Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080232627 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICE WITH PINNA CONTROL - One embodiment of the present subject matter provides an apparatus for disposition between a pinna and a head of a user, the apparatus including a behind-the-ear housing, the housing having a first lateral side located adjacent the user's ear and a second lateral side located adjacent the side of the user's head when the apparatus is worn as directed, hearing assistance electronics disposed in the behind-the-ear housing, and a control disposed on at least one lateral side of the behind-the-ear housing, the control coupled to the hearing assistance electronics. | 09-25-2008 |
20080292126 | HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICE WITH CAPACITIVE SWITCH - Disclosed herein, among other things, is a hearing assistance device apparatus with a capacitive switch. According to various embodiments, the apparatus includes a BTE housing, hearing assistance electronics housed in the housing and a capacitive switch connected to the hearing assistance electronics and adapted to detect a wearer when the BTE housing is worn. | 11-27-2008 |
20100172529 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING USER ACTIVITIES FROM WITHIN A HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICE USING A VIBRATION SENSOR - The present subject matter relates to method and apparatus for detecting user activities within a hearing assistance device, and among other things, apparatus including a microphone for reception of sound and to generate a sound signal; an electret vibration sensor adapted to measure mechanical vibration and to produce a vibration signal; a signal processor, connected to the microphone and in communication with the electret vibration sensor, the signal processor adapted to process the sound signal and to process the vibration signal; and a housing adapted to house the signal processor. Variations provide a housing, microphone, and receiver in different configurations. In some variations wireless electronics are included and are used to communicate different signals. In some examples, the design is embodied in a variety of hearing aid configurations. | 07-08-2010 |
20110091058 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IN-THE-EAR HEARING AID WITH CAPACITIVE SENSOR - Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for an in-the-ear hearing aid with a capacitive sensor. The present subject matter includes various approaches to improved control of an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid with capacitive sensors. In various embodiments, the capacitive sensor serves as a capacitive switch or a plurality of capacitive switches that can be used together to support or perform one or more functions. | 04-21-2011 |
20110091059 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BEHIND-THE-EAR HEARING AID WITH CAPACITIVE SENSOR - Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for a behind-the-ear hearing aid with a capacitive sensor. | 04-21-2011 |
20120294468 | HEARING AID MAGNETIC SENSOR WITH COUNTER WINDINGS - A hearing aid includes a magnetic sensor to sense a sound signal being a magnetic field. The magnetic sensor includes a telecoil to sensor the sound signal and a counter coil to cancel a noise signal resulting from electromagnetic interference. In one embodiment, a driver circuit for the counter coil allows for automatic adjustment of the hearing aid circuit for an interference null. | 11-22-2012 |
20120314893 | HEARING AID WITH INTEGRATED TELECOIL AND BATTERY RECHARGE COIL - A hearing aid is powered by a rechargeable battery and senses a sound signal being a magnetic field using a telecoil. The hearing aid includes a battery recharge coil for receiving power from a hearing aid charger via an inductive couple. The telecoil and the inductive coil are integrated into a single device. | 12-13-2012 |
20130016862 | HEARING AID WITH MAGNETOSTRICTIVE ELECTROACTIVE SENSORAANM Newton; James R.AACI BurnsvilleAAST MNAACO USAAGP Newton; James R. Burnsville MN USAANM Sacha; Michael KarlAACI ChanhassenAAST MNAACO USAAGP Sacha; Michael Karl Chanhassen MN USAANM Lin; Wei LiAACI PlymouthAAST MNAACO USAAGP Lin; Wei Li Plymouth MN US - A hearing aid includes a magnetostrictive electroactive (ME) sensor that generates an electrical signal in response to a magnetic field or a mechanical pressure. In various embodiments, the ME sensor is used for cordless charging of a rechargeable battery in the hearing aid by generating an electrical signal in response to a magnetic field generated for power transfer, magnetic sound signal reception, and/or detection of user commands by sensing a magnetic field or a pressure applied to the hearing aid. | 01-17-2013 |
20130195298 | HEARING AID WITH INTEGRATED FLEXIBLE DISPLAY AND TOUCH SENSOR - A user interface incorporated onto a hearing aid includes flexible hybrid component integrating a touch sensor into a bendable display. The touch sensor, such as a capacitive sensor, includes one or more sensor elements allowing a user to control operation of the hearing aid by touching. The bendable display presents information related to the operation of the hearing aid to the user. | 08-01-2013 |
20130216075 | SWITCHING STUCTURES FOR HEARING AID - An apparatus is provided that includes an input system, an output system, and a sensor for sensing magnetic fields. In one example, a signal processing circuit electrically connects the input system to the output system, and a magnetic sensor adapted to inhibit the acoustic input and function as a magnetic input in the presence of a magnetic field. In one example, the magnetic sensor includes a giant magneto resistive (GMR) sensor. In another example, the magnetic sensor includes an anisotropic magneto resistive (AMR) sensor. The magnetic field can be generated by, among other things, a magnet in a telephone handset. The hearing aid further is programmed based on time-varying characteristics of the magnetic field. Wireless activation or deactivation of the hearing aid is also described. Other examples and options are provided herein. | 08-22-2013 |
20130315423 | SWITCHING STRUCTURES FOR HEARING AID - A hearing aid is provided with a switch that automatically, non-manually switches at least one of inputs, filters, or programmable parameters in the presence of a magnetic field. | 11-28-2013 |
20130329926 | HEARING AID WITH DISTRIBUTED PROCESSING IN EAR PIECE - Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for hearing assistance devices, and in particular to behind the ear and receiver in canal hearing aids with distributed processing. One aspect of the present subject matter relates to a hearing assistance device including hearing assistance electronics in a housing configured to be worn above or behind an ear of a wearer. The hearing assistance device includes an ear piece configured to be worn in the ear of the wearer and a processing component at the ear piece configured to perform functions in the ear piece and to communicate with the hearing assistance electronics, in various embodiments. | 12-12-2013 |
20140016810 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICE WITH PINNA CONTROL - One embodiment of the present subject matter provides an apparatus for disposition between a pinna and a head of a user, the apparatus including a behind-the-ear housing, the housing having a first lateral side located adjacent the user's ear and a second lateral side located adjacent the side of the user's head when the apparatus is worn as directed, hearing assistance electronics disposed in the behind-the-ear housing, and a control disposed on at least one lateral side of the behind-the-ear housing, the control coupled to the hearing assistance electronics. | 01-16-2014 |
20140023216 | HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICE WITH WIRELESS COMMUNICATION FOR ON- AND OFF- BODY ACCESSORIES - The present disclosure related to hearing assistance devices such as hearing aids, and in particular to a hearing assistance device with wireless communication for on- and off-body accessories. In various embodiments, a hearing aid includes a housing, hearing assistance electronics within the housing, and conductive material incorporated into a portion of the housing. According to various embodiments, the conductive material includes a transmission line portion configured to conduct a signal from the hearing assistance electronics to an antenna portion of the conductive material on an exterior surface of the housing. In various applications, the conductive material includes a first antenna configured for short range communication with other body worn devices or accessories. The hearing aid also includes a second antenna within the housing, the second antenna configured for conducting RF radiation for long range communication, in various embodiments. | 01-23-2014 |
20140153760 | HEARING AID WITH MAGNETOSTRICTIVE ELECTROACTIVE SENSOR - A hearing aid includes a magnetostrictive electroactive (ME) sensor that generates an electrical signal in response to a magnetic field or a mechanical pressure. In various embodiments, the ME sensor is used for cordless charging of a rechargeable battery in the hearing aid by generating an electrical signal in response to a magnetic field generated for power transfer, magnetic sound signal reception, and/or detection of user commands by sensing a magnetic field or a pressure applied to the hearing aid. | 06-05-2014 |
20140169603 | HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICE VENT VALVE - Techniques are disclosed for actuating a valve of a hearing assistance device. In one example, a hearing assistance device comprises a device housing defining a vent structure, a vent valve positioned within the vent, the vent valve having first and second states. The vent valve comprises a magnet, a disk configured to move about an axis, and a magnetic catch. The hearing assistance device further comprises an actuator, and a processor configured to provide at least one signal to the actuator to cause the disk to move to controllably adjust the vent structure. | 06-19-2014 |
20140198937 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING CELLULAR TELEPHONES FOR HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICES - The present subject matter relates generally to methods and apparatus for detecting cellular telephones using hearing assistance devices. In an embodiment, a hearing assistance device includes a processor and a radio frequency transceiver connected to the processor. A detection circuit is connected to the processor, the detection circuit including a band pass filter and where the detection circuit is adapted to monitor a radio frequency signal to detect a cellular telephone in proximity to the hearing assistance device based on the monitored signal. The hearing assistance device includes an acoustic input, a magnetic input, and a switch for selecting between the acoustic input and the magnetic input. The processor is adapted to actuate the switch from the acoustic input to the magnetic input when a cellular telephone is detected in proximity to the hearing assistance device. | 07-17-2014 |
20140369535 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADVERTISEMENT SUPPORTED HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICE - Disclosed herein, among other things, are systems and methods for advertisement supported hearing assistance devices. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a method of operating a hearing assistance device for a user. An advertisement for a product or service is received using the hearing assistance device, and the advertisement is programmably played using a receiver of the hearing assistance device. Various embodiments include logging data using the hearing assistance device, determining optimal parameter settings for the hearing assistance device based on the logged data, and playing an advertisement for the user related to the optimal parameter settings. | 12-18-2014 |