| United States Patent |
6,426,919
|
|
Gerosa
|
July 30, 2002
|
Portable and hand-held device for making humanly audible sounds responsive
to the detecting of ultrasonic sounds
Abstract
A portable and hand-held device for making humanly audible sounds
responsive to the detecting of ultrasonic sounds. The device includes a
hand-held housing and circuitry that is contained in the housing. The
circuitry includes a microphone that receives the ultrasonic sound, a
first low voltage audio power amplifier that strengthens the signal from
the microphone, a second low voltage audio power amplifier that further
strengthens the signal from the first low voltage audio power amplifier, a
7-stage ripple carry binary counter that lowers the frequency of the
signal from the second low voltage audio power amplifier so as to be
humanly audible, a third low voltage audio power amplifier that
strengthens the signal from the 7-stage ripple carry binary counter, and a
speaker that generates a humanly audible sound from the third low voltage
audio power amplifier.
| Inventors:
|
Gerosa; William A. (12-6 Foxwood Dr., Pleasantville, NY 10570)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
754543 |
| Filed:
|
January 4, 2001 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
367/132 |
| Intern'l Class: |
H04B 011/00 |
| Field of Search: |
367/132,134,135,137
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
| 4039999 | Aug., 1977 | Weston.
| |
| 4821326 | Apr., 1989 | MacLeod | 381/51.
|
| 5539705 | Jul., 1996 | Akerman et al. | 367/132.
|
| 5661699 | Aug., 1997 | Sutton | 367/132.
|
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 29714812 | Oct., 1997 | DE.
| |
Primary Examiner: Pihulic; Daniel T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Miller; Richard L.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A portable and hand-held device for making humanly audible sounds
responsive to the detecting of ultrasonic sounds, said device comprising:
a) a housing for being portable and hand-held; and
b) circuitry contained in said housing for detecting, and making humanly
audible, the ultrasonic sounds, wherein said housing is
rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped, contains a chamber, and has:
i) a top wall; and
ii) a front wall, wherein said top wall of said housing has:
A) a pair of ends; and
B) a switch throughbore that is disposed through one end thereof, and which
communicates with said chamber in said housing, wherein said top wall of
said housing further has a microphone throughbore that is disposed through
the other end thereof, and which communicates with said chamber in said
housing, wherein said front wall of said housing has:
I) an upper corner; and
II) a speaker throughbore that is disposed centrally therethrough, and
which communicates with said chamber in said housing, wherein said front
wall of said housing further has an audio jack throughbore that is
disposed through said upper corner thereof, and which communicates with
said chamber in said housing, wherein said circuitry is contained in said
chamber in said housing, wherein said circuitry comprises a PC board that
is contained in said chamber in said housing, wherein said circuitry
further comprises a power switch that extends in said switch throughbore
in said top wall of said housing for allowing a user to operate said power
switch with the thumb while said housing is held in the palm of the hand,
and which selectively turns said circuitry on and off, wherein said
circuitry further comprises a power interface that is in electrical
communication with said power switch and ground for interfacing with a
battery power source, wherein said circuitry further comprises a
microphone that extends in said microphone throughbore in said top wall of
said housing for allowing the user to point said microphone at a target
while said housing is held in the palm of the hand and said power switch
is operated by the thumb of the user, is in electrical communication with
said ground, and is for receiving the ultrasonic sound that is not humanly
audible, and in response thereto, generates a signal, wherein said
circuitry further comprises a first low voltage audio power amplifier that
is disposed on said PC board, is in electrical communication with said
ground, said power switch, and said microphone, and receives said signal
from said microphone, and in response thereto, generates a strengthened
signal, wherein said circuitry further comprises a second low voltage
audio power amplifier that is disposed on said PC board, is in electrical
communication with said first low voltage audio power amplifier, said
ground, and said power switch, and receives said strengthened signal from
said first low voltage audio power amplifier, and in response thereto,
generates a further strengthened signal.
2. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said circuitry further
comprises a 7-stage ripple carry binary counter that is disposed on said
PC board, is in electrical communication with said second low voltage
audio power amplifier, said ground, and said power switch, and receives
said further strengthened signal from said second low voltage audio power
amplifier, and in response thereto, generates a lowered frequency signal
that is humanly audible.
