Hearing aid with capacitive switch

• US 20090316941A1
• Filed: 06/23/2008
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zounds Hearing, Inc. (Zounds Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Zounds Incorporated
• Inventors: Lowmiller, Donald Allan, Wu, Fan, Thomasson, Samuel L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,635,477 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/61 Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
• 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

A hearing aid includes at least one capacitive switch for controlling or communicating with the hearing aid by touch. The capacitive switch is an electrode on the inside of the housing coupled to a touch detector. Touching the outside of the hearing aid adjacent the electrode produces a switching operation. The hearing aid includes a programmed microprocessor coupled to the touch detector. The microprocessor is programmed to effect predetermined functions in response to particular touch patterns.

Claims

1. A hearing aid including a housing containing electronics for processing audio signals and other functions characterized in that:

the hearing aid further includes at least one capacitive switch coupled to said electronics for operating the hearing aid.

2. The hearing aid as set forth in claim 1 wherein the capacitive switch is an electrode on the inside of the housing and touching the outside of the hearing aid adjacent the electrode produces a switching function.

3. The hearing aid as set forth in claim 1 wherein the hearing aid includes more than one capacitive switch.

4. The hearing aid as set forth in claim 1 wherein said electronics includes a touch detector coupled to said capacitive switch and a programmed microprocessor coupled to said touch detector.

5. The hearing aid as set forth in claim 4 wherein said microprocessor is programmed to effect predetermined functions in response to particular touch patterns.

6. The hearing aid as set forth in claim 5 wherein said microprocessor is programmed to turn audio processing on or off in response to a touch on the capacitive switch.

7. The hearing aid as set forth in claim 5 wherein the hearing aid includes more than one capacitive switch.

8. A hearing aid including a housing containing electronics for processing audio signals and other functions characterized in that:

the hearing aid further includes a capacitive switch coupled to said electronics for operating the hearing aid and said housing is impervious to wax, dirt, and oils.