Hearing aid with camera

• US 20180132044A1
• Filed: 10/26/2017
• Published: 05/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Original Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Inventors: Boesen, Peter Vincent
• Application Number:
  US15/794,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20180132044A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30004 Biomedical image processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3827 Portable transceivers
• 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 2225/43 Signal processing in hearing aids to enhance the speech intelligibility
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/02 adapted to be supported entirely by ear
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/50 Customised settings for obtaining desired overall acoustical characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/552 Binaural
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/65 Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Abstract

A hearing aid includes a housing, a processor, one or more microphones, a speaker, and a camera. A method of processing sound using a hearing aid includes receiving the sound at a microphone operatively connected to the hearing aid, receiving at least one reading from a camera operatively connected to the hearing aid, processing the sound in accordance with at least one function using one or more readings from the camera to create a processed sound, and producing the processed sound at a speaker operatively connected to the hearing aid.

Claims

1. A hearing aid comprising:

a housing;

a processor disposed within the housing;

at least one microphone operatively connected to the processor and the housing;

a speaker operatively connected to the processor and the housing; and

a camera operatively connected to the processor and the housing;

wherein sounds received by the at least one microphone are processed by the processor in accordance with at least one function executed by the processor based on an analysis of imagery provided by the camera.

2. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the at least one function comprises user communication.

3. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the at least one function comprises sound modification.

4. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the imagery comprises a static image.

5. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the imagery comprises video imagery.

6. A hearing aid comprising:

a housing;

a processor disposed within the housing;

at least one microphone operatively connected to the processor and the housing;

a memory device disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the processor;

at least one transceiver disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the processor;

at least one sensor operatively connected to the housing and the processor;

a speaker operatively connected to the processor and the housing; and

a camera operatively connected to the processor and the housing;

wherein sounds received by the at least one microphone are processed by the processor in accordance with at least one function executed by the processor based on an analysis of imagery provided by the camera.

7. The hearing aid of claim 6 wherein the at least one sensor further comprises an air conduction sensor, a bone conduction sensor, an inertial sensor, or a pressure sensor.

8. The hearing aid of claim 6 wherein the at least one microphone further comprises a directional microphone.

9. The hearing aid of claim 6 wherein the at least one function comprises user communication.

10. The hearing aid of claim 6 wherein the at least one function comprises sound modification.

11. The hearing aid of claim 6 wherein the imagery is a static image.

12. The hearing aid of claim 6 wherein the imagery comprises video imagery.

13. A method of processing sound using a hearing aid comprising:

receiving the sound at a microphone of the hearing aid;

receiving imagery from a camera of the hearing aid;

analyzing imagery from the camera to determine at least one setting for processing the sound;

processing the sound in accordance with the at least one setting to create a processed sound; and

producing the processed sound at a speaker operatively of the hearing aid.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one setting comprises a user communication setting.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one setting comprises sound modification.