Hearing assistance system

Abstract

The present universal wearable computing device relates to a hearing assistance system, device, method, and apparatus that provide a discreet approach to user hearing assistance, without relying on a conventional hearing aid. The hearing assistance system and the requisite electronics may be incorporated into frames that also function as eyeglasses with earphone(s) that may be connected to the frame to assist user hearing. An earphone may be configured with minimal electronics, such that a power source enable sound transmissions to the ear, is provided by a connection to the frame of the eyeglasses. In another example, the earphone is configured without any electronics and sound is transmitted to the user/listener's ear(s) via a psychoacoustic system. The sound quality of the transmissions to the earphones may be optimized using a tuning/equalizer application operating from a computing device, such as an app on a mobile device. The tuning/equalizer application can be used by the user/listener to optimize volume input levels to the earphone(s).

1 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . A hearing assistance system, comprising:
 a frame configured to be worn on a head of a wearer, the frame including a bridge configured to be supported on a nose of the wearer;   a first transducer coupled to the frame, the first transducer including at least one microphone configured to receive an audio signal;   a converter configured to amplify the audio signal to an amplified representation of the audio signal;   a second transducer configured to emit the amplified representation of the audio signal to a speaker situated in the frame; and   a earbud coupled to an ear of the wearer, the earbud is removably connected to the speaker, via an interlock connection that facilitates amplified audio transmission, such that the speaker transmits the emitted amplified representation via the interlock connection and through a hollow tube to the earbud.   
     
     
         45 . The hearing assistance system of  claim 44 , wherein the interlock connection is a funnel-shaped interlock connection comprising:
 a female funnel shaped connector composed in part of a magnetic ring, the female funnel shaped connector positioned in the frame and coupled to the speaker;   a male funnel shaped connector composed of a material magnetically attracted to the female funnel shaped connector, such that the male funnel shaped connector creates a sealed attachment inside the female funnel shaped connector; and   the hollow tube comprising a radiator membrane and a coating to block external noise, wherein:
 a first end of the hollow tube is coupled inside of the male funnel shaped connector, such that when the male funnel shaped connector magnetically attaches inside the female funnel shaped connector, the hollow tube creates a sealed electronic connection with the speaker; and 
 the radiator membrane of the hollow tube vibrates in response to the emitted amplified representation received from the sealed electronic connection with the speaker, the radiator membrane configured to remove echo effects and absorb outside noise during transmission of the emitted amplified representation to the earbud coupled to a second end of the hollow tube. 
   
     
     
         46 . The hearing assistance system of  claim 44 , wherein the interlock connection is a v-shaped interlock connection comprising:
 a magnetic strip containing a female v-shaped connector, the magnetic strip positioned on the frame where the ear of the wearer attaches to the skull of the wearer;   an earclip for positioning over the ear of the wearer, the earclip comprising a ball joint with an attached male v-shaped connector positioned at top of the earclip, the earclip composed of a material attracted to the magnetic strip, such that the attached male v-shaped connector creates a sealed attachment inside the female v-shaped connector, thereby connecting the earclip to the frame; and   the earclip containing the hollow tube configured with a radiator membrane, wherein:
 a first end of the hollow tube is coupled inside of the male v-shaped connector, such that when the male v-shaped connector magnetically attaches inside the female v-shaped connector, the hollow tube creates a sealed electronic connection with the speaker; and 
 the radiator membrane of the hollow tube vibrates in response to the emitted amplified representation received from the sealed electronic connection with the speaker, the radiator membrane configured to remove echo effects and absorb outside sound during transmission of the emitted amplified representation to the earbud coupled to the earclip. 
   
     
     
         47 . The hearing assistance system of  claim 46 , wherein the earclip is configured with tapered edges and the ball joint to provide comfort to the wearer. 
     
     
         48 . The hearing assistance system of  claim 44 , wherein the hollow tube is made from flexible rubber that creates a sealed with the earbud that facilitates blocking out environmental noise. 
     
     
         49 . The hearing assistance system of  claim 44 , wherein the amplified representation of the audio signal is an acoustic amplified representation. 
     
     
         50 . The hearing assistance system of  claim 49 , wherein the acoustic amplified representation of the audio signal is transmitted through the hollow tube by reflecting off the inside walls of the hollow tube. 
     
     
         51 . The hearing assistance system of  claim 44 , wherein the interlock connection enables an electronic connection between the speaker and the earbud, by providing a sealed attachment of the or more metal coils inside the hollow tube to the speaker, the electronic connection powers the earbud to receive an electronic transmission of the emitted amplified representation from the speaker. 
     
     
         52 . The hearing assistance system of  claim 44 , wherein a change in air pressure vibrates a membrane within the hollow tube to enable efficient sound transmission of the amplified representation at low frequencies. 
     
     
         53 . The hearing assistance system of  claim 44 , wherein the system further includes:
 a third transducer configured to emit the amplified representation of the audio signal to a second speaker situated in the frame; and   a second earbud coupled to a second ear of the wearer, the second earbud is removably connected to the second speaker, via a second interlock connection that facilitates amplified audio transmission, such that the second speaker transmits the emitted amplified representation via the second interlock connection and through a second hollow tube to the second earbud.   
     
     
         54 . A computer-implemented method of providing hearing assistance, the method comprising:
 receiving, via a first transducer, an audio signal from at least one microphone positioned on a frame configured to be worn on a head of a wearer;   amplifying, via a converter, the audio signal into an amplified representation of the audio signal;   emitting, via a second transducer, the amplified representation of the audio signal to a speaker situated in the frame, the speaker coupled to an interlock connection positioned in a portion of the frame to facilitate amplified audio transmission; and   transmitting the emitted amplified representation from the speaker, via the interlock connection and through a hollow tube, to the earbud removably coupled to the frame.   
     
     
         55 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 54 , wherein the interlock connection is a funnel-shaped interlock connection and the method further comprises:
 magnetically attaching a male funnel shaped connector inside a female funnel shaped connector, such that the hollow tube, coupled to the male funnel shaped connector, creates a sealed electronic connection with the speaker, coupled to the female funnel shaped connector;   transmitting the amplified representation via the magnetically attached male funnel shaped connection through the attached hollow tube comprising a radiator membrane and coating to block external noise; and   vibrating the radiator membrane in response to the emitted amplified representation received from the sealed electronic connection with the speaker, wherein the radiator membrane is configured to remove echo effects and absorb outside noise during transmission of the emitted amplified representation to the earbud coupled to a second end of the hollow tube.   
     
     
         56 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 54 , wherein the interlock connection is a v-shaped interlock connection and the method further comprises:
 magnetically attaching an earclip to a magnetic strip position on the frame, the earclip comprising a ball joint with an attached male v-shaped connector positioned at top of the earclip, wherein the attached male v-shaped connector creates a sealed attachment inside the female v-shaped connector, such that the hollow tube coupled to the male v-shaped connector creates a sealed electronic connection with the speaker coupled to the female v-shaped connector;   transmitting the amplified representation via the male funnel shaped connection and through the attached hollow tube that comprises a radiator membrane and coating to block external noise; and   vibrating the radiator membrane in response to the emitted amplified representation received from the sealed electronic connection with the speaker, wherein the radiator membrane is configured to remove echo effects and absorb outside noise during transmission of the emitted amplified representation to the earbud coupled to a second end of the hollow tube.   
     
     
         57 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 56 , wherein the earclip is configured with tapered edges and the ball joint to provide comfort to the wearer. 
     
     
         58 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 54 , wherein the hollow tube is made from flexible rubber that creates a sealed with the earbud that facilitates blocking out environmental noise. 
     
     
         59 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 54 , wherein the amplified representation of the audio signal is an acoustic amplified representation. 
     
     
         60 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 54 , wherein the acoustic amplified representation of the audio signal is transmitted through the hollow tube by reflecting off the inside walls of the hollow tube. 
     
     
         61 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 54 , wherein the interlock connection enables an electronic connection between the speaker and the earbud, by providing a sealed attachment of the or more metal coils inside the hollow tube to the speaker, the electronic connection powers the earbud to receive an electronic transmission of the emitted amplified representation from the speaker. 
     
     
         62 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 54 , wherein a change in air pressure vibrates a membrane within the hollow tube to enable efficient sound transmission of the amplified representation at low frequencies. 
     
     
         63 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 54 , further comprising:
 emitting, via a third transducer, the amplified representation of the audio signal to a second speaker situated in the frame, the second speaker coupled to a second interlock connection positioned in a portion of the frame to facilitate amplified audio transmission; and   transmitting the emitted amplified representation from the second speaker, via the second interlock connection and through a second hollow tube, to a second earbud removably coupled to the frame.