External input device for a hearing aid

• US 9,036,845 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2013
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GN Resound A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Original Assignee: GN Resound A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Inventors: Rasmussen, Kim, Larsen, Ivar Wolf
• Primary Examiner(s): Zenati, Amal
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kaufman, Joshua A
• Application Number:
  US13/907,606
• Publication Number:
  US 20140355799A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 381/312, 381/313, 381/315, 381/322, 381/324, 381/331, 379/52, 379/55.1
• US Class Current: 381/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/405 by combining a plurality of transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/407 Circuits for combining signals of a plurality of transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/43 Electronic input selection or mixing based on input signal analysis, e.g. mixing or selection between microphone and telecoil or between microphones with different directivity characteristics H04R25/407 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils

Abstract

A system includes: an external input device having a housing accommodating at least two telecoils having different orientations with respect to the housing, and an orientation sensor configured for sensing an orientation of the housing; and a selector configured for controlling connection of one of the at least two telecoils to an input of a hearing aid based on the sensed orientation.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an external input device having at least one microphone and a housing accommodating at least two telecoils having different orientations with respect to the housing, and an orientation sensor configured for sensing an orientation of the housing; and

a selector configured for selecting the at least one microphone as a signal source for a hearing aid when the external input device has a first orientation, and wherein the selector is configured for selecting a first telecoil of the at least two telecoils as the signal source for the hearing aid when the external input device has a second orientation.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the orientation sensor is selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a roll ball switch.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the selector is configured for selecting a second telecoil of the at least two telecoils as the signal source for the hearing aid when the external input device has a third orientation.

4. The system according to claim 3, further comprising a beam former for providing a directional microphone signal;

wherein the selector is configured for selecting the directional microphone signal for the hearing aid when the external input device has a fourth orientation.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising the hearing aid.

6. A method of communication with a hearing aid, comprising:

providing a plurality of telecoils with different orientations in a device for reception of a magnetic field;

providing an orientation sensor configured for sensing orientation of the device;

providing at least one microphone at the device;

selecting the at least one microphone as a signal source for a hearing aid when the device has a first orientation; and

selecting one of the telecoils as the signal source for the hearing aid when the device has a second orientation.