Method and apparatus for wireless components for hearing communication devices

• US 7,797,022 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2005
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Ruzicka, Terrance A., Victorian, Thomas A., Bradley, J. Virgil
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, JOHN J
• Application Number:
  US11/305,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20070140517A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,733 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/550.1, 455/3.06, 455/41.2, 455/553.1, 455/557, 455/569.1, 455/575.7, 455/90.1, 455/90.2, 381/312, 381/93, 381/318, 381/315, 381/328, 600/545, 600/301
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency

Abstract

A hearing communication device with wireless components is provided. One aspect of this disclosure relates to hearing communication devices, which include, but are not limited to, hearing aids and other hearing assistance devices. According to an embodiment, the device includes an enclosure and at least one microphone within the enclosure. The device also includes an amplifier, a speaker, and a signal processing circuit within the enclosure. In various embodiments, the device includes a power supply, such as a battery, electrically connected to the at least one microphone, the amplifier, the speaker and the signal processing circuit. In varying embodiments, at least one of the at least one microphone, the amplifier, the speaker and the signal processing circuit is adapted to communicate wirelessly. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.

Claims

1. A hearing communication device, comprising:

an enclosure; and

a plurality of internal components within the enclosure,

wherein a first internal component of the plurality of internal components includes a wireless receiver, and a second internal component of the plurality of internal components includes a wireless transmitter, the wireless receiver and wireless transmitter adapted to wirelessly communicate information from the second internal component to the first internal component.

2. The hearing communication device of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver and wireless transmitter are adapted to wirelessly communicate via radio frequency signals.

3. The hearing communication device of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver and wireless transmitter are adapted to wirelessly communicate via optics.

4. The hearing communication device of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver and wireless transmitter are adapted to wirelessly communicate via sound signals.

5. The hearing communication device of claim 1, wherein the second internal component is adapted to wirelessly communicate audio information.

6. The hearing communication device of claim 1, wherein the second internal component is adapted to wirelessly communicate data information.

7. The hearing communication device of claim 1, wherein the second internal component is adapted to wirelessly communicate control information.

8. The hearing communication device of claim 1, wherein the at least one internal component is adapted to wirelessly communicate programming information.

9. The hearing communication device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of internal components includes a power supply.

10. The hearing communication device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of internal components is connected to a common power supply.

11. The hearing communication device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of internal components is connected to a power supply.

12. The hearing communication device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of internal components is inductively coupled to a power supply.

13. The hearing communication device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of internal components includes a microphone, a signal processing circuit, an amplifier, and a speaker.

14. The hearing communication device of claim 13, wherein all of the internal components communicate information wirelessly one or more other internal components.

15. The hearing communication device of claim 1, wherein the hearing communication device is adapted to communicate with an external controller.

16. The hearing communication device of claim 1, wherein the hearing communication device is a behind-the-ear hearing communication device.

17. The hearing communication device of claim 1, wherein the hearing communication device is an over-the-ear hearing communication device.

18. The hearing communication device of claim 1, wherein the hearing communication device is an in-the-ear hearing communication device.

19. The hearing communication device of claim 1, wherein the hearing communication device is an in-the-canal hearing communication device.

20. The hearing communication device of claim 1, wherein the hearing communication device is a completely-in-the-canal hearing communication device.

21. The hearing communication device of claim 1, further comprising:

a telecoil within the enclosure.

22. The hearing communication device of claim 1, further comprising:

a voicecoil within the enclosure.

23. A hearing communication device, comprising:

an enclosure;

at least one wireless microphone within the enclosure;

an amplifier within the enclosure;

a speaker within the enclosure;

a signal processing circuit within the enclosure; and

a power supply within the enclosure, the power supply wirelessly connected to the at least one microphone, the amplifier, the speaker and the signal processing circuit,

wherein at least one of the at least one microphone, the amplifier, the speaker and the signal processing circuit is adapted to communicate information wirelessly.

24. The hearing communication device of claim 23, wherein an external audio controller is adapted to wirelessly communicate with the hearing communication device.

25. The hearing communication device of claim 23, wherein the at least one microphone, the amplifier, the speaker and the signal processing circuit have antennae.

26. The hearing communication device of claim 23, wherein the hearing communication device is a behind-the-ear hearing communication device.

27. The hearing communication device of claim 23, wherein the hearing communication device is an over-the-ear hearing communication device.

28. The hearing communication device of claim 23, wherein the hearing communication device is an in-the-ear hearing communication device.

29. The hearing communication device of claim 23, wherein the hearing communication device is an in-the-canal hearing communication device.

30. The hearing communication device of claim 23, wherein the hearing communication device is a completely-in-the-canal hearing communication device.

31. The hearing communication device of claim 23, wherein the at least one microphone, the amplifier, the speaker and the signal processing circuit are adapted to wirelessly communicate via radio frequency signals.

32. A method of communicating with a hearing communication device, comprising:

using an external controller to selectively establish communications with one or more of a plurality of internal components of the hearing communication device, each of the internal components within an enclosure adapted for wireless component-to-component communications; and

communicating with one or more of the plurality of internal components.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the communicating includes communicating diagnostic information.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the communicating includes programming one or more internal components of the hearing communication device.

35. The method of claim 32, further comprising changing component settings based on the communications.

36. The method of claim 32, further comprising changing components based on the communications.