Audio peripheral for an electronic device

• US 7,561,711 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2005
• Issued: 07/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Dougall, David, Mankaruse, George, Hawker, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Ni; Suhan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robinson; Ryan C
• Application Number:
  US11/229,604
• Publication Number:
  US 20070064963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,393 Days
• Field of Search: 381/331, 381/312, 381/315, 379447-450
• US Class Current: 381/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils

Abstract

A peripheral for an electronic device having a speaker is provided. The peripheral includes an input device for placement proximal to the speaker for receiving audio information from the speaker. The peripheral includes an output device connected to the input device that is positioned distal from the input device and away from electromagnetic signals generated by the device. The output device presents the audio information to a hearing aid proximal to the output device. The output device is positioned at a distance such that the electromagnetic signals experienced by the input device is less than the signals experienced by the hearing aid. As a result, deleterious effects of signals otherwise experienced by the hearing aid are reduced.

Claims

1. A peripheral for use with a hearing aid having a T-coil and an electronic device having a speaker for generating audio signals;

said electronic device operable to emit electromagnetic signals;

said peripheral comprising;

an input device in the form of a first T-coil for receiving a magnetic signal output from said electronic device when said input device is proximate to said speaker;

an output device in the form of a second T-coil operably connected to said input device and for sending a representation of said magnetic signal output to said hearing aid when said hearing aid is proximate to said output device;

said output device positioned between about two and about six centimeters apart from said input device, such that said electromagnetic signals experienced by said hearing aid are less than said electromagnetic signals experienced by said input device.

2. The peripheral of claim 1 further comprising a shaping circuit between said input device and said output device for shaping a signal representing said magnetic signal output as said signal is delivered from said input device to said output device.

3. The peripheral of claim 2 wherein said shaping circuit is operable to perform at least one of noise filtering, amplification and frequency response shaping.

4. The peripheral of claim 1 wherein said device includes the functionality of a cellular telephone and said electromagnetic signals includes signals associated with communications between said device and a wireless base station.

5. The peripheral of claim 1 wherein said output device is positioned between about 2.5 and about 5.5 centimeters apart from said input device.

6. The peripheral of claim 1 wherein said output device is positioned between about three and about five centimeters apart from said input device.

7. The peripheral of claim 1 further including a mechanical attachment for removably affixing said peripheral to said electronic device.

8. A method of presenting audio information from an electronic device to a hearing aid having a T-coil;

said electronic device having a speaker for generating audio signals;

said electronic device also producing electromagnetic signals;

said method comprising the steps of;

receiving at an input device in the form of a first T-coil a magnetic signal output from said speaker; and

providing said magnetic signal output to an output device in the form of a second T-coil, said output device being placed at a location proximate to said hearing aid that is a predefined distance of between about two and about six centimeters from said electronic device; and

transmitting a representation of said magnetic signal output to said hearing aid from said output device, such that a first level of said electromagnetic signals experienced at said hearing aid is less than a second level of said electromagnetic signals experienced at said speaker.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of shaping said output information intermediate said receiving step and said transmitting step.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said shaping step comprises at least one of noise filtering, amplification and frequency response shaping.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said device includes the functionality of a cellular telephone and said electromagnetic signals include signals associated with communications between said device and a wireless base station.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein said predefined distance is between about 2.5 centimeters and about 5.5 centimeters.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein said predefined distance is between about three centimeters and about five centimeters.