Voice communication device with foreign language translation
An earpiece adapted for being worn by a user includes an earpiece housing, at least one microphone within the earpiece housing, a speaker within the earpiece housing, and a pulse oximeter associated with the earpiece housing. The device may further include an intelligent control operatively connected to the pulse oximeter, a short range transceiver operatively connected to the intelligent control, and a temperature sensor.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/967,415 filed on Aug. 15, 2013 which is a continuation application of U.S. Ser. No. 10/022,022 filed Dec. 13, 2001 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,527,280), both of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a voice communication device with foreign language translation. Given the widespread availability of travel the need for foreign language translation has increased. The present invention has applications in numerous areas and instances where foreign language translation is desirable. One particular application of the present invention is in military applications.
U.S. troops have often been required to render assistance in numerous foreign environments. For example, U.S. troops have been used as members of peacekeeping forces in various countries. Further, U.S. troops have been deployed to counter terrorism in the Middle East. In these and other situations, these military personnel are placed at a disadvantage and are potentially subjected to dangers, heightened by the fact that these personnel are unable to speak the native languages used by the people around them. In these types of missions, there is an acute need to be able to understand the locals or natives. The military personnel have a huge and heavy burden of administering justice by neutralizing threats without compromising the safety of innocents in an effort to reduce or eliminate any collateral damage. This places military personnel in a difficult situation.
The identification of potential threats would be aided if the military personnel could understand the language used by the people around them. Knowledge of a foreign language has long been considered an asset in the military. For example, Green Berets are required to speak at least a second language. Nevertheless, given the tenure of today's society where it is not known where conflict may arise and it is not known what language military personnel should be versed in, it is not practical to have sufficient numbers of troops who speak every language that is needed. This problem is further complicated by the fact that there are numerous dialects associated with various languages. Further, even if some troops are skilled in a particular language, it is impractical for every troop to be skilled in that language. Therefore, problems remain.
These same problems are also prevalent in contexts outside of the military. For example, people involved in business, education, and even tourists have reason to speak languages beyond their native tongue. Learning a foreign language can be time-consuming, and many people may not have the time or discipline to do so. Further, many people have the need to communicate in a variety of foreign languages, and it is often impractical for these people to learn every foreign language they might encounter.
Therefore, as a primary object of the present invention to improve upon the state of the art.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a voice communication device which provides for foreign language translation.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a voice communication device which is nonocclusive in nature.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a voice communication device that is small and lightweight.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a voice communication device that a soldier can wear in conjunction with a helmet.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a voice communication device that is capable of listening in on voice communications that may be outside the range of normal human hearing.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a voice communication device that is capable of listening to voice conversations in multiple directions relative to the operator of the voice communications device.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from that which is now described.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention includes methods and devices for foreign language translation. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a nonocclusive earpiece that allows the wearer to continue to hear environmental sounds is disclosed. The nonocclusive earpiece includes a plurality of microphones, preferably directional. The directional microphones allow reception of voice communications in microphone positions or orientations relative to the person wearing the earpiece. One of the pluralities of directional microphone may be selected either manually or automatically. Voice sound information received by the corresponding directional microphone can then be amplified and processed. The resulting voice sound information signal is then translated. The translation may occur locally within the earpiece. Alternatively, the translation may occur at a remote location. When translation occurs remotely, the earpiece transmits the selected signal to a translation unit which translates the voice communication and transmits the resulting translation back to the earpiece. The earpiece receives the translation and transduces the translated voice sound information through a speaker disposed within the earpiece.
The present invention will now be described as it applies to an exemplary embodiment. It is not intended that the present invention be limited to the described embodiment. It is intended the invention cover all modifications and alternatives which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention.
The earpiece 10 shown in
The transmitter 26 provides for the transmission of one or more audio streams such as voice communications from one of the plurality of microphones. In addition, the transmitter preferably allows for the transmission of digital information received from the controller 62. This digital information can include pulse oximeter measurements as well as temperature measurements. In such a transmitter, the transmitter can provide for modulation of the digital data such that both analog and digital information can be received. The present invention also contemplates that the controller 62 can provide the same function if need be by modulating the digital information through pulse width modulation into audio.
Further, the earpiece is preferably nonocclusive in nature. This allows the operator to continue to hear the operator's surroundings even though the operator is also using the earpiece to receive voice communications.
Therefore, a voice communication device with foreign language translation has been disclosed. The present invention contemplates numerous variations in the languages translated, the specific translation product or device used, the number of microphones used, whether a bone conduction sensor, pulse oximeter, and/or temperature sensor are used, whether the translation occurs within the ear piece, within a device that is located within a short range of the ear piece, or by a device located remotely, whether the antenna used be directional or omnidirectional and other variations. The scope of the present invention should be construed broadly and is only to be limited to that which is claimed and all equivalents.
Claims
1. An earpiece adapted for being worn by a user, the earpiece comprising:
- an earpiece housing;
- at least one microphone within the earpiece housing;
- a speaker within the earpiece housing;
- a pulse oximeter associated with the earpiece housing.
2. The earpiece of claim 1 further comprising an intelligent control and wherein the pulse oximeter is operatively connected to the intelligent control.
3. The earpiece of claim 2 further comprising a short range transceiver disposed within the earpiece housing, the short range transceiver operatively connected to the intelligent control.
4. The earpiece of claim 3 further comprising a temperature sensor associated with the earpiece housing, the temperature sensor operatively connected to the intelligent control.
5. The earpiece of claim 1 wherein the microphone comprises a bone conduction sensor.
6. The earpiece of claim 2 wherein the intelligent control is configured to perform foreign language translation of voice input from the at least one microphone to produce a translation at the speaker.
7. The earpiece of claim 1 wherein the earpiece allows for ambient sound to be heard by the user.
8. The earpiece of claim 1 wherein the earpiece is non-occlusive to allow ambient sound to be heard by the user.
9. A method comprising:
- providing a device comprising an earpiece housing, at least one microphone within the earpiece housing, a speaker within the earpiece housing, and a pulse oximeter associated with the earpiece housing;
- obtaining measurements with the pulse oximeter, the pulse oximeter positioned at an ear;
- communicating data from the ear piece over a wireless communication channel, the data including the measurements.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the device further comprises an intelligent control operatively connected to the pulse oximeter.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the device further comprises a short range transceiver operatively connected to the intelligent control.
12. The method of claim 9 wherein the device further comprises a temperature sensor.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the data further comprises measurements from the temperature sensor.
14. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one microphone comprises a bone conduction sensor.
15. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one microphone comprises an air conduction sensor.
16. The method of claim 9 wherein the earpiece allows for ambient sound to be heard by the user.
17. The method of claim 9 wherein the earpiece is non-occlusive to allow ambient sound to be heard by the user.
18. An earpiece adapted for being worn by a user, the earpiece comprising:
- an earpiece housing;
- at least one microphone within the earpiece housing;
- a speaker within the earpiece housing;
- a sensor for providing physiological monitoring of the user, the sensor associated with the earpiece housing.
19. The earpiece of claim 18 wherein the sensor is a pulse oximeter.
20. The earpiece of claim 18 wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 31, 2015
Publication Date: Jan 7, 2016
Inventor: Peter V. Boesen (Munchen)
Application Number: 14/815,644