Dual ear voice communication device

• US 20070086600A1
• Filed: 10/14/2005
• Published: 04/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peter Boesen
• Original Assignee: Peter Boesen
• Inventors: Boesen, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,899,194 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/79
• 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 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: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

A method for voice communication which includes sensing at least one channel of audio information from proximate a first external auditory canal of a user, sensing at least one channel of audio information proximate a second external auditory canal of the user, and wirelessly transmitting the at least one channel of audio information from proximate the first external auditory canal of the user and the at least one channel of audio information from proximate the second external auditory canal of the user. The method may further include producing a stereophonic audio signal based on the at least one channel of audio information from proximate the first external auditory canal and the at least one channel of audio information from proximate the second external auditory canal. The signal may be stereophonic, recognize right or left, and be tailored to fit the audiometric needs of the user.

Claims

1. A method for voice communication, comprising:

sensing at least one channel of audio information from within a first external auditory canal of a user;

sensing at least one channel of audio information from within a second external auditory canal of the user;

wirelessly transmitting the at least one channel of audio information from within the first external auditory canal and the at least one channel of audio information from within the second external auditory canal.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising producing a stereophonic audio signal based on the at least one channel of audio information from the first external auditory canal and the at least one channel of audio information from the second external auditory canal.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the stereophonic audio signal is transduced at a phone.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving the at least one channel of audio information from the first external auditory canal and receiving the at least one channel of audio information from the second external auditory canal at a personal electronic device.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising producing a stereophonic audio signal based on the at least one channel of audio information from the first external auditory canal and the at least one channel of audio information from the second external auditory canal at the personal electronic device.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising wirelessly transmitting the stereophonic audio signal from the personal electronic device to a second personal electronic device.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising transmitting the stereophonic audio signal from the second personal electronic device to one or more devices associated with the ears of a second user.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising reproducing the at least one channel of audio information from the first external auditory canal of a user within a first auditory canal of a second user and reproducing the at least one channel of audio information from the second external auditory canal of the user within a second auditory canal of a second user.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the personal electronic device is a phone and the second personal electronic device is a phone.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the personal electronic device is a phone and the second personal electronic device is a computer.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the personal electronic device is a phone and the second personal electronic device is an entertainment device.

12. The method of claim 6 wherein the personal electronic device is a phone and the second personal electronic device is a home area network.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein the one ore more devices associated with the ears of a user includes a left ear earpiece and a right ear earpiece.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of transducing at least one channel of audio information from within the first external auditory canal includes transducing with a bone conduction sensor disposed within the first external auditory canal.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of transducing at least one channel of audio information from within the second external auditory canal includes transducing with a bone conduction sensor disposed within the second external auditory canal.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of transducing at least one channel of audio information from within the first external auditory canal includes transducing with a bone conduction sensor disposed within the first external auditory canal and an air conduction sensor disposed within the first external auditory canal.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of transducing at least one channel of audio information from within the second external auditory canal includes transducing with a bone conduction sensor disposed within the second external auditory canal and an air conduction sensor disposed within the second external auditory canal.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising adjusting the at least one channel of audio information from proximate the first external auditory canal of the first user and the at least one channel of audio information from proximate the second external auditory canal of the first user to accommodate audiometric settings associated with the second user.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of sensing at least one channel of audio information from within a first external auditory canal of the first user is performed using a microphone position at least partially within the first external auditory canal of the first user.

18. A method for stereophonic voice communication between a first user and a second user, comprising:

sensing at least one channel of audio information proximate a first external auditory canal of the first user;

sensing at least one channel of audio information proximate a second external auditory canal of the first user;

wirelessly transmitting the at least one channel of audio information proximate the first external auditory canal of the first user and the at least one channel of audio information proximate the second external auditory canal of the first user;

outputting at least one channel of audio information proximate a first external auditory canal of the second user;

outputting at least one channel of audio information proximate a second external auditory canal of the second user.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of outputting at least one channel of audio information proximate the first external auditory canal of the second user is performed using a speaker placed proximate the first external auditory canal of the second user.

22. A method comprising:

collecting a stereophonic representation of sound associated with a first user;

sending the stereophonic representation of sound to a voice communication device associated with the first user;

sending the stereophonic representation of sound from the voice communication device to a second user;

playing the stereophonic representation of sound for the second user.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of collecting a stereophonic representation of sound is performed using one or more sensors positioned proximate the external auditory canal of the user.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of playing the stereophonic representation of sound for the second user is performed using one or more speakers positioned proximate the external auditory canal of the user.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of collecting a stereophonic representation of sound is performed using one or more sensors positioned within the external auditory canal of the user.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of playing the stereophonic representation of sound for the second user is performed using one or more speakers positioned proximate the external auditory canal of the user.

27. The method of claim 22 wherein the voice communication device associated with the second user is adapted to adjust the stereophonic representation of sound to accommodate audiometric needs of the second user.

28. The method of claim 22 wherein the voice communication device associated with the second user is adapted to adjust the stereophonic representation of sound to accommodate audiometric settings associated with the second user.

29. A communication system comprising:

a personal electronic device adapted for sending and receiving stereophonic information;

a left earpiece and a right earpiece, each having a speaker and a microphone and each being shaped to position the speaker and the microphone at or within an external auditory canal of a user.

30. The communication system of claim 29 wherein the personal electronic device is a phone.

31. The communication system of claim 29 wherein the personal electronic device is an entertainment device.

32. The communication system of claim 29 wherein the personal electronic device is a PDA.

33. The communication system of claim 29 wherein the personal electronic device is a computer.

34. The personal electronic device of claim 29 wherein the personal electronic device includes a short range transceiver adapted for sending and receiving the stereophonic information to a short range transceiver associated with at least one of the left earpiece and the right earpiece.

35. The communication system of claim 29 wherein the left earpiece is programmed for use in a left external auditory canal of the user and the right earpiece is programmed for use in a right external auditory canal of the user.

36. The communication system of claim 29 wherein each of the left earpiece and the right earpiece includes a setting and wherein the setting of the left earpiece is set for left and the setting of the right earpiece is set for right.

39. The earpiece of claim 30 wherein the earpiece does not occlude the external auditory canal of the user.

37. An earpiece adapted for use in a stereophonic system, the earpiece comprising:

a housing;

a speaker;

at least one input sensor;

a processor disposed within the earpiece;

the speaker and the at least one input sensor operatively connected to the processor;

a transceiver operatively connected to the processor; and

wherein the earpiece is adapted to communicate whether the earpiece is associated with a right ear of the user or a left ear of the user using the transceiver.

38. The earpiece of claim 37 wherein the processor is adapted to adjust an audio signal received from the transceiver according to audiometric preferences or needs associated with the user.

40. An earpiece, comprising:

a housing;

a speaker;

at least one input sensor;

a processor disposed within the earpiece;

the speaker and the at least one input sensor operatively connected to the processor;

a transceiver operatively connected to the processor; and

wherein the earpiece is associated with a right ear setting or a left ear setting and is adapted to adjust an audio signal received from the transceiver based on whether the earpiece is associated with the right ear setting or the left ear setting.

41. The earpiece of claim 40 wherein the processor is adapted to adjust the audio signal received from the transceiver according to audiometric preferences or needs associated with the user.

42. The earpiece of claim 40 wherein the earpiece is adapted to communicate over the transceiver whether the earpiece is associated with a right ear setting or the earpiece is associated with a left ear setting.