Voice communication device with foreign language translation

• US 8,527,280 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2001
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peter V Boesen
• Original Assignee: Peter V Boesen
• Inventors: Boesen, Peter V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Armstrong, Angela A
• Application Number:
  US10/022,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20030115068A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,282 Days
• Field of Search: 704/270, 704/275, 704/277, 704/5, 704/8, 381/313, 381/370, 381/375, 381/387
• US Class Current: 704/277
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/40 Processing or translation of natural language natural language analysis G06F40/20; semantic analysis G06F40/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/58 Use of machine translation, e.g. for multi-lingual retrieval, for server-side translation for client devices or for real-time translation
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/005 Language recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/10 Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones H04R1/28 takes precedence; stereophonic headphones H04R5/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/406 microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/01 Hearing devices using active noise cancellation
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/09 Non-occlusive ear tips, i.e. leaving the ear canal open, for both custom and non-custom tips H04R2460/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers

Abstract

Methods and devices for voice communications and foreign language translation are disclosed. One method includes selecting one of a plurality of microphones of an earpiece unit, receiving a selected voice communication of a first language from the selected microphone and translating the selected voice communication from the first language to a second language, the second language different from the first to create a translated voice communication, and transducing the translated voice communication at a speaker within the earpiece unit. Preferably the microphones are oriented in different directions and are directional microphones. The present invention further optionally provides for the sensing and transmission of pulse oximeter measurements and temperature measurements.

Claims

1. A method of voice communication comprising:

providing an earpiece having a housing and a plurality of microphones within the earpiece housing, the earpiece adapted for being worn by a user;

selecting at least one microphone within the housing of the earpiece to detect a selected voice communication by a person other than the user;

receiving the selected voice communication of a first language from the at least one selected microphone;

translating the selected voice communication from the first language to a second language by an intelligent control, the second language different from the first to create a translated voice communication, wherein the translating is performed by a processor within the earpiece; and

transducing the translated voice communication at a speaker within the earpiece unit.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one microphone is a directional microphone.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of selecting is automatically selecting.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising scanning each of the plurality of microphones.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of microphones includes a front facing microphone, a rear facing, and a side facing microphone.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the second language is English.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first language is English and the second language is different from the first language.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the earpiece is nonocclusive.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of selecting is manually selecting.

10. A method of voice communication, comprising:

providing a nonocclusive earpiece housing and having a plurality of inputs for receiving voice communication and a speaker, the nonocclusive earpiece housing adapted for being worn by a user on the user'"'"'s head;

receiving the voice communication from at least one of the inputs;

translating the voice communication to a different language using an intelligent control to create a translated voice communication;

transducing the translated voice communication at the speaker of the nonocclusive earpiece;

wherein the nonocclusive earpiece further includes a processor;

wherein the processor is adapted to perform translation of the voice communication to the translated voice communication.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein at least one of the inputs is a bone conduction sensor.

12. A method of voice communication comprising:

providing an earpiece having a housing and a plurality of directional microphones within the earpiece housing, the earpiece adapted for being worn by a user;

receiving a selection of at least one of the plurality of directional microphones within the housing of the earpiece, the selection associated with a selected voice communication by a person other than the user;

receiving the selected voice communication of a first language from the selection of the at least one of the plurality of directional microphones;

translating the selected voice communication from the first language to a second language by an intelligent control disposed within the earpiece, the second language different from the first to create a translated voice communication; and

transducing the translated voice communication at a speaker within the earpiece unit.

13. A method of voice communication comprising:

providing a nonocclusive earpiece having a housing and having a plurality of directional microphones within the housing and a speaker within the housing, the earpiece adapted for being worn on a user'"'"'s head;

directing at least one of the plurality of directional microphones within the earpiece housing in a first direction;

using the at least one of the plurality of directional microphones of the earpiece to detect a selected voice communication;

receiving the selected voice communication of a first language from the at least one of the plurality of directional microphones within the earpiece housing;

translating the selected voice communication at the earpiece from the first language to a second language using a processor disposed within the earpiece, the second language different from the first to create a translated voice communication;

transducing the translated voice communication at the speaker within the earpiece on the user'"'"'s head.