Intrabody communication for a hearing aid
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:
- operating a hearing aid including a first component and a second component, the first component including a first pair of conductors;
placing the first component and the second component in contact with a skin surface in a spaced apart relationship, the first pair of conductors each being electrically coupled to the skin surface by said placing;
generating an electric potential between the first pair of conductors to transmit a first electrical communication signal from the first component to the skin in contact with the first component; and
receiving the first electrical communication signal with the second component over an electrical transmission pathway along the skin between the first component and second component.
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Abstract
Disclosed is a hearing aid that includes a first component operable to receive an input and a second component operable to provide an output to at least one ear of a user of the hearing aid. The first component and the second component are electrically coupled together by a closed electrical circuit including at least one electrical conduction pathway formed by skin of the user between the first component and the second component. An electrical signal is transmitted from the first component to the second component with the closed electrical circuit. Communication between the first and second components can be one-way or two-way.
341 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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operating a hearing aid including a first component and a second component, the first component including a first pair of conductors; placing the first component and the second component in contact with a skin surface in a spaced apart relationship, the first pair of conductors each being electrically coupled to the skin surface by said placing; generating an electric potential between the first pair of conductors to transmit a first electrical communication signal from the first component to the skin in contact with the first component; and receiving the first electrical communication signal with the second component over an electrical transmission pathway along the skin between the first component and second component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method, comprising:
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operating a hearing aid including a first component and a second component, the first component including a first pair of electrodes and the second component including a second pair of electrodes; electrically engaging the first pair of electrodes and the second pair of electrodes with skin; and transmitting an electrical signal from the first component to the second component by electrical conduction along the skin between the first pair of electrodes and the second pair of electrodes during said engaging. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method, comprising:
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providing a hearing aid including a first component and a second component, the first component including an acoustic sensor; contacting skin with the first component and the second component; and transmitting an electrical signal from the first component to the second component during said contacting by electrical conduction along a pathway formed by the skin between the first component and second component. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system comprising:
- a hearing aid to enhance hearing of a user, the hearing aid including;
a first component operable for placement in contact with skin of the user, the first component including a first pair of electrodes operable to be electrically coupled to the skin and a transmitter circuit operable to transmit electrical signals to the skin through said first pair of electrodes; and a second component spaced apart from said first component, said second component being sized for placement in a passageway of an ear of the user, the second component including a receiver circuit to receive said electrical signals by electric conduction along the skin from said first component and an output device responsive to said electrical signals to stimulate hearing of the user. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
- a hearing aid to enhance hearing of a user, the hearing aid including;
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30. A method, comprising:
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operating a hearing aid including a first component and a second component, the first component including a first pair of electrodes and the second component including a second pair of electrodes; placing the first component to electrically couple the first pair of electrodes to skin of a first ear of a user; placing the second component to electrically couple the second pair of electrodes to skin of a second ear of the user; generating an electric potential between the first pair of electrodes to transmit a first electrical communication signal from the first component through the skin of the first ear of the user; and receiving the first electrical communication signal through the skin of the second ear with the second component over a transmission pathway between the first component and second component. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A hearing aid system comprising:
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a first hearing aid component including a first pair of electrodes, a first acoustic sensor to detect sound, and circuitry coupled to the first acoustic sensor and the first pair of electrodes, the first component being sized and shaped to be carried behind an ear of the user while electrically coupling the first pair of electrodes to a first region of skin of the user, the circuitry being operable to generate and transmit one or more electrical signals representative of the sound detected with the first acoustic sensor through the user when the first pair of electrodes are electrically coupled to the first region; and a second component including a second pair of electrodes, the second component being sized and shaped to be carried by the user while electrically coupling the second pair of electrodes to a second region of the skin of the user, the second region being spaced apart from the first region, the second component being operable to wirelessly communicate through the user while the second pair of electrodes are electrically coupled to the second region. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification