Hearing instrument controller
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A hearing instrument comprising:
- a body of a hearing aid or cochlear implant;
a plurality of electronic components within the body, including a transducer;
an inertial sensor mechanically coupled with the body, the inertial sensor being configured to monitor the motion of the body and generate a movement signal representative of the body motion and representative of a first program in a plurality of programs; and
a controller operatively coupled with the inertial sensor, the controller configured to process the movement signal to detect a recognizable movement pattern associated with the first program and control power usage by at least one or more of the electronic components as a function of the movement signal, wherein the inertial sensor draws less than about 10 percent of a total power draw of the hearing instrument during a given period if the transducer is on about ⅔
of the given period, and wherein the recognizable movement pattern is associated with a predetermined tapping pattern on a head of a user wearing the hearing instrument.
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Abstract
A hearing instrument has a plurality of electronic components within a body, and an inertial sensor mechanically coupled with the body. The inertial sensor is configured to monitor the motion of the body and generate a movement signal representative of the body motion. A controller operatively coupled with the inertial sensor controls power usage by at least one or more of the electronic components as a function of the movement signal.
62 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A hearing instrument comprising:
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a body of a hearing aid or cochlear implant; a plurality of electronic components within the body, including a transducer; an inertial sensor mechanically coupled with the body, the inertial sensor being configured to monitor the motion of the body and generate a movement signal representative of the body motion and representative of a first program in a plurality of programs; and a controller operatively coupled with the inertial sensor, the controller configured to process the movement signal to detect a recognizable movement pattern associated with the first program and control power usage by at least one or more of the electronic components as a function of the movement signal, wherein the inertial sensor draws less than about 10 percent of a total power draw of the hearing instrument during a given period if the transducer is on about ⅔
of the given period, and wherein the recognizable movement pattern is associated with a predetermined tapping pattern on a head of a user wearing the hearing instrument. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 17)
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12. A method of operating a hearing instrument including a transducer, the method comprising:
determining, for a given period of time, if the hearing instrument is substantially stationary, the hearing instrument being a hearing aid or a cochlear implant; and controlling the hearing instrument to draw power as a function of the act of determining, wherein an inertial sensor draws less than about 10 percent of a total power draw of the hearing instrument during a given period if the transducer is on about ⅔
of the given period,the hearing instrument drawing power at a first rate after determining that the hearing instrument is substantially stationary, the hearing instrument drawing power at a second rate after determining that the hearing instrument is not substantially stationary, the first rate being less than the second rate, and a controller operatively coupled with the inertial sensor detecting a recognizable movement pattern associated with a first program in a plurality of programs, where the recognizable movement pattern is associated with a predetermined tapping pattern on a head of a user wearing the hearing instrument. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 18)
Specification