WO2004030400A2

WO2004030400A2 - Apparatus for the reception of acoustic communication

Info

Publication number: WO2004030400A2
Application number: PCT/IL2003/000776
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jacob Brandstaetter
Original assignee: Axystems Ltd.
Priority date: 2002-09-29
Filing date: 2003-09-29
Publication date: 2004-04-08
Also published as: WO2004030400A3; IL151995A0; AU2003269433A8; AU2003269433A1

Abstract

Apparatus for the reception of acoustic information that comprises a support; communication means for receiving analog or digital signals containing the relevant information; transducers for transforming said received signals into mechanical signals or physical stimuli such that they may be perceived by the user without passing through the ears and the eardrums of said user; and sound screens actuatable between at least two positions, an active position, in which they substantially prevent sound waves from penetrating into the ears of the user, and an inactive position, in which they fully allow sound waves to penetrate into the ears of the user.

Description

APPARATUS FOR THE RECEPTION OF ACOUSTIC COMMUNICATION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to apparatus for the reception of acoustic communication, generally received through radio transmission, which apparatus protects relevant information and substantially screens it from extraneous sounds and/or noise, but permits to hear any sounds or noise propagating in the environment, when this is desired. In preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments thereof, particularly intended for combat and like conditions or in ground vehicles or aircraft (including helicopters), the apparatus is mounted on and supported by a protective device, such as helmet. Preferably, the apparatus permits to transmit, by known means, acoustic information as well as to receive it.

Background of the Invention

In the following specification and claims the following terms will be used to mean what is defined hereinafter:

End listener or, briefly, listener = Person who is interested in specific information, that may be transmitted by radio or be conveyed by sound or by any other means.

Relevant information =

Specific information in which an end listener is interested.

User = End listener who uses an apparatus according to the invention.

Relevant sound = Acoustic waves or pulses containing relevant information.

Noise = Acoustic waves or pulses not containing information relevant to the end listener, regardless of whether they have or comprise components having a definite acoustic spectrum or one or more frequencies, even musical components, and regardless of whether it could be or is relevant to another end listener.

Acoustic information is usually acquired by humans through the hearing apparatus, the sound waves penetrating through the ear and activating the eardrum and the inner ear. This information is not selective. It may be partly or entirely relevant or be noise in part or entirely to a given listener, and the opposite may be true to another listener. The hearing apparatus reacts in the same way to extraneous sounds, reflected sound waves, noise of whatever kind, and so forth, all of which are called herein "noise", and in many situations the noise is so strong that when it is superimposed to the relevant sounds it renders these latter difficult to distinguish and understand or even practically inaudible.

Therefore devices have been developed for transmitting relevant sounds by means that will separate them from noise and strengthen them so that they will be easier to perceive and understand. Said devices may transform relevant sounds to non-acoustic, analog or digital signals, such as electromagnetic or optical signals, transmit said signals to the interested person, and transform them in such a way that they may be perceived without passing through, the oute ears and the eardrums. For example, radio signals may be received and transformed to vibrations of elements applied to the end listener's head, which vibrations are transmitted by way of the bone structure of the listener's skull to his inner ear, and from which the inner ear reconstructs the original relevant sounds.

US Patents Nos. 4,310,732 - 4,987,592 - 5,138,722 - 5,187,807 - 5,590,213 and 5,911,314, all assigned to the David Clark Company, Inc., deal with handsets and related subject matter. USP 4,310,732 discloses a headset with a curved headband and stirrups mounted at its opposite ends for pivotal movement about first axes and earphone assemblies supported by the stirrups for pivotal movement about second axes. In operative position the earphone assemblies are over the user's ears. A microphone assembly is also rotatably supported by the headset.

USP 4,987,592 discloses a microphone boom assembly for a communication headset.

USP 5,138,722 discloses an ear seal for use with an ear cup of a headset, which seal includes a ring of noise attenuated material, which is a mixture of a dilatent silicone compound and a silicone fluid. The purpose is to produce a superior attenuation of sound together with a high degree of comfort.

USP 5,185,007 describes a headset comprising an arcuate resilient headband with arcuated stirrups at its opposite ^■ ends ca i g noise attenuating ear domes.

All the aforesaid devices cannot separate relevant sounds from noise, since both are perceived through the user's outer ears and ear drums - they are both perceived together, though at an attenuated volume whenever desired when the ear domes are in place.

