Voice operated receiving and transmitting system for use in protective suit

Cribb, H. E.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19710023632 2020-03-17T03:18:02+00:00Z
Uaited States Patent 
(721 Inventor Herbert E. Cribb 
SrrteWte &a&, Fla. 
[2  1 ] Appl. No. 782,955 
1221 Filed Dec. 11,1968 
[45] Patented J ~ a s l ,  j971 _. 
[73 ] Assignee The U n W  States of Aroerim as represent& 
by the A d m i b a t o r  of the National 
Aeronautks and Space Admhishation 
[54] PROTECTIVE SUIT HAVING AN AUDIO 
TRANSCEIVER 
1 Clnh ,  3 Drawing Figs. 
1521 U.S.CI ...................................................... 179/1R, 
17911VC 
[5 11 Ini. CI ....................................................... H04r 1/44 
[SO] Fkid of Search ............................................ 1791157.1, 
1 (VC), 1 (A),  183,156.1 (UW) 
I561 References Cited 
UNITED STATES PATENTS 
2,819,340 111958 Brody ........................... 
......................... 2,951,123 811960 DeVito 
3,174, I29 311965 Laughlin et al. .............. 
3,347,229 1011967 Heitman ....................... 
3.423.53 1 111969 Doddington .................. 
2,819,340 111958 Brody ........................... 
3,003.1 36 1011961 Burnett ........................ 
........... 3,337,841 811967 Wainwrighteta! 
Mmary Examiner- Kathleen M. CiaEy 
Asskranr Examiner-Randall P. Myers 
Attorneys-James 0. Warrell and G. T. McCoy 
ABSTRACT: A voice-operated receiving amid transmitting 
system for a wearer of a protective suit which caw be automati- 
cally changed from a receiving condition to  a t ~ a n ~ m i t t i n g  
condition responsive to the wearer's voice. The system is pro- 
vided with a control for regulating the audio level at which the 
switching operation takes place. 

PATENTED JUN2 8 1971 
SHEET 2 OF 2 
3,588,359 
1(7 
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-- 
INVENTOR 
fLu 
Y)E 2 m 
r - ATTORNEYS. 
3,588,359 
1 2 
PROTECTIVE SUIT WAVING AN AUDllO TRANSCEIVER Another important object o f  the present invention is to pro- 
vide a receiving and transmitting system which can be regu- 
This invention described herein was made by an employee lated to  be activated by the human ,voice and not by Bow 
o f  the United States Government, and may be manufactured volume noises. 
and used by or for the Government for Governmental pur- 5 Still another important object o f  the present invention is  to 
poses without the payment o f  any royalties thereon or provide a protective suit with a communication system which 
therefor. does not require manual manipulation o f  switck~es and is  
One o f  the problems encountered in wearing protective rugged and reliable. 
suits which completely encompasses the wearer's body is com- Other objects and advantages o f  this invention will become 
municating with others without directly connecting a hard-line 10 more apparent from a reading o f  the following detailed 
to  the suit. This is particularly true where the suits are pro- description and appended claims taken in conj~nct ion  with 
vided for resisting highly corrosive substances and tempera- the accompanying drawings wherein: 
tures. Such requires suits made o f  several layers o f  material, FIG. 1 is a perspective front view illustrating a protective 
thus restricting voice communication between the wearer o f  suit equipped with a receiving and transmitting system con- 
the suit and others. This problem also is encountered by as- s structed in accordance with the present invention, 
tronauts who wear space suits during launching and space ex- FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating schematically the corn- 
ploration missions. ponents o f  the receiving and transmitting system constructed 
Some suits, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. NO. 3,003.1 36 in accordance with the present invention, and 
granted to  Burnett et al., on Oct. 3 ,  1961, and U.S.  Pat. No. FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating in detail certain pop- 
3,076,174 granted to  Wainwright et a]., 0" Jan. 29, 1963, are 20 tionsof the receiver and transmitting system, 
provided with a system in which the wearer o f  a suit can 
~ ~ f ~ ~ ~ i ~ ~  in more detail to the drawings wherein like 
receive and transmit normal voice communication. However, reference numerals designate identical or correspond~ng parts 
