METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING A SHORT-RANGE RADIO CONNECTION AND CHARGER

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for establishing a short-range radio connection, in particular a Bluetooth connection, between a first device and a second device, as well as to a hearing aid and a charger.

[0002] A short-range radio connection is a radio connection, e.g. at a transmission frequency of a few GHz over a short distance of e.g. a maximum of several 10 m between two devices and is used for data transmission, i.e. for the exchange of data between these two devices. An example of a short-range radio connection is a Bluetooth connection. A short-range radio connection is established between two devices by exchanging pairing data prior to the actual connection, i.e. when establishing the connection, in order to pair the two devices and thus ultimately establish the short-range radio connection. Bluetooth technology in general and the establishment of a Bluetooth connection in particular are described in the BLUETOOTH CORE SPECIFICATION Version 5.1, which can be accessed, for example, at www.bluetooth.com.

[0003] A hearing aid is typically used to provide hearing-impaired users with hearing loss. The hearing aid incorporates a microphone that captures ambient sound and generates an electrical input signal. This signal is then fed into the hearing aid's signal processing system for modification. The modification is performed based on the user's individual audiogram, which is assigned to the hearing aid, so that the user's individual hearing deficit is compensated. The signal processing system produces an electrical output signal, which is then converted back into sound via the hearing aid's receiver and transmitted to the user.

[0004] A charger is generally used to charge another device by connecting that device to the charger. Once the device is connected to the charger and charging has taken place, electrical power is transferred from the charger to the device. For example, it is conceivable that the energy storage device of a hearing aid is rechargeable and can be charged by connecting the hearing aid to a suitable charger.

[0005] A user often needs to connect two devices for data exchange, especially via a short-range wireless connection, as this ensures high mobility and flexibility while maintaining security due to the limited range. For example, it is conceivable to pair a hearing aid with a smartphone to control or adjust the hearing aid using the smartphone, or conversely, to send data from the hearing aid to the smartphone for processing there, for example.

[0006] Pairing two devices via a short-range wireless connection may be challenging for some users, especially those with little technical experience, and may also require a certain amount of time. Therefore, the goal is to achieve as automated a setup as possible, or at least one that is as easy to handle as possible for a single user. This is especially important if the short-range connection is to be re-established regularly or if different devices are to be connected in different configurations.

[0007] US 2017 / 0013342 A1 describes a method for wirelessly pairing an audio output device with a partner device. The method detects the opening of a cover of a housing containing the audio output device.

[0008] WO 2007 / 097892 A2 describes a method for communicating with a hearing aid. An audible carrier frequency is transmitted, modulated with data, and detected in the hearing aid using a filter.

[0009] Further hearing aids are described in US 2013 / 0316649 A1 and WO 2008 / 125107 A1.

[0010] Finally, US 2013 / 0257364 A1 describes a method for wireless communication.

[0011] Against this background, it is an object of the invention to improve the establishment of a short-range radio connection between two devices and to simplify it as much as possible. To this end, an improved method for establishing a short-range radio connection is to be provided. Furthermore, an improved hearing aid and an improved charger are to be specifically provided, which are used in the method.

[0012] The object is achieved according to the invention by a method having the features according to claim 1, by a method having the features according to claim 2, and by a charger having the features according to claim 12. Advantageous embodiments, further developments, and variants are the subject of the dependent claims. The statements made in connection with the method also apply mutatis mutandis to the hearing aid and the charger, and vice versa. Where method steps of the method are described below, advantageous embodiments for the hearing aid and the charger result, in particular, from the fact that the latter is designed to carry out one or more of these method steps.

[0013] The method is used to establish a short-range radio connection, in particular a Bluetooth connection, between a first device and a second device. The two devices each have an interface for the short-range radio connection, e.g., an antenna, in particular a Bluetooth antenna.

[0014] The establishment of a short-range radio connection is also referred to as pairing. In the case of a Bluetooth connection, this is preferably a low-energy Bluetooth connection, also known as BLE (i.e., "Bluetooth Low Energy"). The short-range radio connection is characterized in particular by its limited range of a few tens of meters at most and its transmission frequency in the range of a few GHz.

[0015] In the method, a charger designed to charge a hearing aid facilitates the establishment of the short-range radio connection between the two devices by transmitting coupling data from the first device to the second device for establishing the short-range radio connection, so that the second device is coupled to the first device and the short-range radio connection is established. The coupling data is in particular authentication data, identification data, encryption data, e.g. a so-called passkey, or a combination thereof. In general, the coupling data is used to couple the two devices and is required prior to the actual coupling in order to successfully establish the short-range radio connection. The exact nature of the coupling data is not important in itself.

[0016] A key idea of ​​the invention is in particular the use of a charger of a hearing aid to mediate the establishment of a short-range radio connection between two devices, which then do not have to directly exchange the necessary pairing data with each other. Instead, the pairing data is provided by the charger and transmitted to a respective device as needed in order to connect it to another device. The charger is therefore also referred to as the master device. Apart from the pairing data, the charger itself does not exchange any further data with the two devices; this happens directly between the two devices after the short-range radio connection has been established. The charger is therefore not a relay for the short-range radio connection, but rather an intermediary in the establishment of the short-range radio connection.The mediation by the charger makes it easier to pair the two devices via the short-range radio connection, as the devices no longer have to provide the pairing data themselves. This is particularly advantageous in designs where the pairing data is not transmitted in the same way as the data, but in a different way, which may require an interface that is unsuitable for use with one of the devices. For example, NFC antennas are typically larger than Bluetooth antennas due to their lower transmission frequency, i.e. they require more space, and are unsuitable for use in a hearing aid, whereas a Bluetooth antenna can usually be easily integrated into a hearing aid. Furthermore, the charger allows various devices to be easily paired with one another automatically and centrally, without the user having to do this manually for each individual short-range radio connection.

[0017] A variety of devices can be used as the first and second device.

[0018] Particularly preferred is an embodiment in which the first device is the hearing aid which can be charged with the charger, so that the charger then mediates the establishment of a short-range radio connection between the associated hearing aid and any other device.

[0019] Preferably, the second device is a mobile terminal, in particular a smartphone. Alternatively, the second device is a TV or any other device, in particular an audio source for the hearing aid, i.e., the second device provides an audio signal that is to be transmitted to the hearing aid via the short-range radio connection and is to be, and expediently is, converted into sound and output by the hearing aid.

[0020] In principle, any combination of two devices is conceivable and suitable. For a hearing aid, a smartphone, and a TV, the charger then mediates between any two of these devices. However, mediation between a hearing aid and another device is particularly advantageous, as a hearing aid, unlike a mobile device and a TV, is typically subject to significantly greater space and energy consumption constraints and therefore particularly benefits from mediation by the associated charger.

[0021] As already indicated above, the method is particularly advantageous if the coupling data should or even must be transmitted by a different method than the data transmitted over the short-range radio link after it has been established. In a preferred embodiment, the coupling data is transmitted from the charger to the second device OOB (abbreviation for "out of band"), i.e., outside the transmission frequency range of the short-range radio link. The short-range radio link has a transmission frequency range that is used for data transmission. OOB is understood to mean any frequency range that does not overlap with or lie within this transmission frequency range. This is based on the consideration that a different type of connection for transmission may be more advantageous than the short-range radio link itself.

[0022] To transmit pairing data from the charger to the second device over-the-air, an NFC connection is particularly preferred. This means the pairing data is transmitted over-the-air using NFC (short for "near field communication"). NFC is also known as near-field communication and is essentially an alternative to Bluetooth, but usually has a lower transmission frequency and typically a shorter range. For example, the transmission frequency of an NFC connection is below 1 GHz and in particular in the range of 1 MHz to 100 MHz. The NFC connection, for example, has a maximum range of 1 cm.

[0023] Preferably, the charger has an NFC tag in which the pairing data of the first device is stored. This pairing data is transmitted OOB to the second device via NFC. The NFC tag therefore serves, in particular, as a memory for the pairing data. The pairing data is, for example, already stored on the NFC tag during manufacture of the charger or during a fitting session for the hearing aid and, accordingly, also for the associated charger. Alternatively or additionally, the charger retrieves the pairing data from the first or second device, or from another device, as needed and stores it in the NFC tag.

[0024] One advantage of transmitting the coupling data OOB with regard to the short-range radio connection is that the charger itself only needs to be configured for data transmission via OOB and not for transmission via the short-range radio connection. For example, the charger is only configured to establish an NFC connection, but not a Bluetooth connection, although the latter is also advantageous in addition to the possibility of an NFC connection.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the charger detects when the second device approaches the charger, in particular by means of NFC, and then transmits the pairing data to the second device, e.g. after an NFC connection has been established with the second device. The approach of the second device to the charger serves as a reliable indicator that a user wishes to pair the second device with the first device. An NFC connection is particularly suitable for particularly reliable detection of an approach, since accidental approach is very unlikely due to the short range of the NFC antennas. The charger and the second device then expediently each have an NFC antenna for establishing an NFC connection and for the OOB exchange of the pairing data.The described detection of the second device approaching the charger, particularly preferably the establishment of an NFC connection between the charger and the second device, thus advantageously serves to initiate the establishment of the short-range radio connection, i.e., as a switch, so to speak, to initiate and carry out the coupling of the two devices. In this way, the necessary proximity for the NFC connection is used as a reliable trigger, without the first device itself having to be equipped with an NFC antenna and accordingly is preferably free of an NFC antenna. This is particularly advantageous when a hearing aid is the first device, since an NFC antenna cannot be easily integrated into a hearing aid. However, an NFC antenna can typically be easily integrated into the charger and therefore the charger in the present case also preferably has an NFC antenna and generally an OOB antenna.

[0026] The first device can be connected to the charger for charging. "Connected" means that an energy exchange is possible between the first device and the charger for charging an energy storage device of the first device. Accordingly, charging occurs contactlessly, e.g., inductively using a pair of coils, or using charging contacts on the charger and the first device. In any case, connection typically requires bringing the charger and the first device into a specific spatial relationship, for example, connecting the first device to the charger, plugging it into it, inserting it, or placing it on it, or the like.

[0027] In a first embodiment, the charger transmits the pairing data to the second device when the first device is connected to the charger, in particular for charging. Accordingly, the short-range radio connection is also established while the first device is connected to the charger. Disconnecting the first device from the charger to establish the short-range radio connection is then advantageously not necessary and improves the handling of the various devices. The charger only transmits the pairing data to the second device when a switch on the charger is also operated. In order to make the actual pairing of the devices controllable, the switch must also be operated to initiate the pairing. In this way, the user can specifically control when the first and second devices are paired using a simple switch.This is particularly possible and advantageous in addition to the above-described use of an NFC connection as a virtual switch, so to speak. The previous statements apply analogously in this regard. In the first embodiment, the charger has a shell, and the first device can be connected to the charger by inserting it into the shell. The switch is arranged in the shell and can be actuated by pressing down on the first device in the shell.

[0028] Alternatively, in a second embodiment, the charger has a tray and a lid, and the first device can be connected to the charger by placing it in the tray, and the lid can be opened to remove the first device from the tray. When the first device is connected to the charger, the charger transmits the pairing data to the second device when the lid is opened. For this purpose, the lid activates, for example, a switch as described above. In this way, automatic pairing, i.e., automatic establishment of the short-range radio connection, is realized when the charger is opened shortly before the first device is removed from the charger. When the lid is opened, i.e., when the charger is opened, it can be assumed with sufficient probability that the first device will subsequently be removed and thus separated from the charger, in particular with the intention of also using the first device, for example, in the case of a hearing aid.It should be placed in or on one ear and worn for its intended purpose. Therefore, especially in this situation, the short-range radio connection is established automatically, so the user does not have to do this manually.

[0029] Additionally, pairing is also advantageous when the first device is not currently connected to the charger, but rather is disconnected from it and is being used as intended, for example, as described above. Therefore, in a suitable embodiment, when the first device is not connected to the charger, the pairing data is transmitted to the second device as soon as the charger detects that the second device is approaching the charger. The detection of the approach occurs, in particular, as already described above, e.g., using NFC or a distance sensor.

