Hearing apparatus

• US 5,390,254 A
• Filed: 04/19/1993
• Issued: 02/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation (Dolby Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Roger A. Adelman
• Inventors: Adelman, Roger A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chan, Jason
• Application Number:
  US08/049,875
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 381/68, 381/68.2, 381/68.3, 381/68.4, 381/68.6, 381/69, 381/110, 381/122, 381/186, 381/151, 381/203, 181/130, 181/135, 600/25, 128/420.5, 128/420.6
• US Class Current: 381/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 19/016 for microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/025 In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/51 Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/15 Determination of the acoustic seal of ear moulds or ear tips of hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/356 Amplitude, e.g. amplitude shift or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/456 mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/502 using analog signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/654 Ear wax retarders
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/656 Non-customized, universal ear tips, i.e. ear tips which are not specifically adapted to the size or shape of the ear or ear canal

Abstract

A hearing aid is configured and dimensioned so as to be inserted past the cartilaginous part of the external auditory canal (external acoustic meatus) and into the bony part of the external auditory canal. The outer portion of the hearing aid fits snugly into the cartilaginous part of the external auditory canal; the microphone is located at the acoustic focus of the ear such that the natural sound and direction gathering functions of the human outer ear are fully utilized by the hearing aid. The inner portion of the hearing aid is articularly joined to the outer portion to enable the inner portion to be positioned past the sigmoid portion of the external auditory canal and forms a soft covered, elongated speaker which fits within part of the bony part of the external auditory canal, without causing discomfort to the human user. The hearing aid can be equipped with hand-held radio-controlled volume and tone controls (or a local, self-contained volume control), and it can also utilize a radio link to enable enhanced real-time signal processing of the incoming sound information via a remote processor. Additionally, the hearing aid can be equipped with an accelerometer to either cancel or enhance, depending on the human user'"'"'s needs, conductive (through the bone) portions of sound information.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in a human external auditory canal with substantially non-compliant side walls and a compliant tympanic membrane at its innermost terminus, the external auditory canal having a cartlinginous part with an innermost section of the cartlinginous part forming an S-shaped sigmoid portion, and a bony portion that extends to the tympanic membrane, the apparatus comprising:

(a) means for receiving energy in the form of sound waves and converting the received energy into an electrical signal;

(b) means for modifying said electrical signal;

(c) means for converting said modified electrical signal into energy in the form of air-borne sound waves, said converting means including an active, compliantly supported surface having a functional area comparable to that of the tympanic membrane for creating said air-borne sound waves, said surface being located at least partially between the sigmoid portion and the tympanic membrane; and

(d) means for acoustically isolating an inner portion and an outer portion of the external auditory canal to form a closed cavity in which the compliant surface of the converting means is at least partially located.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for receiving energy and converting the received energy into an electrical signal includes a microphone.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said microphone is an electret device.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said microphone is a piezo electric device.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the apparatus is further adapted for use in the human external auditory canal in which the outer portion of the cartilaginous part defines a bowl-shaped concha having an acoustic focus, and the microphone is located substantially at the acoustic focus of the concha when the modified signal converting means is located between the sigmoid portion and the tympanic membrane.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said modifying means includes a variable-gain amplifier.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said variable-gain amplifier include an automatic gain control circuit.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said automatic gain control circuit has a non-linear profile.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said modifying means includes a variable-gain amplifier stage and a treble-bass filter stage.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for converting said modified electrical signal into said sound wave energy includes a speaker, the active, compliantly supported surface forming a part of the speaker.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said speaker includes a rigid housing.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said speaker further includes a rigid housing having a transverse cross-sectional geometry of a flattened tube with the housing having a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis of the housing being adapted for placement in substantially parallel relationship with the longitudinal axis of the external auditory canal, the transverse cross-sectional dimension of the housing being smaller than the lumen of the external auditory canal.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said speaker of elongated shape is mounted on a flexible articulation member.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said flexible articulation member is rotatably flexible.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said flexible articulation member is attached to an articulated joint.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said speaker includes an electric motor having at least one reciprocally movable armature, said armature including a coil, the coil being affixed to said active, compliantly supported surface.

17. An apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein said electric motor is linear.

18. An apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein said electric motor includes at least one resonance cavity on the opposite side of the compliance surface of the converting means relative to the tympanic membrane.

19. An apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein said speaker is of elongated shape and includes an oval-shaped coil.

20. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 further including at least one battery for providing electric power to said modifying means and said converting means.

21. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further including means for preventing biological contamination of the modifying means and the modified signal converting means.

22. An apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein said means for preventing contamination includes a disposable boot.

23. An apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein said disposable boot includes a resiliently deformable material portion which seals and isolates the received energy converting means from the modified signal converting means in the user'"'"'s ear.

24. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the compliantly supported surface is fully located within the external auditory canal.

25. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the compliantly supported surface is fully located within the external auditory canal in a location between the sigmoid portion and the tympanic membrane.

26. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said airborne sound waves produced by the converting means are caused to travel from the compliantly supported surface to the tympanic membrane through a passageway defined substantially only by the non-compliant side walls of the auditory canal.

27. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the modifying means is located in a secondary enclosure and in electrical communication with said receiving and said converting means through electrical conductors.

28. A hearing device, adapted for use in a human external auditory canal with a tympanic membrane at its innermost terminus, the external auditory canal having a cartilaginous part with an innermost section of the cartilaginous part defining an S-shaped sigmoid portion, a bony part that adjoins the sigmoid portion and extends to the tympanic membrane, the outer section of the cartilaginous part defining a bowl-shaped concha having an acoustic focus, the hearing device comprising:

(a) a microphone, located at the acoustic focus of the concha, said microphone being operative to convert sound waves into a microphone electrical signal;

(b) a vibration sensor located in the human external auditory canal for producing a vibration electrical signal in response to and representative of the bone-conducted portion of the user'"'"'s speech;

(c) electronic circuit means for creating a joint electrical signal that is dependent upon the electric representations of said microphone and vibration electrical signals; and

(d) a speaker operative to convert said joint electrical signal into sound waves.

29. A hearing device as recited in claim 28, wherein said vibration sensor is constructed of a charged membrane having a first fixed portion and a second movable portion, and a mass mounted upon the second movable portion.

30. A hearing device as recited in claim 28, wherein said vibration sensor is constructed of a piezoelectric beam having a first fixed portion and a movable second portion, and a mass mounted upon the second movable portion.

31. A hearing device as recited in claim 28, wherein said vibration sensor is constructed of a strain gauged beam having a first fixed portion and a movable second portion, and a mass mounted upon the second movable portion.

32. A hearing device as recited in claim 28, wherein said vibration sensor is formed as an integrated unit on a substrate.

33. A hearing device as recited in claim 28, further comprising an ON-OFF switch.

34. A hearing device as recited in claim 28, wherein said ON-OFF switch functions in a rotatable manner.

35. A hearing device as recited in claim 28, wherein said electronic circuit means includes a signal conditioning amplifier having an FET input stage.

36. A hearing device as recited in claim 28, wherein said electronic circuit means includes a signal conditioning amplifier having a bipolar input stage.

37. A hearing device as recited in claim 28, wherein said electronic circuit means includes an input stage, a gainshaping filter network stage, and an output driving stage.

38. A hearing device as recited in claim 28, further comprising means for receiving and demodulating control signals, said electronic circuit means being responsive to said demodulated control signals.

39. A hearing device as recited in claim 38, further comprising:

(i) a portable transmitter which communicates with said receiving and demodulating means, said portable transmitter including an operator interface for entering gain and filtering parameters;

(ii) a controller for communicating with said operator interface and creating a command electrical signal;

(iii) an output transmitter stage for modulating said command electrical signal and creating a control signal for said receiving and demodulating means, said control signal being transmitted via carrier wave to said receiving and demodulating means; and

(iv) a self-contained D.C. power supply, providing electrical power to said operator interface and controller, and to said output transmitter stage.

40. A hearing device as recited in claim 28 wherein the speaker is shaped in dimension to be located in the external auditory canal between the sigmoid portion of the cartilaginous part of the external auditory canal and the tympanic membrane.

41. A hearing device as recited in claim 28 wherein the electronic circuit means creates the joint electrical signal that is a linear combination of the electric representations of said microphone and vibration electrical signals.

42. A hearing device as recited in claim 28 wherein said joint electrical signal is an analog summation of the direct electric analog representations of said microphone and vibration electrical signals.

43. A hearing device, comprising:

(a) a microphone for receiving and converting air-borne sound waves into a representative electrical signal;

(b) a signal processing circuit;

(c) means for communicating said representative electrical signal to said signal processing circuit, said signal processing circuit being operative to enhance the representative electrical signal and create a processed signal;

(d) a radio transmitter, said transmitter modulating the processed signal and creating a modulated processed signal, the transmitter outputting the modulated processed signal via carrier wave;

(e) a radio receiver adapted for positioning within the human ear for receiving and demodulating the modulated processed signal and creating a demodulated processed signal; and

(f) a speaker responsive to said demodulated processed signal, said speaker including an active, compliantly supported surface having a functional area comparable to that of a human tympanic membrane for creating air-borne sound waves, said compliantly supported surface being configured and dimensioned to fit at least partially within a human external auditory canal in a location between the sigmoid portion and the tympanic membrane, said speaker converting the demodulated processed signal into said air-borne sound waves.

