Hearing aid compatible mobile phone

• US 20080130867A1
• Filed: 12/05/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Bowen, James Samuel
• Granted Patent: US 8,208,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/443
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/03 Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2474 Telephone terminals specially adapted for disabled people user interfaces for cordless or mobile telephones specially adapted for disabled users H04M1/72475; network based special services or facilities for hearing-impaired persons H04M3/42391; devices for conversing with the deaf-blind G09B21/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use

Abstract

A device such as a mobile phone includes a device to be hearing aid compatible. The device may include a first speaker for private listening operation and a second speaker that provides both speakerphone operation and hearing aid (e.g. telecoil) operation. The device may include a first use position for normal listening and a second, substantially different, use position for telecoil operation.

Claims

1. A mobile phone comprising:

a transceiver configured to transfer voice information between the mobile phone and a network;

a speaker configured to provide speakerphone operation, the speaker including an audio circuit configured to provide signals that cause the speaker to output audible sound;

wherein the audio circuit is configured to provide a signal configured to be received by a telecoil of a hearing aid.

2. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the audio circuit comprises a coil configured to cause vibrations in the speaker which are output as sound, the coil also configured to provide a magnetic field capable of being received by the telecoil of the hearing aid.

3. The mobile phone of claim 1, further comprising a second speaker configured to provide private phone operation.

4. The mobile phone of claim 3, wherein the speakerphone speaker and the second speaker are located on different faces of a housing of the mobile phone.

5. The mobile phone of claim 1, further comprising a housing having a first face that includes a display, wherein the speaker outputs sound on a second face of the housing, the second face being a different face than the first face.

6. The mobile phone of claim 5, wherein the second face is opposite the first face.

The mobile phone of claim 5, wherein the first face further comprises a dial pad.

7. The mobile phone of claim 1, further comprising

a housing having a first side and a second side opposite the first side;

and

an antenna adjacent the first side;

wherein the speaker is adjacent the second side.

8. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the mobile phone is configured to provide a first listening position for listening to the phone in a private conversation mode, and a second listening position, different than the first listening position, for listening with a telecoil.

9. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the speakerphone speaker is configured such that the speakerphone speaker provides audible sound whenever the telecoil is used.

10. The mobile phone of claim 1, further comprising a housing that includes the speakerphone, the housing having a thickness of up to about 50 mm, a width of up to about 100 mm, and a length of up to about 150 mm.

11. The mobile phone of claim 1, further comprising a camera and a processing circuit configured to provide an organizer application.

12. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the transceiver comprises a cellular transceiver.

13. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the speaker has a diameter of at least about 15 mm.

14. The mobile phone of claim 13, wherein the speaker has a diameter of up to about 30 mm.

15. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the signal capable of being received by a telecoil of a hearing aid from the audio circuit is not capable of being effectively received when a user'"'"'s ear is on a same face of a housing as a dialpad of the mobile phone.

16. The mobile phone of claim 1, further comprising a microprocessor configured to receive voice data from a cellular network and to provide an output signal in response to and based on the reception of the voice data, wherein the speaker and audio circuit comprise an amplifier configured to amplify a signal based on the output signal, a coil configured to receive the amplified signal and vibrate an armature such that sound is produced as a result of the vibration, the coil further configured to produce the signal capable of being received by a telecoil of a hearing aid based on the amplified signal.

17. The mobile phone of claim 1, further comprising

a microprocessor configured to receive voice data from a cellular network and to provide a voice data output signal in response to and based on the reception of the voice data,

wherein at least one of the speaker and audio circuit comprise an amplifier configured to amplify a signal based on the voice data output signal, and

wherein at least one of the speaker and audio circuit comprise a coil configured to produce the signal capable of being received by a telecoil of a hearing aid,

wherein the processing circuit is further configured to run a music application and output a music output signal based on the music application, the amplifier is configured to amplify a signal based on the music output signal, and the coil is configured to cause a cooperating member to vibrate such that sound is produced based on the amplified signal based on the music output signal.

18. A mobile phone comprising:

a cellular transceiver configured to transfer voice information between the mobile phone and a cellular network;

a first speaker configured to output audible sound at a first volume;

a second speaker configured to output audible sound at a second volume louder than the first volume, the second speaker including an audio circuit configured to provide signals that cause the speaker to output audible sound;

wherein the audio circuit is configured to provide a signal configured to be received by a telecoil of a hearing aid.

19. A mobile phone comprising:

a cellular transceiver configured to transfer voice information between the mobile phone and a cellular network;

a display configured to display information to a user, the display located on a first side of the phone; and

a speaker including a circuit configured to output audible sound, the speaker outputting sound from a second side of the phone, the circuit being configured to provide a signal configured to be received by a telecoil of a hearing aid.

20. The phone of claim 19, further comprising a housing having a first face and a second face, the first face being on the first side of the phone and the second face being on the second side of the phone;

wherein the display is located on the first face and the speaker is configured to output sound from the second face.

21. The phone of claim 20, wherein the housing has a thickness of up to about 50 mm, a width of up to about 100 mm, and a length of up to about 150 mm.

22. The phone of claim 19, wherein the first side of the phone is opposite the second side of the phone.

23. A mobile phone comprising:

a cellular transceiver configured to transfer voice information between the mobile phone and a cellular network;

a speaker for outputting audible sounds based on voice data received by the cellular transceiver in a private listening mode, the phone configured to have a normal listening position for listening to voice signals based on the voice data received by the cellular transceiver that is output by the speaker; and

a telecoil for outputting magnetic fields based on voice data received by the cellular transceiver, the phone configured to have a telecoil listening position for listening to voice signals based on the voice data received by the cellular transceiver that is output by the telecoil,

wherein the telecoil listening position is substantially different than the normal listening position.

24. The mobile phone of claim 23, wherein the phone is configured such that a user holds a first side of the phone to their ear for the normal listening position and a user holds a second side of the phone opposite the first side of the phone for the telecoil listening position.