Wireless system for hearing communication devices providing wireless stereo reception modes

• US 8,041,066 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2007
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Solum, Jeffrey Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TUAN DUC
• Application Number:
  US11/619,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20080159548A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,749 Days
• Field of Search: 381370-384, 381/312, 381/315, 379/430, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/585.2, 455/575.2
• US Class Current: 381/370
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/505 using digital signal processing
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 1/007 in which the audio signals are in digital form data reduction aspects thereof based on psychoacoustics G10L19/02

Abstract

The present subject matter relates to the wireless stereo reception of first and second audio information by wireless hearing communication devices. One type of device which may employ the present subject matter is a hearing assistance device, such as a hearing aid. Various forms and protocols of signal transmission are employed in varying embodiments. The present subject matter includes various communication modes such as eavesdropping modes and relaying modes.

Claims

1. A system for a wearer having a first ear and a second ear, comprising:

a remote source adapted to provide stereo audio wireless communications;

a first hearing communication device adapted to receive wireless communications including first stereo channel audio information and second stereo channel audio information from the remote source, the first hearing communication device adapted to provide the first stereo channel audio information to the first ear; and

a second hearing communication device adapted to receive wireless communications, including the second stereo channel audio information from the first hearing communication device, the second hearing communication device adapted to provide second stereo channel audio information to the second ear.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second hearing communication device is adapted to eavesdrop on communications from the remote source.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first hearing communication device includes a near field transmitter adapted for a magnetically coupled link.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the second hearing communication device is adapted to receive the second stereo channel audio information from the first hearing communication device through the magnetically coupled link.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first hearing communication device includes a far field transmitter.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote source is adapted to conduct the wireless communications on a first channel and on a second channel.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote source is adapted to conduct frequency division multiplexed communications.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote source is adapted to conduct time division multiplexed communications.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote source is adapted to conduct code division multiplexed communications.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the wherein the remote source is adapted to conduct packetized communications.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote source is adapted to conduct analog communications.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote source is adapted to conduct frequency modulated transmissions.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote source is adapted to conduct single sideband modulated transmissions.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote source is adapted to conduct amplitude modulated transmissions.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote source is adapted to conduct phase modulated transmissions.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising wherein the first hearing communication device includes Bluetooth-compatible communications electronics.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising wherein the first hearing communication device includes IEEE 802.11-compatible communications electronics.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising wherein the first hearing communication device includes CDMA-compatible communications electronics.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote source is adapted to provide unidirectional wireless communications.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote source is adapted to provide bidirectional wireless communications.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote source is adapted to programmably provide unidirectional or bidirectional wireless communications.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the first hearing communication device is a behind-the-ear hearing aid.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the first hearing communication device is an in-the-ear hearing aid.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the first hearing communication device is a completely-in-the-canal hearing aid.

25. A method, comprising:

transmitting a wireless signal including first stereo channel audio information and second stereo channel audio information;

wirelessly receiving the first and second stereo channel audio information with a first hearing communication device;

wirelessly receiving the second stereo channel audio information with a second hearing communication device;

playing the first stereo channel audio information to a first ear of a wearer using the first hearing communication device in or on the first ear; and

playing the second stereo channel audio information to a second ear of the wearer using the second hearing communication device in or on the second ear.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the second hearing communication device is eavesdropping on communications to the first hearing communication device.

27. The method of claim 25, comprising transmitting the second stereo channel audio information from the first hearing communication device to the second hearing communication device using substantially magnetically coupled communications.

28. The method of claim 25, comprising transmitting the second stereo channel audio information from the first hearing communication device to the second hearing communication device using far field coupled communications.