Therefore when this or all other prior art devices are used, the noise is heard and confuses and may overcome the relevant sounds. Still, it is generally necessary to be able to hear surrounding and background sounds. For instance, military and non-military air borne teams may receive data and instructions by radio, and be protected from aircraft noises while on board (as well as combat troops on board personnel armored vehicles), whereas on ground it is essential to have continuous radio communication and at the same time be able to hear the surrounding environment sound and noises. The situation is complicated by the need to wear protective headgear. Frequently such air borne troops change between two helmets, one of which have ear phones for listening to the radio transmission and screen noise, while the other has no such ear phones but allows fully to hear any sounds and/or noise in the environment. However, this is obviously inconvenient.

It is a purpose of the present invention to provide an apparatus for the reception of acoustic information that protects relevant information, generally received through radio communication, and substantially screens it from extraneous sounds and/or noise, but permits to hear any sounds or noise propagating in the environment, when this is desired.

Another purpose is to provide such an apparatus that is combined with and coupled to any kind of protective headgear.

A further purpose is to provide such an apparatus wherein the protective headgear is a helmet.

A still further purpose is to provide such an apparatus adapted for wear in combat and like conditions while retaining the protection of the head gear.

A still further purpose is to provide such an apparatus that can quickly and easily be shifted between a screening condition in which it screens non-relevant sounds and noise and an unhindered-hearing condition in which it does not screen any sounds or noise from the listener.

Other purposes and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds. Summary of the Invention

The invention provides an apparatus that comprises: a) a support; b) communication means for receiving analog or digital signals, such as electromagnetic or optical signals, containing the relevant information; c) transducers for transforming said received signals into mechanical signals or physical stimuli such that they may be perceived by the user without passing through the outer ears and the eardrums of said user; and d) sound ' screens actuatable between at least two positions, an active position, in which they substantially prevent sound waves from penetrating into the outer ears of the user, and an inactive position, in which they fully allow sound waves to penetrate into the ears of the user.

Said means for receiving analog or digital signally generally comprise at least one terminal of a conduit transmitting said signals, or at least one receiver of radio waves or other radiation, and at least one conductor cable, provided with a plug for engaging said terminal or receiver, for connecting said terminals, when desired, to said transducers.

The apparatus of the invention has a partly symmetrical character, since the transducers and the sound screens are two each, so arranged as to be positioned on the right and left side of the listener's head when the apparatus is in use. Therefore the aforesaid conductor cable is double or bifurcated to reach both transducers.

The apparatus may be supported by and/or installed in an item of head wear, or if not, may be provided with support means for applying it to the user's head. In preferred embodiments of the invention the support is an item of headgear having a protective function, typically a helmet. Preferably, the apparatus comprises a microphone or like device whereby the user may emit acoustic information. Said microphone or like device is provided with or connected to devices for transmitting said emitted information, such as radio emitters. All of said devices are well known in the art and therefore do not need to be described and will not be described.

Preferably the apparatus of the invention also comprises at least one frame or seat, more preferably two symmetrical such frames, a right-hand and a left-hand one, each defining a passage through which all sounds and noise may pass to be directly perceived by the listener through the corresponding ear drum and inner ear. Each of said sound screens has a main part so shaped as tightly to engage one of said frames and substantially close the corresponding sound passage to outer ears and eardrums and screen non-relevant sounds and noise, said part being called hereafter "sound plug", and means for supporting said plug, said means being displaceable between an active position, wherein said plug engages said frame, and at least one inactive position, wherein said plug is disengaged from said frame. Said sound passages may be open or closed by a layer of substance that is pervious to sound, such as a layer of porous plastic. Preferably the means for supporting each plug comprise arms carrying the plug at or about one end (which will be called the distal end) and rotatable about an axis located at or about the other end (which will be called the proximate end), said arms being displaceable between an active position, in which the plug is in the active position thereof, and at least one inactive position, in which the plug is in an inactive position thereof. Preferably releasable locks are provided for removably locking each arm at least at the active position and at least at one of the inactive positions. It is clear that the aforesaid means for supporting the plugs could be substituted by other means devised by skilled persons. By the expression "the sound screens .... substantially prevent sound waves from penetrating into the ears of the user", and, in particular, that the sound plugs "substantially close the corresponding sound passage", is meant that they prevent sound waves from penetrating into the ears of the user, and, in particular, close the listener's sound passages, to such an extent that the intensity of the non-relevant sounds and noise as perceived by the listener is sharply reduced and becomes low enough to allow clear perception of the relevant sounds. It is not required, and may be practically impossible, to close the sound passages absolutely and absolutely to prevent penetration of sound waves into the user's ears. It is sufficient, according to the invention, that said closure and said penetration be complete enough to prevent any significant interference of the non-relevant sounds and noise with the relevant sounds.

Particular uses of the apparatus, such as by military personnel in combat conditions or in scouting missions, or in driving a military vehicle, such as a tank, or in piloting an aircraft whether military or civil, are also part of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view from the left of a helmet on which is mounted an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention, showing a sound screen in the inactive position;

Fig. 2 is a vertical side view from the left of the helmet of Fig. 1, showing a sound screen in the active position; Fig. 3 is a vertical view from the front of the helmet of Fig. 1; Figs. 4A, 4B and 4C show the proximate end of a sound screen in its inactive position, respectively in approximately vertical side view, in cross- section on plane B-B of Fig. 4A, and in cross-section on the plane C-C of Fig. 4B; Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of the apparatus of the invention, mounted directly on the head of a listener; and Fig. 6 is a view and part cross-section of a preferred detail of an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

In the preferred embodiments of Figs. 1 to 3, the apparatus of the invention is mounted on a helmet 10. The helmet supports on one side (the left side, in this embodiment) a microphone 11 carried by a flexible arm 12. Numeral 13 indicates the helmet inner padding. A frame or seat 15 is formed by plastic or metal strip 16, conveniently shaped and attached to the helmet. The seat defines an opening 17, which is closed, in this embodiment, by a sheet piece 17', permeable to sound, and connected to the helmet in any convenient way, e.g. by a plastic edge 18. The sheet piece 17 may conveniently be formed by a porous plastic, such as porous polyurethane. A plug 20 is supported at the distal end of a metal arm 21 of said arm. At the proximate end of said arm is attached to a support device 22, to be described hereinafter, which is attached directly or indirectly to the helmet. In Fig. 1 plug 20 is in its inactive position and opening 17 is uncovered, so that the listener or user can hear every sound or noise that propagates in the environment.

Numeral 30 indicates a conductor cable that can be connected by plug 31 to any electrical circuit. Incoming information, generally but not necessarily transmitted by radio, is conveyed through said circuit to one or generally two earphones. In this embodiment, the earphones are seen at 32 in Fig. 3 as mounted in the helmet and communication between cable 30 and earphones 31 as well as between said cable and microphone 11 is established within the helmet padding and is not shown. However the earphones and/or the microphones could be separated from the helmet and attached to two bifurcations of a cable taking the place of 30, also separate from the helmet, said cable carrying a plug taking the place of plug 31. A third derivation of said cable could carry the microphone. All such arrangements are known in the art and need not be illustrated. A strap 33, shown as interrupted, is attached to the helmet for securing it as desired.

In Fig. 2, the apparatus of Fig. 1 is shown again, but the plug 20 is in the active position thereof, engages the frame or seat 15 and closes the opening 17. To facilitate the operation of the plug, it is preferred, though it is by no means necessary, to make it with an outer diameter that is equal or slight smaller than the diameter of said opening 17. To assure that said plug should engage frame 15 tightly and close said opening in an airtight manner, a small lever 24 is provided, which can be actuated slightly to increase the diameter of a portion of the plug that engages the frame, so as to produce a pressure contact between the two, as will be shown in detail in Fig. 6.

Figs. 4B, 4B and 4C illustrate an embodiment of support device 22. In this embodiment, device 22 comprises two plates, lower plate 25 and upper plate 26, which are rigidly connected to or solid with one another at edge 27, opposite to arm 21. Lower plate 25 is rigidly connected to or solid with strip 16. Outside edge 27, the two plates leave between them a gap, into which penetrates arm 21. Pivot 23 is solid with or rigidly connected to plate 25 and extends through an opening of plate 26. Arm 21 is provided on its bottom surface with a projection or finger 34, which matches two recesses or seats 28 and 29 (see Fig. 4C). Said seats are so situated on plate 25 that seat 28 is engaged by finger 34 when arm 21 is in such angular position that plug 20 is in its active position, and seat 29 is engaged by finger 34 when arm 21 is in such angular position that plug 20 is in its inactive position or one of its inactive positions. Of course, other seats and/or other fingers could be provided, or the entire device 22 might have a different structure, Figs. 4A to 4C being mere illustrations of one possible embodiment.

As has been said, it is not necessary that the apparatus of the invention be carried by and mounted on a helmet or any kind of headgear. Fig. 5 shows a different schematic embodiment. A support is constituted by an elastic headband 40 that can be applied to the user's head. A microphone 41, a plug 42, and, if needed, a cable (not shown) that can be plugged in any terminal of the relevant information, are attached to headband 40.. Plug 42 can be displaced between an active and an inactive position in any desired way. For instance, it may be carried by an arm 44 pivoted at 45 to headband 40. A sound-pervious frame or seat, corresponding to frame 15 of Fig. 1, can be connected to headband 40, to be engaged by plug 42 when desired. This is preferable, though not necessary.

