Patent ID: 7289636

Claim:
An electronic earplug comprising: an outer housing, wherein a portion of the outer housing extends into an ear canal to approximately a second bend; a transducer located within the portion of the outer housing extending into the second bend of the ear canal, wherein the transducer measures sound; an acoustic driver, wherein the acoustic driver is located within the outer housing between a first bend of the ear canal and the second bend of the ear canal and wherein the acoustic driver generates acoustic sound; a controller, wherein the controller is connected to the transducer and the acoustic driver, and wherein the controller comprises instructions for: generating a control signal at the controller in response to an acoustic signal originating external to the outer housing; creating an audible broadcast of the control signal from the acoustic driver, wherein the broadcast signal simultaneously reduces the sound pressure at the transducer location in the outer housing while achieving active control attenuation of the acoustic signal at the tympanic membrane.