Bluetooth earplugs

• US 9,351,063 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2013
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Burciu, Liviu
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins, Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sellers, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US14/025,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20150071457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 381/74
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1083 Reduction of ambient noise active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49005 Acoustic transducer

Abstract

A system and methods for providing a wireless earplug system are described. An earplug includes a wireless receiver/transmitter, a battery, a speaker, a sound canal and an on/off switch. The system also includes a controller including a wireless receiver/transmitter used to transmit wireless signals to the earplug. The earplug receives the wireless signals from the controller and plays audio sounds through the speaker and into the user'"'"'s ear canal, thus enabling the user to hear the transmitted audio signals while ambient noises are blocked. The controller is also used to control the parameters of the time, duration and type of audio sounds.

Claims

1. An ear plug system comprising:

an ear plug comprised of a material suitable for hearing protection, and providing hearing protection when wedgingly inserted in an ear canal of a user, wherein a portion of the ear plug proximate to an eardrum of the user is shaped to hold the ear plug in place in the ear canal;

a battery enclosed within the ear plug;

a first wireless receiver and transmitter enclosed within the ear plug, distal to the ear canal, the first wireless receiver and transmitter electrically coupled to the battery, and receiving and transmitting at least one wireless signal;

a speaker enclosed within the ear plug and electrically coupled to the battery and to the first wireless receiver and transmitter, and receiving at least one audio signal from the first wireless receiver and transmitter;

a sound canal bore embedded within the ear plug, the sound canal bore extending from the speaker to an edge of the ear plug proximate to the eardrum, whereby the sound canal bore is open to the ear canal at the edge of the ear plug proximate to the eardrum;

an on/off switch of the ear plug located within the sound canal bore, electrically coupled to the first wireless receiver and transmitter and configured for turning the ear plug on and off;

a controller comprising a second wireless receiver and transmitter, the second wireless transmitter and receiver transmitting at least another wireless signal to the first wireless transmitter and receiver, and receiving at least one wireless signal from the first wireless transmitter and receiver;

a program module communicatively coupled to the second wireless receiver and transmitter and including a user interface configured for controlling the at least one wireless signal from the second wireless receiver and transmitter to the first wireless receiver and transmitter.

2. The ear plug system of claim 1, wherein the ear plug further comprises a microphone electrically coupled to the first wireless receiver and transmitter, wherein the microphone transmits at least one audio signal from the user to the first wireless receiver and transmitter.

3. The ear plug system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless receiver and transmitter and the second wireless receiver and transmitter are Bluetooth receivers and transmitters.

4. The ear plug system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless receiver and transmitter and the second wireless receiver and transmitter are short-wave radio receivers and transmitters.

5. The ear plug system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless receiver and transmitter and the second wireless receiver and transmitter are infrared receivers and transmitters.

6. The ear plug system of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a smartphone.

7. The ear plug system of claim 1, wherein the program module is configured for transmitting an audible alarm from the first wireless receiver and transmitter to the second wireless receiver and transmitter, whereby the audible alarm is output by the speaker.

8. The ear plug system of claim 7, wherein the program module is configured for terminating the audible alarm.

9. A method for constructing a wireless ear plug system, comprising:

electrically coupling a battery, a first wireless receiver and transmitter, and a speaker, the battery configured to provide power to the first wireless receiver and transmitter and the speaker;

electrically coupling the speaker to the first wireless receiver and transmitter, the first wireless receiver and transmitter configured to transmit at least one wireless signal to the speaker, whereby the speaker outputs at least one audio signal;

enclosing the battery, the first wireless receiver and transmitter, and the speaker within an ear plug, the ear plug shaped to fit within an ear of a user and comprising material suitable for providing hearing protection;

including a sound canal bore within the ear plug whereby a speaker output travels through the sound canal bore into an ear canal of the user;

including an on/off switch of the ear plug located within the sound canal bore, electrically coupled to the first wireless receiver and transmitter and configured for turning the ear plug on and off;

providing a controller including a second wireless receiver and transmitter, the second wireless transmitter and receiver configured to transmit and receive at least another wireless signal from the first wireless receiver and transmitter, and whereby the controller controls the at least one audio signal output by the speaker.

10. The method for constructing a wireless ear plug system according to claim 9, wherein the first and second wireless receivers and transmitters are Bluetooth receivers and transmitters.

11. The method for constructing a wireless ear plug system according to claim 9, wherein the first and second wireless receivers and transmitters are short-wave radio receivers and transmitters.

12. The method for constructing a wireless ear plug system according to claim 9, wherein the first and second wireless receivers and transmitters are infrared receivers and transmitters.

13. A method for transmitting audio using a wireless ear plug system, comprising:

inserting by a user of at least one ear plug, wherein at least one ear plug is a wireless ear plug including a battery, a first wireless receiver and transmitter, a speaker, a sound canal bore, and an on/off switch located within the sound canal bore, electrically coupled to the first wireless receiver and transmitter and configured for turning the ear plug on and off;

inputting an audio signal time into a controller the controller including a second wireless receiver and transmitter, whereby the controller transmits and receives at least one wireless signal;

reaching the audio signal time;

sending of at least one wireless audio signal from the controller to the wireless ear plug;

receiving of the at least one wireless audio signal by the first wireless receiver and transmitter;

transmitting of an audio signal from the first wireless receiver and transmitter to the speaker;

playing of the audio signal by the speaker, whereby the user hears the audio signal.