Hearing aid circuit having an output stage with a limiting means

• US 5,189,704 A
• Filed: 07/15/1991
• Issued: 02/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Krauss, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Huyen D.
• Application Number:
  US07/729,569
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 381/68.4, 381/68.2, 381/68, 381/101, 381/105, 381/104, 381/109, 381/74, 381/72
• US Class Current: 381/321
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 11/00 Limiting amplitude; Limiting rate of change of amplitude ; Clipping in general
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/502 using analog signal processing

Abstract

A hearing aid circuit has an output stage which is connectable via an earphone and a battery to a circuit that has an adjustable limiting means for electrically limiting the maximum acoustic output level of the hearing aid. The limiting means is electronically designed such that a reduction in the maximally obtainable acoustic output level of the earphone in the zero position of the limitation is avoided. At least one first controllable semiconductor is operated with an adjustable component part as a current-traversed switch given a deactivated electronic limiting, and which can be operated as a current-traversed, variable resistor in the circuit given activated electronic limiting.

Claims

1. A hearing aid circuit, comprising:

an output stage connected via an earphone and a battery to an adjustable limiting circuit means for limiting a maximum acoustic output level of the earphone;

said limiting means being electronic and comprising at least one first controllable semiconductor;

controllable component means comprising a programmable electronic resistor for operating the semiconductor as a current-traversed switch given deactivated electronic limiting, and for operating the semiconductor as a current-traversed, variable resistor given activated electronic limiting;

the first controllable semiconductor comprising a control terminal which is connected to the controllable component means; and

for electronic limiting approaching zero, the first controllable semiconductor being supplied via the controllable component means with a current which allows the first controllable semiconductor to become transmissive due to overdrive.

2. A hearing aid circuit according to claim 1 wherein the output stage is designed as a push-pull earphone that has a and the earphone is designed as a push-pull earphone that has a middle connection and two terminals connected to the push-pull output stage, and the first controllable semiconductor of the limiting means has a first terminal connected to the battery and a second terminal connected to the middle connection of the push-pull earphone.

3. A hearing aid circuit according to claim 1 wherein the controllable component means and at least a first resistor are connected to form a first voltage divider means having a voltage tap which is electrically connected to the control terminal of the first controllable semiconductor and at which a voltage of the battery is divided.

4. A hearing aid circuit according to claim 3 wherein the first resistor of the first voltage divider means is formed of a series circuit of a resistor having a fixed value of resistance and of a second semiconductor that has a voltage-dependent non-linear value of resistance.

5. A hearing aid circuit according to claim 4 wherein the second semiconductor is a transistor connected as a diode.

6. A hearing aid circuit according to claim 1 wherein the first controllable semiconductor is arranged as a switch which bridges the controllable electronic limiting means.

7. A hearing aid circuit according to claim 1 wherein the controllable limiting means comprises a programmable electronic resistor which is programmable via a remote control.

8. A hearing aid circuit according to claim 1 wherein the controllable limiting means comprises a programmable electronic resistor which is programmable via a programming means.

9. A hearing aid circuit according to claim 1 wherein a bipolar transistor is selected at least for the first semiconductor of the limiting means.

10. A hearing aid circuit according to claim 1 wherein the limiting means is at least partially designed as a component part of an integrated circuit.

11. A hearing aid circuit according to claim 1 wherein the limiting means is at least partially designed as a common integrated circuit together with the output stage.

12. A hearing aid circuit, comprising:

an output stage connected via an earphone and a battery to an adjustable limiting circuit means for limiting a maximum acoustic output level of the earphone;

said limiting means being electronic and comprising at least one first controllable semiconductor;

controllable component means for operating the semiconductor as a current-traversed switch given deactivated electronic limiting, and for operating the semiconductor as a current-traversed, variable resistor given activated electronic limiting;

the first controllable semiconductor comprising a control terminal which is connected to the controllable component means;

the controllable component means and at least a first resistor being connected to form a first voltage divider means having a voltage tap which is electrically connected to the control terminal of the first controllable semiconductor and at which a voltage of the battery is divided; and

the first resistor of the first voltage divider means comprising a second controllable semiconductor having at least three terminals whose control terminal is connected to a voltage tap at a second voltage divider which is formed of a series circuit of two resistors having a fixed value of resistance and of a third semiconductor which has a voltage-dependent non-linear value of resistance.

13. A hearing aid circuit according to claim 12 wherein the third semiconductor is a transistor connected as a diode.

14. A hearing aid circuit comprising:

an output stage connected to drive an earphone;

an adjustable limiting circuit means connected to control and limit a maximum acoustic output level of the earphone;

said limiting means comprising at least one controllable semiconductor;

circuit means for operating the semiconductor as a switch when deactivated electronic limiting is not desired, and for operating the semiconductor as a variable resistor when electronic limiting is desired;

said circuit means comprising a programmable electronic resistor connected to control an input of said controllable semiconductor; and

remote control means for adjusting the programmable electronic resistor by high frequency signals transmitted from a remote location external to the hearing aid circuit.

15. A hearing aid circuit according to claim 14 wherein high pass filter means is provided for deriving said high frequency signals for control of said remote control means and wherein a low pass filter means is provided for providing output signals which are relatively lower and are signals employed for aiding hearing of a user, and wherein both the high pass filter means and the low pass filter means have inputs connected in common to a microphone.