Method and apparatus for behind-the-ear hearing aid with capacitive sensor

• US 8,824,712 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2010
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Sacha, Michael Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Ensey, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): FALEY, KATHERINE A
• Application Number:
  US12/905,444
• Publication Number:
  US 20110091059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,418 Days
• Field of Search: 381/321, 381/324
• US Class Current: 381/321
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/0216 BTE hearing aids having a receiver in the ear mould
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/61 Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• 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 25/50 Customised settings for obtaining desired overall acoustical characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/603 of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements

Abstract

Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for a behind-the-ear hearing aid with a capacitive sensor.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use by a wearer, comprising:

a behind-the-ear housing having an outer surface;

hearing assistance electronics;

capacitive sensing electronics connected to the hearing assistance electronics; and

a plurality of electrodes placed on or near the outer surface of the behind-the-ear housing and connected to the capacitive sensing electronics, the plurality of electrodes arranged to provide multiple rows wherein at least one row proximal the wearer'"'"'s head is configured to be disabled to reduce false triggers; and

ground traces configured to confine electric field lines to define switch zones,

wherein the capacitive sensing electronics are adapted to detect motion of the wearer in proximity of the plurality of electrodes.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hearing assistance electronics are adapted to perform switch functions in response to a detection of the motion.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hearing assistance electronics are adapted to perform adjustable control functions in response to a detection of the motion.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein at least one adjustable control function of the adjustable control functions is programmable to be linear or logarithmic control.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the hearing assistance electronics are also adapted to perform switch functions in response to a detection of the motion.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, comprising a hybrid sensing switch including the plurality of electrodes and a piezoelectric element.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hearing assistance electronics are adapted to perform volume up and volume down functions in response to a sweeping motion performed at different positions along the plurality of electrodes.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the hearing assistance electronics are adapted to perform one or more functions in response to a tapping motion performed at different positions along the plurality of electrodes.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, comprising a hybrid sensing switch including the plurality of electrodes and a piezoelectric element.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hearing assistance electronics are adapted to perform one or more functions in response to a tapping motion performed at different positions along the plurality of electrodes.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a portion contoured to accommodate a finger.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a means for assisting the wearer in locating controls of the apparatus.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a hybrid sensing switch including the plurality of electrodes and a piezoelectric element.

14. A method for operating a behind-the-ear hearing aid for use by a wearer, the method comprising:

providing a sensor on an outer surface of a housing of the behind-the-ear hearing aid, the sensor including a plurality of electrodes placed on or near the outer surface of the housing, the plurality of electrodes arranged to provide multiple rows wherein at least one row proximal the wearer'"'"'s head is configured to be disabled to reduce false triggers the sensor including ground traces configured to confine electric field lines to define switch zones; and

detecting a change in capacitance using the plurality of electrodes, the change in capacitance associated with motion of a wearer in proximity of the plurality of electrodes.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising performing a switch or adjustable control functions in response to a detection of the change in capacitance.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising detecting the change in capacitance associated with taps.

17. The method of claim 15, comprising detecting the change in capacitance associated with sweeps.

18. The method of claim 15, comprising detecting the change in capacitance associated with static presses.

19. The method of claim 15, comprising detecting the change in capacitance associated with patterns of motions.

20. The method of claim 15, comprising detecting the change in capacitance associated with one or more of taps, sweeps, static presses, motion patterns or combinations of thereof.

21. The method of claim 14, comprising adjusting a sensitivity for the detecting the change in capacitance to reduce false triggers.