Hearing assistance system and method
First Claim
1. A system for providing hearing assistance to at least one user, comprising:
- at least one audio signal source for providing audio signals;
a transmission unit comprising a digital transmitter for applying a digital modulation scheme in order to transmit the audio signals as data packets according to a frame structure from the audio signal source via a wireless digital audio link;
at least one receiver unit for reception of audio signals from the transmission unit via the digital audio link, wherein the receiver unit is connected to or integrated within an ear-worn device comprising a power source and means for stimulating a hearing of the user(s) according to audio signals supplied from the receiver unit, wherein the receiver unit comprises a digital transceiver which is powered by a supply voltage from power source of the ear-worn device and which is adapted to at least listen during part of each frame and to sleep during the remainder of the frame;
wherein the receiver unit comprises a capacitor connected in parallel to the supply voltage of the transceiver for supplying the transceiver during listening or transmission operation with current and for being recharged by the power source of the ear-worn device and a controlled current source including a control unit for controlling the current flowing from the power source to the transceiver and the capacitor in a manner so as to prevent changes in the current flowing from the power source to the transceiver and the capacitor caused by the transceiver switching between sleeping and listening/transmission operation and vice versa, respectively, which are expected to add an audible noise signal to the audio signals supplied to the stimulation means,wherein the controlled current source comprises a DC/DC converter having an input connected to the power source and delivering an output voltage to the capacitor andwherein the supply voltage of the transceiver has a value set between a lower limit and an upper limit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for providing hearing assistance having: an audio signal source; a transmission unit transmitting audio signals as data packets in a frame structure; a receiver unit for receiving audio signals from the transmission unit and associated with an ear-worn device having a power source and a hearing stimulator, and having a digital transceiver powered by the power source of the ear-worn device with a value between lower and upper limits. The transceiver listens, and optionally transmits, during part of each frame and otherwise sleeps. The receiver unit has a capacitor connected in parallel to the transceiver for supplying the transceiver with current during listening or transmission. A controlled current for controlling current flowing from the power source to the transceiver and the capacitor. The controlled current source has a DC/DC converter with an input connected to the power source and an output voltage connected to the capacitor.
25 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A system for providing hearing assistance to at least one user, comprising:
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at least one audio signal source for providing audio signals; a transmission unit comprising a digital transmitter for applying a digital modulation scheme in order to transmit the audio signals as data packets according to a frame structure from the audio signal source via a wireless digital audio link; at least one receiver unit for reception of audio signals from the transmission unit via the digital audio link, wherein the receiver unit is connected to or integrated within an ear-worn device comprising a power source and means for stimulating a hearing of the user(s) according to audio signals supplied from the receiver unit, wherein the receiver unit comprises a digital transceiver which is powered by a supply voltage from power source of the ear-worn device and which is adapted to at least listen during part of each frame and to sleep during the remainder of the frame; wherein the receiver unit comprises a capacitor connected in parallel to the supply voltage of the transceiver for supplying the transceiver during listening or transmission operation with current and for being recharged by the power source of the ear-worn device and a controlled current source including a control unit for controlling the current flowing from the power source to the transceiver and the capacitor in a manner so as to prevent changes in the current flowing from the power source to the transceiver and the capacitor caused by the transceiver switching between sleeping and listening/transmission operation and vice versa, respectively, which are expected to add an audible noise signal to the audio signals supplied to the stimulation means, wherein the controlled current source comprises a DC/DC converter having an input connected to the power source and delivering an output voltage to the capacitor and wherein the supply voltage of the transceiver has a value set between a lower limit and an upper limit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for providing hearing assistance to at least one user, comprising:
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providing audio signals from at least one audio signal source to a transmission unit comprising a digital transmitter for applying a digital modulation scheme; transmitting audio signals as data packets according to a frame structure via a digital wireless audio link from the transmission unit to at least one receiver unit connected to or integrated within an ear-worn device and comprising a digital transceiver, the ear-worn device comprising a power source which is used for powering the digital transceiver with a supply voltage, wherein the digital transceiver at least listens during part of each frame and sleeps during a remainder of the frame; stimulating, by using the ear-worn device, the hearing of the user(s) according to audio signals supplied from the receiver unit; wherein the transceiver during listening or transmission operation is supplied with current by a capacitor connected in parallel to the supply voltage of the transceiver, wherein the capacitor is recharged by the power source of the ear-worn device, and wherein the current flowing from the power source to the transceiver and the capacitor is controlled by a controlled current source in a manner so as to prevent changes in the current flowing from the power source to the transceiver and the capacitor caused by the transceiver switching between sleeping and listening/transmission operation and vice versa, respectively, which are expected to add an audible noise signal to the audio signals supplied to the stimulation means, and wherein the controlled current source comprises a DC/DC converter having its input connected to the power source and delivering an output voltage to the capacitor and the supply voltage of the transceiver having a value set between a lower limit and an upper limit.
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Specification