Switching structures for hearing aid

• US 20040052392A1
• Filed: 09/16/2002
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Roberts, Randall W., Peterson, Timothy S., Bren, Mark A., Sacha, Mike K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,369,671 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/31 Aspects of the use of accumulators in hearing aids, e.g. rechargeable batteries or fuel cells
• 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 2460/03 Aspects of the reduction of energy consumption in hearing devices
• 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 25/50 Customised settings for obtaining desired overall acoustical characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/603 of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements

Abstract

A hearing aid is provided with a switch that automatically, non-manually switches at least one of inputs, filters, or programmable parameters in the presence of a magnetic field. The magnetic field can be generated by a magnet in a telephone handset. The hearing aid further is programmed based on time-varying characteristics of the magnetic field. Wireless activation or deactivation of the hearing aid is also described. A magnetic field dependant switch turns the hearing aid on or off.

Claims

1. A hearing aid, comprising:

an input system;

an output system;

a signal processing circuit electrically connecting the input system to the output system;

a magnetically actuatable switch between the input system and the signal processing circuit, the magnetically actuatable switch including a first position and a second position; and

a filter connected to the magnetically-actuatable switch, the first position of the switch electrically removing the filter from between the input system and the signal processing circuit, and the second position of switch electrically connecting the filter between the input system and the signal processing circuit.

2. The hearing aid of claim 1, wherein the magnetically actuatable switch includes a solid state switch.

3. The hearing aid of claim 2, wherein the solid state switch is a giant magneto resistive switch.

4. The hearing aid of claim 2, wherein the solid state switch is an anisotropic magneto resistive switch.

5. The hearing aid of claim 2, wherein the solid state switch is a magnetic field effect transistor.

6. The hearing aid of claim 1, wherein the magnetically actuatable switch includes a magnetic field sensing core.

7. The hearing aid of claim 1, wherein the input system includes a first terminal and a second terminal, the signal processing circuit includes a third terminal and a fourth terminal, the second terminal is connected to the fourth terminal, wherein the filter includes a fifth terminal connected to the third terminal and a sixth terminal connected to the second terminal, and wherein the switch selectably connects the first terminal to the second terminal.

8. The hearing aid of claim 7, wherein the switch is normally closed such that the input system is electrically connected to both the filter and the signal processing circuit, and the switch is opened with a magnetic field applied to the switch.

9. The hearing aid of claim 7, wherein the switch is normally open such that the input system is normally electrically disconnected to both the filter and the signal processing circuit, and the switch closes to electrically connect the input system to both the filter and the signal processing circuit.

10. The hearing aid of claim 1, wherein the input system is connected to the signal processing circuit at a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the filter is connected to the first terminal and the switch, and wherein the switch is connected to the second terminal.

11. The hearing aid of claim 10, wherein the switch is normally closed such that the input system is electrically connected to both the filter and the signal processing circuit, and the switch is opened with a magnetic field applied to the switch.

12. The hearing aid of claim 10, wherein the switch is normally open such that the input system is normally electrically disconnected from the filter and connected to the signal processing circuit, and the switch closes to electrically connect the input system to the filter.

13. A hearing aid, comprising:

an input system;

an output system;

a signal processing circuit electrically connecting the input system to the output system;

a magnetically actuatable switch between the output system and the signal processing circuit, the magnetically actuatable switch including a first position and a second position; and

a filter connected to the magnetically-actuatable switch, the first position of the switch electrically removing the filter from between the output system and the signal processing circuit, and the second position of switch electrically connecting the filter between the output system and the signal processing circuit.

14. The hearing aid of claim 13, wherein the switch is normally closed such that the output system is electrically connected to both the filter and the signal processing circuit, and the switch is opened with a magnetic field applied to the switch.

15. The hearing aid of claim 14, wherein the switch is normally open such that the output system is normally electrically disconnected from the filter.

16. The hearing aid of claim 13, wherein the output system is connected to the signal processing circuit at a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the filter is connected to the first terminal and the switch, and wherein the switch is connected to the second terminal.

17. The hearing aid of claim 16, wherein the switch is normally closed such that the output system is electrically connected to both the filter and the signal processing circuit, and the switch is opened with a magnetic field applied to the switch.

