Apparatus for communication coupling with a hearing aid

• US 7,317,807 B1
• Filed: 04/11/2003
• Issued: 01/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Able Planet Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Able Planet Incorporated
• Inventors: Waldron, Joan Phillips
• Primary Examiner(s): Ensey; Brian
• Application Number:
  US10/411,867
• Time in Patent Office: 1,733 Days
• Field of Search: 381/312, 381/326, 381/331, 381/330, 379/52, 379/443, 379/444, 455/575.2
• US Class Current: 381/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils

Abstract

An improved communication coupling device having a coupler coil with about 125 turns of wire about a core having a hole for use with a hearing aid having a hearing aid coil to accommodate individuals with various degrees of hearing loss to use a sound generation device such as a telephone.

Claims

1. A communication coupling system comprising:

a sound generation device having a receiver;

a sound transmission line connected to said sound generation device;

a coupler coil attached to said sound generation device having substantially 125 turns of 35 gauge wire wound around a core of said coupler coil in two or more layers, wherein the layers are wound in alternating clockwise and counter-clockwise directions;

a hearing aid coil located in a hearing aid; and

a speaker located in said sound generation device.

2. A communication coupling system of claim 1 wherein said core of said coupler coil comprises a core having a hole.

3. A communication coupling system of claim 2 wherein said core having said hole is selected from the group consisting of a triangular shaped element and a circular shaped element.

4. A communication coupling system of claim 1 wherein said core of said coupler coil comprises ferrite.

5. A communication coupling system of claim 1 wherein said speaker is powered by a speaker connection and said coupler coil is powered by said speaker connection.

6. A communication coupling system of claim 1 wherein said sound generation device is selected from the group consisting of a standard telephone, a cell phone, an earpiece connected to a telephone, a headset connected to a telephone, an electronic audio headset, an earpiece connected to a CD player, and an earpiece connected to a computer.

7. A communication coupling system of claim 1 wherein at least part of said receiver comprises said coupler coil.

8. A communication coupling system of claim 1 wherein said sound generation device includes a front surface, and further wherein said coupler coil is adjacent to said front surface.

9. A communication coupling system of claim 1 wherein said coupler coil comprises an encapsulation.

10. A communication coupling system of claim 1 wherein said sound generation device comprises a telephone having a handset and said coupler coil is located in said handset.

11. A communication coupling system of claim 2 wherein said core having said hole of said coupler coil comprises ferrite.

12. A communication coupling system of claim 11 wherein said speaker is powered by a speaker connection and said coupler coil is powered by said speaker connection.

13. A communication coupling system of claim 2 wherein said sound generation device includes a front surface, and further wherein said coupler coil is adjacent to said front surface.

14. A communication coupling system of claim 12 wherein said sound generation device includes a front surface, and further wherein said coupler coil is adjacent to said front surface.

18. The communication coupling system of claim 1, wherein the wire is beryllium.

15. A communication coupling system comprising:

a sound generation device having a receiver;

a sound transmission line connected to said sound generation device;

a coupler coil attached to said sound generation device having substantially 250 turns of 40 gauge wire wound around a core of said coupler coil in two or more layers, wherein the layers are wound in alternating clockwise and counter-clockwise directions;

a hearing aid coil located in a hearing aid; and

a speaker located in said sound generation device.

19. The communication coupling system of claim 15, wherein the wire is beryllium.

16. A communication coupling system comprising:

a sound generation device having a receiver;

a sound transmission line connected to said sound generation device;

an open air core;

substantially 125 turns of 35 gauge wire wound around the open air core in two or more layers, wherein the layers are wound in alternating clockwise and counter-clockwise directions;

a hearing aid coil located in a hearing aid; and

a speaker located in said sound generation device.

20. The communication coupling system of claim 16, wherein the wire is beryllium.

17. A communication coupling system comprising:

a sound generation device having a receiver;

a sound transmission line connected to said sound generation device;

an open air core;

substantially 250 turns of 40 gauge wire wound around the open air core in two or more layers, wherein the layers are wound in alternating clockwise and counter-clockwise directions;

a hearing aid coil located in a hearing aid; and

a speaker located in said sound generation device.

21. The communication coupling system of claim 17, wherein the wire is beryllium.