HEARING AID RADIO POWER SUPPLY

• US 20170195799A1
• Filed: 03/20/2017
• Published: 07/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GN Hearing A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Original Assignee: GN Hearing A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Inventors: RASMUSSEN, Kim, SKAMMELSEN, Ebbe
• Granted Patent: US 10,405,108 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/31 Aspects of the use of accumulators in hearing aids, e.g. rechargeable batteries or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/33 Aspects relating to adaptation of the battery voltage, e.g. its regulation, increase or decrease
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• 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 25/30 Monitoring or testing of hearing aids, e.g. functioning, settings, battery power
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/602 of batteries

Abstract

A hearing aid includes: an input transducer configured to output an audio signal based on a signal applied to the input transducer; a processor configured to compensate a hearing loss of a user of the hearing aid and output a hearing loss compensated audio signal; an output transducer configured to output an auditory output signal based on the hearing loss compensated audio signal, wherein the auditory output signal is to be received by a human auditory system; a wireless communication unit configured to communicate wirelessly with another device; an energy storage unit coupled to supply the wireless communication unit with power; and a current limiting unit coupled for control of replenishment of the energy storage unit with energy from a power supply.

Claims

1. A hearing aid comprising:

an input transducer configured to output an audio signal based on a signal applied to the input transducer;

a processor configured to compensate a hearing loss of a user of the hearing aid and output a hearing loss compensated audio signal;

an output transducer configured to output an auditory output signal based on the hearing loss compensated audio signal, wherein the auditory output signal is to be received by a human auditory system;

a wireless communication unit configured to communicate wirelessly with another device;

an energy storage unit coupled to supply the wireless communication unit with power; and

a current limiting unit coupled for control of replenishment of the energy storage unit with energy from a power supply.

16. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the energy storage unit comprises at least one capacitor for supplying current to the wireless communication unit.

17. The hearing aid according to claim 16, wherein the energy storage unit comprises a single capacitor for supplying current to the wireless communication unit.

18. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein a capacitance of the energy storage unit is at least 47 μ

F.

19. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the current limiting unit comprises at least one resistor coupled in series between the power supply and the energy storage unit.

20. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the current limiting unit comprises a single resistor coupled in series between the power supply and the energy storage unit.

21. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the current limiting unit has a resistance anywhere from 5Ω

to 50Ω

coupled in series between the power supply and the energy storage unit.

22. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein a ratio between an absolute value of an output impedance of the current limiting unit and an absolute value of an output impedance of the energy storage is larger than 5:

1.

23. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein a power consumption of the wireless communication unit has a value that is anywhere from 5 mW to 200 mW during wireless transmission.

24. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein a duration of wireless communication of the wireless communication unit has a value that is anywhere from 100 μ

s to 2 ms.

25. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the current limiting unit comprises a current limiter coupled in series between the power supply and the energy storage unit.

26. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the current limiting unit is a switched current limiter.

27. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the current limiting unit comprises a switched capacitor current limiter.

28. The hearing aid according to claim 1, further comprising a switched voltage converter coupled between the power supply and the energy storage unit for providing a voltage for the wireless communication unit that is above a voltage of the power supply.

29. The hearing aid according to claim 28, wherein the switched voltage converter is a voltage doubler.

30. The hearing aid according to claim 28, wherein the switched voltage converter includes the current limiting unit.

31. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the current limiting unit is configured to cause the energy storage unit to draw a lower peak current from the power supply.

32. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the current limiting unit comprises a resistor that is a physical electrical component, the resistor being coupled in series between the power supply and the energy storage unit.

2-15. -15. (canceled)

33. A hearing aid comprising:

an input transducer configured to output an audio signal based on a signal applied to the input transducer;

a processor configured to compensate a hearing loss of a user of the hearing aid and output a hearing loss compensated audio signal;

an output transducer configured to output an auditory output signal based on the hearing loss compensated audio signal, wherein the auditory output signal is to be received by a human auditory system;

a wireless communication unit configured to communicate wirelessly with another device;

an energy storage unit coupled to supply the wireless communication unit with power;

a current limiting unit coupled to the energy storage unit; and

a switched voltage converter coupled between the power supply and the energy storage unit for providing a voltage for the wireless communication unit that is different from a voltage of a power supply configured to provide energy for the energy storage unit.

34. The hearing aid according to claim 33, wherein the switched voltage converter is a voltage doubler.

35. The hearing aid according to claim 33, wherein the switched voltage converter includes the current limiting unit.

36. The hearing aid according to claim 33, wherein the switched voltage converter comprises a switched capacitor voltage converter.

37. The hearing aid according to claim 33, wherein the current limiting unit is configured to cause the energy storage unit to draw a lower peak current from the power supply.

38. The hearing aid according to claim 33, wherein the current limiting unit comprises a resistor that is a physical electrical component, the resistor being coupled in series between the power supply and the energy storage unit.