Binaural hearing system with magnetic control

Abstract

The invention is aimed at enabling a hearing system, particularly a binaural hearing aid system, to be controlled in an easy manner, taking into account the small amount of installation space available. A hearing system is provided comprising a first hearing device and a second hearing device. The first hearing device has a permanent magnet. The second hearing device has a magnetic field sensor such that the second hearing device is controlled in a predetermined manner when the first hearing device is located in close physical proximity to the second hearing device and consequently the magnetic field sensor detects the magnetic field of the permanent magnet or a corresponding magnetic flux. The sensor signal is used in particular for switching off the second hearing device. The first hearing device preferably possesses a mirrored structure so that it is controlled or switched when it is brought closer to the second hearing device.

Description

The exemplary embodiments described in greater detail below represent preferred embodiments of the present invention.

The hearing aid system illustrated in the FIGURE consists of a first hearing aid 1 and a second hearing aid 2. A permanent magnet 11 is contained in the shell 10 of the first hearing aid 1. A ferromagnetic metal piece 21 and a magnetic field sensor 22 are disposed in the hearing aid shell 20 of the second hearing aid 2. Conversely, a permanent magnet 23 is also contained in the second hearing aid 2 or, as the case may be, in its shell 20, and an associated ferromagnetic metal piece 12 and a magnetic field sensor 13 are disposed in the shell 10 of the first hearing aid 1.

When the hearing aids 1, 2 are not being worn, the user brings the hearing aid casings 10, 20 together so that they are held together by magnetic force 3, possibly supported by geometric structures (“slot and key”). The respective magnetic field sensor 13, 22 detects the field of the corresponding permanent magnet 11, 23 and thereupon switches off the associated hearing aid 1, 2. If the two hearing aids are equipped as mirror images, as in the present example, both hearing aids 1, 2 are switched off when brought closer together.

The signal of the magnetic field sensors 13, 22 can also be used to control the electronics of the respective hearing aid 1, 2. For example, the hearing aid can be switched to a so-called “sleep mode” when the other hearing aid is close by, with the result that the energy consumption of the hearing aid is reduced accordingly. Moreover it may also be worthwhile simply to reduce the volume or, as the case may be, amplification of the hearing aid when the other hearing aid is close by, which proximity indicates that the hearing aids are not in use. The signal of the magnetic field sensor can also be used to switch off a communication interface for a wireless connection.

The magnetic field sensors 13, 22 can be implemented as Hall-effect probes, in which case the hearing aid chip is switched off electrically. Alternatively a mechanical reed contact which opens the electric circuit when a magnetic field is present can also be used. In the latter case the electric circuit is opened mechanically.

If both hearing aids 1, 2 have a wireless communication link, it is sufficient if a permanent magnet/magnetic field sensor pair is accommodated in the two hearing aids. In this case a corresponding sensor signal will then be generated when the two hearing aids are brought close to each other and used for controlling the hearing aid with the sensor. By means of the communication link the sensor signal is also transmitted to the other hearing aid, with the result that it can be utilized there too.

According to the invention it is thus possible to implement an on/off switch which requires no control elements or apertures of any kind in the casing. This means that the hearing aid can be better protected against water. A further advantage is that the hearing aid system is switched on and off automatically and intuitively.

Claims

1.-13. (canceled)

14. A hearing system, comprising a first hearing device comprising a permanent magnet; anda second hearing device comprising a magnetic sensor that detects a magnetic field of the permanent magnet so that the second hearing device is controlled based on the detection.

15. The hearing system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the magnetic sensor detects the magnetic field of the permanent magnet when the first hearing device is located close to the second hearing device.

16. The hearing system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the second hearing device is switched off or to a sleep mode when the magnetic field of the permanent magnet is detected.

17. The hearing system as claimed in claim 14, wherein a volume or an amplification of the second hearing device is reduced when the magnetic field of the permanent magnet is detected.

18. The hearing system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the magnetic sensor detects a magnetic flux of the magnetic field when the first hearing device is located close to the second hearing device.

19. The hearing system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the second hearing device comprises a ferromagnetic element that interacts with the permanent magnet of the first hearing device, andwherein a magnetic flux in the ferromagnetic element is detected by the magnetic sensor of the second hearing device.

20. The hearing system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the second hearing device comprises a further permanent magnet, andwherein the first hearing device comprises a further magnetic sensor that detects a further magnetic field of the further permanent magnet so that the first hearing device is controlled based on the detection.

21. The hearing system as claimed in claim 20, wherein the first hearing device is switched off or to a sleep mode when the further magnetic field of the further permanent magnet is detected.

22. The hearing system as claimed in claim 20, wherein a volume or an amplification of the first hearing device is reduced when the further magnetic field of the further permanent magnet is detected.

23. The hearing system as claimed in claim 20, wherein the first hearing device comprises a further ferromagnetic element for interacting with the further permanent magnet of the second hearing device, andwherein a magnetic flux in the further ferromagnetic element is detected by the further magnetic sensor of the first hearing device.

24. The hearing system as claimed in claim 20, wherein the magnetic sensor or the further magnetic sensor is selected from the group consisting of: a Hall-effect probe, a Giant Magneto Resistance sensor, and a reed contact.

25. The hearing system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first and second hearing devices are plugged into an external structure, andwherein the external structure is a slot-and-key structure.

26. The hearing system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first and second hearing devices communicate with each other via a wireless connection,wherein a signal of the magnetic sensor of the second hearing device is transmitted to the first hearing device via the wireless connection, andwherein the first hearing device is controlled by the transmitted signal.

27. The hearing system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first and second hearing devices are hearing aids.

28. A method for controlling a hearing system comprising a first and a second hearing device, comprising: arranging a permanent magnet in the first hearing device;arranging a magnetic sensor in the second hearing device;detecting a magnetic field of the permanent magnet by the magnetic sensor; andcontrolling the second hearing device as a function of the detection.

29. The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the magnetic sensor detects the magnetic field of the permanent magnet when the first hearing device is located close to the second hearing device.

30. The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the second hearing device is switched off or to a sleep mode when the magnetic field of the permanent magnet is detected.

31. The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein a volume or an amplification of the second hearing device is reduced when the magnetic field of the permanent magnet is detected.

32. The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the first and second hearing devices communicate with each other via a wireless connection,wherein a signal of the magnetic sensor of the second hearing device is transmitted to the first hearing device via the wireless connection, andwherein the first hearing device is controlled by the transmitted signal.

33. The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the second hearing device comprises a further permanent magnet, andwherein the first hearing device comprises a further magnetic sensor for detecting a further magnetic field of the further permanent magnet so that the first hearing device is controlled based on the detection.