US 11,894,819 B2
Audio monitoring system
Stephen D. Julstrom, Chicago, IL (US); and Michael J. Santucci, Oak Park, IL (US)
Assigned to Sensaphonics, Inc., Chicago, IL (US)
Filed by Sensaphonics, Inc., Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Feb. 15, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/176,016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/978,102, filed on Feb. 18, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0257981 A1, Aug. 19, 2021
Int. Cl. H03G 3/30 (2006.01); H04R 1/10 (2006.01); G06F 3/16 (2006.01); H04R 1/08 (2006.01); A61F 11/08 (2006.01); H03G 5/16 (2006.01); H04R 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC H03G 3/3005 (2013.01) [A61F 11/08 (2013.01); G06F 3/165 (2013.01); H03G 5/165 (2013.01); H04R 1/08 (2013.01); H04R 1/1016 (2013.01); H04R 1/1041 (2013.01); H04R 1/1083 (2013.01); H04R 3/007 (2013.01); H03G 2201/103 (2013.01); H04R 2420/07 (2013.01); H04R 2430/01 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hearing protection and enhancement system comprising:
first and second earpieces, each earpiece having an outward-facing microphone for generating a signal representative of sound external to a user and an inward-facing receiver;
a central signal processing unit coupled to the first and second earpieces for providing electronic control of signal processing parameters of each earpiece signal;
a portable electronic device connected to the central signal processing unit;
an amplifier for amplifying the signal from the microphones of each of the first and second earpieces;
a limiter coupled between the amplifier and an equalizer to reduce the dynamic range of the signal from the microphones of each of the first and second earpieces to remain within the capabilities of the following processing and output circuitry and wherein the limiter in each earpiece rapidly responds to the onset of clipping within the signal chain; and
an interface allowing communication between the portable electronic device and the central signal processing unit;
wherein the signal processing parameters for the earpieces can be set by the portable electronic device and stored to the central signal processing unit via the interface to allow the portable electronic device to be disconnected from the central signal processing unit.