METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICE WITH PINNA CONTROL

• US 20080232627A1
• Filed: 03/21/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Higgins, Sidney A., Sacha, Michael Karl, Fideler, Brian, Burns, Thomas Howard
• Granted Patent: US 8,565,462 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/330
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/61 Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/00 Deaf-aid sets , i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception electrical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N1/36038; optical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N5/0622
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/30 Monitoring or testing of hearing aids, e.g. functioning, settings, battery power
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/603 of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements

Abstract

One embodiment of the present subject matter provides an apparatus for disposition between a pinna and a head of a user, the apparatus including a behind-the-ear housing, the housing having a first lateral side located adjacent the user'"'"'s ear and a second lateral side located adjacent the side of the user'"'"'s head when the apparatus is worn as directed, hearing assistance electronics disposed in the behind-the-ear housing, and a control disposed on at least one lateral side of the behind-the-ear housing, the control coupled to the hearing assistance electronics.

Claims

1. An apparatus worn between a pinna and a head of a user, the apparatus comprising:

hearing assistance electronics;

a housing having a first lateral side and a second lateral side, the housing containing the hearing assistance electronics; and

a control positioned on the first lateral side and adapted to reside proximal the pinna when worn, the control adapted to switch upon pressure applied to the pinna, the control electrically connected to the hearing assistance electronics.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control includes an electrical switch.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the switch is momentary.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the switch is normally open.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control includes a rubber cover.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control includes a plastic cover.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control is switchhook electronics compatible with the Bluetooth standard.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control is adapted to control power to the hearing assistance electronics.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control is adapted to control telecoil electronics.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control is a volume control.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control is a mode selector.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control is a parameter selector.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control is spring loaded.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control includes a quantum tunneling composite adapted to close a circuit connected to the hearing assistance electronics when pressure is a applied to the control

15. A hearing assistance system worn between a pinna and a head of a user, the system comprising:

hearing assistance electronics; and

a housing for the hearing assistance electronics including means for selecting an operating mode of the hearing assistance electronics when the pinna is depressed.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one means for selecting an operating mode of the hearing assistance electronics when the pinna is depressed is disposed in a side of the means for housing the hearing assistance electronics adjacent the user'"'"'s ear.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one means for selecting an operating mode of the hearing assistance electronics when the pinna is depressed is disposed in a side of the means for housing the hearing assistance electronics adjacent the user'"'"'s head.

18. A method comprising:

providing a behind-the-ear hearing assistance device housing with a first lateral side and a second lateral side, the second lateral side opposite the first lateral side;

placing hearing assistance electronics in the hearing assistance device housing;

placing a control in the first lateral side of the hearing assistance housing, wherein placing the control in the first lateral side of the hearing assistance housing includes providing the location of the control in the first lateral side of the housing is proximate a pinna when the housing is worn by a user; and

connecting the control to the hearing assistance electronics.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein placing a control in the first lateral side includes assembling the control with materials comprising a quantum tunneling composite.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein placing a control in the first lateral side includes programming the hearing assistance electronics to adjust a hearing assistance parameter when the control changes state.