Communication system for wireless audio devices

• US 8,169,938 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2006
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Duchscher, Rob, Preves, David A., Victorian, Thomas A., Solum, Jeffrey Paul, Magstadt, Randy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): SANTIAGO CORDERO, MARIVELISSE
• Application Number:
  US11/447,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20060274747A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,157 Days
• Field of Search: 381/23.1, 381/312, 381/315, 381/314, 600/25
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0057 Block codes H04L1/0061, H04L1/0064 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/613 for the control of the source by the destination control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components specially adapted for selective content distribution H04N21/637
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/021 Behind the ear [BTE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/023 Completely in the canal [CIC] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/025 In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/03 Aspects of the reduction of energy consumption in hearing devices
• 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 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F

Abstract

The present subject matter provides a system for wireless communications between one or more wireless audio devices and other electronics for providing a rich set of streaming audio, control, programming and enhanced hearing functions.

Claims

1. A system for wireless communications of information between a remote source and a plurality of wearers of hearing aids, comprising:

a plurality of hearing aids each having a radio receiver for reception of packetized communications, the packetized communications including a packet header and a payload including data, the packet header comprising information identifying certain bits as control bits and providing control via the control bits to control at least one of the plurality of hearing aids and the payload including audio information; and

an apparatus comprising a wireless interface including a first port adapted to receive the information from the remote source, and a second port adapted to wirelessly communicate the information in a packetized format to the plurality of hearing aids, the wireless interface including digital electronics to provide a plurality of programmable transmission modes,

wherein the system includes a plurality of nodes having each a unique address;

the nodes associated with each of the plurality of hearing aids and the apparatus, the system providing programmable communications between at least two nodes of the plurality of nodes using the transmission modes, the system providing control and audio information in a single packet and the system configured to provide packetized communications encoded for a right hearing aid and a left hearing aid for at least one wearer, the right hearing aid and left hearing aid each having different addresses and each able to receive different audio information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless interface is adapted to transmit streaming audio.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the streaming audio is stereo audio.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of hearing aids are programmable to play a right or left sound of stereo audio information.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital electronics support a unicast mode for transmissions to a specific hearing assistance device of the plurality of hearing aids.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital electronics support a multicast mode for transmissions to a specific plurality of hearing aids of the plurality of hearing aids.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital electronics support a broadcast mode for transmissions to the plurality of hearing aids.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first port receives the information over a wired connection.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first port receives the information over a wireless connection.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first port is adapted for communications compatible with the BLUETOOTH protocol.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the first port is adapted for code division multiple access (CDMA) communications.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the first port is adapted for global system for mobile (GSM) communications.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the first port is adapted for ultra-wideband (UWB) communications.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the first port supports optical communications.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the first port supports ultrasonic communications.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the second port is adapted for communications compatible with the BLUETOOTH protocol.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the second port is adapted for code division multiple access (CDMA) communications.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the second port is adapted for global system for mobile (GSM) communications.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the second port is adapted for ultra-wideband (UWB) communications.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the second port is adapted for optical communications.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the second port is adapted for carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) communications.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of hearing aids include behind-the-ear hearing aids.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of hearing aids include in-the-ear hearing aids.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of hearing aids include completely-in-the-canal hearing aids.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the second port includes a first transmitter and a second transmitter for transmitting stereo forms of information.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface includes a carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) transmission system.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of hearing aids are adapted to transmit signals to the wireless interface.