Advanced communication earpiece device and method

Abstract

An earpiece device ( 10, 110, 210, 210 ′) provides advanced communication to the user thereof, for controlling a total sound dose (TND), including an audio output from an audio source ( 16 ) reaching an ear of the user occluded at the outer ear canal ( 15 ) by an in-ear device ( 14 ), for allowing an external ambient sound to be heard by the ear of the user, and for allowing a voice (NSV) of the user to be transmitted to a telecommunication transmission link (TTL). The present invention also contemplates a method of operation of the earpiece device ( 10, 110, 210, 210 ′).

1 . A sound dose limiter device for controlling a total sound dose reaching an ear of a user, said limiter device comprising:
 an in-ear device for substantially occluding an outer ear canal of the user, said in-ear device including a speaker for providing an audio signal input from an audio output of an audio source inside the outer ear canal, an internal microphone for measuring a sound pressure level inside the occluded outer ear canal, and an external microphone for measuring an external ambient sound pressure level reaching the user's ear; and   a controller device connecting to the internal and external microphones for receiving respective internal and external measured sound pressure levels and for receiving the audio output, said controller device performing an evaluation of the internal and external measured sound pressure levels, calculating a cumulative total sound dose from the internal sound pressure level and the audio signal input depending on the evaluation, and controlling the audio signal input transmitted to the speaker.   
     
     
         2 . The sound dose limiter device of  claim 1 , wherein said controller device further calculates, based on a level of the audio signal input, an estimated sound dose decrease so as to account for a fatigue recuperation of the user's ear over time, the estimated sound dose decrease being subtracted from the cumulative total sound dose. 
     
     
         3 . The sound dose limiter device of  claim 2 , wherein said controller device repeatedly performs the evaluation and calculations over a predetermined time interval. 
     
     
         4 . The sound dose limiter device of  claim 2 , further including a display connecting to the controller device, said display displaying an information from the controller device corresponding to the calculated cumulative total sound dose. 
     
     
         5 . The sound dose limiter device of  claim 4 , wherein said controller device further calculates an estimated listening remaining time of transmission of the audio output to the audio signal input before the calculated cumulative total sound dose reaches a maximum acceptable sound dose threshold based on the internal sound pressure level and/or the audio signal input depending on the evaluation. 
     
     
         6 . The sound dose limiter device of  claim 5 , wherein said information is the estimated remaining listening time. 
     
     
         7 . The sound dose limiter device of  claim 5 , wherein, upon the estimated calculated cumulative total sound dose approaching the maximum acceptable sound dose threshold within a predetermined time threshold, said controller device further transmits a warning signal to the display and/or the speaker. 
     
     
         8 . The sound dose limiter device of  claim 5 , wherein, upon the estimated calculated cumulative total sound dose approaching or reaching the maximum acceptable sound dose threshold within a predetermined time threshold, said controller device further takes an auditory action. 
     
     
         9 . The sound dose limiter device of  claim 8 , wherein the auditory action is a progressive decrease of the audio signal input transmitted to the speaker. 
     
     
         10 . The sound dose limiter device of  claim 8 , wherein the auditory action is a stop of transmission of the audio signal input to the speaker. 
     
     
         11 . A method for calculating a total sound dose reaching an ear of a user wearing an in-ear device substantially occluding a user's outer ear canal, the in-ear device including a speaker for providing an audio signal input from an audio output of an audio source inside the outer ear canal, an internal microphone for measuring a sound pressure level inside the occluded outer ear canal, and an external microphone for measuring an external ambient sound pressure level reaching the user's ear, said method comprising the steps of:
 measuring, during a predetermined time interval, the internal and external sound pressure levels, and the audio output;   performing an evaluation of the internal and external measured sound pressure levels;   calculating a current interval total sound dose from the internal sound pressure level and the audio signal input depending on the evaluation, and a cumulative total sound dose based on previous time intervals; and   controlling the audio signal input transmitted to the speaker.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of calculating includes calculating, based on a level of the audio signal input, a current interval estimated sound dose decrease so as to account for a fatigue recuperation of the user's ear over time, the estimated sound dose decrease being subtracted from the cumulative total sound dose. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of evaluating includes comparing, over the predetermined time interval, the internal and external sound pressure levels to determine if both correlate and/or are coherent with one another, and if the external sound pressure level is larger than the internal sound pressure level by at least a predetermined level difference; and
 wherein the step of calculating includes calculating a current interval total sound dose from the audio signal input when the internal and external sound pressure levels do not correlate and/or are not coherent with one another, form the internal sound pressure level when the internal and external sound pressure levels correlate and/or are coherent with one another and when the external sound pressure level is not larger than the internal sound pressure level by at least the predetermined level difference, and from an addition of the audio signal input and the internal sound pressure level when the internal and external sound pressure levels correlate and/or are coherent with one another and when the external sound pressure level is larger than the internal sound pressure level by at least the predetermined level difference.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of controlling includes displaying an information corresponding to the calculated cumulative total sound dose onto a display. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of calculating includes estimating a listening remaining time of transmission of the audio output to the audio signal input before the calculated cumulative total sound dose reaches a maximum acceptable sound dose threshold based on the internal sound pressure level and/or the audio signal input depending on the evaluation. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of controlling includes displaying the estimated listening remaining time. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of calculating includes determining if the calculated cumulative total sound dose approaches a maximum acceptable sound dose threshold, and
 wherein the step of controlling includes, upon the calculated cumulative total sound dose approaching the maximum acceptable sound dose threshold, transmitting a warning signal to the display and/or the speaker.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of controlling includes, upon the calculated cumulative total sound dose approaching or reaching the maximum acceptable sound dose threshold, taking an auditory action. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of controlling includes, upon the calculated cumulative total sound dose approaching or reaching the maximum acceptable sound dose threshold within a predetermined time threshold, progressively decreasing the audio signal input transmitted to the speaker. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of controlling includes, upon the calculated cumulative total sound dose approaching or reaching the maximum acceptable sound dose threshold within a predetermined time threshold, progressively stopping transmission of the audio signal input to the speaker. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the user wears two similar said in-ear device substantially occluding a corresponding said user's outer ear canal, the step of calculating includes calculating, for each said user's ear, a corresponding current interval total sound dose from the internal sound pressure level and the audio signal input depending on the evaluation, and a cumulative total sound dose based on previous time intervals and the largest one of the two said current interval total sound doses. 
     
