Apparatus for communication coupling with a hearing aid

• US 8,014,552 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2007
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Able Planet Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Able Planet Incorporated
• Inventors: Waldron, Joan Phillips
• Primary Examiner(s): Ensey; Brian
• Application Number:
  US11/850,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20080056521A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,462 Days
• Field of Search: 381/312, 381/326, 381/330, 381/331, 455/575.2, 379/52, 379/443, 379/444
• US Class Current: 381/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils

Abstract

An improved communication coupling device having a coupler coil with about 125 turns of wire about a bar-shaped core for use with a hearing aid having a hearing aid coil to accommodate individuals with various degrees of hearing loss to use a sound generation device such as a telephone.

Claims

1. A communication coupling system comprising:

a sound generation device having a receiver;

a sound transmission line connected to said sound generation device, said sound generation device having substantially 125 turns of 35 gauge wire wound around a bar-shaped core of a coupler coil in two or more layers, wherein the layers are wound in alternating clockwise and counter-clockwise directions;

a hearing aid coil located in a hearing aid; and

a speaker located in said sound generation device.

2. The communication coupling system of claim 1, wherein said core of said coupler coil comprises ferrite.

3. The communication coupling system of claim 1, wherein said speaker is powered by a speaker connection and said coupler coil is powered by said speaker connection.

4. The communication coupling system of claim 1, wherein said sound generation device is selected from the group consisting of a standard telephone, a cell phone, an earpiece connected to a telephone, a headset connected to a telephone, an electronic audio headset, an earpiece connected to a CD player, and an earpiece connected to a computer.

5. The communication coupling system of claim 1, wherein said wire includes beryllium.

6. The communication coupling system of claim 1, wherein at least part of said receiver comprises said coupler coil.

7. The communication coupling system of claim 1, wherein said sound generation device includes a front surface, and further wherein said coupler coil is adjacent to said front surface.

8. The communication coupling system of claim 1, wherein said coupler coil comprises an encapsulation.

9. A communication coupling system of claim 1, wherein said sound generation device comprises a telephone having a handset and said coupler coil is located in said handset.