Wireless gateway for hearing aid
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A hearing aid system comprising in combination:
- a) a hearing aid adapted to be placed about a user'"'"'s ear for amplifying audio signals, the hearing aid including;
i. an electrical power source; and
ii. an RF receiver for receiving radio frequency signals containing audio signals, the RF receiver requiring less than 20 milliwatts of electrical power from the electrical power source of the hearing aid; and
b) a remote control unit for communicating with the hearing aid, the remote control unit including;
i. an electrical power source;
ii. a first RF receiver for receiving RF source signals from at least one RF source device, the RF source signals containing audio signals to be amplified by the hearing aid, the first RF receiver of the remote control unit requiring more than 20 milliwatts of power from the electrical power source of the remote control unit; and
iii. a first RF transmitter for sending radio frequency signals to the RF receiver of the hearing aid, the radio frequency signals sent by the first RF transmitter of the remote control unit including audio signals contained in the RF source signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A remote control unit includes an RF transceiver that complies with a Bluetooth® standard and an RF transmitter that does not comply with the Bluetooth® standard, whereby the remote control unit serves as a wireless gateway between Bluetooth® compliant devices and the hearing aid. The hearing aid can further include a transmitter and the remote control unit can further include a receiver, neither of which comply with the Bluetooth® standard. The transmitters operate in the ISM band at low power, minimizing power dissipation within a hearing aid.
25 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A hearing aid system comprising in combination:
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a) a hearing aid adapted to be placed about a user'"'"'s ear for amplifying audio signals, the hearing aid including; i. an electrical power source; and ii. an RF receiver for receiving radio frequency signals containing audio signals, the RF receiver requiring less than 20 milliwatts of electrical power from the electrical power source of the hearing aid; and b) a remote control unit for communicating with the hearing aid, the remote control unit including; i. an electrical power source; ii. a first RF receiver for receiving RF source signals from at least one RF source device, the RF source signals containing audio signals to be amplified by the hearing aid, the first RF receiver of the remote control unit requiring more than 20 milliwatts of power from the electrical power source of the remote control unit; and iii. a first RF transmitter for sending radio frequency signals to the RF receiver of the hearing aid, the radio frequency signals sent by the first RF transmitter of the remote control unit including audio signals contained in the RF source signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification