Patent US3766331A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3766331A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Hearing aid for producing sensations in the brain
Assignee: ZCM Ltd
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Filing: 1971-11-24
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Granted: 1973-10-16
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Expires: 1991-11-24
Abstract
Abstract A pulsed oscillator or transmitter supplies energy to a pair of insulated electrodes mounted on a person''s neck. The transmitter produces pulses of intensity greater than a predetermined threshold value and of a width and rate so as to produce the sensation of hearing without use of the auditory canal thereby providing a hearing system enabling otherwise deaf people to hear.
Inventors
- 👤 H Zink
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 19:18
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F11/00; A61F11/04; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/36; A61N1/36036
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for providiNg the sensation of sound corresponding to sound waves in a subject comprising the steps of: generating audio frequency signals corresponding to said sound waves, generating high frequency carrier signal from a high frequency generator, transforming said audio frequency signals into pulses having a pulse repitition rate corresponding to the amplitude of each of said audio frequency signals, modulating said carrier signal by said pulses and amplitude modulating said carrier signal by said audio frequency signals thereby producing amplitude modulated pulsed carrier signals, and coupling said amplitude modulated pulsed carrier signals to said subject for producing the sensation of sound.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for providiNg the sensation of sound corresponding to sound waves in a subject comprising the steps of: generating audio frequency signals corresponding to said sound waves, generating high frequency carrier signal from a high frequency generator, transforming said audio frequency signals into pulses having a pulse repitition rate corresponding to the amplitude of each of said audio frequency signals, modulating said carrier signal by said pulses and amplitude modulating said carrier signal by said audio frequency signals thereby producing amplitude modulated pulsed carrier signals, and coupling said amplitude modulated pulsed carrier signals to said subject for producing the sensation of sound.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method for providing the sensation of sound as recited in claim 1 in which said coupling is a non-conductive coupling to said subject.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method for providing the sensation of sound as recited in claim 1 wherein said subject is a person having an ear canal and said coupling includes sealing said ear canal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method for providing the sensation of sound as recited in claim 1 wherein said subject is a person having an ear canal and wherein said coupling includes pressing an outer electrode carrying said amplitude modulated pulsed carrier signal against the person''s folded ear.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method for providing the sensation of sound as recited in claim 1 wherein said coupling is accomplished using two electrodes, each connected to the same output terminal of a source of said amplitude modulated pulsed carrier signals with the other output terminal of said source being grounded.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method for providing the sensation of sound as recited in claim 1 in which said coupling is accomplished via an ear mold filled with a conductive solution.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method for providing the sensation of sound as recited in claim 1 wherein said coupling is accomplished via a container of insulating material filled with a fluid through which said signal is applied to said body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method for providing the sensation of sound as recited in claim 1 wherein said amplitude modulation is within the range of 10 to 60 per cent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method for providing the sensation of sound as recited in claim 1 wherein the pulse repetition rate of said pulses is approximately two to 10 times the frequency of said audio frequency signals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method for providing the sensation of sound as recited in claim 1 wherein the coupling is provided by an insulated electrode to which said amplitude modulated pulsed carrier signals are applied.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method for providing the sensation of sound as recited in claim 10 in which said electrode is part of a mechanical, hand-held assembly having a grounded metallic element contactable by a person''s finger.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method for providing the sensation of sound as recited in claim 1 wherein the coupling is provided by an insulated electrode mounted on a telephone receiver.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for providing the sensation of sound corresponding to sound waves in a subject having an auditory nerve system comprising the steps of: generating audio frequency signals corresponding to said sound waves, generating intermediate frequency pulses from said audio frequency signals having a larger pulse repetition rate than said audio frequency signals, amplitude modulating said intermediate frequency pulses by said audio frequency signals to produce modulated intermediate frequency pulses, modulating the output of a high frequency generator by said modulated intermediate frequency pulses to produce modulated pulsed carrier signals, and coupling said modulated pulsed carrier signals to said subject for excitation of the auditory nerve system.