Remote control hearing aid

• US 4,845,755 A
• Filed: 08/23/1985
• Issued: 07/04/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Busch, Dieter, Krauss, Gerhard, Harless, Friedrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Byrd, Danita R.
• Application Number:
  US06/768,973
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 179/107 FD, 179/107 R, 179/2 A, 381/68, 381/68.4, 381/68.2, 340/825.68, 340/825.75, 379/102, 379/106
• US Class Current: 381/315
• 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

A hearing aid with wireless remote control of at least one of its controllable functions. The microphone of the hearing aird is used as a receiving element for the control signals. Energy (such as ultrasound) which the hearing aid microphone can transform into electrical signals which are separated from the other signals in a remote control part and caused to act upon the control members is used as a control signal transmission medium. Equipping a hearing aid with a remote control according to the invention is suited in particular for miniature hearing aids and for hearing aids insertable into the ear canal.

Claims

1. A remote controlled hearing aid comprising:

a single microphone responsive to audible information and to sound control signals and converting said information and sound control signals into a corresponding electrical signal;

means for separating, from said corresponding electrical signal, electrical control signals derived from said sound control signals;

a tonalizer;

means for adjusting hearing aid elements, including said tonalizer, dependent on said electrical control signals; and

a control circuit branch, said branch being connected to the microphone, and containing a high-pass filter which passes only electrical ultrasound control signals

wherein the control circuit branch further comprises a rectifier, a low-pass filter, a Schmitt trigger, a code identifier and a decoder connected in series with the high-pass filter, and wherein the control circuit branch is connected to said adjusting means.

2. The hearing aid of claim 1, further comprising a hearing aid branch and a switch which is remote controlled by said decoder dependent on the electrical control signals, and which is connected to disconnect the hearing aid branch from the microphone and to connect said hearing aid branch to an induction pick-up coil.

3. The hearing aid of claim 1, further comprising a hearing aid branch which comprises an electronic potentiometer for volume control, said electronic potentiometer being controlled by said decoder dependent on the electrical control signals.

4. The device for remote control of a remote controlled hearing aid of the type which includes a single microphone responsive to audible information and to sound control signals and converting said information and sound control signals into a corresponding electrical signal, means for separating, from said corresponding electrical signal, electrical control signals derived from said sound control signals, and means for adjusting hearing aid elements dependent on the electrical control signals, said device comprising a keyboard having keys and comprising means for generating and transmitting sound control signals to said microphone of said hearing aid dependent on the actuating of the keys of said keyboard.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein said means for generating and transmitting sound control signals comprise a key control connected with the keys of said keyboard, and in series, connected with the key control, a coder, a parallel-serial converter, a clock frequency control, a clock frequency generator, an amplifier and a loudspeaker.

6. In combination:

a remote controlled hearing aid, which comprises a single microphone responsive to audible information and sound control signals and converting said information and sound control signals into a corresponding electrical signal, means for separating, from said corresponding electrical signal, electrical control signals derived from said sound control signals; and

means for adjusting hearing aid elements dependent on the electrical control signals; and

a device including a keyboard having at least one key and means for generating and transmitting sound control signals to said microphone of said hearing aid dependent on actuation of said at least one key.