3. The device as defined in claim 2, wherein said circuitry further
comprises a third low voltage audio power amplifier that is disposed on
said PC board, is in electrical communication with said 7-stage
ripple-carry binary counter, said ground, and said power switch, and
receives said lowered frequency signal that is humanly audible from said
7-stage ripple-carry binary counter, and in response thereto, generates a
strengthened signal that is humanly audible.
4. The device as defined in claim 3, wherein said circuitry further
comprises a speaker that extends in said speaker throughbore in said front
wall of said housing for allowing the user to listen while pointing said
microphone at the target while said housing is held in the palm of the
hand and said power switch is operated by the thumb of the user, is in
electrical communication with said third low voltage audio power amplifier
and said ground, and receives said strengthened signal that is humanly
audible from said third low voltage audio power amplifier, and in response
thereto, generates a humanly audible sound.
5. The device as defined in claim 4, wherein said speaker is an ultrasonic
that has a sound frequency range which spans from 20 hertz to 40
kilohertz.
6. The device as defined in claim 3, wherein said circuitry further
comprises an audio output jack that extends in said audio jack throughbore
in said front wall of said housing, is in electrical communication with
said 7-stage ripple-carry binary counter, prior to said third low voltage
audio power amplifier, and receives said lowered frequency signal that is
humanly audible from said 7-stage ripple-carry binary counter, and in
response thereto, makes said lowered frequency signal that is humanly
audible available for recording and future analysis.
7. The device as defined in claim 6, wherein said audio output jack is high
impedance.
8. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said circuitry further
comprises a first capacitor that is in electrical communication with said
first low voltage audio power amplifier and said second low voltage audio
power amplifier.
9. The device as defined in claim 8, wherein said first capacitor is rated
at 0.047 .mu.f.
10. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said circuitry further
comprises a second capacitor that electrically communicates across said
second low voltage audio power amplifier.
11. The device as defined in claim 10, wherein said second capacitor is
rated at 10 .mu.f.
12. The device as defined in claim 3, wherein said circuitry further
comprises a third capacitor that is in electrical communication with said
7-stage ripple-carry binary counter and said third low voltage audio power
amplifier.
13. The device as defined in claim 12, wherein said third capacitor is
rated at 470 .mu.f.
14. The device as defined in claim 4, wherein said circuitry further
comprises a fourth capacitor that is in electrical communication with said
7-stage ripple-carry binary counter and said speaker.
15. The device as defined in claim 14, wherein said fourth capacitor is
rated at 470 .mu.f.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable and hand-held device. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a portable and hand-held
device for detecting ultrasonic sounds, and making humanly audible sounds
responsive thereto.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous innovations for communication systems have been provided in the
prior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may be
suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address,
however, they differ from the present invention.
A FIRST EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,039,999 to Weston teaches amplitude
modulation systems for underwater communication having a number of
disadvantages. For example, with a number of divers attempting to
communicate simultaneously, intolerable cross-talk occurs. Variable tuning
is necessary to overcome this problem. However, the invention disclosed
herein uses angle modulation (phase or frequency modulation) which
inherently has fewer noise problems and, because of the "capture effect"
reduces any cross-talk problems. In an exemplary embodiment an audio
transducer feeds a modulator to produce frequency modulated radio
frequency signals which are fed to a balanced modulator together with a
fixed frequency radio frequency signal from a local oscillator. The output
of the balanced modulator comprises ultrasonic frequency signals which are
frequency modulated in accordance with the audio signals. Also disclosed
is a receiver for such ultrasonic frequency signals. By the use of
integrated circuits, a combined ultrasonic transmitter and receiver may be
provided in a compact unit adapted to be strapped on the head of a diver.
A SECOND EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,326 to MacLeod teaches a non-audible
speech generation apparatus and method for producing non-audible speech
signals which includes an ultrasonic transducer or vibrator for projecting
a series of glottal shaped ultrasonic pulses to the vocal track of a
speaker. The glottal pulses, in the approximate frequency spectrum
extending from fifteen kilohertz to one hundred five kilohertz, contain
harmonics of approximately 30 times the frequency of the acoustical
harmonics generated by the vocal cords, but which may nevertheless be
amplitude modulated to produce non-audible speech by the speaker's
silently mouthing of words. The ultrasonic speech is then received by an
ultrasonic detector disposed outside of the speaker's mouth and
electrically communicated to a translation device which down converts the
ultrasonic signals to corresponding signals in the audible frequency range
and synthesizes the signals into artificial speech.
