Hearing aid device comprising a sensor member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9826318-B2
Application number	US-201715420268-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 31, 2017
Priority date	Feb 13, 2014
Publication date	Nov 21, 2017
Grant date	Nov 21, 2017

Abstract

A hearing aid device is disclosed. The hearing aid device comprises means to improve, augment and/or protect the hearing capability of a user by receiving acoustic signals from the surroundings of the user, generating corresponding audio signals, possibly modifying the audio signals and providing the possibly modified audio signals as audible signals to at least one of the user's ears. The hearing aid device comprises a sensor member for detecting the movement and/or acceleration and/or orientation (or spatial position) of the hearing aid device. The hearing aid device comprises at least two hearing aid microphones and a control unit for determining the position or a deviation from an intended position of the hearing aid device or hearing aid microphones. The hearing aid device is configured to compensate for a possible dislocation of the hearing aid microphones.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A hearing aid device for improving, augmenting and/or protecting the hearing capability of a user when receiving acoustic signals from the surroundings of the user, the hearing aid device comprising
an input unit for generating corresponding audio signals,
a signal processing unit for modifying the audio signals, and
an output unit for providing modified audio signals as audible signals to at least one of the user's ears,
a sensor member for detecting the movement and/or acceleration and/or orientation and/or position of the hearing aid device,
a time unit for estimating a time range elapsed, and
a feedback estimation unit comprising an adaptive feedback algorithm for estimating a feedback path from the output unit to the input unit,
wherein control of functionality of the hearing aid device is performed by said sensor member in combination with a number of other sensors including one or more of said time unit and said feedback estimation.

2. A hearing aid device according to claim 1 configured to use the sensor member to detect if the hearing aid device is being moved and to characterize the movement, and wherein the hearing aid device is configured to automatically turn off power or to be put into a ‘sleep mode’ where the power consumption is minimal, when the sensor member detects that the hearing aid device is in a ‘no-movement mode’.

3. A hearing aid device according to claim 1 configured to use the sensor member to detect if the hearing aid device is being moved and to characterize the movement, and wherein the hearing aid device is configured to be automatically turned on in a full power-on mode or in a ‘standby mode’, when the sensor member detects that the hearing aid device is in a ‘movement mode’.

4. A hearing aid device according to claim 1 wherein control of functionality of the hearing aid device is performed by said sensor member in combination with one or more of:
Temperature detection;
Wireless range between hearing instruments;
Own voice detection;
Heart pulse detection.

5. A hearing aid device according to claim 1 configured to use the sensor member together with other sensors to detect whether or not the hearing aid device is located at or on one of the ears of the user.

6. A hearing aid device according to claim 1 comprising a memory wherein a reference position or an orientation of the hearing aid device and/or a reference feedback path estimate is/are stored.

7. A hearing aid device according to claim 6 configured to compare a current position of the hearing aid with the stored reference position.

8. A hearing aid device according to claim 6 configured to compare a current feedback path estimate with the stored reference feedback path estimate.

9. A hearing aid device according to claim 8 configured to determine a modified reference feedback path estimate in connection with power up of the hearing device and/or after a mounting of the hearing aid device at an ear of the user.

10. A hearing aid device according to claim 1 configured to start up in a standby mode where power consumption is minimal.

11. A hearing aid device according to claim 10 configured to leave a full power on mode and enter said standby mode, when said sensor member detects no movement of the hearing aid for a minimum amount of time.

12. A hearing aid device according to claim 10 configured to leave a full power on mode and enter said standby mode, when said sensor member detects no movement of the hearing aid device, and when said feedback estimation unit estimates a current feedback path that is not close to an expected feedback path for the hearing aid, for a minimum amount of time.

13. A hearing aid device according to claim 1 comprising at least two hearing aid microphones and an angle detector configured to detect an angle of inclination of an axis defined by the at least two hearing aid microphones and whether the hearing aid is close to the angle it is expected to have when operationally mounted on the ear of the user.

14. A hearing aid device according to claim 13 configured to leave said standby mode and enter a full power on mode, when said sensor member detects a movement of the hearing aid device, and said angle detector detects the angle expected when the hearing aid is operationally mounted on the ear, and when said movement and said expected angle have been present for a minimum amount of time.

15. A hearing aid device according to claim 13 configured to leave said standby mode
when said sensor member detects a movement of the hearing aid device, and
when said angle detector detects the angle expected when the hearing aid is operationally mounted on the ear, and
when said movement and said expected angle have been present for a minimum amount of time,
and to activate the feedback estimation unit and provide a current estimate of the feedback path, and to enter a full power on mode, if said feedback estimation unit estimates a current feedback path close to an expected feedback path for the hearing aid device.

16. A hearing aid device according to claim 1 wherein the sensor member comprises an accelerometer and/or a gyroscope.

17. A hearing aid device according to claim 1 comprising a tapping detector and configured to start up in a standby mode in which power consumption is minimal and to leave said standby mode and enter a full power on mode, when said tapping detector detects a tapping on the hearing aid device.

18. A hearing aid device according to claim 1 comprising a rechargeable battery.

19. A hearing aid system comprising two hearing aid devices according to claim 1 each comprising antenna and transceiver circuitry for establishing a communication link to the other hearing aid device, and thereby allowing the exchange of information between them.

20. A hearing aid system according to claim 19 further comprising an auxiliary device, and wherein the hearing aid system is configured to allow the hearing aid devices and the auxiliary device to communicate with each other.

21. A hearing aid system according to claim 19 configured to exchange and analyze outputs from the sensor member of both of said two hearing aid devices for detecting the movement and/or acceleration and/or orientation and/or position of the hearing aid devices to improve reliability of said control of functionality.

Assignees

• Oticon As

Inventors

• Pedersen Michael Syskind
• Møller Kenneth Rueskov
• Petersen Svend Oscar
• Kiemer Niels Stubager
• Nielsen Jesper Kofoed
• Ohl Björn
• Elmlund Marianne Kleist
• Carvalho Karin
• Bendsen Henrik
• Pedersen Regin Kopp
• Bürger Christian C
• Munk Steen Michael
• Christophersen Morten
• Pedersen Julie Hefting
• Westergård Bo
• Oxenbøll Maria

Classifications

• H04R1/1041 Primary

  Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements (switches in general H01H) · CPC title

• H04R2225/41

  Detection or adaptation of hearing aid parameters or programs to listening situation, e.g. pub, forest · CPC title

• H04R25/453

  electronically · CPC title

• G01C9/00

  Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels · CPC title

• H04R2225/55

  Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange · CPC title