| Integrated hearing aid for telecommunications devices -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Integrated hearing aid for telecommunications devicesRelated Patent Categories: Electrical Audio Signal Processing Systems And Devices, Hearing Aids, Electrical, Remote Control, Wireless, Or AlarmIntegrated hearing aid for telecommunications devices description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060188118, Integrated hearing aid for telecommunications devices. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to telecommunications and telephonic devices, and more specifically to the use of telecommunications devices by wearers of hearing aids. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Millions of Americans suffer from hearing loss. Most commonly, hearing loss is of one of four types. In slope loss, the ability to hear high frequencies is lost while the ability to hear sounds in the low frequencies is retained. In reverse slope loss, the ability to hear low frequencies is lost while the ability to hear sounds in the high frequencies is retained. Less frequently, the hearer loses the ability to hear sounds in all normally audible frequencies. Finally, some people lose the ability to hear in only a small range of frequencies. [0003] Typically, someone who suffers from hearing loss wears a hearing aid. Hearing aids are electroacoustical devices worn to compensate for a hearing impairment by amplifying sound. They include aids placed behind the ear, aids placed in the ear, and aids placed in the external auditory canal. Hearing aids generally consist of a microphone, an amplifier, and a speaker, but are increasingly sophisticated instruments. Many have automatic gain control and digital signal processing; they can often be programmed to remedy a specific pattern of frequency loss specified by a user's prescription. Hearing aids utilize analog or digital circuitry. Most hearing aids in use today are analog. [0004] Programmable hearing aids include amplifiers and filters controlled by an external digital source. Typically, such a hearing aid will include a memory module and a microprocessor to access the memory locations and to control the frequency response. [0005] Gain is a measure of amplification. The acoustic gain of a hearing aid is the difference in dB between the output and the input at a particular frequency. Frequency response specifies hearing aid gain as a function of frequency when the volume control is in the normal operating range. Circuits that automatically change the gain or frequency response in response to changes in the input signal are called automatic signal processing (ASP). In hearing aids, most types of ASP modify only the gain. [0006] Although hearing aids are of particular use in conversations and other face-to-face situations, they are less useful when combined with signals from electronic device, such as a wireless telephone. Feedback, distortion and radio frequency (RF) interference often interfere with a wearer's hearing aid. Some hearing aid wearers report interference from simply walking past a wireless device in use. As the use of wireless communications devices proliferates, this problem is becoming more and more serious. [0007] What is needed is an invention that allows hearing aid wearers to use electronic and telecommunications devices, such as wireless telephones, without interference and while enabling them to compensate for their frequency loss. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] The present invention includes an apparatus and method which allow a hearing aid to be integrated into a sound-producing device. Sound-producing devices compatible with the invention include wireless communications devices such as cellular telephones. In such uses, the hearing aid can be integrated with the earpiece, such as a headset or a handset. A programmable hearing aid can be programmed to compensate for the wearer's specific hearing loss. The mounting of the hearing aid is accomplished so that RF interference in the hearing aid output is avoided compared with conventional systems. [0009] Copending application Ser. No. 08/639,651, incorporated herein by reference, describes an approach to decreasing interference between hearing aids and wireless communications devices. Application Ser. No. 08/639,651 concerns the use of ferrite materials in a flexible matrix to create an RF shadow that effectively avoids interference. This application applies the teachings of that application but also develops new approaches to reducing interference. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a handset of a wireless communication system in accordance with the present invention. [0011] FIGS. 2A and 2B are block diagrams of alternative configurations of the electrical components of the system of FIG. 1. [0012] FIGS. 3A and 3B show a wireless handset with a removable standard earpiece; and with a removable earpiece that includes a hearing aid. [0013] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the electrical components of the system of FIG. 3B. [0014] FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a computer system in accordance with the present invention. [0015] FIG. 6 schematically illustrates headphones for use in systems of the present invention. [0016] FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating software implementation of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0017] An integrated wireless telephone/hearing aid system 100 in accordance with the present invention is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, the user's ear and mouth fit with a handset 102 as indicated in the figure. Wireless handset 102 also includes an antenna 104, an integrated hearing aid device 106, and a smart card bay 108. [0018] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate alternative configurations of the electrical components of the system of FIG. 1. FIG. 2A shows a digital wireless system. In the system shown in FIG. 2A, a wireless signal is picked up by handset antenna 104 and transmitted to integrated hearing aid device 106. A receiver 206 receives the digital wireless signal picked up by antenna 104 and generates a digital audio signal. The audio signal is then transmitted to a processor 210. [0019] A user's prescription is programmed into processor 210. Processor 210 transforms the signal by applying a transfer function with more gain in the frequency ranges where the user has lost hearing. The digital signal is then transmitted to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 212 where it is reconverted to analog. The signal then goes to an amplifier 214, where it is amplified and sent to a speaker 216. From speaker 216, the sound enters the user's ear. In the opposite direction, a microphone 218 picks up sounds and sends them to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 208. ADC 208 converts the signal to digital. The signal is then sent to a transmitter 220, which transmits the signal via antenna 104. Continue reading about Integrated hearing aid for telecommunications devices... Full patent description for Integrated hearing aid for telecommunications devices Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Integrated hearing aid for telecommunications devices patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Integrated hearing aid for telecommunications devices or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Hearing device improvements using modulation techniques Next Patent Application: Method of outputting audio signal for the hard-of-hearing and mobile communication terminal using the method Industry Class: Electrical audio signal processing systems and devices ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Integrated hearing aid for telecommunications devices patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.22785 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Software: Finance , AI , Databases , Development , Document , Navigation , Error 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
