Hearing aid with wireless remote processor
First Claim
1. A hearing aid system comprising an earpiece suitable for being worn at the head of a user, and a processor unit,said earpiece comprising,a microphone responsive to a first sound from the environment, present at the input of said microphone, to provide a first electrical signal,a first wireless reflective transponder to provide a first wireless transmission in response to said first electrical signal by modulating energy from a wireless interrogator,a first wireless receiver to receive a second wireless transmission to generate a second electrical signal, said second electrical signal being an enhanced version of said first electrical signal,a speaker transducer responsive to said second electrical signal to convert said second electrical signal into a second sound;
- said processor unit comprising,a second wireless receiver responsive to said first wireless transmission to provide a third electrical signal that is a replica of said first electrical signal,a signal processor responsive to said third electrical signal to provide a fourth electrical signal, said fourth electrical signal being an enhanced version of said third electrical signal,said wireless interrogator being responsive to said fourth electrical signal to provide said second wireless transmission of said fourth electrical signal, said second electrical signal being a replica of said fourth electrical signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hearing aid or audio communication system includes an earpiece (10) that can be hidden in the ear canal, and which communicates wirelessly with a remote processor unit, or RPU (16), that enhances audio signals and can be concealed under clothing. Sounds from the environment are picked up by a microphone (12) in the earpiece and sent with other information over a two-way wireless link (17) to the RPU (16). The wireless link (17) uses microwaves for component miniaturization. Furthermore, use of radar technology to implement the wireless link (17), with an RPU (16) interrogator and earpiece (10) transponder, reduces earpiece size and power, as no microwave oscillator is needed in the earpiece (10). Optional secondary wireless link circuitry (19) can be used between the RPU (16) and a cellular telephone system or other sources of information. Electronic voice recognition and response can control system operation.
1336 Citations
71 Claims
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1. A hearing aid system comprising an earpiece suitable for being worn at the head of a user, and a processor unit,
said earpiece comprising, a microphone responsive to a first sound from the environment, present at the input of said microphone, to provide a first electrical signal, a first wireless reflective transponder to provide a first wireless transmission in response to said first electrical signal by modulating energy from a wireless interrogator, a first wireless receiver to receive a second wireless transmission to generate a second electrical signal, said second electrical signal being an enhanced version of said first electrical signal, a speaker transducer responsive to said second electrical signal to convert said second electrical signal into a second sound; -
said processor unit comprising, a second wireless receiver responsive to said first wireless transmission to provide a third electrical signal that is a replica of said first electrical signal, a signal processor responsive to said third electrical signal to provide a fourth electrical signal, said fourth electrical signal being an enhanced version of said third electrical signal, said wireless interrogator being responsive to said fourth electrical signal to provide said second wireless transmission of said fourth electrical signal, said second electrical signal being a replica of said fourth electrical signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A hearing aid system comprising,
means for converting acoustic waves into electrical signals, and for converting said electrical signals into acoustic waves, said converting means further including a reflective transponder for transmitting said electrical signals via a first wireless communications link by modulating energy from an interrogator; - and
means for processing said electrical signals received via said first wireless communications link into enhanced audio signals, said processing means further including said interrogator for transmitting said enhanced audio signals back to said converting means via said first wireless communications link, said processing means further including a second communications link with a source other than said converting means. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A hearing aid system earpiece comprising,
a microphone for converting acoustic waves into electrical signals; -
a speaker for converting said electrical signals into acoustic waves subsequent to remote enhancement of said electrical signals; and a reflective transponder for transmitting said electrical signals via a first communications link by modulating energy from an interrogator. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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36. A hearing aid system signal processor comprising,
means for processing acoustic signals received as electrical signals from a remote earpiece reflective transponder via a first wireless communications link into enhanced audio signals, and for transmitting said enhanced audio signals via said first wireless communications link to said remote earpiece; - and
a second communications link for simultaneous communicating with a source other than said remote earpiece. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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39. Apparatus for wireless communication comprising,
means for converting acoustic waves into electrical signals, and for converting said electrical signals into acoustic waves, said converting means further including a reflective transponder for transmitting said electrical signals via a first communications link by modulating energy from an interrogator; - and
means for processing said electrical signals received via said first wireless communications link into processed signals, said processing means further including said interrogator for transmitting said processed signals back to said converting means via said first wireless communications link. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. Apparatus for wireless communication comprising,
means for converting acoustic waves into electrical signals, and for converting said electrical signals into acoustic waves, said converting means further including means for transmitting said electrical signals via a first wireless communications link; - and
means for processing said electrical signals received via said first wireless communications link into processed signals, and for transmitting said processed signals back to said converting means via said first wireless communications link, said processing means supplying operating power to said converting means via said first wireless communications link. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64)
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65. Apparatus for wireless communication comprising,
means for converting acoustic waves into electrical signals, and for converting said electrical signals into acoustic waves, said converting means further including reflective transponder means for transmitting said electrical signals via a first wireless communications link; - and
means for processing said electrical signals received via said first wireless communications link into processed signals, and for transmitting said processed signals back to said converting means via said first wireless communications link, said processing means further including a second communications link for simultaneous communicating with a source other than said converting means.
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66. Apparatus for wireless communication comprising,
means for converting acoustic waves into electrical signals, and for converting said electrical signals into acoustic waves, said converting means further including reflective transponder means for transmitting said electrical signals via a first wireless communications link; -
means for processing said electrical signals received via said first wireless communications link into processed signals, and for transmitting said processed signals back to said converting means via said first wireless communications link; and means for receiving an audio command for voice activated programming said processing means via said first wireless communications link.
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67. A method of improving audio communication with hearing impaired individuals comprising the steps of,
illuminating an area in a vicinity of an ear of a hearing impaired person with a preselected carrier signal from a remote source, modulating said preselected carrier signal with environmental sound present in said vicinity to produce a modulated carrier, transponding said modulated carrier back to said remote source of said preselected carrier signal, and processing said modulated carrier to produce an enhanced audio signal for transmission to a transducer located in said vicinity.
Specification