Hearing aid systems

• US 9,357,317 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2013
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Eaton, Anthony M., Ruzicka, Jerome C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Joshi, Sunita
• Application Number:
  US13/953,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20130315424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 381/60, 381312-321, 709/220
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Abstract

Systems, structures, and methods are provided to fit, program, or upgrade a hearing aid system to a patient. One embodiment includes the use of a mobile device to interact with the hearing aid system through a short-range network. The mobile device is also adapted to communicate with a server through a long-range wireless network. The server may reside on the Internet.

Claims

1. A method to be performed using a mobile device and a non-transitory application with executable instructions to be executed by the mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving, using the mobile device and the application to be executed by the mobile device, digital transmissions through a wireless cellular network; and

transmitting, using the mobile device including the application to be executed by the mobile device, digital audio through a wireless short-range communication link to a hearing aid that is fitted to a hearing-impaired patient and that is configured to be worn in or near an ear of the hearing-impaired patient, the hearing aid including;

a microphone to pick up sound and produce an audio signal;

a processing system capable of processing the audio signal from the microphone into a processed signal tailored to fit the hearing-impaired patient and capable of processing the digital audio from the mobile device into the processed signal tailored to fit the hearing-impaired patient; and

a speaker to convert the processed signal into an output audio signal and present the output audio signal to the hearing-impaired patient,

wherein the mobile device is a digital cellular telephone, and the method further comprises using the digital telephone and the application to be executed by the digital telephone to access an Internet connection through the wireless cellular network and to communicate with a server through the cellular network and through the Internet connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving digital transmissions through the wireless cellular network includes receiving packets of digital data.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving packets of digital data includes receiving packets of digital audio data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting digital audio includes transmitting packets of digital audio.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising using the application executed by the mobile device to program the processing system of the hearing aid to fit the hearing-impaired patient.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-transitory application with executable instructions to be executed by the mobile device includes a downloaded application that is downloaded by the mobile device through the wireless cellular network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital telephone is configured to store and execute a browser, the method further comprising using the browser and Internet communication to access the server.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless short-range communication link includes a Bluetooth digital wireless protocol.

9. A non-transitory application including executable instructions to be executed by a mobile device to:

receive, using the mobile device, digital transmissions through a wireless cellular network; and

transmit, using the mobile device, digital audio through a wireless short-range communication link to a hearing aid that is fitted to a hearing-impaired patient and that is configured to be worn in or near an ear of the hearing-impaired patient, the hearing aid including;

a microphone to pick up sound and produce an audio signal;

a processing system capable of processing the audio signal from the microphone into a processed signal tailored to fit the hearing-impaired patient and capable of processing the digital audio from the mobile device into the processed signal tailored to fit the hearing-impaired patient; and

a speaker to convert the processed signal into an output audio signal and present the output audio signal to the hearing-impaired patient,

wherein the mobile device includes a digital cellular telephone, the application to be executed by the digital telephone to use the digital telephone to access an Internet connection through the wireless cellular network, and to use Internet communication to communicate with a server through the cellular network and through the Internet connection.

10. The non-transitory application of claim 9, wherein the digital telephone is configured to store and execute a browser.

11. The non-transitory application of claim 9, the application including executable instructions to be executed by the mobile device to transmit, using the mobile device and the application to be executed by the mobile device, packets of digital audio.

12. The non-transitory application of claim 9, the application including executable instructions to be executed by the mobile device to transmit, using the mobile device and the application to be executed by the mobile device, digital audio through a Bluetooth digital wireless protocol.

13. The non-transitory application of claim 9, the application including executable instructions to be executed by the mobile device to program the processing system of the hearing aid to fit the hearing-impaired patient.

14. The non-transitory application of claim 9, wherein the non-transitory application is a downloaded application that is downloaded by the mobile device through the wireless cellular network.

15. A system, comprising:

a hearing aid configured to be worn in or near an ear of a hearing-impaired patient; and

a mobile device configured to;

receive digital transmissions through a wireless cellular network, and

transmit digital audio through a wireless short-range communication link to the hearing aid;

the hearing aid including;

a microphone to pick up sound and produce an audio signal;

a processing system capable of processing the audio signal from the microphone into a processed signal tailored to fit the hearing-impaired patient and capable of processing the digital audio from the mobile device into the processed signal tailored to fit the hearing-impaired patient; and

a speaker to convert the processed signal into an output audio signal and present the output audio signal to the hearing-impaired patient,

wherein the mobile device includes a digital cellular telephone and the digital telephone is configured to access an Internet connection through the wireless cellular network, and to use Internet communication to communicate with a server through the cellular network and through the Internet connection.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the digital cellular telephone is configured to store and execute a browser.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the mobile device is configured to program the processing system of the hearing aid to fit the hearing-impaired patient.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the mobile device is configured to download an application through the wireless cellular network, store the downloaded application in the mobile device, and execute the downloaded application to receive the digital transmissions and transmit the digital audio to the hearing aid.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein received digital transmissions include digital data, and the mobile device is configured to transmit the digital data through the wireless short-range communication link to the hearing aid.