Method and apparatus for adjusting air pressure inside the ear of a person wearing an ear-wearable device

• US 9,402,140 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2014
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Yangwook
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins, Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): ETESAM, AMIR HOSSEIN
• Application Number:
  US14/494,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20150092971A1
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 381/314
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/025 In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/61 Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/05 Electronic compensation of the occlusion effect
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/30 Monitoring or testing of hearing aids, e.g. functioning, settings, battery power
• 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 25/603 of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Abstract

A method is provided including: receiving a signal for regulating a valve of an ear-wearable device; and changing a state of the valve based on the signal, the changing including at least one of opening and closing the valve.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting, to an ear-wearable device via a wireless channel, measurement request signal of an air pressure in a space between the ear-wearable device and a tympanic membrane of a wearer of the ear-wearable device, when the measurement request of the air pressure is received from an input unit;

receiving a measurement value of the air pressure from the an ear-wearable device via the wireless channel;

displaying, on a display unit, the measurement value;

receiving a request signal for adjusting the air pressure from the input unit;

generating a regulation signal for adjusting a valve within the ear-wearable device based on the request signal; and

transmitting the regulation signal to the ear-wearable device via the wireless channel.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

comparing the measurement value with a predetermined air pressure value or a predetermined range of the air pressure; and

providing at least one of a guide message, a guide image, or a guide voice, if the measured air pressure is different from the predetermined air pressure value or exceeds the predetermined range of the air pressure.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information indicating a state of the valve in response to the regulation signal transmitted via the wireless channel; and

displaying, on the display unit, the state of the valve.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving current atmospheric pressure information from a sensor unit; and

displaying, on the display unit, the atmospheric pressure.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the ear-wearable device via the wireless channel, information indicating a state of a valve of the an ear-wearable device; and

displaying, on the display unit, an indication of the state of the valve of the an ear-wearable device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the indication of the state of the valve indicates a degree to which a vent hole in the an ear-wearable device is opened or closed.

7. An ear-wearable device comprising:

an air pressure sensor configured to measure air pressure in a space between the ear-wearable device and a tympanic membrane of a wearer of the an ear-wearable device;

an air pressure valve configured to adjust the air pressure in the space between the ear-wearable device and the tympanic membrane of the wearer of the ear-wearable device;

a wireless unit configured to communicate with an electronic apparatus through a wireless channel; and

a controller configured to, when a regulation signal is received through the wireless unit, open or close the air pressure valve in response to the regulation signal and when a measurement request signal is received through the wireless unit, control the wireless unit to transmit the measured air pressure via the wireless channel.

8. The ear-wearable device of claim 7, further comprising an input unit for inputting the regulation signal.

9. The ear-wearable device of claim 7, wherein the air pressure valve is arranged to open or close a vent hole of the ear-wearable device.

10. The ear-wearable device of claim 7, further comprising a memory configured to store an air pressure threshold, wherein the controller is further configured to repeatedly measure the air pressure and output an alarm when the air pressure exceeds the air pressure threshold.

11. An electronic device comprising a processor configured to:

transmit, to an ear-wearable device via a wireless channel, a request for a measurement of an air pressure in a space between an ear-wearable device and a tympanic membrane of a wearer of the ear-wearable device, when the measurement request of the air pressure is received from an input unit;

receive a measurement value of the air pressure from the ear-wearable device via the wireless channel;

output the measurement value to display on a display unit;

receive a request signal for adjusting the air pressure from the input unit;

generate a regulation signal for adjusting a valve within the ear-wearable device based on the request signal; and

transmit the regulation signal to the ear-wearable device via the wireless channel.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

compare the measurement value with a predetermined air pressure value or a predetermined range of the air pressure; and

output an alarm to display on the display unit, if the measured air pressure is different from the predetermined air pressure value or exceeds the predetermined range of the air pressure.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the alarm includes at least one of outputting a text, a number, a sign, an emoticon, and a graph.