Method for reducing magnetic noise fields in a hearing aid, and hearing aid with an induction coil for implementing the method

• US 6,466,679 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1999
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sivantos Gmbh (WS Audiology A/S)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Husung, Kunibert
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, SINH N
• Application Number:
  US09/438,373
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 381/331, 381/189, 381/312, 381/322, 381/324, 361/816, 361/818, 455/280, 455/281
• US Class Current: 381/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/49 Reducing the effects of electromagnetic noise on the functioning of hearing aids, by, e.g. shielding, signal processing adaptation, selective (de)activation of electronic parts in hearing aid
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/51 Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils

Abstract

In a hearing aid device with an induction coil and a method for reducing magnetic noise fields, a compensation-inductance is arranged in the signal line of the earphone for the active shielding of the earphone, the compensation-inductance generating a compensation field that is directed opposite the magnetic field of the induction coil. The compensation field opposes the magnetic field of the earphone and creates an active shielding of the earphone during operation of the induction coil.

Claims

1. A hearing aid comprising:

an input transducer which receives incoming acoustic signals and converts said incoming acoustic signals into electrical signals;

a processing stage connected to said input transducer and supplied with said electrical signals for processing said electrical signals and adapting said electrical signals to a hearing disability of a hearing-impaired person, for producing processed signals at an output of the processing stage;

an earphone connected via a signal line to said output of said processing stage which converts said processed signals into output acoustical signals, said earphone having a magnetic field associated therewith;

a selectively operable induction coil connected to said processing stage, for inductively receiving signals and for converting the inductively received signals into a current supplied to said processing stage for inclusion in said processed signals; and

a compensation inductance connected in said signal line between said output of said processing stage and said earphone, said compensation inductance generating a compensation magnetic field opposite to the magnetic field generated by said earphone, for actively shielding said earphone from said induction coil to prevent said magnetic field generated by said earphone from being inductively coupled to said induction coil.

2. A hearing aid as claimed in claim 1 wherein said compensation inductance comprises an SMD compensation coil having a plurality of coil turns selected to produce a strength of said compensation magnetic field for the active shielding.

3. A hearing aid as claimed in claim 1 wherein said compensation inductance comprises an SMD compensation coil, and wherein said SMD compensation coil is disposed at a location between said induction coil and said earphone to produce said compensation magnetic field at a strength sufficient for actively shielding said earphone.

4. A hearing aid as claimed in claim 1 wherein said compensation inductance comprises an SMD compensation coil, said compensation coil having a selected number of coil turns, and being disposed at a location between said induction coil and said earphone for, in combination, producing said compensation magnetic field at a strength effective for actively shielding said earphone.

5. A hearing aid as claimed in claim 1 wherein said magnetic field produced by said earphone comprises a magnetic stray field, and wherein said compensation inductance generates said compensation magnetic field in a region surrounding said induction coil at a strength approximately equaling said magnetic stray field of said earphone.

6. A hearing aid as claimed in claim 5 wherein said compensation inductance is selectively dimensionable to accommodate tolerances of said magnetic stray field of said earphone.

7. A hearing aid as claimed in claim 1 wherein said compensation inductance has a magnitude of approximately 15 nH.

8. A method for operating a hearing aid comprising the steps of:

selectively operating an induction coil to inductively receive signals and to produce an electrical signal corresponding to the inductively received signals;

processing said electrical signal to adapt said electrical signal to a hearing disability of a hearing-impaired person, to produce a processed signal;

supplying said processed signal via a signal line to an earphone to produce an output acoustical signal, said earphone having a magnetic field associated therewith; and

connecting a compensation inductance in said signal line and, using said compensation inductance, generating a compensation magnetic field opposing said magnetic field associated with said earphone to actively shield said earphone and prevent coupling of said magnetic field associated with said earphone with said induction coil.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said magnetic field associated with said earphone produces a fundamental wave in said electrical signal and wherein said compensation magnetic field prevents generation of said fundamental wave in said electrical signal.