     
         22 . A push-to-hear device for allowing an external ambient sound to be heard by an ear of a user, said push-to-hear device comprising:
 at least one in-ear device for substantially occluding an outer ear canal of the user, said at least one in-ear device including a speaker for providing an audio signal input from an audio output of an audio source inside the outer ear canal, and an external microphone for measuring an external ambient sound pressure level reaching the user's ear; and   a controller device connecting to the external microphone for receiving an external measured sound pressure level and for receiving the audio output, said controller device including an activation switch device activatable by the user, said controller device allowing the audio output to reach the speaker when the activation switch device is unactivated, and allowing the external ambient sound pressure level to reach the speaker when the activation switch device is activated, while at least partially disabling the audio output from reaching the speaker.   
     
     
         23 . The push-to-hear device of  claim 22 , wherein said controller device allows the external ambient sound pressure level to reach the speaker when the activation switch device is activated, while totally disabling the audio output from reaching the speaker. 
     
     
         24 . The push-to-hear device of  claim 22 , wherein said controller device further automatically and digitally adjusts the external ambient sound pressure level for a natural sounding thereof at the speaker of the in-ear device. 
     
     
         25 . The push-to-hear device of  claim 22 , wherein said controller device further includes a second activation command device activatable by the user, said second activation command device allowing a predetermined value of a sound volume ratio of the external ambient sound pressure level over the audio output to reach the speaker when the second activation command device is activated, said second activation command device, when activated, deactivating said activation switch device. 
     
     
         26 . The push-to-hear device of  claim 25 , wherein said second activation command device further allows the user to modify the predetermined value of the sound volume ratio so as to vary the blending ratio thereof reaching the speaker when the second activation command device is activated. 
     
     
         27 . The push-to-hear device of  claim 22 , wherein said controller device further includes an ambient sound noise gating filter device activatable by the user, said ambient sound noise gating filter device, when activated, eliminating a noise portion of the external ambient sound pressure level having an acoustic pressure smaller than a predetermined gating threshold from the external ambient sound pressure level so as to keep only a noise-emerging portion thereof at the speaker of the in-ear device. 
     
     
         28 . The push-to-hear device of  claim 27 , wherein said predetermined gating threshold is adjustable by the user. 
     
     
         29 . A method for allowing an external ambient sound to be heard by an ear of a user wearing an in-ear device substantially occluding a user's outer ear canal, the in-ear device including a speaker for providing an audio signal input from an audio output of an audio source inside the outer ear canal, and an external microphone for measuring an external ambient sound pressure level reaching the user's ear, said method comprising the steps of:
 upon activation of an activation switch device activatable by the user, measuring the external ambient sound pressure level; and   allowing the external ambient sound pressure level to reach the speaker, while at least partially disabling the audio output from reaching the speaker.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the step of allowing includes allowing the external ambient sound pressure level to reach the speaker, while totally disabling the audio output from reaching the speaker. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the step of allowing includes automatically and digitally adjusting the external ambient sound pressure level for a natural sounding thereof at the speaker of the in-ear device. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , further including the steps of:
 upon activation of second activation command device activatable by the user, automatically deactivating said activation switch device and measuring the external ambient sound pressure level; and   allowing a predetermined value of a sound volume ratio of the external ambient sound pressure level over the audio output to reach the speaker.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further including the step of:
 allowing the user to modify the predetermined value of the sound volume ratio so as to vary the blending ratio thereof reaching the speaker when the second activation command device is activated.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , further including the step of:
 upon activation of an ambient sound noise gating filter device activatable by the user, eliminating a noise portion of the external ambient sound pressure level having an acoustic pressure smaller than a predetermined gating threshold from the external ambient sound pressure level, whereby keeping only a noise-emerging portion thereof at the speaker of the in-ear device.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , further including the step of:
 allowing the user to modify said predetermined gating threshold.   
     
     
         36 . A communication device for allowing a voice of a user to be transmitted to a telecommunication transmission link, said communication device comprising:
 an in-ear device for substantially occluding an outer ear canal of the user, said in-ear device including an internal microphone for measuring a sound pressure level inside the occluded outer ear canal, and an external microphone for measuring an external ambient sound pressure level reaching the user's ear, the internal and external measured sound pressure levels including respective acoustically deformed speech voice from the user; and   a controller device connecting to the internal and external microphones for receiving respective internal and external measured sound pressure levels, said controller device performing an evaluation of the external measured sound pressure level, digitally generating an enhanced natural speech voice signal from at least the internal sound pressure level depending on the evaluation, and transmitting the generated enhanced natural speech voice signal to the telecommunication transmission link.   
     
     
         37 . The communication device of  claim 36 , wherein said controller device further generates the enhanced natural speech voice signal from the internal sound pressure level when the external measured sound pressure level is larger than a noise threshold. 
     
     
         38 . The communication device of  claim 37 , wherein, when the external measured sound pressure level is smaller or equal to the noise threshold, said controller device generates the enhanced natural speech voice signal from both the internal and external sound pressure levels with greater content of the external sound pressure level than of the internal sound pressure level when the internal sound pressure level is generally larger than the external sound pressure level, and with greater content of the internal sound pressure level than of the external sound pressure level when the internal sound pressure level is generally smaller than the external sound pressure level. 
     
     
         39 . The communication device of  claim 38 , wherein, when generating the enhanced natural speech voice signal from both the internal and external sound pressure levels, said controller device substantially combines, over a human voice frequency band, a high frequency portion of the external sound pressure level with a low frequency portion of the internal sound pressure level to generate the enhanced natural speech voice signal. 
     
     
         40 . The communication device of  claim 37 , wherein, when the external measured sound pressure level is smaller or equal to the noise threshold, said controller device generates the enhanced natural speech voice signal from both the internal and external sound pressure levels when the internal and external sound pressure levels correlate and/or are coherent with one another, and from the internal sound pressure level when the internal and external sound pressure levels do not correlate and/or are not coherent with one another. 
     
     
         41 . The communication device of  claim 40 , wherein, when generating the enhanced natural speech voice signal from both the internal and external sound pressure levels, said controller device substantially combines, over a human voice frequency band, a high frequency portion of the external sound pressure level with a low frequency portion of the internal sound pressure level to generate the enhanced natural speech voice signal. 
     
     
         42 . A method for transmitting a voice of a user wearing an in-ear device substantially occluding a user's outer ear canal to a telecommunication transmission link, the in-ear device including an internal microphone for measuring a sound pressure level inside the occluded outer ear canal, and an external microphone for measuring an external ambient sound pressure level reaching the user's ear, the internal and external measured sound pressure levels including respective acoustically deformed speech voice from the user, said method comprising the steps of:
 measuring the internal and external sound pressure levels;   performing an evaluation of the external measured sound pressure level;   digitally generating an enhanced natural speech voice signal from at least the internal sound pressure level depending on the evaluation; and   transmitting the generated enhanced natural speech voice signal to the telecommunication transmission link.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the step of generating includes digitally generating the enhanced natural speech voice signal from the internal sound pressure level when the external measured sound pressure level is larger than a noise threshold. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the step of generating includes, when the external measured sound pressure level is smaller or equal to the noise threshold, digitally generating the enhanced natural speech voice signal from both the internal and external sound pressure levels with greater content of the external sound pressure level than of the internal sound pressure level when the internal sound pressure level is generally larger than the external sound pressure level, and with greater content of the internal sound pressure level than of the external sound pressure level when the internal sound pressure level is generally smaller than the external sound pressure level. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the step of generating includes, when generating the enhanced natural speech voice signal from both the internal and external sound pressure levels, substantially combining, over a human voice frequency band, a high frequency portion of the external sound pressure level with a low frequency portion of the internal sound pressure level to generate the enhanced natural speech voice signal. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the step of generating includes, when the external measured sound pressure level is smaller or equal to the noise threshold, digitally generating the enhanced natural speech voice signal from both the internal and external sound pressure levels when the internal and external sound pressure levels correlate and/or are coherent with one another, and from the internal sound pressure level when the internal and external sound pressure levels do not correlate and/or are not coherent with one another. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the step of generating includes, when generating the enhanced natural speech voice signal from both the internal and external sound pressure levels, substantially combining, over a human voice frequency band, a high frequency portion of the external sound pressure level with a low frequency portion of the internal sound pressure level to generate the enhanced natural speech voice signal.