Method and apparatus for a hearing assistance device with pinna control

• US 8,565,462 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2007
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Fideler, Brian, Higgins, Sidney A., Sacha, Michael Karl, Burns, Thomas Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): Islam, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): DABNEY, PHYLESHA LARVINIA
• Application Number:
  US11/689,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20080232627A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,407 Days
• Field of Search: 381/312, 381/314, 381/322, 381/323, 381/324, 381/327, 381/328, 381/329, 381/330, 381/381
• US Class Current: 381/330
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/61 Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/00 Deaf-aid sets , i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception electrical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N1/36038; optical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N5/0622
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/30 Monitoring or testing of hearing aids, e.g. functioning, settings, battery power
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/603 of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements

Abstract

One embodiment of the present subject matter provides an apparatus for disposition between a pinna and a head of a user, the apparatus including a behind-the-ear housing, the housing having a first lateral side located adjacent the user'"'"'s ear and a second lateral side located adjacent the side of the user'"'"'s head when the apparatus is worn as directed, hearing assistance electronics disposed in the behind-the-ear housing, and a control disposed on at least one lateral side of the behind-the-ear housing, the control coupled to the hearing assistance electronics.

Claims

1. An apparatus worn between a pinna and a head of a user, the apparatus comprising:

hearing assistance electronics;

a housing having a first lateral side and a second lateral side opposed to the first lateral side, the housing containing the hearing assistance electronics; and

a control positioned on the first lateral side and adapted to reside proximal the pinna when worn, the control adapted to switch upon sensing pressure applied to it on the first lateral side as a result of the user pressing the pinna, the control electrically connected to the hearing assistance electronics and the control comprising a quantum tunneling composite material configured to close a circuit connected to the hearing assistance electronics by decreasing electrical resistance through the quantum tunneling composite material when pressure is applied to the control.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control includes a switch and is disposed in an aperture of the housing.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the switch is normally open.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control includes a flesh-colored control.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control includes a rubber cover.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control includes a plastic cover.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control is switchhook electronics compatible with the BLUETOOTH standard.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control is adapted to control power to the hearing assistance electronics.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control is adapted to control telecoil electronics.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control is a volume control.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control is a mode selector.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control is a parameter selector.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control is spring loaded.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control is configured to select an operating mode of the hearing assistance electronics when pressure is applied to the control.

15. A hearing assistance system worn between a pinna and a head of a user, the system comprising:

hearing assistance electronics; and

a housing for the hearing assistance electronics including;

means for selecting an operating mode of the hearing assistance electronics when the pinna is depressed, wherein the means comprises a quantum tunneling composite material configured to close a circuit connected to the hearing assistance electronics by decreasing electrical resistance through the quantum tunneling composite material when pressure is applied to the control.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for selecting an operating mode of the hearing assistance electronics when the pinna is depressed is disposed in a side of the housing adjacent the user'"'"'s ear.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for selecting an operating mode of the hearing assistance electronics when the pinna is depressed is disposed in a side of the housing adjacent the user'"'"'s head.

18. A method comprising:

providing a behind-the-ear hearing assistance device housing with a first lateral side and a second lateral side, the second lateral side opposite the first lateral side;

placing hearing assistance electronics in the hearing assistance device housing;

placing a control in the first lateral side of the hearing assistance housing, wherein placing the control in the first lateral side of the hearing assistance housing includes providing the location of the control in the first lateral side of the housing is proximate a pinna when the housing is worn by a user, wherein the control is adapted to switch upon sensing pressure applied to it on the first lateral side as a result of the user pressing the pinna, the control comprising a quantum tunneling composite material configured to close a circuit connected to the hearing assistance electronics by decreasing electrical resistance through the quantum tunneling composite material when pressure is applied to the control; and

connecting the control to the hearing assistance electronics.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein placing a control in the first lateral side includes selecting an operating mode of the hearing assistance electronics when the control changes state.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein placing a control in the first lateral side includes programming the hearing assistance electronics to adjust a hearing assistance parameter when the control changes state.