Wireless system and method thereof for hearing

• US 7,778,433 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2005
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Ma, Gin-Kou, Lee, John-See, Jen, Chein-Wei, Huang, Li-Ren
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz; Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROBINSON, RYAN C
• Application Number:
  US11/119,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20060245608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,936 Days
• Field of Search: 381/77, 381/315, 381/311, 381/312, 381/331, 455 68- 69, 455/522, 455/575.2, 455/574
• US Class Current: 381/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/04 comprising pocket amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/453 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/505 using digital signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils

Abstract

A two-piece wireless hearing improvement system having a pocket piece and an earpiece, wherein the pocket piece includes a microphone adapted to receive analog signals, a first processor coupled to the microphone to convert the analog signals to digital signals, and a first transceiver coupled to the processor to transmit the digital signals. The earpiece includes a second transceiver for receiving the digital signals, a second processor coupled to the second transceiver for converting the digital signals to analog signals, a speaker coupled to the second processor for transmitting the analog signals, and a movement detector for detecting relative movements between the earpiece and the pocket piece and generating a first signal according to the relative movements. The first processor provides signal compensation based on the first signal.

Claims

1. A wireless hearing improvement system, comprising:

a first piece including;

a first power supply configured to provide power for the first piece,

a microphone configured to receive analog signals,

a first processor coupled to the microphone and configured to convert the analog signals to digital signals, and

a first transceiver coupled to the first processor and configured to transmit the digital signals; and

a second piece, configured to wirelessly communicate with the first piece, including;

a second power supply configured to provide power for the second piece,

a second transceiver configured to receive the digital signals,

a second processor coupled to the second transceiver and configured to convert the digital signals to analog signals, and

a speaker coupled to the second processor and configured to transmit the analog signals; and

a movement detector configured to measure movement of the second piece reflecting a change in position of the second piece relative to the first piece, the movement detector being configured to generate a first signal in response to any measured movement of the second piece, the first signal being generated according to and being representative of the measured movement;

wherein the first processor is configured to receive the first signal and provide signal compensation based on the measured movement according to which the first signal is generated.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first signal is transmitted by the second transceiver and received by the first transceiver.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first transceiver includes an RF transmitter.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second transceiver includes an RF receiver.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first piece further comprises an amplifier coupled to the microphone to magnify the analog signals received by the microphone.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second piece further comprises a driver coupled to the second transceiver.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first processor comprises an analog to digital converter.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second processor comprises a digital to analog converter.

21. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second piece includes the movement detector.

22. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first piece includes the movement detector.

9. A wireless hearing improvement system, comprising:

a pocket piece including;

a first power supply for providing power for the pocket piece,

a first microphone means for receiving analog signals, and

a first processor means, coupled to a first transceiver means, for converting the analog signals to digital signals, and for transmitting the digital signals;

an earpiece including;

a second power supply for providing power for the earpiece,

a second transceiver means for receiving the digital signals,

a second processor means, coupled to the second transceiver means, for converting the digital signals to analog signals, and

a speaker means for transmitting the analog signals; and

a movement detector for measuring movement of the earpiece reflecting a change in position of the earpiece relative to the pocket piece, the movement detector also being for generating a first signal in response to any measured movement of the earpiece, the first signal being generated according to and being representative of the measured movement,

wherein the pocket piece further comprises a means for receiving the first signal and performing signal compensation of transmission of signals between the earpiece and pocket piece in response to measured movement of the earpiece according to which the first signal is generated.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the means for signal compensation includes firmware for generating signal compensation.

11. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein first signal is transmitted by the second transceiver means and received by the first transceiver means.

12. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first transceiver means includes an RF transmitter.

13. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second transceiver means includes an RF receiver.

14. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the pocket piece further comprises an amplifier for amplifying received analog signals.

15. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the earpiece further comprises a driver coupled to the second transceiver.

16. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the movement detector is provided in the earpiece.

17. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the movement detector is provided in the pocket piece.

18. A method of transmitting signals between a wireless hearing improvement system having a first piece and a second piece, comprising:

receiving analog signals in the first piece;

converting the analog signals to digital signals;

transmitting the digital signals to the second piece;

receiving the digital signals in the second piece;

converting the received digital signals to analog signals;

broadcasting the analog signals;

measuring movement of the second piece reflecting a change in position of the second piece relative to the first piece, and generating a first signal in response to any measured movement of the second piece, the first signal being generated according to and being representative of the measured movement; and

receiving the first signal and compensating for transmission of signals between the first piece and the second piece based on the measured movement according to which the first signal is generated.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising amplifying the received analog signals.

20. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising driving the analog signals in the second piece.