[0030] In a practical embodiment, the charger receives the pairing data of the first device from the charger via a further short-range radio connection, in particular a further Bluetooth connection, between the charger and the first device. This advantageously enables the pairing data to be updated or changed, e.g., if the first device is replaced with another first device. The pairing data obtained in this way are expediently stored in the NFC tag mentioned above, if one is available. "Further short-range radio connection" is understood to mean a further short-range radio connection in addition to the short-range radio connection between the first and second devices; however, it does not mean that two short-range radio connections are established between the first device and the charger.

[0031] In an advantageous embodiment, the charger detects the connection of the first device by means of proximity detection, e.g., as part of a so-called "proximity pairing" using RSSI (abbreviation for "received signal strength indication"). A short-range radio connection is then established between the charger and the first device to automatically transmit the pairing data to the charger. In other words, the charger detects that the first device is in the vicinity of the charger and then automatically retrieves the pairing data from it via a short-range radio connection, in particular a Bluetooth connection, in order to then transmit the pairing data to a second device if necessary, should a short-range radio connection be established between the first and second devices.

[0032] Once the pairing data has been transmitted from the charger to the second device, the charger itself is no longer required to establish a further connection between the first device and a further, third device, because the second device can now also advantageously facilitate the establishment of a further short-range radio connection between the first device and the third device. Therefore, in a suitable embodiment, the second device transmits the pairing data directly to the third device to establish a further short-range radio connection between the first device and a third device.

[0033] Without limiting the generality of the foregoing statements, a specific combination of several of the aforementioned concepts is particularly preferred, namely an embodiment in which the first device is a hearing aid which can be charged using the charger and which is paired with a second device via a Bluetooth connection through the charger, specifically while the hearing aid is connected to the charger and in which the pairing data for establishing the Bluetooth connection are transmitted OOB from the charger to the second device, preferably via an NFC connection. The pairing data is transmitted and the Bluetooth connection is established automatically as soon as the connection for OOB transmission, in particular the NFC connection, is established. In the following, without limiting the generality, it is assumed that the connection for OOB transmission is an NFC connection.The NFC connection itself is established automatically as soon as the second device is sufficiently close to the charger, i.e., specifically, as soon as it is within range of the charger's NFC antenna for the NFC connection. Beyond this specific design, other combinations of the aforementioned concepts and thus other designs are also generally advantageous.

[0034] A hearing aid according to the invention is designed to be connected as a first device to a second device according to a method as described above. For this purpose, the hearing aid has, in particular, an antenna suitable for short-range radio communication, e.g., a Bluetooth antenna.

[0035] The hearing aid is preferably used to provide hearing-impaired users with hearing impairments. For this purpose, the hearing aid has a microphone that picks up ambient sound and generates an electrical input signal. This signal is then fed into a signal processing unit of the hearing aid for modification. The signal processing unit is preferably part of the control unit. The modification is carried out, in particular, based on an individual audiogram of the user, which is assigned to the hearing aid, so that an individual hearing deficit of the user is compensated. The signal processing unit produces an electrical output signal, which is then converted back into sound via a receiver of the hearing aid and transmitted to the user.

[0036] Alternatively, the hearing aid is designed solely to output sound from an audio source and accordingly has a receiver for outputting sound and an input for receiving an electrical audio signal from the audio source. In a suitable embodiment, the hearing aid is a headphone.

[0037] Preferably, the hearing aid is a binaural hearing aid, with two individual devices which, when used as intended, are worn by the user on different sides of the head, namely one in or on the left ear and one in or on the right ear.

[0038] A charger according to the invention is designed to carry out a method as described above.

[0039] In the following, exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to a drawing. In each case, schematically: Fig. 1a charger, a first device and a second device, Fig. 2the devices from Fig. 1 and a third device and their connection to each other, Fig. 3 a flowchart of a method for establishing a short-range radio connection.

[0040] In Fig. 1 Shown are a hearing aid 2, a charger 4 configured to charge this hearing aid 2, and a smartphone 6. The hearing aid 2 is a first device 2, and the smartphone 6 is a second device 6. The charger 4 is also generally referred to as device 4. Fig. 2 shows devices 2, 4, and 6 in a highly simplified form to illustrate their connection to each other. Fig. 2 an optional third device 8 is shown, e.g. a TV set.

[0041] Fig. 3 shows, as a flowchart, an embodiment of a method for establishing a short-range radio connection 10, in this case a Bluetooth connection, between the first device 2 and a second device 6, i.e., the hearing aid 2 and the smartphone 6. The two devices 2, 6 each have an interface (not explicitly shown) for the short-range radio connection 10, in this case a Bluetooth antenna. The establishment of the short-range radio connection 10 is also referred to as pairing. The short-range radio connection 10 is characterized in this case by the fact that it has a limited range of at most a few tens of meters and a transmission frequency in the range of a few GHz.

[0042] In the method, the charger 4 mediates the establishment of the short-range radio connection 10 between the two devices 2, 6 by the charger 4 transmitting coupling data K from the first device 2 for establishing the short-range radio connection 10 to the second device 6, so that the second device 6 is coupled to the first device 2 and the short-range radio connection 10 is established. The coupling data K are, for example, authentication data, identification data, encryption data, e.g. a so-called passkey, or a combination thereof. In general, the coupling data K are used to couple the two devices 2, 6 and are required prior to the actual coupling in order to successfully establish the short-range radio connection 10. The exact nature of the coupling data K is, however, not particularly important.

[0043] By using the charger 4 of the hearing aid 2 to mediate the establishment of the short-range radio connection 10 between the two devices 2, 6, the two devices no longer need to exchange the necessary coupling data K directly with each other. Instead, the coupling data K is provided by the charger 4 and transmitted to a respective device 6, 8 as needed in order to connect it to another device 2, 6, 8. The charger 4 is therefore also referred to as the master device. Apart from the coupling data K, the charger 4 itself does not exchange any further data with the two devices 2, 6; this occurs directly between the two devices 2, 6 after the short-range radio connection 10 has been established. The charger 4 is therefore not a relay of the short-range radio connection 10, but rather an intermediary in the establishment of the short-range radio connection 10.

[0044] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the first device 2 is a hearing aid 2, which can be charged with the charger 4, so that the charger 4 then mediates the establishment of a short-range radio connection 10 between the associated hearing aid 2 and any other device 6, 8. The second device 6 in the exemplary embodiment shown is a mobile terminal, here specifically a smartphone 6. Alternatively, the second device 6 is a TV set or any other device, for example an audio source for the hearing aid 2. In principle, any combination of two devices 2, 6, 8 is possible. With a hearing aid 2, a smartphone 6 and a third device 8, e.g.a TV set, the charger 4 then mediates between any two of these devices 2, 6, 8, whereby the mediation between the hearing aid 2 and another device 6, 8 is particularly expedient since a hearing aid 2, in contrast to a mobile device and a TV set, is typically subject to significantly greater restrictions in terms of installation space and energy consumption and therefore particularly benefits from mediation by the associated charger 4.

[0045] Within the scope of the method, the coupling data K are transmitted by a different method than the data transmitted over the short-range radio link 10 after it has been established. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the coupling data K are transmitted from the charger 4 to the second device 6 OOB (abbreviation for "out of band"), i.e., outside a transmission frequency range of the short-range radio link 10. The short-range radio link 10 has a transmission frequency range that is used for data transmission. OOB is understood to mean any frequency range that does not overlap with or lie within this transmission frequency range.

[0046] To transmit the coupling data K from the charger 4 to the second device 6 OOB, an NFC connection 12 is used in the illustrated embodiment, i.e., the coupling data K is transmitted OOB using NFC (abbreviation for "near field communication"). NFC is also referred to as near-field communication and is fundamentally an alternative to Bluetooth, but generally has a lower transmission frequency and typically also a shorter range. For example, a transmission frequency of the NFC connection 12 is below 1 GHz and in particular in the range from 1 MHz to 100 MHz. The NFC connection 12, for example, has a maximum range of 1 cm. In the following, an NFC connection 12 is assumed without loss of generality; however, this is fundamentally interchangeable with another OOB connection, i.e., OOB with respect to the short-range radio connection 10.

