Hearing assistive system with low power interface

• US 8,265,710 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2009
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KommanditSelskabet Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Patent Partnership
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Frerking, Melvin, Hirvela, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John J
• Application Number:
  US12/579,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20100086154A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 455/569.1, 455/556.1, 455/552.1, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/557, 455/9, 455/11.1, 455/426.1, 455/456.1, 455/550.1, 455/555, 381/312, 381/331, 381/315, 381/313, 381/320
• US Class Current: 455/569.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/69 Spread spectrum techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 15/00 Suppression or limitation of noise or interference by means associated with receiver H04B1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A communications interface provides for communication between a wireless communication device (WCD) and a hearing assistive device (HAD). In an exemplary embodiment the communications interface includes a communications module to receive an audio signal from the WCD. The communications interface transmits the audio signal to the HAD using a Low Power Radio Frequency (RF) transmitter. The HAD receives the Low Power RF signal and provides a voice signal to the HAD user via a speaker. In some embodiments, the HAD includes a microphone and a transmitter. The HAD transmits a voice signal generated by the microphone to the communications interface. Exemplary methods for using the WCD and the HAD are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A communications interface device comprising:

a communications module;

a low power radio frequency (RF) transmitter;

a processor; and

a memory for storing instructions, which when executed by the processor, perform a method comprising;

receiving an audio signal at the communications module;

generating a communication signal comprising the audio signal; and

transmitting the communication signal to a hearing assistive device using the low power RF transmitter, wherein the hearing assistive device extracts an audible signal from the communication signal and manipulates the extracted audible signal according to at least one of a user determined criterion and a hearing limitation associated with a user of the hearing assistive device.

2. The communications interface of claim 1, wherein the communications module receives the audio signal in a first communication protocol.

3. The communications interface device of claim 1, wherein the low power RF transmitter transmits the communication signal to the hearing assistive device using a low power RF protocol.

4. The communications interface device of claim 1, further comprising a receiver for receiving control signals from the hearing assistive device.

5. The communications interface device of claim 1, further comprising a controller, communicatively coupled to the communications module and the low power RF transmitter, for controlling operations of the communications module and the low power RF transmitter.

6. The communications interface device of claim 1, further comprising a communicatively coupled microphone for receiving voice signals from a user of the hearing assistive device.

7. A hearing assistive device comprising:

a low power radio frequency (RF) receiver;

a processor;

a memory for storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, perform a method comprising;

receiving a communication signal at the low power RF receiver; and

extracting an audible signal from the communication signal; and

a signal processor for manipulating the extracted audible signal according to at least one of a user determined criterion and a hearing limitation associated with a user of the hearing assistive device.

8. The hearing assistive device of claim 7, further comprising a speaker, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor output the audible signal on the speaker.

9. The hearing assistive device of claim 7, further comprising a microphone.

10. The hearing assistive device of claim 9, further comprising a transmitter for transmitting a microphone signal received from the microphone to a wireless communications device.

11. The hearing assistive device of claim 10, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, process the microphone signal prior to transmitting the microphone signal to the wireless communications device.

12. A method comprising:

receiving a low power radio frequency (RF) signal at a low power RF receiver of a hearing assistive device, the RF signal being received from a communications interface in communication with the hearing assistive device;

extracting an audible signal from the low power RF signal;

manipulating the audible signal using a signal processor of the hearing assistive device, wherein the signal processor manipulates the audible signal in accordance with at least one of a criterion associated with the user of the hearing assistive device and a hearing limitation association with the user of the hearing assistive device; and

outputting the audible signal to a speaker of the hearing assistive device for output to a user of the hearing assistive device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising establishing, at the hearing assistive device, a communications link with the communications interface, wherein the hearing assistive device sends control signals to the communications interface via the communications link.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising switching the hearing assistive device from a microphone mode to an RF mode, wherein:

the hearing assistive device receives input via a microphone of the hearing assistive device in the microphone mode; and

the hearing assistive device receives input via the low power RF receiver in the RF mode.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving a voice signal at the hearing assistive device via a microphone associated with the hearing assistive device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising transmitting the voice signal to the communication interface via a low power RF transmitter associated with the hearing assistive device.