PREPROGRAMMED HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICE WITH PROGRAM SELECTION USING A MULTIPURPOSE CONTROL DEVICE

• US 20090196448A1
• Filed: 04/08/2009
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daniel R. Schumaier
• Original Assignee: Daniel R. Schumaier
• Inventors: Schumaier, Daniel R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,396,237 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/39 Aspects relating to automatic logging of sound environment parameters and the performance of the hearing aid during use, e.g. histogram logging, or of user selected programs or settings in the hearing aid, e.g. usage logging
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/61 Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/603 of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/75 Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception

Abstract

A user programmable hearing aid allows a user to select acoustical configuration programs that provide optimum performance for the user. The user may cycle through and evaluate various available programs by rotating a scroll wheel on the hearing aid housing to switch from one program to the next. When a preferred program is active, the user can press a push button on the housing for an extended time to select the currently active program. The user can then use the scroll wheel to adjust the audio gain for the selected program. The hearing aid may also operate in a Configuration Mode wherein configuration settings may be changed using the scroll wheel and the push button. In the Configuration Mode, a clinician or patient may easily change configuration settings manually, with no need to connect the apparatus to a computer or other programming interface.

Claims

1. A programmable apparatus for improving perception of sound by a person, the apparatus comprising:

one or more housings configured to be worn in, on or behind an ear of the person;

memory disposed within at least one of the housings, the memory for storing a plurality of available audio processing programs that may be used in processing digital audio signals;

a processor disposed within at least one of the housings and connected to the memory, the processor operable to execute one or more of the available audio processing programs to process the digital audio signals;

a multipurpose control device disposed on one of the housings and connected to the processor, the multipurpose control device for operating in a program switching mode in which the multipurpose control device is operable by the person to switch from one of the available audio processing programs to another of the available audio processing programs, the multipurpose control device further for operating in a volume control mode in which the multipurpose control device is operable by the person to adjust the volume of audible sound generated by an audio output section;

a digital-to-analog converter disposed within at least one of the housings, the digital-to-analog converter for generating output analog audio signals based on the digital audio signals; and

the audio output section disposed within at least one of the housings, the audio output section for receiving and amplifying the output analog audio signals, generating audible sound based thereon and providing the audible sound to the person.

2. The programmable apparatus of claim 1 wherein the multipurpose control device comprises a scroll wheel digital control device.

3. The programmable apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a push button disposed on one of the housings and connected to the processor and operable by the person; and

the processor for changing from the program switching mode to the volume control mode when the push button is pressed for at least some extended period of time, and for changing from the volume control mode to the program switching mode when the push button is pressed for at least some extended period of time.

4. The programmable apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a push button disposed on one of the housings and connected to the processor and operable by the person; and

when in the program switching mode, the processor for selecting a currently active one of the audio processing programs to be a selected audio processing program when the push button is pressed for an extended period of time, wherein the currently active audio processing program was determined by operation of the multipurpose control device by the person, and for changing from the program switching mode to the volume control mode upon selection of the selected audio processing program.

5. The programmable apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a push button disposed on one of the housings and connected to the processor and operable by the person; and

when in the volume control mode, the processor for changing from the volume control mode to the program switching mode when the push button is pressed for at least some extended period of time.

6. The programmable apparatus of claim 1 wherein the multipurpose control device is further operable in a configuration mode in which the multipurpose control device is operable by the person to change configuration settings of the programmable apparatus.

7. A programmable apparatus for improving perception of sound by a person, the apparatus comprising:

one or more housings configured to be worn in, on or behind an ear of the person;

memory disposed within at least one of the housings, the memory for storing a plurality of available audio processing programs that may be used in processing digital audio signals;

a scroll wheel digital control device disposed on one of the housings, the scroll wheel digital control device for operating in a program switching mode in which the scroll wheel digital control device is operable by the person to switch from one of the available audio processing programs to another of the available audio processing programs, the scroll wheel digital control device further for operating in a volume control mode in which the scroll wheel digital control device is operable by the person to adjust the volume of audible sound generated by an audio output section;

a push button disposed on one of the housings and operable by the person;

a processor disposed within at least one of the housings and connected to the memory, the scroll wheel digital control device and the push button, the processor operable to execute one of the available audio processing programs to process the digital audio signals,

when in the program switching mode, the processor for selecting a currently active one of the audio processing programs to be a selected audio processing program when the push button is pressed for an extended period of time, wherein the currently active audio processing program was determined by operation of the scroll wheel digital control device by the person, the processor for changing from the program switching mode to the volume control mode upon selection of the selected audio processing program, and

when in the volume control mode, the processor for changing from the volume control mode to the program switching mode when the push button is pressed for at least some extended period of time;

a digital-to-analog converter disposed within at least one of the housings, the digital-to-analog converter for generating output analog audio signals based on the digital audio signals; and

the audio output section disposed within at least one of the housings, the audio output section for receiving and amplifying the output analog audio signals, generating audible sound based thereon and providing the audible sound to the person.

8. A programmable apparatus for improving perception of sound by a person, the apparatus comprising:

a housing configured to be worn in, on or behind an ear of the person;

means for storing a plurality of available audio processing programs that may be used in processing digital audio signals, said means disposed within the housing;

processing means for executing one of the available audio processing programs to process the digital audio signals, said processing means disposed within the housing;

first control means for operating in a program switching mode in which the first control means is operable by the person to switch from one of the available audio processing programs to another of the available audio processing programs, the first control means further for operating in a volume control mode in which the first control means is operable by the person to adjust the volume of audible sound generated by audio output means, the first control means disposed on the housing,

second control means disposed on the housing and operable by the person;

processing means for executing one of the available audio processing programs to process the digital audio signals, said processing means disposed within the housing,

when in the program switching mode, the processing means for selecting a currently active one of the audio processing programs to be a selected audio processing program when the second control means is operated for an extended period of time, wherein the currently active audio processing program was determined by operation of the first control means by the person, the processing means for changing from the program switching mode to the volume control mode upon selection of the selected audio processing program, and

when in the volume control mode, the processing means for changing from the volume control mode to the program switching mode when the second control means is operated for at least some extended period of time;

conversion means for generating output analog audio signals based on the digital audio signals, the conversion means disposed within the housing; and

the audio output means for receiving and amplifying the output analog audio signals, generating audible sound based thereon and providing the audible sound to the person, the audio output means disposed within the housing.