User interfaces of a hearing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022168564-A1
Application number	US-202217672165-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 15, 2022
Priority date	Sep 30, 2014
Publication date	Jun 2, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and devices for dynamically adjusting a user interface provided by an external unit of a hearing device. In an example method, the external unit determines whether a state of the external unit is one of (i) a coupled state when the external unit and the stimulation unit are coupled or (ii) a decoupled state when the external and the stimulation unit are decoupled. The external unit then provides one of (i) a first user interface when the determined state is the coupled state or (ii) a second user interface when the determined state is the decoupled state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An external sound processor configured to provide sound processing for a cochlear implant stimulation unit implanted in a recipient, comprising:
a magnet configured to magnetically couple the external sound processor to the cochlear implant stimulation unit; at least one visual output component; and one or more processors configured to:
display a first user interface via the at least one visual output component when the external sound processor is magnetically coupled to the cochlear implant stimulation unit via the magnet; and
display a second user interface via the at least one visual output component when the external sound processor is not magnetically coupled to the cochlear implant stimulation unit via the magnet, wherein the first user interface is different from the second user interface, and wherein the second user interface displays sound processing parameters utilized by the external sound processor when generating stimulation signals for the cochlear implant stimulation unit while magnetically coupled to the cochlear implant stimulation unit.

2 . The external sound processor of claim 1 , wherein the first user interface indicates a volume setting.

3 . The external sound processor of claim 1 , wherein the at least one visual output component comprises at least one light emitting diode.

4 . The external sound processor of claim 1 , further comprising at least one user input component.

5 . The external sound processor of claim 4 , wherein the at least one user input component comprises at least one button.

6 . The external sound processor of claim 5 , where in the one or more processors are further configured to:
alter a first operating parameter of the external sound processor in response to actuation of the at least one button when the external sound processor is magnetically coupled to the cochlear implant stimulation unit via the magnet; and alter a second operating parameter of the external sound processor in response to actuation of the at least one button when the external sound processor is not magnetically coupled to the cochlear implant stimulation unit via the magnet, wherein the first operating parameter is different from the second operating parameter, and wherein the second operating parameter is utilized by the external sound processor when generating stimulation signals for the cochlear implant stimulation unit while magnetically coupled to the cochlear implant stimulation unit.

7 . The external sound processor of claim 6 , wherein the first operating parameter is a volume setting.

8 . The external sound processor of claim 1 , further comprising a transceiver configured to communicate with the cochlear implant stimulation unit.

9 . The external sound processor of claim 1 , further configured to display a third user interface via the at least one visual output component when the external sound processor is not magnetically coupled to the cochlear implant stimulation unit via the magnet, wherein the third user interface is the same as the first user interface.

10 . An external sound processor configured to provide sound processing for a cochlear implant stimulation unit implanted in a recipient, comprising:
at least one visual output component; and one or more processors configured to:
display a first user interface via the at least one visual output component when the external sound processor is physically attached to the recipient and in communication with to the cochlear implant stimulation unit; and
display a second user interface via the at least one visual output component when the external sound processor is physically detached from the recipient, wherein the first user interface is different from the second user interface.

11 . The external sound processor of claim 10 , wherein the second user interface displays sound processing parameters utilized by the external sound processor when generating stimulation signals for the cochlear implant stimulation unit while attached to the cochlear implant stimulation unit.

12 . The external sound processor of claim 10 , wherein the first user interface indicates a volume setting.

13 . The external sound processor of claim 10 , wherein the at least one visual output component comprises at least one light emitting diode.

14 . The external sound processor of claim 10 , further comprising at least one user input component.

15 . The external sound processor of claim 14 , wherein the at least one user input component comprises at least one button.

16 . The external sound processor of claim 15 , where in the one or more processors are further configured to:
alter a first operating parameter of the external sound processor in response to actuation of the at least one button when the external sound processor is attached to the cochlear implant stimulation unit; and alter a second operating parameter of the external sound processor in response to actuation of the at least one button when the external sound processor is detached from the cochlear implant stimulation unit, wherein the first operating parameter is different from the second operating parameter, and wherein the second operating parameter is utilized by the external sound processor when generating stimulation signals for the cochlear implant stimulation unit while attached to the cochlear implant stimulation unit.

17 . The external sound processor of claim 16 , wherein the first operating parameter is a volume setting.

18 . The external sound processor of claim 10 , further comprising a transceiver configured to communicate with the cochlear implant stimulation unit.

19 . The external sound processor of claim 10 , further comprising at least one microphone.

20 . The external sound processor of claim 10 , further configured to display a third user interface via the at least one visual output component when the external sound processor is not attached to the cochlear implant stimulation unit, wherein the third user interface is the same as the first user interface.

21 . An external sound processor configured to provide sound processing for a cochlear implant stimulation unit implanted in a recipient, comprising:
a coil configured to inductively link the external sound processor to the cochlear implant stimulation unit; at least one visual output component; and one or more processors configured to:
display a first user interface via the at least one visual output component when the external sound processor is inductively linked to the cochlear implant stimulation unit; and
display a second user interface via the at least one visual output component when the external sound processor is not inductively linked to the cochlear implant stimulation unit, wherein the first user interface is different from the second user interface, and wherein the second user interface displays sound processing parameters utilized by the external sound processor when generating stimulation signals for the cochlear implant stimulation unit while inductively linked to the cochlear implant stimulation unit.

22 . The external sound processor of claim 21 , wherein the first user interface indicates a volume setting.

23 . The external sound processor of claim 21 , wherein the at least one visual output component comprises at least one light emitting diode.

24 . The external sound processor of claim 21 , further comprising at least one user input component.

Assignees

• Cochlear Ltd

Inventors

• Frieding Jan Patrick
• Popovac Ivana

Classifications

• A61N1/37247 Primary

  User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means · CPC title

• H04M1/72478

  for hearing-impaired users · CPC title

• A61N1/36039

  fitting procedures · CPC title

• A61F11/00

  Methods or devices for treatment of the ears or hearing sense (implantable prostheses that substitute or replace internal ear parts, e.g. ear-drums, A61F2/18; methods or devices to cause a change in the state of auditory consciousness A61M21/00; electrotherapy applying electrical stimulation of the auditory system, or circuits therefor A61N1/36; radiotherapy using optical stimulation of the auditory system A61N5/06; electro-acoustic hearing aids H04R25/00); Non-electric hearing aids; Methods or devices for enabling ear patients to achieve auditory perception through physiological senses other than hearing sense; Protective devices for the ears, carried on the body or in the hand (headwear, e.g. caps or helmets, with means for protecting the ears A42B1/0188, A42B3/16) · CPC title

• A61N1/36 Primary

  for stimulation · CPC title