Patent ID: 6307945
Filing Date: 2001-10-23
Classification: H04R

Abstract:
A hearing aid system comprising:a transmitter/microphone unit constructed and arranged to be held in the hand of a user of the hearing aid system, said transmitter/microphone unit being constructed and arranged to receive sounds which are both proximate to the transmitter/microphone unit and distant from the transmitter/microphone unit and transmitting a signal comprising said proximate and distant sounds;a receiver unit for receiving said signal from the transmitter/microphone unit, the receiver unit including an amplifier;an induction loop coupled to said amplifier of said receiver unit, said induction loop being constructed and arranged to allow said receiver unit to be supported by the user, said induction loop being operative to transmit an electrical signal received from said amplifier;said transmitter/microphone unit having a transmission range which slightly exceeds a distance between said transmitter and said receiver unit when said transmitter is held in the hand of the user and the receiver unit is supported by the user; andan earpiece being adapted to be support ed by an ear of the user, said earpiece being separate from both said transmitter/microphone unit and said receiver unit and being capable of receiving said signal transmitted from said induction loop and converting said electrical signal to an audio signal;wherein said transmitter/microphone unit is constructed and arranged to provide aural focus upon the manual command of the user without dependence upon and without prejudice to either head movement of the user, the user's field of vision, or both, said aural focus being achieved by manually pointing the transmitter/microphone unit in a desired direction and by selecting, by means of a switch of the transmitter unit, one of a unidirectional and omnidirectional microphone mode.