GB2612833A

GB2612833A - Device, system and method for use with a face mask

Info

Publication number: GB2612833A
Application number: GB2116421.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Beesley Richard; Brangwin Nicholas; Davies Andrew; Mutton Ian
Original assignee: Mackwell Health Ltd
Current assignee: Mackwell Health Ltd
Priority date: 2021-11-15
Filing date: 2021-11-15
Publication date: 2023-05-17
Also published as: GB202116421D0

Abstract

A device 100 for improving speech transmission across a face mask, wherein the device is configured for attachment to the surface of a face mask 200 and comprises means to cause the surface 201 of the face mask to vibrate to generate sound. Preferably, the device has an electrically drivable vibrating means for vibrating the face mask (or respirator) such that it functions as an acoustic transducer. The vibrating means may be an exciter, an audio exciter, an acoustic driver or a voice coil. It is preferably mounted on an external surface of the face mask 200. Advantageously, the device has sound capturing means, such as a microphone, a throat microphone (500, fig.3), a condenser microphone, or an electret microphone. By enabling the face mask itself to act as an acoustic transducer from which sound emanates, the voice of the user 300 is more audibly transmitted across the face mask.

Description

DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USE WITH A FACE MASK

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

Examples of the present disclosure relate to a device, system and method for use with a face mask. Some examples, though without prejudice to the foregoing, relate to a module that is attachable to a face mask, such as a respirator device/respirator mask, and configured so as to enhance the audibility of speech of a user.

BACKGROUND

Face masks and respiratory equipment may be used as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) worn to protect users working in environments that present a hazard to respiratory health. Such environments may include: healthcare settings where airborne pathogens exist, industrial settings where there may be a risk of toxic particulate inhalation, military settings where biohazards exist, and a range of other potential settings. Face masks and respiratory equipment may also be provided to users in a healthcare setting, for example provided to patients and used with medical devices to assist with patients' breathing.

Some face masks/respiratory equipment are of single-use/disposable type, for example FFP3 respirators, where the respirator must be disposed of after use. This presents challenges, particularly in situations where the single-use face masks/respiratory equipment could have been in contact with contagious viral or bacterial species -in which case special hazardous waste disposal processes are needed. Single-use face masks/respiratory equipment are also known to be damaging to the environment due to the non-biodegradable nature of the materials from which they are constructed. During the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020-2021, very large volumes of such single-use face masks/respiratory equipment were used, and concerns over the resulting environmental impact of the disposed waste have led to a desire for re-usable versions of face masks/respiratory equipment.

Re-usable versions of face masks/respiratory equipment are currently available on the market in many forms. Examples of the same include 'half-masks', and 'full face masks'. Some re-usable face masks/respiratory equipment are able to be connected to powered devices worn on the body of the user which provide purified air to the wearer (e.g., via an Ultra Violet disinfection chamber worn on the body of the user, such as ProtectivAirO wearable breathing devices from Mackwell Health Limited).

Conventional face masks/respiratory equipment are not always optimal.

Some conventional face masks/respiratory equipment use pliable elastomeric materials, for example silicone, which mould to the contours of a user's face in order to provide an air-tight seal -which is necessary for the mask/device to provide an acceptable level of protection to the user. However, the material typically used for face masks/respiratory equipment, not least such as re-usable masks, in combination with the need to provide effective sealing to the user can results in poor transmission of sound and a user's speech -thereby suppressing the voice of the user of the face mask/respiratory equipment. Consequently, these types of face masks/respiratory equipment may not be suitable for use in certain critical situations where communication is important.

An alternative re-usable protective device is known as a Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR). This type of device can provide a supply of air delivered to the wearer via a loose-fitting hood or a fight filling mask. Whilst PAPR devices may remove the need for a tight-fitting mask, the audibility of a user's speech may nevertheless be impaired, not least due to high level of noise from a fan used to blow the air towards the user's face.

In some circumstances it can be desirable to improve the audibility of a user of a face mask/respiratory equipment.

The listing or discussion of any prior-published document or any background in this specification should not necessarily be taken as an acknowledgement that the document or background is part of the state of the art or is common general knowledge.

One or more aspects/examples of the present disclosure may or may not address one

or more of the background issues.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The scope of protection sought for various embodiments of the invention is set out by the claims.

According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there are provided examples as claimed in the appended claims. Any examples and features described in this specification that do not fall under the scope of the independent claims are to be interpreted as examples useful for understanding various embodiments of the invention.

According to at least some examples of the disclosure there is provided a device for use with a face mask, wherein the device is configured to be attached to a surface of said face mask, and wherein the device comprises means configured, in use when the device is attached to said surface of said face mask, to cause at least a portion of said surface of said face mask to vibrate.

According to at least some examples of the disclosure there is provided module for attachment to a facemask, respirator, respirator mask, respiratory equipment and/or respiratory device wherein the module comprises the above device.

According to at least some examples of the disclosure there is provided a facemask, respirator, respirator mask, respiratory equipment and/or respiratory device comprising the above device.

According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a method comprising attaching an electrically drivable vibrating means to a surface of a face mask, wherein the electrically drivable vibrating means is configured such that, in use when attached to the surface of the face mask, the electrically drivable vibrating means vibrates at least the portion of the surface of the face mask so as to generate sound therefrom.

According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a method of providing and/or manufacturing a device, module, and/or system as described herein.

According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a method of using a device, module, and/or system as described herein.

In the "Detailed Description" section, various examples of the present disclosure are described that include features that can be features of any of the examples described in the foregoing portion of the 'Brief Summary' section. The description of a function should additionally be considered to also disclose any means suitable for performing that function.

While the above examples of the disclosure and optional features are described separately, it is to be understood that their provision in all possible combinations and permutations is contained within the disclosure. Also, it is to be understood that various examples of the disclosure can comprise any or all of the features described in respect of other examples of the disclosure, and vice versa.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some examples will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an example of the subject matter described herein; FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of an example of a device according to the present disclosure and a face mask/respirator mask; and FIG. 3 shows an example of a system including the device and face mask/respirator mask of FIG. 2.

The figures are not necessarily to scale. Certain features and views of the figures can be shown schematically or exaggerated in scale in the interest of clarity and conciseness. For example, the dimensions of some elements in the figures can be exaggerated relative to other elements to aid explication. Similar reference numerals are used in the figures to designate similar features. For clarity, all reference numerals are not necessarily displayed in all figures.

In the drawings (and description) a similar feature may be referenced by the same three-digit number. In the drawings (and description), an optional subscript to the three-digit number can be used to differentiate different instances of similar features. Therefore, a three-digit number without a subscript can be used as a generic reference and the three-digit number with a subscript can be used as a specific reference.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

S

The figures schematically illustrate, and the following description describes, various examples of the present disclosure, namely a device 100, wherein the device is configured for use with a face mask and applied thereto so that, in effect, it enables the face mask itself to act as an acoustic transducer.

In various examples, the device drives vibrations/applies vibrations to a portion of a surface of the face mask, whereupon the portion of the surface of the face mask converts the mechanical energy applied thereto (i.e., the vibrations applied to the portion of the surface of the face mask by the device) into acoustic energy so as to generate sound therefrom. In such a manner, the combination of the device and the portion of the surface of the face mask to which vibrations are applied via the device, in effect, can function as an acoustic transducer/audio output device. The portion of the surface of the face mask to which vibrations are applied via the device effectively serves as a diagram/cone for the device. In various examples, the device may thereby utilise suitable properties of a typical face mask as an acoustic transducer element. Such properties may include elastomeric properties of the face mask material. For instance, the elastomeric nature of the face mask material may lend itself to receiving the audio signal via the exciter, and vibrating so as to amplify the received signal to improve audibility. Such a typical/standard face mask may comprise a re-usable face mask, not least for example such as: Corpro HM1400, 3M 6000 series, JSP Force 8 and Draeger X-plore series In some examples, the device can: receive input audio signals (e.g., from an audio capture device, not least such as a throat microphone worn by the user), amplify the audio signals, and cause an acoustic/audio output of the audio signals via the portion of the surface of the face mask by driving/applying vibrations to said portion, wherein the applied vibrations (e.g., not least the frequency and amplitude of the same) are based at least in part on the input audio signals. In such a manner, various examples of the device can enhance the audibility of a user/wearer of the face mask and throat microphone, e.g., enhance the voice/speech of the user/wearer.

