Method and apparatus for detecting user activities from within a hearing assistance device using a vibration sensor
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a microphone configured to receive sound and to generate a sound signal;
an electret vibration sensor configured to measure mechanical vibration and to produce a vibration signal indicative of user activities including non-speech vibrations;
a signal processor connected to the microphone and in communication with the electret vibration sensor, the signal processor configured to process the sound signal and to determine a correlation between the vibration signal and each of stored signature signals and characterize the user activities using the correlations, the stored signature signals characterizing predetermined types of user activities; and
a housing adapted to house the signal processor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present subject matter relates to method and apparatus for detecting user activities within a hearing assistance device, and among other things, apparatus including a microphone for reception of sound and to generate a sound signal; an electret vibration sensor adapted to measure mechanical vibration and to produce a vibration signal; a signal processor, connected to the microphone and in communication with the electret vibration sensor, the signal processor adapted to process the sound signal and to process the vibration signal; and a housing adapted to house the signal processor. Variations provide a housing, microphone, and receiver in different configurations. In some variations wireless electronics are included and are used to communicate different signals. In some examples, the design is embodied in a variety of hearing aid configurations.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a microphone configured to receive sound and to generate a sound signal; an electret vibration sensor configured to measure mechanical vibration and to produce a vibration signal indicative of user activities including non-speech vibrations; a signal processor connected to the microphone and in communication with the electret vibration sensor, the signal processor configured to process the sound signal and to determine a correlation between the vibration signal and each of stored signature signals and characterize the user activities using the correlations, the stored signature signals characterizing predetermined types of user activities; and a housing adapted to house the signal processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification