Canal hearing device with transparent mode
First Claim
1. A canal hearing device for hearing enhancement to a user, the device comprising:
- a microphone, an integrated circuit, and a power source; and
an improvement comprising;
an acoustic transparent mode of operation of said canal hearing device having an overall in-situ acoustic transfer function that gives the user a perception of unaided hearing while said canal hearing device is being worn in the ear canal, said transparent mode being selectable by the user.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention provide a canal hearing device and method in which the device is implemented with a mode of operation that provides acoustic transparency as well as a power-saving function, permitting the user to wear the device in the ear canal during periods of sleep or inactivity without substantial loss of normal unaided response. The transparent mode has an in-situ acoustic transfer function that compensates for the insertion loss caused by the presence of a hearing device in the ear canal. While the device is in this transparent mode, its acoustic transfer function gives the user a perception of unaided hearing, as though the device were removed, when it is actually being worn continuously in the ear canal. Current drain of the device is significantly reduced as the transparent mode serves to shut off or reduce bias currents of at least one circuit element within device circuitry.
59 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A canal hearing device for hearing enhancement to a user, the device comprising:
-
a microphone, an integrated circuit, and a power source; and
an improvement comprising;
an acoustic transparent mode of operation of said canal hearing device having an overall in-situ acoustic transfer function that gives the user a perception of unaided hearing while said canal hearing device is being worn in the ear canal, said transparent mode being selectable by the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A canal hearing device for hearing enhancement, said hearing device causing an acoustic insertion loss when placed in the ear canal of a wearer in an OFF condition and normally producing an acoustic gain substantially greater than said insertion loss when powered in an ON condition, said hearing device comprising:
-
a microphone, circuitry and a power source; and
acoustic transparency means for selectively producing an in-situ acoustic transfer function substantially compensating for said acoustic insertion loss to create an acoustic perception to the wearer of said hearing device of unaided hearing response despite a continued presence of said hearing device in the ear canal. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. An device for protecting a wearer'"'"'s hearing against damaging sounds, the device causing an acoustic insertion loss when placed in or over an ear canal of the wearer in an OFF condition and producing an acoustic gain compensating for the insertion loss when powered in an ON condition, the device comprising:
-
a microphone, circuitry and a power source;
acoustic transparency means for selectively producing an in-situ acoustic transfer function substantially compensating for the acoustic insertion loss to create an acoustic perception to the wearer of the hearing device of unaided hearing response despite a continued presence of the protective device in or over the ear canal; and
means for switching between the OFF condition and the ON condition responsive to at least one of an input, a wearer input or an acoustic input.
-
-
16. An apparatus configured to be worn in or over an ear canal of a wearer, the apparatus comprising:
-
a body configured to be placed in or over the ear canal;
the body causing an acoustic insertion loss when so placed when the apparatus is in an OFF condition; and
a microphone, circuitry and a power source;
wherein when the apparatus is an ON condition, the circuitry utilizes an in-situ acoustic transfer function substantially compensating for the acoustic insertion loss to create an acoustic perception to the wearer of an unaided hearing response despite a continued presence of the body in or over the ear canal, the circuitry configured to switch between the ON condition and the OFF condition responsive to at least one of an input, a wearer input or an acoustic input.
-
-
17. A method of rendering a canal hearing device acoustically transparent in use, wherein said canal hearing device comprises a microphone, circuitry and a power source, and normally produces an acoustic insertion loss while powered OFF when in the ear canal of a user and an acoustic gain substantially greater than said insertion loss when powered ON, the method comprising:
-
implementing said canal hearing device with a selectable acoustic transparency mode of operation that produces an in-situ acoustic transfer function to compensate for said acoustic insertion loss, and thereby simulate to the user an absence of said canal hearing device despite its continued presence in the ear canal; and
providing said canal hearing device with means to enable the user to select said acoustic transparency mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification