BONE CONDUCTION AUDIO DEVICE
A bone conduction audio device transmits sound to a user via a skeletal pathway to prevent isolation of the user in environments where hearing protection is desired or required. A variety of hearing protection devices are compatible with the bone conduction audio device. A first and second microphone may respectively record different sources of sound, which are transmitted to a user's ears, an auxiliary device, or both.
1 . A bone conduction audio device comprising:
one or more microphones that record sound;
one or more conduction transducers that transmit the sound to a user via a skeletal structure of the user; and
a support that secures the one or more conduction transducers in engagement with the skeletal structure of the user when the bone conduction audio device is worn by the user;
wherein the user's ears are not obstructed by the one or more conduction transducers.
2 . The bone conduction audio device of claim 1 , further comprising an auxiliary microphone that records a user's voice.
3 . The bone conduction audio device of claim 2 , further comprising an I/O device that transmits the user's voice to an auxiliary device.
4 . The bone conduction audio device of claim 1 , further comprising a filter that attenuates one or more frequency ranges in the sound.
5 . The bone conduction audio device of claim 1 , further comprising a filter that attenuates the sound when the sound is above a particular decibel level.
6 . The bone conduction audio device of claim 1 , further comprising a filter that amplifies one or more frequency ranges in the sound.
7 . The bone conduction audio device of claim 1 , further comprising one or more hearing protection devices.
8 . A bone conduction audio device for use with one or more hearing protection devices, the bone conduction audio device comprising:
one or more microphones that record sound;
one or more conduction transducers that transmit the sound to a user via a skeletal structure of the user; and
a support that secures the one or more conduction transducers in engagement with the skeletal structure of the user when the bone conduction audio device is worn by the user; and
one or more mounts for holding the one or more hearing protection devices;
wherein the user's ears are not obstructed by the one or more conduction transducers.
9 . The bone conduction audio device of claim 8 , further comprising an auxiliary microphone that records a user's voice.
10 . The bone conduction audio device of claim 9 , further comprising an I/O device that transmits the user's voice to an auxiliary device.
11 . The bone conduction audio device of claim 8 , further comprising a filter that attenuates one or more frequency ranges in the sound.
12 . The bone conduction audio device of claim 8 , further comprising a filter that attenuates the sound when the sound is above a particular decibel level.
13 . The bone conduction audio device of claim 8 , further comprising a filter that amplifies one or more frequency ranges in the sound.
14 . The bone conduction audio device of claim 8 , wherein the support comprises a resilient structure.
15 . A method for providing auditory perception with a bone conduction audio device, the method comprising:
providing one or more conduction transducers that transmit sound to a user via a skeletal structure of the user, wherein a support secures the one or more conduction transducers in engagement with the skeletal structure of the user when the bone conduction audio device is worn by the user;
capturing sound via one or more microphones; and
transmitting the sound to the user with the one or more conduction transducers via the skeletal structure of the user;
wherein the user's ears are not obstructed by the one or more conduction transducers.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising providing an auxiliary microphone that records a user's voice.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising transmitting the user's voice to an auxiliary device with an I/O device.
18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising attenuating the sound with a filter when the sound is above a particular decibel level.
19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising amplifying one or more frequency ranges in the sound with a filter.
20 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising obstructing the sound at the user's ears with one or more hearing protection devices.