Battery-powered wireless audio device and a method of operating such a wireless audio device

• US 9,467,771 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2012
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonova AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Sonova AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Eckardt, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): TON, DAVID L
• Application Number:
  US14/372,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20140355781A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,728 Days
• Field of Search: 381/312, 381/315, 381/329, 381/74, 713/320, 713/321, 713/323, 713/324, 713/340, 4551271-1275
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/109 Arrangements to adapt hands free headphones for use on both ears
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/61 Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/03 Aspects of the reduction of energy consumption in hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/305 Self-monitoring or self-testing
• 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 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/603 of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wireless audio device includes an audio streaming unit to wirelessly transmit an audio signal to a remote hearing device such as a hearing aid or a cochlear implant. A remote control unit to wirelessly controls the remote hearing device, a battery monitor determines a power level of a battery and provides a battery state signal indicative of the power level of the battery. A power management unit deactivates the audio streaming unit when the battery state signal reaches or falls below a first threshold and deactivates the remote control unit when the battery state signal reaches or falls below a second threshold, wherein the first threshold is higher than the second threshold. Also described is a method of operating such a wireless audio device as well as a hearing system including such a wireless audio device and a remote hearing device, such as a hearing aid or a cochlear implant.

Claims

1. A wireless audio device comprising:

an audio streaming unit;

a remote control unit; and

a battery;

wherein;

the audio streaming unit wirelessly transmits an audio signal to a remote hearing device;

the remote control unit wirelessly controls the remote hearing device;

the battery supplies power to units and devices within the wireless audio device;

a power level of the battery is monitored to provide a battery state signal;

when the battery state signal reaches or falls below a first threshold the audio streaming unit is deactivated; and

when the battery state signal reaches or falls below a second threshold that is lower than the first threshold the remote control unit is deactivated.

2. The wireless audio device of claim 1, wherein at least the first threshold is configurable.

3. The wireless audio device of claim 1, wherein at least the first threshold is settable by an input means located at the wireless audio device.

4. The wireless audio device claim 1, wherein at least the first threshold is automatically determinable by the wireless audio device dependent on the type of the battery.

5. The wireless audio device of claim 1, further comprising a log, wherein the log logs information related to the battery state signal.

6. The wireless audio device of claim 5 wherein an amount of time remaining until the audio streaming unit is deactivated is estimated;

and wherein the estimate is determined based on the battery state signal, more particularly based on the information logged by the log.

7. The wireless audio device of claim 1, further comprising a display means, wherein the display means displays the battery state signal and/or the estimate of the amount of time remaining until the audio streaming unit is deactivated.

8. A hearing system comprising a wireless audio device according to claim 1 and a remote hearing device, the remote hearing device being a hearing device adapted to be worn at an ear of an individual, more particularly the remote hearing device being one of the following:

a hearing aid,

a cochlear implant,

an in-ear receiver,

an in-ear monitor,

an earphone,

a headset.

9. A method of operating a wireless audio device having an audio streaming unit for wirelessly transmitting an audio signal to a remote hearing device and a remote control for wirelessly controlling the remote hearing device wherein the wireless audio device is powered by a battery, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a power level of the battery;

providing a battery state signal indicative of the power level of the battery;

deactivating the audio streaming unit when the battery state signal reaches or falls below a first threshold; and

deactivating the remote control when the battery state signal reaches or falls below a second threshold,

wherein the first threshold is higher than the second threshold.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of configuring the wireless audio device with data pertaining to at least the first threshold.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of setting at least the first threshold via an input means located at the wireless audio device.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of automatically determining by the wireless audio device of data pertaining to at least the first threshold dependent on the type of the battery.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of logging information related to the battery state signal.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of estimating an amount of time remaining until the audio streaming unit is deactivated, wherein the estimate is determined based on the battery state signal, more particularly based on the logged information.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of displaying the battery state signal and/or the estimate of the amount of time remaining until the audio streaming unit is deactivated.