METHOD FOR CHARGING AT LEAST ONE HEARING DEVICE AND A HEARING AID SYSTEM

Abstract

A method for wirelessly charging at least one hearing device (4) via at least one power transmission unit (14) is disclosed. The method comprises: Charging at least one power receiving and storing unit of the at least one hearing device (4) via a wireless charge field of the at least one power transmission unit (14); Turning off the at least one hearing device (4) when the at least one power receiving and storing unit of the at least one hearing device (4) is substantially fully charged; Rebooting the at least one hearing device (4) when the at least one wireless charge field is removed; and Determining the resonance frequency of a coil element of the at least one hearing device (4) after rebooting. Further, a hearing aid system is disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for wirelessly or contacting charging at least one hearing device via at least one power transmission unit, the method comprising: charging at least one power receiving and storing unit of the at least one hearing device via a wireless or a contact charge field of the at least one power transmission unit; turning off the at least one hearing device when the at least one power receiving and storing unit of the at least one hearing device is substantially fully charged; rebooting the at least one hearing device when the at least one wireless or contact charge field is removed; and determining whether the at least one hearing device is located in the proximity of the at least one power transmission unit based on determining the resonance frequency of a coil element of the at least one hearing device after rebooting.

2. Method according to claim 1, where the step of determining proximity of the at least one power transmission unit further comprises comparing the determined resonance frequency to a threshold or a stored resonance frequency.

3. Method according to claim 1, the method further comprising: setting at least one of at least two different operating modes of the at least one hearing device depending on the determined resonance frequency of the coil element.

4. Method according to claim 3, wherein one of the at least two different operating modes of the at least one hearing device is a normal operating mode of the at least one hearing device.

5. Method according to claim 3, wherein one of the at least two different operating modes of the at least one hearing device is a power off mode and/or a low power mode of the at least one hearing device.

6. Method according to claim 3, wherein the at least one power transmission unit comprises a housing and an openable and closable lid, and wherein the at least one hearing device is set into one of the at least two different operating modes depending on whether the lid is opened or closed.

7. Method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one power transmission unit comprises a housing and an openable and closable lid, and wherein the at least one power transmission unit is set into one of at least two different operating modes depending on whether the lid is opened or closed.

8. Method according to claim 7, wherein one of the at least two different operating modes of the at least one power transmission unit is a power off mode of the at least one power transmission unit and one of the at least two different operating modes of the at least one power transmission unit is a normal operating mode of the at least one power transmission unit.

9. Method according to claim 1, the method further comprising: turning on the at least one hearing device from a power off mode by pushing a button of the at least one hearing device and/or turning on the at least one hearing device from a power off mode by inserting the at least one hearing device into the at least one power transmission unit.

10. Method according to claim 1, the method further comprising: determining a resonance frequency of the coil element of the at least one hearing device when the at least one hearing device is removed from the at least one power transmission unit and/or; when the at least one power receiving and storing unit of the at least one hearing device is fully charged and/or; when the at least one power transmission unit is in a power off mode.

11. Method according to claim 1, the method further comprising: charging the at least one power receiving and storing unit of the at least one hearing device via at least one inductive coil of the at least one power transmission unit; calibrating the at least one inductive coil of the at least one power transmission unit by pulse width modulating or quantized voltage regulation of the voltage supplied by the at least one inductive coil of the at least one power transmission unit.

12. Method according to claim 1, the method further comprising: charging the at least one power receiving and storing unit of the at least one hearing device via at least one inductive coil of the at least one power transmission unit; calibrating the at least one inductive coil of the at least one power transmission unit by controlling the voltage supplied by the at least one inductive coil of the at least one power transmission unit via a voltage controlled oscillator.

13. Method according to claim 1, the method further comprising: charging the at least one power receiving and storing unit of the at least one hearing device via at least one inductive coil of the at least one power transmission unit; calibrating the at least one inductive coil of the at least one power transmission unit by controlling the voltage supplied by the at least one inductive coil of the at least one power transmission unit via a self-resonant circuit.

