Abstract: Techniques are provided for vector noise cancellation. Different value combinations for a plurality of weighting factors may be established for a plurality of selection regions. Each value combination for the plurality of weighting factors may correspond to a different combination of a set of input signals. One or more characteristics of input signals may be used to select a particular selection region. A particular value combination of the set of weighting factors may be chosen to attenuate or amplify the input signals to generate one or more output signals.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for vector noise cancellation. Different value combinations for a plurality of weighting factors may be established for a plurality of selection regions. Each value combination for the plurality of weighting factors may correspond to a different combination of a set of input signals. One or more characteristics of input signals may be used to select a particular selection region. A particular value combination of the set of weighting factors may be chosen to attenuate or amplify the input signals to generate one or more output signals.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for vector noise cancellation. Different value combinations for a plurality of weighting factors may be established for a plurality of selection regions. Each value combination for the plurality of weighting factors may correspond to a different combination of a set of input signals. One or more characteristics of input signals may be used to select a particular selection region. A particular value combination of the set of weighting factors may be chosen to attenuate or amplify the input signals to generate one or more output signals.

Abstract: The two-way communication earpiece is a small, inconspicious, and comfortable earpiece which fits behind the ear for sound delivery and pickup. The earpiece may be used with a variety of communication devices, such as telephones, cellular telephones, two-way radios, radios, tape players, CD players, and televisions. The earpiece is configured to be received behind the ear of a user with a sound delivery tube extending from behind the ear into the ear canal of the user. An eartip positioned on the sound delivery tube is preferably a non-occluding type eartip which allows ambient sound to enter the ear canal around the eartip. A microphone is positioned on the earpiece above the ear for voice pickup.

Abstract: A two-way communication system using a delay element in one unit allows frequency information from an uplink signal received during an uplink receiving period to be delayed, then modulated and amplified for use in a transmitted signal in a downlink transmitting period.

Abstract: A communications earpiece comprises an ear canal tube sized for positioning in an ear canal of a user so that the ear canal is at least partially open for directly receiving ambient sounds. A microphone port in the ear canal tube is located in the ear canal for detecting sounds in the ear canal. A speaker port in the ear canal tube is located in the ear canal in close proximity to the microphone port for broadcasting sound signals into the ear canal. A sound processor amplifies the ambient sounds received by the microphone to produce processed analog signals. The sound processor also comprises noise cancellation means for producing an inverse noise signal of noise detected in the ear canal by the microphone. The inverse noise signal is sent to the speaker port so as to be broadcast into the ear canal thereby substantially canceling the ambient noise in the ear canal.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a hearing aid apparatus which can function in a hearing aid state and a communications state, by automatically switching between the hearing aid state and the communications state. Exemplary embodiments combine the functions of headset operation and hearing aid operation into an apparatus which can connect with communication devices and which can automatically reconfigure itself to function as a hearing aid for addressing a hearing impairment of the user. Exemplary embodiments can be configured small and comfortable to permit wear over extended periods of time.

Abstract: A tetherless handset telephone with an earpiece connection port is disclosed. The handset is small in size and has an internal antenna. Thus, the handset can easily be placed within the user's pocket. A belt carrier for use with the handset holds the handset upside-down with the connection port easily accessible. The handset is arranged so that it can be cradled within a base unit and recharged while the handset is face-up.

Abstract: A communications earpiece is disclosed which can be used by hearing impaired and non-hearing impaired users so as to be able to communicate with an external device such as personal communications nodes or cellular phones. A communications earpiece comprises a ear canal tube sized for positioning in an ear canal of a user so that the ear canal is at least partially open for directly receiving ambient sounds. A sound processor amplifies received ambient sounds to produced processed analog signals. A bidirectional wired connector is used for connecting the communications earpiece to external devices wherein the processed analog signals produced by the sound processor are sent to the external devices through the connector and signals from the external device are sent to the earpiece through the connector. The signals sent from the external device to the earpiece are then applied to the speaker in the earpiece.

Abstract: A communication system provides two-way wireless communication between a user and at least one remote device. The communication system comprises at least one earpiece worn by the user and a personal communication device for receiving and transmitting signals over a wireless link to and from the earpiece. The personal communication device includes voice recognition circuitry which recognizes and interprets voice commands of the user. The personal communication device is configured to determine a remote device to receive each of the voice commands, and transmits the appropriate voice commands to the remote device, accordingly.

Abstract: A communications earpiece is disclosed which can be used by hearing impaired and non-hearing impaired users so as to be able to communicate with an external device such as personal communications node or cellular phone via a wireless link. A communications earpiece comprises an ear canal tube sized for positioning in an ear canal of a user so that the ear canal is at least partially open for directly receiving ambient sounds. A sound processor amplifies the received ambient sounds to produce a processed analog signal. The processed analog signal is then converted into digital signals and transmitted to a remote unit via a wireless link. The earpiece also receives signals from the remote unit which are then processed and applied to a speaker in the earpiece.

Abstract: An earpiece for a sound delivery system has a sound output port for delivering sound into the ear canal of the user. A cerumen block is provided to prevent cerumen or earwax from blocking the sound output port of the earpiece. The cerumen block is formed by a small flap of material which covers the sound output port and blocks cerumen from entering the sound output port in a closed position while allowing sound to pass around the flap and enter the ear canal in an open position. A resilient hinge returns the cerumen flap to the open position once the earpiece has been placed within the ear canal.

Abstract: An open ear canal hearing aid system is disclosed which comprises a plurality of ear canal tubes sized for positioning in an ear canal of a user so that the ear canal is at least partially open for directly receiving ambient sounds. The open ear canal hearing aid system further comprises a sound processor for amplifying ambient sounds received through one of the ear canal tubes within a predetermined frequency range and to produce processed sounds and for supplying the processed sounds to the second ear canal tube. According to other embodiments of the present invention, the speaker and/or microphone can be located in the ear canal at the end of the ear canal tubes. In these embodiments, the speaker and/or microphone are electrically connected to the sound processor by wires in the ear canal tubes.