one problem is that in order to  switch from the transmitting throughout the views, and with atteneon to FIG, 1, 
condition to  receiving condition a switch has to be 2s reference numeral BO generally designates a protective suit an 
manually operated. This mode is not practical where the a wearer having a head portion 11 with a transparent window 
wearer is using his hands to perform other functions. therein. Headphones 12 are carried inside the head portion k I 
Radio frequency type units have been tried, however. they for  broadcasting to the wearer signals received. Hanging 
present a possible hazard around pyrotechnic devices which around the neck by  means o f a  13 i s  a combina- 
can be activated by the radio frequency signal. Furthermore, 30 tion speaker and receiver means 14 which enables the wearer 
radio signals are only received from a particular of the protective suit to  communicate with others in the near 
mike and would not detect sounds remote from the location of vicinity, The  major components o f  the rece iv ing  and 
that mike.  oreo over, radio frequency signals are ohen 
,itting system are shown in the block diagram illustrated in jammed by external sources, such as broadcasts to  emergency FIG, 2 and include a microphone 15, which i s  positioned in 
vehicles, taxis, airports, etc. Problems would also arise where 3 5  the face mask o f  the suit adjacent the mouth n"cir trans- 
the wearer is working within confined areas, such as in tanks, 
mitting his voice to a voice-operated ampli f ier  B6. when 
which act as a shield against the radio frequency signals. 
user desires to  speak he speaks into the microphone I S  and The  the wearer ' l a  protective suit cornmu* the normal level of his voice is sufficient to activate the voice- 
nicate with other persons working with him and cannot hear 
operated amplifier 16. This causes a relay 1'7 to be energized 
noises in the immediate vicinity frequently has an adverse 40 to  pull the contacts 18 and 19 down to the broken line position psychological ef fect  on the wearer. It is desirable to be able to  
shown in FIG, which allows the signal coming from the mike hear all noises in the immediate working vicinity so that the 
to  pass through the voice amplifier 16, line 20, terminal 21 ,  
wearer can be alerted to  dangers which may be out o f  his visi- 
terminal 22, Eead 23, to the speaker mike preamp6ifier 24. This ble spectrum. It is also desirable that when an emergency 
arises to be able to readily with others in the im-  45 'peaker mike preamplifier 24 may be any con'tentiona' O r  
mediate vicinity without tying u p  the wearer.s hand or being suitable speaker mike preamplifier and it, in turn .  feeds the 
encumbered with a cork or hard-line. amplified signal to  a power amplifier 25 .  T h e  purpose of the 
In  accordance with the present invention, it has been found speaker mike preamplifier 24 is to  amplify the very weak 
that difficulties encountered in the above-menticned commu- produced the and \'oice-o~erated 
nicating apparatus  may  be overcome by  providing a amplifier 16 so that the power amplifier 25 can amplify such 
communicating system for wearer,s o f  protective suits, This further. It is noted that a battery pack 216 is provided for ener- 
voice operated receiving and transmitting system for a wearer gizing the voice-operated amplifier 16. the speaker mike 
o f  protective suits includes the following basic parts: ( a preamplifier 24, and the power amplifies 25 ,  by means o f  leads 
microphone carried i n  the suit for transmitting the 27, 28 and 29, respectively. The  signal coming out o f  the 
voice, ( 2 )  a combination speaker and receiver provided for  5 5  Power amplifier 25 passes through lead 30 to terminal 31 
receiving sounds and voice through contact $8, which is now in the lower position, to the 
ex terna l ly  o f  ,+he suit, ( 3 )  a headphone carried adjacent the combination speaker and receiver 14. The  cornbination 
ears for broadcasting sounds:received by  the speaker and receiver can be any conventional speaker and 
bination speaker and receiver to the wearer,s ears, ( 4 )  an am- receiver which is capable o f  transmi?ting and rece iv ing  audio 
plifier means for amplifying sounds passing through the 60 Signals. 
receiving and transmitting system, ( 5 )  switching means for When the user stops speaking into the micro~ilone IS i-he 
connecting the amplifying means between the microphone " b y  17 is deenergized and the contacts 18 land 19 returned 
and the speaker and receiver when in a second f0 the full line Or Up position illustrated in FIG. 2. Er this posi- 
position, and ( 6 )  a vo i~e -~pera t ed  actuating means coupled to tion the System is in the receive condition, i.e., it will receive 
the output o f  the microphone for causing a switching means to 65 any audio signals above a certain predeterminecl level and 
be switched from the first position to  the second position such signals will be transmitted to the headphone 12. Thus,  
responsive to  the wearer speaking into the microphone. Thus. when the speaker 14 is in the receiving sea" the audio signals 
the voice o f  the wearer o f  the protective suit automatically Pass through the speaker 14, contact 19, Sead 23, the speaker 
switches the receiving and transmitting system from a receiv- mike preamplifier 24, the power amplifier 25, lead 30, contact 
ing mode to  the transmitting mode. 70  18, lead 32, and is heard by the user through the headphones 
Accordingly, it is an important object o f  the present inven- 12 located inside o f  the protective suit. There is a conven- 
tion to  provide a voice-operated receiving and transmitting tional impedance mismatch out of the power amplifier 25 
system for a wearer o f  a protective suit which automatically feeding the headphone I2  when the system is in the receive 
enables him to  speak and hear normal sounds, such as conver- position. This impedance mismatch attenuates the signal to a 
sation. 75 normal headphone receiving audio leve?. Stich power 
3,588,359 
3 4 
~ ~ ~ s r n a t c r i  1% co~\ventional in many audto dev~ces,  o r  cascuats The rectifier network 77 includes a coupllng capacitor 82 ,  
whsch lncoeposate a speaker and a headphone znterposed xn lead 83, extendang between the collector 75 of 
From the dwrann  can be seen that when the user transistor 61 and junction 78 Another coupllng capacstor 8 4  
desrrcP 10 speak he mer-iy speaks anto the rnrcsophone IS and as connected between junction 85 and junction 8 6  In lead 83 
bdcb s transmstaed externally of the prooectlve suit by the 5 A diode 87 1s connected between junction $6 and a junction 
- o m b ~ ~ ~ n l o 7  s3eahea and receiver 14 When he is slot talking 88 wath the anode being adjacent juncteon 8 6  Parallel clrcu~ts 
he system 2s ap p"cc&lve PQsrtion so ahat he can hear noses  whrch include resastor 89, dlode 90, and capacitor 91, respec- 
above a paar~ce~Iar udio level nn the lrnrnedeate vicinity in one tnvely, are between ~~~~t~~~ 92  and lunctlons $5, 
oaatecular d e v ~ c e  Lsers of the System can CQrnmunlCate at  nor- and 88,  respectively The anode of the diode 9 0  1s 
voice level a &stance of approxgmate!~ 50 feet It 1s junction 92  Junctlon 92  is connected by means of lead 9 3  to 
'esjreb vobce-o~erated amplifier 1 6  be biased to a junctaon 94  whtcir IS interposed In lead 95 w h ~ c h  IS coupled 
cestail? lekel so Ihat s ~ c h  IS not activated by nolses ansnde tlae between Junctaons 9 6  9 7  junction 97 !?, con- 
,rotectrve SUr3 "ich 86 the hrssang of air rushzng nnto the suit, nected lead 29 from the battery 26 for provld,ng a 
":6 Tbss 1s :9 matritam the system rn a recerve condntaon ex- blaslng for the transistors 98 and 9 9  ~h~ NPN 
rep* vhcq t k  ~ % e r  speaks transastors 9 8  and 9 9  are coupled together to ampllfy the cur- 
'"" "' orearp'r'er 24 and the power amplifier '' are rent so that such w~l l  be sufficleni to actlvate the relay 1 7  
