Patent Publication Number: US-7899194-B2

Title: Dual ear voice communication device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides for binaural and/or stereophonic sensing and reproduction of sound. In binaural recording, a pair of microphones is placed inside a model of a human head which includes external ears and ear canals. Each microphone is placed approximately where the ear drum is located. The recording is then played back through headphones, to maintains separate channels without mixing or crosstalk. Thus, each of the listener&#39;s tympanic membrane is driven with a replica of the auditory signal it would have experienced at the recording location. The result is an accurate duplication of the auditory spatiality that would have been heard by the listener placed where the microphones were located. True binaural recordings have remained laboratory and audiophile curiosities and have not been adopted. 
     A seemingly unrelated problem exists with respect to handsfree devices. Numerous advantages are associated with handsfree devices which make them desirable in various situations, including when they are used in combination with cell phones. In addition, the use of handsfree devices can promote privacy, to some extent. Despite these well-recognized advantages and benefits of handsfree devices, problems remain. Due to the discomfort of handsfree devices, and the need to hear environmental devices, handsfree devices to date have focused on reproducing sound in only one ear. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, it is a primary object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to improve over the state of the art. 
     It is a further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to provide a voice communication system that provides for transducing and playing multi-channel audio using an earpiece. 
     It is a still further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to provide a voice communication system that provides for binaural transducing and playing of audio. 
     Yet a further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to provide a voice communication system that provides for stereophonic transducing and playing of audio. 
     It is a further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide for binaural or stereophonic listening without the nuisance of head phones or any linking material spanning the head from the right earpiece to the left earpiece. 
     Yet another object, feature, or advantage is to provide for binaural or stereophonic listening with a handsfree device. 
     A further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide for transducing, processing of, and playback of voice sound information. 
     A still further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to use a phone to control one or more earpieces. 
     A still further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to take into account head size of a user. 
     Another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to allow for multiple output transducers in an earpiece. 
     Another object, feature, or advantage of the present is to provide for tracking of a user&#39;s head movement. 
     Yet another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to use the speaker of an electronic device such as a cell phone in combination with one or more earpieces. 
     A further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to allow audiometrics of an incoming signal to be modified according to a user&#39;s specific audiometric demands. 
     A still further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to communicate whether a signal is coming from a right earpiece or a left earpiece. 
     One or more of these and/or other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the specification and claims that follow. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for voice communication is provided. The method includes sensing at least one channel of audio information 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 and the at least one channel of audio information from proximate the second external auditory canal. Preferably the method includes 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 stereophonic audio signal may be transduced at a personal electronic device such as a phone or entertainment device or computer. The method may further include receiving the at least one channel of audio information from proximate the first external auditory canal and receiving the at least one channel of audio information from proximate the second external auditory canal at a personal electronic device, 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 at the personal electronic device, wirelessly transmitting the stereophonic audio signal from the personal electronic device to a second personal electronic device, transmitting the stereophonic audio signal from the second personal electronic device to one or more devices associated with the ears of a second user, reproducing the at least one channel of audio information from proximate the first external auditory canal of a user proximate a first auditory canal of a second user and reproducing the at least one channel of audio information from proximate the second external auditory canal of the user proximate a second auditory canal of a second user. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for stereophonic voice communication between a first user and a second user includes sensing at least one channel of audio information from within a first external auditory canal of the first user, sensing at least one channel of audio information from within a second external auditory canal of the first user, wirelessly transmitting the at least one channel of audio information from within the first external auditory canal of the first user and the at least one channel of audio information from within the second external auditory canal of the first user, outputting at least one channel of audio information within a first external auditory canal of the second user, and outputting at least one channel of audio information within a second external auditory canal of the second user. The step of sensing at least one channel of audio information from within a first external auditory canal of the first user is preferably performed using a microphone position at least partially within the first external auditory canal of the first user. The step of outputting at least one channel of audio information within the first external auditory canal of the second user is preferably performed using a speaker placed within the first external auditory canal of the second user. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a method includes 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, and playing the stereophonic representation of sound for the second user. The collecting a stereophonic representation of sound may be performed using one or more sensors positioned at or near or proximate the external auditory canal of the user. The step of playing the stereophonic representation of sound for the second user may be performed using one or more speakers positioned at or near or proximate the external auditory canal of the user. The step of collecting a stereophonic representation of sound may be performed using one or more sensors positioned within the external auditory canal of the user. The step of playing the stereophonic representation of sound for the second user may be performed using one or more speakers positioned within the external auditory canal of the user. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a communication system is provided which includes 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 within or at or near an external auditory canal of a user. The personal electronic device may be a phone and/or an entertainment device, a PDA, or a computer. Preferably, 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. 
