Transmission detection and switch system for hearing improvement applications

• US 20030044033A1
• Filed: 12/28/2000
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: III Holdings 7, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Etymotic Research Incorporated
• Inventors: Schulein, Robert B., Julstrom, Stephen D., Matzen, Norman P., Soede, Willem, Carlson, Elmer V.
• Granted Patent: US 6,694,034 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/51 Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/61 Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/43 Electronic input selection or mixing based on input signal analysis, e.g. mixing or selection between microphone and telecoil or between microphones with different directivity characteristics H04R25/407 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/502 using analog signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/552 Binaural
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/603 of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements

Abstract

A hearing aid system for selecting one of two audio sources is disclosed. The hearing aid system comprises hearing aid circuitry, such as, for example, a hearing aid amplifier and speaker, as well as a primary source for audio, such as, for example, a hearing aid microphone. The hearing aid system also comprises a secondary source for audio, such as, for example, a directional microphone worn or otherwise supported by a person speaking or by the hearing aid user, as well as detection and switch circuitry to select which of the primary and secondary audio sources should be directed to the hearing aid circuitry. In operation, the detection and switch circuitry receives a signal transmission (preferably wireless) from the secondary audio source and determines whether the signal received is desirable. If the signal transmission is desirable, the circuitry selects that signal for coupling with the hearing aid circuitry. If the transmission signal is not desirable, the circuitry selects the signals from the primary audio source for coupling with the hearing aid circuitry.

Claims

1. A hearing aid system comprising:

hearing aid circuitry;

a first audio source for generating a first audio signal;

a second audio source for generating a second audio signal, the second audio source having a wireless transmitter for transmitting the second audio signal wirelessly;

a receiver for receiving the second audio signal from the wireless transmitter of the second audio source; and

circuitry for analyzing the second audio signal received, and for selecting one of the first and second audio signals for coupling to the hearing aid circuitry based on the analysis of the second audio signal received.

2. The hearing aid system of claim 1 wherein the first audio source comprises an omnidirectional hearing aid microphone.

3. The hearing aid system of claim 1 wherein the first audio source comprises a directional hearing aid microphone.

4. The hearing aid system of claim 1 wherein the secondary audio source comprises one of a directional microphone, an array microphone, an audio transmitter, or a telephone.

5. The hearing aid system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry selects the second audio signal if the second audio signal is above a predetermined threshold.

6. The hearing aid system of claim 1 wherein the hearing aid circuitry comprises a hearing aid amplifier and a speaker.

7. The hearing aid system of claim 1 wherein the hearing aid circuitry comprises a speaker.

8. The hearing aid system of claim 1 wherein the first audio signal is shut off when the second audio signal is selected.

9. The hearing aid system of claim 1 wherein the first audio signal is attenuated when the second audio signal is selected.

10. A hearing aid comprising;

hearing aid circuitry;

a microphone for generating a first audio signal;

a receiver for wirelessly receiving a second audio signal generated externally to the hearing aid;

circuitry for analyzing the second audio signal received, and for selecting one of the first and second audio signals for coupling to the hearing aid circuitry based on the analysis of the second audio signal received.

11. The hearing aid of claim 10 wherein the microphone is one of a directional or an omnidirectional microphone.

12. The hearing aid system of claim 10 wherein the circuitry selects the second audio signal if the second audio signal is above a predetermined threshold.

13. The hearing aid system of claim 10 wherein the hearing aid circuitry comprises a hearing aid amplifier and a speaker.

14. The hearing aid system of claim 10 wherein the hearing aid circuitry comprises a speaker.

15. The hearing aid system of claim 10 wherein the first audio signal is shut off when the second audio signal is selected.

16. The hearing aid system of claim 10 wherein the first audio signal is attenuated when the second audio signal is selected.

17. A hearing aid system comprising:

hearing aid circuitry;

a first audio source for generating a first audio signal;

a receiver for receiving a second audio signal wirelessly from a second audio source;

a detector for detecting receipt of the second audio signal and for generating a control signal based thereon; and

an electronic switch for selecting one of the first audio signal and the second audio signal based on the control signal generated by the detector, and for coupling the selected signal to the hearing aid circuitry.

18. The hearing aid system of claim 17 wherein the first audio source comprises an omnidirectional hearing aid microphone.

19. The hearing aid system of claim 17 wherein the first audio source comprises a directional hearing aid microphone.

20. The hearing aid system of claim 17 wherein the secondary audio source comprises one of a directional microphone, an array microphone, an audio transmitter, or a telephone.

21. The hearing aid system of claim 17 wherein the hearing aid circuitry comprises a hearing aid amplifier and a speaker.

22. The hearing aid system of claim 17 wherein the hearing aid circuitry comprises a speaker.

23. The hearing aid system of claim 17 wherein the first audio signal is shut off when the second audio signal is selected.

24. The hearing aid system of claim 17 wherein the first audio signal is attenuated when the second audio signal is selected.

25. A hearing aid comprising;

hearing aid circuitry;

a microphone for generating a first audio signal;

a receiver for wirelessly receiving a second audio signal generated externally to the hearing aid;

a detector for detecting receipt of the second audio signal and for generating a control signal based thereon; and

an electronic switch for selecting one of the first audio signal and the second audio signal based on the control signal generated by the detector, and for coupling the selected signal to the hearing aid circuitry.

26. The hearing aid of claim 25 wherein the microphone is one of a directional or an omnidirectional microphone.

27. The hearing aid system of claim 25 wherein the hearing aid circuitry comprises a hearing aid amplifier and a speaker.

28. The hearing aid system of claim 25 wherein the hearing aid circuitry comprises a speaker.

29. The hearing aid system of claim 25 wherein the first audio signal is shut off when the second audio signal is selected.

30. The hearing aid system of claim 25 wherein the first audio signal is attenuated when the second audio signal is selected.

31. A method of operating a hearing aid system comprising:

generating a first audio signal;

generating a second audio signal;

wirelessly transmitting the second audio signal;

receiving the second audio signal;

analyzing the second audio signal received;

selecting one of the first and second audio signals based on the analysis of the second audio signal received; and

coupling the selected signal to an input.

32. A method of operating a hearing aid system comprising:

generating a first audio signal;

receiving a wirelessly transmitted second audio signal;

analyzing the second audio signal received;

selecting one of the first and second audio signals based on the analysis of the second audio signal received; and

coupling the selected signal to an input.

33. A method of operating a hearing aid system comprising:

generating a first audio signal;

receiving a wirelessly transmitted second audio signal;

determining whether the second audio signal received meets a selected criterion;

coupling the second audio signal to an input if the second audio signal meets the selected criterion; and

coupling the first audio signal to the input if the second audio signal does not meet the selected criterion.

34. A method of operating a hearing aid system comprising:

generating a first audio signal;

generating a second audio signal;

wirelessly transmitting the second audio signal;

receiving the second audio signal;

determining whether the second audio signal received meets a selected criterion;

coupling the second audio signal to input if the second audio signal meets the selected criterion; and

coupling the first audio signal to the input if the second audio signal does not meet the selected criterion.