Systems, devices, and methods of wireless intrabody communication

• Main Authors: JONES, DOUGLAS L, XIE, QI, PARIKH, MITESH, SCHMITZ, CHRISTOPHER D, MALICK, CRISTA, CALLIAS, FRANCOIS, LARSEN, JEFFERY B, FRANKE, STEVEN J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 31.03.2010
• Subjects: DEAF-AID SETS; ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKEACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS

A number of ear-worn hearing system devices (30, 130, 230, 440, 540) are provided that each include a pair of electrodes (32, 132, 232, 432, 532) to transmit time varying electrical signals therebetween when coupled with skin of a user's body. The devices each include a housing (41a, 41b, 141), a sound sensor (45, 145), and processing circuitry (48, 148) included within the housing (41a, 41b, 141). The electrodes are coupled to the circuitry and are spaced apart from one another a distance sufficient to provide capacitance between the electrodes (32, 132, 232, 432, 532) below a desired threshold. The electrodes (32, 132, 232, 432, 532) are disposed along the housing for placement on locations of the user's body where coupling is not likely to be disrupted by nominal body movements.