Patent Publication Number: US-2019199840-A1

Title: Whisper device

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Learning to read can be difficult for a child. Especially for the child that stumbles in attempting to pronunciate the words, the process of learning to read can start to feel overwhelming. Particularly challenging are words that contain spellings that are not phonetically correct. For example, “was” is pronounced “wuz”, “is” is pronounced “iz”, and “the” is pronounced “thuh”. 
     One way to encourage young readers to advance in reading is to have them learn a few sight words such as “was”, “is”, and “the”, along with consonants and short vowel sounds. Moreover, if a child has the skills and tools to sound out a word, the child can more easily recognize that words that look the same may not actually be pronounced the same way. Consequently, tools that help children to learn to read are needed. 
     SUMMARY 
     An exemplary device includes a housing with a channel extending therethrough. At least a first opening is located at or near a top end of the housing. At least a second opening is located at or near a bottom end of the housing, the second opening being smaller than the first opening. The channel extends between the first and second openings, the channel being configured to carry sounds that travel from the second opening to the first opening. 
     An exemplary device further includes that the channel be configured to modify sounds that travel therethrough. For example, the channel may be designed to modify acoustics, frequencies, resonance, pitches, or other features of sound. The channel may further be designed to take into account sound frequency and sound quality. 
     In this manner, children may hear the sounds that they are making in a role-playing context. The device has further applications in other fields of use as well. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an example voice enhancement device that is provided in the form of a mobile phone. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of two halves of an enhancement device. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of a voice enhancement device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following relates to a voice enhancement device. Particularly in the field of education, the device enhances sounds to serve as a phonetic reader for children to more easily grasp pronunciation of words, such as vowel sounds, consonant sounds, syllable stress, and intonation. Also, the device may assist in segmenting and blending words. The devices may also be used in the field of speech therapy, for example, helping children with a lisp, or other speech impediment, to grasp and correct sounds. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , an example device  102  is shaped as a mobile phone or tablet, or other electronic device, enabling a child to use the electronic looking device to engage in role play. This type of techie role-playing environment is believed to facilitate an enjoyable learning experience and augment the learning process. 
     The device  102  includes a housing  103  with a first opening  106  located at or near a top end and at least a second opening  108  located at or near a bottom end. The second opening  108  is dimensioned for a child&#39;s voice to communicate sound therethrough as indicated by the two black arrows. The second opening  108  is designed to mimic a home button of a phone by having a square-like shape or other shape (e.g., circle, oval shape, etc.). Although a smart device appearance with a home button is used, the second opening  108  is actually a microphone in the sense that it communicates sound through the device to be amplified. Alternative designs include that the second opening  108  have a length that is similar to the length of the housing  103 . The height may also vary with respect to the height of the housing. 
     The first opening  106  is located at or near a top end of the housing  103 . The first opening  106  is dimensioned to communicate sound therethrough, the sound originating from the second opening  108 , passing through the housing, and then being communicated to an external environment outside the housing  103 . The second opening  108  is designed to mimic a receiver or front microphone of a smart device by being located at or near the top end of the device. The shape of the opening may be rectangular as shown. Alternative shapes are also anticipated (e.g., circle, oval shape, etc.). 
     The device may include additional features that emulate a smart device, such as user interface controls  104 , touch-like screen, or other types of interface elements and other elements associated with a smart device, tablet, and other electronic devices. The device may include lights, colors, and other look and feel features that make the device seem like a smart device. Also, the dimensions of the housing may be similar to that of mobile phones or tablets. 
     The device  102  shown includes a housing with a channel extending therethrough. The channel is configured to modify sounds that travel therethrough. For example, the channel may be designed to modify acoustics, frequencies, resonance, pitches, or other features of sound. The channel may further be designed to take into account sound frequency and sound quality. This may be accomplished by having appropriate dimensions, curvature, angles, and materials. 
