship with the reference signal strength;

providing at least first, second and third acoustic to electric devices;

arranging the at least first, second and third acoustic to electric devices to have a pre-determined spatial arrangement relative to each other;

providing a sound triangulator;

utilizing signals from a plurality of the at least first, second and third acoustic to electric devices to obtain distance and direction to an acoustic source whose acoustic emission caused operation of a particular non-audible annunciator;

providing a radial display;

operating the radial display such that it points in the direction of the acoustic source;

operating a first annunciator to alert a hearing impaired person to assess the status of a second annunciator;

the second annunciator indicating the nature of the acoustic source;

operating a third annunciator indicating the direction of the acoustic source;

transforming a signal from the electrical output of an acoustic to electric device into the frequency domain;

using the transformed signal as a derived acoustic signature of the acoustic source.

providing a reference characteristic that is a reference frequency band; and

,

operating a particular non-audible annunciator when frequency peaks in the derived acoustic signature fall within the reference frequency band.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of using a digital signal processor to derive the derived acoustic signature from the electrical output of an acoustic to electric device.