Audiometer system with light-based communication
An audiometer system including an audiometer device that includes an audiometer digital signal processing (DSP) unit, an audiometer baseband processing unit positioned, and an audiometer light-based transceiver. The system further includes a transducer including a transducer light-based transceiver in optical communication with the audiometer light-based transceiver, a transducer baseband processing unit, a transducer processor unit, and an audio speaker.
1. An audiometer system comprising:
an audiometer device comprising:
an audiometer digital signal processing (DSP) unit configured to:
generate stimulus signals responsive to a user input signal; and
convert the stimulus signals to a plurality of stimulus data packets;
an audiometer baseband processing unit positioned in communication with the audiometer DSP unit and configured to convert the stimulus data packets to a plurality of stimulus audiometer frames; and
an audiometer light-based transceiver positioned in communication with the audiometer baseband processing unit and configured to transmit the plurality of stimulus audiometer frames;
a transducer comprising:
a transducer light-based transceiver positionable within a field of view of the audiometer light-based transceiver, the transducer light-based transceiver configured to receive the plurality of stimulus audiometer frames from the audiometer light-based transceiver;
a transducer baseband processing unit positioned in communication with the transducer light-based transceiver and configured to convert the plurality of stimulus audiometer frames to a plurality of extracted stimulus data packets;
a transducer processor unit positioned in communication with the transducer baseband processing unit and configured to convert the plurality of extracted stimulus data packets into a patient stimulus signal; and
an audio speaker positioned in communication with the transducer processor unit and configured to generate a sound responsive to the patient stimulus signal.
2. The audiometer system of claim 1 wherein:
the transducer further comprises:
a transducer input device positioned in communication with the transducer processor unit and configured to:
receive a patient input from the patient, defining a received patient input; and
generate a patient response signal from the received patient input;
the transducer processor unit is further configured to convert the patient response signal to a plurality of transducer data packets;
the transducer baseband processing unit is further configured to generate a plurality of transducer frames, each transducer frame comprising a transducer data packet;
the transducer light-based transceiver is further configured to transmit the plurality of transducer frames to the audiometer light-based transceiver;
the audiometer light-based transceiver is further configured to receive the plurality of transducer frames from the transducer light-based transceiver;
the audiometer baseband processing unit is further configured to convert the plurality of transducer frames to a received patient audio signal stream; and
the audiometer DSP unit is further configured to:
convert the received patient audio signal stream to an audio signal, defining a received patient audio signal; and
transmit the received patient audio signal to a user playback device.
3. The audiometer system of claim 1 wherein the transducer light-based transceiver is a first transducer light-based transceiver and the transducer is a first transducer, the audiometer system further comprising:
a second transducer comprising:
a second transducer light-based transceiver positionable within a field of view of the audiometer light-based transceiver, the second transducer light-based transceiver configured to receive the plurality of audiometer frames from the audiometer light-based transceiver;
a second transducer baseband processing unit positioned in communication with the second transducer light-based transceiver and configured to convert the plurality of audiometer frames to a second plurality of extracted stimulus data packets;
a second transducer processor unit positioned in communication with the second transducer baseband processing unit and configured to convert the second plurality extracted stimulus data packets into a second patient stimulus signal; and
a second audio speaker positioned in communication with the transducer processor unit and configured to:
receive the second patient stimulus signal from the transducer processor unit; and
generate a sound responsive to the second patient stimulus signal.
4. The audiometer system of claim 3 wherein the second transducer baseband processing unit is further configured to:
receive the plurality of audiometer frames from the transducer light-based transceiver; and
extract the stimulus data packets from the audiometer frames, defining extracted stimulus data packets.
5. The audiometer of claim 3 wherein:
the audiometer DSP unit is further configured to generate a calibration data request comprising a plurality of calibration data request packets;
the audiometer baseband processing unit is further configured to:
receive the plurality of calibration data request packets from the audiometer DSP unit; and
generate a plurality of calibration audiometer frames, each frame comprising a packet of the calibration data request packets;
the audiometer light-based transceiver is further configured to transmit the plurality of calibration audiometer frames received from the audiometer baseband processing unit;
the transducer light-based transceiver is further configured to receive the plurality of calibration audiometer frames from the audiometer light-based transceiver;
the transducer baseband processing unit is further configured to:
receive the plurality of calibration audiometer frames from the transducer light-based transceiver; and
extract the calibration data request packets from the calibration audiometer frames, defining a plurality of extracted calibration data request packets; and
the transducer processor unit is further configured to:
receive the plurality of extracted calibration data request packets;
parse the plurality of extracted calibration data request packets to extract the calibration data request therefrom; and
read the calibration data stored in the transducer.
