HEARING DEVICE

• US 20090318202A1
• Filed: 08/27/2009
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GN Netcom A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Original Assignee: GN Netcom A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Inventors: BODLEY, Martin R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,515,503 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection

Abstract

A wireless headset with an integral display is provided, the headset capable of communicating via a wireless network to a cellular telephone, cellular telephone adaptor, land-line telephone, land-line telephone adaptor, computer, personal digital assistant, or other device capable of communicating via the wireless network. The wireless headset of the invention includes an input transducer (e.g., a microphone), an output transducer (e.g., a speaker), a wireless networking subsystem and a controller/controller interface. The headset may also include means for attaching the headset to the user in order to allow hands-free operation. The integral display, fabricated using any of a variety of suitable technologies, allows headset and system information to be displayed (e.g., battery levels, signal levels, call status, caller identification, incoming call alert, current time, current date, elapsed use time, etc.). The integral display can also be used to aid headset/system configuration (e.g., headset volume, voice dialing, ring mode, roaming mode, etc.). The integral display can also provide added functionality to the headset (e.g., phone lists, text messages, calendar functions, appointment and/or task lists, etc.).

Claims

1-28. -28. (canceled)

29. A hearing device, comprising:

a housing;

an earhook rotatably coupled to the housing, wherein the earhook has a free end; and

a switch coupled to the earhook.

30. The hearing device of claim 29, wherein the switch is coupled to the earhook for controlling a status of the hearing device.

31. The hearing device of claim 29, wherein the switch is coupled to the earhook for controlling a call status.

32. The hearing device of claim 31, wherein the switch is operable to answer a call to thereby change the call status.

33. The hearing device of claim 32, wherein the switch is operable to change the call status from dialing to in-use.

34. The hearing device of claim 29, further comprising a controller, wherein the switch is operable with the controller.

35. The hearing device of claim 29, further comprising a controller interface, wherein the switch is operable with the controller interface.

36. The hearing device of claim 29, further comprising:

a microphone coupled to the housing; and

a speaker coupled to the housing.

37. The hearing device of claim 29, further comprising:

a microphone coupled to the housing for receiving a first signal;

a wireless networking module configured to transmit the first signal via a short distance wireless network to a peripheral electronic device and to receive a second signal via the short distance wireless network from the peripheral electronic device; and

a speaker for outputting the second signal.

38. The hearing device of claim 37, wherein the wireless networking module comprises a Bluetooth enabled wireless networking module.

39. The hearing device of claim 29, further comprising a display coupled to the housing.

40. The hearing device of claim 39, wherein the display is configured to display information, the information including one or a combination of battery level, signal level, call status, caller identification, time, elapsed time, date, in-coming call identifier, a phone list, a text message, calendar information, phonebook information, appointment information, a task list, a ring mode, a ring volume, a headset volume, a display mode, voice dialing information, information for configuring a text, and information for configuring a graphic.

41. The hearing device of claim 29, further comprising a speaker, and a boom member to which the speaker is mounted, wherein the boom member is coupled to the housing.

42. The hearing device of claim 41, wherein the boom member is integrated with the housing.

43. The hearing device of claim 41, wherein the boom member is foldable relative to the housing.

44. A hearing device, comprising:

a housing;

a processor located in the housing;

a microphone coupled to the processor;

a speaker coupled to the processor;

an earhook for securing the housing relative to a user'"'"'s ear, wherein the earhook is foldable relative to the housing and has a free end; and

a switch coupled to the earhook.

45. The hearing device of claim 44, wherein the switch is coupled to the earhook for controlling a status of the hearing device.

46. The hearing device of claim 44, wherein the switch is coupled to the earhook for controlling a call status.

47. The hearing device of claim 46, wherein the switch is operable to answer a call to thereby change the call status.

48. The hearing device of claim 47, wherein the switch is operable to change the call status from dialing to in-use.

49. A hearing device comprising:

a housing;

a microphone coupled to the housing for receiving a first signal;

a speaker coupled to the housing for outputting a second signal;

a wireless networking module configured to transmit the first signal via a short distance wireless network to a peripheral electronic device and to receive the second signal via the short distance wireless network from the peripheral electronic device; and

a display coupled to the housing.

50. The hearing device of claim 49, wherein the peripheral electronic device is a cellular telephone.

51. The hearing device of claim 49, wherein the wireless networking module comprises a Bluetooth enabled networking module, and the peripheral electronic device comprises a Bluetooth enabled cellular telephone.

52. The hearing device of claim 49, further comprising a boom member with a base end and a distal end, the base end being coupled to the housing, wherein the microphone is located at the distal end.

53. The hearing device of claim 49, wherein the display is capable of displaying information, the information including one or a combination of battery level, signal level, call status, caller identification, time, elapsed time, date, in-coming call identifier, a phone list, a text message, calendar information, phonebook information, appointment information, a task list, a ring mode, a ring volume, a headset volume, a display mode, voice dialing information, information for configuring a text, and information for configuring a graphic.

54. The hearing device of claim 49, wherein the display is capable of indicating an incoming call.

55. The hearing device of claim 49, further comprising an earhook that is foldable relative to the housing, and a switch coupled to the earhook.

56. The hearing device of claim 55, wherein the switch is coupled to the earhook for controlling a status of the hearing device.

57. The hearing device of claim 55, wherein the switch is coupled to the earhook for controlling a call status.

58. The hearing device of claim 57, wherein the switch is operable to answer a call to thereby change the call status.

59. The hearing device of claim 58, wherein the switch is operable to change the call status from dialing to in-use.