Patent ID: 8442238

Claim:
A communication unit having a headset configured to be mounted on a head of a human being user, the user's head comprising at least one ear having a peripheral portion at least partially surrounding an auditory meatus extending into the user's head, the at least one ear having external portions projecting outwardly from a side of the user's head by a limited distance, the headset comprising: a throat microphone; at least one ear speaker coupled to said throat microphone for communication therewith and to enable audible communications with other communication units, said at least one ear speaker being configured to be inserted partially into the auditory meatus and projecting outwardly therefrom by a distance less than the limited distance, said at least one ear speaker being configured to fit in the auditory meatus in a manner to be generally soundproof with respect to external sounds entering the auditory meatus; an ear speaker microphone mounted to said at least one ear speaker and configured to receive sounds external to said at least one ear speaker, the combination said at least one ear speaker and said ear speaker microphone projecting outwardly from the user's head no more than approximately the limited distance; and a noise-suppressing means connected to said ear speaker microphone to limit the external sounds transmitted to the user's auditory meatus to a fixed decibel level that does not interfere with audible communications while permitting ambient sound to be heard by the user.