US 9,198,800 B2 · Electronic earplug for providing communication and protection

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing communication and protection by an electronic earplug are provided. A communication and protection system includes an electronic earplug operable in a transmit mode and a receive mode. The electronic earplug includes an external microphone, an ear canal microphone, processing circuitry, and a receiver. In the receive mode, the external microphone is configured to transduce sound pressure levels received from exterior to an ear canal to electrical signals; the processing circuitry is configured to process the electrical signals from the external microphone to provide processed electrical signals; and, the receiver is configured to convert the processed electrical signal to sound. In the transmit mode, the ear canal microphone is configured to transduce sound pressure levels received from in the ear canal to electrical signals provided to a communication device; and, one or more of the external microphone, the processing circuitry, and the receiver is disabled.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A communication and protection system comprising:

a first electronic earplug operable in a transmit mode and a receive mode, the first electronic earplug comprising:
a first external microphone configured to transduce sound pressure levels received from exterior to an ear canal to electrical signals when operating in the receive mode,
an ear canal microphone configured to transduce sound pressure levels received from in the ear canal to electrical signals provided to a communication device when operating in the transmit mode,
first processing circuitry configured to process the electrical signals from the first external microphone to provide first processed electrical signals when operating in the receive mode, and
a first receiver configured to convert the first processed electrical signals to sound when operating in the receive mode,
wherein at least one of the first external microphone, the first processing circuitry, and the first receiver is disabled when operating in the transmit mode.

3 more elements

A method for providing communication and protection comprising:

receiving, at a first electronic earplug, a mode indication that the first electronic earplug is operating in one of a transmit mode and a receive mode;
and
if the received mode indication is that the first electronic earplug is operating in a receive mode:
transducing, at a first external microphone, sound pressure levels received from exterior to an ear canal to electrical signals,
processing, at first processing circuitry, the electrical signals from the first external microphone to provide first processed electrical signals, and
converting, at a first receiver, the first processed electrical signals to sound, and
if the received mode indication is that the first electronic earplug is operating in a transmit mode:
transducing, at an ear canal microphone, sound pressure levels received from in the ear canal to electrical signals provided to a communication device, and
disabling at least one of the first external microphone, the first processing circuitry, and the first receiver.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electronic earplug for providing communication and protection

Life of this patent

Electronic earplug for providing communication and protection

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31