Patent ID: 8983100
Filing Date: 2015-03-17
Classification: H04R

Abstract:
1. A personal sound amplifier device for amplifying sound and for communicating wirelessly with an external electronic device, which comprises: a housing, the housing defining an internal cavity and having a first side wall and a second side wall situated opposite the first side wall, each of the oppositely situated first and second side walls forming a portion of the same housing; a first microphone mounted on the housing and situated on the first side wall thereof, the first microphone detecting ambient sounds and generating an output signal in response thereto; an amplification circuit situated in the internal cavity of the housing, the amplification circuit being responsive to the output signal of the first microphone and generating an amplified output signal in response thereto; a speaker, the speaker being responsive to the amplified output signal of the amplification circuit and generating an audible sound in response thereto; a second microphone, the second microphone being mounted on the housing, the second microphone detecting voice sounds emitted by a user of the personal sound amplifier device and generating an output signal in response thereto; a radio frequency (RF) transmitter and receiver circuit, the RF transmitter and receiver circuit being situated in the internal cavity of the housing, the RF transmitter and receiver circuit being responsive to the output signal of the second microphone and generating a transmit signal in response thereto; an antenna, the antenna being electrically coupled to the RF transmitter and receiver circuit, the antenna transmitting an RF signal to an external electronic device in response to the transmit signal of the RF transmitter and receiver circuit, the antenna receiving an RF signal transmitted by the external electronic device and generating a received signal in response thereto, the RF transmitter and receiver circuit generating a speaker signal in response to the received signal of the antenna, the speaker being responsive to the speaker signal of the RF transmitter and receiver circuit and generating an audible sound in response thereto; and one or more switches, the one or more switches being mounted on the housing and being accessible by a user of the personal sound amplifier device, the one or more switches being changeable to allow the user to selectively control the operation of the personal sound amplifier device, to allow the user to disable the RF transmitter and receiver circuit while enabling the amplification circuit, and to allow the user to enable both the RF transmitter and receiver circuit and the amplification circuit; wherein the second microphone is situated on the second side wall of the housing opposite the first side wall to reduce feedback interference between the RF transmitter and receiver circuit and the amplification circuit; and wherein the personal sound amplifier device is in the form of a hearing aid, and the housing thereof has a generally arcuate shape in order to rest on the ear of a user of the personal sound amplifier device.