HEARING INSTRUMENT SYSTEM

Abstract

A hearing instrument system includes a hearing instrument having an input transducer receiving signals characteristic of acoustic events and converting the signals into input signals, an output transducer outputting output signals derived from input signals, a controller processing input signals and generating output signals, a housing for the input transducer and controller, and an LED connected to the controller to output and receive optical signals, The controller derives information from an optical signal received by the LED and uses the information to continue hearing instrument operation. A third-party device forms a box-shaped charger having a charging interior for the hearing instrument. The third-party device transmits a charging light signal into the charging interior. The controller takes charging light signal reception to indicate the hearing instrument being in the charging interior and deactivates signal processing, sound output and/or sound capture or switches off the hearing instrument.

Claims

1. A hearing instrument system, comprising: a hearing instrument and a third-party device; said hearing instrument including: an input transducer for receiving signals being characteristic of acoustic events and for converting the signals into corresponding input signals, an output transducer for outputting output signals derived from the input signals, a controller configured to process the input signals and to generate the output signals from the input signals, a housing for housing said input transducer and said controller, and an LED connected to said controller for outputting optical signals and for receiving optical signals; said controller of said hearing instrument configured to derive information from an optical signal received by said LED and to use the information to continue to operate said hearing instrument; said third-party device configured to communicate with said hearing instrument through an optical data transmission arrangement using light signals; said third-party device forming a box-shaped charger having a charging interior for receiving said hearing instrument, and said third-party device configured to transmit a charging light signal into said charging interior; and said controller of said hearing instrument configured to take reception of the charging light signal as a basis for identification of said hearing instrument being disposed in said charging interior and for taking a measure related to said identification by deactivating at least one of a signal processing, a sound output or a sound capture or switching off said hearing instrument.

2. The hearing instrument system according to claim 1, wherein said hearing instrument and said third-party device are configured to communicate bidirectionally by using said LED of said hearing instrument or by using said optical data transmission arrangement.

3. The hearing instrument system according to claim 1, wherein said hearing instrument is configured to set up a wireless bidirectional communication connection to a fourth device having Internet capability, and said charger is configured to access a network address by using said optical data transmission arrangement of said charger through said hearing instrument.

4. The hearing instrument system according to claim 1, wherein said third-party device is configured to transmit programming data to said hearing instrument by using said optical data transmission arrangement.

5. The hearing instrument system according to claim 1, wherein said controller of said hearing instrument is configured to take the derived information as a basis for altering a setting parameter for processing the input signals.

6. The hearing instrument system according to claim 1, wherein said controller of said hearing instrument is configured to actuate said LED to emit a modulated light signal for bidirectional communication with said third-party device.

7. The hearing instrument system according to claim 1, wherein said controller has a general input/output connected to said LED.

8. The hearing instrument system according to claim 7, wherein said controller has a microprocessor with two general input/output pins, and said LED is connected in series with a resistor between said two general input/output pins.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0030] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, vertical-sectional view of a hearing instrument system including a hearing instrument and a third-party device, which forms a charger; and

[0031] FIG. 2 is a further diagrammatic, perspective view of a further exemplary embodiment of the hearing instrument system, in which the third-party device forms a programming interface; and

[0032] FIG. 3 is a further diagrammatic, detailed view of a controller of the hearing instrument system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] Referring now in detail to the figures of the drawings, in which mutually corresponding parts (and quantities) are provided with the same reference signs, and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is seen a diagrammatic illustration of a hearing instrument system (system 1 for short). The system 1 includes a hearing instrument, in the form of a hearing aid (hearing device 2 for short) in this case, and a third-party device 4 (that is to say a further device), in the form of a charger 6 in this case.

[0034] The hearing device 2 is in the form of a behind-the-ear hearing aid (also: “BTE”) by way of illustration in this case. The hearing device 2 includes at least one input transducer, specifically two in this case, each of which is formed by a microphone 8. These microphones 8 are used to receive ambient sounds and to convert them into corresponding input signals. In addition, the hearing device has an output transducer in the form of a loudspeaker 10 that is used for outputting output signals derived from the input signals. Furthermore, the hearing device 2 includes a controller 12 that is configured to process the input signals (for example to filter and/or amplify them on a frequency-dependent and user-dependent basis) and thus to generate the output signals therefrom. Moreover, the hearing device 2 has a housing 14 for housing the microphones 8, the loudspeaker 10 and the controller 12. In order to supply energy, the hearing device 2 also has a rechargeable battery 16. Additionally, the hearing device 2 includes an LED 18 connected to the controller 12, both in order to output optical signals OS and to receive optical signals OS. The controller 12 is configured to derive information from an optical signal OS received by the LED 18 and to use that information to continue to operate the hearing instrument 2. In order to charge the battery 16, the hearing device 2 additionally includes—by way of illustration in this case—an electrical charging interface 20.

