APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A HEARING AID

• US 20070269065A1
• Filed: 07/16/2007
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Widex A/S (WS Audiology A/S)
• Original Assignee: Widex A/S (WS Audiology A/S)
• Inventors: KILSGAARD, Soren
• Granted Patent: US 8,422,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/315
• 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 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Abstract

A programmable hearing aid including means for receiving and transmitting data wirelessly from and to a portable module being in proximity to said hearing aid. Said portable module has means for transmitting audio signals, fitting data or special instructions to the hearing aid processor and including means for receiving data transmitted from said hearing aid, including data representing a monitoring of real-time signal processing parameters in the hearing aid. A preferred embodiment of the hearing aid/portable module combination utilizes Miller-coded direct sequence spread-spectrum radio signal transmitters and receivers for transmitting and receiving data between the heading aid and the portable module. This enables remote controlling or monitoring of, transmitting audio to, or programming of a hearing aid without the need for external connectors.

Claims

1. A hearing aid system comprising a portable module having a first transceiver for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals, a Miller encoder for generating data for transmission, a Miller decoder for decoding received signals and means for producing output data based on the decoded signals, at least one hearing aid having a second transceiver for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals, a Miller decoder for decoding received signals, means for storing programming information derived from the decoded signals, means for producing an output signal based on the decoded signals, and a Miller encoder for generating data for transmission, the first and the second transceiver being adapted for transmitting and receiving Miller-encoded signals modulated according to a direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) scheme.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first transceiver comprises a first modulator having means for producing bipolar phase-shift keying (BPSK)-modulated signals.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first transceiver comprises a second modulator having means for producing frequency shift keying (FSK)-modulated signals.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first transceiver comprises a first demodulator having means for demodulating BPSK-modulated signals.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first transceiver comprises a second demodulator having means for demodulating FSK-modulated signals.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first transceiver comprises a master section comprising an output stage, a frequency reference crystal, and an oscillator controlled by said frequency reference crystal, said master section being electrically detachable from the transceiver circuitry.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the transceiver comprises a slave section.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the transceiver of the hearing aid comprises a receiver for receiving electromagnetic signals modulated according to a DSSS scheme, a Miller decoder for decoding the received signals and for producing output data based on the decoded signals, and mode selection means for selectively activating the receiver or the transmitter of the hearing aid.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the portable module comprises an input for data, and the transceiver of the portable module comprises a transmitter for transmitting electromagnetic signals based on the input data and modulated according to a DSSS scheme, and mode selection means for selectively activating the receiver or the transmitter of the portable module.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first transceiver comprises a first phase-locked loop common to the transmitter and the receiver of the first transceiver.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second transceiver comprises a second phase-locked loop common to the transmitter and the receiver of the second transceiver.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the portable module comprises a telecoil.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the portable module comprises a microphone.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the portable module comprises a wireless interface.

15. The system according to claim 1, comprising a computer having an interface for communication with the portable module.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises a first hearing aid (1R) and a second hearing aid (1L), and wherein the transmitter of the first hearing aid (1R) and the transmitter of the second hearing aid (1L) are adapted for coordinating their respective transmissions in order to avoid transmission collisions.

17. A method of operating a hearing aid system, comprising the steps of:

a. selecting a hearing aid having input means for receiving input data;

b. receiving input data in the hearing aid;

c. decoding the input data;

d. Miller encoding output data for transmission,

e. transmitting from the hearing aid electromagnetic signals based on the output data and modulated according to a DSSS scheme;

f receiving the electromagnetic signals modulated according to a DSSS scheme in a portable module;

g. demodulating and Miller decoding the electromagnetic signals, and;

h. producing output data in the portable module based on the Miller decoded signals.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the output data transmitted from the hearing aid is an acknowledge signal.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the acknowledge signal is transmitted within a predetermined period after decoding the received signals.

20. A method of programming a hearing aid, characterised by comprising the steps of:

a. determining a hearing loss to be compensated by a hearing aid;

b. selecting a hearing aid adapted for compensating a hearing loss according to program settings stored in the hearing aid and for receiving and transmitting electromagnetic signals modulated according to a DSSS scheme;

c. using a computer to generate program settings for the hearing aid suitable for compensating the hearing loss;

d. transmitting the program settings from the computer to an portable module;

e. transmitting the program settings from the portable module to the hearing aid by electromagnetic transmission modulated according to a DSSS scheme;

f receiving the electromagnetic transmission in the hearing aid;

g. decoding and storing the received program settings in the hearing aid;

h. transmitting from the hearing aid electromagnetic signals based on data from the hearing aid modulated according to a DSSS scheme;

i. receiving and decoding in the portable module electromagnetic signals modulated according to a DSSS scheme in order to produce a decoded output; and

j. transmitting data based on the decoded output from the portable module to the computer.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the data from the hearing aid represent audio signals picked up by the hearing aid.