# US 12,010,480 B2 · Hearing protection device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,010,480 B2 - Document ID: US12010480B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/425,549 - Filed: 2020-01-23 - Published: 2022-05-19 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2019-01-24 - Assignees: Sandra Frey - Applicants: Sandra Maria Frey - Inventors: Sandra Maria Frey; Brigitte Maria Frey-Von Matt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12010480B2 ## CPC - H04R 1/1083: {Reduction of ambient noise (active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06)} - G10K 11/002: {Devices for damping, suppressing, obstructing or conducting sound in acoustic devices (G10K1/06 - G10K1/10 take precedence; for electro-mechanical transducers for communication H04R3/002)} - H04R 1/1016: {Earpieces of the intra-aural type} - H04R 1/1041: {Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements (switches in general H01H)} - H04R 3/00: Circuits for transducers (arrangements for producing a reverberation or echo sound G10K15/08; amplifiers H03F) - H04R 31/00: Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of transducers or diaphragms therefor {(manufacture of microstructural arrangements of deformable or non-deformable structures in general B81C1/00182)} - H04R 3/02: for preventing acoustic reaction {, i.e. acoustic oscillatory feedback (specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/453)} - H04R 2430/01: Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems - H04R 2460/01: Hearing devices using active noise cancellation - H04R 2460/13: Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) - G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract The present invention relates to a hearing protection device comprising two sound insulation bodies (1), two microphones (2) and two loudspeakers (4). Each of the two sound insulation bodies (1) is configured to close an ear canal (100) of an ear of a user; each of the two microphones (2) is arranged at a distal side of one of the two sound insulation bodies (1); and each of the two loudspeakers (4) is arranged at a proximal side of one of the two sound insulation bodies (1). Each of the two sound insulation bodies (1) is equipped with one of the two microphones (2) and one of the two loudspeakers (4). The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a hearing protection device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of: obtaining two sound insulation bodies (1) each being configured to close an ear canal (100) of an ear of a user; equipping each of the two sound insulating bodies (1) at a distal side with a microphone (2); and equipping each of the two sound insulating bodies (1) at a proximal side with a loudspeaker (4). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hearing protection device comprising: two sound insulation bodies; two microphones; two loudspeakers; a body sound sensor; and a controller coupled to the two microphones and the two loudspeakers, wherein each of the two sound insulation bodies is configured to close an ear canal of an ear of a user, each of the two microphones is arranged at a distal side of one of the two sound insulation bodies, and each of the two loudspeakers is arranged at a proximal side of one of the two sound insulation bodies, such that each of the two sound insulation bodies is equipped with one of the two microphones and one of the two loudspeakers, wherein the controller is configured to replay acoustic input signals captured by the two microphones at an input volume in the form of acoustic output signals at an output volume via the two loudspeakers, wherein the controller is configured to adapt the acoustic output signals based on body sound signals sensed by the body sound sensor, and wherein adapting the acoustic output signals comprises correcting interferences between the body sound signals and the acoustic output signals. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hearing protection device of claim 1, wherein the sound insulation bodies are plug-shaped such that they are arrangeable in the ear canal of the ear of the user, thereby closing the ear canal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The hearing protection device of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the output volume of the acoustic output signals to be lower than the input volume of the acoustic input signals when the input volume exceeds a predefined upper threshold. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The hearing protection device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the output volume of the acoustic output signals to be lower than the input volume of the acoustic input signals when the input volume exceeds a predefined upper threshold. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The hearing protection device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to increasingly reduce the output volume of the acoustic output signals compared to the input volume of the acoustic input signals the more the input volume exceeds a predefined upper threshold. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The hearing protection device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the output volume of the acoustic output signals at essentially the same level as the input volume of the acoustic input signals, when the input volume is below a predefined upper threshold. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The hearing protection device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the output volume of the acoustic output signals to be higher than the input volume of the acoustic input signals when the input volume is below a predefined lower threshold. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The hearing protection device of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to filter the acoustic output signals when the input volume is below the predefined lower threshold. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The hearing protection device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to estimate a body path portion based on the body sound signals and to deduct the estimated body path portion from the acoustic output signals. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The hearing protection device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to estimate a body path portion based on the body sound signals and to generate the acoustic output signals in completion of the estimated body path portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The hearing protection device of claim 1, comprising a feedback suppressor acting against a feedback between the microphones and the loudspeakers. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The hearing protection device of claim 1, comprising two correction microphones, wherein each of the two correction microphones is arranged at a proximal side of one of the two sound insulation bodies. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The hearing protection device of claim 1, comprising two correction microphones, wherein each of the two correction microphones is arranged at a proximal side of one of the two sound insulation bodies, wherein the controller is configured to evaluate a correction signal provided by the correction microphones and to generate the acoustic output signals corrected in accordance with the evaluated correction signal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A method of manufacturing a hearing protection device according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: obtaining two sound insulation bodies each being configured to close an ear canal of an ear of a user; equipping each of the two sound insulating bodies at a distal side with a microphone; and equipping each of the two sound insulating bodies at a proximal side with a loudspeaker; providing the hearing protection device with a controller; coupling the microphones and the loudspeakers to the controller; configuring the controller to replay acoustic input signals captured by the microphones at an input volume in the form of acoustic output signals at an output volume via the loudspeakers; and coupling a body sound sensor to the controller wherein the controller is configured to adapt the acoustic output signals based on body sound signals sensed by the body sound sensor and wherein adapting the acoustic output signals comprises correcting interferences between the body sound signals and the acoustic output signals.