566results about "Earmuffs" patented technology

An active noise cancellation system includes a series of features for more effective cancellation, greater reliability, and improved stability. A particular feature adapted for headset systems includes locating a residual microphone radially offset from the center of a sound generator to detect a signal more similar to that incident upon the eardrum of the user. In addition, an open back headset design includes perforations on the side of the headset instead of the back, so that the perforations are less susceptible to inadvertent blockage. The system also includes a mechanism for detecting changes in the acoustic characteristics of the environment that may be caused, for example, by pressure exerted upon the earpieces, and that may destabilize the cancellation system. The system automatically responds to such changes, for example, by reducing the gain or the frequency response of the system to preserve stability. The system further includes other methods for detecting imminent instability and compensating, such as detecting the onset of signals within enhancement frequencies characteristic of the onset of instability, and adjusting the gain or frequency response of the system or suppressing the enhanced signals. The system further includes a mechanism for conserving battery life by turning the system off when sound levels are low, or adjusting the power supply to the system to correspond to the current power requirements of the system.

An active headset system is provided with compatibility with existing socket configurations in a way that minimizes the number of electrical connections. The number of connections between the active headset and the remote noise cancellation circuitry is reduced through the use of a common contact, having a controlled impedance, that serves as an input connection to corresponding terminals of the two earphones of the active headset. According to another aspect of the present invention, the transients associated with plugging in or unplugging stereo jack plugs or up to a seven pin connector into an active headset may be overcome by a transient detector in the noise cancellation circuitry. Yet another aspect of the present invention concerns the powering of the noise cancellation circuitry whether the noise cancellation circuitry is placed inside the active headset or at least partially internal to a remote external device.

Headphones with acoustically resistant ear cups, an external noise sensor mounted thereto that monitors ambient noise, and internal sensors to monitor noise within each ear cup are disclosed. A processing system monitors the external and interior sound detected by the sensors and compares the level inside the ear cups with the detected level of ambient noise. It activates a transducer such as a vibrator, buzzer, or light as needed to indicate when the level within the ear cups has exceeded the predetermined criteria thereby indicating improper fit of the headphones. Alternative embodiments include wirelessly communicating the collected data to an auxiliary computer for remote data collection, storage and monitoring. The headphones may also provide a sound dosimeter; bandpass filtering; automatic noise reduction with feed forward and / or feed back; wireless voice and data communication; and a voice activated switch, all using elements of the headphone fit detection circuitry.

The present technology provides systems and methods for robust feedforward active noise cancellation which can overcome or substantially alleviate problems associated with the diverse and dynamic nature of the surrounding acoustic environment. A multi-faceted analysis decouples the background noise within the earpiece from the acoustic wave (e.g. the anti-noise and desired audio) generated by an audio transducer within the earpiece. A difference signal is formed utilizing monitoring signals captured by array of monitoring microphones within the earpiece. The difference signal is formed such that contributions due to the acoustic wave generated by the audio transducer are selectively attenuated. As a result, the difference signal indicates an acoustic energy level of the background noise within the earpiece.

In the case of a hearing aid device which can be worn in the ear or a hearing aid device with a otoplastic which can be worn in the ear, the penetration of direct sound through a ventilation channel of the hearing aid device or of the otoplastic is prevented. An acoustic signal is picked up from the ventilation channel via a second microphone in a first region of the ventilation channel and phase-shifting it in a filter device in such a way that the direct sound is at least largely eliminated after the phase-shifted signal is emitted into the ventilation channel via a second earphone. The invention offers the advantage that an enlargement of the cross section of the ventilation channel is made possible as a result, even to provide an open supply, without disturbing direct sound getting into the auditory canal of the person wearing the hearing device.

Electronic earplugs, methods of enhancing and / or attenuating sound using electronic earplugs, and kits including electronic earplugs are provided. Certain electronic earplugs may include a circuit operatively connected to a microphone. The circuit may be configured to receive input electrical signals from the microphone and provide output electrical signals to a receiver. Further, the circuit may be configured to modify a sound output level from the electronic earplug based on a sound input level of ambient sound received at the microphone and a gain characteristic setting selected from a plurality of gain characteristic settings. The circuit may be configured such that it can be switched between the plurality of gain characteristic settings, wherein the switching to the selected gain characteristic setting produces an audible switch indication. Certain electronic earplugs also include a receiver configured to convert the output electrical signals into sound that is communicated to a user's ear canal.

Electronic earplugs, methods of enhancing and / or attenuating sound using electronic earplugs, and kits including electronic earplugs are provided. Certain electronic earplugs provided can deliver sound to a user's ear canal at levels below, equal to, and / or above ambient sound levels for specified ambient sound level ranges. Certain electronic earplugs provided can be switched between first and second settings with different sound level delivery settings. Certain electronic earplugs provided can be coupled with or integrated into two-way communication devices. Certain of such two-way communication devices can use induction to receive and transmit audio signals. Certain electronic earplugs provided can include a receive coil configured to allow remote radio signals to be received. Certain electronic earplugs provided can block at least about 35 dB of ambient sound when fully inserted into a user's ear canal. Kits that include electronic earplugs and accessories for use with electronic earplugs are also provided.

