Advanced communication earpiece device and method

Inactive Publication Date: 2014-01-09
VOIX JEREMIE +3
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]An advantage of the present invention is that the earpiece device provides for a more accurate calculation of the total noise dose reaching a specific ear, by taking advantage of using a custom-fitted in-ear device (with improved occlusion of the ear canal), which allows evaluation of occurring sound bursts, and measuring the actual impact thereof inside the occluded ear canal, behind the earpiece.
[0010]Another advantage of the present invention is that the earpiece device considers a relative ear fatigue recuperation over time when continuously calculating the cumulated total noise or sound dose.
[0011]A further advantage of the present invention is that the earpiece device can detect if the earpiece is actually being worn by the user or not, and reflect this situation into the calculation of the cumulated total noise or sound dose.
[0012]Yet another advant

Problems solved by technology

The noisy environment in our industrial society is a health hazard to numerous workers as well as to people engaged in recreational activities generating loud noises, or simply listening to music with varying volume settings from individual digital music players such as an Ipod™, MP3 players or the like, via a set of earphones or the like.
Furthermore, these estimated integrations do not take into consideration the fact that the human ear rests, or recuperates from auditory fatigue over time, especially when

Method used

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Examples

Experimental program
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embodiment 10

[0095]Referring now in more detail to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown simplified schematic bloc diagram of an embodiment 10 of an advanced communication earpiece device, as a sound or music dose limiter device, and a method for using the device in accordance with the present invention. The noise and music dose limiter (MDL) 10 typically includes a controller unit 12 connected to at least one, preferably a pair of custom-fitted in-ear devices 14 (only one being shown), such that the respective outer ear canal 15 of the user is essentially occluded thereby (snugly fit), for connection to an audio output of an audio source 16 such as a personal music player (PMP) or the like, or any electronic device adapted to send an audio signal to the speaker 18 of the each in-ear device 14, typically left and right devices.

[0096]In addition to the speaker 18, each in-ear device 14 includes an internal microphone 20 (Min) for measuring the sound / noise level inside the ear occluded canal 15, between t...

embodiment 110

[0102]Now referring more specifically to FIGS. 1 and 3, there is shown simplified schematic bloc diagram of an embodiment 110 of an advanced communication earpiece device, as a push-to-hear device, and a method for using the device in accordance with the present invention. The push-to-hear (PTH) device 110 typically includes a controller unit 112 connected to at least one, preferably a pair of custom-fitted in-ear devices 14 (only one being shown), such that the respective ear canal 15 of the user is essentially occluded thereby, for connection to an audio output of a personal music player (PMP) 16 or the like, or any electronic device adapted to send an audio signal to the speaker 18 of the each in-ear device 14, typically left and right devices.

[0103]In addition to the speaker 18, each in-ear device 14 of the PTH device 110 includes at least an external microphone 22 (Mout) for measuring the external ambient sound / noise reaching the corresponding ear or the user. The controller un...

embodiment 210

[0108]Now referring more specifically to FIGS. 1, 4A and 4B, there is shown simplified schematic bloc diagram of an embodiment 210 of an advanced communication earpiece device, as an inside-the-ear microphone device, and a method for using the device in accordance with the present invention. The in-ear microphone (IEM) device 210 typically includes a controller unit 212 connected to at least one custom-fitted in-ear device 14, such that the corresponding outer ear canal 15 of the user is essentially occluded thereby (snugly fit).

[0109]In addition, the in-ear device 14 includes an internal microphone 20 (Min) for measuring the sound / noise, and also the user's voice inside the ear canal 15, between the in-ear device 14 and the tympanic membrane, and an external microphone 22 (Mout) for measuring the external ambient sound / noise reaching the corresponding ear or the user. These internal and external measured noises, from internal 20 and external 22 microphones, of the in-ear device 14 ...

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PUM

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Abstract

An earpiece device (10, 110, 210, 210′) provides advanced communication to the user thereof, for controlling a total sound dose (TND), including an audio output from an audio source (16) reaching an ear of the user occluded at the outer ear canal (15) by an in-ear device (14), for allowing an external ambient sound to be heard by the ear of the user, and for allowing a voice (NSV) of the user to be transmitted to a telecommunication transmission link (TTL). The present invention also contemplates a method of operation of the earpiece device (10, 110, 210, 210′).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to earpiece devices and is more particularly concerned with an earpiece device providing advanced communication to the user thereof, and method of operation thereof.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The noisy environment in our industrial society is a health hazard to numerous workers as well as to people engaged in recreational activities generating loud noises, or simply listening to music with varying volume settings from individual digital music players such as an Ipod™, MP3 players or the like, via a set of earphones or the like.[0003]Many documents such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,789,952 granted to Widegren et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,151,835 granted to Yonovitz et al., US patent publication No. 2009 / 0208024 A1 to Farver and European patent No. EP 1,816,892 B2 to Ruwisch aim at limiting the harm produced by the continuous estimated noise / sound reaching the user's ear which could induce permanent partial hearing loss. These methods a...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): H03G3/20
CPCH03G3/20A61F11/08H04R1/10H04R3/00H04R1/1041H04R2430/01H04R1/1083H04R5/04H04R2201/107H04R1/1016H04R2460/05H04R29/001H04R2460/01H04R3/007H04R29/004H04R2410/01G10L21/0216H03G3/32
Inventor VOIX, JEREMIELAPERLE, JEAN-NICOLASMAZUR, JAKUBBERNIER, ANTOINE
Owner VOIX JEREMIE
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