,onven*lo-~~l  items only a derarled descrnpt~on will be glven of when the user speaks microphone The stgnat 
vaice-ops-aie' arp'afier '' and " The ing into the base electrode 10d) of trans~stor 9 8  via resrstor 101 
'' 'hi; Is spoken lnPo the mncrophone and Is 20 is amplified by the substantnally parallel arrangement of the 
ee 'F'o ap ~ ~ n ~ t d a ~ ~ e  matchrng transfornier 33 ~ h a c h  has its a m p ~ l ~ y l n g  transistors 9 8  99  and ;s fed the coi- 
~econdary w:cQing coupled to the base electrode 34 of a PNP 1Q2 of transastor 99 the relay coal to the 
iyp": vaaislstcv 35 The sagnal is coupled through the coupYing grounded lead 47 As the current flows through the relay corl 
LaDac"oP 36 1~1er~osh .d  qn lead 37 The signal 1s amplified vla g7 enesglzes relay down the 18 and 19 
Liirrera f l ~ w i w  IS a- emtiter electrode 38 and out collector 25 to the dotted l ~ n e  pers~tiorn In t h ~ s  posiieon the w l c e  of the user 
..!eftrode 9 B J t ,  f a d  to juncflon 40 A voltage dropping re- passes through the 5peaber mske paehntapilfies, the power am- 
,nstos 41 IS couplet 13etvdecn juncPlon 40 and junctaon 42 rrrter- pllfiei to the speaker receaver exlernaily of the suit 3oscd In lead 43 A voltage dividlng network whrch rncludes Tlansrstors 98 and 99 are NBN transnstors and the collector 
-esactoss 44 and 45 is connected between juncrwn 4 2  and 
of transistor 98 IS ~oiapled to the collector ol tiansistor 99  by 
ruincanon 46 interposed sn the grounded lead 44 The base elec- 30 lead 1103 The emitter 104 of transrstor 98 as coupled to the lode 34 of  tne Irani;i.,toa 35 8s coupled to the junction 48.1 In- base electrode of 99 by IcdJ zOu5 
r-rrntdiaii. the $0 take dlvadlng resastors 44 and 45, respec- When the user of the suat stops spe~tkang rhe reldq 17 IS 
 el!, Thc bracing recastor and capacitor network, whrch an- deenergnzed allowing the contacts to move back ^(3 the fuil lilne d u d ~ s  rcrlStor 49 and c a p x i t o r  SO, as Interposed between the 3 5  posation so that external sounds can be picked up by the 
mleres elecriode 98 and :he ground lead 47 
At  j ~ ~ ~ q i i ) ' ?  51 *he signal 1s dlvnded and a portion 'peaker-recerver I 4  and heard by the by means of the 
,f such is icij *girhSklgh lead 52, coupling capacitor 53, poten- B""dse' '2 1' 8' when the "er Is 'peakang 
r ometer 54 to lead 20 which is connected to the preamplifier the m'cro~hone l5 the l7 dasengages the headset from 
jead 23 an$ conla,? 19 when such is an the down posltjon the C1rcu" mOvJng the and l9 to the broken 
The purDoie of the aotentiorneter 54 as to provade a means to 46' line position 
~ o n t r o i  the  level cihnch audno signals will actrvate the pream- In Summarnznng the operat'on, It  can be seen that the user of 
sf!pr >o upat 1~qse5 anrlde tgie surt, such as produced by the Ihe Su"can communncaFe w'th others In the lmmednate 
ars conevg into \he suss, will not acravate the preamplefier vicnnaty by merely Spedking into the m crophone 95 carried on 
Tile sngnal at  l a  actaon 51 es also applred to the base elec- the face mask of hrs head gear AS soon as he stops speakang 
,-ode 55 of ranotker PNP ampltfy~ng transistor 56 through a 45 the system returns to a rcceav~ag cond~tion wherein he can 
"oup:rng caJ3-it, 57 lrltesoosed in lead 58 connected heartthrough the headset 12 sounds in the ernmed~ate vlcanity 
'7etwt.el P F ~  jase ~ lec t -ode  55 and the junction 51 The ampla- The system es provided wnrh means for ad?uatlng the level at  
r,er 56 a a r ~ M i - ~  t-se signal and feeds such through a couplmg which switching l7 Is enehg'zed 
,apaciSo- 59 fr, eh- oasr electrode 60 of still another PNP am- Whale a preferred ernbodlment of the invention has been 
7Vfyd.ig transas or bl  5° described usang specific terms, such d e s c r ~ y t ~ o n  is for ~llustra- 
A ~ 0 2 i r n ~ 1 :  dl,  id*ng network tncludrng resxstors 62 and 6 3  IS purposes only, and tt is to be understood that changes and 
tonnectea be.r\iee*# scmmon lead 47 and lead 43, and to lead variations may be made wathout departing from the ~ p l r ~ t  o r  
" T.?,a: ~ o l ~ a g z  deoppsng resistor 64 is connected between the Scope of the following c lams  
cu3 ecior eiert~ocde 6.5 of t ra~szs tor  5 6  and lead 4 3  Connected 55 1 claim 
setween the emitter eiectrode 66 and ground lead 47 IS a bias- B A protective suit in w h ~ c h  a wearer 1s completely encom- 
ng resistor aild caeac7tor network which ancludes resistor 67 passed and thereby normally unable hear and speak exter- 
qnd czonc.;toI 69 Another volrage divrdsng network whnch In- nally of s a d  sultcomPnsnng, in comblnatlon 
,kdcc  resi.rt~ss 69 and "9 as connected between lead 43 and A a microphone carried ansade said sunt for transmatteng the 
prodrid lead 4hai3d 1s josned by lead 71 connected to base 60 wearer'svQace, 
~ ~ e s * r o d e  60 01 r r  Insa,tor 61 A biasang resistor capacetor net- B a comblnatton speaker and receiver means located out- 
work w hrch rlcludes resistor 72 and capacfilon 7 3  IS nnterposed side of said sult for both receivnng external sounds and 
between tne ernat*er electrode 74 and the ground lead 4 7 A  transmitting the wearer's voice externally of said suit, 
collec)os el-ctrode 75 es connected through a voltage C a headphone earned nns~de said s u ~ t  adjacent the 
dmopang resistor " 6  to lead 43 45 wearer's ears for transmitting sounds received by s a ~ d  
After the s\g.;al leases the ampllfytng transstor 61 ~t 1s then combanatnon speaker and receiver means to the wearer's 
fed twough a sect~fying cnrcult generally desngnated by ears, 
re fe~ence  cha-acter 7'7 whsch rect~fies the signal and Feeds D amplifier means for ampl~fylng sounds passlng through 
such to jun~ttoja 78 The potentiometer 7"Bs rnterposed s a d  combjnation speaker and recelver means, 
between lead3 43 2nd ground lead 47, and has tes movable con- 70 E switching means for connecting said ampl~fying means 
?act 80 connec-ed through resxstor 811 to junction 78 so that between headphone and said combanat~on speaker and 
r$e level of the signal tor conrroll~ng the energization of relay recelver means when in a first posltaon and for connecting 
17 can be set to a gredetermnned value The potentlometer sand amplifying means between satd microphone and sald 
c,ao be adjusted to take tnto cons~derataon the fact that certain comblnatlon speaker and receives means when ln a 
.!sers \pcakr lower *hd 9 others 75 wcond positaon, 
F. said switching means normally being in said first position for automatically switching said switching means from 
for said combination speaker and receiver means to  said first normal position to said second position; and 
receive sounds externally of said suit; I. control means coupled to said voice-operated amp8ifier 
6. a voice-operated amplifier coupled to the output of said for setting the noise level at  which said relay means is ac- 
microphone for receiving and amplifying voice signals 5 tuated to switch said switching means from said first nor- 
from said microphone; ma1 position to  said second position. 
W. a relay means coupled to said voice-operated amplifier 


Protective suit having an audio transceiver Patent

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