Voice dictation systems using earpiece microphone system and method

• US 9,939,891 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2016
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Original Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Inventors: Boesen, Peter Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhang, Leshui
• Application Number:
  US15/383,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20170178631A1
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 381 61, 381312-331, 381 74, 381 56- 60, 4555691, 4555752
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• 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 2410/05 Noise reduction with a separate noise microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/005 for combining the signals of two or more microphones specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

An earpiece for use in voice dictation includes a speaker disposed within the earpiece housing, a microphone, and a processor disposed within the earpiece housing and operatively connected to the microphone and the speaker, wherein the processor is adapted to capture a voice stream from the microphone. The earpiece may further include a wireless transceiver disposed within the earpiece housing, the wireless transceiver operatively connected to the processor. The earpiece is configured to be controlled by a user through a plurality of different user interfaces to perform voice dictation.

Claims

1. An earpiece for use in voice dictation, the earpiece comprising:

an earpiece housing;

a speaker disposed within the earpiece housing;

a microphone;

a processor disposed within the earpiece housing and operatively connected to the microphone and the speaker, wherein the processor is adapted to capture a voice stream from the microphone;

a wireless transceiver disposed within the earpiece housing, the wireless transceiver operatively connected to the processor;

wherein the earpiece is configured to be controlled by a user through a plurality of different user interfaces to perform voice dictation;

wherein the plurality of different user interfaces comprises an audio interface using at least one of the speaker and the microphone;

wherein the plurality of different user interfaces further comprises a gestural interface having at least one emitter and at least one detector operatively connected to the processor for detecting gestures performed by a user wherein the gestural interface receives user input in a form of at least one of taps and swipes;

wherein the plurality of different user interfaces further comprises an accelerometer disposed within the earpiece housing and operatively connected to the processor wherein the accelerometer is positioned to detect head movement of a user wearing the earpiece and wherein the processor is configured to interpret the head movement of the user as voice dictation commands.

2. The earpiece of claim 1 wherein the plurality of different user interfaces further comprises a touchscreen display interface on a device remote from the earpiece.

3. The earpiece of claim 1 wherein the microphone is positioned to be isolated from ambient sound when the earpiece housing is fitted into the external auditory canal of a user.

4. The earpiece of claim 1 wherein the microphone is configured and positioned to detect bone vibrations associated with speech of a user.

5. A method for voice dictation, the method comprising:

providing an earpiece, the earpiece comprising;

an earpiece housing;

a speaker disposed within the earpiece housing;

a microphone;

a processor disposed within the earpiece housing and operatively connected to the microphone and the speaker;

a wireless transceiver disposed within the earpiece housing, the wireless transceiver operatively connected to the processor;

capturing a voice audio stream using the microphone;

receiving input from a first interface of the earpiece, and interpreting the input from the first interface by the processor in performing the voice dictation;

receiving input from a second interface of the earpiece, and interpreting the input from the second interface by the processor in performing the voice dictation; and

receiving input from a third interface of the earpiece, and interpreting the input from the third interface by the processor in performing the voice dictation;

wherein the first interface of the earpiece is a voice interface;

wherein the second interface of the earpiece comprises an inertial sensor operatively connected to the processor and wherein the processor is configured to interpret movement detected using the inertial sensor;

wherein the third interface of the earpiece comprises a gesture based user interface having at least one emitter and at least one detector operatively connected to the processor and configured to detect taps and swipes.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising receiving input from a display on a screen remote from the earpiece.