Hearing Instrument Controller

• US 20120300965A1
• Filed: 05/24/2011
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
• Inventors: Samuels, Howard R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,078,070 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/021 Behind the ear [BTE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/025 In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/41 Detection or adaptation of hearing aid parameters or programs to listening situation, e.g. pub, forest
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/61 Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/03 Aspects of the reduction of energy consumption in hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/00 Deaf-aid sets , i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception electrical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N1/36038; optical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N5/0622
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/603 of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements

Abstract

A hearing instrument has a plurality of electronic components within a body, and an inertial sensor mechanically coupled with the body. The inertial sensor is configured to monitor the motion of the body and generate a movement signal representative of the body motion. A controller operatively coupled with the inertial sensor controls power usage by at least one or more of the electronic components as a function of the movement signal.

Claims

1. A hearing instrument comprising:

a body;

a plurality of electronic components within the body;

an inertial sensor mechanically coupled with the body, the inertial sensor being configured to monitor the motion of the body and generate a movement signal representative of the body motion; and

a controller operatively coupled with the inertial sensor, the controller configured to control power usage by at least one or more of the electronic components as a function of the movement signal.

2. The hearing instrument as defined by claim 1 wherein the inertial sensor comprises a low power accelerometer that draws no more than about one microamp of current during operation.

3. The hearing instrument as defined by claim 1 wherein the electronic components includes a transducer, further wherein if in a given period in which the transducer is on about ⅔

of the total given period, the inertial sensor draws less than about 10 percent of the total power draw of the hearing instrument during the entire given period.

4. The hearing instrument as defined by claim 1 wherein the controller permits the electronic components to consume a first amount of power in a first mode, the controller permitting the electronic components to consume a second amount of power in a second mode, the first amount of power being less than the second amount of power.

5. The hearing instrument as defined by claim 4 wherein the body is substantially stationary when in the first mode, the second mode being defined by a time period in which the body is moving during at least some portion of the time period.

6. The hearing instrument as defined by claim 1 wherein the controller comprises logic for determining when the body is substantially stationary for a pre-defined period of time.

7. The hearing instrument as defined by claim 1 wherein the controller includes a polling apparatus operatively coupled with the inertial sensor, the polling apparatus periodically polling the inertial sensor to determine whether to change the power to at least some of the electronic components.

8. The hearing instrument as defined by claim 1 comprising an implantable portion and an external portion for communicating with the implantable portion, the external portion and implantable portion having corresponding induction coils for permitting the external portion to power the implantable portion, the electronic components being a part of the external portion.

9. The hearing instrument as defined by claim 1 further comprising a power module for powering at least some of the electronic components, the controller being operatively coupled with the power module to control power consumption of at least some of the electronic components.

10. A method of operating a hearing instrument, the method comprising:

determining, for a given period of time, if the hearing instrument is substantially stationary; and

controlling the hearing instrument to draw power as a function of the act of determining,

the hearing instrument drawing power at a first rate after determining that the hearing instrument is substantially stationary,

the hearing instrument drawing power at a second rate after determining that the hearing instrument is not substantially stationary,

the first rate being less than the second rate.

11. The method of operating a hearing instrument as defined by claim 10 wherein determining comprises receiving a signal from an inertial sensor indicating whether or not the hearing instrument is substantially stationary.

12. The method of operating a hearing instrument as defined by claim 11 wherein the inertial sensor comprises a low power, low-G MEMS accelerometer.

13. The method of operating a hearing instrument as defined by claim 11 wherein determining comprises periodically polling the inertial sensor or receiving an interrupt from the inertial sensor.

14. The method of operating a hearing instrument as defined by claim 10 wherein the hearing instrument includes a transducer configured to draw power when in use, wherein power is not supplied to the transducer when power is supplied to the hearing instrument at the first rate.

15. A hearing instrument comprising:

a signal module for processing an incoming acoustic signal and generating an output electrical or mechanical signal representative of the incoming acoustic signal;

a control module operatively coupled with the signal module, the control module controlling operation of the signal module; and

an inertial sensor for detecting any one of a plurality of input inertial signals,

the control module controlling operation of the signal module in response to input inertial signals detected by the inertial sensor.

16. The hearing instrument as defined by claim 15 wherein the inertial sensor comprises a MEMS accelerometer.

17. The hearing instrument as defined by claim 15 wherein the input inertial signals include a tap.

18. The hearing instrument as defined by claim 15 wherein the control module causes the output signal to have a higher or lower amplitude.

19. The hearing instrument as defined by claim 15 wherein the control module controls the volume of the output signal.

20. The hearing instrument as defined by claim 15 wherein one or both the control module and the signal module have a plurality of programs for generating the output signal, the control module controlling selection of any of the plurality of programs as a function of the input inertial signal detected by the inertial sensor.

21. The hearing instrument as defined by claim 20 wherein the plurality of programs includes a first program in which the signal module filters the incoming acoustic signal when within noisy environments, and a second program in which the signal module filters the incoming signal when within quiet environments.

22. The hearing instrument as defined by claim 15 comprising an implantable portion and an external portion for communicating with the implantable portion, the external portion and implantable portion having corresponding induction coils for permitting the external portion to power the implantable portion.