Eyewear with direction of sound arrival detection
US12411362B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 1, 2021 |
| Grant date | Sep 9, 2025 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 7, 2043 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04R2430/20
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Eyewear providing a visual indicator to a hearing-impaired user indicating a direction of arrival of a sound relative to the eyewear to help the user obtain greater awareness of the surrounding environment. An eyewear optical assembly includes an image display displaying the visual indicator discernable by the user and corresponding to the direction of arrival of the sound, even when a sound source is not viewable through the optical assembly. The image display also displays an image indicative of the sound source. A front portion of an eyewear frame includes a light array, where one or more lights of the light array is illuminated to indicate the direction of arrival and intensity of the sound source. An array of vibrating devices may also be used to indicate the direction of arrival and intensity of the sound source.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.