HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICE WITH CAPACITIVE SWITCH

• US 20080292126A1
• Filed: 05/23/2008
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Higgins, Sidney A., Sacha, Michael Karl
• Application Number:
  US12/126,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20080292126A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/330
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/021 Behind the ear [BTE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/49 Reducing the effects of electromagnetic noise on the functioning of hearing aids, by, e.g. shielding, signal processing adaptation, selective (de)activation of electronic parts in hearing aid
• 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 25/02 adapted to be supported entirely by ear
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/603 of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/65 Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture

Abstract

Disclosed herein, among other things, is a hearing assistance device apparatus with a capacitive switch. According to various embodiments, the apparatus includes a BTE housing, hearing assistance electronics housed in the housing and a capacitive switch connected to the hearing assistance electronics and adapted to detect a wearer when the BTE housing is worn.

Claims

1. A hearing assistance device for a wearer, the device comprising:

a behind-the-ear (BTE) housing; and

hearing assistance electronics housed in the housing;

a capacitive switch connected to the hearing assistance electronics, the capacitive switch adapted to detect the wearer when the BTE housing is worn.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the hearing electronics are adapted to automatically turn “

off”

when the capacitive switch fails to detect the wearer.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the hearing electronics are adapted to automatically turn “

off”

a predetermined interval of time after the capacitive switch fails to detect the wearer.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a second capacitive switch connected to the hearing assistance electronics and adapted to generate a switch signal when touched.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the hearing assistance electronics are adapted to adjust a volume of the hearing assistance electronics in response to the switch signal.

6. The device of claim 4, further comprising at least one additional capacitive switch, wherein the hearing assistance electronics are adapted to execute a function when the second capacitive switch and the at least one addition capacitive switch are triggered according to a predetermined sequence.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the function allows access to parameters normally available to an audiologist.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the capacitive switch includes two surfaces of conductive ink.

9. A hearing assistance device for a wearer comprising:

a housing;

hearing assistance electronics housed in the housing; and

a capacitive switch connected to the hearing assistance electronics, the capacitive switch having metallized electrodes, the electrodes adapted to shield at least a portion of the hearing assistance device electronics from electromagnetic interference.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the capacitive switch is adapted to detect the wearer when the housing is worn.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the hearing electronics are adapted to automatically turn “

off”

when the capacitive switch fails to detect the wearer.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the hearing electronics are adapted to automatically turn “

off”

a predetermined interval of time after the capacitive switch fails to detect the wearer.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the capacitive switch is adapted to generate a switch signal when touched.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the hearing assistance electronics are adapted to adjust a volume of the hearing assistance electronics in response to the switch signal.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the hearing assistance electronics are adapted to select a parameter of the hearing assistance electronics in response to the switch signal.

16. The device of claim 13, further comprising at least one additional capacitive switch, wherein the hearing assistance electronics are adapted to execute a function when the capacitive switch and the at least one addition capacitive switch are triggered according to a predetermined sequence.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the function allows access to parameters normally available to an audiologist.

18. The device of claim 9, wherein the housing is a BTE housing.

19. A hearing assistance device comprising:

a telecoil;

a microphone;

hearing assistance electronics connected to the telecoil and the microphone, the hearing assistance electronics adapted to generate an output signal; and

a capacitive sensor connected to the hearing assistance electronics, the capacitive sensor adapted to trigger the hearing assistance electronics to generate the output signal based on an input signal received from the telecoil when the capacitive sensor is triggered.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the capacitive sensor includes two conductive ink surfaces.

21. The device of claim 19, further comprising a capacitive switch connected to the hearing assistance electronics, the capacitive switch adapted to generate a switch signal when touched.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the hearing assistance electronics are adapted to adjust a volume of the hearing assistance electronics in response to the switch signal.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein the hearing assistance electronics are adapted to select a parameter of the hearing assistance electronics in response to the switch signal.

24. The device of claim 21, further comprising at least one additional capacitive switch, wherein the hearing assistance electronics are adapted to execute a function when the capacitive switch and the at least one addition capacitive switch are triggered according to a predetermined sequence.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the function allows access to parameters normally available to an audiologist.