Communication System

• US 20090003637A1
• Filed: 10/18/2006
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comfort Audio I Halmstad AB (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Craj Development Limited
• Inventors: Pansell, August, Lagervall, Carljohan
• Granted Patent: US 8,340,331 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/314
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/041 Adaptation of stereophonic signal reproduction for the hearing impaired
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/55 using an external connection, either wireless or wired
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/02 Amplifying systems for the deaf

Abstract

A system for assisting a hearing impaired user is presented. The system includes a transmitter to transmit data representing audio intended to be heard by a hearing impaired person, the transmitter paired with at least one intended receiver. The transmitter includes: an analogue-to-digital converter to convert an analogue audio signal into digitally represented audio data, and a transmitter to transmit the digitally represented audio data in a radio signal on an active channel selected from a plurality of channels. The system also includes a receiver to receive data representing audio to be heard by the hearing impaired person, the receiver paired with the transmitter device. The receiver includes a receiver to receive the radio signal containing the digitally represented audio data, the radio signal being received from the transmitter on the active channel, and a digital-to-analogue converter to convert the digitally represented audio data into an analogue audio signal.

Claims

1. A transmitter device configured to transmit data representing audio intended to be heard by a hearing impaired person, said transmitter being capable of being paired with at least one intended receiver, said transmitter comprising:

an analogue-to-digital converter configured to convert an analogue audio signal into digitally represented audio data,

a transmitter configured to transmit said digitally represented audio data in a radio signal on an active channel selected from a plurality of channels, and

a control data controller,

said control data controller being capable of sending a control signal to said at least one intended receiver, and

said transmitter device being capable of transmitting an identity of said active channel to said at least one intended receiver using said control signal.

2. The transmitter device according to claim 1, further comprising encryption means, said encryption means being capable of encrypting said digitally represented data.

3. The transmitter device according to claim 2, wherein said encryption means uses an encryption key to encrypt said digitally represented data, said encryption key being one of a plurality of possible encryption keys.

4. The transmitter device according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter device is capable of transmitting said control signal using a radio signal while continuing to transmit audio data.

5. The transmitter device according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter device is configured to multiplex said control signal and said transmit audio data using time slots.

6. The transmitter device according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter device further comprises encryption means, said encryption means being capable of encrypting said digitally represented data using an encryption key, said encryption key being one of a plurality of possible encryption keys, said transmitter device being capable of transmitting a decryption key matching said encryption key to said at least one intended receiver using said control signal.

7. The transmitter device according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter device further comprises event detection means, said event detection means comprising an electroacoustic transducer, said event detection means further being configured to generate an event signal to be transmitted using said control signal, if an audio signal detected using said electroacoustic transducer has strength higher than a threshold value.

8. The transmitter device according to claim 1, further comprising an encoder capable of generating continuously variable slope delta (CVSD) coded audio data.

9. The transmitter device according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter device is configured to receive audio input from at least one source selected from the group consisting of an omnidirectional microphone, a unidirectional microphone, a speaker, a television, a mobile telephone, a digital enhanced cordless telecommunications (DECT) telephone, a public switched telephone network (PSTN) telephone, and a general purpose line-in connector.

10. A receiver device configured to receive data representing audio intended to be heard by a hearing impaired person, said receiver device being capable of being paired with a transmitter device, said receiver device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a radio signal containing digitally represented audio data, said radio signal being received from said transmitter on an active channel selected from a plurality of channels, and

a digital-to-analogue converter configured to convert said digitally represented audio data into an analogue audio signal,

said receiver device being configured to receive a control signal, and

said receiver device being further configured to receive an identity of said active channel from said control signal.

11. The receiver device according to claim 10, wherein said receiver device comprises a connector allowing said receiver device to be connected with a hearing aid.

12. The receiver device according to claim 11, wherein said receiver device is configured to receive power from said hearing aid and said receiver device is configured to provide said analogue audio signal to said hearing aid.

13. The receiver device according to claim 10, wherein said receiver device is an integrated part in a hearing aid.

14. The receiver device according to claim 11, wherein said hearing aid is configured to mix said analogue audio signal with a hearing aid audio signal originating from said hearing aid.

15. The receiver device according to claim 10, further comprising decryption means capable of decrypting encrypted digitally represented audio data.

16. The receiver device according to claim 15, wherein said decryption means has an associated decryption key to decrypt said digitally represented data, said decryption key matching an encryption key used to encrypt said digitally represented audio data contained in said radio signal.

17. The receiver device according to claim 10, wherein said receiver device is configured to receive said decryption key from said control signal.

18. The receiver device according to claim 10, wherein said receiver device is configured to receive at least one control data item selected from a group consisting of said decryption key and said identity of said active channel, via a radio signal from a receiver configuration unit.

19. The receiver device according to claim 10 wherein said receiver device is configured to receive at least one control data item selected from a group consisting of said decryption key and said identity of said active channel, via an inductive connection from a receiver configuration unit.

20. The receiver device according to claim 10, wherein said receiver device is configured to mute said analogue audio signal when said radio signal is of a signal strength less than a threshold value.

21. The receiver device according to claim 10, wherein said receiver is a zero intermediate frequency receiver.

22. The receiver device according to claim 10, wherein said receiver device further comprises at least one microphone, said microphone being selected from a group consisting of a unidirectional microphone and an omnidirectional microphone.

23. A system for assisting a hearing impaired user, comprising:

a transmitter device configured to transmit data representing audio intended to be heard by a hearing impaired person, said transmitter being capable of being paired with at least one intended receiver, said transmitter comprising;

an analogue-to-digital converter configured to convert an analogue audio signal into digitally represented audio data, and

a transmitter configured to transmit said digitally represented audio data in a radio signal on an active channel selected from a plurality of channels,

a control data controller,

said control data controller being capable of sending a control signal to said at least one intended receiver, and

said transmitter device being capable of transmitting an identity of said active channel to said at least one intended receiver using said control signal,

and a receiver device configured to receive said data representing audio intended to be heard by said hearing impaired person, said receiver device being capable of being paired with said transmitter device, said receiver device comprising;

a receiver configured to receive said radio signal containing said digitally represented audio data, said radio signal being received from said transmitter on said active channel, and

a digital-to-analogue converter configured to convert said digitally represented audio data into an analogue audio signal,

said receiver device being configured to receive a control signal, and

said receiver device being further configured to receive an identity of said active channel from said control signal.

24. A system for assisting a hearing impaired user according to claim 23, said system comprising at least one transmitter device and a plurality of receiver devices.

25. A system for assisting a hearing impaired user according to claim 23, said system further comprising a receiver configuration unit, said receiver configuration unit being capable of sending control data to said receiver device.