A THIRD EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,529,705 to Ackerman et al. teaches a
wireless communication system that is undetectable by radio frequency
methods for converting audio signals, including human voice, to electronic
signals in the ultrasonic frequency range, transmitting the ultrasonic
signal by way of acoustical pressure waves across a carrier medium,
including gases, liquids, or solids, and reconverting the ultrasonic
acoustical pressure waves back to the original audio signal. The
ultrasonic speech translator and communication system includes an
ultrasonic transmitting device and an ultrasonic receiving device. The
ultrasonic transmitting device accepts as input an audio signal such as
human voice input from a microphone or tape deck. The ultrasonic
transmitting device frequency modulates an ultrasonic carrier signal with
the audio signal producing a frequency modulated ultrasonic carrier
signal, which is transmitted via acoustical pressure waves across a
carrier medium such as gases, liquids or solids. The ultrasonic receiving
device converts the frequency modulated ultrasonic acoustical pressure
waves to a frequency modulated electronic signal, demodulates the audio
signal from the ultrasonic carrier signal, and conditions the demodulated
audio signal to reproduce the original audio signal at its output.
A FOURTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,699 to Sutton teaches an acoustic
communication system that comprises: a voice processing circuit which
generates a first signal representing a voice message; a noise sensor
channel which generates a second signal in response to detecting
background noise in an environment; a microcomputer which receives the
first and second signals, and provides a third signal to a selected one of
first and second output ports of the microcomputer, where the amplitude of
the third signal is functionally related to the value of the second
signal; an ultrasonic output channel coupled to the first output port and
which generates an ultrasonic output signal representing the voice message
in response to receiving the third signal; a public address channel
coupled to the second output port which generates an audible signal
representing the voice message in response to receiving the third signal;
and an ultrasonic receiving system which generates an audible output
representing the voice message in response to receiving the ultrasonic
output signal.
It is apparent that numerous innovations for communication systems have
been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Furthermore,
even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual
purposes to which they address, however, they would not be suitable for
the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
ACCORDINGLY, AN OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a portable
and hand-held device for detecting, and making humanly audible, ultrasonic
sounds that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.
ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a portable and
hand-held device for detecting, and making humanly audible, ultrasonic
sounds that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
STILL ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a portable and
hand-held device for detecting, and making humanly audible, ultrasonic
sounds that is simple to use.
BRIEFLY STATED, STILL YET ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to
provide a portable and hand-held device for detecting, and making humanly
audible, ultrasonic sounds. The device includes a hand-held housing and
circuitry that is contained in the housing. The circuitry includes a
microphone that receives the ultrasonic sound, a first low voltage audio
power amplifier that strengthens the signal from the microphone, a second
low voltage audio power amplifier that further strengthens the signal from
the first low voltage audio power amplifier, a 7-stage ripple carry binary
counter that lowers the frequency of the signal from the second low
voltage audio power amplifier so as to be humanly audible, a third low
voltage audio power amplifier that strengthens the signal from the 7-stage
ripple carry binary counter, and a speaker that generates a humanly
audible sound from the third low voltage audio power amplifier.
The novel features which are considered characteristic of the present
invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself,
however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together
with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood
from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and
understood in connection with the accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The figures of the drawing are briefly described as follows:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the circuitry of the present invention; and
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the circuitry of the present invention.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING
10 portable and hand-held device of present invention for making humanly
audible sounds responsive to the detecting of ultrasonic sounds
12 housing for being portable and hand-held
14 circuitry for detecting, and making humanly audible, ultrasonic sounds
16 top wall of housing 12
18 front wall of housing 12
20 chamber contained in housing 12
22 pair of ends of top wall 16 of housing 12
24 switch throughbore through one end of pair of ends 22 of housing 12
26 microphone throughbore through other end of pair of ends 22 of housing
12
27 upper corner of front wall 18 of housing 12
28 speaker throughbore centrally through front wall 18 of housing 12
29 audio jack throughbore through upper corner 27 of front wall 18 of
housing 12
30 PC board of circuitry 14
32 power switch of circuitry 14
34 power interface of circuitry 14 for interfacing with power source 36
36 power source
38 microphone of circuitry 14 for receiving ultrasonic sound that is not
humanly audible
40 first low voltage audio power amplifier of circuitry 14
42 second low voltage audio power amplifier of circuitry 14
44 7-stage ripple carry binary counter of circuitry 14
46 third low voltage audio power amplifier of circuitry 14
48 speaker of circuitry 14
50 audio output jack of circuitry 14
52 first capacitor of circuitry 14
54 second capacitor of circuitry 14
56 third capacitor of circuitry 14
58 fourth capacitor of circuitry 14
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts,
and particularly to FIG. 1, the portable and hand-held device of the
present invention is shown generally at 10 for making humanly audible
sounds responsive to the detecting of ultrasonic sounds.
The overall configuration of the portable and hand-held device 10 can best
be seen in FIG. 1, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.
The portable and hand-held device 10 comprises a housing 12 for being
portable and hand-held, and circuitry 14 that is contained in the housing
12 for making humanly audible sounds responsive to the detecting of
ultrasonic sounds.
The configuration of the housing 12 can best be seen in FIG. 1, and as
such, will be discussed with reference thereto.
The housing 12 is rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped, and has a top wall 16,
a front wall 18, and contains a chamber 20.
The top wall 16 of the housing 12 has a pair of ends 22 and a switch
throughbore 24 that is disposed through one end 22 thereof, and which
communicates with the chamber 20 in the housing 12.
The top wall 16 of the housing 12 further has a microphone throughbore 26
that is disposed through the other end 22 thereof, and which communicates
with the chamber 20 in the housing 12.
The front wall 18 of the housing 12 has an upper corner 27 and a speaker
throughbore 28 that is disposed centrally therethrough, and which
communicates with the chamber 20 in the housing 12.
The front wall 18 of the housing 12 further has an audio jack throughbore
29 that is disposed through the upper corner 27 thereof, and which
communicates with the chamber 20 in the housing 12.
The circuitry 14 can best be seen in FIGS. 1-3, and as such, will be
discussed with reference thereto.
The circuitry 14 is contained in the chamber 20 in the housing 12.
The circuitry 14 comprises a PC board 30 that is contained in the chamber
20 in the housing 12.
The circuitry 14 further comprises a power switch 32 that extends in the
switch throughbore 24 in the top wall 16 of the housing 12 for allowing a
user to operate the power switch 32 with the thumb while the housing 12 is
held in the palm of the hand, and which selectively turns the circuitry 14
on and off.
The circuitry 14 further comprises a power interface 34 that is in
electrical communication with the power switch 32 and ground 35 for
interfacing with a power source 36, with the power source being a 9 to 12
volt DC battery, preferably a 9 volt DC battery.
The circuitry 14 further comprises a microphone 38 that extends in the
microphone throughbore 26 in the top wall 16 of the housing 12 for
allowing the user to point the microphone 38 at a target while the housing
12 is held in the palm of the hand and the power switch 32 is operated by
the thumb of the user, is in electrical communication with the ground 35,
and is for receiving the ultrasonic sound that is not humanly audible, and
in response thereto, generates a signal.
The circuitry 14 further comprises a first low voltage audio power
amplifier 40 that is disposed on the PC board 30, is in electrical
communication with the ground 35, the power switch 32, and the microphone
38, and receives the signal from the microphone 38, and in response
thereto, generates a strengthened signal.
A typical first low voltage audio power amplifier 40 is sold under part
number LM386 by the National Semiconductor Corporation.
The part number LM386 is a power amplifier designed for use in low voltage
consumer application. The gain is internally set to 20 to keep external
part count low, but the addition of an external resister and capacitor
between pins 1 and 8 will increase the gain to any value up to 200. The
inputs are ground referenced while the output is automatically biased to
one half the supply voltage. The quiescent power drain is only 24
milliwatts when operating from a 6 volt supply, making the LM386 ideal for
battery operation.