Moreover, since various examples of the device can be externally attached/mounted to the face mask without needing to pass through, penetrate or breach the face mask, the device can provide enhanced audibility of a user/wearer of the face mask in a way that may not adversely affect the integrity of the seal of the face mask around the user's mouth, nose and or face. Moreover, various examples of the device can also be retrofitted to pre-existing standard face masks thereby improving the same by enabling an enhancement of the audibility of a user/wearer of such an upgraded face mask.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a device 100 configured to be attached to a surface of a face mask 200.

The device 100 comprises means that are configured such that, in use when the device is attached to the surface of the face mask, a portion 201 of the surface of the face mask is caused to vibrate. Such means may comprise electrically drivable vibrating means. The electrically drivable vibrating means may comprise or consist of, for example: an exciter, an audio exciter, an acoustic exciter, an acoustic driver, and a voice coil.

As used herein, the term "face mask" can be a head mountable device worn by a user that covers all or a part of a user's face. The face mask may cover and/or protect at least: a user's mouth; a user's mouth and nose; a user's mouth, nose and eyes; a user's face; and/or a user's head. In some examples, the face mask comprises protective covering. In some examples, the face mask may be, comprise or be a part of: a respirator, a respirator mask, respiratory equipment, a respiratory device and/or a face piece.

In some examples the face mask comprises at least a portion of a surface thereof which is substantially rigid. In some examples the face mask/face piece comprises an elastomeric material. In some examples, the face mask is a re-usable face mask (i.e., as compared to single use/disposable face mask). The face mask can be a respirator device (such as 2001 shown in FIG. 2), namely an apparatus worn over a user's mouth, nose and/or entire face to prevent the inhalation of noxious substances such as: airborne pathogens, dust, smoke, and/or other inhalable particulate substances.

In some examples, the surface of the face mask to which device is attached/affixed/mounted/applied/adhered to is an external surface of said face mask.

The device can be attached via any suitable means, not least such as adhesion, bonding or fixings. In some examples, the device can be attached to an oronasal surface or Endoskeleton moulding surfaces of a face mask/facepiece. The device can be attached to an external surface of the face mask in a manner that does not breach/breakthrough to an internal surface of the face mask, thereby not interfering with the seal of the face mask over the user's face nor affecting the integrity of the same. Advantageously, this may avoid/reduce the need to for the face mask to be re-test for integrity after the device has been attached to it. In some examples, the device can be attached to an internal surface of the face mask. In some examples, the audio exciter module may be attached to an internal surface of the face mask in conjunction with one or more of: a battery, amplifier and microphone. Locating and fitting one or more of these components within the face mask may thus avoid/reduce having to cross the face mask/facepiece seal, for example, with interconnecting wires. In some examples, locating one or more of these components on an external surface of the face mask/facepiece may avoid/reduce crossing the face mask/facepiece seal. For examples where some components are fitted internal to the mask and some components are external to the mask (e.g., battery), an additional seal to pass, for example, interconnecting wires, may be provided.

In some examples, the audio exciter is housed within a supporting rigid frame or housing that provides a contact pressure of interfacing surfaces of the audio exciter's moving armature and the face mask/facepiece. In some examples, a supporting frame or housing may be attached to a typical existing exoskeleton of a face mask/facepiece, which, in turn, is normally bonded to the face mask/facepiece by means of, for example, over moulding or by clamping the exoskeleton assembly parts to the face mask/facepiece. In some examples, the supporting frame or housing can be arranged to form an effective Ingress Protection (IP) or hermetic seal to protect the audible exciter and to allow for effective cleaning and decontamination processes.

In some examples, an attachment or mounting interface/adaptor may be provided to enable/facilitate attachment of the device to the face mask. Such an attachment/mounting interface/adaptor may have a shape that conforms/is complementary to the shape of an area of the surface of the face mask that the device is to be attached to. The attachment/mounting interface may comprise means to create a seal between the device and the face mask, for example an 0 ring.

