Hearing aid with UV sensor and method of operation

• US 8,184,837 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2009
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd. (WS Audiology A/S)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Instruments Pte Ltd (WS Audiology A/S)
• Inventors: Poh, Tze Chye Annie
• Primary Examiner(s): Ni, Suhan
• Application Number:
  US12/509,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20100020993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 381/60, 381312-315, 381318-320, 381/322, 381/328
• US Class Current: 381/314
• 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 25/505 using digital signal processing

Abstract

A hearing aid and a method for operating a hearing aid include a signal processing device operable by using different signal processing parameters and a UV sensor connected to the signal processing device. The signal processing device can set at least one signal processing parameter as a function of an output signal of the UV sensor. At least one predetermined signal processing parameter can be set in each case for within and outside of enclosed spaces. It is possible to reliably distinguish between environmental situations within and outside of enclosed spaces by using the UV light intensity in the environment to be measured by the UV sensor, so that the method of operation of the hearing aid, e.g. of an aural program, is advantageously automatically matched to these two environmental situations.

Claims

1. A hearing aid, comprising:

a UV sensor supplying an output signal;

a signal processing device connected to said UV sensor;

said signal processing device configured to operate by using different signal processing parameters including at least one of a mode of operation, an operational program or a program parameter; and

said signal processing device configured to set at least one signal processing parameter as a function of said output signal of said UV sensor.

2. The hearing aid according to claim 1, which further comprises a hearing aid housing in which said UV sensor is disposed.

3. The hearing aid according to claim 1, which further comprises a hearing tube for conducting electric or acoustic aural signals to the ear of a hearing-aid wearer, said UV sensor being disposed in or on said hearing tube.

4. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein said signal processing parameters include at least one predetermined signal processing parameter to be set in each case for within and outside of enclosed spaces.

5. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein said signal processing parameters include one signal processing parameter to be set for a UV light intensity threshold value.

6. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein said signal processing parameters include one signal processing parameter to be set for a UV light frequency band.

7. A method for operating a hearing aid, the method comprising the following steps:

measuring an intensity of a UV light in vicinity of the hearing aid to provide a measurement result;

setting a signal processing parameter of the hearing aid as a function of the measurement result; and

selecting at least one of a mode of operation, an operational program, or a program parameter as the signal processing parameter.

8. The method according to claim 7, which further comprises setting at least one predetermined signal processing parameter in each case for within and outside of enclosed spaces.

9. The method according to claim 7, which further comprises setting one signal processing parameter for setting a UV light intensity threshold value.

10. The method according to claim 7, which further comprises setting one signal processing parameter for setting a UV light frequency band.