Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
381072000 | HEARING PROTECTORS, ELECTRICAL | 45 |
20080240458 | METHOD AND DEVICE CONFIGURED FOR SOUND SIGNATURE DETECTION - At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a method for personalized listening which can be used with an earpiece is provided that can include capturing ambient sound from an Ambient Sound Microphone (ASM) of an earpiece partially or fully occluded in an ear canal, monitoring the ambient sound for a target sound, and adjusting by way of an Ear Canal Receiver (ECR) in the earpiece a delivery of audio to an ear canal based on a detected target sound. A volume of audio content can be adjusted upon the detection of a target sound, and an audible notification can be presented to provide a warning. | 10-02-2008 |
20080247561 | VARIABLE FIT EAR INSERT - An ear insert for protecting the ear from loud noise can have a stem that is configured to be inserted into an ear canal. One or more attachments can be configured to attach to the stem in a manner that at least partially defines a fit of the ear insert within an ear canal. For example, rubber o-rings can be can be selected according to their size so as to provide a desirable fit of the insert within the ear canal. In this manner, the undesirable leakage of ambient noise into the ear canal is mitigated and hearing protection is enhanced. | 10-09-2008 |
20090208029 | Hearing protector for use in magnetic resonance systems - The invention relates to a hearing protector for use in magnetic resonance systems. The hearing protector comprises a pad that is to be inserted in the ear and is provided on an adapter. A sound generating device is provided on or in the adapter or a sound transmitting device leads into same. | 08-20-2009 |
20090238374 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ACOUSTIC SEALING - At least one exemplary embodiment if directed to a device configured to be inserted into an orifice comprising: at least one portion that can vary volume in response to a voltage difference across at least a second portion of the at least one portion's volume, where the at least one portion is at least partially surrounded by a membrane. | 09-24-2009 |
20090245530 | Method and Device for Acoustic Sealing - An expandable device ( | 10-01-2009 |
20090323978 | EARPHONE AND HEADSET - There is thus provided an earphone having a hoop band ( | 12-31-2009 |
20090323979 | EARPHONE AND HEADSET - There is provided an earphone comprising a hoop band ( | 12-31-2009 |
20100014686 | HEARING PROTECTION - “A hearing protection unit includes two sound damping cups for placing around a user's ears. A retainer device positions the cups and applies a compressive force on the cups. The retainer device includes a front band which extends between the front edge of each respective cup across the user's forehead, and a rear band which extends between the rear edge of each respective cup around the nape region of the user.” | 01-21-2010 |
20100067713 | METHOD FOR HEARING PROTECTING AND HEARING PROTECTION SYSTEM - There is proposed a method and system for hearing protecting individuals, especially musicians. Thereby, such an individual is equipped with a hearing device ( | 03-18-2010 |
20100119077 | ACTIVE HEARING PROTECTION SYSTEM - An active hearing protecting system right earplug and a left earplug and a wearable central unit to be worn at the user's body a digital audio signal processing unit which has at least two channels and which can be connected via an audio input to an external audio signal source each earplug including a microphone and a loudspeaker which are connected to the audio signal processing unit. The central unit also has a detector for detecting audio signals and being adapted to control the audio signal processing unit when audio signal is detected. The audio signal processing unit has an ambient mode in which the audio signals captured by the left ear microphone are provided to the left ear loudspeaker and the audio signals captured by the right ear microphone are provided to the right ear loudspeaker, and a communication mode in which the audio signals from the audio input are provided at least one of the loudspeakers and audio signals captured by at least one of the microphones are provided to the other ear loudspeaker. | 05-13-2010 |
20100128885 | SYSTEM FOR FORMING A HEARING PROTECTOR, EAR CUP IN SUCH A SYSTEM, AND HEARING PROTECTOR FORMED BY SUCH A SYSTEM - The invention concerns a system for forming hearing protectors, an ear cup of such a system and a hearing protector formed from such a system. The system comprises a number of first ear cups ( | 05-27-2010 |