In some examples, the electrically drivable vibrating means is configured such that, in use when the device is attached/mounted to the surface of the face mask, the electrically drivable vibrating means is able to vibrate/directly drive at least a portion of said surface of said face mask such that at least said portion of said surface of said face mask is able to function as an acoustic transducer -converting the vibrations applied thereto into sound. In this regard, at least the portion of the surface of the face mask (e.g., a circumferential portion/area of the surface of the face mask that surrounds an attachment area where the device is attached to the surface of the face mask) may thereby serve as diaphragm/cone for the vibrating means so as to emit/transmit sound. In such a manner, the electrically drivable vibrating means and the portion of the surface of the face mask thereby effectively form an electroacoustic transducer.

In some examples, the electrically drivable vibrating means is configured to receive one or more input electrical signals and vibrate at least the portion of the surface of the face mask based at least in part on the received input one or more electrical signals. In some examples, the electrical signals are representative of one or more of: sound, speech, voice of a user of the face mask, and one or more audio signals.

In some examples, the one or more electrical signals is created by a means for capturing sound (not shown in FIG. 1 but shown in FIG. 3 with reference to 500), not least for example: a sound capture device, a means for generating audio signals, a microphone, a throat microphone, a condenser microphone, and/or an electret microphone.

In some examples, the one or more electrical signals received by the means for vibrating (e.g., under control of one or more processors or controlling circuitry/ies) comprise one or more audio signals actively amplified by a means for amplifying audio signals (not shown), such as an amplifier, and amplification circuitry.

In some examples the device comprises its own energy storage means, not least for example its own on-board power supply such as a battery, i.e., so as to power its electrical components (for example one or more of: the vibrating means, control/processing circuity for the same and amplification circuitry). In other examples, such as wherein the face mask is a respirator/respirator mask that comprises its own power source (e.g., for providing a flow of air to the face mask), the device can source its power from the power source of the respirator.

In some examples, the device is implemented as a module for attachment to the face mask. Advantageously, this enables the device/module to be provided as an accessory that can be retrofitted to existing standard face masks for improving the audibility/intelligibility of voice/speech of the wearer (such standard face marks may comprise, not least for example: face masks certified to a known PPE standard e.g., EN 140 (elastomeric half masks), or EN 149 (FFP3 masks).

Various examples have described the device 100 as a module (i.e., a unit or apparatus that excludes certain parts/components, e.g., not least the face mask itself) that would be added by an end manufacturer or a user. For example, a module that is separate and distinct from the face mask but which, in use, is attached thereto. However, it is to be appreciated that, in other examples, the device can comprise the face mask as well, i.e., in such examples there is provided a face mask (e.g. respirator) that comprises the electrically drivable vibrating means which is configured to vibrate a portion of the surface of the face mask (e.g., such a surface comprising a circumferential portion of the surface of the face mask surrounding an attachment area where the electrically drivable vibrating means is attached to the face mask) thereby transforming the portion of the surface of the face mask into an acoustic transducer such that the face mask itself, in effect, forms an electroacousfic transducer. In such examples, the electrically drivable vibrating means is integrated/built in to the face mask and configured to vibrate a portion of the surface of the face mask such that the portion of the face mask serves as an acoustic transducer (i.e., in effect, a cone/diaphragm to the electrically drivable vibrating means) emitting sound therefrom.

In some examples, there is provided a system comprising the above-described device and one or more of: means for capturing sound, means for amplifying audio signals. The means for capturing sound and/or means for amplifying audio signals can be in electrical/data communication with one another, and also the device/vibrating means as well as control circuitry/ies / processor(s) for controlling the same, such that audio signals captured by the means for capturing sound can be amplified by the means for amplifying audio signals and used as an input to the electrically drivable vibrating means for controlling the vibrations therefrom.

It will be understood that control of the components of the device can be implemented by various means, such as hardware, firmware, and/or software including one or more computer program instructions.

