Hearing device improvements using modulation of acoustically coupled signals at middle ear resonance
US8189839B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 22, 2009 |
| Grant date | May 29, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 6, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04R25/353
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
There is provided hearing device improvements using modulation techniques adapted to the characteristics of auditory and vestibular hearing. One embodiment provides for extending hearing to the infrasonic range by extracting sounds from the high ambient noise in this range and applying them to a carrier in the ultrasonic “quiet zone.” Further extension of hearing into the ultrasonic range is provided by a modulation scheme which uses a fluid conduction coupler to match impedance for a vibration transducer applied to the skin. A variation on this embodiment integrates this ultrasonic hearing extension with normal acoustic headphones. Another embodiment compensates for high frequency hearing loss by a modulation scheme which uses middle ear resonance as an amplifier. A further embodiment combines ultrasonic transposition with wireless modulation to obtain secure communication.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.