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 is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15 / 710,712, filed Sep. 20, 2017; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15 / 695,566, filed Sep. 5, 2017; which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 385,914, filed Sep. 9, 2016; the full disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their 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. ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent is about improving hearing aid systems by designing them better and finding better ways to transmit energy and information between them. The technical effects of this patent are better-performing contact hearing aid systems and better methods for getting them to work together more efficiently.

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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