In some examples, there is provided a method comprising attaching an electrically drivable vibrating means to a surface of a face mask, wherein the electrically drivable vibrating means is configured such that, in use when attached to the surface of the face mask, the electrically drivable vibrating means vibrates at least the portion of the surface of the face mask so as to generate sound therefrom.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of an example of a device 1001, referred to herein as an acoustic exciter module or an audio exciter module 1001, of the present disclosure along with a face mask 2001, i.e. a 'host' face mask, that the audio exciter module 1001 can be mounted to.

FIG. 3 shows the audio exciter module 1001 when attached/mounted to a portion of a surface of the face mask 2001. FIG. 3 also shows a microphone 500 suitable for use

with examples of the present disclosure.

The audio exciter module 1001 comprises electrically drivable vibrating means 1011, referred to herein as an acoustic exciter or audio exciter 1011, housed within an enclosure 1021. The audio exciter module is designed to be mounted to a face mask 2001 (which may be a standardly available type of face mask such as a tight-fitting face mask or respirator). The audio exciter module can be designed to be mounted to the face mask without requiring any modification of the face mask. In other words, the audio exciter module can be configured such that its mounting to the facemask does not involve any penetration or breaching of any internal surfaces or seals of the face mask (e.g., by being bonded/adhered to an external surface of the face mask), nor does the audio exciter module have any components or wiring that passes underneath the face mask/seal when worn by a user (e.g., no wired connection to components located on an internal side of the face mask, i.e. within its, in use, clean air environment). This may thereby maintain existing sealing performance of the face mask, such as the tight-fitting face mask 2001. Where the audio exciter module is adhered to the face mask, any suitable adhesive may be used. It is noted that face masks may be made of silicone-based or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) type materials, e.g., wherein such materials are used for respirator facepieces, and that standard adhesives may be unsuitable owing to the "non-stick" properties of such materials. For instance, a typical thermoplastic additive of a TPE comprises polypropylene (PP), which has the properties of low surface energy resulting in an inherent resilience and resistance to most glues, adhesives and solvents. Accordingly, a glue/adhesive may be selected that is suitable/applicable for the material to which the audio exciter module is to be glued/adhered to.

In some examples, a seal (not shown) can be provided at the interface between the audio exciter module 1001 and the face mask 2001, e.g., to provide ingress protection against dirt or moisture. The seal may be formed, not least for example by an 0-ring of a suitably pliant material or by use of a bonding compound. Typical audio exciter devices may have a multitude of surface finishes and crevices that tend to entrap dirt and contamination. By providing the housing/enclosure 1021 and a seal, this may avoid/minimize dirt build-up / entrapment. This may also facilitate effective cleaning, for example, using a cleaning solution spray and wipe process or UV treatment on the exterior surfaces of the housing (with the electrically drivable vibrating means 1011 being housed and sealed within the housing and face mask 2001.

In some examples, the interface/attachment means of the audio exciter module to a host face mask may be provided by mechanical means such as a riveted fixing, and with a foam seal provided around the area of contact of the module with the face mask. Alternatively or additionally, the audio exciter module may be bonded to the host face mask-the bond also forming an effective seal.

The audio exciter module comprises a voice coil comprising a movable/vibratable mass. The audio exciter module is mounted to the face mask such that the moving mass of its voice coil couples vibrations directly into an external surface of the face mask material, thereby causing modulation of the surrounding air in a substantially planar fashion, and in so doing creating audible sound with good dispersion. In some examples, the audio exciter module is mounted to a substantially planar portion of a surface of the face mask/facepiece, or to an area that is substantially convex, so as to form a sound-emitting surface.

The audio exciter module is mounted/attached to the face mask so as to be in physical contact with a surface of the face mask. The audio exciter module is in electrical contact with an electronic amplifier circuit (not shown) such that, when an amplified sound is provided to the audio exciter module, it vibrates. These vibrations are transmitted to the material/surface of the face mask thereby allowing the sound to be amplified. The exciter, by means of its physical interface to the mask surface, forms an effective electroacoustic transducer.

An input to the amplifier circuit is provided by the microphone 500, which may be placed in close proximity to the wearer so as to detect only the wearer's own voice.

Different types of microphones may be used for this purpose, not least such as a throat microphone (e.g., of a type employing a transducer capable of converting vibrations conducted from the wearer's throat during speech to electrical signals passed to the audio amplifier). In some examples, a conventional microphone, such as an electret condenser microphone, may be used, which can be located within the face-mask, i.e., in the clean-air space within the host face mask. Where the microphone is wiredly connected to the device (rather than wirelessly connected), any connecting wires/cables can be routed via a seal, which may be provided for tight-fitting face mask applications.

In some examples, the audio amplifier may be integrated within the audio exciter module.

The amplifier can be connectable to a source of power in order to operate. In some examples, this can be provided by connection to a battery-powered unit worn on the body. Alternatively, when the face mask itself is connected to a powered unit (e.g., a power-assisted respirator providing a flow of air to the wearer's mouth/face), the power for the amplifier may be drawn from the powered unit which is already being worn. Compared to mere passive voice enhancement methods used with face masks, active methods, e.g., involving powered amplification of audio signals, can provide a superior degree of clarity in the output of the amplified audio signals.

It is to be appreciated that different sizes and power ratings of audio exciters/acoustic exciters may be used, supported by corresponding modifications to the amplifier circuit.

Such modifications and alternatives can take account of different host face mask properties in achieving optimised acoustic/audio output performance.

The area of the face mask to which the audio exciter module is mounted/coupled may be chosen according to the characteristics of the produced sound required. In some examples, the audio exciter module is mounted such that vibrations are passed into a flexible material area of the face mask (e.g., an area formed of an elastomeric material), which is typically capable of yielding higher acoustic output in the low audible frequency range (e.g., 10 to 250 Hz) and mid-range audible frequencies (e.g., 250 Hz to 4 kHz). In some examples, the audio exciter module may be mounted such that vibrations are passed into a harder, more rigid, less flexible area of the face mask (e.g., an area formed of a non-elastomeric material), resulting in a higher acoustic output in higher frequency audible range (e.g., 4 kHz to 25 kHz). In some examples, more than one audible exciter module may be used, for example, either to increase a level/volume of audible output or to provide differing frequency responses so that an overall combined frequency range effect is provided according to the different acoustic characteristics/rigidity of areas of the face mask/facepiece being utilised.

Various examples may utilise a combination of an internal enclosed air space of the (host) face mask and boundary material properties of the host face mask in combination with an inherent annular interface seal of the audio exciter to prevent cancellation and provide good acoustic performance. Such utilisation of existing properties inherent in the design of a typical host face mask may avoid compromises that may otherwise normally be placed on face mask design when incorporating conventional loudspeaker-based voice enhancement systems to achieve equivalent performance.

In various examples, only one point of physical interface to a host mask is required, i.e., for the attachment/mounting area. This can provide the advantage that effective sealing for the protection of components of the device. This can be advantageous where cleaning procedures are required to be applied to the host mask, and may simplify the same. By contrast, conventional microphones, for example, requiring foam wind shields, connecting cables, loudspeakers, and other components with intricate shapes, tend not to be compatible with existing requirements where de-contamination procedures are required.

In some examples, more than one audio exciter module may be used, that may be placed on differing portions of the face mask, e.g., having differing flexibilities. Plural audio exciter modules may be provided in situations where a higher level/volume of output is required and/or a combination of different frequency range responses from the differing portions of the face mask is required for improved frequency range and/or reproduction/fidelity of an inputted audio signal.

In some examples, a system/kit may be provided comprising: the audio exciter module, a microphone, an amplifier, and/or a power supply; each provided/supplied separately. Such a kit can be used, in combination with commercially available protective equipment such as re-usable half masks, and retrofitted to the same to provide enhance audibility (e.g., of a voice/speech) of a user/wearer of the same.