An active headset providing for reduction of external noise over a given frequency range by means of a microphone which generates an external noise representative signal processed and fed to a loudspeaker to produce an external noise cancellation signal spectrum, wherein a bridge amplifier circuit is interposed between the microphone and the loudspeaker and the gain of the bridge amplifier for peak amplitude of the noise cancellation signal is user adjustable without substantially reducing the breadth of the given frequency range over which noise reduction is effective.

An apparatus is disclosed for managing the joint contribution of noise exposure of the ear of a user of the apparatus from a loudspeaker of the apparatus as well as from ambient noise so that the risk of risk of noise induced hearing losses is reduced. By assessing the joint actual sound energy delivered to the ear and feeding said assessment to a model describing the accumulated risk of hearing loss due to said sound energy accumulated over a time period, an estimate of the current risk of hearing loss is obtained. When said risk estimate passes a predetermined threshold, one or more protective measures are taken.

An earmuff structure for headset or ear protector includes two earmuff shells and two integrally injection molded speaker mounting plates that are screwed to an inner side of the earmuff shells and each has a central hole for receiving a speaker therein. The speaker mounting plates are provided at a rear surface with wall portions of predetermined heights. The wall portions on one of the speaker mounting plates are formed from outer bottom surfaces of two battery compartments formed on a front surface of the speaker mounting plate at two sides of the central hole. With the speaker mounting plates, batteries and speakers may be quickly assembled to form the earmuffs or disassembled for replacement. The wall portions on each speaker mounting plate cooperates with a foam located behind the speaker to define a space functioning like a cabinet, creating clear and high quality stereo sounds output from the speakers.

A sound monitoring control for controlling the sound pressure level (SPL) delivered to the ears of a user of a hearing protection device. The control employs a measurement of the actual sound heard by the user, using a microphone to control the sound level and to help prevent noise induced hearing loss. A measurement, using a dosimeter microphone, of the actual sound pressure levels heard by the user can be used in audio processing schemes to ensure that the user is only exposed to safe levels.

An earmuff includes: a casing; a baffle board; and an ear pad including an engagement member, the engagement member being an outwardly extended part of a skin member of the ear pad. The ear pad is fixed at a front of the baffle board with the engagement member constrained to an outer surface of either of the baffle board and the casing or both by a ring-shaped elastic member, and the ear pad fixed and the baffle board define a front air chamber.

The disclosure relates to an arrangement in hearing protection, in the form of an acoustic headset, comprising a first auditory cup (10), a second auditory cup (11) and a stirrup or headband (12) interconnecting the auditory cups (10, 11), a microphone (13) being provided for receiving ambient sound and an electronic control unit (15) actuable by means of a button set (14) being provided for transmitting sound from the microphone (13) and a radio unit (16) by the intermediary of loudspeakers (17) in the auditory cups (10, 11). The button set (14) comprises a plurality of associated buttons (18, 18', 19, 19', 20, 20', 21, 22) arranged in groups, and each group of buttons being disposed, for actuation by the wearer's fingers, in a separate depression or recess (23, 24, 25, 26) in the first auditory cup (10).

An apparatus comprising a first curved band portion and a second curved band portion. The first curved band portion has a first end, a second end, an inner curved side and an outer curved side. The first curved band portion defines a passageway between the first end and the second end of the first curved band portion. The passageway has a first opening. The second curved band portion has a first end, a second end, an inner curved side and an outer curved side. A motion-restraint portion is proximate to the first end of the second curved band portion. The first end of the second curved band portion is insertable into the first opening of the passageway of the first curved band portion. The first curved band portion has a range of motion within the passageway of the second curved band portion.

A hearing system includes at least one earpiece having a shell, an elongate retention element attached to the shell, and an insert unit. The shell has a sound tube portion carrying a soft tip for insertion into the user's ear canal, an outwardly oriented interface portion for detachably receiving the insert unit, and an engagement portion between the sound tube portion and the interface portion for engaging with the tragus / antitragus region of the ear, wherein the material and the dimensions of the retention element are such that the retention element can engage the user's concha by manual deformation by the user, and wherein the insert unit is a filter unit with at least one sound attenuation filter, or is an active electronic unit with at least a loudspeaker, and with an external electronic unit, which is worn on the user's body below the user's neck.

At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an earpiece that includes a fluid in a reservoir where the composition of the fluid or the pressure of the fluid can be modified to vary the insertion loss value of the earpiece.

An improved wireless communications earplug for use with a magnetic field transmitter. The wireless earplug has a receiver made of a coil of wire on a magnetic bobbin, mounted in close proximity or in contact with a magnetic case of a speaker. The magnetic case of the speaker serves to increase the magnetic flux through the receiver and improves the efficiency of the earplug. The speaker is acoustically coupled to an eartip, and the earplug may be molded into a custom earplug body.