Method and apparatus for synchronizing hearing instruments via wireless communication
First Claim
1. A system for communication between hearing instruments, comprising:
- a first hearing instrument configured to be a master device including;
a master clock;
a master synchronization circuit configured to generate master time stamps for specified master device events using the master clock; and
a master device radio circuit configured to transmit the master time stamps via a plurality of wireless link; and
a plurality of second hearing instruments each configured to be a slave device including;
a slave device radio circuit configured to receive the master time stamps via a wireless link of the plurality of wireless links;
a slave clock; and
a slave synchronization circuit configured to generate slave time stamps for specified slave device events using the slave clock, to calculate one or more offset parameters indicative of an offset between the master clock and the slave clock using the master time stamps and the slave time stamps, to compare the one or more offset parameters each to a specified offset threshold, and to adjust the slave clock for synchronizing the slave clock to the master clock using the one or more offset parameters in response to at least one offset parameter of the one or more offset parameters exceeding the corresponding specified offset threshold.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hearing assistance system including a hearing instrument designated as a master device and at least another hearing instrument designated as a slave device. The master device is communicatively coupled to the slave device via a wireless link. The master device has a master clock and generates master time stamps for specified events timed by the master clock. The master time stamps are sent to the slave device via the wireless link. The slave device has a slave clock and generates slave time stamps for specified events timed by the slave clock. The slave clock is adjusted for synchronization to the master clock using the master time stamps and the slave time stamps.
20 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for communication between hearing instruments, comprising:
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a first hearing instrument configured to be a master device including; a master clock; a master synchronization circuit configured to generate master time stamps for specified master device events using the master clock; and a master device radio circuit configured to transmit the master time stamps via a plurality of wireless link; and a plurality of second hearing instruments each configured to be a slave device including; a slave device radio circuit configured to receive the master time stamps via a wireless link of the plurality of wireless links; a slave clock; and a slave synchronization circuit configured to generate slave time stamps for specified slave device events using the slave clock, to calculate one or more offset parameters indicative of an offset between the master clock and the slave clock using the master time stamps and the slave time stamps, to compare the one or more offset parameters each to a specified offset threshold, and to adjust the slave clock for synchronizing the slave clock to the master clock using the one or more offset parameters in response to at least one offset parameter of the one or more offset parameters exceeding the corresponding specified offset threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for communication between hearing instruments, comp rising:
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generating master time stamps for specified events timed using a master clock of a first hearing instrument, the first hearing instrument configured to be a master device; transmitting the master time stamps to each second hearing instrument of a plurality of second hearing instruments via a wireless link of a plurality of wireless links, the second hearing instruments each configured to be a slave device; generating slave time stamps for specified events of each second hearing instrument of the plurality of second hearing instrument timed using a slave clock of the each second hearing instrument; and synchronizing the slave clock of each second hearing instrument of the plurality of second hearing instruments to the master clock, including for the each second hearing instrument; calculating one or more offset parameters indicative of an offset between the master clock and the slave clock using the master time stamps and the slave time stamps generated for the specified events of the each second hearing instrument; comparing the one or more offset parameters each to a specified offset threshold; and adjusting the slave clock in response to at least one offset parameter of the one or more offset parameters exceeding the corresponding specified offset threshold. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification