Method and apparatus for a hearing aid coupling system

• US 6,925,179 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2001
• Issued: 08/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: New World Limited (Glen Dimplex Europe Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: New World Sounds Incorporated
• Inventors: Segovia, Jacob, Scire′, Grace M., Waldron, Joan Phillips
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiang, Jack
• Application Number:
  US09/821,097
• Publication Number:
  US 20010055386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,587 Days
• Field of Search: 379/52, 379/443, 379/444, 381/312, 381/326, 381/330, 381/331, 455/575.2
• US Class Current: 379/443
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/215 by non-intrusive coupling means, e.g. acoustic couplers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2475 for a hearing impaired user
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils

Abstract

An audio coupler device for communication with a T-coil in a hearing aid is described to fit inside the receiver section of a handset as defined. The coupler device is so mounted inside the receiver section as to provide strong inductive coupling with a T-coil inside the hearing aid to deliver audio signals from the handset to the person wearing the hearing aid. The coupler device has a coil and a magnetic core that is preferably formed of a ferromagnetic material and a capacitor is placed in series with the coil. The coupler device in turn is connected in series with the speaker so as to reduce loading of circuitry inside the handset and driving the speaker. The coupler device can be mounted in many different handset devices and is preferably mounted to concentrate an audio inductive field at the T-coil in a hearing aid worn by a person using the handset device.

Claims

1. A coupler device for coupling an audio signal within a handset to a hearing aid having a T-coil for receiving inductively transmitted audio, comprising:

a coil wound around a magnetic core and a capacitor coupled together in series, said capacitor and coil being coupled to a speaker in the handset and physically mounted within said handset.

2. The coupler device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said series connected capacitor and coil are connected in series with said speaker.

3. A coupler device for a handset comprising:

a coil and a coil core around which the coil is wound, said coil and coil core being formed to mount inside a receiver section of a handset for connection to a speaker so as to provide an inductive field that can be coupled through the handset to a coil inside a hearing aid;

a capacitor connected in series with said coil;

said coil, coil core and capacitor being encapsulated within a material selected to enable an inductive field generated by the coil at audio frequencies to pass there-through.

4. A coupler device for a telephone handset comprising:

a telephone handset,

signal receiving means having an output,

an audio speaker having a coil disposed within the handset and electrically connected to the output of the signal receiving means,

inductive means electrically connected with the audio speaker coil for producing an electromagnetic field responsive to the output of the signal receiving means that may be inductively coupled to a second inductive means outside of the telephone handset, and

capacitive means connected in series with the inductive means.

5. A coupler device for a telephone handset comprising:

a telephone handset,

signal receiving means having an output,

an audio speaker having a coil disposed within the handset and electrically connected to the output of the signal receiving means,

inductive means connected in series with the audio speaker coil for producing an electromagnetic field responsive to the output of the signal receiving means that may be inductively coupled to a second inductive means outside of the telephone handset, and

a capacitor in series connection with said inductive means, said capacitor and inductive means forming a filter for enhanced inductive coupling with said coil of the hearing aid.

8. The coupler device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said core is formed of a ferrite material.

9. The coupler device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said core is a toroid.

10. The coupler device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said core is formed of a ferromagnetic material.

6. A signal coupler for inductively coupling audio signals present on leads in a telephone receiver to an inductive coil in a hearing aid that is proximately disposed to the telephone receiver comprising:

a telephone handset having a receiver section, including a speaker coil responsive to audio signals on the leads, and

a coupler coil connected in electrical series with the speaker coil and disposed inside the receiver section to generate an electromagnetic field in response to said audio signals, said electromagnetic field being inductively coupled to the inductive coil inside the hearing aid to enhance communication with a hearing impaired listener who uses the hearing aid, and

a capacitor in series connection with said coupler coil, said capacitor and coupler coil forming a filter for enhanced inductive coupling of audio signals from said leads to said hearing aid coil.

7. The coupler device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the capacitor and coupler coil form a filter that excludes low and high audio frequencies.