44. A hearing device as recited in claim 43, wherein said microphone is adapted for positioning in the human ear, and said communicating means includes a second radio transmitter adapted for positioning in the human ear and a second radio receiver adapted for positioning external to the human ear, the signal processing circuit being responsive to said second radio receiver.

45. A hearing device comprising:

(a) a microphone for receiving and converting sound waves into a representative microphone electrical signal;

(b) signal processing means for creating a processed signal which is dependent upon the microphone electrical signal, at least a portion of the signal processing means being adapted for placement distal to the user'"'"'s ear;

(c) a radio transmitter, said transmitter modulating the processed signal and creating a modulated processed signal, the transmitter outputting the modulated processed signal via carrier wave;

(d) a radio receiver adapted for positioning proximal to the user'"'"'s ear for receiving and demodulating the modulated processed signal and creating a demodulated processed signal; and

(e) a speaker responsive to said demodulated processed signal, said speaker converting the demodulated processed signal into sound waves, said speaker being insertable into the bony part of the external auditory canal past the sigmoid portion of the cartilaginous part while having a vibration surface area substantially as large as the functional surface area of the tympanic membrane.

46. A hearing device as recited in claim 45, further including a second radio transmitter for modulating and transmitting the representative electrical signal;

a second radio receiver for receiving and demodulating the representative electrical signal; and

means for enhancing the demodulated representative electrical signal.

47. A hearing device comprising:

(a) a microphone, said microphone being operative to convert sound waves into a microphone electrical signal;

(b) a vibration sensor in a human external auditory canal for producing a vibration electrical signal in response to and representative of the bone-conducted portion of the user'"'"'s speech;

(c) electronic circuit means for modifying said microphone and vibration electrical signals and creating a joint electrical signal that is a combination of the electric representations of said microphone and vibration electrical signals; and

(d) a speaker, said speaker being operative to convert said joint electrical signal into sound waves.

48. A hearing device as recited in claim 47, wherein said vibration sensor is constructed of a charged membrane having a first fixed portion and a second movable portion, and a mass mounted upon the second movable portion.

49. A hearing device as recited in claim 47, wherein said vibration sensor is constructed of a piezoelectric beam having a first fixed portion and a movable second portion, and a mass mounted upon the second movable portion.

50. A hearing device as recited in claim 47, wherein said vibration sensor is constructed of a strain gauged beam having a first fixed portion and a movable second portion, and a mass mounted upon the second movable portion.

51. A hearing device as recited in claim 47, wherein said vibration sensor is formed as an integrated unit on a substrate.

52. A hearing device as recited in claim 47, further comprising means for receiving and demodulating control signals, said electronic circuit means being responsive to said demodulated control signals.

53. A hearing device as recited in claim 47 wherein said vibration sensor is an accelerometer.

54. An apparatus adapted for use in a human external auditory canal with a tympanic membrane at its innermost terminus, the external auditory canal having a cartilaginous part with an innermost section of the cartilaginous part defining an S-shaped sigmoid portion, and a bony part that adjoins the sigmoid portion and extends to the tympanic membrane, the apparatus comprising:

(a) means for receiving radio-frequency energy;

(b) means for converting the received energy into an electrical signal;

(c) means for modifying said electrical signal; and

(d) means for converting said modified electrical signal into energy in the form of air-borne sound waves, said converting means including an active, compliantly supported surface having a functional area comparable to the functional area of a human tympanic membrane for creating said air-borne sound waves, said compliantly supported surface being configured and dimensioned to fit at least partially within a human external auditory canal in a location between the sigmoid portion and the tympanic membrane.

55. An apparatus adapted for use in a human external auditory canal with a tympanic membrane at its innermost terminus, the external auditory canal having a cartilaginous part with an innermost section of the cartilaginous part defining an S-shaped sigmoid portion, and a bony part that adjoins the sigmoid portion and extends to the tympanic membrane, the apparatus comprising:

(a) means for receiving energy in the form of sound waves;

(b) means for converting the received energy into an electrical signal;

(c) means for modifying said electrical signal; and

(d) means for converting said modified electrical signal into energy in the form of air-borne sound waves, said converting means including an active, compliantly supported surface having a functional area comparable to the functional area of a human tympanic membrane for creating said air-borne sound waves, said compliantly supported surface being configured and dimensioned to fit at least partially within a human external auditory canal in a location between the sigmoid portion and the tympanic membrane.

56. A hearing device, adapted for use in a human external auditory canal with a tympanic membrane at its innermost terminus, the external auditory canal having a cartilaginous part with an innermost section of the cartilaginous part defining an S-shaped sigmoid portion, a bony part that adjoins the sigmoid portion and extends to the tympanic membrane, the outer section of the cartilaginous part defining a bowl-shaped concha having an acoustic focus, the hearing aid comprising:

(a) a microphone, located at the acoustic focus of the concha, said microphone being operative to convert sound waves into a microphone electrical signal;

(b) a vibration sensor for producing a vibration electrical signal in response to and representative of the bone-conducted portion of the user'"'"'s speech;

(c) electronic circuit means for selectively modifying said microphone and vibration electrical signals and creating a joint electrical signal that is a linear combination of the electric representations of said microphone and vibration electrical signals; and

(d) a speaker operative to convert said joint electrical signal into sound waves.

57. A hearing device, adapted for use in a human external auditory canal with a tympanic membrane at its innermost terminus, the external auditory canal having a cartilaginous part with an innermost section of the cartilaginous part defining an S-shaped sigmoid portion, a bony part that adjoins the sigmoid portion and extends to the tympanic membrane, the outer section of the cartilaginous part defining a bowl-shaped concha having an acoustic focus, the hearing device comprising:

(a) a microphone, located at the acoustic focus of the concha, said microphone being operative to convert sound waves into a microphone electrical signal;

(b) electronic circuit means for modifying said microphone electrical signal and creating a modified electrical signal; and

(c) a speaker operative to convert said modified electrical signal into sound waves.

58. An apparatus adapted for use in a human external auditory canal with a tympanic membrane at its innermost terminus, the external auditory canal having a cartilaginous part with an innermost section of the cartilaginous part defining an S-shaped sigmoid portion, and a bony part that adjoins the sigmoid portion and extends to the tympanic membrane, the apparatus comprising:

(a) means for receiving energy in the form of sound waves;

(b) means for converting the received energy into an electrical signal;

(c) means for modifying said electrical signal; and

(d) means for converting said modified electrical signal into energy in the form of air-borne sound waves, said converting means including an active, compliantly supported surface having a functional area at least as large as the functional area of a human tympanic membrane for creating said air-borne sound waves, said compliantly supported surface being configured and dimensioned to fit at least partially within a human external auditory canal in a location between the sigmoid portion and the tympanic membrane.

59. An apparatus for use in a human external auditory canal with substantially non-compliant side walls and a compliant tympanic membrane at its innermost terminus, the external auditory canal having a cartlinginous part with an innermost section of the cartilaginous part forming an S-shaped sigmoid portion, and a bony portion that extends to the tympanic membrane, the apparatus comprising:

(a) means for receiving energy in the form of sound waves and converting the received energy into an electrical signal;

(b) means for modifying said electrical signal;

(c) means for converting said modified electrical signal into energy in the form of air-borne sound waves, said converting means including an active, compliantly supported surface having a functional area at least as large as the functional area of the tympanic membrane for creating said air-borne sound waves, said surface being located between the sigmoid portion and the tympanic membrane; and

(d) means for acoustically isolating an inner and an external portion of the auditory canal to form a closed cavity in which the compliant surface of the convening means is at least partially located.

60. A hearing device, comprising:

(a) a microphone to convert sound waves into a microphone electrical signal;

(b) a vibration sensor for producing a vibration electrical signal in response to and representative of a bone-conducted portion of a user'"'"'s speech;

(c) electronic circuit means for processing a signal representative of said microphone electrical signal and said vibration electrical signal;

(d) a speaker operative to convert a signal processed by said electronic circuit means into sound waves; and

(e) a portable transmitter for communication at least one of gain and filtering control information to said electronic circuit means as a function of a user input, said electronic circuit means including means for adjusting the gain and filtering of said processed signal.

61. A hearing device, adapted for use in a human external auditory canal with a tympanic membrane at its innermost terminus, the external auditory canal having a cartilaginous part with an innermost section of the cartilaginous part defining an S-shaped sigmoid portion, a bony part that adjoins the sigmoid portion and extends to the tympanic membrane, the outer section of the cartilaginous part defining a bowl-shaped concha having an acoustic focus, the hearing device comprising:

(a) a microphone, located at the acoustic focus of the concha, said microphone being operative to convert sound waves into a microphone electrical signal;

(b) a vibration sensor for producing a vibration electrical signal in response to and representative of the bone-conducted portion of the user'"'"'s speech;

(c) electronic circuit means for selectively modifying said microphone and electrical vibration signals and creating a joint electrical signal that is an analog summation of the direct electric analog representations of said microphone and vibration electrical signals;

(d) a speaker operative to convert said joint electrical signal into sound waves;

(e) means for receiving and demodulating control signals, said electronic circuit means being responsive to said demodulated control signals;

.

(f) a portable transmitter which communicates with said receiving and demodulating means, said portable transmitter including an operator interface for entering gain and filtering parameters of the microphone and vibration electrical signals;

(g) a controller for communicating with said operator interface and creating a command electrical signal; and

(h) an output stage for modulating said command electrical signal and creating a control signal for said receiving and demodulating means, said control signal being transmitted via carrier wave to said receiving and demodulating means.