     Turning to  FIG. 2 , the example channel  110  shown is a conduit that extends between the first and second openings, the channel  110  being configured to carry sounds that travel from the second opening  108  to the first opening  106 . Particularly, the channel is configured to amplify sounds that travel from the second opening  108  to the first opening  106  by having a smaller opening at the second opening  108  and a larger opening at the first opening  106 , with the channel expanding in cross sectional area from the second opening  108  to the first opening  106 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the housing may be defined by first  114  and second  116  halves that are bonded together. The channel  110  is defined by at least a portion of the first half  114  and the second half  116 . The channel is further defined by interior sidewalls  112  that are located within the interior of the housing and that extend between the first half  114  and the second half  116 . The sidewalls may be aligned perpendicular to one or more of the first  114  and second half  116 . Alternatively, one or more sidewalls may extend obliquely relative to the first and second half. 
     Alternatives include that both the first and second half include portions of the interior sidewalls. Also, the channel may be a separate component that is attached within the housing. An example channel may be removable from the housing. 
     An example device includes a solid housing or at least a portion of the housing that is made of a solid material and the channel is cut out of the solid material. The sidewalls and the housing may include porous material or other features that affect sound. Other variations are anticipated that define a channel. 
     Turning to  FIG. 3 , a front view of the interior of the housing shows that the sidewalls begin at the second opening located at the bottom of the housing, the sidewalls extending in parallel manner to form a first portion that includes a straight narrow section towards the top of the housing. At some point along a length of the housing, both of the sidewalls branch outward, or taper outward, from each other. The sidewalls may taper at same or similar angles relative to each other or to a central axis of the housing that extends from top to bottom, branching out to form a greater channel cross-section, the angled portion being a second portion. The second portion may remain angled or straighten out to form parallel lines. Ends of the second portion terminate at the top opening. The channel is configured to carry the sound, and in some embodiments, configured to modify sound as described herein. 
     The point of branching outward may occur midway, or approximately midway, along the length of the housing. The point of angle departure may occur at, for example, ¼, ⅓, ½, 2/4, ⅝, ⅞, or other locations along a length of the channel. Other points are also anticipated. 
     The relative angle to the central axis may be 20-25, 25-30, 30-35, 35-40, 40-45, 45-50, 50-60, 60-65, 65-70, 70-80, and 80-85 degrees. The tapered section may include sidewalls that are the same angle from a central axis of the housing, or alternatively, that are different angles, one angle being greater than the other angle. 
     The branching out of the channel may be a sharp angle, or it may by curved. Configurations are anticipated to further sound enhancement. For example, the sidewalls may include additional angles, curvature, step-like configurations, or other configurations can be used. The sidewalls may be of planar construction, being flat and plate-like. Other constructions include curved walls. 
     Instead of sidewalls, alternatives include that a tube extend from the top and bottom side within the housing. The tube may increase in diameter at a location along the length of the tube, for example, at a midway point or other point. Examples include ¼, ⅓, ½, ⅔, ¾, ⅝, and ⅞ of the way. Other points are also anticipated. An exemplary shape of the tube includes one or more of a tubular, frusto conical, and funnel shape. 
     The openings  108  and  106  for communicating sound may include one opening, or alternatively, a plurality of small holes. 
     For a device that includes a phone-like appearance, the second opening and the first opening, referred to also as a mouthpiece and ear hole, may be located opposite each other, the mouthpiece at the bottom of the housing, facing outward from the housing on the distal facing surface of the bottom side. Alternatively, the mouthpiece may be located substantially near the bottom side, facing away from the housing on the front side of the housing. Specifically, the mouthpiece may be 0-0.25 cm, 0.25-0.50 cm, 0.50-1.0 cm, and so forth, away the bottom side of the housing. 
     Similarly, the ear hole may be located at the top of the housing, facing outward from the housing on the proximal facing surface of the top side. Alternatively, the earhole may be located substantially near the top side, facing away from the housing on the front side of the housing. Specifically, the mouthpiece may be 0-0.25 cm, 0.25-0.50 cm, 0.50-1.0 cm, and so forth, away the top side of the housing. 
     The mouthpiece and earhole may be raised from the device. The mouthpiece and earhole may include rounded surfaces, or alternatively, recesses within the housing. 
     The material of the housing may comprise plastic, metal, a combination thereof, or other material known in the art. The material of the channel may be the same as the material of the housing. The channel may further include an inlay or layer of other material, such as thin silver, copper, wood, or other material. Also, the channel may not include material that is the same as that for the housing. 
     While this invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments and examples, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that many variations are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention, and that the invention, as described by the claims, is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the invention which do not depart from the spirit of the invention.