Apparatus having hearing aid

• US 8,938,082 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2009
• Issued: 01/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Bae, Ju-Yeol
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins, Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): DABNEY, PHYLESHA LARVINIA
• Application Number:
  US12/592,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20100128909A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,883 Days
• Field of Search: 381/314, 381/315, 381/312, 381/317, 381/318, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/569.1, 455/570
• US Class Current: 381/315
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 17/30 Earth-inductor compasses
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/06 Electric or photoelectric indication or reading means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/60 including speech amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72478 for hearing-impaired users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/00 Deaf-aid sets , i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception electrical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N1/36038; optical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N5/0622

Abstract

A portable terminal includes an apparatus capable of providing a hearing aid service. The apparatus includes a sensor configured to measure a spatial tilt of the portable terminal. The apparatus also includes a controller that determines whether a left ear or a right ear is used for communication based on the measured spatial tilt of the portable terminal. An audio signal processor compensates an audio signal according to the characteristic of determined ear.

Claims

1. A portable terminal configured to provide a hearing aid service, the portable terminal comprising:

a sensor configured to measure a spatial tilt of the portable terminal;

a controller configured to determine one of a left ear and a right ear that is used for communication based on the measured spatial tilt of the portable terminal;

a storage unit configured to store audiology data of the left ear and the right ear; and

an audio signal processor configured to compensate an audio signal according to the audiology data of the determined ear stored in the storage unit,

wherein the sensor measures the spatial tilt of the portable terminal by using a straight line between a speaker and a microphone of the portable terminal as a reference line.

2. The portable terminal of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes at least one of a geomagnetism sensor and a gradient sensor.

3. The portable terminal of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises:

a drive signal generator configured to generate a drive signal;

a 2-axis flux gate configured to detect an electrical signal corresponding to an electromotive force generated by the drive signal; and

a signal processor configured to filter the electrical signal and output the filtered signal.

4. The portable terminal of claim 1, wherein the characteristic audiology data of the left ear and the right ear is stored as profile data corresponding to an operator of the portable terminal.

5. The portable terminal of claim 4, further comprising an input unit configured to enable the operator of the portable terminal to input the profile data.

6. A method for providing a hearing aid service in a portable terminal, the method comprising:

measuring a spatial tilt of the portable terminal by using a straight line between a speaker and a microphone as a reference line;

determining one of a left ear and a right ear that is used for communication based on the measured spatial tilt of the portable terminal; and

compensating an audio signal according to an audiology data of the determined ear stored in a storage unit in the portable terminal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the measuring of the spatial tilt of the portable terminal is determined by at least one of a geomagnetism sensor and a gradient sensor.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

generating a drive signal using a drive signal generator;

detecting, using a 2-axis flux gate, an electrical signal corresponding to an electromotive force generated by the drive signal; and

filtering, using a signal processor, the electrical signal and output the filtered signal.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the audiology data of the left ear and the right ear is stored as profile data corresponding to an operator of the portable terminal.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving, via an input unit, the profile data.

11. An apparatus configured for use in a portable terminal that is configured to provide a hearing aid service, the apparatus comprising:

a sensor configured to measure a spatial tilt of the portable terminal;

a controller configured to determine one of a left ear and a right ear that is used for communication based on the measured spatial tilt of the portable terminal;

a storage unit configured to store audiology data of the left ear and the right ear; and

an audio signal processor configured to compensate an audio signal according to the audiology data of the determined ear stored in the storage unit,

wherein the sensor measures the spatial tilt of the portable terminal by using a straight line between a speaker and a microphone of the portable terminal as a reference line.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the sensor includes at least one of a geomagnetism sensor and a gradient sensor.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the sensor comprises:

a drive signal generator configured to generate a drive signal;

a 2-axis flux gate configured to detect an electrical signal corresponding to an electromotive force generated by the drive signal; and

a signal processor configured to filter the electrical signal and output the filtered signal.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the audiology data of the left ear and the right ear is stored as profile data corresponding to an operator of the portable terminal.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising an input unit configured to enable the operator of the portable terminal to input the profile data.