The data sheet for the LM386 is included herewith and is to be incorporated
herein by reference thereto.
The circuitry 14 further comprises a second low voltage audio power
amplifier 42 that is disposed on the PC board 30, is in electrical
communication with the first low voltage audio power amplifier 40, the
ground 35, and the power switch 32, and receives the strengthened signal
from the first low voltage audio power amplifier 40, and in response
thereto, generates a further strengthened signal.
A typical second low voltage audio power amplifier 42 is sold under part
number LM386 by the National Semiconductor Corporation and discussed
supra.
The circuitry 14 further comprises a 7-stage ripple carry binary counter 44
that is disposed on the PC board 30, is in electrical communication with
the second low voltage audio power amplifier 42, the ground 35, and the
power switch 32, and receives the further strengthened signal from the
second low voltage audio power amplifier 42, and in response thereto,
generates a lowered frequency signal that is humanly audible.
A typical 7-stage ripple-carry binary counter 44 is sold under part number
CD4024BC by the National Semiconductor Corporation.
The CD4024BC is reset to its logical "0" stage by a logical "1" on the
reset input. The counter is advanced one count on the negative transition
of each clock pulse. Buffered outputs are externally available from stages
1 through 7.
The data sheet for the CD4024BC is included herewith and is to be
incorporated herein by reference thereto.
The circuitry 14 further comprises a third low voltage audio power
amplifier 46 that is disposed on the PC board 30, is in electrical
communication with the 7-stage ripple-carry binary counter 44, the ground
35, and the power switch 32, and receives the lowered frequency signal
that is humanly audible from the 7-stage ripple-carry binary counter 44,
and in response thereto, generates a strengthened signal that is humanly
audible.
A typical third low voltage audio power amplifier 46 is sold under part
number LM386 by the National Semiconductor Corporation and discussed
supra.
The circuitry 14 further comprises a speaker 48 that extends in the speaker
throughbore 28 in the front wall 18 of the housing 12 for allowing the
user to listen while pointing the microphone 48 at the target while the
housing 12 is held in the palm of the hand and the power switch 32 is
operated by the thumb of the user, is in electrical communication with the
third low voltage audio power amplifier 46 and the ground 35, and receives
the strengthened signal that is humanly audible from the third low voltage
audio power amplifier 46, and in response thereto, generates a humanly
audible sound.
The speaker 48 is a transducer that has a sound frequency range which spans
from 20 hertz to 40 kilohertz.
The circuitry 14 further comprises an audio output jack 50 that extends in
the audio jack throughbore 29 in the front wall 18 of the housing 12, is
in electrical communication with the 7-stage ripple-carry binary counter
44, prior to the third low voltage audio power amplifier 46, and receives
the lowered frequency signal that is humanly audible from the 7-stage
ripple-carry binary counter 44, and in response thereto, makes the lowered
frequency signal that is humanly audible available for recording and
future analysis.
The audio output jack 50 is high impedance.
The circuitry 14 further comprises a first capacitor 52 that is in
electrical communication with the first low voltage audio power amplifier
40 and the second low voltage audio power amplifier 42.
The first capacitor 52 is rated at 0.047 .mu.f.
The circuitry 14 further comprises a second capacitor 54 that electrically
communicates across the second low voltage audio power amplifier 42.
The second capacitor 54 is rated at 10 .mu.f.
The circuitry 14 further comprises a third capacitor 56 that is in
electrical communication with the 7-stage ripple-carry binary counter 44
and the third low voltage audio power amplifier 46.
The third capacitor 56 is rated at 470 .mu.f.
The circuitry 14 further comprises a fourth capacitor 58 that is in
electrical communication with the 7-stage ripple-carry binary counter 44
and the speaker 48.
The fourth capacitor 58 is rated at 470 .mu.f.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or
more together, may also find a useful application in other types of
constructions differing from the types described above.
While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a
portable and hand-held device for detecting, and making humanly audible,
ultrasonic sounds, however, it is not limited to the details shown, since
it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions
and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and its
operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any
way from the spirit of the present invention.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of
the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,
readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that,
from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute characteristics of the
generic or specific aspects of this invention.
* * * * *