20100329475 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING NON LINEAR SOUND ATTENUATION - Certain embodiments of the present technology provide a sound attenuator for reducing high level sounds within the ear canal while maintaining high audibility for lower level sounds. The sound attenuator comprises a housing with a passageway for passing external sound, a damping member to restore resonance within a plugged ear, and a disc interposed across the passageway. The disc comprises a cavity, at least one hole through said disc and a flexible diaphragm positioned across the cavity. At a sound pressure level less than that of a predetermined value the flexible diaphragm expands upon an increase in the external sound pressure level maintaining a near constant level of attenuation. For sound pressure levels at or greater than that of the predetermined value the diaphragm contacts the interior surface of the cavity, thereby limiting the flexibility of the diaphragm and increasing the level of attenuation provided by the attenuator. | 12-30-2010 |
20110064239 | HEARING PROTECTOR - A hearing protector has two closed muffs ( | 03-17-2011 |
20110103605 | ELECTRONIC EARPLUG - Electronic earplugs, methods of enhancing and/or attenuating sound using electronic earplugs, and kits including electronic earplugs are provided. Certain electronic earplugs provided can deliver sound to a user's ear canal at levels below, equal to, and/or above ambient sound levels for specified ambient sound level ranges. Certain electronic earplugs provided can be switched between first and second settings with different sound level delivery settings. Certain electronic earplugs provided can be coupled with or integrated into two-way communication devices. Certain of such two-way communication devices can use induction to receive and transmit audio signals. Certain electronic earplugs provided can include a receive coil configured to allow remote radio signals to be received. Certain electronic earplugs provided can block at least about 35 dB of ambient sound when fully inserted into a user's ear canal. Kits that include electronic earplugs and accessories for use with electronic earplugs are also provided. | 05-05-2011 |
20110158421 | In-ear device with selectable frequency response - An in-ear device comprises a main body for placement in the outer ear of a wearer and has at least two derivative canals each containing a filtering medium differing from one another in terms of their frequency suppression capabilities, and a preferably rotatable knob enabling selection of the respective filtering canal without the need for removal of the device from the ear. | 06-30-2011 |
20110228947 | ELECTRONIC EARPLUG WITH TRANSISTOR SWITCHING FOR INTRODUCING ELECTRONIC CONTROL OF THE GAIN AND PROVIDING AUDIBLE SWITCH INDICATIONS - Electronic earplugs, methods of enhancing and/or attenuating sound using electronic earplugs, and kits including electronic earplugs are provided. Certain electronic earplugs may include a circuit operatively connected to a microphone. The circuit may be configured to receive input electrical signals from the microphone and provide output electrical signals to a receiver. Further, the circuit may be configured to modify a sound output level from the electronic earplug based on a sound input level of ambient sound received at the microphone and a gain characteristic setting selected from a plurality of gain characteristic settings. The circuit may be configured such that it can be switched between the plurality of gain characteristic settings, wherein the switching to the selected gain characteristic setting produces an audible switch indication. Certain electronic earplugs also include a receiver configured to convert the output electrical signals into sound that is communicated to a user's ear canal. | 09-22-2011 |
20110235816 | Selective filtering earplugs - The selective filtering earplugs allow a user to filter most external and environmental sounds, only allowing a set of pre-approved sounds to be heard by the user. The earplugs include a sound acquisition module and at least one filtering earplug. The sound acquisition module includes a microphone for receiving environmental sounds and a controller for converting the received environmental sounds to a digital signal. First memory is provided for storing the digital signal and second memory is provided for storing a database of pre-approved sound signals. The controller compares the digital signal with the database of pre-authorized sound signals. If the digital signal matches a pre-authorized sound signal of the database, then a transmitter transmits the digital signal. The filtering earplug includes a receiver for receiving the digital signal and a converter for converting the digital signal into an audio signal. | 09-29-2011 |
