Operating device for a hearing aid

• US 8,055,001 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2008
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Boguslavskij, Mihail
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, HOANG QUAN TRAN
• Application Number:
  US12/283,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20090087004A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 381/315
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/61 Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/50 Customised settings for obtaining desired overall acoustical characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/603 of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements

Abstract

An especially small operating device for a hearing aid, but one which is nevertheless simple for a user to actuate manually, which still enables a multiplicity of different operating functions in a simple and clear manner is provided. The use of a fingerprint sensor is provided for this purpose, whereby different operating functions are assigned to the individual fingers of the user. Depending on the finger with which the user actuates the fingerprint sensor, different operating functions are initiated.

Claims

1. An operating device for a hearing aid, comprising:

a signal processing unit for processing an electrical input signal and emitting an electrical output signal; and

a fingerprint sensor for detecting a fingerprint,

wherein a parameter of the signal processing unit in the hearing aid is modified by a single actuation of the fingerprint sensor by a finger of a user, and

wherein the parameter is selected as a function of the finger with which the user actuates the fingerprint sensor.

2. The operating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor is a one-dimensional design and a two-dimensional fingerprint is generated by passing the finger across the fingerprint sensor.

3. The operating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor is at least essentially of a one-dimensional design and a two-dimensional fingerprint is generated by passing the finger across the fingerprint sensor.

4. The operating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor is of a two-dimensional design.

5. The operating device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the direction in which the finger is moved relative to the finger print sensor is determined.

6. The operating device as claimed in claim 5, wherein a signal volume is adjusted according to the movement.

7. The operating device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the direction in which the finger is moved relative to the fingerprint sensor is determined.

8. The operating device as claimed in claim 7, wherein a signal volume is adjusted according to the movement.

9. The operating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor is permanently connected to the hearing aid.

10. The operating device as claimed in claim 1,

further comprises a remote control for the hearing aid,

wherein the remote control includes the fingerprint sensor.

11. The operating device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the finger sensor is the only control element which can be manually actuated.

12. The operating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the finger sensor is the only control element which can be manually actuated.

13. An operating device for a hearing aid, comprising:

a fingerprint sensor for detecting a fmgerprint; and

a signal processing unit for processing an electrical input signal and emitting an electrical output signal, the signal processing unit having a plurality of parameters relating to the processing, each parameter associated to a fingerprint,

wherein after the fingerprint sensor detects a fingerprint, the parameter associated with the respective fingerprint is modified.

14. The operating device as claimed in claim 13,

wherein a direction in which the finger is moved relative to the fingerprint sensor is determined, and

wherein the parameter is modified based on the direction of movement.

15. The operating device as claimed in claim 14, wherein a signal volume is adjusted via the movement.

16. The operating device as claimed in claim 13,

further comprises a remote control for the hearing aid,

wherein the remote control includes the fingerprint sensor.

17. A method for adjusting a signal processing of a hearing aid, comprising:

detecting a fingerprint of the hearing aid user by a fingerprint sensor; and

modifying a parameter associated with the fingerprint,

wherein the signal processing of the hearing aid is adjusted via the modification.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17,

wherein a direction in which the finger is moved relative to the fingerprint sensor is determined, and

wherein the parameter is modified based on the direction of movement.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein a signal volume is adjusted via the movement.