Hearing assistive apparatus having sound replay capability
First Claim
1. A hearing assistive device, comprising:
- sound data acquisition apparatus adapted to acquire current sound data representing sound that occurs in the vicinity of the hearing assistive device;
sound production apparatus adapted to produce sound in accordance with sound data acquired by the sound data acquisition apparatus, the sound production apparatus adapted to be mounted on, in, or proximate to an ear of a wearer of the hearing assistive device; and
sound replay apparatus, the sound replay apparatus comprising;
a sound data accumulation device for accumulating replay sound data representing sound occurring during a replay time; and
a sound data selection device for controlling the hearing assistive device to operate in one of multiple possible modes of operation of the hearing assistive device, the multiple possible modes of operation comprising an off mode in which all sound data is inhibited from being transmitted to the sound production apparatus and a replay mode in which the replay sound data is transmitted to the sound production apparatus for use in producing sound, wherein the sound data acquisition apparatus acquires current sound data during operation of the hearing assistive device in each of the multiple possible modes of operation.
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Abstract
Hearing assistive apparatus can be implemented to include sound replay capability, the hearing assistive apparatus enabling operation in a replay mode (in which the hearing assistive apparatus replays sound that occurred prior to the current time), as well as in a current sound mode (in which the hearing assistive apparatus reproduces—and, typically, enhances—sound as the sound occurs) and/or an off mode (in which the hearing assistive apparatus does not produce sound). The hearing assistive apparatus can also, additionally or alternatively, be implemented so that part of the hearing assistive apparatus is spatially separated from another part of the hearing assistive apparatus (in particular, so that part of the hearing assistive apparatus is spatially separated from part of the hearing assistive apparatus that is ear-mounted).
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A hearing assistive device, comprising:
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sound data acquisition apparatus adapted to acquire current sound data representing sound that occurs in the vicinity of the hearing assistive device; sound production apparatus adapted to produce sound in accordance with sound data acquired by the sound data acquisition apparatus, the sound production apparatus adapted to be mounted on, in, or proximate to an ear of a wearer of the hearing assistive device; and sound replay apparatus, the sound replay apparatus comprising; a sound data accumulation device for accumulating replay sound data representing sound occurring during a replay time; and a sound data selection device for controlling the hearing assistive device to operate in one of multiple possible modes of operation of the hearing assistive device, the multiple possible modes of operation comprising an off mode in which all sound data is inhibited from being transmitted to the sound production apparatus and a replay mode in which the replay sound data is transmitted to the sound production apparatus for use in producing sound, wherein the sound data acquisition apparatus acquires current sound data during operation of the hearing assistive device in each of the multiple possible modes of operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A hearing assistive device that can acquire current sound data representing sound that occurs in the vicinity of the hearing assistive device, produce sound in accordance with sound data, accumulate replay sound data representing sound occurring during a replay time, and operate in one of multiple possible modes of operation, the multiple possible modes of operation comprising an off mode in which all sound data is inhibited from being used in producing sound and a replay mode in which the replay sound data is used in producing sound, wherein current sound data is acquired during operation of the hearing assistive device in each of the multiple possible modes of operation.
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28. Audio display apparatus, comprising:
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apparatus for producing a primary audio display; and hearing assistive apparatus, the hearing assistive apparatus comprising; sound data acquisition apparatus adapted to acquire current sound data representing sound that occurs in the vicinity of the audio display apparatus, wherein the sound comprises sound other than that produced by the apparatus for producing a primary audio display; sound production apparatus adapted to produce sound in accordance with sound data acquired by the sound data acquisition apparatus; and sound replay apparatus, the sound replay apparatus comprising; a sound data accumulation device for accumulating replay sound data comprising sound data acquired by the sound data acquisition apparatus that represents sound occurring during a replay time; and a sound data selection device for controlling the hearing assistive apparatus to operate in one of multiple possible modes of operation of the hearing assistive apparatus, the multiple possible modes of operation comprising an off mode in which all sound data is inhibited from being transmitted to the sound production apparatus and a replay mode in which the replay sound data is transmitted to the sound production apparatus for use in producing sound, wherein the sound data acquisition apparatus acquires current sound data during operation of the hearing assistive apparatus in each of the multiple possible modes of operation. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for assisting hearing, comprising the steps of:
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acquiring current sound data representing sound that occurs in the vicinity of a hearing assistive device; producing sound in accordance with sound data; accumulating replay sound data representing sound occurring during a replay time; and controlling the hearing assistive device to operate in one of multiple possible modes of operation of the hearing assistive device, the multiple possible modes of operation comprising an off mode in which all sound data is inhibited from being used in producing sound and a replay mode in which the replay sound data is used in producing sound, wherein current sound data is acquired during operation of the hearing assistive device in each of the multiple possible modes of operation.
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Specification