20110274284 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ACTIVE HEARING PROTECTION TO A USER - Hearing protection system having first and second hearing protection devices worn at/in a respective one of a user's outer ear, each hearing protection device having an active unit with at least one microphone for converting ambient sound into input audio signals and a loudspeaker for transforming filtered audio signals into user perceivable sound, and an audio signal processing unit for processing input audio signals into filtered audio signals, the audio signal processing unit dividing, for each hearing protection device, the input audio signals into a plural frequency bands and selecting the gain applied within each frequency band as a function of the frequency of the respective frequency band and the sound pressure level of the input audio signals falling within the respective frequency band such that the total attenuation provided by the respective hearing protection device in each of the frequency bands corresponds to the same target loudness difference. | 11-10-2011 |
20110286608 | EARPIECE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - A communication system is provided having at least one earpiece ( | 11-24-2011 |
20120033823 | NANO-OTOLOGIC PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR IMPACT NOISE TOXICITY AND/OR BLAST OVERPRESSURE EXPOSURE - An apparatus for preventing hearing loss having a body made of a soft compliant material having first and second ends and a channel extending therethrough, an acoustically limp material adjacent one of the ends of the body with the acoustically limp material having a hole therein aligned with the channel extending through the body, and a component film, disc or other structure covering or sealing the opening in the acoustically limp material. The film or disc may be formed of a high-strength polymer material and may be less than 10 micrometers in thickness. Rather than having a single channel extending through the body, a plurality of channels may extend therethrough and a plurality of corresponding holes may be provided in the acoustically limp material. The film, disc or other structure covers or seals the plurality of holes in the acoustically limp material. The film, disc or other structure may be attached in such a fashion as to behave like a flap whose operation is to close in response to high energy sound waves. The flap is pressed shut from the high intensity shock wave itself. The body may cylindrical in shape or may have another shape to fit snugly in a human ear canal. | 02-09-2012 |
20120243699 | EAR CANAL TRANSDUCER MOUNTING SYSTEM - An ear-canal mounted sound transducer system comprises a miniature sound transducer mounted in a soft, acoustically transparent material, and is suitable for shallow, semi-deep or deep placement inside the ear canal of a user, and for use with or without a personal hearing protective device. The sound transducer may be a microphone or a speaker, and is optionally attached to a flat flexible cable, connected to an analyzer or a signal source. Also provided is an improved method for measuring level of noise attenuation using the ear-canal mounted sound microphone. | 09-27-2012 |
20120243700 | EARMUFF ENCLOSURE - Embodiments relate to earmuffs with speakers, and attempt to improve speaker acoustic quality without negatively impacting sound attenuation of the earmuffs. Embodiments may comprise a speaker plate located behind a speaker unit, and typically the speaker plate comprises a recessed portion with a plurality of holes. When the speaker plate is in place behind the speaker unit, it may cause the speaker to be more accurate across a broad range of frequencies without negatively impacting sound attenuation. | 09-27-2012 |
20120243701 | Concha-Fitting Custom Earplug with Flexible Skin and Filler Material - An earplug which conforms to the concha of the ear and extends into the ear canal. The construction consists of a flexible outer skin with at least one filler material, preferably two or more materials of varying hardness, to form an essentially solid structure except for sound channels, or electronics packages, or other devices, parts and cavities that may be located within the flexible skin. The flexible skin can be fabricated using a rapid-prototyping printing process. | 09-27-2012 |
20130094658 | SOUND EXPOSURE MONITOR FOR HEARING PROTECTION DEVICE - A system and method include sensing sound on the inside of a protective seal of a hearing protection device being worn, and using a sliding window algorithm to calculate the sound to which the ear of the wearer is exposed. The method may also include sensing noise and generating sound to cancel the sensed noise within the ear of the wearer. It may also include sensing ambient sound and regenerating this sound at safe levels inside the hearing protection device in order to aid situational awareness, and it may include receiving signals that are then regenerated as audio inside the hearing protection device for communication or entertainment purposes. | 04-18-2013 |
