Control of low power or standby modes of a hearing assistance device

• US 8,804,988 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2010
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Solum, Jeffrey Paul, Helgeson, Michael, Flood, Stephen Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Joshi, Sunita
• Application Number:
  US12/981,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20110249836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 381/312, 381/314, 381/315, 381/328, 381/323, 455/574
• US Class Current: 381/312
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/0216 BTE hearing aids having a receiver in the ear mould
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/023 Completely in the canal [CIC] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/025 In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/61 Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/03 Aspects of the reduction of energy consumption in hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/30 Monitoring or testing of hearing aids, e.g. functioning, settings, battery power
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency

Abstract

Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods to provide improved control of hearing aids and hearing aid applications. In one embodiment, a hearing assistance device includes a microphone, a receiver for playing sound to a wearer, a processor connected to the microphone and the receiver, and a radio connected to the processor. The processor is adapted to enter a low power or standby mode upon receipt of a predetermined command from one or more of the microphone or the radio. The processor is further adapted to exit a low power or standby mode upon receipt of a predetermined command from one or more of the microphone or the radio. Other embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the present subject matter.

Claims

1. A hearing assistance device for a wearer, comprising:

a microphone;

a receiver for playing sound to the wearer;

a processor connected to the microphone and the receiver; and

a radio connected to the processor,

wherein the processor is configured to place the radio into a low power or standby mode upon receipt of a dedicated predetermined command from one or more of the microphone or the radio, by deactivating the radio without using a power switch of the device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to place the radio into the low power mode upon receipt of a predetermined audio command from the microphone.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to place the radio into the standby mode upon receipt of a predetermined audio command from the microphone.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to place the radio into the low power mode upon receipt of a predetermined wireless command from the radio.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to place the radio into the standby mode upon receipt of a predetermined wireless command from the radio.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to exit the radio from the low power mode upon receipt of a predetermined audio command from the microphone.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to exit the radio from the standby mode upon receipt of a predetermined audio command from the microphone.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to exit radio from the low power mode upon receipt of a predetermined wireless command from the radio.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to exit radio from the standby mode upon receipt of a predetermined wireless command from the radio.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to receive the predetermined command via dual tone multifunction (DTMF) tones from the microphone or from the radio.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the radio exits a low power or standby mode upon receipt of a predetermined command from one or more of the microphone or the radio.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to exit radio from the low power or standby mode upon a triggering occurrence.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the triggering occurrence includes a programmable timer reaching a setpoint.

14. A method of controlling modes of a hearing assistance device, comprising:

receiving a dedicated predetermined command at a hearing assistance device processor from one or more of a hearing assistance device microphone or a radio connected to the processor; and

entering a low power or standby mode of the radio of the hearing assistance device upon receipt of the dedicated predetermined command to deactivate the radio without using a power switch of the device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a second predetermined command at a hearing assistance device processor from one or more of a hearing assistance device microphone or a radio connected to the processor; and

exiting a low power or standby mode of the radio of the hearing assistance device.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein entering standby mode includes disabling processing of audio information.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving a predetermined command includes receiving a DTMF tone sequence.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving the DTMF tone sequence includes receiving the sequence from a cellular phone.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein entering standby mode includes disabling wireless radio frequency transmission.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving a predetermined command includes receiving a voice activation command.