[0047] In the embodiment shown, the charger 4 has an NFC tag 14 in which the coupling data K of the first device 2 are stored and these coupling data K are transmitted OOB by means of NFC to the second device 6, namely as in Fig. 2 recognizable via the NFC connection 12. The pairing data K have, for example, already been stored on the NFC tag 14 during the manufacture of the charger 4 or during an adjustment session for the hearing aid 2 and accordingly also for the associated charger 4. Alternatively or additionally, the pairing data K are queried by the charger 4 from the first or second device 2, 6 or from another device 8 when required and stored in the NFC tag 14. Fig. 2 For example, an optional, further short-range radio connection 16 between the charger 4 and the hearing aid 2, via which the coupling data K is transmitted. Due to the transmission of the coupling data K OOB with respect to the short-range radio connection 10, the charger 4 itself can in principle only be designed for transmitting data via OOB and does not necessarily have to be designed for transmission via a short-range radio connection 10, 16. For example, in an embodiment not explicitly shown, the charger 4 is designed only for establishing an NFC connection 12, but not for establishing a Bluetooth connection. It is also fundamentally possible and expedient to implement the further short-range radio connection 16 in Fig. 2 through an NFC connection and generally an OOB connection.

[0048] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the charger 4 detects an approach of the second device 6 to the charger 4 via NFC and then transmits the pairing data K to the second device 6, e.g. after the NFC connection 12 has been established with the second device 6. The approach of the second device 6 to the charger 4 serves as a reliable indicator that a user wishes to pair the second device 6 with the first device 2. An NFC connection 12 is particularly suitable for particularly reliable detection of an approach, since accidental approach is very unlikely due to the only short range of the NFC antennas (not explicitly shown). The charger 4 and the second device 6 then each have an NFC antenna for establishing the NFC connection 12 and for the OOB exchange of the pairing data K.The described detection of the approach of the second device 6 to the charger 4 serves here to initiate the establishment of the short-range radio connection 10, i.e., as a switch, so to speak, to initiate and carry out the pairing of the two devices 2, 6. In this way, the necessary proximity for the NFC connection 12 is used as a reliable trigger without the first device 2 itself having to be equipped with an NFC antenna. Especially with a hearing aid 2 as the first device 2, an NFC antenna cannot be easily integrated into the hearing aid 2. However, an NFC antenna can typically be easily integrated into the charger 4.

[0049] The first device 2 can be connected to the charger 4 for charging. In Fig. 1 the hearing aid 2 is actually connected to the charger 4 for charging. "Connected" means that an energy exchange is possible between the first device 2 and the charger 4 for charging an energy storage device of the first device 2. In this case, charging is contactless, e.g., inductively by means of a pair of coils, or alternatively, by means of charging contacts on the charger 4 and the first device 2. In any case, for connection, it is typically necessary to bring the charger 4 and the first device 2 into a specific spatial relationship to one another, in Fig. 1 namely to insert the first device 2 into the charger 4.

[0050] In the embodiment shown, the charger 4 transmits the coupling data K to the second device 6 when the first device 2 is connected to the charger 4, for example as in Fig. 1 is inserted into the charger for charging. Accordingly, the short-range radio connection 10 is established while the first device 2 is connected to the charger 4. Disconnecting the first device 2 from the charger 4 to establish the short-range radio connection 10 is not necessary.

[0051] In this case, the charger 4 transmits the coupling data K to the second device 6 even when a switch 18 of the charger 4 is additionally actuated. In order to make the actual coupling of the devices 2, 6, 8 controllable, the actuation of the switch 18 is also required to initiate the coupling. In this way, the user can specifically control when a coupling of the first and second devices 2, 6 occurs using a simple switch 18. In the exemplary embodiment shown, this is possible in addition to the above-described use of an NFC connection 12 as a virtual switch, so to speak, i.e. a user can initiate the establishment of the short-range radio connection 10 in two different ways.

[0052] As from Fig. 1 As can be seen, the charger 4 shown here as an example has a shell 20 and the first device 2 can be connected to the charger 4 by inserting it into the shell 10. The switch 18 is arranged in the shell 20 in a variant not explicitly shown and can be actuated by pressing down the first device 2 in the shell 20. In the Fig. 1 In the embodiment shown, the charger 4 has, in addition to the shell 20, a lid 22 which can be folded open to remove the first device 2 from the shell 20, as indicated by an arrow. When the first device 2 is connected to the charger 4, the charger 4 transmits the coupling data K to the second device 6 when the lid 22 is folded open. For this purpose, the lid 22 actuates, for example, the switch 18. In this way, automatic coupling, ie, automatic establishment of the short-range radio connection 10, is realized when the charger 4 is opened shortly before the first device 2 is removed from the charger 4.

[0053] In an embodiment not explicitly shown, coupling also occurs alternatively or additionally when the first device 2 is not currently connected to the charger 4, but rather is disconnected from it and is being used as intended, for example. In such an embodiment, if the first device 2 is not connected to the charger 4, the coupling data K is transmitted to the second device 6 as soon as the charger 4 detects that the second device 6 is approaching the charger 4. The detection of the approach occurs, for example, as already described above, using NFC or, alternatively or additionally, using a distance sensor.

[0054] In Fig. 2 is shown how the charger 4 optionally receives the pairing data K of the first device 2 from the latter via a further short-range radio connection 16, here a further Bluetooth connection, between the charger 4 and the first device 2. The charger 4 detects a connection of the first device 2 by means of proximity detection, e.g. as part of a so-called "proximity pairing" using RSSI (abbreviation for "received signal strength indication"), and then the short-range radio connection 16 is established between the charger 4 and the first device 2 for the automatic transmission of the pairing data K to the charger 4.In other words: the charger 4 detects that the first device 2 is in the vicinity of the charger 4 and then automatically retrieves the coupling data K from it via the further short-range radio connection 16 in order to then transmit the coupling data K to a second device 6 if necessary, if a short-range radio connection 10 is to be established between the first and the second device 2, 6.

[0055] Once the coupling data K have been transmitted from the charger 4 to the second device 6, the charger 4 is no longer absolutely necessary to establish a further connection 24 between the first device 2 and a further, third device 8, because now the second device 6 can also advantageously mediate the establishment of a further short-range radio connection between the first device 2 and the third device 8. For example, to establish the third short-range radio connection 24 between the first device 2 and a third device 8, the second device 6 transmits the coupling data K directly to the third device 8.

[0056] In the Fig. 3 In the method shown by way of example, in the third method step V3 the hearing aid 2 is coupled to a second device 6 via a Bluetooth connection 10 through the intermediary of the charger 4 while the hearing aid 2 is connected to the charger 4. The coupling data K for establishing the Bluetooth connection 10 are previously transmitted OOB from the charger 4 to the second device 6 in the second method step V2, here via the NFC connection 12. The transmission of the coupling data K and the establishment of the Bluetooth connection 10 take place automatically as soon as the NFC connection 12 is established. The NFC connection 12 itself is established automatically in the first method step V1 as soon as the second device 6 has approached sufficiently close to the charger 4, i.e. in this case is within range of an NFC antenna of the charger 4 for the NFC connection 12.Beyond this embodiment, other combinations of the aforementioned concepts and thus other embodiments are also fundamentally possible. For example, the first method step V1 alternatively or additionally comprises detecting an actuation of the switch 18, whereupon the coupling data K are then transmitted in the second method step V2. An additional method step is also possible before the first method step V1 or at least before the second method step V2, in which the coupling data K are transmitted to the charger 4, for example, as already described above.