Fig. 6 is a part view part cross-section of plug 20. This comprises a dome 50, an upper plate 51, a lower plate 52 and an elastic ring 53 interposed between the lower plate 52 and the dome 50.. The lever 24 is connected to a finger 54, and, when raised by the user, will cause said finger to lift plate 52 towards dome 50. This will cause plate 52 to exert pressure over elastic ring 53 and to swell it outwardly, so that the diameter of the plug 20 will be temporarily increased to produce the desired pressure contact between the plug and the frame 15. Obviously, other means of increasing the diameter of the pug temporarily could be devised by skilled persons.

While embodiments of the invention have been described by way of illustration, it should be understood that the invention may be practiced with many modifications, variations an adaptations, without departing from its spirit or exceeding the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. Apparatus for the reception of acoustic information, which comprises: a) a support; b) communication means for receiving analog or digital signals containing the relevant information; c) transducers for transforming said received signals into mechanical signals or physical stimuli such that they may be perceived by the user without passing through the ears and the eardrums of said user; and d) sound screens actuatable between at least two positions, an active position, in which they substantially prevent sound waves from penetrating into the ears of the user, and an inactive position, in which they fully allow sound waves to penetrate into the ears of the user.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication means comprise at least one terminal of a conduit transmitting the analog or digital signals or at least one receivers of radio waves or other radiation, and at least one conductor cable for connecting said terminals, when desired, to said transducers, said cable being provided with a plug for engaging said terminal or receiver.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transducers and the sound screens are two each, and so arranged as to be positioned on the right and left side of the listener's head when the apparatus is in use.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the transducers and the sound screens are two each, and the conductor cable is double or bifurcated to reach both transducers.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support is an item of head wear.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support is a protective device.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the support is a helmet.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising at least one frame, defining a sound passage through which all sounds and noise may pass to be directly perceived by the listener through the corresponding ear drum and inner ear.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, comprising two symmetrical frames, a right-hand and a left-hand one.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the sound screens comprises a sound plug so shaped as tightly to engage a frame and close the corresponding sound passage to screen non-relevant sounds and noise, and means for supporting said plug, said means being displaceable between an active position, wherein said plug engages said frame, and at least one inactive position, wherein said plug is disengaged from said frame.

11. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the sound passages are closed¹ by a layer of substance that is pervious to sound.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the means for supporting each plug comprise arms carrying the plug at or about the distal end of said arms and rotatable about an axis located at or about the proximate end of said arms, said arms being displaceable between an active and at least one inactive position.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising releasable locks for removably locking each arm at least at the active position and at one of the inactive positions.

14. Apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising means for producing a pressure contact between each plug and the corresponding frame.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the plug has an outer diameter that is equal or slight smaller than the inner diameter of the corresponding frame, and the means for producing a pressure contact between each plug and the corresponding frame comprise means for increasing to increase the diameter of a portion of the plug that engages a frame.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the plug means for producing a pressure contact comprises a dome, an upper plate, a lower plate, an elastic ring interposed between the lower plate and the dome, and a lever connected to a stud, sais, when raised by the user, will cause said finger to lift plate 52 towards dome 50. This will cause plate 52 to exert pressure over elastic ring 53 and to swell it outwardly, so that the diameter of the plug 20 will be temporarily increased to produce the desired pressure contact between the plug and the frame 15. Obviously, other means of increasing the diameter of the pug temporarily could be devised by skilled persons.

17. Apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a support device for each arm, said device comprising a lower plate and an upper plate rigidly connected to or solid with one another at an edge opposite to the supported arm, said lower plate being rigidly connected to the support of the apparatus, said plates leaving between them into which penetrates the supported arm; and a pivot solid with said lower plate and extending through an opening of said upper plate; said arm being pivoted to said pivot.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the arm is provided on the bottom surface thereof with a projection, and the lower plate is provided with a first and at least one second recess, said projection being adapted to engage said recesses, said recesses being situated on said lower plate that said first recess is engaged by said projection when said arm is in such angular position that the plug carried at or about the distal end of said arm is in its active position, and one of said second recesses is engaged by said projection when said arm is in such angular position that said plug is in the inactive position or in one of the inactive positions.

19. Use of an apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, substantially as described in the specification.

20. Apparatus according to claim 6 or 7 for uses chosen from among uses in combat conditions or in scouting missions, in driving a military vehicle, or in piloting aircraft.

21. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 18, further comprising means for emitting information.

22. Apparatus according to claim 1, substantially as described.