     According to another aspect of the invention a communication system is provided. The communication system includes 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 proximate an external auditory canal of a user. The personal electronic device may be a phone or may include 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. The left earpiece is preferably programmed for use in a left external auditory canal of the user and the right earpiece is preferably programmed for use in a right external auditory canal of the user. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, an earpiece adapted for use in a stereophonic system is provided. The earpiece includes 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, and a transceiver operatively connected to the processor. 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. Preferably, the processor is adapted to adjust an audio signal received from the transceiver according to audiometric preferences associated with the user. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, an earpiece is provided. The earpiece includes a housing, a speaker, at least one input sensor, and a processor disposed within the earpiece. The speaker and the at least one input sensor are operatively connected to the processor. A transceiver is operatively connected to the processor. 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. Preferably, the processor is adapted to adjust the audio signal received from the transceiver according to audiometric preferences associated with the user. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of a personal electronic device worn by a person according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a representation of the earpiece of the present invention fitted on the ear. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram of one embodiment of an earpiece of the present invention fitted within a right ear of a user. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram of one embodiment of an earpiece of the present invention fitted within a left ear of a user. 
         FIG. 5  is a pictorial representation of one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a pictorial representation of another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention will be described as it applies to its preferred embodiment. It is not intended that the present invention be limited to the described embodiment. It is intended that the invention cover all modifications and alternatives which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention. The present invention provides for binarual and/or stereophonic sensing and reproduction of sound by sensing sounds within the external auditory canal of a user and reproducing sounds within both external auditory canals of a user. 
       FIG. 1  shows a personal electronic device  2  associated with a person. The personal electronic device may be a phone, an entertainment device, or other type of personal electronic device or computer. The device as shown has a display  4 . The device may be worn on a belt  6  as shown or may be placed in a pocket or may be carried by the person. The personal electronic device  2  is in operative communication with earpiece  10 A and earpiece  10 B. As will be explained in further detail, this configuration provides for the ability to collect and reproduce stereophonic sound. 
       FIG. 2  shows a pictorial representation of the earpiece  10  as worn in a person&#39;s ear. The earpiece has an external ear canal portion  12  which is fitted within the ear. The earpiece  10  has an ear attachment portion  14  fitted around the ear. The earpiece  10  in its preferred form houses a processor  16  and a transceiver  18 . The earpiece  10  also houses at least one sensor such as an air conduction sensor or a bone conduction sensor and a speaker. The earpiece  10  corresponds to one of earpiece  10 A and earpiece  10 B shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  discloses an example of the earpiece  10 A of the present invention having a housing  80 A. The earpiece  10 A is designed to be worn at the ear. As shown in  FIG. 3 , an external canal portion  58 A of the earpiece  10 A is positioned in the external auditory canal  76 A of the user. The external auditory canal portion of the earpiece preferentially includes a bone conduction sensor  60 A and an air conduction sensor  62 A located on a resilient member  78 A. An internal antenna  54 A is also shown. A speaker  64 A is also shown which is also preferably positioned within the external auditory canal  76 A of the user. Note that the earpiece  10 A of the preferred embodiment does not occlude or block the external auditory canal  76 A of the user. This feature increases the comfort of the user so that the user can wear the earpiece for an extended period of time. Also, this feature is important in that it allows the user to also hear environmental sounds. These features are particularly important as the user will be wearing two earpieces to provide for binaural or stereophonic communications. The earpiece may be programmed to compensate for auditory deficits of the user providing amplification, gain or compression as necessary to fit the specific audiometric requirements of the user. In addition, the earpiece may be programmed to accommodate preferences of the user that are not based on the auditory deficits of the user. There is a manual input such as a switch  56 A shown that can be used to set the earpiece as a right ear or a left ear. Instead of a hardware setting, the setting can be a software setting or switch. 
       FIG. 4  discloses an example of an earpiece which is substantially identical to earpiece  10 A of  FIG. 3  but is placed in the opposite ear of the same user.  FIG. 4  discloses an example of the earpiece  10 B of the present invention having a housing  80 B. The earpiece  10 B is designed to be worn at the ear. As shown in  FIG. 4 , an external canal portion  58 B of the earpiece  10 B is positioned in the external auditory canal  76 B of the user. The external auditory canal portion of the earpiece includes a bone conduction sensor  60 B and an air conduction sensor  62 B located on a resilient member  78 B. An internal antenna  54 B is also shown. A speaker  64 B is also shown which is also preferably positioned within the external auditory canal  76 B of the user. In addition, the earpiece may be programmed to accommodate preferences of the user that are not based on the auditory deficits of the user. There is a manual input such as a switch  56 B shown that can be used to set the earpiece as a right ear or a left ear. Instead of a hardware setting, the setting can be a software setting or switch. 
