Telephone Hearing Device Wireless Audio Link
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems between telephone handsets and hearing devices often fail to optimize audio signal transmission, particularly in terms of distance detection and attenuation, leading to suboptimal user experience and potential disruption of audio signals.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that establish wireless short-range audio signal communication between a telephone handset and a hearing device system, utilizing a distance detecting unit to enable or disable communication based on proximity, and incorporating attenuation controls to manage audio signal perception, allowing for seamless interaction and improved audibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wireless short-range audio signal communication is established between telephone handset and hearing device, then audio signal transmission quality is improved, but device complexity increases due to distance detecting unit and attenuation controls
Solution Approach 1:
A distance detecting unit acts as an intermediary between the telephone handset and hearing device, automatically detecting proximity and controlling the attenuation of audio signals from the hearing device's microphone. This intermediary component manages the complexity by centralizing the control logic, allowing high-quality audio transmission when needed while automatically attenuating background noise during calls, thus resolving the contradiction between transmission quality and device complexity.
2Reliability
If attenuation control is applied to hearing device microphone output, then audio signal perception is optimized, but ease of operation deteriorates due to automatic control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The hearing device incorporates a self-service mechanism where the distance detecting unit automatically monitors the position of the telephone handset and adjusts the attenuation of the microphone output accordingly. When the phone is detected near the hearing device, the system automatically attenuates the microphone signal to prevent background noise interference during calls. This self-adjusting mechanism optimizes audio perception without requiring user intervention, resolving the contradiction between optimized signal perception and ease of operation.
3Productivity
If distance detecting unit is implemented, then communication optimization is achieved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The distance detecting unit implements communication optimization by dynamically changing the attenuation parameter of the hearing device's microphone output based on detected distance. When the telephone handset approaches within a threshold distance, the system changes the attenuation parameter to reduce background noise. This parameter-based control achieves effective communication optimization without requiring high manufacturing precision, as the system adapts to varying distances through software-controlled parameter adjustment rather than precise mechanical tolerances.
Data Source
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AI summary
A telephone handset (1), e.g. a mobile phone, is equipped with an add-on module (41). Thereby, the module (41) comprises a microphone unit (9a) which is operated instead of the microphone unit intrinsically provided in the handset (1). Further, the module (41) comprises a shortrange wireless transmission unit (23a) which is operated instead of a speaker unit (7) which is intrinsically provided in the handset (1). The short-range wireless communication unit (23a) establishes communication with a respective short-range wireless communication unit (19a) in a hearing device (10) as soon as a distance between the telephone handset (1) and the hearing device (10) drops below a predetermined threshold value as detected by a distance detection unit (21). A binaural hearing device system with controllable attenuations between the respective microphone (5OL, 50R) and speaker (57L, 57R) units, wherein the attenuations are controlled by manually operable control units (61L, 61R) to selectiverly establish master/slave relation of the two hearing devices, is also described.