Handheld communication device and method(s) of use

• US 9,997,086 B1
• Filed: 11/29/2017
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard P. Braden
• Original Assignee: Richard P. Braden
• Inventors: Braden, Richard P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chawan, Vijay B
• Application Number:
  US15/826,095
• Time in Patent Office: 195 Days
• Field of Search: 704201, 704235, 704203, 704271, 381 231, 381315, 4554141, 455450
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/009 Teaching or communicating with deaf persons G09B21/04 takes precedence; deaf and dumb persons G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/00 Deaf-aid sets , i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception electrical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N1/36038; optical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N5/0622
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/005 for combining the signals of two or more microphones specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

A handheld communication device is described. Embodiments of the handheld communication device include, but are not limited to, a device for the hearing impaired that may be implemented in two modes. A first mode may be implemented when the device user interacts with another individual face to face. The second mode can be implemented when the device user wants to communicate with one or more other users each having a handheld communication device.

Claims

1. A method of implementing a handheld communication device, the method comprising:

providing the handheld communication device, the handheld communication device including;

a control module;

a first microphone, wherein the first microphone is removably attached to the handheld communication device while remaining operatively connected to the handheld communication device;

a second microphone;

a display;

a dual in-line package switch;

a transceiver operatively connected to an antenna; and

an analog-to-digital converter, wherein the analog-to-digital converter is adapted to receive signals from the first microphone, the second microphone, and the transceiver;

operating the handheld communication device in a first mode, wherein the first mode includes;

generating a first analog signal via the first microphone from audio received by the first microphone;

converting the first analog signal to a digital signal via the analog- to-digital converter;

sending the first digital signal to the control module; and

generating text from the first digital signal and displaying the text on the display of the handheld communication device;

operating the handheld communication device in a second mode, wherein the second mode includes;

receiving a radio signal via the antenna and the transceiver and generating a second signal;

sending the second signal to the control module; and

generating text from the second signal and displaying the text on the display of the handheld communication device;

wherein the handheld communication device further includes a channel selector for the second mode.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

configuring the dual in-line package switch into a first configuration.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

configuring the dual in-line package switch into a second configuration.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

selecting a first channel to receive communication signals on.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of:

selecting a second channel to receive communication signals on.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein when operating in the second mode, further including the steps of:

receiving audio via a second microphone and generating a third signal;

transmitting the third signal via the transceiver and the antenna;

wherein the handheld communication device is adapted to transmit the signal to a second handheld communication device substantially similar to the handheld communication device.

7. A method of implementing a handheld communication device, the method comprising:

providing the handheld communication device, the handheld communication device including;

a control module including speech-to-text software;

a first microphone adapted to receive input from a user;

a second microphone adapted to receive input from another person, wherein the second microphone is removably attached to the handheld communication device while remaining operatively connected to the handheld communication device;

a display;

a dual in-line package switch;

a channel selector;

a transceiver operatively connected to an antenna; and

an analog-to-digital converter, wherein the analog-to-digital converter is adapted to receive signals from the first microphone, the second microphone, and the transceiver;

selecting a first mode of operation for the handheld communication device;

presenting the second microphone to a second person, the second microphone being remotely located from the handheld communication device;

receiving input from the second microphone from the second person and generating a first analog signal via the second microphone;

converting the first analog signal to a digital signal via the analog-to- digital converter;

sending the first digital signal to the control module and processing the first digital signal with the speech-to-text software; and

generating text from the first digital signal and displaying the text on the display of the handheld communication device for the user to read.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

selecting a second mode of operation for the handheld communication device;

selecting a first channel from a plurality of channels to receive radio waves on;

receiving a radio wave on the first channel via the antenna and the transceiver and generating a second signal;

sending the second signal to the control module and processing the second signal with the speech-to-text software; and

generating text from the second signal and displaying the text on the display of the handheld communication device for the user to read.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

setting a first configuration for the dual in-line package switch; and

receiving and sending signals to one or more handheld communication devices on the same channel and each having a dual in-line package switch set to the first configuration.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the handheld communication device further includes a keyboard for inputting text.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

selecting a second mode of operation for the handheld communication device;

inputting text via the keyboard;

generating a third signal to transmit via the transceiver and the antenna based on the inputted text; and

transmitting the third signal via radio waves.

12. A method of implementing a handheld communication device, the method comprising:

by a user, providing a handheld communication device, the handheld communication device including;

a control module including speech-to-text software;

a first microphone adapted to receive input from the user;

a removably attached second microphone adapted to receive input from a second person, wherein the second microphone remains operatively connected to the handheld communication device when removed from the handheld communication device;

a keyboard;

a dual in-line package switch;

a channel selector;

a display; and

an analog-to-digital converter, wherein the analog-to-digital converter is adapted to receive signals from at least the second microphone;

by the user, inputting a message to be graphically displayed by the display, the message inputted via the keyboard or the first microphone;

by the user, presenting the display of the handheld communication device to the second person;

by the second person, speaking into the second microphone in response to the message displayed by the handheld communication device;

by the handheld communication device;

receiving input from the second microphone from the second person and generating a first analog signal via the second microphone;

converting the first analog signal to a digital signal via the analog- to-digital converter;

sending the first digital signal to the control module and processing the first digital signal with speech-to-text software; and

generating text from the first digital signal and displaying the text on the display of the handheld communication device for the user to read.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the display is a touch display and the keyboard is a virtual keyboard manipulated by the touch display.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the method further includes the step of:

by the user, detaching the second microphone from the handheld communication device and presenting the second microphone to the second person.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the handheld communication device further includes a transceiver and an antenna.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

by the user, selecting a second mode of operation for the handheld communication device;

by the user, selecting a first channel via the channel selector from a plurality of channels, wherein each of the plurality of channels are adapted to receive a different radio frequency;

by the handheld communication device;

receiving a second signal via the transceiver and the antenna on the first channel;

sending the second signal to the control module and processing the second signal with the speech-to-text software; and

generating text from the second signal and displaying the text on the display of the handheld communication device for the user to read.