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for providing the sensation of sound corresponding to sound waves in a subject having an auditory nerve system comprising the steps of: generating audio frequency signals corresponding to said sound waves, generating intermediate frequency pulses from said audio frequency signals having a larger pulse repetition rate than said audio frequency signals, amplitude modulating said intermediate frequency pulses by said audio frequency signals to produce modulated intermediate frequency pulses, modulating the output of a high frequency generator by said modulated intermediate frequency pulses to produce modulated pulsed carrier signals, and coupling said modulated pulsed carrier signals to said subject for excitation of the auditory nerve system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method for providing the sensation of sound as recited in claim 13 wherein the pulse repetition rate of said modulated pulses corresponds to the amplitude of said audio frequency signals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method for providing the sensation of sound as recited in claim 14 wherein the pulsed repetition rate of said modulated pulses is approximately two to 10 times the frequency of said audio frequency signals.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
133 words
A system for the production of the sense of sound in a person''s body comprising: means for converting sound waves into audio frequency signals, means connected to said converting means for generating intermediate frequency pulses having a pulsed repetition rate greater than said audio frequency signals, high frequency generator means for producing high frequency carrier waves having a pulse repetition rate substantially greater than the pulse repetition rate of the intermediate frequency pulses, means connected to said high frequency generator means for modulating said carrier waves by said intermediate frequency pulses and for amplitude modulating said carrier waves by said audio frequency signals to produce modulated pulsed carrier signals, and means for coupling said modulated pulsed carrier signals to said person''s body whereby the sensation of sound corresponding to sound waves is produced.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
133 words
A system for the production of the sense of sound in a person''s body comprising: means for converting sound waves into audio frequency signals, means connected to said converting means for generating intermediate frequency pulses having a pulsed repetition rate greater than said audio frequency signals, high frequency generator means for producing high frequency carrier waves having a pulse repetition rate substantially greater than the pulse repetition rate of the intermediate frequency pulses, means connected to said high frequency generator means for modulating said carrier waves by said intermediate frequency pulses and for amplitude modulating said carrier waves by said audio frequency signals to produce modulated pulsed carrier signals, and means for coupling said modulated pulsed carrier signals to said person''s body whereby the sensation of sound corresponding to sound waves is produced.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as recited in claim 16 wherein said coupling means includes an electrode and insulation for insulating said electrode from the person''s body.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as recited in claim 17 wherein said electrode forms part of a hand-held device having a grounded element for contact with the person''s finger.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
145 words
A system for the production of the sensation of sound in a person''s body comprising: means for converting sound waves into audio frequency signals, means connected to said converting means for generating intermediate frequency pulses having a pulsed repetition rate greater than said audio frequency signals, means for amplitude modulating said intermediate frequency pulses by said audio frequency signals to produce modulated intermediate frequency pulses, high frequency generator means having an output for producing high frequency carrier waves having a pulse repetition rate substantially greater than the pulse repetition rate of the modulated intermediate frequency pulses, means connected to said high frequency generator output for modulating said carrier waves by said modulated intermediate frequency pulses to produce modulated pulsed carrier signals, and means for coupling said modulated pulsed carrier signals to said person''s body whereby the sensation of sound corresponding to sound waves is produced.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
145 words
A system for the production of the sensation of sound in a person''s body comprising: means for converting sound waves into audio frequency signals, means connected to said converting means for generating intermediate frequency pulses having a pulsed repetition rate greater than said audio frequency signals, means for amplitude modulating said intermediate frequency pulses by said audio frequency signals to produce modulated intermediate frequency pulses, high frequency generator means having an output for producing high frequency carrier waves having a pulse repetition rate substantially greater than the pulse repetition rate of the modulated intermediate frequency pulses, means connected to said high frequency generator output for modulating said carrier waves by said modulated intermediate frequency pulses to produce modulated pulsed carrier signals, and means for coupling said modulated pulsed carrier signals to said person''s body whereby the sensation of sound corresponding to sound waves is produced.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-15 | 1977-04-16 | 1977-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-15 | 1981-04-16 | 1981-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-15 | 1985-04-16 | 1985-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |