초록 ▼

A wireless personal communication system includes an earpiece, worn in or behind the ear, that communicates wirelessly with a remote processor unit (RPU) worn at the neck. The RPU is a wearable computer in the form of a necklace, neck ribbon, collar or other flat, flexible article that may be worn u

A wireless personal communication system includes an earpiece, worn in or behind the ear, that communicates wirelessly with a remote processor unit (RPU) worn at the neck. The RPU is a wearable computer in the form of a necklace, neck ribbon, collar or other flat, flexible article that may be worn under clothing to hide it from view. The close proximity of the earpiece to the RPU, combined with the large antenna aperture area available in this RPU form, enables the use of radar technology to implement a two-way wireless link between the earpiece and RPU, and also allows earpiece operating power to be beamed from the RPU. The resulting size and cost reductions in both the earpiece and RPU allow the manufacture of disposable hearing aids and, when the RPU is equipped with secondary wireless link circuitry, cellular telephones and pagers.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An improvement in a wireless personal communication system having an earpiece suitable for being worn at the head of a user, and a processor unit, said earpiece having, a microphone responsive to a first sound from the environment, present at the input of said microphone, to provide a first

1. An improvement in a wireless personal communication system having an earpiece suitable for being worn at the head of a user, and a processor unit, said earpiece having, a microphone responsive to a first sound from the environment, present at the input of said microphone, to provide a first electrical signal, a first wireless transmitter to provide a first wireless transmission in response to said first electrical signal, a first wireless receiver to receive a second wireless transmission to generate a second electrical signal, said second electrical signal being an enhanced version of said first electrical signal, a speaker transducer responsive to said, second electrical signal to convert said second electrical signal into a second sound; said processor unit comprising a form fitting article worn about the neck of a user having, a second wireless receiver responsive to said first wireless transmission to provide a third electrical signal that is a replica of said first electrical signal, a signal processor responsive to said third electrical signal to provide a fourth electrical signal, said fourth electrical signal being an enhanced version of said third electrical signal, a second wireless transmitter responsive to said fourth, electrical signal to provide said second wireless transmission of said fourth electrical signal, said second electrical signal being a replica of said fourth electrical signal. 2. Wireless personal communication system according to claim 1 wherein said wireless personal communication system is a hearing aid. 3. Wireless personal communication system according to claim 1 wherein said processor unit has a surface area in excess of six and one-half (6.5) square centimeters on the surface nearest said earpiece. 4. Wireless personal communication system according to claim 1 wherein said processor unit is a flexible printed circuit. 5. Wireless personal communication system according to claim 1 wherein said processor unit further includes secondary wireless link circuitry for wireless communication with devices other than said earpiece. 6. Wireless personal communication system according to claim 1 wherein said processor unit further includes circuitry to monitor vital signs of said user. 7. Wireless personal communication system according to claim 1 wherein said processor unit supplies an unmodulated wireless carrier to said earpiece for purposes of reflective communication from said earpiece. 8. Wireless personal communication system according to claim 1 wherein said processor unit supplies operating power to said earpiece by wireless means. 9. Wireless personal communication system according to claim 1 wherein said processor unit is a wearable computer. 10. Wireless personal communication system according to claim 1 wherein the said processor unit further includes at least one of a voice recognition circuit and a voice response circuit. 11. Wireless personal communication system according to claim 1 wherein the said wireless personal communication system is a wireless hearing apparatus providing, wireless bi-directional information on a user's body in close proximity. 12. A wireless hearing apparatus according to said claim 11 wherein said wireless bi-directional information is processed in a flat flexible device in the form of a necklace for wearing over a user's shoulders.