6. The audiometer system of claim 1 wherein:
the audiometer DSP unit is further configured to:
receive at least one of an input audio signal and an input speech signal, defining an input signal;
generate a stimulus stream responsive to the input signal; and
generate a plurality of packets from the stimulus stream, defining stimulus data packets;
the audiometer baseband processing unit is further configured to:
receive the stimulus data packets from the audiometer DSP unit; and
generate a plurality of stimulus audiometer frames, each frame comprising a packet of the stimulus data packets; and
the transducer baseband processing unit is further configured to:
receive the plurality of stimulus audiometer frames from the transducer light-based transceiver; and
extract the stimulus data packets from the stimulus audiometer frames, defining extracted stimulus data packets.
7. The audiometer system of claim 6 wherein:
the transducer further comprises:
a transducer input device positioned in communication with the transducer processor unit and configured to:
receive a patient input from the patient, defining a received patient input; and
generate a patient response signal from the received patient input;
the transducer processor unit is further configured to:
receive the patient response signal from the transducer input device;
generate a response data stream from the patient response signal; and
generate a plurality of transducer data packets from the response data stream;
the transducer baseband processing unit is further configured to:
receive the plurality of transducer data packets; and
generate a plurality of transducer frames, each transducer frame comprising a transducer data packet;
the transducer light-based transceiver is further configured to transmit the plurality of transducer frames to the audiometer light-based transceiver;
the audiometer light-based transceiver is further configured to receive the plurality of transducer frames from the transducer light-based transceiver;
the audiometer baseband processing unit is further configured to:
receive the plurality of transducer frames from the audiometer light-based transceiver; and
extract the plurality of transducer data packets from the transducer frames, defining a plurality of extracted transducer data packets;
the audiometer DSP unit is further configured to:
receive the plurality of extracted transducer data packets from the audiometer baseband processing unit;
generate a received patient response signal stream from the plurality of extracted transducer data packets;
convert the received patient response signal stream into an audio signal, defining a received patient audio signal; and
transmit the received patient audio signal to a user playback device.
8. The audiometer system of claim 7 wherein the transducer input device is at least one of an actuatable tactile device and a microphone.
9. The audiometer system of claim 7 wherein the user playback device is at least one of an audio speaker and a computerized device.
10. The audiometer system of claim 1 wherein:
the transducer light-based transceiver is a first transducer light-based transceiver and the transducer is a first transducer;
the audiometer DSP unit is further configured to:
generate masking signals responsive to a user input masking signal; and
convert the masking signals to a plurality of masking data packets;
the audiometer baseband processing unit is further configured to:
receive the masking data packets from the audiometer DSP unit; and
generate a plurality of masking audiometer frames, each frame comprising a packet of the masking data packets; and
the audiometer light-based transceiver is further configured to transmit the masking audiometer frames received from the audiometer baseband processing unit;
the audiometer system further comprising:
a second transducer comprising:
a second transducer light-based transceiver positionable within a field of view of the audiometer light-based transceiver, the second transducer light-based transceiver configured to receive the plurality of masking audiometer frames from the audiometer light-based transceiver;
a second transducer baseband processing unit positioned in communication with the second transducer light-based transceiver and configured to:
receive the plurality of masking audiometer frames from the transducer light-based transceiver; and
extract the masking data packets from the audiometer frames, defining extracted masking data packets; and
a second transducer processor unit positioned in communication with the second transducer baseband processing unit and configured to:
receive the extracted masking data packets and
convert the extracted masking data packets into a masking signal; and
a second audio speaker positioned in communication with the second transducer processor unit and configured to:
receive the masking signal from the transducer processor unit; and
generate a masking sound responsive to the masking signal;
wherein the masking sound generated by the audio speaker of the second transducer is generated simultaneously with the sound generated by the audio speaker of the first transducer;
wherein the audio speaker of the first transducer is positioned in audio communication with a first ear of a patient; and
wherein the audio speaker of the second transducer is positioned in audio communication with a second ear of the patient.
