Method and apparatus for detecting cellular telephones for hearing assistance devices

• US 9,161,139 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2013
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Sacha, Michael Karl, Mesfin, Yezihalem, Rabel, Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Qin, Jianchun
• Application Number:
  US14/022,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20140198937A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 381/315
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• 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

The present subject matter relates generally to methods and apparatus for detecting cellular telephones using hearing assistance devices. In an embodiment, a hearing assistance device includes a processor and a radio frequency transceiver connected to the processor. A detection circuit is connected to the processor, the detection circuit including a band pass filter and where the detection circuit is adapted to monitor a radio frequency signal to detect a cellular telephone in proximity to the hearing assistance device based on the monitored signal. The hearing assistance device includes an acoustic input, a magnetic input, and a switch for selecting between the acoustic input and the magnetic input. The processor is adapted to actuate the switch from the acoustic input to the magnetic input when a cellular telephone is detected in proximity to the hearing assistance device.

Claims

1. A hearing assistance device, comprising:

a processor;

a radio frequency transceiver connected to the processor;

an acoustic input;

a magnetic input; and

a detection circuit connected to the processor, the detection circuit including multiple band pass filters configured for uplink and downlink frequencies associated with cellular communications, and wherein the detection circuit is adapted to monitor a radio frequency signal to detect a cellular telephone in proximity to the hearing assistance device based on the monitored signal,

wherein the processor is configured to switch between the acoustic input and the magnetic input when the cellular telephone is detected in proximity to the hearing assistance device using the detection circuit.

2. The hearing assistance device of claim 1, wherein the detection circuit includes a level detector.

3. The hearing assistance device of claim 1, wherein the detection circuit is adapted to determine average signal strength over the uplink frequency bandwidth and produce a detection circuit output.

4. The hearing assistance device of claim 1, wherein the detection circuit is connected to a general purpose input output (GPIO) pin of the processor.

5. The hearing assistance device of claim 4, wherein the processor is adapted to monitor the GPIO input and send a tune signal to the radio frequency transceiver when a significant increase in the average signal strength is detected.

6. The hearing assistance device of claim 1, wherein the hearing assistance device includes a cochlear implant.

7. The hearing assistance device of claim 1, wherein the hearing assistance device includes a hearing aid.

8. The hearing assistance device of claim 7, wherein the hearing aid includes an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid.

9. The hearing assistance device of claim 7, wherein the hearing aid includes a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid.

10. The hearing assistance device of claim 7, wherein the hearing aid includes an in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aid.

11. The hearing assistance device of claim 7, wherein the hearing aid includes a receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aid.

12. The hearing assistance device of claim 7, wherein the hearing aid includes a completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aid.

13. The hearing assistance device of claim 7, wherein the hearing aid includes a receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) hearing aid.

14. A method, comprising:

providing a hearing assistance device including a portion configured to be worn in an ear of a wearer, the hearing assistance device including a processor, a detection circuit, an acoustic input and a magnetic input; and

switching from the acoustic input to the magnetic input using the processor when the detection circuit detects a cellular telephone in proximity to the hearing assistance device, including detecting a radio frequency signal in a programmable bandwidth that meets or exceeds a programmable power level for a programmable duration.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the processor includes a digital signal processor (DSP).

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the programmable bandwidth includes a band pass filter configured to include uplink frequencies associated with cellular telephone communications.

17. The method of claim 16, including setting corner frequencies for the band pass filter to 824 MHz and 849 MHz for a GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) 850 system.

18. The method of claim 16, including setting corner frequencies for the band pass filter to 1850 MHz and 1910 MHz for a GSM 1900 system.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the hearing assistance device includes a cochlear implant.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the hearing assistance device includes a hearing aid.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the hearing aid includes an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the hearing aid includes a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the hearing aid includes an in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aid.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the hearing aid includes a receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aid.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the hearing aid includes a completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aid.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the hearing aid includes a receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) hearing aid.