Ear contact pressure wave hearing aid switch
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A hearing aid comprising:
- a microphone for changing an acoustic input into an electrical signal;
a digital signal processor for analyzing and adjusting the electrical signal; and
a receiver which used the electrical signal output of the digital signal processor to produce a modified acoustic output;
wherein the digital signal processor comprises a switch for changing at least one parameter setting of the digital signal processor, the switch being controlled by an algorithm which analyzes the electrical signal for a signature hand motion of the user which creates a pressure wave sensed by the algorithm.
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Abstract
A hearing aid switch utilizes pressure/sound clues from a filtered input signal to enable actuation initiated by a user by a signature hand movement relative to a wearer'"'"'s ear. The preferred signature hand movement involves patting on the ear meatus at least one time to generate a compression wave commonly thought of as a soft “clap” or “pop”. A digital signal processor analyzes the signal looking for a negative pulse, a positive pulse, and dissipation of the hand generated signal.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A hearing aid comprising:
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a microphone for changing an acoustic input into an electrical signal; a digital signal processor for analyzing and adjusting the electrical signal; and a receiver which used the electrical signal output of the digital signal processor to produce a modified acoustic output; wherein the digital signal processor comprises a switch for changing at least one parameter setting of the digital signal processor, the switch being controlled by an algorithm which analyzes the electrical signal for a signature hand motion of the user which creates a pressure wave sensed by the algorithm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A hearing aid comprising:
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a microphone for changing an acoustic input into an electrical signal; a digital signal processor for analyzing and adjusting the electrical signal; and a receiver which used the electrical signal output of the digital signal processor to produce a modified acoustic output; wherein the digital signal processor comprises a switch for changing at least one parameter setting of the digital signal processor, the switch being controlled by an algorithm which analyzes the electrical signal for a signature hand motion of the user, wherein the digital signal processor splits the electrical signal into frequency bands, and wherein the algorithm analyzes a low frequency band to identify the signature hand motion of the user.
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6. A hearing aid comprising:
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a microphone for changing an acoustic input into an electrical signal; a digital signal processor for analyzing and adjusting the electrical signal; and a receiver which used the electrical signal output of the digital signal processor to produce a modified acoustic output; wherein the digital signal processor comprises a switch for changing at least one parameter setting of the digital signal processor, the switch being controlled by an algorithm which analyzes the electrical signal for a signature hand motion of the user, wherein the algorithm which analyzes the electrical signal for a signature hand motion of the user requires the signature hand motion to produce a pressure wave over 85 dB SPL. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of switching at least one parameter setting of a digital signal processor of a hearing aid, comprising:
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placing a hearing aid relative to the ear of a wearer, the hearing aid comprising; a microphone for changing an acoustic input into an electrical signal; a digital signal processor for analyzing and adjusting the electrical signal; and a receiver which used the electrical signal output of the digital signal processor to produce a modified acoustic output; and performing a signature hand motion relative to the ear with the hearing aid, the signature hand motion comprising contacting the ear meatus with the user'"'"'s hand to create a pressure wave sensed by an algorithm running in the digital signal processor. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A method of switching at least one parameter setting of a digital signal processor of a hearing aid, comprising:
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placing a hearing aid relative to the ear of a wearer, the hearing aid comprising; a microphone for changing an acoustic input into an electrical signal; a digital signal processor for analyzing and adjusting the electrical signal; and a receiver which used the electrical signal output of the digital signal processor to produce a modified acoustic output; and performing a signature hand motion relative to the ear with the hearing aid, the signature hand motion comprising contacting the ear meatus with the user'"'"'s hand, wherein the digital signal processor splits the electrical signal into frequency bands, and wherein the digital signal processor performs an algorithm which analyzes a low frequency band to identify the signature hand motion of the user. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A method of switching at least one parameter setting of a digital signal processor of a hearing aid, comprising:
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analyzing an electrical signal within the digital signal processor, the electrical signal being representative of at least some portion of sound received by a microphone of the hearing aid; identifying a signal portion produced by signature hand motion relative to the ear with the hearing aid, the identified signal portion having at least a positive pressure pulse having an amplitude beyond a positive pressure pulse threshold and a negative pressure pulse having an amplitude beyond a negative pressure pulse threshold, and a dissipation region after both the positive pressure pulse and the negative pressure pulse wherein the identified signal portion is significantly less than the positive pressure pulse and the negative pressure pulse; and upon identification of the signal portion, switching at least one parameter setting of the digital signal processor of the hearing aid. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification