Optical electro-mechanical hearing devices with separate power and signal components
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device to transmit an audio signal, the device comprising:
- at least one light source configured to transmit the audio signal using an optical signal;
at least one optical detector configured to detect the audio signal and generate at least one electrical signal in response to the detected audio signal;
an output transducer assembly supported with and configured to vibrate an eardrum wherein the output transducer assembly is driven in response to the at least one electrical signal;
circuitry configured to receive the audio signal and to transmit the audio signal with a pulse modulated signal, wherein power for the output transducer assembly is transmitted with the optical signal;
wherein the circuitry is further configured to determine a first energy of the audio signal and a second energy of the audio signal, the circuitry configured to provide a first bias to the pulse modulated signal in response to the first energy of the audio signal and to provide a second bias to the pulse modulated signal in response to the second energy of the audio signal, the first bias different from the second bias in order to accommodate substantially different power consumption of the output transducer assembly in response to the first energy different from the second energy.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device to transmit an audio signal comprises at least one light source configured to transmit the audio signal with at least one wavelength of light. At least one detector is configured to detect the audio signal and generate at least one electrical signal in response to the at least one wavelength of light. A transducer is supported with and configured to vibrate at least one of an eardrum, an ossicle or a cochlea. Active circuitry is coupled to the transducer to drive the transducer in response to the at least one electrical signal, so as to provide the user with high quality sound.
662 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A device to transmit an audio signal, the device comprising:
-
at least one light source configured to transmit the audio signal using an optical signal; at least one optical detector configured to detect the audio signal and generate at least one electrical signal in response to the detected audio signal; an output transducer assembly supported with and configured to vibrate an eardrum wherein the output transducer assembly is driven in response to the at least one electrical signal; circuitry configured to receive the audio signal and to transmit the audio signal with a pulse modulated signal, wherein power for the output transducer assembly is transmitted with the optical signal; wherein the circuitry is further configured to determine a first energy of the audio signal and a second energy of the audio signal, the circuitry configured to provide a first bias to the pulse modulated signal in response to the first energy of the audio signal and to provide a second bias to the pulse modulated signal in response to the second energy of the audio signal, the first bias different from the second bias in order to accommodate substantially different power consumption of the output transducer assembly in response to the first energy different from the second energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method of transmitting an audio signal having a first energy and a second energy different from the first energy, the method comprising:
-
receiving the audio signal with circuitry coupled to an input and at least one light source, wherein the circuitry determines the first energy of the audio signal and the second energy of the audio signal; emitting at least one pulse modulated wavelength of light from the at least one light source using an optical signal and wherein the circuitry outputs a first amount of bias and a second amount of bias from the at least one light source; detecting the at least one wavelength of light with at least one detector to generate an electrical signal; and vibrating an eardrum with a transducer, the transducer being a part of an output transducer assembly, in response to the electrical signal, wherein the first amount of bias differs from the second amount of bias in order to accommodate substantially different power consumption of the transducer in response to the first energy different from the second energy and wherein power for the output transducer assembly is transmitted with the optical signal. - View Dependent Claims (16)
-
-
17. A method of stimulating a target tissue with an audio signal having a first energy and a second energy different from the first energy, the method comprising:
-
receiving the audio signal with circuitry coupled to an input and at least one light source, wherein the circuitry determines the first energy of the audio signal and the second energy of the audio signal; emitting a pulse modulated light signal using an optical signal from the at least one light source and wherein the circuitry outputs a first amount of bias from the at least one light source and a second amount of bias from the at least one light source to power active circuitry; detecting the pulse modulated light signal to generate an electrical signal in response to the pulse modulated light signal; and stimulating the target tissue with a transducer in response to the electrical signal wherein the transducer is a part of an output transducer assembly; wherein the first amount of bias differs from the second amount of bias in order to accommodate substantially different power consumption of the transducer in response to the first energy different from the second energy and wherein the output transducer assembly is transmitted with the optical signal. - View Dependent Claims (18)
-
Specification