Patent Abstract:
Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods to provide improved control of hearing aids and hearing aid applications. In one embodiment, a hearing assistance device includes a microphone, a receiver for playing sound to a wearer, a processor connected to the microphone and the receiver, and a radio connected to the processor. The processor is adapted to enter a low power or standby mode upon receipt of a predetermined command from one or more of the microphone or the radio. The processor is further adapted to exit a low power or standby mode upon receipt of a predetermined command from one or more of the microphone or the radio. Other embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the present subject matter.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/981,035, filed Dec. 29, 2010, which application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 120 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/323,520, filed on Apr. 13, 2010, which applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present subject matter relates generally to controlling functions in a hearing assistance device, and in particular to control of low power or standby modes of a hearing assistance device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Modern hearing assistance devices, such as hearing aids, typically include a digital signal processor in communication with a microphone and receiver. Such designs are adapted to perform a great deal of processing on sounds received by the microphone. More and more hearing aids include a wireless communication option which provides a way to communicate with the hearing aid using another device. Such devices may have their own wireless protocols for communications or may use an industry standard protocol. However, there are situations where the wireless function of the hearing assistance device should be disabled, such as when flying (according to existing FAA rules). There are also situations where the energy consumption could be greatly reduced by placing the wireless radio functions in a hearing assistance device in a low power or standby state. 
         [0004]    Hearing assistance device designs typically have a very limited amount of available volume to hold the electronics. A persistent problem is the placement of means to control the device. Hearing assistance devices have limited space to place controls. The limited space issues also magnify the need to conserve power in a hearing assistance device. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for apparatus and methods to provide improved control of a hearing assistance device, including a provision for low power or standby modes of operation of the device. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods to provide improved control of hearing aids and hearing aid applications. In one embodiment, a hearing assistance device includes a microphone, a receiver for playing sound to a wearer, a processor connected to the microphone and the receiver, and a radio connected to the processor. The processor is adapted to enter a low power or standby mode upon receipt of a predetermined command from one or more of the microphone or the radio. The processor is further adapted to exit a low power or standby mode upon receipt of a predetermined command from one or more of the microphone or the radio. 
         [0006]    In one embodiment, a method of controlling modes of a hearing assistance device is provided. A predetermined command is received at a hearing assistance device processor from one or more of a hearing assistance device microphone or a radio connected to the processor. A low power or standby mode of the hearing assistance device is entered or exited upon receipt of the command. Other embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the present subject matter. 
         [0007]    This Summary is an overview of some of the teachings of the present application and not intended to be an exclusive or exhaustive treatment of the present subject matter. Further details about the present subject matter are found in the detailed description and appended claims. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of a hearing assistance device and a remote control according to one embodiment of the present subject matter. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    The following detailed description of the present subject matter refers to subject matter in the accompanying drawings which show, by way of illustration, specific aspects and embodiments in which the present subject matter may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present subject matter. References to “an”, “one”, or “various” embodiments in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references contemplate more than one embodiment. The following detailed description is demonstrative and not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the present subject matter is defined by the appended claims, along with the full scope of legal equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of a hearing assistance device and a remote control according to one embodiment of the present subject matter. Many hearing assistance devices  110 , such as hearing aids, include a processor  116  that receives signals from a transducer, such as microphone  112  and processes those signals to be played over a speaker  114  (also known as a receiver in the hearing aid art). The hearing assistance device  110  includes at least one control  122 , which can be monitored by processor  116  and operations can be performed according to the control operation. More frequently, hearing assistance devices  110  also include a wireless communications aspect, such as radio  118  and an antenna  120 . Radio  118  in various embodiments is a receiver, a transmitter, or a transceiver. Various radio frequencies and modulation techniques can be employed without departing from the scope of the present subject matter. It is understood that the radio  118  and antenna  120  are optional in some embodiments set forth in this disclosure. It is further understood that embodiments that use radio  118  and antenna  120  may only require a reception function to work properly. It is further understood that in bidirectional radio communications that a transceiver function is required. 
         [0011]    Optional remote control  130  is a device adapted to perform wireless communication with hearing assistance device  110 . In various embodiments it is understood that remote control  130  can be a dedicated remote control device. In various embodiments, remote control  130  is a cellular phone, personal data assistant, iPOD, iPhone, Google Android phone, Blackberry, computer, or other personal wireless device that can be used as set forth herein to perform the remote control function. It is understood that in various embodiments a software or firmware program can be loaded on the device to facilitate its use for the present subject matter. 
         [0000]    A. Hearing Assistance Device Standby and/or Low Power Modes 
         [0012]    In various embodiments, a user may wish to extend the battery life of his or her hearing assistance device, such as a hearing aid, by putting the hearing aid into a standby or low power mode. In one embodiment, standby mode disables most or all processing of audio information, thus muting the hearing assistance device (hearing aid). The device will enter a low power mode of operation and require another command or condition to wake the device up and return to normal operating mode. Various approaches can be used to enter and exit a low power or standby mode, including, but not limited to the following: 
         [0013]    1. Hearing Assistance Device Control 
         [0014]    Control  122  can be configured to place the hearing assistance device  110  in standby mode and to return the device to normal operating mode. In one embodiment control  122  is used to toggle the device between operating mode and standby mode. In various embodiments control  122  is a button. In various embodiments control  122  is a touch sensor. In various embodiments control  122  is a proximity sensor. Other controls may be used without departing from the scope of the present subject matter. It is understood that different control operation sequences, including extended operation of the control and delays between operation of the control may be employed to perform mode selection. It is also possible that different controls can be used to change between standby and normal operating modes. For example, any of the wireless commands discussed herein can be used to exit standby mode and enter normal operating mode. 
         [0015]    2. Wireless Radio Frequency Command from Remote Control 
         [0016]    In one embodiment of the present subject matter, a wireless command is issued from remote control  130  that puts the hearing assistance device  110  in standby mode. In radio frequency wireless applications, radio  118  includes a receiver configured to receive the command, decode it, and to place the hearing assistance device  110  into a form of standby mode. In various embodiments, radio  118  is further configured to periodically or occasionally listen for another command which returns the device to normal operation. Such modes are typically low power modes, such as, but not limited to, the reception mode set forth in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/643,540 application incorporated by reference herein. Other methods of exiting the standby state and returning to normal operating mode are possible in combination or in the alternative. In various embodiments, a control on the hearing assistance device  110  is operated to return the device to normal operating mode. For example, a control  122  can be used to sense one or more manual operations (including but not limited to one or more button press, touch sense, or proximity sense) to exit standby mode. Control  122  in various embodiments is a touch or proximity sensor. In various embodiments a return to normal operating mode is performed by opening and closing the battery compartment of the device  110 . In various embodiments device  110  returns to a normal operating mode upon certain triggering occurrences, such as a programmable timer reaching a setpoint, or multiple power cycles. In various embodiments a voice command can be detected to change modes. Another remote control approach is set forth in the following commonly owned patent application which is incorporated by reference in its entirety: U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/220,994, filed Jun. 25, 2009, titled REMOTE CONTROL FOR A HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICE. Other triggering occurrences are possible without departing from the scope of the present subject matter. 
         [0017]    3. DTMF Commands to Change Modes 
         [0018]    In various embodiments dual tone multifunction (DTMF) tones are received by the hearing assistance device  110  and operating modes are changed based on the DTMF tones. Such tones can be received acoustically by microphone  112  from any audio source capable of generating such tones. The DTMF tones can also be send via a radio frequency message, received by radio  118 , decoded and processed by processor  116  to perform mode changes. It is understood that various tone sequences and combinations can be used to change modes from normal operating mode to standby mode or vice versa. Thus, it is understood that a single tone, pair of tones, or sequence if tones can be employed without departing from the scope of the present subject matter. 
         [0019]    In one embodiment a unique DTMF tone or sequence is used to enter standby mode and another unique tone or sequence is used to enter normal operating mode. In further embodiments, the same message could be used to toggle between the modes. In various embodiments, the duration of a tone is used to change modes of the hearing assistance device  110 . 
