Patent Application
20070140517
The present subject matter relates generally to hearing communication devices, and in particular to providing wireless components for hearing communication devices.
Hearing aids are electronic instruments worn in or around the ear that compensate for hearing losses by specially amplifying sound. Hearing aids use transducer and electromechanical components which are connected via wires to the hearing aid circuitry.
These wired connections can cause a variety of problems for a hearing aid manufacturer. Wiring connections on the small scale of hearing aids can be difficult and prone to error. Such components can also be difficult to interconnect, employing designs which yield difficulties with manufacturing and acoustic feedback. Smaller devices are subject to problems with reliability, feedback and interference.
There exist a variety of hearing communication devices besides hearing aids which exhibit many of the same problems, depending on their construction and operation.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a system of components in hearing communication devices that avoids these and other problems. The system should provide component-to-component communications, be straightforward to design and manufacture, and offer increased reliability and performance of hearing communication devices.
The present system provides method and apparatus to address the foregoing needs and additional needs not stated herein. One aspect of the present system provides wireless components adapted for use in hearing communication devices. Such wireless communications include, but are not limited to, radio frequency communications, optical communications, and/or sound communications. Such communications include, but are not limited to, audio information, data information, control information, and/or programming information.
Another aspect of this disclosure includes method and apparatus having various communication options between internal components and an external controller.
Another aspect of the present disclosure includes different ways of providing power to one or more wireless internal components. In varying embodiments, power is provided individually to the components via connections. In varying embodiments, power is provided with a wireless induction method and apparatus. In varying embodiments, combinations of the foregoing provide hybrid approaches to hearing communication device design.
Programmable and highly interchangeable designs are possible by adopting the teachings provided herein. Such designs may be applied to hearing aids, including, but not limited to behind-the-ear, over-the-ear, in-the-ear, in-the-canal, and completely-in-the-canal.
Another aspect of the present system includes methods for communicating using an external controller, including, but not limited to, diagnostic information, programming information, and/or component settings. Such systems allow for setting and replacement of a variety of components, among other uses.
This Summary is an overview of some of the teachings of the present application and not intended to be an exclusive or exhaustive treatment of the present subject matter. Further details about the present subject matter are found in the detailed description and appended claims.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are discussed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that the embodiments may be combined, or that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural, logical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description provides examples, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
It should be noted that references to “an”, “one”, or “various” embodiments in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references contemplate more than one embodiment.
The present subject matter provides a system for wireless component-to-component communications within a hearing communication device to overcome some of the problems associated with traditional wiring of components.
It is contemplated that various forms of wireless component-to-component communications can take place. Thus, a variety of near field and far field telecommunications can be conducted, depending on power, and/or size, and/or radiated energy constraints. Such communications can extend to devices outside of the housing of the hearing communication device.
In varying embodiments, miniature transmitter, receiver, and transceiver configurations are possible. For wireless radio frequency applications, various forms of antennae may be employed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. It is understood that existing and newly developed communications subsystems may be employed to transmit information between the components. In varying embodiments, integrated systems, such as motes, can be used. The present system may employ any variety of micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) in combination. Other types of hardware and software may be employed and realizations may incorporate different amounts of hardware and software without departing from the scope of the present subject matter.
In one embodiment, the microphone 206 is adapted to transmit information wirelessly. In one embodiment, the microphone 206 is adapted to receive information wirelessly. In one embodiment, the microphone 206 is adapted to transmit and receive information wirelessly. Such functionalities for transmit and receive may also be programmably controlled in various embodiments. For example, in programmable embodiments, it is possible to stop or interrupt transmissions by the microphone when the hearing communication device detects a signal indicating that a telephone is close to the apparatus 200. Such signals include near field or magnetic coupling with a telephone handset having a telephone coil or inductive pickup of the telephone signal. Other telephone signals may be detected without departing from the scope of the present subject matter, and such signals may be employed to control the communication of information from and to the microphone 206. Other applications are possible as well. For instance wireless transmissions by the microphone can be interrupted and another radio source could be used for communicating to the hearing communication device. Such transmissions may also be buffered and played at different times due to interruptions by other signals processed and/or received by the hearing communication device.
According to various embodiments, the amplifier 210 transmits information wirelessly. According to various embodiments, the amplifier 210 receives information wirelessly. According to various embodiments, the amplifier 210 transmits and receives information wirelessly. Various embodiments employ a highly programmable amplifier 210 to switch between transmission, reception, and/or transceiver modes.
According to various embodiments, the speaker 212 transmits information wirelessly. According to various embodiments, the speaker 212 receives information wirelessly. According to various embodiments, the speaker 212 transmits and receives information wirelessly. Various embodiments employ a highly programmable speaker 212 to switch between transmission, reception, and/or transceiver modes.
According to various embodiments, the signal processing circuit 208 transmits information wirelessly. According to various embodiments, the signal processing circuit 208 receives information wirelessly. According to various embodiments, the signal processing circuit 208 transmits and receives information wirelessly. Various embodiments employ a highly programmable signal processing circuit 208 to switch between transmission, reception, and/or transceiver modes.
In various embodiments, the apparatus also includes a telecoil having an independent power supply within the enclosure. The apparatus further includes a voicecoil having an independent power supply within the enclosure, according to various embodiments.
It is understood that the foregoing may be embodied in designs having a single power supply, in which the communication of information is wired or wireless in several embodiments. The foregoing may also be embodied in designs having more than one power supply and less than one power supply for each component. Thus, power supply configurations may vary without departing from the scope of the present subject matter.
Various combinations of the foregoing apparatus are possible without departing from the scope of the present subject matter.
The wireless communications allow for a variety of control, diagnostic, maintenance, programming, and/or data transmission operations between the device 220 and the controller 230. Depending on how device 220 is configured, the controller 230 can communicate directly or indirectly with any component of the device 220. Such designs could yield rapid repairs and/or improvements as high modularized embodiments could have components diagnosed and changed quickly to correct a defect or provide better functionality of an device 220. Other applications are possible without departing from the scope of the present subject matter.
It is understood that the combination of components used in the examples herein are intended to demonstrate some aspects of the present subject matter. Variations in numbers of components, their placement, additional components, and omissions of certain components are possible without departing from the scope of the present subject matter. It is understood that a variety of hearing communication devices may benefit from all or part of the teachings provided herein. For example, a hearing communication device without a microphone may receive wirelessly sound information to be transmitted to the ear of a user. Such a system may have wireless component-to-component communications and may also support wireless communications from an external wireless audio source to the device itself. Such a system may employ a number of existing communications protocols adapted for wireless communications already known. Other variations exist without departing from the scope of the present subject matter.
Although the present system is discussed in terms of hearing communication devices generally, it is understood that many other applications in hearing aids and other hearing communication devices and audio devices, are possible. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing and understanding the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
