SYSTEM FOR TRANSMITTING AMPLIFIED AUDIO SIGNALS TO A USER

• US 20100329491A1
• Filed: 03/26/2009
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Phonic Ear A/S
• Original Assignee: Phonic Ear A/S
• Inventors: Johansen, Morten Kjaer
• Application Number:
  US12/864,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20100329491A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency

Abstract

Disclosed is a system for transmitting amplified audio signals to a user, wherein the system comprises a receiver unit, a transmitter unit and a base unit, wherein

• • the receiver unit is adapted to receive audio signals wirelessly from at least one of the transmitter unit and the base unit and from one or more external devices, and where the receiver unit is adapted to be worn by the user;
  • the transmitter unit is adapted to transmit audio signals wirelessly to the receiver unit; and
  • the base unit is adapted to communicate with one or more external devices and adapted to communicate wirelessly with the receiver unit.

Claims

1. A system for transmitting amplified audio signals to a user, wherein the system comprises a receiver unit, a transmitter unit and a base unit, wherein

the receiver unit is adapted to receive audio signals wirelessly from at least one of the transmitter unit and the base unit and from one or more external devices, and where the receiver unit is adapted to be worn by the user;

the transmitter unit is adapted to transmit audio signals wirelessly to the receiver unit; and

the base unit is adapted to communicate with one or more external devices and adapted to communicate wirelessly with the receiver unit.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the system is adapted to be used together with a hearing aid.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the units are adapted to communicate by means of radio frequency communications.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the radio frequency communications is by means of Bluetooth radio frequency communication.

6. A system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the radio frequency communications is by means of a wireless digital audio system operating in the 2.4 GHz band.

7. A system according to claim 4, wherein the radio frequency communications has an ultra low latency.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the radio frequency communications has a latency of less than 10 milliseconds.

9. A base unit for use in a system according to claim 1, wherein the base unit is adapted to be stationary arranged.

10. A transmitter unit for use in a system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter unit is arranged in a position from the group consisting:

held by a second person;

worn by a second person;

held by the user;

worn by the user;

placed in the base unit;

placed on a surface.

11. A receiver unit for use in a system according to claim 1, wherein the receiver unit is adapted to be worn in a neckloop around the neck of the user.

12. A receiver unit for use in a system according to claim 11, wherein the neckloop comprises magnetic means for providing communications.

13. A receiver unit for use in a system according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the receiver unit is adapted to communicate with a hearing aid worn by the user by means of said magnetic means.

14. A receiver unit for use in a system according to claim 1, wherein the receiver unit comprises a Bluetooth receiver.

15. A receiver unit for use in a system according to claim 1, wherein the receiver unit comprises a Bluetooth transmitter.

16. A receiver unit for use in a system according to claim 1, wherein the receiver unit comprises a wireless digital audio receiver with frequency range in the 2.4 GHz band.

17. A transmitter unit for use in a system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter unit comprises a wireless digital audio transmitter with frequency range in the 2.4 GHz band.

18. A transmitter unit for use in a system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter unit comprises an omni-directional microphone for capturing sound waves from a plurality of directions.

19. A transmitter unit for use in a system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter unit comprises a directional microphone for capturing sound waves from one direction.

20. A base unit for use in a system according to claim 1, wherein the base unit comprises a charger unit adapted to charge the receiver unit and the transmitter unit.

21. A base unit for use in a system according to claim 1, wherein the base unit comprises a Bluetooth receiver.

22. A base unit for use in a system according to claim 1, wherein the base unit comprises a Bluetooth transmitter.

23. A base unit for use in a system according to claim 1, wherein the base unit comprises a wireless digital audio channel management system for pairing the transmitter unit and the receiver unit to the same communications channel.

24. A base unit for use in a system according to claim 1, wherein the base unit comprises means for receiving audio signals from an external device through an audio line input.

25. A base unit for use in a system according to claim 1, wherein the base unit comprises means for receiving audio signals from a television.

26. A base unit for use in a system according to claim 1, wherein the base unit comprises means for transmitting and receiving audio signals to and from a fixed network telephone.

27. A system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more external device(s) is/are from the group consisting of:

a mobile phone;

a fixed network telephone;

a television;

a radio receiver;

a music player;

a Bluetooth headset.

28. A system according to claim 1, wherein the receiver unit is adapted to receive incoming mobile phone and fixed net telephone calls.

29. A system according to claim 1, wherein the receiver unit is adapted to receive incoming mobile phone and fixed net telephone calls which the user has accepted, when the user listens to sound from one of the one or more external devices.

30. A system according to claim 1, wherein a fixed network telephone conversation is received and transmitted between the base unit and the receiver unit via Bluetooth communications by connecting a fixed network telephone line from a wall outlet to the base unit.

31. A system according to claim 1, wherein a mobile phone conversation is received and transmitted between a mobile phone and the receiver unit via Bluetooth communications.

3. A system according to claim for 2, wherein the system is adapted to be used together with headphones.

32. A method of transmitting amplified audio signals to a user, the method comprises the steps of:

receiving audio signals wirelessly from at least one of a transmitter unit and a base unit and from one or more external devices by means of a receiver unit, and where the receiver unit is adapted to be worn by the user;

transmitting audio signals wirelessly to the receiver unit by means of the transmitter unit; and

communicating with one or more external devices and communicating wirelessly with the receiver unit by means of the base unit.