A battery-free magnetic induction earplug includes a housing defining a main cavity, a sound output channel connected to the main cavity, and an expansion cavity. The battery-free magnetic induction earplug can also include a receiver in the main cavity, and can include a speaker in the main cavity adjacent the receiver, the receiver including a bobbin and a coil of wire wound upon the bobbin, the speaker acoustically coupled to the sound output channel, the speaker having a diaphragm and a volume upstream from the diaphragm, and the speaker having a vent from the volume to the expansion cavity.
An in-ear noise dosimeter in the form of an earplug which senses sound in the ear canal using an eartip which has a sound delivery channel that couples sound at the end closest to the eardrum to an earplug microphone. The earplug can communicate wirelessly with a remote data collection and processing system. A dock unit for storing the earplugs when not worn can compensate for differences in unoccluded-ear versus occluded-ear responses by an acoustic compensator. An electronic compensation filter can be modified by a proximity switch in the earplug which changes state when the earplug is worn in the ear versus stored in a dock unit. The dosimeter can also have a temperature sensor for sensing human body temperature and remotely-located wireless LEDs used to alert the user of high noise dosage. Data can also be downloaded from the earplug using a reader unit.
An improved wireless communications earplug for use with a magnetic field transmitter. The wireless earplug has a receiver made of a coil of wire on a magnetic bobbin, mounted in close proximity or in contact with a magnetic case of a speaker. The magnetic case of the speaker serves to increase the magnetic flux through the receiver and improves the efficiency of the earplug. The speaker is acoustically coupled to an eartip, and the earplug may be molded into a custom earplug body.
An in-ear noise dosimeter in the form of an earplug which senses sound in the ear canal using an eartip which has a sound delivery channel that couples sound at the end closest to the eardrum to an earplug microphone. The earplug can communicate wirelessly with a remote data collection and processing system. A dock unit for storing the earplugs when not worn can compensate for differences in unoccluded-ear versus occluded-ear responses by an acoustic compensator. An electronic compensation filter can be modified by a proximity switch in the earplug which changes state when the earplug is worn in the ear versus stored in a dock unit. The dosimeter can also have a temperature sensor for sensing human body temperature and remotely-located wireless LEDs used to alert the user of high noise dosage. Data can also be downloaded from the earplug using a reader unit.
An in-ear noise dosimeter in the form of an earplug which senses sound in the ear canal using an eartip which has a sound delivery channel that couples sound at the end closest to the eardrum to an earplug microphone. The earplug can communicate wirelessly with a remote data collection and processing system. A dock unit for storing the earplugs when not worn can compensate for differences in unoccluded-ear versus occluded-ear responses by an acoustic compensator. An electronic compensation filter can be modified by a proximity switch in the earplug which changes state when the earplug is worn in the ear versus stored in a dock unit. The dosimeter can also have a temperature sensor for sensing human body temperature and remotely-located wireless LEDs used to alert the user of high noise dosage. Data can also be downloaded from the earplug using a reader unit.
A magnetic field antenna that provides high efficiency and a compact form factor. Electromagnetic shielding of electrical components used in the antenna is provided, and one embodiment of the invention is a wireless battery-free communications earplug.
A magnetic field transmitter, especially a transmitter used in conjunction with wireless communications earplugs. In one embodiment, a plate of magnetic material is used behind a coil of electrical conductor to improve the efficiency of the transmitter and to provide electrical and magnetic shielding. The specific dimensions and characteristics of the preferred embodiment of the transmitter described herein provide for efficient wireless communications.
A61F 11/08 - Protective devices for the ears internal, e.g. earplugs
H01Q 7/06 - Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop with core of ferromagnetic material
H01Q 1/22 - SupportsMounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles
An improved wireless communications earplug for use with a magnetic field transmitter. The wireless earplug has a receiver made of a coil of wire on a magnetic bobbin, mounted in close proximity or in contact with a magnetic case of a speaker. The magnetic case of the speaker serves to increase the magnetic flux through the receiver and improves the efficiency of the earplug. The speaker is acoustically coupled to an eartip, and the earplug may be molded into a custom earplug body.