11. The audiometer system of claim 1 wherein:
the transducer further comprises a second audio speaker positioned in communication with the transducer processor unit;
the audiometer DSP unit is further configured to:
generate masking signals responsive to a user input masking signal;
convert the masking signals to a plurality of masking data packets; and
interleave each of the plurality of masking data packets and the plurality of stimulus data packets, defining a plurality of interleaved data packets, wherein each interleaved data packet comprises a header, at least one masking data packets, and at least one stimulus data packets;
the audiometer baseband processing unit is further configured to:
receive the plurality of interleaved data packets from the audiometer DSP unit; and
generate a plurality of interleaved audiometer frames, each frame comprising a packet of the plurality of interleaved data packets; and
the audiometer light-based transceiver is further configured to transmit the interleaved audiometer frames received from the audiometer baseband processing unit;
the transducer further comprising a second audio speaker positioned in communication with the transducer processor unit;
the transducer light-based transceiver is further configured to receive the plurality of interleaved audiometer frames from the audiometer light-based transceiver;
the transducer baseband processing unit is further configured to:
receive the plurality of interleaved audiometer frames from the transducer light-based transceiver; and
extract the plurality of interleaved data packets from the audiometer frames, defining a plurality of extracted interleaved data packets; and
the transducer processor unit is further configured to:
receive the plurality of extracted interleaved data packets from the transducer baseband processing unit;
convert the plurality of extracted interleaved data packets into a masking audio signal and the patient stimulus signal; and
the second audio speaker is configured to:
receive the masking audio signal from the transducer processor unit; and
generate a masking sound responsive to the masking audio signal.
12. The audiometer of claim 11 wherein:
the transducer processor unit is further configured to:
generate a plurality of transducer calibration data response packets responsive to the calibration data requests, the transducer calibration data response packets comprising transducer calibration data;
the transducer baseband processing unit is further configured to:
receive the plurality of transducer calibration data response packets; and
generate a plurality of transducer calibration frames, each transducer calibration frame comprising a transducer calibration data packet;
the transducer light-based transceiver is further configured to transmit the plurality of transducer calibration frames to the audiometer light-based transceiver;
the audiometer light-based transceiver is further configured to receive the plurality of transducer calibration frames from the transducer light-based transceiver;
the audiometer baseband processing unit is further configured to:
receive the plurality of transducer calibration frames from the audiometer light-based transceiver;
extract the plurality of transducer calibration data packets from the transducer frames;
the audiometer DSP unit is further configured to:
receive the plurality of transducer calibration data packets;
extract the transducer calibration data from the plurality of transducer calibration data packets;
store the transducer calibration data; and
generate the tone responsive to both of the stimulus configuration from the user input and the transducer calibration data.
13. An audiometer system comprising:
an audiometer device comprising:
an audiometer digital signal processing (DSP) unit configured to:
receive at least one of an input audio signal and an input speech signal, defining an input signal;
generate a stimulus stream responsive to the input signal; and
generate a plurality of packets from the stimulus stream, defining stimulus data packets;
an audiometer baseband processing unit positioned in communication with the audiometer DSP unit and configured to:
receive the stimulus data packets from the audiometer DSP unit; and
generate a plurality of stimulus audiometer frames, each frame comprising a packet of the stimulus data packets; and
an audiometer light-based transceiver positioned in communication with the audiometer baseband processing unit and configured to transmit the plurality of stimulus audiometer frames;
a transducer comprising:
a transducer light-based transceiver positionable within a field of view of the audiometer light-based transceiver, the transducer light-based transceiver configured to receive the plurality of stimulus audiometer frames from the audiometer light-based transceiver;
a transducer baseband processing unit positioned in communication with the transducer light-based transceiver and configured to:
receive the plurality of stimulus audiometer frames from the transducer light-based transceiver; and
extract the stimulus data packets from the stimulus audiometer frames, defining extracted stimulus data packets;
a transducer processor unit positioned in communication with the transducer baseband processing unit and configured to convert the plurality of extracted stimulus data packets into a patient stimulus signal;
an audio speaker positioned in communication with the transducer processor unit and configured to generate a sound responsive to the patient stimulus signal; and
a transducer input device positioned in communication with the transducer processor unit and configured to:
receive a patient input from the patient, defining a received patient input; and
generate a patient response signal from the received patient input;
wherein the transducer processor unit is further configured to convert the patient response signal to a plurality of transducer data packets;
wherein the transducer baseband processing unit is further configured to generate a plurality of transducer frames, each transducer frame comprising a transducer data packet;
wherein the transducer light-based transceiver is further configured to transmit the plurality of transducer frames to the audiometer light-based transceiver;
wherein the audiometer light-based transceiver is further configured to receive the plurality of transducer frames from the transducer light-based transceiver;
wherein the audiometer baseband processing unit is further configured to convert the plurality of transducer frames to a received patient response data packet; and
wherein the audiometer DSP unit is further configured to:
convert the received patient response data packet to an audio signal, defining a received patient audio signal; and
transmit the received patient audio signal to a user playback device.