18. The hearing aid of claim 16, wherein the switch is normally open such that the output system is normally electrically disconnected from the filter and connected to the signal processing circuit, and the switch closes to electrically connect the output system to the filter with a magnetic field applied to the switch.

19. A hearing aid, comprising:

an input system, the input system including a plurality of filters;

an output system;

a signal processing circuit electrically connecting the input system to the output system; and

a magnetically actuatable switching circuit between the plurality of filters and the signal processing circuit, the magnetically actuatable switching circuit including at least a first position and a second position, the first position of the switching circuit electrically connecting a first of the filters to the signal processing circuit, the second position of the switching circuit connecting a second of the plurality of filters to the signal processing circuit.

20. The hearing aid of claim 19, wherein the first position and the second position are mutually exclusive.

21. The hearing aid of claim 19, wherein the switching circuit electrically connects both the first filter and the second filter to the signal processing circuit to band pass a signal from the input system to the signal processing circuit.

22. A hearing aid, comprising:

an input system;

an output system;

a programmable, signal processing circuit electrically connecting the input system to the output system;

a magnetic field sensor; and

a selection circuit connected to the magnetic sensor and at least one of the input system, output system and the signal processing system, the selection circuit being adapted to control the at least one of the input system, output system and the signal processing system.

23. The hearing aid of claim 22, wherein the selection circuit is adapted to receive an electrical signal from the magnetic sensor and supply a programming signal to the signal processing circuit.

24. The hearing aid of claim 22, wherein the magnetic field sensor is a full bridge circuit.

25. The hearing aid of claim 22, wherein the magnetic field sensor is adapted to receive a pulsed power supply.

26. The hearing aid of claim 22, wherein the selection circuit is connected to the input system and sends a control signal to the input system based on a signal received from the magnetic field sensor.

27. The hearing aid of claim 26, wherein the input system includes a first input and a second input, and the input system activates one of the first input and the second input based on the control signal.

28. The hearing aid of claim 27, wherein the first input is an omni-directional microphone, and wherein the second input is a telecoil.

29. The hearing aid of claim 27, wherein the first input is an omni-directional microphone, and wherein the second input is a directional microphone.

30. The hearing aid of claim 26, wherein the input system includes an input signal filter and the input system selectively bypasses the filter based on the control signal.

31. The hearing aid of claim 22, wherein the magnetic field sensor includes a threshold circuit that blocks signals below a threshold value.

32. The hearing aid of claim 31, wherein the threshold circuit includes an output electrically connected to the selection circuit.

33. The hearing aid of claim 31, wherein the magnetic field sensor includes a threshold control that sets the threshold value.

34. The hearing aid of claim 31, wherein the magnetic field sensor includes an amplifier and a low pass filter before the threshold circuit.

35. The hearing aid of claim 22, wherein the selection circuit is connected to the a signal processing circuit and sends a control signal and a programming signal to the signal processing circuit based on a signal received from the magnetic field sensor.

36. The hearing aid of claim 35, wherein the signal processing circuit is adapted to be programmed by the programming signal.

37. The hearing aid of claim 22, wherein the selection circuit is connected to the output system and sends a control signal to the output system based on a signal received from the magnetic field sensor.

38. The hearing aid of claim 37, wherein the output system includes an output signal filter and the output system bypasses the filter based on the control signal.

39. The hearing aid of claim 22, wherein the selection circuit is adapted to receive an electrical signal from the magnetic sensor and select operational parameters for the signal processing circuit.

40. The hearing aid of claim 39, wherein the selection circuit includes a logic element.

41. The hearing aid of claim 39, wherein the selection circuit includes a NAND gate having a first input connected to a power supply and a second input connected a magnetic field sensing switch.

42. A hearing aid, comprising:

a power source;

a hearing aid circuit; and

a magnetically-operable, non-manually-operated switch having a normally-closed position connecting the power source to the hearing aid circuit and an open position disconnecting the power source from the hearing aid circuit when in the presence of a sufficiently strong magnetic field.

