Method and apparatus for detecting user activities from within a hearing assistance device using a vibration sensor

• US 8,879,763 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2009
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Burns, Thomas Howard, Green, Matthew, Sacha, Michael Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): EASON, MATTHEW A
• Application Number:
  US12/649,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20100172529A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,770 Days
• Field of Search: 381312-331, 381/174
• US Class Current: 381/312
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/39 Aspects relating to automatic logging of sound environment parameters and the performance of the hearing aid during use, e.g. histogram logging, or of user selected programs or settings in the hearing aid, e.g. usage logging
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/41 Detection or adaptation of hearing aid parameters or programs to listening situation, e.g. pub, forest
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/50 Customised settings for obtaining desired overall acoustical characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Abstract

The present subject matter relates to method and apparatus for detecting user activities within a hearing assistance device, and among other things, apparatus including a microphone for reception of sound and to generate a sound signal; an electret vibration sensor adapted to measure mechanical vibration and to produce a vibration signal; a signal processor, connected to the microphone and in communication with the electret vibration sensor, the signal processor adapted to process the sound signal and to process the vibration signal; and a housing adapted to house the signal processor. Variations provide a housing, microphone, and receiver in different configurations. In some variations wireless electronics are included and are used to communicate different signals. In some examples, the design is embodied in a variety of hearing aid configurations.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a microphone configured to receive sound and to generate a sound signal;

an electret vibration sensor configured to measure mechanical vibration and to produce a vibration signal indicative of user activities including non-speech vibrations;

a signal processor connected to the microphone and in communication with the electret vibration sensor, the signal processor configured to process the sound signal and to determine a correlation between the vibration signal and each of stored signature signals and characterize the user activities using the correlations, the stored signature signals characterizing predetermined types of user activities; and

a housing adapted to house the signal processor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electret vibration sensor is mounted integral to the wall of the housing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electret vibration sensor is mounted flush with an exterior wall of the housing.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is adapted to fit within a user'"'"'s ear.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a receiver connected to the signal processor.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the receiver is housed in the housing.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising wireless electronics connected to the electret vibration sensor and the receiver, wherein the electret vibration sensor and the receiver are connected to the signal processor through the wireless electronics.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the housing is adapted to house the microphone.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising an in-the-ear hearing assistance device, and wherein the electret vibration sensor is mounted in the in-the-ear hearing assistance device.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electret vibration sensor is mounted to an interior of an earmold housing.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, comprising a behind-the-ear hearing assistance device, and wherein the earmold housing shell is connected to the behind-the-ear hearing assistance device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the earmold housing comprises a sound tube, the sound tube comprising an electrical conduit between the behind-the-ear hearing assistance device and the electret vibration sensor.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electret vibration sensor comprises:

a case having a first orifice and a second orifice; and

a diaphragm mounted within the case between the first orifice and the second orifice.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electret vibration sensor comprises a directional electret microphone vibration sensor.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the directional electret microphone vibration sensor comprises:

a case;

a diaphragm electrode suspended within the case; and

an electret coated surface opposite the diaphragm.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the directional electret microphone vibration sensor comprises an amplifier to increase resolution of the vibration signal.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the case includes orifices to expose the diaphragm to an external environment.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electret vibration sensor comprises a PULSE 6000 electret microphone.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electret vibration sensor comprises an omni-directional microphone.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal processor is configured to adjust the processing of the sound signal in response to the characterization of the user activities.