         [0020]    In various embodiments, the DTMF tones or sequence of tones is generated by a cellular phone or other telephone device. The cellular phone may include a software or firmware application downloaded to it to convert the cellphone into a multi-function remote that includes the capability of producing the necessary DTMF tones. Other platforms such as personal digital assistants PDA&#39;s, computers, or dedicated DTMF hardware equipped with audio outputs may be used to perform the remote control function. When two hearing aids are worn by a user, to ensure that both aids are enabled or disabled via DTMF it may be necessary to relay that information from one aid to the other via wireless transmissions prior to disabling the transmitter. 
         [0021]    In one embodiment the hearing assistance device  110  may use the DTMF detection approach set forth in the following commonly owned patent application: U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/176,734, filed May 8, 2009, titled CELL PHONE DETECTION FOR HEARING AIDS. Other DTMF approaches may be used without departing from the scope of the present subject matter. 
         [0000]    B. Radio Standby and/or Low Power Modes 
         [0022]    Modern hearing assistance devices capable of radio frequency wireless communications may require a method to disable the transmit function in certain circumstances. For example, whenever a passenger is aboard an aircraft the device&#39;s transmission function may have to be turned off. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other international air travel administrations restrict the use of electronic devices that emit electromagnetic information while in flight. 
         [0023]    Also, when traveling outside their country of origin if communications are not compliant with other devices used in the destination country that the person is visiting it may be beneficial to disable a radio frequency wireless function. Industrial scientific and medical bands (ISM) are set aside for unlicensed operation of radio frequency communication in most countries. These bands differ from country to country in many cases. This makes it necessary for a traveler to be able to disable radio frequency wireless features when traveling outside of a particular regulatory domain. 
         [0024]    One type of low power communication approach includes, but is not limited to, the low power approach set forth in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/643,540, filed Dec. 21, 2009, titled LOW POWER INTERMITTENT MESSAGING FOR HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICES, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
         [0025]    Various approaches can be used to enter and exit a low power or standby mode, including, but not limited to the following: 
         [0026]    1. Hearing Assistance Device Control 
         [0027]    Control  122  can be configured to place the radio  118  in standby mode and to return the device to normal operating mode. In one embodiment control  122  is used to toggle the device between operating mode and standby mode. In various embodiments control  122  is a button. In various embodiments control  122  is a touch sensor. In various embodiments control  122  is a proximity sensor. Other controls may be used without departing from the scope of the present subject matter. 
         [0028]    It is understood that different control operation sequences, including extended operation of the control and delays between operation of the control may be employed to perform mode selection. It is also possible that different controls can be used to change between standby and normal operating modes. For example, any of the wireless commands discussed herein can be used to exit standby mode and enter normal operating mode. 
         [0029]    2. Wireless Radio Frequency Command from Remote Control 
         [0030]    In one embodiment of the present subject matter, a wireless command is issued from remote control  130  that puts the radio  118  in standby mode. In radio frequency wireless applications, radio  118  includes a receiver configured to receive the command, decode it, and to place the radio  118  into a form of standby or low power mode. In various embodiments, radio  118  is further configured to periodically or occasionally listen for another command which returns the device to normal operation. Such modes are typically low power modes, such as, but not limited to, the reception mode set forth in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/643,540 application incorporated by reference herein. Other methods of exiting the standby state and returning radio  118  to normal operating mode are possible in combination or in the alternative. In various embodiments, a control on the hearing assistance device  110  is operated to return the radio  118  to normal operating mode. For example, a control  122  can be used to sense one or more manual operations (including but not limited to one or more button press, touch sense, or proximity sense) to exit standby mode. Control  122  in various embodiments is a touch or proximity sensor. In various embodiments a return to normal operating mode is performed by opening and closing the battery compartment of the device  110 . In various embodiments radio  118  returns to a normal operating mode upon certain triggering occurrences, such as a programmable timer reaching a setpoint, or multiple power cycles. In various embodiments a voice command can be detected to change modes of radio  118 . Another remote control approach is set forth in the following commonly owned patent application which is incorporated by reference in its entirety: U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/220,994, filed Jun. 25, 2009, titled REMOTE CONTROL FOR A HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICE. Other triggering occurrences are possible without departing from the scope of the present subject matter. 
