Eyeglasses with hearing enhanced and other audio signal-generating capabilities

• US 20050248717A1
• Filed: 07/15/2005
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IngenioSpec LLC
• Original Assignee: C. Douglass Thomas, David Chao, Peter P. Tong, Thomas A. Howell
• Inventors: Tong, Peter P., Thomas, C. Douglass, Chao, David, Howell, Thomas A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,760,898 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/41
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/06 Hearing aids construction of hearing aids H04R25/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 5/001 specially adapted for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for or not fully classifiable according to technical characteristics, e.g. therapeutic glasses
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/0335 Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests for monophonic headphones H04R1/105

Abstract

Novel techniques for hearing enhancement based on a pair of glasses are disclosed. In one embodiment, the glasses include a first lens holder, a second lens holder, a bridge element, a first temple, a second temple, a first speaker, a second speaker, a microphone and at least one electrical component that performs a hearing enhanced function to enhance audio signals from the microphone to be sent to the speakers for the user to hear. At least one electrical component in the glasses is for generating other audio signals by the speakers, with the other audio signals originating from signals other than audio signals captured by the microphone. In another embodiment, some of the electrical components are in a portable device, wired or wirelessly, coupled to the glasses. In yet another embodiment, the glasses function as a headset, with other electrical components in the portable device. In such embodiment, since the glasses can provide a number of different hearing functions, a third party may not be able to tell whether the user is wearing the glasses to have his hearing enhanced, or for hearing other audio signals.

Claims

1. A pair of glasses for enhancing the hearing of a user, comprising:

a first lens holder for receiving lenses, the first lens holder having a first side and a second side;

a second lens holder for receiving lenses, the second lens holder having a first side and a second side;

a bridge element coupling the first side of the first lens holder to the second side of the second lens holder;

a first temple pivotally secured to the second side of the first lens holder through a first joint;

a second temple pivotally secured to the first side of the second lens holder through a second joint;

a first speaker in the vicinity of the first temple;

a second speaker in the vicinity of the second temple;

a microphone to receive audio signals; and

at least one electrical component that performs a hearing enhanced function to enhance audio signals from the microphone to be sent to the speakers for the user to hear,

wherein at least one electrical component is for generating other audio signals by the speakers, with the other audio signals originating from signals other than audio signals captured by the microphone.

2. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1 wherein the glasses further include two tubes, each for guiding sound from one of the speakers to the corresponding ear.

3. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1 wherein the two speakers are electrically connected based on a conductor in the glasses.

4. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1 further comprising another microphone, wherein the microphones are directional microphones.

5. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one electrical component for hearing enhancement is in a portable device that is electrically coupled to the at least one electrical component in the glasses.

6. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 5 wherein the at least one electrical component in the portable device is coupled to the at least one electrical component in the glasses through a wire connection.

7. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 6 further comprising a connector, wherein the wire connection is through the connector.

8. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 7 wherein the connector is a standard male stereo mini-phone plug.

9. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 7 wherein the connector is at the temple tip of one of the temples.

10. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1 wherein the hearing enhanced function includes amplifying a predetermined frequency range of the audio signals from the microphone.

11. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 10 wherein the frequency range is tailored to the hearing needs of the user.

12. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 11 wherein the hearing of the user is calibrated, and at least some of the results from the calibration are stored in the glasses.

13. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one electrical component in the glasses is for managing power consumption of other electrical components in the glasses.

14. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1 wherein the glasses further include a battery inserted into a cavity in a temple of the glasses.

15. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1 wherein the first speaker is at least partially embedded in the first temple, and the second speaker is at least partially embedded in the second temple.

16. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1 wherein

the first speaker is at the end of a stub, which extends from the first temple, and

the second speaker is at the end of another stub, which extends from the second temple.

17. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 1 wherein

the first speaker is at least partially embedded in the temple tip of the first temple, and

the second speaker is at least partially embedded in the temple tip of the second temple.

18. A pair of glasses as a headset, comprising:

a first lens holder for receiving lenses, the first lens holder having a first side and a second side;

a second lens holder for receiving lenses, the second lens holder having a first side and a second side;

a bridge element coupling the first side of the first lens holder to the second side of the second lens holder;

a first temple pivotally secured to the second side of the first lens holder through a first joint;

a second temple pivotally secured to the first side of the second lens holder through a second joint;

a first speakers in the vicinity of the first temple;

a second speaker in the vicinity of the second temple, the second speaker electrically connected to the first speaker through a conductor embedded in the glasses; and

a standard male stereo mini-phone plug connector at the temple tip of one of the temples, with the plug electrically connected to the two speakers.

19. A pair of glasses as recited in claim 18 wherein

the headset can be used to communicate in a phone call using a headset-to-phone cord;

and

the cord includes

a female stereo mini phone plug;

a male stereo mini-phone plug electrically connected to the female mini phone plug, the male stereo plug including a first, a second and a third terminals; and

a microphone electrically connected to the first and the third terminal, with the second terminal connected to the first speaker and the third terminal connected to the second speaker.

20. A headset-to-phone cord that allows a standard headset with two speakers to be used as the headset of a phone, the cord comprising:

a female stereo mini phone plug;

a male stereo mini-phone plug electrically connected via a plurality of separate conductors to the female stereo mini phone plug, the male stereo plug including a first, a second and a third terminals; and

a microphone electrically connected to the first and the third terminal, with the second terminal connected to the first speaker and the third terminal connected to the second speaker,

wherein the headset can be used as the headset of a phone by inserting the male connector into phone jack of the phone.