A hearing protection system with talk-through having a pair of rigid earcups enclosing a microphone, amplifier and speaker. A concha simulator, having a volume simulating that of the concha of a human ear, is acoustically coupled to the microphone, and also to the outside through an opening in the earcup. By coupling the microphone to the concha simulator, instead of directly to the outside, the acoustic response of the talk-through more accurately represents the hearing of a user.
A wireless communications headset system for double hearing protection systems that eliminates the problems associated with typical wireless communications systems. The system employs a magnetic-field coupled wireless link from a loop transmitter to a magnetic field receiver. Current through the transmitter wire loops generates magnetic flux which passes through a communications earplug. The earplug has a receiver for converting the magnetic flux to electrical voltage, and this voltage is used to drive a speaker within the earplug. The transmitter can be easily installed into aviation headsets. The loop transmitter has an open center sized so that it fits around the pinna of the human ear enabling a close position to the communications earplug. This close position is advantageous if an efficient system is desired.
A magnetic field transmitter, especially a transmitter used in conjunction with wireless communications earplugs. In one embodiment, a plate of magnetic material is used behind a coil of electrical conductor to improve the efficiency of the transmitter and to provide electrical and magnetic shielding. The specific dimensions and characteristics of the preferred embodiment of the transmitter described herein provide for efficient wireless communications.
H01Q 7/06 - Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop with core of ferromagnetic material
H04B 5/00 - Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
A61F 11/08 - Protective devices for the ears internal, e.g. earplugs
H01Q 1/27 - Adaptation for use in or on movable bodies
A device for protecting a microphone sensing surface, such as a diaphragm, from the detrimental effects of the ambient environment. The device incorporates a perforated surface to protect the microphone and in conjunction with a chamber volume creates an acoustic resonance in the 1 kHz to 20 kHz spectrum, which improves the microphone signal-to-noise ratio performance. The microphone is acoustically coupled to the chamber volume for sensing pressure of the ambient environment. There is no line of sight to the microphone sensing surface from the ambient environment, so that rain, wind and sand have no direct path to the microphone sensing surface. The perforations of the outer surface are small to prevent objects from contacting the microphone sensing surface via a direct path. Water drains from the chamber volume and does not become trapped if an embodiment of the invention is temporarily submerged so that the microphone returns to normal operation quickly.
An improved wireless communications earplug for use with a magnetic field transmitter. The wireless earplug has a receiver made of a coil of wire on a magnetic bobbin, mounted in close proximity or in contact with a magnetic case of a speaker. The magnetic case of the speaker serves to increase the magnetic flux through the receiver and improves the efficiency of the earplug. The speaker is acoustically coupled to an eartip, and the earplug may be molded into a custom earplug body.
A hearing protection system with talk-through having a pair of rigid earcups enclosing a microphone, amplifier and speaker. A concha simulator, having a volume simulating that of the concha of a human ear, is acoustically coupled to the microphone, and also to the outside through an opening in the earcup. By coupling the microphone to the concha simulator, instead of directly to the outside, the acoustic response of the talk-through more accurately represents the hearing of a user.
A device for protecting a microphone sensing surface, such as a diaphragm, from the detrimental effects of the ambient environment. The device incorporates a perforated surface to protect the microphone and in conjunction with a chamber volume creates an acoustic resonance in the 1 kHz to 20 kHz spectrum, which improves the microphone signal-to-noise ratio performance. The microphone is acoustically coupled to the chamber volume for sensing pressure of the ambient environment. There is no line of sight to the microphone sensing surface from the ambient environment, so that rain, wind and sand have no direct path to the microphone sensing surface. The perforations of the outer surface are small to prevent objects from contacting the microphone sensing surface via a direct path. Water drains from the chamber volume and does not become trapped if an embodiment of the invention is temporarily submerged so that the microphone returns to normal operation quickly.