         [0031]    3. DTMF Commands to Change Modes 
         [0032]    In various embodiments dual tone multifunction (DTMF) tones are received by the hearing assistance device  110  and operating modes of radio  118  are changed based on the DTMF tones. Such tones can be received acoustically by microphone  112  from any audio source capable of generating such tones. The DTMF tones can also be send via a radio frequency message, received by radio  118 , decoded and processed by processor  116  to perform mode changes. It is understood that various tone sequences and combinations can be used to change modes from normal operating mode to standby mode or vice versa. Thus, it is understood that a single tone, pair of tones, or sequence if tones can be employed without departing from the scope of the present subject matter. 
         [0033]    In one embodiment a unique DTMF tone or sequence is used to enter standby mode and another unique tone or sequence is used to enter normal operating mode. In further embodiments, the same message could be used to toggle between the modes. In various embodiments, the duration of a tone is used to change modes of the radio  118 . 
         [0034]    In various embodiments, the DTMF tones or sequence of tones is generated by a cellular phone or other telephone device. The cellular phone may include a software or firmware application downloaded to it to convert the cellphone into a multi-function remote that includes the capability of producing the necessary DTMF tones. Other platforms such as personal digital assistants PDA&#39;s, computers, or dedicated DTMF hardware equipped with audio outputs may be used to perform the remote control function. When two hearing aids are worn by a user, to ensure that both aids are enabled or disabled via DTMF it may be necessary to relay that information from one aid to the other via wireless transmissions prior to disabling the transmitter. 
         [0035]    In one embodiment the hearing assistance device  110  may use the DTMF detection approach set forth in the following commonly owned patent application: U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/176,734, filed May 8, 2009, titled CELL PHONE DETECTION FOR HEARING AIDS. Other DTMF approaches may be used without departing from the scope of the present subject matter. 
         [0036]    In various embodiments, a voice activation algorithm is used to disable or re-enable the wireless transmissions or standby mode of a hearing aid. The wearer can disable wireless transmissions by using a voice command such as “deactivate wireless” or “wireless off” or conversely “Activate wireless” or “wireless on.” Similar commands may used for entering or exiting standby mode. The commands may be processed and interpreted by a digital signal processing unit (DSP), central processing unit (CPU), or other hardware on the hearing aid. Upon processing, the CPU carries out the command to disable/enable the functions present in voice command. 
         [0037]    The following commonly owned patent documents are each hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/643,540, filed Dec. 21, 2009, titled LOW POWER INTERMITTENT MESSAGING FOR HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICES; U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/687,707 filed Jun. 5, 2005, titled COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR WIRELESS AUDIO DEVICES; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/447,617, titled COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR WIRELESS AUDIO DEVICES; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/176,734, filed May 8, 2009, titled CELL PHONE DETECTION FOR HEARING AIDS; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/220,994, filed Jun. 25, 2009, titled REMOTE CONTROL FOR A HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICE. 
         [0038]    The present subject matter can be used for a variety of hearing assistance devices, including but not limited to, tinnitus masking devices, cochlear implant type hearing devices, hearing aids, such as behind-the-ear (BTE), in-the-ear (ITE), in-the-canal (ITC), or completely-in-the-canal (CIC) type hearing aids. It is understood that behind-the-ear type hearing aids may include devices that reside substantially behind the ear or over the ear. Such devices may include hearing aids with receivers associated with the electronics portion of the behind-the-ear device, or hearing aids of the type having receivers in the ear canal of the user, such as receiver-in-the-canal (RIC) or receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) designs. It is understood that other hearing assistance devices not expressly stated herein may fall within the scope of the present subject matter. 
         [0039]    This application is intended to cover adaptations or variations of the present subject matter. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the present subject matter should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of legal equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7