Binaural synchronization

• US 6,768,802 B1
• Filed: 11/01/1999
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sonova AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Phonak AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Baechler, Herbert
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HUYEN D
• Application Number:
  US09/431,702
• Time in Patent Office: 1,730 Days
• Field of Search: 381/231, 381/312, 381/314, 381/315, 381/320, 381/321, 381/323
• US Class Current: 381/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/00 Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/552 Binaural

Abstract

A device and method for operating binaural hearing aids each of which is switchable in situ in at least two transmission modes between a microphone assembly and an output converter. A wireless link is established between the hearing devices for communicating control signals between the hearing aids, and the control signals enable synchronization of the transmission modes at the devices to a predetermined or selectable mode-pair.

Claims

1. A method for operating binaural hearing devices, each of said devices being switchable in situ in at least two transmission modes (Mx) between a microphone arrangement and an output converter, comprising the steps of:

establishing a wireless communication link between the devices exclusively for transmitting control signals between the devices, wherein said control signals include signals for synchronizing the transmission modes of the devices; and

synchronizing the respectively activated transmission modes of the devices by means of the control signals to a preset or preselectable mode-pair.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the synchronization is made to identical transmission modes, either to one which was an active mode prior to the synchronization, or to a common third mode.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein the synchronization of transmission modes performed is a function of an existing mode constellation (Mmm/Msm) and/or of the acoustic environment and predetermined optimal mode constellations (M′

m/M′

s).

4. The method as in claim 1, wherein the synchronization is automatically triggered on the basis of the current acoustic environment and/or of a momentary constellation (Mmm, Msm) of the activated transmission modes.

5. The method as in one of claims 1 to 4, wherein one of the hearing devices is preselected as a hearing device controlling the synchronization, or one of the hearing devices is automatically selected as a leading device on the basis of its current mode and/or as a function of the acoustic environment.