Audio Signal System

Abstract

An audio signal system is provided having, in one embodiment, a magnetostrictive core of varying shapes, sizes, and permeability. The core is wound with a wire, thereby forming an inductor for producing a magnetic field when current is passed through the wire. A speaker, or other audio output device, is positioned in parallel or series with the inductor. In operation, an audio signal is received and transmitted to the speaker or other audio output device, wherein a replication of the received signal is produced. An output of the magnetostrictive inductor couples with the replicated audio signal to modify and enhance the quality of the projected signal. In yet another embodiment, digital signal processing may be used to modify the received signal as well.

1 . An audio signal system comprising:
 an audio signal output device;   a magnetostrictive core; and   at least one wire wound about the magnetostrictive core   wherein an electrical signal translated through the at least one wire induces a vibration of the magnetostrictive core, and further wherein vibration of the magnetostrictive core generates an output signal which couples with an audio signal produced by the audio signal output device.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetostrictive core shape is selected from a group consisting of: a toroid, a rectangular bar, and a cylinder. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetostrictive core is continuous. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetostrictive core is METGLAS®. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetostrictive core is a ferromagnetic material. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetostrictive core is electrically coupled in series with the audio signal output device. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetostrictive core is electrically coupled in parallel with the audio signal output device. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the audio signal output device is coupled with a device selected from the group consisting of: a computer, a personal digital assistant, a hand-held gaming device, a radio, a stereo, a cassette player, a video recorder/player, a DVD player, a television, a telephone, and a cellular phone. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a number of windings of the at least one wire about the magnetostrictive core is in the range of 50-500 windings. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein an inductance of the magnetostrictive core wound with at least one wire is in the range of 0.15-0.8 milli-Henries. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a magnetostrictive factor of the magnetostrictive core is in the range of 8-12 parts per million. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a gauge of the at least one wire is in the range of 25-45 gauge. 
     
     
         13 . A method for generating a modified audio signal comprising:
 providing a magnetostrictive core wound with at least one wire;   translating a first electrical signal through an audio signal output device to generate a baseline audio signal; and   translating a second electrical signal through the at least one wire to induce the magnetostrictive core to vibrate, wherein vibration of the magnetostrictive core produces an output signal, and further wherein the output signal may be selectively tuned and coupled with the baseline audio signal to generate the modified audio signal.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising transmitting the modified audio signal to a receiver in a hearing aid of a hearing impaired person. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising selecting the magnetostrictive core shape from a group consisting of: a toroid, a rectangular bar, and a cylinder. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising selecting METGLAS® as a magnetostrictive core material. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising selecting a ferromagnetic material as a magnetostrictive core material. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising electrically coupling the magnetostrictive core in series with the audio signal output device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising electrically coupling the magnetostrictive core in parallel with the audio signal output device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a source of the first electrical signal is selected from a group consisting of: a computer, a personal digital assistant, a hand-held gaming device, a radio, a stereo, a cassette player, a video recorder/player, a DVD player, a television, a telephone, and a cellular phone. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a number of windings of the at least one wire about the magnetostrictive core is in the range of 50-500 windings. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a gauge of the at least one wire is in the range of 25-45 gauge. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein an inductance of the magnetostrictive core wound with at least one wire is in the range of 0.15-0.8 milli-Henries. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a magnetostrictive factor of the magnetostrictive core is in the range of 8-12 parts per million. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising filtering audio signal frequencies. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising shifting one or more audio signal frequencies. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the baseline audio signal has a fundamental frequency, and wherein the method of  claim 13  further comprises selectively amplifying one or more harmonics of the fundamental frequency. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising reducing electromagnetic interference. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the second electrical signal is modified in translation, and further wherein the modified signal is non-linear. 
     
     
         30 . A method for modifying an audio signal perceived by a hearing impaired person comprising:
 providing a magnetostrictive core wound with at least one wire;   translating a first electrical signal through an audio output device to generate the audio signal;   translating a second electrical signal through the at least one wire to induce the magnetostrictive core to vibrate, wherein vibration of the magnetostrictive core produces an output signal, and further wherein the output signal couples with the audio signal to modify the audio signal; and   transmitting the modified audio signal to a receiver in a hearing aid worn by the hearing impaired person.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the magnetostrictive core is positioned in a handset of a telephone. 
     
     
         32 . An improved audio signal system of the type in which an electrical signal, derived from a received audio signal, is used by an output device to replicate the received audio signal, wherein the improvement comprises:
 a modifying means for modifying the characteristics of the replicated audio signal to improve perceived replicated audio signal quality.   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the modifying means includes:
 a magnetostrictive core; and   at least one wire wound about the magnetostrictive core   wherein an electrical signal translated through the at least one wire induces a vibration of the magnetostrictive core, and further wherein vibration of the magnetostrictive core generates an output signal which couples with the replicated audio signal to modify the characteristics of the replicated audio signal.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the modifying means includes:
 a means for converting the received audio signal to a digital signal;   a means for operating on the digital signal to modify the digital signal; and   a means for converting the modified digital signal to an analog signal for transmission through the output device.   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the magnetostrictive core shape is selected from a group consisting of: a toroid, a rectangular bar, and a cylinder. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the magnetostrictive core is METGLAS®. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the magnetostrictive core is a ferromagnetic material. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the magnetostrictive core is electrically coupled in series with the output device. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the magnetostrictive core is electrically coupled in parallel with the output device. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the output device is coupled with a device selected from the group consisting of: a computer, a personal digital assistant, a hand-held gaming device, a radio, a stereo, a cassette player, a video recorder/player, a DVD player, a television, a telephone, and a cellular phone. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein a number of windings of the at least one wire about the magnetostrictive core is in the range of 50-500 windings. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein an inductance of the magnetostrictive core wound with at least one wire is in the range of 0.15-0.8 milli-Henries. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein a magnetostrictive factor of the magnetostrictive core is in the range of 8-12 parts per million. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein a gauge of the at least one wire is in the range of 25-45 gauge. 
     
     
         45 . An audio signal system comprising:
 an output means for outputting an audio signal;   a means for inducing a magnetostrictive core to vibrate; and   a means for coupling a vibratory output of the magnetostrictive core with an audio signal from the outputting means to enhance the perceived quality of the audio signal.