Apparatus for ascertaining a personal tinnitus frequency

Abstract

The present invention comprises an apparatus for ascertaining a personal tinnitus frequency consisting of an audio signal generator unit and an associated audio signal earphone, which apparatus provides a first audio signal whose frequency is continuously adjustable. The invention is characterized in that compensating means are provided in order to eliminate ambient noise through active noise reduction.

Claims

1. An apparatus for ascertaining a personal tinnitus frequency of a user comprising: an audio signal generator; an audio signal frequency adjuster provided on the audio signal generator; an associated audio signal earphone comprising at least an ear plug; and a heater for heating an ear region provided on the ear plug; wherein the apparatus is configured to generate and output a first audio signal whose frequency is continuously adjustable with the audio signal frequency adjuster to tune to and thereby ascertain a personal tinnitus frequency of the user.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a selector for selecting the first audio signal and/or a second audio signal, arranged on the audio signal generator.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an adjuster for adjusting the ascertained personal tinnitus frequency in a continuously regulatable fashion over a narrow frequency range.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an audio element for altering the ascertained personal tinnitus frequency arranged on the signal generator, whereby the apparatus is configured to produce a second audio signal in which the ascertained personal tinnitus frequency has been altered by the audio element.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a memory unit connector for connecting a memory unit to the audio signal generator, arranged on the audio signal generator.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the audio signal generator is configured to be supplied with power by an external and/or an internal power source.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the audio signal generator is a mobile unit.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the earphone further comprises an earphone portion surrounding the ear plug.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein in the earphone portion surrounding the ear plug further comprises compensating means to eliminate ambient noise through active noise reduction.

10. An apparatus for ascertaining a personal tinnitus frequency comprising: an audio signal generator; an audio signal frequency adjuster provided on the audio signal generator; and a headphone unit including a first earphone and a second earphone; wherein the first earphone comprises compensating means in order to eliminate ambient noise through active noise reduction; wherein the second earphone comprises an ear plug having a heater thereon for heating an ear region; and wherein the apparatus is configured to provide a first audio signal whose frequency is continuously adjustable with the audio signal frequency adjuster to tune to and thereby ascertain a personal tinnitus frequency of the user.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) A plurality of exemplary embodiments are explained in more detail, providing further details and advantages, with reference to schematic drawings that appear below and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an apparatus according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic procedure for a therapy unit by means of the apparatus according to the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a further schematic illustration of an audio signal generator unit of the apparatus according to the invention; and

(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of an arrangement for the apparatus according to the invention on a user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) FIG. 1 shows an apparatus 1 according to the present invention, consisting of an audio signal generator unit 2 and earphones 7, 8 arranged thereon, a mains plug 9, a memory unit 10 and a detection element 31. The audio signal generator unit 2 comprises an indicator unit 3, adjusting means 4, a regulating element 5 for adjusting audio signals, an internal energy source 6 and contact means 11 for the external earphones 7, 8, the mains plug 9, the memory unit 10 and the detection element 31.

(7) The apparatus 1 according to the invention does not have to contain all the elements and does not have to be formed in the integrated or external embodiment shown.

(8) Use of the apparatus for ascertaining a personal tinnitus frequency can proceed as shown in FIG. 2, for example (in this regard see also FIGS. 1 and 3).

(9) In a first step 12, the user 33 activates the audio signal generator unit by operating an on/off switch 26 on the audio signal generator unit 2. If need be, the user 33 additionally connects the memory unit 10 to the apparatus 1.

(10) In a next step 13, the user 33 considers the state of charge of a battery or of a storage battery of the apparatus. The user is able to take this from the indicator unit 3 on the apparatus 1, for example.

(11) Should the consideration in the further step 14 result in a state of charge of the apparatus 1 not being sufficient for use by the user 33, the user 33 has the opportunity firstly to connect the device to the mains plug 9, and hence to charge the device, in a further step 15 and to wait until the apparatus 1 has a sufficient state of charge in order to ensure use of the apparatus 1 over the full period of use, or secondly to connect the mains plug 9 for charging the internal energy source 6 and at the same time to continue using the apparatus at a fixed location, by virtue of the mains plug 9.

(12) If the state of charge of the apparatus 1 is sufficient, the user 33 puts on an earphone with active noise reduction 7 in a further step 16 and then ascertains his personal tinnitus frequency without interference from ambient noise.