14. The audiometer system of claim 13 wherein the transducer input device is at least one of an actuatable tactile device and a microphone.
15. The audiometer system of claim 13 wherein the user playback device is at least one of an audio speaker and a computerized device.
16. The audiometer system of claim 13 wherein:
the transducer light-based transceiver is a first transducer light-based transceiver and the transducer is a first transducer;
the audiometer DSP unit is further configured to:
generate masking signals responsive to a user input masking signal; and
convert the masking signals to a plurality of masking data packets;
the audiometer baseband processing unit is further configured to:
receive the masking data packets from the audiometer DSP unit; and
generate a plurality of masking audiometer frames, each frame comprising a packet of the masking data packets; and
the audiometer light-based transceiver is further configured to transmit the masking audiometer frames received from the audiometer baseband processing unit;
the audiometer system further comprising:
a second transducer comprising:
a second transducer light-based transceiver positionable within a field of view of the audiometer light-based transceiver, the second transducer light-based transceiver configured to receive the plurality of masking audiometer frames from the audiometer light-based transceiver;
a second transducer baseband processing unit positioned in communication with the second transducer light-based transceiver and configured to:
receive the plurality of masking audiometer frames from the transducer light-based transceiver; and
extract the masking data packets from the audiometer frames, defining extracted masking data packets; and
a second transducer processor unit positioned in communication with the second transducer baseband processing unit and configured to:
receive the extracted masking data packets and
convert the extracted masking data packets into a masking signal; and
a second audio speaker positioned in communication with the second transducer processor unit and configured to:
receive the masking signal from the transducer processor unit; and
generate a masking sound responsive to the masking signal;
wherein the masking sound generated by the audio speaker of the second transducer is generated simultaneously with the sound generated by the audio speaker of the first transducer;
wherein the audio speaker of the first transducer is positioned in audio communication with a first ear of a patient; and
wherein the audio speaker of the second transducer is positioned in audio communication with a second ear of the patient.
17. The audiometer system of claim 13 wherein:
the transducer further comprises a second audio speaker positioned in communication with the transducer processor unit;
the audiometer DSP unit is further configured to:
generate masking signals responsive to a user input masking signal;
convert the masking signals to a plurality of masking data packets; and
interleave each of the plurality of masking data packets and the plurality of stimulus data packets, defining a plurality of interleaved data packets, wherein each interleaved data packet comprises a header, at least one masking data packets, and at least one stimulus data packets;
the audiometer baseband processing unit is further configured to:
receive the plurality of interleaved data packets from the audiometer DSP unit; and
generate a plurality of interleaved audiometer frames, each frame comprising a packet of the plurality of interleaved data packets; and
the audiometer light-based transceiver is further configured to transmit the interleaved audiometer frames received from the audiometer baseband processing unit;
the transducer further comprising a second audio speaker positioned in communication with the transducer processor unit;
the transducer light-based transceiver is further configured to receive the plurality of interleaved audiometer frames from the audiometer light-based transceiver;
the transducer baseband processing unit is further configured to:
receive the plurality of interleaved audiometer frames from the transducer light-based transceiver; and
extract the interleaved data packets from the audiometer frames, defining extracted interleaved data packets; and
the transducer processor unit is further configured to:
receive the interleaved data packets from transducer baseband processing unit;
convert the interleaved data packets into a masking audio signal and the patient stimulus signal; and
the second audio speaker is configured to:
receive the masking audio signal from the transducer processor unit; and
generate a masking sound responsive to the masking audio signal.
18. The audiometer of claim 17 wherein:
the transducer processor unit is further configured to:
generate a plurality of transducer calibration data response packets responsive to the calibration data requests, the transducer calibration data response packets comprising transducer calibration data;
the transducer baseband processing unit is further configured to:
receive the plurality of transducer calibration data response packets; and
generate a plurality of transducer calibration frames, each transducer calibration frame comprising a transducer calibration data packet;
the transducer light-based transceiver is further configured to transmit the plurality of transducer calibration frames to the audiometer light-based transceiver;
the audiometer light-based transceiver is further configured to receive the plurality of transducer calibration frames from the transducer light-based transceiver;
the audiometer baseband processing unit is further configured to:
receive the plurality of transducer calibration frames from the audiometer light-based transceiver;
extract the plurality of transducer calibration data packets from the transducer frames;
the audiometer DSP unit is further configured to:
receive the plurality of transducer calibration data packets;
extract the transducer calibration data from the plurality of transducer calibration data packets;
store the transducer calibration data; and
generate the tone responsive to both of the stimulus configuration from the user input and the transducer calibration data.
