Claims
- 1. A hearing aid system comprising:
hearing aid circuitry; a first audio source for generating a first audio signal; a second audio source for generating a second audio signal, the second audio source having a wireless transmitter for transmitting the second audio signal wirelessly; a receiver for receiving the second audio signal from the wireless transmitter of the second audio source; and circuitry for analyzing the second audio signal received, and for selecting one of the first and second audio signals for coupling to the hearing aid circuitry based on the analysis of the second audio signal received.
- 2. The hearing aid system of claim 1 wherein the first audio source comprises an omnidirectional hearing aid microphone.
- 3. The hearing aid system of claim 1 wherein the first audio source comprises a directional hearing aid microphone.
- 4. The hearing aid system of claim 1 wherein the secondary audio source comprises one of a directional microphone, an array microphone, an audio transmitter, or a telephone.
- 5. The hearing aid system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry selects the second audio signal if the second audio signal is above a predetermined threshold.
- 6. The hearing aid system of claim 1 wherein the hearing aid circuitry comprises a hearing aid amplifier and a speaker.
- 7. The hearing aid system of claim 1 wherein the hearing aid circuitry comprises a speaker.
- 8. The hearing aid system of claim 1 wherein the first audio signal is shut off when the second audio signal is selected.
- 9. The hearing aid system of claim 1 wherein the first audio signal is attenuated when the second audio signal is selected.
- 10. A hearing aid comprising;
hearing aid circuitry; a microphone for generating a first audio signal; a receiver for wirelessly receiving a second audio signal generated externally to the hearing aid; circuitry for analyzing the second audio signal received, and for selecting one of the first and second audio signals for coupling to the hearing aid circuitry based on the analysis of the second audio signal received.
- 11. The hearing aid of claim 10 wherein the microphone is one of a directional or an omnidirectional microphone.
- 12. The hearing aid system of claim 10 wherein the circuitry selects the second audio signal if the second audio signal is above a predetermined threshold.
- 13. The hearing aid system of claim 10 wherein the hearing aid circuitry comprises a hearing aid amplifier and a speaker.
- 14. The hearing aid system of claim 10 wherein the hearing aid circuitry comprises a speaker.
- 15. The hearing aid system of claim 10 wherein the first audio signal is shut off when the second audio signal is selected.
- 16. The hearing aid system of claim 10 wherein the first audio signal is attenuated when the second audio signal is selected.
- 17. A hearing aid system comprising:
hearing aid circuitry; a first audio source for generating a first audio signal; a receiver for receiving a second audio signal wirelessly from a second audio source; a detector for detecting receipt of the second audio signal and for generating a control signal based thereon; and an electronic switch for selecting one of the first audio signal and the second audio signal based on the control signal generated by the detector, and for coupling the selected signal to the hearing aid circuitry.
- 18. The hearing aid system of claim 17 wherein the first audio source comprises an omnidirectional hearing aid microphone.
- 19. The hearing aid system of claim 17 wherein the first audio source comprises a directional hearing aid microphone.
- 20. The hearing aid system of claim 17 wherein the secondary audio source comprises one of a directional microphone, an array microphone, an audio transmitter, or a telephone.
- 21. The hearing aid system of claim 17 wherein the hearing aid circuitry comprises a hearing aid amplifier and a speaker.
- 22. The hearing aid system of claim 17 wherein the hearing aid circuitry comprises a speaker.
- 23. The hearing aid system of claim 17 wherein the first audio signal is shut off when the second audio signal is selected.
- 24. The hearing aid system of claim 17 wherein the first audio signal is attenuated when the second audio signal is selected.
- 25. A hearing aid comprising;
hearing aid circuitry; a microphone for generating a first audio signal; a receiver for wirelessly receiving a second audio signal generated externally to the hearing aid; a detector for detecting receipt of the second audio signal and for generating a control signal based thereon; and an electronic switch for selecting one of the first audio signal and the second audio signal based on the control signal generated by the detector, and for coupling the selected signal to the hearing aid circuitry.
- 26. The hearing aid of claim 25 wherein the microphone is one of a directional or an omnidirectional microphone.
- 27. The hearing aid system of claim 25 wherein the hearing aid circuitry comprises a hearing aid amplifier and a speaker.
- 28. The hearing aid system of claim 25 wherein the hearing aid circuitry comprises a speaker.
- 29. The hearing aid system of claim 25 wherein the first audio signal is shut off when the second audio signal is selected.
- 30. The hearing aid system of claim 25 wherein the first audio signal is attenuated when the second audio signal is selected.
- 31. A method of operating a hearing aid system comprising:
generating a first audio signal; generating a second audio signal; wirelessly transmitting the second audio signal; receiving the second audio signal; analyzing the second audio signal received; selecting one of the first and second audio signals based on the analysis of the second audio signal received; and coupling the selected signal to an input.
- 32. A method of operating a hearing aid system comprising:
generating a first audio signal; receiving a wirelessly transmitted second audio signal; analyzing the second audio signal received; selecting one of the first and second audio signals based on the analysis of the second audio signal received; and coupling the selected signal to an input.
- 33. A method of operating a hearing aid system comprising:
generating a first audio signal; receiving a wirelessly transmitted second audio signal; determining whether the second audio signal received meets a selected criterion; coupling the second audio signal to an input if the second audio signal meets the selected criterion; and coupling the first audio signal to the input if the second audio signal does not meet the selected criterion.
- 34. A method of operating a hearing aid system comprising:
generating a first audio signal; generating a second audio signal; wirelessly transmitting the second audio signal; receiving the second audio signal; determining whether the second audio signal received meets a selected criterion; coupling the second audio signal to input if the second audio signal meets the selected criterion; and coupling the first audio signal to the input if the second audio signal does not meet the selected criterion.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application makes reference to, and claims priority to, U.S. provisional applications Serial No. 60/174,958 filed Jan. 7, 2000 and Serial No. 60/225,840 filed Aug. 16, 2000.
[0002] The above-referenced U.S. provisional applications Serial No. 60/174,958 and Serial No. 60/225,840 are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,311 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Provisional Applications (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60174958 |
Jan 2000 |
US |
|
60225840 |
Aug 2000 |
US |