Patent ID: 6426919
Filing Date: 2002-07-30
Classification: G10L,H04B

Abstract:
A portable and hand-held device for making humanly audible sounds responsive to the detecting of ultrasonic sounds, said device comprising:a) a housing for being portable and hand-held; and b) circuitry contained in said housing for detecting, and making humanly audible, the ultrasonic sounds, wherein said housing is rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped, contains a chamber, and has: i) a top wall; and ii) a front wall, wherein said top wall of said housing has: A) a pair of ends; and B) a switch throughbore that is disposed through one end thereof, and which communicates with said chamber in said housing, wherein said top wall of said housing further has a microphone throughbore that is disposed through the other end thereof, and which communicates with said chamber in said housing, wherein said front wall of said housing has: I) an upper corner; and II) a speaker throughbore that is disposed centrally therethrough, and which communicates with said chamber in said housing, wherein said front wall of said housing further has an audio jack throughbore that is disposed through said upper corner thereof, and which communicates with said chamber in said housing, wherein said circuitry is contained in said chamber in said housing, wherein said circuitry comprises a PC board that is contained in said chamber in said housing, wherein said circuitry further comprises a power switch that extends in said switch throughbore in said top wall of said housing for allowing a user to operate said power switch with the thumb while said housing is held in the palm of the hand, and which selectively turns said circuitry on and off, wherein said circuitry further comprises a power interface that is in electrical communication with said power switch and ground for interfacing with a battery power source, wherein said circuitry further comprises a microphone that extends in said microphone throughbore in said top wall of said housing for allowing the user to point said microphone at a target while said housing is held in the palm of the hand and said power switch is operated by the thumb of the user, is in electrical communication with said ground, and is for receiving the ultrasonic sound that is not humanly audible, and in response thereto, generates a signal, wherein said circuitry further comprises a first low voltage audio power amplifier that is disposed on said PC board, is in electrical communication with said ground, said power switch, and said microphone, and receives said signal from said microphone, and in response thereto, generates a strengthened signal, wherein said circuitry further comprises a second low voltage audio power amplifier that is disposed on said PC board, is in electrical communication with said first low voltage audio power amplifier, said ground, and said power switch, and receives said strengthened signal from said first low voltage audio power amplifier, and in response thereto, generates a further strengthened signal.