19. The audiometer of claim 17 wherein:
the transducer light-based transceiver is a first transducer light-based transceiver and the transducer is a first transducer;
the audiometer DSP unit is further configured to:
generate masking signals responsive to a user input masking signal; and
convert the masking signals to a plurality of masking data packets;
the audiometer baseband processing unit is further configured to:
receive the masking data packets from the audiometer DSP unit; and
generate a plurality of masking audiometer frames, each frame comprising a packet of the masking data packets; and
the audiometer light-based transceiver is further configured to transmit the masking audiometer frames received from the audiometer baseband processing unit;
the audiometer system further comprising:
a second transducer comprising:
a second transducer light-based transceiver positionable within a field of view of the audiometer light-based transceiver, the second transducer light-based transceiver configured to receive the plurality of masking audiometer frames from the audiometer light-based transceiver;
a second transducer baseband processing unit positioned in communication with the second transducer light-based transceiver and configured to:
receive the plurality of masking audiometer frames from the transducer light-based transceiver; and
extract the masking data packets from the audiometer frames, defining extracted masking data packets; and
a second transducer processor unit positioned in communication with the second transducer baseband processing unit and configured to:
receive the extracted masking data packets and
convert the extracted masking data packets into a masking signal; and
a second audio speaker positioned in communication with the second transducer processor unit and configured to:
receive the masking signal from the transducer processor unit; and
generate a masking sound responsive to the masking signal;
wherein the masking sound generated by the audio speaker of the second transducer is generated simultaneously with the sound generated by the audio speaker of the first transducer;
wherein the audio speaker of the first transducer is positioned in audio communication with a first ear of a patient; and
wherein the audio speaker of the second transducer is positioned in audio communication with a second ear of the patient.
20. An audiometer system comprising:
an audiometer device comprising:
an audiometer DSP unit configured to:
generate tone signals responsive to a user input signal;
generate masking signals responsive to a user input masking signal;
convert the tone signals to a plurality of stimulus data packets;
convert the masking signals to a plurality of masking data packets; and
arrange the stimulus data packets and masking data packets into time division multiplexed (TDM) data packets;
an audiometer baseband processing unit positioned in communication with the audiometer DSP unit and configured to convert the TDM data packets to a plurality of TDM audiometer frames; and
an audiometer light-based transceiver positioned in communication with the audiometer baseband processing unit and configured to transmit the plurality of TDM audiometer frames;
a first transducer comprising:
a first transducer light-based transceiver positionable within a field of view of the audiometer light-based transceiver, the first transducer light-based transceiver configured to receive the plurality of TDM audiometer frames from the audiometer light-based transceiver;
a first transducer baseband processing unit positioned in communication with the first transducer light-based transceiver and configured to:
receive the plurality of TDM audiometer frames from the first transducer light-based transceiver; and
convert the plurality of TDM audiometer frames to transducer TDM data packets;
a first transducer processor unit positioned in communication with the first transducer baseband processing unit and configured to:
receive the extracted TDM data packets from the first transducer baseband processing unit;
extract the stimulus data packets from the transducer TDM data packets, defining extracted stimulus data packets; and
convert the extracted stimulus data packets into a patient stimulus signal; and
a first audio speaker positioned in communication with the transducer processor unit and configured to generate a sound responsive to the audio signal; and
a second transducer comprising:
a second transducer light-based transceiver positionable within a field of view of the audiometer light-based transceiver, the second transducer light-based transceiver configured to receive the plurality of TDM audiometer frames from the audiometer light-based transceiver;
a second transducer baseband processing unit positioned in communication with the second transducer light-based transceiver and configured to:
receive the plurality of TDM audiometer frames from the second transducer light-based transceiver; and
extract the TDM data packets from the TDM audiometer frames, defining extracted TDM data packets; and
a second transducer processor unit positioned in communication with the second transducer baseband processing unit and configured to:
receive the extracted TDM data packets from the second transducer baseband processing unit;
extract the masking data packets from the extracted TDM data packets, defining extracted masking data packets; and
convert the extracted masking data packets into a masking audio signal; and
a second audio speaker positioned in communication with the second transducer processor unit and configured to:
receive the masking audio signal from the transducer processor unit; and
generate a masking sound responsive to the masking audio signal;
wherein the sound generated by the audio speaker of the second transducer is generated simultaneously with the sound generated by the audio speaker of the first transducer;
wherein the audio speaker of the first transducer is positioned in audio communication with a first ear of a patient; and
wherein the audio speaker of the second transducer is positioned in audio communication with a second ear of the patient.