14. Method according to claim 11, wherein the at least one power transmission unit comprises a housing and an openable and closable lid; the method further comprising: calibrating the at least one inductive coil of the at least one power transmission unit when the lid of the power transmission unit is closed and/or a button of the power transmission unit is pressed.

15. A hearing aid system comprising: a hearing device and at least one power transmission unit, wherein the hearing device including: a housing; and at least one power receiving and storing unit for supplying the at least one hearing device with power; and wherein the at least one power transmission unit is configured to wirelessly or contacting charge the at least one power receiving and storing unit of the at least one hearing device; wherein the hearing device is configured to turning off the at least one hearing device when the at least one power receiving and storing unit of the at least one hearing device is substantially fully charged; and to rebooting the at least one hearing device when the at least one wireless or contact charge field is removed; and to determining whether the at least one hearing device is located in the proximity of the at least one power transmission unit based on determining the resonance frequency of a coil element of the at least one hearing device after rebooting.

16. The hearing aid system of claim 15, wherein the at least one power transmission unit includes a housing and an openable and closable lid.

17. Method according to claim 4, wherein one of the at least two different operating modes of the at least one hearing device is a power off mode and/or a low power mode of the at least one hearing device.

18. Method according to claim 4, wherein the at least one power transmission unit comprises a housing and an openable and closable lid, and wherein the at least one hearing device is set into one of the at least two different operating modes depending on whether the lid is opened or closed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0032] The aspects of the disclosure may be best understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures. The figures are schematic and simplified for clarity, and they just show details to improve the understanding of the claims, while other details are left out. Throughout, the same reference numerals are used for identical or corresponding parts. The individual features of each aspect may each be combined with any or all features of the other aspects. These and other aspects, features and/or technical effect will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the illustrations described hereinafter in which:

[0033] FIG. 1 schematically shows a first embodiment of a hearing aid system in a perspective view; and

[0034] FIG. 2 schematically shows a second embodiment of a hearing aid system in a perspective view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various configurations. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. Several aspects of the apparatus and methods are described by various blocks, functional units, modules, components, circuits, steps, processes, algorithms, etc. (collectively referred to as “elements”). Depending upon particular application, design constraints or other reasons, these elements may be implemented using electronic hardware, computer program, or any combination thereof.

[0036] The electronic hardware may include micro-electronic-mechanical systems (MEMS), integrated circuits (e.g. application specific), microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), gated logic, discrete hardware circuits, printed circuit boards (PCB) (e.g. flexible PCBs), and other suitable hardware configured to perform the various functionality described throughout this disclosure, e.g. sensors, e.g. for sensing and/or registering physical properties of the environment, the device, the user, etc. Computer program shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executables, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise.

[0037] A hearing device (or hearing instrument, hearing assistance device) may be or include a hearing aid that is adapted or configured to improve or augment the hearing capability of a user by receiving an acoustic signal from a user's surroundings, generating a corresponding audio signal, possibly modifying the audio signal and providing the possibly modified audio signal as an audible signal to at least one of the user's ears. ‘Improving or augmenting the hearing capability of a user’ may include compensating for an individual user's specific hearing loss. The “hearing device” may further refer to a device such as a hearable, an earphone or a headset adapted or configured to receive an audio signal electronically, possibly modifying the audio signal and providing the possibly modified audio signals as an audible signal to at least one of the user's ears. Such audible signals may be provided in the form of an acoustic signal radiated into the user's outer ear, or an acoustic signal transferred as mechanical vibrations to the user's inner ears through bone structure of the user's head and/or through parts of the middle ear of the user or electric signals transferred directly or indirectly to the cochlear nerve and/or to the auditory cortex of the user.

