Method for controlling a transmission system, application of the method, a transmission system, a receiver and a hearing aid

• US 7,596,237 B1
• Filed: 09/18/2000
• Issued: 09/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonova AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Phonak AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Constantin, Jean-Claude
• Primary Examiner(s): Mei; Xu
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAO, LUNSEE
• Application Number:
  US09/664,273
• Time in Patent Office: 3,298 Days
• Field of Search: 381/2, 381312-315, 381/60, 381/1, 381/316, 455/41.1, 455/39, 455/78, 455/550.1
• US Class Current: 381/314
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/552 Binaural
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency

Abstract

The invention relates to a method controlling a transmission system composed of at least one transmitter ($1 . . . Sn) and at least one receiver (1), a signal (S_in) which is modulated in amplitude, frequency and/or phase being transmitted through an information channel (120). In the invention, configuration parameters are transmitted through a control channel (110 . . . 113) to the receiver (1), said transmission through said control channel (110 . . . 113) being independent of any transmission implemented through the information channel (120). On the basis of the transmitted configuration parameters, adjustments are implemented in the receiver (1), in particular relating to demodulating the signal (S_in) transmitted through the information channel. The invention furthermore relates to method applications, to a transmission system, to a receiver and to a hearing aid.

Claims

1. A wireless transmission system comprising:

a plurality of hearing devices, each hearing device comprising a signal processing unit and an electro-acoustic transducer, the signal processing unit being operatively connected to the electro-acoustic transducer;

means for transmitting a plurality of audio signals to the hearing devices, wherein each audio signal is transmitted at a configured carrier frequency;

each hearing device further comprising means for receiving at least one of the plurality of audio signals, said means for receiving at least one of the plurality of audio signals being operatively connected to at least one of the signal processing unit and the electro-acoustic transducer;

means for remotely generating and wirelessly transmitting configuration parameters to the hearing devices, for configuring the means for receiving at least one of the plurality of audio signals;

each hearing device further comprising means for receiving said configuration parameters, said means for receiving said configuration parameters being comprised in said means for receiving at least one of the plurality of audio signals; and

each hearing device further comprising means for tuning the means for receiving at least one of the plurality of audio signals to an audio signal according to the configuration parameters,

wherein the plurality of audio signals as well as the configuration parameters are transmitted wirelessly via independent transmission channels,

whereby the configuration parameters are transmitted at a predefined carrier frequency via a common transmission channel shared by all said means for remotely generating and wirelessly transmitting configuration parameters and all said means for receiving the configuration parameters.

2. The wireless transmission system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for remotely generating and wirelessly transmitting the configuration parameters are provided in at least one of a remote control, a transmitter, a control unit connected to a loop antenna, and a configuration unit.

3. The wireless transmission system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for transmitting a plurality of audio signals consist of a single unit.

4. The wireless transmission system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for transmitting a plurality of audio signals consist of a plurality of units, each being able to transmit one audio signal.

5. The wireless transmission system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a transmission unit containing the means for remotely generating and wirelessly transmitting the configuration parameters as well as the means for transmitting the plurality of audio signals.

6. The wireless transmission system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a configuration unit containing the means for remotely generating and wirelessly transmitting the configuration parameters, wherein the configuration unit is capable of establishing a bidirectional communication link to the means for receiving the configuration parameters allowing programming of at least one of the hearing devices.

7. The wireless transmission system as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a computer unit that is operationally connected to the configuration unit.

8. The wireless transmission system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a control unit that is, on one side, connected to a loop antenna and, on another side, connected to a input/computing unit.

9. The wireless transmission system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the input/computing unit is connected via a Universal Standard Bus to the control unit.

10. The wireless transmission system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the hearing devices includes at least one hearing aid adapted to be worn by a user.

11. A wireless transmission system comprising:

a plurality of hearing devices, each hearing device comprising a signal processing unit and an electro-acoustic transducer, the signal processing unit being operatively connected to the electro-acoustic transducer;

means for transmitting a plurality of audio signals to the hearing devices, wherein each audio signal is transmitted at a predefined carrier frequency;

each hearing device further comprising means for receiving at least one of the plurality of audio signals, said means for receiving at least one of the plurality of audio signals being removeably mechanically coupled to the at least one hearing device, and said means for receiving at least one of the plurality of audio signals being operatively connected to at least one of the signal processing unit and the electro-acoustic transducer;

means for remotely generating and wirelessly transmitting configuration parameters to the hearing devices, for configuring the means for receiving at least one of the plurality of audio signals;

each hearing device further comprising means for receiving the configuration parameters, said means for receiving the configuration parameters being comprised in said means for receiving at least one of the plurality of audio signals; and

each hearing device further comprising means for tuning the means for receiving at least one of the plurality of audio signals to an audio signal according to the configuration parameters, wherein the plurality of audio signals as well as the configuration parameters are transmitted wirelessly via independent transmission channels,

whereby the configuration parameters are transmitted at a redefined carrier frequency via a common transmission channel shared by all said means for remotely generating and wirelessly transmitting configuration Parameters and all said means for receiving the configuration parameters.

12. The wireless transmission system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the means for remotely generating and wirelessly transmitting the configuration parameters are provided in at least one of a remote control, a transmitter, a control unit connected to a loop antenna, and a configuration unit.

13. The wireless transmission system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the means for transmitting a plurality of audio signals consist of a single unit.

14. The wireless transmission system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the means for transmitting a plurality of audio signals consist of a plurality of units, each being able to transmit one audio signal.

15. The wireless transmission system as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a transmission unit containing the means for remotely generating and wirelessly transmitting the configuration parameters as well as the means for transmitting the plurality of audio signals.

16. The wireless transmission system as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a configuration unit containing the means for remotely generating and wirelessly transmitting the configuration parameters, wherein the configuration unit is capable of establishing a bidirectional communication link to the means for receiving the configuration parameters allowing programming of at least one of the hearing devices.

17. The wireless transmission system as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a computer unit that is operationally connected to the configuration unit.

18. The wireless transmission system as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a control unit that is, on one side, connected to a loop antenna and, on another side, connected to a input/computing unit.

19. The wireless transmission system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the input/computing unit is connected via a Universal Standard Bus to the control unit.

20. The wireless transmission system as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one of the hearing devices includes at least one hearing aid adapted to be worn by a user.