HEARING DEVICE WITH OPTICAL RECEIVER

• US 20130064552A1
• Filed: 09/09/2011
• Published: 03/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GN Hearing A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Original Assignee: GN Resound A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Inventors: FORTUNE, Todd William, MORTENSEN, Ren
• Granted Patent: US 9,628,176 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/132
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/116 Visible light communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/0216 BTE hearing aids having a receiver in the ear mould
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 23/008 using optical signals for detecting or generating sound
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/607 of earhooks

Abstract

A hearing system includes a hearing device for wear by a user, the hearing device comprising a speaker, and an optical receiver configured to detect light signals, and generate electrical signals in response to the detected light signals, wherein the speaker of the hearing device is communicatively coupled to the optical receiver, and is configured to provide audio signals based at least in part on the electrical signals. A hearing system includes a hub configured to receive an input from a user of the hub, and generate an output in response to the input, and a light source communicatively coupled to the hub, wherein the light source is configured to provide light signals for reception by a hearing device based at least in part on the output from the hub.

Claims

1. A hearing system, comprising:

a hearing device for wear by a user, the hearing device comprising a speaker; and

an optical receiver configured to detect light signals, and generate electrical signals in response to the detected light signals;

wherein the speaker of the hearing device is communicatively coupled to the optical receiver, and is configured to provide audio signals based at least in part on the electrical signals.

2. The hearing system of claim 1, wherein the optical receiver is configured to detect the light signals at transmission rates higher than that detectable by human eye.

3. The hearing system of claim 1, wherein the optical receiver comprises a photodetector.

4. The hearing system of claim 1, further comprising a filter for filtering the light signals before they are detected by the optical receiver.

5. The hearing system of claim 1, wherein the optical receiver is configured to be sensitive to light in a certain range of wavelengths.

6. The hearing system of claim 1, wherein hearing device comprises a housing, the speaker is inside the housing of the hearing device, and the hearing device further includes a sound tube for transmitting the audio signals from the speaker to an ear of the user.

7. The hearing system of claim 1, wherein the hearing device comprises a housing, the speaker is outside the housing of the hearing device, and the hearing device further includes a flexible electrical conductor coupled between the housing and the speaker.

8. The hearing system of claim 1, wherein the hearing device comprises a head band.

9. The hearing system of claim 8, wherein the optical receiver is located at the head band.

10. The hearing system of claim 1, wherein the optical receiver is a part of the hearing device.

11. The hearing system of claim 1, further comprising a light source for providing the light signals.

12. The hearing system of claim 11, wherein the light source comprises a light fixture configured for mounting to a room.

13. The hearing system of claim 11, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of LEDs.

14. The hearing system of claim 11, wherein the light source is configured to provide the light signals at transmission rates higher than that detectable by human eye.

15. The hearing system of claim 11, further comprising a hub communicatively coupled to the light source.

16. The hearing system of claim 15, wherein the hub is configured to receive first signals associated with a first sound source.

17. The hearing system of claim 16, wherein the hub is further configured to receive second signals associated with a second sound source, and process the first signals and the second signals for transmission of the first and second signals to the light source in accordance with a predetermined transmission scheme.

18. The hearing system of claim 15, wherein the hub is configured for wear by a person.

19. The hearing system of claim 15, wherein the hub includes a user interface for receiving an input, and wherein the light source is configured to provide the light signals based at least in part on the input.

20. The hearing system of claim 19, wherein the input is for activating a function in the hearing device, setting up the hearing device, programming the hearing device, controlling the hearing device, activating the hearing device, or deactivating the device.

21. The hearing system of claim 19, wherein the input is for controlling a gain of the audio signals provided by the hearing device.

22. The hearing system of claim 1, wherein the light signals are configured to activate a function in the hearing device, setup the hearing device, program the hearing device, control the hearing device, activate the hearing device, or deactivate the device.

23. The hearing system of claim 1, wherein the optical receiver is located on top of the hearing device.

24. The hearing system of claim 1, further comprising a non-optical receiver, wherein the optical receiver is configured to detect the light signals as a control signal for controlling the hearing device, and the non-optical receiver is configured to receive sound signals.

25. The hearing system of claim 1, wherein the hearing device further comprises an integrated circuit configured to control a function of the hearing device based at least in part on the electrical signals.

26. A hearing system, comprising:

a hub configured to receive an input from a user of the hub, and generate an output in response to the input; and

a light source communicatively coupled to the hub;

wherein the light source is configured to provide light signals for reception by a hearing device based at least in part on the output from the hub.

27. The hearing system of claim 26, wherein the input comprises first signals associated with a first sound source, the first sound source being the user of the hub.

28. The hearing system of claim 27, wherein the hub is further configured to receive second signals associated with a second sound source, and process the first signals and the second signals for transmission of the first and second signals to the light source in accordance with a predetermined transmission scheme.

29. The hearing system of claim 26, wherein the hub is configured for wear by the user of the hub.

30. The hearing system of claim 26, wherein the hub includes a user interface for receiving the input.

31. The hearing system of claim 30, wherein the input is for controlling a gain of audio signals provided by the hearing device.

32. The hearing system of claim 26, wherein the light source comprises a light fixture configured for mounting to a room.

33. The hearing system of claim 26, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of LEDs.

34. The hearing system of claim 26, wherein the light source is configured to provide the light signals at transmission rates higher than that detectable by human eye.

35. The hearing system of claim 26, further comprising the hearing device, the hearing device having a speaker configured to provide audio signals based at least in part on the light signals.

36. The hearing system of claim 35, wherein the hearing device comprises an optical receiver for detecting the light signals.

37. The hearing system of claim 36, wherein the optical receiver is configured to detect the light signals at transmission rates higher than that detectable by human eye.

38. The hearing system of claim 36, wherein the optical receiver comprises a photodetector.

39. The hearing system of claim 36, further comprising a filter for filtering the light signals before they are detected by the optical receiver.

40. The hearing system of claim 36, wherein the optical receiver is configured to be sensitive to light in a certain range of wavelengths.

41. The hearing system of claim 35, wherein the hearing device comprises a housing, the speaker is inside the housing of the hearing device, and the hearing device further includes a sound tube for transmitting the audio signals from the speaker to an ear of a wearer of the hearing device.

42. The hearing system of claim 35, wherein the hearing device comprises a housing, the speaker is outside the housing of the hearing device, and the hearing device further includes a flexible electrical conductor coupled between the housing and the speaker.

43. The hearing system of claim 36, wherein the hearing device comprises a head band.

44. The hearing system of claim 43, wherein the optical receiver is located at the head band.

45. The hearing system of claim 26, wherein the light signals are configured to activate a function in the hearing device, setup the hearing device, program the hearing device, control the hearing device, activate the hearing device, or deactivate the device.