Wearable apparatus for measuring displacement of an in vivo tympanum and methods and systems for use therewith

A method of producing an auditory environment based upon a first acoustic pressure wave sensed by a first individual, the method comprising the steps of:

• dynamically sensing a displacement of a tympanic membrane of the first individual in response to the first acoustic pressure wave;
• producing an electrical signal in dependence upon the sensed displacement;
• and
• generating a second acoustic pressure wave in dependence upon the electrical signal, wherein the auditory environment is based upon the second acoustic pressure wave, wherein the second acoustic pressure wave is generated in audio proximity to a second individual.

A method of producing an auditory environment based upon a first acoustic pressure wave sensed by a first individual, the method comprising the steps of:

• dynamically sensing a displacement of a tympanic membrane of the first individual in response to the first acoustic pressure wave;
• producing an electrical signal in dependence upon the sensed displacement;
• generating a second acoustic pressure wave in dependence upon the electrical signal, wherein the auditory environment is based upon the second acoustic pressure wave;
• and processing the electrical signal in dependence upon a head related transfer function of a second individual.

A system for producing an auditory environment based upon a first acoustic pressure wave sensed by a first individual, the system comprising:

• a displacement sensor which dynamically senses a displacement of a tympanic membrane of the first individual in response to the first acoustic pressure wave, the displacement sensor producing an electrical signal in dependence upon the sensed displacement;
• a signal processor, coupled to the displacement sensor, which processes the electrical signal to form a processed electrical signal;
• and
• an audio output device, coupled to the signal processor, which produces a second acoustic pressure wave based upon the processed electrical signal, wherein the auditory environment is based upon the second acoustic pressure wave.

A system for producing an auditory environment based upon a first acoustic pressure wave sensed by a first individual, the system comprising:

• a displacement sensor which dynamically senses a displacement of a tympanic membrane of the first individual in response to the first acoustic pressure wave, the displacement sensor producing an electrical signal in dependence upon the sensed displacement;
• a signal processor, coupled to the displacement sensor, which processes the electrical signal to form a processed electrical signal;
• and
• an audio output device, coupled to the signal processor, which produces a second acoustic pressure wave based upon the processed electrical signal, wherein the auditory environment is based upon the second acoustic pressure wave, wherein the second acoustic pressure wave is generated in audio proximity to a second individual.

A system for producing an auditory environment based upon a first acoustic pressure wave sensed by a first individual, the system comprising:

• a displacement sensor which dynamically senses a displacement of a tympanic membrane of the first individual in response to the first acoustic pressure wave, the displacement sensor producing an electrical signal in dependence upon the sensed displacement;
• a signal processor, coupled to the displacement sensor, which processes the electrical signal to form a processed electrical signal in dependence upon a head related transfer function of a second individual;
• and
• an audio output device, coupled to the signal processor, which produces a second acoustic pressure wave based upon the processed electrical signal, wherein the auditory environment is based upon the second acoustic pressure wave.

A method of modifying the intensity of an ambient acoustic pressure wave sensed by an individual, the method comprising the steps of:

• dynamically sensing a displacement of a tympanic membrane of the individual, wherein the displacement results from the acoustic pressure wave;
• producing an electrical signal in dependence upon the sensed displacement;
• and
• applying a force to the tympanic membrane in dependence upon the electrical signal.

A system for modifying the intensity of an ambient acoustic pressure wave sensed by an individual, the system comprising:

• a displacement sensor which dynamically senses a displacement of a tympanic membrane of the individual in response to the acoustic pressure wave, the displacement sensor producing an electrical signal in dependence upon the sensed displacement;
• a signal processor, coupled the displacement sensor, which processes the electrical signal to form a processed electrical signal;
• and
• a servo which applies a force to the tympanic membrane in dependence upon the processed electrical signal.

A method of producing a virtual auditory environment for an individual, the virtual auditory environment based upon a first electrical signal representative of audio, the method comprising the steps of:

• dynamically sensing a displacement of a tympanic membrane of the individual in response to an ambient acoustic pressure wave;
• producing a second electrical signal in dependence upon the sensed displacement;
• and
• applying a force to the tympanic membrane in dependence upon the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal, wherein the force acts to attenuate the ambient acoustic pressure wave by opposing the displacement of the tympanic membrane resulting from the ambient acoustic pressure wave, and wherein the force acts to impress the audio onto the tympanic membrane by displacing the tympanic membrane in dependence upon the first electrical signal.

A system for producing a virtual auditory environment for an individual, the virtual auditory environment based upon a first electrical signal representative of audio, the system comprising:

• a displacement sensor which dynamically senses a displacement of a tympanic membrane of the individual in response to an ambient acoustic pressure wave, the displacement sensor producing a second electrical signal based upon the sensed displacement;
• a control system which produces a third electrical signal based upon the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal;
• and
• a servo which applies a force to the tympanic membrane in dependence upon the third electrical signal;
• wherein the force acts to attenuate the ambient acoustic pressure wave by opposing the displacement of the tympanic membrane resulting from the ambient acoustic pressure wave, and wherein the force acts to impress the audio onto the tympanic membrane by displacing the tympanic membrane in dependence upon the first electrical signal.

A system for electronically sensing an ambient acoustic pressure wave, the system comprising:

• a displacement sensor which dynamically senses a displacement of a tympanic membrane of an individual using
• an ultrasonic transducer capable of transmitting a first ultrasonic signal toward the tympanic membrane and receiving a second ultrasonic signal which reflects off the tympanic membrane;
• and
• a control circuit, coupled to the ultrasonic transducer, which commands the transmitting of the first ultrasonic signal and produces an electrical signal in dependence upon a time duration between transmitting the first ultrasonic signal and receiving the second ultrasonic signal.

A method of electronically sensing an ambient acoustic pressure wave by dynamically sensing displacement of a tympanic membrane of an individual in response to the ambient acoustic pressure wave, the method comprising:

• transmitting a first ultrasonic signal toward the tympanic membrane;
• receiving a second ultrasonic signal resulting from the first ultrasonic signal reflecting off the tympanic membrane;
• determining the displacement based upon a time duration between transmitting the first ultrasonic signal and receiving the second ultrasonic signal;
• and
• producing an electrical signal based upon the sensed displacement.