20130101130 | SELECTIVE FILTERING EARPLUGS - The selective filtering earplugs allow a user to filter most external and environmental sounds, only allowing a set of pre-approved sounds to be heard by the user. The earplugs include a sound acquisition module and at least one filtering earplug. The sound acquisition module includes a microphone for receiving environmental sounds and a controller for converting the received environmental sounds to a digital signal. First memory is provided for storing the digital signal and second memory is provided for storing a database of pre-approved sound signals. The controller compares the digital signal with the database of pre-authorized sound signals. If the digital signal matches a pre-authorized sound signal of the database, then a transmitter transmits the digital signal. The filtering earplug includes a receiver for receiving the digital signal and a converter for converting the digital signal into an audio signal. | 04-25-2013 |
20130163776 | Headset Noise-Based Pulsed Attenuation - A headset having a talk-through microphones incorporates an audio circuit that compresses a signal representing sounds detected by the talk-through microphones in response to the audio circuit detecting the onset of a peak (positive and/or negative) in the signal that exceeds a predetermined voltage level (positive and/or negative voltage level, perhaps a predetermined magnitude of voltage from a zero voltage level), and that does so with a rate of change in voltage level that exceeds a predetermined rate of change in voltage level, the degree of compression possibly being a compression to or near a zero amplitude (perhaps to or near a zero voltage level) and the duration of the compression possibly being controlled by a timing circuit set to a predetermined period of time that may be retriggerable while amidst the predetermined period of time. | 06-27-2013 |
20130343559 | Hearing Protector - An ear cup for a hearing protection unit comprises a partition wall for separating a first part of the ear cup, facing the wearer, from a second part of the ear cup, facing the surroundings A speaker is located in the first part of the ear cup and an electric connector is located in the second part of the ear cup. The speaker is mounted in a speaker holder, having a first cavity facing the ear of the wearer, to seal off a resonance space, said speaker holder in turn being arranged on the partition wall above a first aperture in the partition wall. Further, the speaker holder comprises a membrane above the first aperture. The speaker and the electric connector are connected by an electric cable, extending through the first aperture or through a second aperture in the partition wall. The speaker holder sealingly engages the electric cable. | 12-26-2013 |
20140119553 | ACOUSTIC DAMPENING COMPENSATION SYSTEM - At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a communication device that includes a microphone configured to detect an acoustic signal from an acoustic environment, and a processor, configured to detect an acoustical dampening between the acoustic environment and the microphone, based on a change in a characteristic of the acoustic signal and, responsive to the acoustical dampening, apply a compensation filter to the acoustic signal to form a compensated acoustic signal that is reproduced. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 05-01-2014 |
20140198926 | ELECTRONIC EARPLUG FOR PROVIDING COMMUNICATION AND PROTECTION - Systems and methods for providing communication and protection by an electronic earplug are provided. A communication and protection system includes an electronic earplug operable in a transmit mode and a receive mode. The electronic earplug includes an external microphone, an ear canal microphone, processing circuitry, and a receiver. In the receive mode, the external microphone is configured to transduce sound pressure levels received from exterior to an ear canal to electrical signals; the processing circuitry is configured to process the electrical signals from the external microphone to provide processed electrical signals; and, the receiver is configured to convert the processed electrical signal to sound. In the transmit mode, the ear canal microphone is configured to transduce sound pressure levels received from in the ear canal to electrical signals provided to a communication device; and, one or more of the external microphone, the processing circuitry, and the receiver is disabled. | 07-17-2014 |
20140294191 | Hearing Protection with Sound Exposure Control and Monitoring - A sound monitoring control for controlling the sound pressure level (SPL) delivered to the ears of a user of a hearing protection device. The control employs a measurement of the actual sound heard by the user, using a microphone to control the sound level and to help prevent noise induced hearing loss. A measurement, using a dosimeter microphone, of the actual sound pressure levels heard by the user can be used in audio processing schemes to ensure that the user is only exposed to safe levels. | 10-02-2014 |
