Contact hearing systems, apparatus and methods

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a hearing aid which includes a lateral ear canal assembly and a medial ear canal assembly. In embodiments of the invention the medial ear canal assembly may include smart circuitry adapted to control parameters and outputs of the medial ear canal assembly. In embodiments of the invention various methods and circuitry are described, wherein the methods and circuitry are adapted to improve the performance and efficiency of the hearing aid.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE[0001]This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62 / 385,914, filed Sep. 9, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]In contact hearing aid systems, the system, including a contact hearing device, an ear tip and an audio processor, is employed to enhance the hearing of a user. Depending upon the contact hearing aid, the system may also include an external communication device, such as a cellular phone, which communicates with the audio processor. An example of such system is the Earlens Light Driven Hearing Aid manufactured by Earlens Corporation. The Earlens hearing-aid transmits an audio signal by laser to a tympanic membrane transducer which is placed on an ear drum of a user. In such systems, it may be beneficial to add smart components to the contact hearing device in order to improve the overall function and / or efficiency of the system. It may also be bene...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent is about improving contact hearing aid systems by designing them better and finding better ways to transfer energy and information between their components. This will make them more effective and easier to use for people with hearing difficulties.

Problems solved by technology

In such systems, the bias consumed a significant amount of energy in the transmitted signal.

Unfortunately, the use of a sliding bias, while reducing the amount of energy required for the bias, does not eliminate the need for a bias signal, which consumes energy, potentially resulting in a shorter battery life or the need for a larger battery.

Further, the use of a sliding bias may result in sound artifacts which are audible to the hearing aid wearer.

This arrangement could be disadvantageous because the output of the medial ear canal assembly was subject to change, by, for example, changes in the distance between the medial and lateral ear canal assemblies, which may be caused by, for example, the positioning of the lateral ear canal assembly in the ear.

Further, in prior systems, such as those using light to transmit sound through the ear canal of a user or from a lateral hearing aid assembly to a medial hearing aid assembly, it may be difficult to obtain and maintain alignment between the transmitting element (e.g., a laser) on the lateral ear canal assembly and the receiving element (e.g., a photodetector) on the medial ear canal assembly.

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