Aided ear bud

• US 8,009,849 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2009
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: KommanditSelskabet Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Patent Partnership
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Enzmann, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Ni; Suhan
• Application Number:
  US12/563,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20100009715A1
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 381312-316, 381/318, 381/320, 381/331, 379/55.1, 379/430
• US Class Current: 381/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/41 Detection or adaptation of hearing aid parameters or programs to listening situation, e.g. pub, forest
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/43 Electronic input selection or mixing based on input signal analysis, e.g. mixing or selection between microphone and telecoil or between microphones with different directivity characteristics H04R25/407 takes precedence
• 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 hearing aid device is configured to operate as an ear bud device for a wireless phone. The hearing aid device functions in a manner similar to a conventional hearing aid device in a first operational state. The operational state of the hearing aid device is changed to a second operational state, in some embodiments, by a verified input from a wireless phone. Upon the change in operational state, the microphone input from the aided ear bud is output to the wireless phone while the incoming transmission from the wireless phone is combined with the microphone input and output to the user. The hearing aid device can be modified to receive analog or digital inputs from other outside sources. Exemplary methods for operating a hearing aid device is disclosed. An exemplary mobile communications device for interfacing with the hearing aid device also is disclosed.

Claims

1. A hearing aid device, for interfacing with a mobile communications device, comprising:

a wireless transceiver configured to receive a switching command from the mobile communications device;

a source control module having a source control switch and being configured to;

receive the switching command from the wireless transceiver; and

in response to receiving the switching command, alter the source control switch for the device to process signals, representative of audio content, received from the mobile communications device, wherein the source control module does not pass the signals to a processor of the hearing aid device before the source control switch is altered, and passes the signals to the processor after the source control switch is altered; and

the processor configured to receive the signals, following the source control switch being altered, the signals corresponding to an audio portion of a call associated with the mobile communications device.

2. The hearing aid device of claim 1, wherein the switching command received by the hearing aid device is transmitted by the mobile communications device upon the mobile communications device being activated to answer an incoming call.

3. The hearing aid device of claim 1, wherein the switching command received by the hearing aid device is transmitted by the mobile communications device upon the mobile communications device receiving an incoming audio signal from an active call.

4. The hearing aid device of claim 1, wherein the switching command received by the hearing aid device is transmitted by the mobile communications device upon the mobile communications device initiating an outgoing call.

5. The hearing aid device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive, from the source control module, the signals, following the source control switch being altered;

modify the signals based on a frequency map, to create modified signals;

convert the modified signals to analog format, to create converted signals; and

initiate provision of output audio corresponding to the converted signals by way of a speaker of the hearing aid device.

6. The hearing aid device of claim 1, wherein:

the switching command is transmitted by the mobile communications device; and

the switching command is verified at the hearing aid device prior to switching to a second operating mode.

7. The hearing aid device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

initiate transmission of signals, representative of sound received at a microphone of the hearing aid device, to the mobile communications device; and

mix the signals, representative of audio content, with the microphone signals, representative of sound received at the microphone, to create mixed signals.

8. The hearing aid device of claim 1, wherein the hearing aid device is further configured to modify the signals based upon an ambient noise level surrounding the hearing aid device.

9. The hearing aid device of claim 5, wherein the frequency map indicates characteristics of a user of the hearing aid device.

10. A method, for operating a hearing aid device, comprising:

receiving a switching command, at a source control module of the hearing aid device, from a mobile communications device; and

in response to receiving the switching command, the source control module altering a source control switch of the module for the device to process signals, representative of audio content, received from the mobile communications device, wherein the source control module does not pass the signals to a processor of the hearing aid device before the source control switch is altered, and passes the signals to the processor after the source control switch is altered; and

receiving the signals, following the source control switch being altered, the signals corresponding to an audio portion of a call associated with the mobile communications device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting signals, representative of sound received at a microphone of the hearing aid device, to the mobile communications device; and

mixing, at the hearing aid, the signals representative of audio content with the signals, representative of sound received at the microphone, to create mixed signals.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising outputting the mixed signals by way of a speaker of the hearing aid device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein modifying the signals, representative of audio content, further comprises modifying the signals based upon an ambient noise level at the hearing aid device.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving, at the processor, from the source control module, the signals, following the source control switch having been altered;

modifying, at the processor, the signals based on a frequency map, to create modified signals;

converting the modified signals to analog format, to create converted signals; and

initiating, at the processor, provision of output audio corresponding to the converted signals by way of a speaker of the hearing aid device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein modifying the signals, representative of audio content, further comprises modifying the signals based upon values of an amplification chart.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein modifying the signals, representative of audio content, further comprises modifying the signals based upon characteristics of a speaker of the hearing aid device.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein modifying the signals, representative of audio content, further comprises modifying the signals based upon an ambient noise level at the hearing aid device.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein modifying the signals, representative of audio content, further comprises modifying the signals to compensate for frequency dependent hearing loss of a user of the hearing aid device.

19. A hearing aid device, for interfacing with a mobile communications device, comprising:

a wireless transceiver configured to receive signals, representative of audio content, from a mobile communications device;

a microphone configured to receive audible sounds; and

a processor configured to;

receive the signals, representative of audio content, from the wireless transceiver;

receive signals, representative of sounds received at the microphone; and

initiate provision of the signals, representative of sounds received at the microphone, from the hearing aid device to the mobile communications device.