[0057] The hearing aid 2 shown as an example in the figures is used to provide hearing aids to a hearing-impaired user. For this purpose, the hearing aid 2 has a microphone that picks up sound from the environment and generates an electrical input signal. This is fed to the signal processing of the hearing aid for modification. The modification is carried out based on an individual audiogram of the user, which is assigned to the hearing aid 2, so that an individual hearing deficit of the user is compensated. The signal processing produces an electrical output signal, which is then converted back into sound via a receiver of the hearing aid 2 and output to the user. The hearing aid 2 shown is also a binaural hearing aid 2, with two individual devices as in Fig. 1 recognizable which, when used as intended, are worn by the user on different sides of the head, namely once in or on the left ear and once in or on the right ear.

[0058] Alternatively, the hearing aid 2 is designed solely to output sound from an audio source and accordingly has a receiver for outputting sound and an input for receiving an electrical audio signal from the audio source. In a suitable embodiment, the hearing aid 2 is a headphone. List of reference symbols

[0059] 2Hearing aid, first device 4Charger 6Smartphone, second device 8Third device 10Short-range radio connection, Bluetooth connection 12NFC connection 14NFC tag 16Further short-range radio connection 18Switch 20Shell 22Cover 24Further connection, third short-range radio connection KCoupling data V1First process step V2Second process step V3Third process step

Claims

1. Method for establishing a short-range radio link (10) between a first device (2) and a second device (6), - wherein a charger (4) which is designed to charge a hearing device (2) mediates the establishment of the short-range radio link (10), whereby the charger (4) transmits coupling data (K) of the first device (2) for establishing the short-range radio link (10) to the second device (6), so that the second device (6) is coupled to the first device (2) and the short-range radio link (10) is established, characterized in that - the charger (4) transmits the coupling data (K) to the second device (6) when the first device (2) is connected to the charger (4) and a switch (18) of the charger (4) is additionally actuated, - wherein the charger (4) has a tray (20), and wherein the first device (2) is connectable to the charger (4) by inserting it into the tray (20), - wherein the switch (18) is arranged in the tray (20) and is actuatable by pressing the first device (2) down into the tray (20).

2. Method for establishing a short-range radio link (10) between a first device (2) and a second device (6), - wherein a charger (4) which is designed to charge a hearing device (2) mediates the establishment of the short-range radio link (10), whereby the charger (4) transmits coupling data (K) of the first device (2) to the second device (6) for establishing the short-range radio link (10) so that the second device (6) is coupled to the first device (2) and the short-range radio link (10) is established, characterized in that - wherein the charger (4) has a tray (20) and a cover (22), and the first device (2) is connectable to the charger (4) by inserting it into the tray (20), - wherein the cover (22) can be flipped open to remove the first device (2) from the tray (20) and wherein, when the first device (2) is connected to the charger (4), the charger (4) transmits the coupling data (K) to the second device (6) when the cover (22) is flipped open.

3. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the first device (2) is the hearing device (2) and the second device (6) is a mobile terminal device, in particular a smartphone (6).

4. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the coupling data (K) are transmitted from the charger (4) to the second device (6) OOB, i.e. outside a transmission frequency range of the short-range radio link (10).

5. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the charger (4) has an NFC mark (14), in which the coupling data (K) of the first device (2) are stored, and wherein the coupling data (K) are transmitted OOB by means of NFC to the second device (6).

6. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the charger (4) detects an approach of the second device (6) towards the charger (4) in particular by means of NFC, and then transmits the coupling data (K) to the second device (6).

7. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein, if the device (2) is not connected to the charger (4), the coupling data (K) are transmitted to the second device (6) as soon as the charger (4) detects an approach of the second device (6) towards the charger (4).

8. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the charger (4) receives the coupling data (K) of the first device (2) from the first device (2) via a further short-range radio link (16), in particular a further Bluetooth link, between the charger (4) and the first device (2).

9. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the charger (4) detects a connection of the first device (2) by means of an approach detection, and a short-range radio link (16) is then established between the charger (4) and the first device (2) for automatic transmission of the coupling data (K) to the charger (4).

10. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein, in order to establish a further short-range radio link (10) between the first device (2) and a third device (8), the second device (6) transmits the coupling data (K) directly to the third device (8).

11. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein the short-range radio link (10) is a Bluetooth link.

12. Charger (4), which is designed to carry out a method according to one of Claims 1 to 11.