[0038] The hearing device is adapted or configured to be worn in any known way. This may include i) arranging a unit of the hearing device behind the ear with a tube leading air-borne acoustic signals into the ear canal or with a receiver/loudspeaker arranged close to or in the ear canal and connected by conductive wires (or wirelessly) to the unit behind the ear, such as in a Behind-the-Ear type hearing aid, and/or ii) arranging the hearing device entirely or partly in the pinna and/or in the ear canal of the user such as in an In-the-Ear type hearing aid or In-the-Canal/Completely-in-Canal type hearing aid, or iii) arranging a unit of the hearing device attached to a fixture implanted into the skull bone such as in a Bone Anchored Hearing Aid or a Cochlear Implant, or iv) arranging a unit of the hearing device as an entirely or partly implanted unit such as in a Bone Anchored Hearing Aid or a Cochlear Implant. The hearing device may be implemented in one single unit (housing) or in a number of units individually connected to each other.

[0039] Two or more hearing devices may be connected to a system of hearing devices, and a “binaural system of hearing devices” refers to a system comprising two hearing devices where the devices are adapted or configured to cooperatively provide audible signals to both of the user's ears. These systems may further include one or more auxiliary device that communicates with at least one hearing device, the auxiliary device affecting the operation of the hearing devices and/or benefitting from the functioning of the hearing devices. A wired or wireless communication link between the at least one hearing device and the auxiliary device may be established that allows for exchanging information (e.g. control and status signals, possibly audio signals) between the at least one hearing device and the auxiliary device. Such auxiliary devices may include at least one of a remote control, a remote microphone, an audio gateway device, a wireless communication device, e.g. a mobile phone (such as a smartphone) or a tablet or another device, e.g. comprising a graphical interface, a public-address system, a car audio system or a music player, or a combination thereof. The audio gateway may be adapted or configured to receive a multitude of audio signals such as from an entertainment device like a TV or a music player, a telephone apparatus like a mobile telephone or a computer, e.g. a PC. The auxiliary device may further be adapted or configured to (e.g. allow a user to) select and/or combine an appropriate one of the received audio signals (or combination of signals) for transmission to the at least one hearing device. The remote control is adapted or configured to control functionality and/or operation of the at least one hearing device. The function of the remote control may be implemented in a smartphone or other (e.g. portable) electronic device, the smartphone/electronic device possibly running an application (APP) that controls functionality of the at least one hearing device.

[0040] In general, a hearing device includes i) an input unit such as a microphone for receiving an acoustic signal from a user's surroundings and providing a corresponding input audio signal, and/or ii) a receiving unit for electronically receiving an input audio signal. The hearing device further includes a signal processing unit for processing the input audio signal and an output unit for providing an audible signal to the user in dependence on the processed audio signal.

[0041] The input unit may include multiple input microphones, e.g. for providing direction-dependent audio signal processing. Such directional microphone system is adapted or configured to (relatively) enhance a target acoustic source among a multitude of acoustic sources in the user's environment and/or to attenuate other sources (e.g. noise). In one aspect, the directional system is adapted or configured to detect (such as adaptively detect) from which direction a particular part of the microphone signal originates. This may be achieved by using conventionally known methods. The signal processing unit may include an amplifier that is adapted or configured to apply a frequency dependent gain to the input audio signal. The signal processing unit may further be adapted or configured to provide other relevant functionality such as compression, noise reduction, etc. The output unit may include an output transducer such as a loudspeaker/receiver for providing an air-borne acoustic signal transcutaneously or percutaneously to the skull bone or a vibrator for providing a structure-borne or liquid-borne acoustic signal. In some hearing devices, the output unit may include one or more output electrodes for providing the electric signals such as in a Cochlear Implant.

[0042] Now referring to FIG. 1, which schematically shows a first embodiment of a hearing aid system 2 in a perspective view.

[0043] The hearing aid system 2 comprises two hearing devices 4, wherein the hearing devices 4 are configured as behind the ear hearing devices 4. Therefore, the hearing devices 4 comprise a housing 6 to be arranged behind the ear of a user, wherein the housing is connected via a cable 8 to a speaker (not shown) which may be arranged inside the ear of the user. The housing 6 comprises at least one power receiving and storing unit which is preferably, or advantageously, formed as a battery. Further, the housing 6 comprises two microphones 10 to provide direction dependent audio signal processing. The microphones 10 may enhance a target acoustic source and/or attenuate other undesirable acoustic sources. The housing 6 of the hearing device 4 may comprise a Status LED 12 which for example may indicate the charging status of the battery.