       FIG. 5  discloses an example of one methodology of the present invention. In the system  100  shown in  FIG. 5 , there is a first earpiece  102  and a second earpiece  104 , both earpieces associated with a first user. The earpieces shown are of a completely-in-canal (CIC), although the present invention can be used with behind-the-ear (BTE) or other types of earpieces. Preferably, the earpieces collect sound at or near the external auditory canal of the user and also reproduce sound at or near the external auditory canal of the user. The earpieces  102 ,  104  are in operative communication with a personal electronic device such as a phone  106 . Each of the earpieces  102 ,  104  communicates one or more channels of audio information to the phone  106  and the phone  106  is adapted to communicate at least one channel of audio information to each earpiece. Thus, when used together, the earpieces  102 ,  104  provide for collecting stereophonic sound and reproducing stereophonic sound. It should also be appreciated that where stereophonic sound is not needed, only one of the earpieces may be used. 
     Each of the earpieces  102 ,  104  is preferably associated with a particular ear of the user. The present invention contemplates that this association can be made in a number of different ways. For example, each earpiece  102 ,  104  can communicate an identifier to state that it is the left earpiece or a right earpiece as a part of a communications protocol. Alternatively, each earpiece will only receive signals associated with its particular identity. The setting for each earpiece can be accomplished manually (such as a small switch located anywhere on the housing) and/or through programming of the processor within each earpiece. When each earpiece  102 ,  104  is associated with a particular ear of a user, then processing can also be performed on incoming audio signals to process the incoming audio signal according to the auditory capabilities of a particular user such as may be associated with a hearing aid or according to their auditory preferences. It should also be understood that because the earpiece  102 ,  104  is a communications device, different types of processing can be performed based on the source of the audio. For example, music received at the earpiece  102 ,  104  may be processed differently than a telephone call. Or a telephone call from one source may be processed differently than a telephone call from another source. 
     Because stereophonic sound is easily collected and reproduced at each earpiece, the present invention provides for communicating that stereophonic sound between users. For example, as shown in  FIG. 5 , stereophonic information can be communicated from phone  106  to a second phone  108  associated with a different user. This stereophonic information can then be transmitted to a second set of earpieces  102 A,  104 B, to provide stereo sound for the second user. 
     It should be understood that although  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  show a preferred embodiment where input sensors and a speaker are positioned directly within the external auditory canal of a user, this is not required. Instead the input sensors and speaker can be placed at or near the external auditory canal or proximate the external auditory canal. There is, however, some advantage in placement within the external auditory canal in that such placement allows for a closer approximation of binaural audio where audio is sensed and played back within the external auditory canal. 
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 6 , a personal electronic device  200  is shown. The personal electronic device  200  may be a personal communication device, such as a phone, a personal entertainment device, or other type of personal electronic device or computer. The personal electronic device has a short range transceiver  202  and an audio source  204 . The audio source  204  may be provided by a voice transceiver for cellular communications, audio received from a stereo transmission associated with radio or television, or from audio created based on stored information. The short range transceiver  202  may be a BLUETOOTH, ultra-wideband (UWB), Wi-Fi or other type of short range transceiver. 
     The short range transceiver  202  of the personal electronic device  200  is in operative communication with short range transceiver  210  associated with a first earpiece and also associated with a speaker  212 , a microphone  214 , and an optional bone conduction sensor  216 . The short range transceiver  202  of the personal electronic device  200  is also, preferably in operative communication with a second short range transceiver  220  associated with a second earpiece and also associated with a speaker  222 , microphone  224 , and an optional bone conduction sensor  226 . Each earpiece can adjust the incoming signal to fit or adapt to the audiometric needs of the user. This can include auditory deficits of the user such as the type of processing typically performed by various hearing aids. This can also include preferences which can be set by the source or type of audio (such as but limited to music, audio accompanying video, audio associated with a phone call, audio associated with a phone call with a particular person, or other type of audio). 
       FIG. 7  illustrates another use of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 7  an environment  300  such as in a home is shown. The home includes a network with network nodes such as  302 . A user is shown enjoying themselves as they rest on a recliner and wear an earpiece  10 B while watching television  304 . The earpiece  10 B provides audio sounds to the user. The present invention provides for audio from or associated with the television  304  to be communicated through the network and be transmitted from the network node  302  to the earpiece  10 B. Thus the user can control the incoming sounds received at the earpiece. Multiple persons in the same room can be watching the same television, but each have their earpiece set to different volumes or have additional audio processing performed by their respective earpiece or earpieces to meet their own audiometric needs. Although in the embodiment shown, audio associated with the television is communicated through the network node  302 , audio could also be communicated directly from the television with  304  with a short range transceiver. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates another embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 8  shows different types of devices that may include short range transceivers and be audio sources or recipients of audio transmissions from one or both of earpieces  102 ,  104 . In the system  400  shown, there is a computer  402 , a portable entertainment device for audio and/or video  404 , and a PDA  406 , a candy bar type phone  408 , and a flip type phone  410 . Each of these devices or others may communicate with one or both of earpieces  102 ,  104 . 
     A general description of the present invention as well as a preferred embodiment has been set forth above. Those skilled in the art will recognize and will be able to practice additional variations and the methods and devices described which fall within the teachings of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications and additions are deemed to be within the scope of the invention which is to be limited only by the claims appended hereto.