20140321660 | HEARING PROTECTION EARPIECE - A hearing protection earpiece having a shell shaped according to conform to the user's concha and ear canal and having an open hollow lateral portion to be inserted into the user's concha and a medial portion to be inserted into at least an outer portion of the user's ear canal, wherein the medial portion of the shell is axially adjacent to the lateral portion of the shell, wherein the lateral portion of the shell forms part of an open portion of the earpiece and the medial portion of the shell forms part of a closed portion of the earpiece, wherein the earpiece provides for a mechanical sound attenuation of at least 10 dB averaged over the audible frequency range, and wherein the lateral portion of the shell has a wall thickness of not more than 3 mm and is shaped to cover at least half of the concha area. | 10-30-2014 |
20150036834 | Variable Noise Attenuator with Adjustable Attenuation - An ear attenuator headset that allows a user to adjust the amount of attenuation in a variable, continuous fashion from zero attenuation to maximum attenuation without removing the device from a user's head. The ear attenuator headset includes a passageway, the passageway allowing for sound to pass through the headset and a control element, the control element able to control the amount of sound that passes through the passageway of the ear attenuator headset. The ear attenuator can be used in headsets, headphones, and earbuds where electronic sounds are transmitted and added variable attenuation is also available for the consumer to take advantage of for reduction of the external environmental sounds. | 02-05-2015 |
20150043743 | HIGH FIDELITY BLAST HEARING PROTECTION - An improved hearing protection device intended to be inserted into an external auditory meatus of a user, having a housing structure, a passive tuning element, and a passive, nonlinear acoustic filter. The tuning element and the acoustic filter may be supported in series by the housing structure. The tuning element may be or include a diaphragm, a resonator, or both. The housing structure may support a diaphragm of the tuning element at its circumference, and may provide cavities on both sides of the diaphragm. In some embodiments electronic components are included in the hearing protection device to counteract insertion loss provided by the passive element, and restore natural hearing for low to moderate sound pressure levels, Communications devices may also be incorporated into the hearing protection device. The combination of a simple, low cost amplifier circuit, passive tuning element and nonlinear acoustic filter of some embodiments of the present invention achieve a low cost yet sophisticated ability to react to impulse noise without the need for a microprocessor or complex electronics. Furthermore, the configuration reduces power consumption and, therefore, increases service life or decreases battery size/capacity, and results in low electronic self-noise allowing the user to maintain situational awareness, | 02-12-2015 |
20150117659 | ELECTRONIC HEARING PROTECTOR WITH QUADRANT SOUND LOCALIZATION - An electronic hearing protector includes an ear cup assembly comprising a front exterior microphone that provides a front microphone signal and a rear exterior microphone that provides a rear microphone signal. A processor receives and digitizes the front microphone signal and the rear microphone signal, and provides a front channel signal and a rear channel signal indicative thereof respectively. A filter receives the rear channel signal and has a cut-off frequency value that provides a high-frequency roll-off and a notch at a notch filter frequency value that is less than the cut-off frequency value, where the filter provides a filtered signal. A first signal indicative of the front channel signal and a second signal indicative of the filtered signal are summed, and a signal indicative of the summed signal is provided to a speaker within the ear cup that provides an audio signal within the first ear cup indicative of the summed signal. | 04-30-2015 |
20150117660 | ADAPTIVE FREQUENCY RESPONSE, ADAPTIVE AUTOMATIC LEVEL CONTROL AND HANDLING RADIO COMMUNICATIONS FOR A HEARING PROTECTOR - An hearing protection device is provided. The hearing protection device can include a speaker to relay sounds, such as conversations, to the user of the hearing protection. The hearing protection device can include an electronics package that can filter out undesirable sounds, such as to improve the user's ability to hear conversations around them while still protecting the user's ears. | 04-30-2015 |
20150304761 | Noise abatement system for dental procedures - A noise abatement system for dental procedures conceived to protect the hearing of dental operators (dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants dental technicians and/or any other dental staff member in the dental operatory) as well as of patients, comprises a pair of headphones composed of one (1) left and one (1) right phone [ | 10-22-2015 |
20150312677 | ACTIVE ACOUSTIC FILTER WITH LOCATION-BASED FILTER CHARACTERISTICS - There is disclosed active acoustic filter systems and methods. A processor is disposed within a housing configured to interface with a user's ear. A memory stores data defining one or more locations and a respective set of location-based processing parameters associated with each of the one or more locations. A personal computing device external to the housing is coupled to the processor via a first wireless communications link. The personal computing device determines a current location of the active acoustic filter system. The processor generates digitized processed sound by processing digitized ambient sound in accordance with a set of location-based processing parameters retrieved from the memory, the retrieved set of location-based processing parameters associated with the current location of the active acoustic filter system as determined by the personal computing device. | 10-29-2015 |
20160007112 | RESTRICTED BALL AND SOCKET JOINT FOR HEADSET EARCUP - A ball and socket joint preventing rotation of the ball about the axis of radial symmetry of the socket and restricting rotation of the ball about both axes orthogonal to the axis of radial symmetry to a predetermined angular value. The ball is irregular in shape and has grooves that receive ridges in the socket to accomplish the axial rotational restriction. The interaction of socket shape with ball shape accomplishes the rotational restrictions about the orthogonal axes. An exemplary use is for joining headset ear cups to headset side pieces to provide flexibility to accommodate a wide range of head shapes and sizes. The ball is preferably made of one piece with the headset side pieces and the socket is preferably made of one piece with the shell of the ear cup. Embodiments for head-mounted headsets and helmet-mounted headsets are disclosed. | 01-07-2016 |
20160030246 | WATER RESISTANT ACOUSTIC PORT IN EAR-MOUNTED HEARING DEVICE - Water resistant acoustic ports and electronic hearing protection devices incorporating such ports are described. More specifically, water proof acoustic ports that provide water protection for an internal sealed chamber by providing acoustically transparent inlets that are capable of withstanding external water pressure at given depth due to their volume relation to that of the internal chamber, as well as hearing protection devices incorporating such ports, are described. | 02-04-2016 |
20160038343 | ELECTRONIC HEARING PROTECTOR WITH QUADRANT SOUND LOCALIZATION - An electronic hearing protector includes an ear cup assembly comprising a front exterior microphone that provides a front microphone signal and a rear exterior microphone that provides a rear microphone signal. A processor receives and digitizes the front microphone signal and the rear microphone signal, and provides a front channel signal and a rear channel signal indicative thereof respectively. A filter receives the rear channel signal and has a cut-off frequency value that provides a high-frequency roll-off and a notch at a notch filter frequency value that is less than the cut-off frequency value, where the filter provides a filtered signal. A first signal indicative of the front channel signal and a second signal indicative of the filtered signal are summed, and a signal indicative of the summed signal is provided to a speaker within the ear cup that provides an audio signal within the first ear cup indicative of the summed signal. | 02-11-2016 |
20160055861 | ACTIVE ACOUSTIC FILTER WITH SOCIALLY DETERMINED LOCATION-BASED FILTER CHARACTERISTICS - There is disclosed active acoustic filter systems and methods. A processor is disposed within a housing configured to interface with a user's ear. A memory stores data defining one or more locations and a respective set of location-based processing parameters associated with each of the one or more locations. A personal computing device external to the housing is coupled to the processor via a first wireless communications link. The personal computing device determines a current location of the active acoustic filter system. The processor generates digitized processed sound by processing digitized ambient sound in accordance with a set of location-based processing parameters retrieved from the memory, the retrieved set of location-based processing parameters associated with the current location of the active acoustic filter system as determined by the personal computing device. | 02-25-2016 |
20160175155 | Method of Customizing Speaker For Hearing Protection Earcup | 06-23-2016 |
20160193084 | Custom Microphones Circuit, or Listening Circuit | 07-07-2016 |
20180021176 | ACTIVE HEARING PROTECTION DEVICE AND METHOD THEREFORE | 01-25-2018 |
20190149921 | HEARING PROTECTION SYSTEM WITH OWN VOICE ESTIMATION AND RELATED METHODS | 05-16-2019 |