Hearing system with wideband pulse transmitter

• US 20070291970A1
• Filed: 05/29/2007
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sivantos Gmbh (WS Audiology A/S)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Nikles, Peter, Schatzle, Ulrich
• Granted Patent: US 8,358,785 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils

Abstract

Wireless communication is to be enabled between hearing units of small construction, especially between hearing aids with an increased data rate. To this end it is provided in accordance with the invention that the hearing unit is fitted with a transceiver which has an inductive receiving device and a digital wideband pulse transmitter. Two such hearing units can then communicate wirelessly with one another with the help of a communication station which is structurally separate from the hearing units and with which a message can be transmitted from the one to the other of the hearing units. The digital wideband pulse transmitter can be implemented in a structurally small manner in the hearing unit and with low power consumption.

Claims

1. A hearing unit with a transceiver, comprising:

an inductive receiving device; and

a digital wideband pulse transmitter.

2. A hearing system, comprising:

at least two spatially separated hearing units each having a transceiver for wirelessly communicating with one another; and

a communication station which is structurally separated from the at least two hearing units and transmits a signal between the at least two hearing units.

3. The hearing system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the signal is a digitally modulated magnetic field signal.

4. The hearing system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the transceiver comprises an inductive receiving device and a digital wideband pulse transmitter.

5. The hearing system as claimed in claim 3, wherein a bandwidth of the digital wideband pulse transmitter is at least 100 MHz.

6. The hearing system as claimed in claim 3, wherein an electrical antenna of the digital wideband pulse transmitter is smaller than 20 mm.

7. The hearing system as claimed the claim 2, wherein the communication station conducts a bidirectional and quasi-simultaneous communication between the at least two hearing units.

8. The hearing system as claimed in claim 7, wherein a control signal is also transmitted by the communication station between the at least two hearing units.

9. The hearing system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the communication station comprises a bidirectional interface to an external configuration device.

10. The hearing system as claimed in claim 9, wherein a configuration data is transmitted by the communication station from the external configuration device to one of the hearing units.

11. A method for wirelessly communicating between at least two spatially separated hearing units, comprising:

arranging a digital wideband pulse transmitter in each of the at least two hearing units;

arranging an inductive receiving device in each of the at least two hearing units;

providing a communication station which is structurally separated from the at least two hearing units; and

transmitting a signal between the at least two hearing units via the communication station.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the signal is a digitally modulated magnetic field signal.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein a bandwidth of the digital wideband pulse transmitter is at least 100 MHz.

14. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein an electrical antenna of the digital wideband pulse transmitter is smaller than 20 mm.

15. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the communication station conducts a bidirectional and quasi-simultaneous communication between the at least two hearing units.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein a control signal is also transmitted by the communication station between the at least two hearing units.

17. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the communication station comprises a bidirectional interface to an external configuration device.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein a configuration data is transmitted by the communication station from the external configuration device to one of the hearing units