43. The hearing aid of claim 42, wherein the power source is a battery.

44. The hearing aid of claim 43, wherein the battery is rechargeable.

45. The hearing aid of claim 42, wherein the magnetically-operable switch includes a solid state switch.

46. The hearing aid of claim 45, wherein the solid state switch includes a giant magneto resistive switch.

47. The hearing aid of claim 45, wherein the solid state switch includes an anisotropic magneto resistive switch.

48. The hearing aid of claim 45, wherein the solid state switch includes a magnetic field effect transistor.

49. The hearing aid of claim 42, wherein the magnetically-operable switch includes a magnetic field sensing core.

50. The hearing aid of claim 42, wherein the hearing aid circuit includes a selection circuit connected to the switch, and the selection circuit is adapted to change parameters in the hearing aid circuit based on the state of the switch.

51. A hearing aid storage apparatus, comprising:

a receptacle adapted to receive a hearing aid; and

a magnetic field source connected to the receptacle adapted to produce a magnetic field adjacent the receptacle.

52. The hearing aid storage apparatus of claim 51, wherein the receptacle includes a base and a side wall upstanding from the base, and the base and sidewall defining a storage area adapted to hold a hearing aid.

53. The hearing aid storage apparatus of claim 52, wherein the base houses the magnetic field source.

54. The hearing aid storage apparatus of claim 51, wherein the receptacle includes a hearing aid cleaning device adapted to clean a hearing aid stored by the receptacle.

55. The hearing aid storage apparatus of claim 51, wherein the receptacle includes a power induction unit adapted to recharge a hearing aid power source.

56. A hearing aid system, comprising a hearing aid and a hearing aid storage receptacle,

the hearing aid including:

a power source;

a hearing aid circuit; and

a magnetically-operable, non-manually-operated switch having a normally-closed position connecting the power source to the hearing aid circuit and an open position disconnecting the power source from the hearing aid circuit when in the presence of a sufficiently strong magnetic field; and

the receptacle including a magnetic field source producing a magnetic field that operates the switch.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the receptacle includes a power inductor, and wherein the hearing aid includes a power induction receiver that receives a signal from the power inductor and recharges the power source of the hearing aid.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the switch activates the power induction circuit when the switch senses a magnetic field that non-manually switches the position of the switch.

59. A method of controlling a hearing aid, comprising:

wirelessly transmitting an inductive signal to a hearing aid;

converting the inductive signal to an electrical signal;

determining if the inductive signal is a programming signal or a state signal;

programming the hearing aid if the signal is a programming signal; and

applying the state signal if the inductive signal is a state signal.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the wireless transmitting includes transmitting a magnetic field signal.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein converting the inductive signal includes sensing a magnetic field to produce in an electrical signal.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein sensing includes rectifying the sensed signal with a full bridge.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein sensing includes rectifying the sensed signal with a half bridge.

64. The method of claim 61, wherein sensing includes sensing the magnetic field with a solid state inductive field sensor in the hearing aid.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein sensing includes sensing the magnetic field with a giant magneto-resistive solid state device.

66. The method of claim 61, wherein sensing includes sensing the magnetic field with a saturated core.

67. A hearing aid switching circuit, comprising:

a non-manual switch adapted to produce a state signal; and

a first invertor receiving the state signal and producing a first inverted state signal, the first inverted state signal being supplied to a first hearing aid input.

68. The hearing aid switching circuit of claim 67, further comprising a second invertor that receives the first inverted state signal and produces a second inverted state signal, the second inverted state signal being supplied to a second hearing aid input.

69. The hearing aid switching circuit of claim 68, wherein the first and second inverted state signals are adapted to exclusively activate one of the first input and the second input.

70. The hearing aid switching circuit of claim 67, wherein the switch is a magnetically actuatable reed switch.

71. The hearing aid switching circuit of claim 67, wherein the switch is a magnetically solid state switch.

72. The hearing aid switching circuit of claim 67, wherein the switch is connected to a voltage supply and through a resistor to ground.

73. The hearing aid switching circuit of claim 72, wherein the invertor includes an input connected between the switch and the resistor, the invertor includes an output connected to a low potential node of a second hearing aid input and a high potential node of the first hearing aid input.

74. The hearing aid switching circuit of claim 67, wherein the switch is connected to ground and through a resistor to a voltage supply.

75. The hearing aid switching circuit of claim 67, wherein the first input is an audio input.

76. The hearing aid switching circuit of claim 67, wherein the switch is connected to a voltage supply and through a resistor to ground.