US 2023/0274752 A1Published application

Hearing enhancement methods and systems

AssigneeIpVenture, Inc.

InventorsKwok Wai Cheung, Peter P. Tong, C. Douglass Thomas

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Abstract

Different embodiments on hearing enhancement methods and systems to enhance a user's hearing. In one embodiment, a system includes a headset. The headset can access audio signals from other portable or non-portable instruments, wired or wirelessly, such as from home entertainment units, phones, microphones at a conference or speakers at a movie theater. The headset includes a wireless communication component to receive signals from an instrument, a down-convert circuitry, a speaker and a microphone to pickup sound in a headset environment. The headset is configured to modify audio output signals based on the pickup sound to at least reduce noise in the audio output signals to help the user hear audio signals.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A headset to at least help a user hear audio signals, with the headset configured to secure to the head of the user, proximate to at least one ear of the user, the headset comprising:

a wireless communication component configured to receive wireless signals in gigahertz frequencies, wherein the wireless signals are configured to be from signals in a mobile phone that have been up-converted and wirelessly transmitted to be received by the headset at least via the wireless communication component;
a down-convert circuitry configured to generate down-converted signals, based on the received wireless signals;
a speaker configured to provide audio output signals, based on the down-converted signals;
and
a rechargeable battery,
wherein the wireless communication component is configured to operate in at least a Bluetooth network,
wherein the headset comprises a first and a second microphones in the headset, with at least the first microphone configured to at least pickup sound in an environment of the headset, and with at least the second microphone configured to pickup at least voice of the user,
wherein the headset is configured to modify power in at least a portion of the audio output signals, based on at least the pickup sound in the environment of the headset, so as to at least reduce noise in the audio output signals to provide to the user via at least the speaker, and
wherein the headset is configured to further modify power in at least a portion of the audio output signals, based on at least hearing of the user, to provide to the user via at least the speaker.

6 more elements

A headset to at least help a user hear audio signals, with the headset configured to secure to the head of the user, proximate to at least one ear of the user, the headset comprising:

a wireless communication component configured to receive wireless signals in gigahertz frequencies, wherein the wireless signals are configured to be from signals in a mobile device that have been up-converted and wirelessly transmitted to be received by the headset at least via the wireless communication component;
a down-convert circuitry configured to generate down-converted signals, based on the received wireless signals;
a speaker configured to provide audio output signals, based on the down-converted signals;
and
a rechargeable battery,
wherein the headset comprises a first and a second microphones in the headset, with at least the first microphone configured to at least pickup sound in an environment of the headset, and with at least the second microphone configured to pickup at least voice of the user,
wherein the headset is configured to modify power in at least a portion of the audio output signals, based on at least the pickup sound in the environment of the headset, so as to at least reduce noise in the audio output signals to provide to the user via at least the speaker,
wherein the wireless communication component is configured to operate in at least a Bluetooth network,
wherein the headset comprises a controller configured to make hands-free calls for the user via the mobile device operable at least as a mobile phone,
wherein the headset comprises a storage device storing at least a plurality of instructions configured to recognize at least a word based on voice recognition, and
wherein the headset is configured to further modify power within at least a portion of the audio output signals, based on at least a hearing characteristic of the user, to provide to the user via at least the speaker.

8 more elements

A headset to at least help a user hear audio signals, with the headset configured to secure to the head of the user, proximate to at least one ear of the user, the headset comprising:

a wireless communication component configured to receive wireless signals in gigahertz frequencies, wherein the wireless signals are configured to be from signals in a television that have been up-converted and wirelessly transmitted to be received by the headset at least via the wireless communication component;
a down-convert circuitry configured to generate down-converted signals, based on the received wireless signals;
a speaker configured to provide audio output signals, based on the down-converted signals;
and
a rechargeable battery,
wherein the headset comprises a first and a second microphones in the headset, with at least the first microphone configured to at least pickup sound in an environment of the headset, and with at least the second microphone configured to pickup at least voice of the user,
wherein the headset is configured to modify power in at least a portion of the audio output signals, based on at least the pickup sound in the environment of the headset, so as to at least reduce noise in the audio output signals to provide to the user via at least the speaker,
wherein the headset is configured to further modify power in at least a portion of the audio output signals, based on at least hearing of the user, to provide to the user via at least the speaker, and
wherein the wireless communication component is configured to operate in at least a Bluetooth network.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/144,546Filed 8 May 2023
Priority: 15 Apr 2003
Published: 31 Aug 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

G10L 21/0208
Speech enhancement, e.g. noise reduction or echo cancellation: noise filtering
H04R 1/403
By combining a number of identical transducers: loud-speakers
H04R 25/405
Arrangements for obtaining a desired directivity characteristic: by combining a plurality of transducers
H04R 3/12
Circuits for transducers: for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers

Family

Application60/462,570Us provisional application · filed 15 Apr 2003
Application60/469,221Us provisional application · filed 12 May 2003
Application60/493,441Us provisional application · filed 8 Aug 2003
Application10/826,529Continuation · filed 15 Apr 2004
Application11/893,835Continuation · filed 16 Aug 2007
Application12/462,601Continuation in part · filed 6 Aug 2009
Application61/335,361Us provisional application · filed 5 Jan 2010
Application12/930,344Continuation · filed 4 Jan 2011
Application14/482,049Continuation · filed 10 Sep 2014
Application15/667,742Continuation · filed 3 Aug 2017
Application16/703,788Continuation · filed 4 Dec 2019
Application17/155,767Continuation · filed 22 Jan 2021
Application17/333,688Continuation · filed 28 May 2021
Application17/899,591Continuation · filed 30 Aug 2022
Application18/144,546Continuation
Application12/930,344Continuation in part
Application12/462,601Continuation
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