Ear canal microphone

An open ear canal hearing aid system, comprising:

• a first ear canal tube sized for positioning in an ear canal so that the ear canal is at least partially open for directly receiving ambient sounds, wherein said first ear canal tube has a first end in said ear canal with an opening for receiving said ambient sounds and a second end connected to an input of a microphone;
• sound processing means for processing the ambient sound signals produced by said microphone within a predetermined amplitude and frequency range to produce processed sounds;
• and
• a second ear canal tube sized for positioning in the ear canal so that the ear canal is at least partially open for directly receiving ambient sounds, wherein said ear canal tube contains a speaker located in said ear canal for broadcasting processed sounds.

An open ear canal hearing aid system, comprising:

• a first ear canal tube sized for positioning in an ear canal so that the ear canal is at least partially open for directly receiving ambient sounds, wherein said first ear canal tube has a microphone located at one end of the tube in the ear canal for receiving ambient sounds and for producing sound signals;
• sound processing means located outside of said ear canal for processing the sound signals produced by the microphone within a predetermined amplitude and frequency range to produce processed sounds, wherein said sound signals are transmitted from the microphone to the sound processing means by wires in said first ear canal tube;
• and
• a second ear canal tube sized for positioning in the ear canal so that the ear canal is at least partially open for directly receiving ambient sounds, wherein said second ear canal tube transports processed sounds into the ear canal.

An open ear canal hearing aid system, comprising:

• a first ear canal tube sized for positioning in an ear canal so that the ear canal is at least partially open for directly receiving ambient sounds, wherein said first ear canal tube has a microphone located at the end of the tube in the ear canal for receiving ambient sounds and for producing sound signals;
• sound processing means for processing the sound signals produced by the microphone within a predetermined amplitude and frequency range to produce processed sounds, wherein said sound signals are transmitted from the microphone to the sound processing means by wires in said first ear canal tube;
• and
• a second ear canal tube sized for positioning in the ear canal so that the ear canal is at least partially open for directly receiving ambient sounds, wherein said second ear canal tube has a speaker located at one end of the tube located in the ear canal for broadcasting processed sounds into the ear canal.

An open ear canal communications earpiece, comprising:

• a microphone means for detecting ambient sounds in an ear canal;
• sound processing means for processing the ambient sound signals produced by said microphone within a predetermined amplitude and frequency range to produce processed signals;
• and
• speaker means for broadcasting processed signals into said ear canal,
• wherein said communications earpiece is positioned in said ear of a user so that the ear canal is at least partially open for directly receiving ambient sounds.

An open ear canal communications earpiece, comprising:

• a microphone means for detecting ambient sounds in an ear canal;
• sound processing means for processing the ambient sound signals produced by said microphone within a predetermined amplitude and frequency range to produce processed signals;
• and
• speaker means for broadcasting processed signals into said ear canal,
• wherein said communications earpiece is positioned in said ear of a user so that the ear canal is at least partially open for directly receiving ambient sounds, wherein said sound processing means does not amplify low frequency sound, the system relying on the open ear canal transmission of low frequency ambient sounds.