[0035] The charger 6 is configured as a box and includes a pot-shaped lower part 22 and a lid 24, which together reversibly seal a charging interior 26 in which the hearing device 2 is disposed in the intended charging state. The charging interior 26 has an electrical charging connection 28 disposed in it that is used to make contact with the charging interface 20 in order to charge the battery 16 (see FIG. 1).

[0036] Additionally, the charger 6 also includes an LED 30. The LED 30 is used firstly to display a charging mode, for example by using a flash sequence, indicating that the hearing device 2 is currently being charged, and by using a continuous (at least appearing continuously for a user) glow (or optical signal OS). The LED 30 is also used to communicate with the hearing device 2. To this end, the LED 30 is disposed, and for example coupled to light guide elements (not shown), in such a way that the optical signals OS that are output are emitted both to the outside and into the charging interior 26.

[0037] By way of example, the actual optical signal OS that is transmitted is a flash sequence provided by using the respective LED 18 or 30, the duration of the pauses being of such brevity, however, that they are not visually detectable by a user. This preserves the impression of a continuous glow from the respective LED 18 or 30.

[0038] In one simple exemplary embodiment, the controller 12 detects the signals OS of the LED 30 and identifies from them that the hearing device 2 is disposed in the charging interior 26, and then switches off the sound output through the loudspeaker 10 in order to avoid feedback whistling. The optical signals OS emitted by the LED 30 are thus used as a “charging light signal” in this case.

[0039] In a further exemplary embodiment, the charger 6 and the hearing device 2 interchange more extensive information, however. By way of example, so-called log data can be interchanged. Similarly, it is possible—depending on whether the hearing device 2 or the charger 6 is connected indirectly or directly, for example by using a wireless connection, to a smartphone or a router (which are both a “fourth device”)— for firmware updates to be transmitted from the hearing device 2 to the charger 6 or vice versa. Since modern hearing devices 2 generally have an option to connect to a smartphone 50 or the like anyway, which is illustrated as a fourth device in FIG. 1, the charger 6 can advantageously be configured without such an interface in this instance and, during the charging process, can use the hearing device 2 as a “switching center,” router or the like, for example in order to make contact with a cloud server of the manufacturer and to interchange data therewith. The data are then sent between the cloud server and the charger 6 by way of the hearing device 2 and the smartphone 50 coupled thereto, for example.

[0040] FIG. 2 diagrammatically shows an alternative or additional exemplary embodiment. The third-party device 4 is in the form of a programming interface 40 (or programming device) in this case. The programming interface 40 is used to transmit programming data to the hearing device 2 and, in the exemplary embodiment shown, is to this end connected by a cable 42 to a PC (not shown) on which programming software for the hearing device 2 is installed so as to be executable. The programming interface 40 includes an LED 44 that is used to output the optical signals OS and therefore to transmit data to the hearing device 2. This LED 44 is optionally also connected in such a way that it is also used to receive the optical signals OS that are output by the LED 18 of the hearing device 2. Alternatively, the programming interface 40 includes a photocell 46 that performs the function of the receiver.

[0041] The LED 30 in the case of the charger 6 and the LED 44 and possibly the photocell 46 in the case of the programming interface 40, form a respective (bidirectional) data transmission arrangement. The LEDs 30 and 44 are thus optionally connected to an appropriate controller as a receiver, as on the hearing device 2.

[0042] In FIG. 3 an exemplary embodiment of the controller 12 is shown. The controller 12 includes a microprocessor 52. The microprocessor 52 includes at least two general input/output pins 54 (or input/output ports). The LED 18 of the hearing device 2 is connected in series with a resistor 56 between the two general input/output pins 54.

[0043] The subject matter of the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above. Rather, further embodiments of the invention can be derived from the above description by a person skilled in the art. In particular, the individual features of the invention and the variant embodiments thereof that are described on the basis of the various exemplary embodiments can also be combined with one another in other ways.

[0044] The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0045] 1 System [0046] 2 Hearing device [0047] 4 Third-party device [0048] 6 Charger [0049] 8 Microphone [0050] 10 Loudspeaker [0051] 12 Controller [0052] 14 Housing [0053] 16 Battery [0054] 18 LED [0055] 20 Charging interface [0056] 22 Lower part [0057] 24 Lid [0058] 26 Charging interior [0059] 28 Charging connection [0060] 30 LED [0061] 40 Programming interface [0062] 42 Cable [0063] 44 LED [0064] 46 Photocell [0065] 50 Smartphone [0066] 52 microprocessor [0067] 54 input/output pins [0068] 56 resistor [0069] OS Optical signal