Method and apparatus for reducing audio interference from cellular telephone transmissions

• US 6,009,311 A
• Filed: 02/21/1996
• Issued: 12/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Etymotic Research Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Etymotic Research Incorporated
• Inventors: Killion, Mead C., Matzen, Norman P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Vu
• Application Number:
  US08/604,684
• Time in Patent Office: 1,406 Days
• Field of Search: 455/296, 455/456, 455/575, 455/90, 455/95, 455/106, 455/300, 455/280-281, 379/52, 381/23.1, 381/25, 381/60, 381/68, 381/68.6, 381/68.2, 381/68.4, 381/69-69.2, 29/896.21, 600/25, 181/126, 73/585, 73/645, 330/65, D24/174, 342/42-51
• US Class Current: 455/63.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Apparatus and method for reducing the interference of digital cellular telephones with hearing aids. A digital cellular phone is provided with a second antenna that transmits a local, low-power signal which fills in the gaps in the transmitted switched information carrier. This prevents the hearing aid from demodulating the low frequency switched carrier components of the digital cellular phone. Alternatively, the main antenna can transmit on a garbage frequency between time slots, or the hearing aid can detect and cancel the interfering signal.

Claims

1. A method of reducing cellular telephone interference with a hearing aid, comprising the steps of:

detecting the presence of a digital cellular information signal,

demodulating said signal at the frequency at which the digital cellular information signal is being switched,

generating a signal which is the inverse of said demodulated digital cellular information signal,

adjusting the amplitude and phase of said inverted signal so that it is equal in phase and opposite in magnitude to said demodulated switched RF carrier, and

applying said inverted signal to the audio input stage of the amplifier of said hearing aid.

2. A hearing aid comprising:

an antenna configured to receive a digital cellular information signal;

a noise-canceling circuit coupled to said antenna, said noise-canceling circuit adapted to;

demodulate said digital cellular information signal at the frequency at which said digital cellular information signal is being switched to produce a demodulated digital cellular information signal;

invert said demodulated digital cellular information signal to produce an inverted demodulated digital cellular information signal; and

adjust the amplitude and phase of said inverted demodulated digital cellular information signal so that it is equal in phase and opposite in magnitude to said demodulated digital cellular information signal to produce a canceling signal;

a microphone, said microphone producing an auditory input signal; and

an amplifier coupled to said noise-canceling circuit and said microphone, said amplifier adapted to combine said canceling signal and said auditory input signal to produce an amplified output signal.

3. The hearing aid of claim 2, wherein the noise-canceling circuit further comprises a manual phase-amplitude adjuster.