Wireless gateway for hearing aid

• US 20100054511A1
• Filed: 08/29/2008
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zounds Hearing, Inc. (Zounds Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Zounds Incorporated
• Inventors: Wu, Fan, Thomasson, Samuel L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,331,592 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency

Abstract

A remote control unit includes an RF transceiver that complies with a Bluetooth® standard and an RF transmitter that does not comply with the Bluetooth® standard, whereby the remote control unit serves as a wireless gateway between Bluetooth® compliant devices and the hearing aid. The hearing aid can further include a transmitter and the remote control unit can further include a receiver, neither of which comply with the Bluetooth® standard. The transmitters operate in the ISM band at low power, minimizing power dissipation within a hearing aid.

Claims

1. A remote control unit for a hearing aid characterized in that the remote control unit includes a first RF transceiver that complies with a Bluetooth®

standard and an RF transmitter that does not comply with the Bluetooth®

standard, whereby the remote control unit serves as a wireless gateway between Bluetooth®

compliant devices and the hearing aid.

2. The remote control unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein the remote control unit further includes a codec for addressing more than one hearing aid.

3. The remote control unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first RF transceiver transmits at a higher power than the second RF transceiver.

4. The remote control unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second RF transceiver operates in the ISM band.

5. The remote control unit as set forth in claim 1 and further including a receiver that does not comply with the Bluetooth®

standard.

6. A hearing aid system comprising:

a hearing aid including an RF receiver;

a remote control unit including an RF transmitter;

said receiver and said transmitter do not comply with a Bluetooth®

standard;

wherein said remote control unit further includes an RF transceiver that complies with the Bluetooth®

standard;

whereby the remote control unit is a gateway for coupling data to the hearing aid from devices that comply with the Bluetooth®

standard.

7. The hearing aid system as set forth in claim 6 wherein the hearing aid further includes a transmitter that does not comply with the Bluetooth®

standard and the remote control unit further includes a receiver that does not comply with the Bluetooth®

standard, whereby the remote control unit is a gateway for coupling data between the hearing aid and devices that comply with the Bluetooth®

standard.

8. The remote control unit as set forth in claim 7 wherein the transmitter and the receiver operate in the ISM band.