Audio awareness apparatus, system, and method of using the same

• US 9,041,545 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2012
• Issued: 05/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eric Allen Zelepugas
• Original Assignee: Eric Allen Zelepugas
• Inventors: Zelepugas, Eric Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFSASS, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US13/461,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20120280824A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 340/500, 340/573, 340/670, 381/55, 381/56, 381/72, 381/104, 381/124
• US Class Current: 340/670
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/00 Measuring linear or angular speed; Measuring differences of linear or angular speeds G01P5/00 - G01P11/00 take precedence; direction and speed indication G01P13/045; counting mechanisms G06M
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/08 Systems for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S15/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/58 Velocity or trajectory determination systems; Sense-of-movement determination systems velocity measurement in imaging systems G01S15/8979
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/86 Combinations of sonar systems with lidar systems; Combinations of sonar systems with systems not using wave reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/08 for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S17/46; active triangulation systems G01S17/48
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/58 Velocity or trajectory determination systems; Sense-of-movement determination systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/86 Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/007 Protection circuits for transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/0335 Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests for monophonic headphones H04R1/105

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus that senses the intensity of sounds and the velocity of objects. Specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus that may prevent an audio signal from reaching a user, make a warning noise, or otherwise alert the user when a object is noisy and/or approaching the user at a threatening rate. More specifically, the present invention takes data from the surrounding area and compares it to one or more thresholds to determine an object'"'"'s threat level. The present invention relates to one or more speakers, and includes, generally, one or more microphones to receive and measure the intensity of surrounding noises and one or more range sensors to detect distance, velocity, and acceleration.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting environmental sound and object velocity comprising:

a main body portion with a first end and a second end;

an audio sensor disposed at the first end of the main body portion to detect noises in an environment;

a range sensor disposed at the second end of the main body portion to detect distance, velocity, and acceleration of objects in an environment;

a transducer capable of audio transmission disposed on the main body portion;

a computing chip to perform calculations disposed on the main body portion; and

a headphone input to connect to an audio producing device;

wherein the computing chip is electronically connected to the audio sensor, the range sensor, the transducer, and the headphone input.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an accelerometer electronically connected to the computing chip that measures the velocity and acceleration of a user.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the range sensor is an ultrasonic range sensor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the range sensor is an infrared range sensor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer is a speaker.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the computing chip is a microprocessor capable of performing digital signal processing.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the audio sensor is a microphone.

8. A system for detecting environmental sound and object velocity comprising:

a first apparatus comprising a first microphone, a first range sensor, and a first speaker, electronically connected to a first microprocessor;

a second apparatus comprising a second microphone, a second range sensor, and a second speaker, electronically connected to a second microprocessor;

wherein the first apparatus and the second apparatus are electronically connected together; and

a headphone input to connect to audio producing devices, electronically connected to the first microprocessor and the second microprocessor.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising an accelerometer, electronically connected to the first microprocessor and the second microprocessor.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the first apparatus is positioned adjacent a first ear and the second apparatus is positioned adjacent a second ear.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the first range sensor and first microphone gather data from a first direction and the second range sensor and second microphone gather data from a second direction.

12. The system of claim 8 further comprising an audio producing device connected via the headphone input.