Wireless electronic device with orientation-based power control

• US 9,980,061 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2015
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Botz, Alexander, Bange, Joseph Edward, Hassler, Bret
• Primary Examiner(s): Elahee, Md S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dang, Julie X
• Application Number:
  US14/932,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20170127195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 381315, 381355, 381 58, 381 77, 381323
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/51 Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids
• 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 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/004 for microphones H04R29/007 takes precedence

Abstract

A hearing aid may utilize a companion microphone, separate from the hearing aid itself, for improving the understanding of speech spoken by a particular person or produced by a particular sound source. The companion microphone is a battery-powered hearing aid accessory device that picks up ambient sound and transmits corresponding radio signals to the hearing aid. Described herein are schemes help to preserve battery life in a companion microphone by using adaptive radio transmission power control.

Claims

1. A companion microphone for a hearing aid, comprising:

a microphone;

processing circuitry for producing an input signal from signals generated by the microphone;

a wireless radio transmitter for transmitting the input signal to a wireless receiver of the hearing aid;

an accelerometer;

a battery and power control circuitry; and

,

wherein the processing circuitry is configured to adjust a radio transmission power level of the wireless transmitter in dependence upon signals generated by the accelerometer, wherein the radio transmission power level is reduced when accelerometer signals indicate that microphone is likely not in proximity to the user and the radio transmission power level is increased when accelerometer signals indicate the microphone is likely worn by the user.

2. The companion microphone of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry is configured to set the radio transmission power at either a high power level or a low power level in dependence upon signals generated by the accelerometer.

3. The companion microphone of claim 2 wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine a device state from the accelerometer signals and set the radio transmission power level according to the device state.

4. The companion microphone of claim 3 wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine the device state at periodic intervals as controlled by a timer and to set the radio transmission power level accordingly.

5. The companion microphone of claim 3 wherein the device state includes an orientation of the companion microphone relative to gravity as determined from the accelerometer signals.

6. The companion microphone of claim 5 wherein the processing circuitry is configured to set the radio transmission power level at a high power level if the device state indicates that the companion microphone has an orientation that corresponds to how the companion microphone would be oriented when worn by a user.

7. The companion microphone of claim 5 wherein the processing circuitry is configured to set the radio transmission power level at a low power level if the device state indicates that the companion microphone has an orientation that corresponds to how the companion microphone would be oriented when placed upon a stationary structure.

8. The companion microphone of claim 5 wherein the device state includes detection of movement as determined from the accelerometer signals.

9. The companion microphone of claim 8 wherein the processing circuitry is configured to set the radio transmission power level at a high power level if the device state indicates that the companion microphone is moving.

10. The companion microphone of claim 3 wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

determine a device state from the accelerometer signals, wherein the device state includes an orientation of the companion microphone relative to gravity and whether or not the companion microphone is moving;

set the radio transmission power level at a high power level if the device state indicates that the companion microphone is moving;

set the radio transmission power level at a high power level if the device state indicates that the companion microphone has an orientation that corresponds to how the companion microphone would be oriented when worn by a user sitting or standing upright; and

,

set the radio transmission power level at a low power level if the device state indicates that the companion microphone has an orientation that corresponds to how the companion microphone would be oriented when placed upon a stationary structure and no movement is detected.

11. A method for operating a companion microphone for a hearing aid, comprising:

producing an input signal from signals generated by a microphone;

transmitting the input signal to a wireless receiver of the hearing aid via a wireless transmitter;

an accelerometer; and

,

adjusting a radio transmission power level of the wireless transmitter in dependence upon signals generated by an accelerometer, wherein the radio transmission power level is reduced when accelerometer signals indicate that microphone is likely not in proximity to the user and the radio transmission power level is increased when accelerometer signals indicate the microphone is likely worn by the user.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising setting the radio transmission power at either a high power level or a low power level in dependence upon signals generated by the accelerometer.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising determining a device state from the accelerometer signals and set the radio transmission power level according to the device state.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising determining the device state at periodic intervals as controlled by a timer and setting the radio transmission power level accordingly.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the device state includes an orientation of the companion microphone relative to gravity as determined from the accelerometer signals.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising setting the radio transmission power level at a high power level if the device state indicates that the companion microphone has an orientation that corresponds to how the companion microphone would be oriented when worn by a user.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising setting the radio transmission power level at a low power level if the device state indicates that the companion microphone has an orientation that corresponds to how the companion microphone would be oriented when placed upon a stationary structure.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the device state includes detection of movement as determined from the accelerometer signals.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising setting the radio transmission power level at a high power level if the device state indicates that the companion microphone is moving.

20. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

determining a device state from the accelerometer signals, wherein the device state includes an orientation of the companion microphone relative to gravity and whether or not the companion microphone is moving;

setting the radio transmission power level at a high power level if the device state indicates that the companion microphone is moving;

setting the radio transmission power level at a high power level if the device state indicates that the companion microphone has an orientation that corresponds to how the companion microphone would be oriented when worn by a user sitting or standing upright; and

,

setting the radio transmission power level at a low power level if the device state indicates that the companion microphone has an orientation that corresponds to how the companion microphone would be oriented when placed upon a stationary structure and no movement is detected.