A device for protecting a microphone sensing surface from the detrimental effects of the ambient environment. The device incorporates a perforated surface to protect the microphone and in conjunction with a chamber volume creates an acoustic resonance in the 1kHz to 20kHz spectrum, which improves the microphone signal-to-noise ratio performance. The microphone is acoustically coupled to the chamber volume for sensing pressure of the ambient environment. There is no line of sight to the microphone sensing surface from the ambient environment, so that rain, wind and sand have no direct path to the microphone sensing surface. The perforations of the outer surface are small to prevent objects from contacting the microphone sensing surface via a direct path. Water drains from the chamber volume and does not become trapped if an embodiment of the invention is temporarily submerged so that the microphone returns to normal operation quickly.
A wireless communications headset system for double hearing protection systems that eliminates the problems associated with typical wireless communications systems. The system employs a magnetic-field coupled wireless link from a loop transmitter to a magnetic field receiver. Current through the transmitter wire loops generates magnetic flux which passes through a communications earplug. The earplug has a receiver for converting the magnetic flux to electrical voltage, and this voltage is used to drive a speaker within the earplug. The transmitter can be easily installed into aviation headsets. The loop transmitter has an open center sized so that it fits around the pinna of the human ear enabling a close position to the communications earplug. This close position is advantageous if an efficient system is desired.
A magnetic field antenna that provides high efficiency and a compact form factor. Electromagnetic shielding of electrical components used in the antenna is provided, and one embodiment of the invention is a wireless battery-free communications earplug.
A magnetic field transmitter, especially a transmitter used in conjunction with wireless communications earplugs. In one embodiment, a plate of magnetic material (10) is used behind a coil of electrical conductor (4) to improve the efficiency of the transmitter and to provide electrical and magnetic shielding. The specific dimensions and characteristics of the preferred embodiment of the transmitter described herein provide for efficient wireless communications.
A magnetic field transmitter, especially a transmitter used in conjunction with wireless communications earplugs. In one embodiment, a plate of magnetic material (10) is used behind a coil of electrical conductor (4) to improve the efficiency of the transmitter and to provide electrical and magnetic shielding. The specific dimensions and characteristics of the preferred embodiment of the transmitter described herein provide for efficient wireless communications.
A magnetic field transmitter, especially a transmitter used in conjunction with wireless communications earplugs. In one embodiment, a plate of magnetic material is used behind a coil of electrical conductor to improve the efficiency of the transmitter and to provide electrical and magnetic shielding. The specific dimensions and characteristics of the preferred embodiment of the transmitter described herein provide for efficient wireless communications.
A hearing protection system with talk-through having a pair of rigid earcups enclosing a microphone, amplifier and speaker. A concha simulator, having a volume simulating that of the concha of a human ear, is acoustically coupled to the microphone, and also to the outside through an opening in the earcup. By coupling the microphone to the concha simulator, instead of directly to the outside, the acoustic response of the talk-through more accurately represents the hearing of a user.
An improved wireless communications earplug for use with a magnetic field transmitter. The wireless earplug has a receiver made of a coil of wire on a magnetic bobbin, mounted in close proximity or in contact with a magnetic case of a speaker. The magnetic case of the speaker serves to increase the magnetic flux through the receiver and improves the efficiency of the earplug. The speaker is acoustically coupled to an eartip, and the earplug may be molded into a custom earplug body.
A wireless communications headset system for double hearing protection systems that eliminates the problems associated with typical wireless communications systems. The system employs a magnetic-field coupled wireless link from a loop transmitter to a magnetic field receiver. Current through the transmitter wire loops generates magnetic flux which passes through a communications earplug. The earplug has a receiver for converting the magnetic flux to electrical voltage, and this voltage is used to drive a speaker within the earplug. The transmitter can be easily installed into aviation headsets. The loop transmitter has an open center sized so that it fits around the pinna of the human ear enabling a close position to the communications earplug. This close position is advantageous if an efficient system is desired.
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