[0044] The hearing aid system 2 comprises one power transmission unit 14 which is adapted or configured to wirelessly or contacting charge the two hearing devices 4. The power transmission unit 14 is preferably, or advantageously, configured as a charger 14 with a housing 15. The charger 14 comprises two recesses 16 in which, respectively, the two hearing devices 4 may be placed in order to ensure a preferable charging position of the hearing devices 4 and the charger 14. The charger 14 may further comprise a Status LED 18 which may for example indicate the power level of the charger 14 if the charger 14 comprises a battery and/or charge information relating to the hearing device(s). The housing 15 of the charger 14 may comprise a top part 20 and a bottom part 22 which are detachable from each other. Hereby, the charger 14 may for example be demounted in order to repair the charger 14 or to replace a battery of the charger 14.

[0045] Preferably, or advantageously, the charger 14 comprises inductive coils which are corresponding to inductive coils of the hearing devices 4 in order to wirelessly and inductively charge the batteries of the hearing devices 4.

[0046] FIG. 2 schematically shows a second embodiment of a hearing aid system 2 in a perspective view. Differing from the first embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the charger 14 comprises a housing 15 and an openable and closable lid 24. The lid 24 comprises two openings 26 which are configured to surround the two hearing devices 4 when the lid 24 is closed. Further the charger 14 comprises a sensor (not shown) which is able to detect whether the lid 24 is closed or opened. The sensor could be a Hall sensor. Hereby, the charger 14 and/or the hearing devices 4 may be set into an operating mode, depending on the opening status of the lid 24, such as a charging state. Further, the charger 14 comprises a plurality of status LEDs 18 and a cavity 18 to store the speakers of the two hearing devices 4. The LEDs 18 may be configured to indicate the state of an internal battery of the charger device. This could include lighting difference colors of the different LEDs, e.g. green for the first two LEDs and an orange light in a third LED to indicate a discharge level. One or more of the LEDs may be pulsed, such as relatively slowly pulsed, in order to indicate that the charger is currently charging one or more hearing devices. As the charger device may communicate with the hearing device or devices being charged, it is possible to output visible feedback via one or more of the LEDs to the user based on that communication. This could be to indicate that charging is done, is nearly done, such as 80% done or the like. Such indication could be achieved via one or more LEDS distinct from one or more LEDs indicating a battery level of a battery internal to the charger.

[0047] The charger 14 comprises an opening or space 28 into which the cable and speaker/output transducer/in-the-ear housing 8 may be placed during charging/storing. The charger may include an auditory output transducer to communicate information to the user, such as a sound, beep or more complex sounds, when charging is commenced and/or finished. Additionally, haptic feedback to the user may be given, e.g. when a hearing device is correctly inserted and/or when charging is commenced.

[0048] Communication between the charger/power transmission unit and the hearing device may be established via contacts also used for contact charging and/or via wireless connection between the charger/power transmission unit and the hearing device. Such a connection may be used for the charger to obtain information on the charge level of the hearing device, such that the charger is able to determine if charging should be stopped or slowed down, e.g. by lowering charge level. Communication may be achieved via load communication or other means. Communication signals may be modulated using Amplitude Shift Keying, Frequency Shift Keying, Phase Shift Keying, Binary Frequency Shift Keying and/or variants hereof. The communication may be encoded using a proprietary protocol or a standardized protocol.

[0049] It is intended that the structural features of the devices described above, either in the detailed description and/or in the claims, may be combined with steps of the method, when appropriately substituted by a corresponding process.

[0050] As used, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well (i.e. to have the meaning “at least one”), unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “comprises,” “including,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof It will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element, but an intervening element may also be present, unless expressly stated otherwise. Furthermore, “connected” or “coupled” as used herein may include wirelessly connected or coupled. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The steps of any disclosed method are not limited to the exact order stated herein, unless expressly stated otherwise.

[0051] It should be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” or “an aspect” or features included as “may” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined as suitable in one or more embodiments of the disclosure. The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects. Reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more.” Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more.

[0052] Accordingly, the scope should be judged in terms of the claims that follow.