Advantageously, by enabling the face mask itself to act as an acoustic transducer from which sound emanates, various examples of the disclosure may provide voice enhancement wherein the sound originates directly from the vicinity of the wearer's face/mouth -i.e., as if they were speaking without amplification (as compared to the sound originating from a speaker located remotely of the user's face/mouth, such as may be the case for alternative methods of voice enhancement that may use speakers located remotely from the wearer's face, perhaps connected via a wireless link such as Bluetooth, which may cause confusion in practice due to the origin of the speech not being obvious if many users of such a system were present). By enabling utilisation of the face mask itself as an acoustic transducer, this can provide a more natural and less disorientating projection of the wearer's voice (as compared to the voice emanating from a conventional loudspeaker remote from the mask, for example, fitted to the wearer's waist).

Advantageously, various examples of the disclosure may be fitted to existing standard face masks without requiring substantial modifications or adaptions to the face mask itself. This can be particularly advantageous where any such modifications or adaptions could otherwise affect the sealing and performance of the face mask and may even affect the face mask's ability to meet relevant standards compliance of the face mask. Such a benefit can be achieved through the audio exciter acting only upon an external surface (or acting only upon an internal surface) of the face mask. Also, such a benefit can be achieved via the device being used in conjunction with a throat microphone, such that no components of the system are required to pass into the sealed, clean air environment within any existing face mask design to which the system may be fitted.

Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Features described in the preceding description can be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described. Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions can be performable by other features whether described or not. Although features have been described with reference to certain examples, those features can also be present in other examples whether described or not. Accordingly, features described in relation to one example/aspect of the disclosure can include any or all of the features described in relation to another example/aspect of the disclosure, and vice versa, to the extent that they are not mutually inconsistent.

Although various examples of the present disclosure have been described in the preceding paragraphs, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set out in the claims. For example, whilst various examples have been discussed above of an audio excitor module that is attachable to a face mask, in some examples, the audio exciter is integral to / built in to a face mask.

The term 'comprise' is used in this document with an inclusive not an exclusive meaning. That is any reference to X comprising Y indicates that X can comprise only one Y or can comprise more than one Y. If it is intended to use 'comprise' with an exclusive meaning then it will be made clear in the context by referring to "comprising only one..." or by using "consisting".

In this description, the wording 'connect', 'couple' and 'communication' and their derivatives mean operationally connected/coupled/in communication. It should be appreciated that any number or combination of intervening components can exist (including no intervening components), i.e., so as to provide direct or indirect connection/coupling/communication. Any such intervening components can include hardware and/or software components.

In this description, reference has been made to various examples. The description of features or functions in relation to an example indicates that those features or functions are present in that example. The use of the term 'example' or 'for example', 'can' or may' in the text denotes, whether explicitly stated or not, that such features or functions are present in at least the described example, whether described as an example or not, and that they can be, but are not necessarily, present in some or all other examples. Thus 'example', 'for example', 'can' or 'may' refers to a particular instance in a class of examples. A property of the instance can be a property of only that instance or a property of the class or a property of a sub-class of the class that includes some but not all of the instances in the class.

In this description, references to "a/an/the" [feature, element, component, means...] are to be interpreted as "at least one" [feature, element, component, means...] unless explicitly stated otherwise. That is any reference to X comprising a/the Y indicates that X can comprise only one Y or can comprise more than one Y unless the context clearly indicates the contrary. If it is intended to use 'a or 'the' with an exclusive meaning then it will be made clear in the context. In some circumstances the use of 'at least one' or 'one or more' can be used to emphasise an inclusive meaning but the absence of these terms should not be taken to infer any exclusive meaning.

The presence of a feature (or combination of features) in a claim is a reference to that feature (or combination of features) itself and also to features that achieve substantially the same technical effect (equivalent features). The equivalent features include, for example, features that are variants and achieve substantially the same result in substantially the same way. The equivalent features include, for example, features that perform substantially the same function, in substantially the same way to achieve substantially the same result.

In this description, reference has been made to various examples using adjectives or adjectival phrases to describe characteristics of the examples. Such a description of a characteristic in relation to an example indicates that the characteristic is present in some examples exactly as described and is present in other examples substantially as described.

