Wireless system for hearing communication devices providing wireless stereo reception modes

• US 9,282,416 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2013
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Solum, Jeffrey Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tuan D
• Application Number:
  US13/970,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20140177885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/505 using digital signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/552 Binaural
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 1/007 in which the audio signals are in digital form data reduction aspects thereof based on psychoacoustics G10L19/02

Abstract

The present subject matter relates to the wireless stereo reception of first and second audio information by wireless hearing communication devices. One type of device which may employ the present subject matter is a hearing assistance device, such as a hearing aid. Various forms and protocols of signal transmission are employed in varying embodiments. The present subject matter includes various communication modes such as eavesdropping modes and relaying modes.

Claims

1. A method for a wearer having a first ear and a second ear, comprising:

receiving wireless communications from a remote source using a first hearing communication device, the wireless communications including first stereo channel audio information and second stereo channel audio information, wherein the first hearing communications device is configured to provide the first stereo channel audio information to the first ear;

encoding the second stereo channel audio information using the first hearing communication device to prepare for transmission to a second hearing communication device; and

wirelessly transmitting the second stereo channel audio information from the first hearing communication device to the second hearing communication device, the second hearing communication configured to provide the second stereo channel audio information to the second ear,

wherein the second hearing communication device is configured to receive signals without an electrical connection to the first hearing communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein wirelessly transmitting the second stereo channel audio information from the first hearing communication device to a second hearing communication device includes using substantially magnetically coupled communications.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein wirelessly transmitting the second stereo channel audio information from the first hearing communication device to a second hearing communication device includes using far field coupled communications.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second hearing communication device is eavesdropping on communications to the first hearing communication device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving wireless communications from the remote source includes receiving frequency division multiplexed communications.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving wireless communications from the remote source includes receiving time division multiplexed communications.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving wireless communications from the remote source includes receiving code division multiplexed communications.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving wireless communications from the remote source includes receiving packetized communications.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving wireless communications from the remote source includes receiving analog communications.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving wireless communications from the remote source includes receiving frequency modulated transmissions.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving wireless communications from the remote source includes receiving single sideband modulated transmissions.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving wireless communications from the remote source includes receiving amplitude modulated transmissions.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving wireless communications from the remote source includes receiving phase modulated transmissions.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving wireless communications from the remote source includes receiving Bluetooth-compatible communications.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving wireless communications from the remote source includes receiving IEEE 802.11-compatible communications.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving wireless communications from the remote source includes receiving CDMA-compatible communications.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the second hearing communication device does not control handshaking with the remote source.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving wireless communications from a remote source includes receiving wireless communications from a cellular telephone.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving wireless communications from a remote source includes receiving wireless communications from a personal computer.

17. A method, comprising:

receiving wireless communications from a remote source in a first mode using a first hearing communication device, the wireless communications including first stereo channel audio information and second stereo channel audio information, wherein the first hearing communications device is configured to provide the first stereo channel audio information to a first ear of a wearer; and

wirelessly eavesdropping on the wireless communications in a second mode using a second communication device to obtain the second stereo channel audio information, the second hearing communication device configured to provide the second stereo channel audio information to a second ear of the wearer,

wherein the second hearing communication device is configured to receive signals without an electrical connection to the first hearing communication device, and wherein the first mode is different from the second mode.