(13) In an ensuing step 17, the user 33 checks the result of the ascertainment and if need be repeats step 16 until the personal tinnitus frequency has been ascertained correctly.

(14) In a subsequent step 18, the user 33 exchanges the earphones with active noise reduction 7 for heatable in-ear earphones 8.

(15) In a next step 19, the user 33 activates the heating of the in-ear earphones 8 to heat the ear and selects a second audio signal using adjusting means 4 on the audio signal generator unit 2 and activates said second audio signal.

(16) In an ensuing step 20, the user 33 alters, if need be, both the volume of the second audio signal, using the adjusting means 4 on the audio signal generator unit 2, and the temperature using the adjusting means 4 on the audio signal generator unit 2.

(17) Should a check in step 21 result in the volume and/or the temperature being unusable for the user 3, the user 33 repeats step 20.

(18) If the volume and the temperature are pleasant for the user 33, the user 33 uses adjusting means 4, for example, in a further step 22 to select the mode in which the music or the second audio signal is intended to be activated on the audio signal generator unit 2. By way of example, the user 33 could select a mode in which the tinnitus frequency in the second audio signal is masked in a narrowband range around the personal tinnitus frequency. The user 33 could preferably choose a mode in which, by way of example, the phase of the tinnitus frequency in the second audio signal is positively (constructively) or negatively (destructively) superimposed at the location or in the range of the personal tinnitus frequency.

(19) In a concluding step 23, the user 33 uses the adjusting means 4 to start a tinnitus therapy unit.

(20) FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of the audio signal generator unit 2. The audio signal generator unit 2 can comprise an adjusting means 24 that can be used to set the volume of the first or second audio signal. In addition, the audio signal generator unit 2 can comprise an adjusting means 25 that can be used to set the mode of the tinnitus treatment. Furthermore, the audio signal generator unit 2 has a switch 26 arranged on it that can be used to switch the apparatus 1 on and off.

(21) For the purpose of selecting the first and second audio signals, operator control elements 27 on the audio signal generator unit 2 are available to the user 33. These allow the user 33 to select the relevant audio file comparatively conveniently. Furthermore, the audio signal generator unit 2 can comprise an indicator element 28 that shows the state of charge of the external or internal energy source, for example, of the internally arranged storage battery.

(22) In addition, the audio signal generator unit 2 may have indicator elements 29 arranged on it that are used to visually display the amplitude or the phase of the personal tinnitus frequency for the user 33. Operator control elements 30 can be used by the user 33 to vary the amplitude or phase, for example.

(23) FIG. 4 shows the arrangement of the apparatus according to the invention on a user 33. Arranged on one ear 34 of the user 33 is an earphone 8 in the form of an earplug. This may have a heating arrangement 38 arranged on it, for example. In addition, it can reproduce the second audio signal, for example. Furthermore, an earphone 7 is arranged over the ear 34 and over the earphone 8 and is in a form such that it encloses the ear 34 completely. By way of example, the earphone 7 may have compensating means 37 for active noise reduction for ambient noise arranged on it.

(24) The earphones 7, 8 are connected to the audio generator unit 2 by means of cables 32. The audio generator unit 2 is particularly in a form such that it can be held by the user 33 as a mobile device using one hand 35.

(25) By way of example, the arm 36 of the user 33 furthermore has a detection element 31 arranged on it that can be used to ascertain the pulse or the blood pressure of the user 33, for example. The detection element 31 is connected to the audio generator unit 2 by means of a cable 32, for example.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

(26) 1 Apparatus

(27) 2 Audio signal generator unit

(28) 3 Indicator unit

(29) 4 Adjusting means

(30) 5 Regulating element

(31) 6 Energy source

(32) 7 Earphone

(33) 8 Earphone

(34) 9 Mains plug

(35) 10 Memory unit

(36) 11 Contact means

(37) 12-23 Use step

(38) 24 Adjusting means

(39) 25 Adjusting means

(40) 26 Switch

(41) 27 Operator control element

(42) 28 Indicator element

(43) 29 Indicator element

(44) 30 Operator control element

(45) 31 Detection element

(46) 32 Cable

(47) 33 User

(48) 34 Ear

(49) 35 Hand

(50) 36 Arm

(51) 37 Compensating means

(52) 38 Heating arrangement