The above description describes some examples of the present disclosure however those of ordinary skill in the art will be aware of possible alternative structures and method features which offer equivalent functionality to the specific examples of such structures and features described herein above and which for the sake of brevity and clarity have been omitted from the above description. Nonetheless, the above description should be read as implicitly including reference to such alternative structures and method features which provide equivalent functionality unless such alternative structures or method features are explicitly excluded in the above description of the examples of the present disclosure.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of examples of the present disclosure believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

The examples of the present disclosure and the accompanying claims can be suitably combined in any manner apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Separate references to an "example", "in some examples" and/or the like in the description do not necessarily refer to the same example and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For instance, a feature, structure, process, step, action, or the like described in one example may also be included in other examples, but is not necessarily included.

Each and every claim is incorporated as further disclosure into the specification and the claims are embodiment(s) of the present disclosure. Further, while the claims herein are provided as comprising specific dependencies, it is contemplated that any claims can depend from any other claims and that to the extent that any alternative embodiments can result from combining, integrating, and/or omitting features of the various claims and/or changing dependencies of claims, any such alternative embodiments and their equivalents are also within the scope of the disclosure.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A device for use with a face mask, wherein the device is configured to be attached to a surface of said face mask, and wherein the device comprises means configured, in use when the device is attached to said surface of said face mask, to cause at least a portion of said surface of said face mask to vibrate.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein said means comprises an electrically drivable vibrating means, wherein the electrically drivable vibrating means is configured such that, in use when the device is attached to said surface of said face mask, the electrically drivable vibrating means is able to vibrate at least said portion of said surface of said face mask such that at least said portion of said surface of said face mask is able to function as an acoustic transducer.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the electrically drivable vibrating means comprises at least one selected from a group of: an exciter, an audio exciter, an acoustic driver, and a voice coil.
4 The device of claim 2 or 3, wherein: the electrically drivable vibrating means is physically connectable to at least said portion of said surface of said face mask; and the electrically drivable vibrating means is configured such that, in use when the electrically drivable vibrating means is physically connected to said surface of said face mask, the electrically drivable vibrating means directly drives vibrations of at least said portion of said surface of said face mask such that the electrically drivable vibrating means and at least said portion of said surface of said face mask thereby form an electroacousfic transducer.
5. The device of any of previous claims 2 to 4, wherein: the electrically drivable vibrating means is configured to receive one or more electrical signals; and the electrically drivable vibrating means is configured such that, in use when the device is attached to said surface of said face mask, the electrically drivable vibrating means vibrates at least said portion of said surface of said face mask based at least in part on the received one or more electrical signals.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein the one or more electrical signals is representative of at least one selected from a group of: sound, speech, voice of a user of the face mask, and one or more audio signals.
7. The device of claim 5 or 6, wherein the one or more electrical signals is created by a means for capturing sound.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein said means for capturing sound comprises one or more of: a sound capture device, a means for generating audio signals, a microphone, a throat microphone, a condenser microphone, and an electret microphone.
9. The device of any of claims 5 to 8, wherein the one or more electrical signals comprise one or more audio signals amplified by a means for amplifying audio signals.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein said means for amplifying audio signals comprises at least one selected from a group of: an amplifier, and amplification circuitry.
11. The device of any previous claim, wherein said surface of said face mask is an external surface of said face mask.
12. The device of any previous claim, wherein the device comprises an attachment interface for attaching the device to said face mask.
13. The device of any previous claim, wherein the device comprises energy storage means.
14. The device of any previous claim, wherein said face mask: is a respirator, comprises a face piece, and/or is re-usable.
15. A system comprising: the device of any previous claim; and said means for capturing sound.
16. The system of claim 15, further comprising: means for amplifying audio signals.
17. The system of claim 15, further comprising: said face mask.
18. A module for attachment to a facemask, respirator, respirator mask, respiratory equipment and/or respiratory device, wherein the module comprises the device of any of claims 1 to 14.
19. A facemask, respirator, respirator mask, respiratory equipment and/or respiratory device comprising the device of any of claims 1 to 14.
20. A method comprising: attaching an electrically drivable vibrating means to a surface of a face mask, wherein the electrically drivable vibrating means is configured such that, in use when attached to the surface of the face mask, the electrically drivable vibrating means vibrates at least the portion of the surface of the face mask so as to generate sound therefrom.