Hearing aid with wireless remote processor

• US 5,721,783 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 02/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James Anderson
• Original Assignee: James Anderson
• Inventors: Anderson, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford N.
• Application Number:
  US08/479,629
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 381/68, 381/68.2, 381/68.4, 381/68.6, 342/42-51, 342/2, 340/6, 340/825.54, 340/505
• US Class Current: 381/328
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72421 with automatic activation of emergency service functions, e.g. upon sensing an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/023 Completely in the canal [CIC] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/51 Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/07 Use of position data from wide-area or local-area positioning systems in hearing devices, e.g. program or information selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/04 comprising pocket amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/305 Self-monitoring or self-testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/552 Binaural
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

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.

Claims

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.

2. The hearing aid system of claim 1 wherein

said earpiece and said processor are remote from each other by being separated by a distance no greater than the maximum usable communication range.

3. The hearing aid system of claim 1 wherein

said earpiece comprises a left and right earpiece, each left and right said earpiece producing a left and right said third signal, respectively,

said signal processor being responsive to left and right said third signals to provide left and right said fourth signals, respectively,

left and right said earpieces being responsive to left and right said fourth signals, respectively.

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.

5. Hearing aid system according to claim 4, wherein said processing means produces said enhanced audio signals according to a hearing impairment of a user.

6. Hearing aid system according to claim 4, wherein said converting means includes a microphone for converting said acoustic waves into said electrical signals, a speaker for converting said electrical signals into acoustic waves, and wherein said transponder is a wireless transceiver.

7. Hearing aid system according to claim 6, wherein said converting means is configured for insertion into a human ear canal.

8. Hearing aid system according to claim 6, wherein said converting means is configured as a cochlear implant.

9. Hearing aid system according to claim 4, wherein said second communications link is a unidirectional link for providing text to speech translation.

10. Hearing aid system according to claim 4, wherein said second communications link is a bidirectional link for interfacing with an external communications network.

11. Hearing aid system according to claim 4, wherein said second communications link is a wireless link.

12. Hearing aid system according to claim 4, wherein said second communications link is a wired link.

13. Hearing aid system according to claim 4, wherein said processing means is programmed by voice commands transmitted to the processing means via said first wireless communications link.

14. Hearing aid system according to claim 4, wherein said processing means further includes,

means for keyed entry of coded data.

15. Hearing aid system according to claim 14, wherein said coded data is Morse code data.

16. Hearing aid system according to claim 4, wherein said processing means further includes,

means for generating at least one of an acoustic locator tone and a visual locator display.

17. Hearing aid system according to claim 4, wherein said convening means further includes,

means for generating an acoustic locator tone.

18. Hearing aid system according to claim 4, wherein said converting means further includes,

at least one of a radio frequency antenna and an infrared fiber optic cable configured as a simulated strand of hair which also serves as a means for extracting said converting means from an ear canal.

19. Hearing aid system according to claim 4, wherein said first wireless communications link operates at a frequency of at least 5 GHz.

20. Hearing aid system according to claim 4, wherein said converting means is a monaural earpiece.

21. Hearing aid system according to claim 4, wherein said converting means includes binaural earpieces.

22. Hearing aid system according to claim 4, wherein at least one of said converting means and said processing means further includes,

plural antennae to accommodate transmission path losses within said wireless communications link.

23. Hearing aid system according to claim 4, further comprising,

means for automatically placing said converting means into a self-contained hearing aid default mode upon loss of said first wireless communications link with said processing means.

24. Hearing aid system according to claim 4, wherein said first wireless communications link is a radio frequency link.

25. Hearing aid system according to claim 4, wherein said first wireless communications link is an infrared link.

26. Hearing aid system according to claim 4, wherein said first wireless communications link is an ultrasonic link.

27. Hearing aid system according to claim 4, wherein said first wireless communications link is a microwave link.

28. Hearing aid system according to claim 4, wherein said processing means further includes,

means for performing an in situ hearing test to program said processing means for processing said electrical signals into said enhanced audio signals.

29. Hearing aid system according to claim 4, wherein said processing means further provides binaural directional noise cancellation.

30. Hearing aid system according to claim 4, wherein said electrical signals are coded with an address of said converting means.

31. Hearing aid system according to claim 4, wherein said converting means outputs said acoustic waves via a bone conduction path.

32. Hearing aid system according to claim 4, wherein said processing means further includes,

an additional means for converting electrical signals into acoustic waves.

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.

34. Hearing aid system earpiece according to claim 33, wherein said first communications link is a wireless bidirectional communications link.

35. Hearing aid system earpiece according to claim 33, wherein said transponder comprises at least one of a microwave transmitter and an infrared transmitter.

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.

37. A hearing aid according to claim 36, wherein said second communications link is a wireless link.

38. A hearing aid according to claim 36, wherein said second communications link is a wired link.

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.

40. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said processing means further comprises,

a second communications link for communicating with a source other than said converting means.

41. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said converting means is configured as an earpiece of a hearing aid system.

42. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said converting means is configured as a cochlear implant system.

43. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said converting means includes a microphone for converting said acoustic waves into said electrical signals, a speaker for converting said electrical signals into acoustic waves, and wherein said transponder is a wireless transceiver.

44. Apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said second communications link is a wireless link.

45. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said processing means is programmed by voice commands transmitted to the processing means via said first wireless communications link.

46. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said processing means further includes,

means for keyed entry of coded data.

47. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said processing means further includes,

means for generating at least one of an acoustic locator tone and a visual locator display.

48. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said converting means further includes,

means for generating an acoustic locator tone.

49. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said converting means further includes,

at least one of a radio frequency antenna and an infrared fiber optic cable configured as a simulated strand of hair which also serves as a means for extracting said converting means from an ear canal.

50. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said converting means includes binaural earpieces.

51. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein at least one of said converting means and said processing means further includes,

plural antennae to accommodate transmission path losses within said wireless communications link.

52. Apparatus according to claim 39, further comprising,

means for automatically placing said converting means into a self-contained hearing aid default mode upon loss of said first wireless communications link with said processing means.

53. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said first wireless communications link is a radio frequency link.

54. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said first wireless communications link is an infrared link.

55. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said first wireless communications link is a microwave link.

56. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said processing means further includes,

means for performing an in situ hearing test to program said processing means for processing said electrical signals into enhanced audio signals.

57. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said processing means further provides binaural directional noise cancellation.

58. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said electrical signals are coded with an address of said converting means.

59. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said converting means outputs said acoustic waves via a bone conduction path.

60. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said processing means further includes,

an additional means for converting electrical signals into acoustic waves.

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.

62. Apparatus according to claim 61, wherein said processing means further comprises,

a second communications link for communicating with a source other than said converting means.

63. Apparatus according to claim 61, wherein said converting means is an earpiece of a hearing aid system.

64. Apparatus according to claim 61, wherein said converting means is a cochlear implant system.

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.

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.

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.

68. A method of improving audio communication with hearing impaired individuals according to claim 67 wherein said step of modulating further includes a step of,

establishing a separately modulated channel for each ear of said hearing impaired person.

69. A method of improving audio communication with hearing impaired individuals according to claim 67 wherein said preselected carrier signal is selected from a frequency range of between 300 megahertz and 300 gigahertz.

70. A method of improving audio communication with hearing impaired individuals according to claim 67 wherein said preselected carrier signal is an infrared signal.

71. A method of improving audio communication with hearing impaired individuals according to claim 67 which further includes the step of,

receiving an audio transmission signal at said remote source, said audio transmission signal being received from another source and being processed with said enhanced audio signal for transmission to said transducer at said ear.