Hearing aid

• US 7,561,708 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2005
• Issued: 07/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sivantos Gmbh (WS Audiology A/S)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Röhrlein, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Ni; Suhan
• Assistant Examiner(s): PRITCHARD, JASMINE L
• Application Number:
  US11/104,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20050238190A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,553 Days
• Field of Search: 381/314, 381/315, 381/322, 381/331, 381/380, 381/328, 381/323, 381/312
• US Class Current: 381/315
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/04 in untuned amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/945 Proximity switches H03K17/96 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9502 Measures for increasing reliability
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/025 In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/61 Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/00 Deaf-aid sets , i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception electrical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N1/36038; optical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N5/0622
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/603 of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements

Abstract

The increasing miniaturization of hearing aids means that less and less space is available for accommodating controls (9). It is thus proposed that, at least one proximity sensor (6; 12A, 12B) be provided on a hearing aid (1; 11) so as to enable an operating function to be performed even without touching a control directly. For operation of a hearing aid (1; 11) in accordance with the invention, in addition to the hearing aid (1; 11) itself, no further technical aids such as remote control, magnets etc. have to be worn as well.

Claims

1. A hearing aid, comprising:

an operating device for operating the hearing aid where the operating device comprises

a microphone with a sound entry opening configured to accept an acoustic signal and convert into an electrical signal,

a signal processing unit that accepts the converted electrical signal and further processes and frequency dependently amplifies the signal,

an earpiece that converts the processed electrical signal into an acoustic output signal, and

a power supply that provides electrical power to the hearing aid device; and

a proximity sensor having a detection area and included in the operating device for triggering an operating function of the hearing aid, wherein the proximity sensor is configured to trigger the operating function if a hand of a user of the hearing aid is moved into or out of the detection area without the use of a remote control device or additional technical aids.

2. The hearing aid in accordance with claim 1, wherein the operating function is triggered by a specific chronological sequence of multiple entries or exits of the hand into respectively out of the detection area.

3. The hearing aid in accordance with claim 1, wherein a plurality of different operating functions are triggered by a plurality of different chronological sequences of multiple entries or exits of the hand into respectively out of the detection area.

4. The hearing aid in accordance with claim 1, wherein the operating function includes adjusting an active hearing program.

5. The hearing aid in accordance with claim 4, wherein adjusting the active hearing program includes controlling a volume of the active hearing program.

6. The hearing aid in accordance with claim 1, wherein triggering the operating function is based upon a distance of the hand from the proximity sensor.

7. The hearing aid in accordance with claim 1, wherein triggering the operating function is based upon a change of distance of the hand from the proximity sensor.

8. The hearing aid in accordance with claim 1, in which the detection area is limited by a distance from the proximity sensor, the distance taken from the range between 0 cm to 10 cm.

9. The hearing aid in accordance with claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor is an element taken from the group consisting of an infrared proximity sensor, an ultrasound proximity sensor, an inductive proximity sensor and a capacitive proximity sensor.

10. The hearing aid in accordance with claim 1, further including a control element for disabling the triggered operating function if the control element is touched by the hand after the move into respectively out of the detection area.

11. The hearing aid in accordance with claim 1, wherein a plurality of proximity sensors are provided having different detection areas relative to the hearing aid.

12. The hearing aid in accordance with claim 1, wherein the hearing aid is sized and configured as an in-ear-hearing aid.

13. The hearing aid in accordance with claim 12, wherein the hearing aid is sized and configured to be arranged in its entirety within an auditory canal of the user of the hearing aid.