Hearing aid-compatible apparatus for wireless communication devices
First Claim
1. A hearing aid compatible (HAC) wireless communication apparatus, comprising:
- a housing,a display having a top viewing surface and bottom surface, the bottom surface of the display being positioned within the housing;
a layer of non-ferromagnetic material interposed between the transmitter and at least a portion of the top viewing surface of the display; and
a transmitter positioned within the housing and configured to transmit an inductive signal through at least a portion of the non-ferromagnetic material to a telecoil hearing aid receiver located in a receiving region located outside the housing and above the at least a portion of the top viewing surface of the display, the transmitter being positioned underneath at least a portion of the top viewing surface of the display.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for wireless communications using a hearing aid, or other suitable receiver. According to one embodiment, a mobile phone device comprises an LCD display having a substantially planar top viewing surface, a transmitter for outputting an electromagnetic signal to an inductively-coupled hearing aid telecoil receiver, and a layer of austenitic stainless steel forming a support frame for the LCD display. A portion of the transmitter and the layer of austenitic stainless steel are positioned underneath the LCD display, thus providing a compact mobile phone design with negligible impact, or even improvement, of the output electromagnetic signal.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A hearing aid compatible (HAC) wireless communication apparatus, comprising:
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a housing, a display having a top viewing surface and bottom surface, the bottom surface of the display being positioned within the housing; a layer of non-ferromagnetic material interposed between the transmitter and at least a portion of the top viewing surface of the display; and a transmitter positioned within the housing and configured to transmit an inductive signal through at least a portion of the non-ferromagnetic material to a telecoil hearing aid receiver located in a receiving region located outside the housing and above the at least a portion of the top viewing surface of the display, the transmitter being positioned underneath at least a portion of the top viewing surface of the display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A wireless communication apparatus having a first axis and a second axis, wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis, the apparatus comprising:
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a transmitter configured to generate an electromagnetic signal for a telecoil receiver located in a hearing aid compatible (HAC) reception zone positioned above at least a portion of the top viewing surface of the display; a display, the display having a substantially planar bottom surface, the display being configured when the apparatus is in an operable position such that the first axis is substantially parallel to a top viewing surface of the display; and a layer of non-ferromagnetic material, wherein; the transmitter, the display, and the non-ferromagnetic layer are each configured such that when the apparatus is in the operable position the second axis passes through at least a portion of the transmitter, at least a portion of the top viewing surface of the display, at least a portion of the non-ferromagnetic layer, and at least a portion of the HAC reception zone. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of operating a wireless transmitter, comprising:
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producing a communication signal; and transmitting an inductive signal from the transmitter through a layer of non-ferromagnetic material substantially parallel to a viewing surface of an electronic display to a reception area located in front of at least a portion of the viewing surface of the electronic display, wherein; a telecoil receiver positioned within the reception area is operable to receive the inductive signal, the inductive signal is derived from the communications signal, and the non-ferromagnetic layer is at least partially interposed between the viewing surface of the electronic display and the transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification