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Publication Number
US-12328552-B2
Publication Date
2025-06-10
Expiration Date
Abstract
A hearing aid configured for handsfree control. The hearing aid comprising one or more microphones configured to receive an input signal from the surroundings and a signal processor configured to process the input signal from the surroundings and a receiver configured to emit at least a part of said processed input signal into an ear of a hearing aid user, wherein the signal processor is further configured to process a gestural signal from a user of the hearing aid and make a control change to the hearing aid based on the gestural signal.
Core Innovation
The invention describes a hearing aid for handsfree control in which a signal processor processes an input signal that includes a gestural signal received by one or more microphones. The signal processor communicates the detected gestural signal to a program selector and/or settings processor so that program selection and/or settings of the signal processor are controlled based on the gestural signal. The microphone-received content includes an element related to gesture presentation in close proximity to the hearing aid.
In one approach, the hearing aid uses an ultrasonic emitter to emit an ultrasound wave into the surroundings so the one or more microphones receive the ultrasonic wave reflected back from a gesture presented in close proximity. The gestural component is used to evaluate reflected-wave frequency changes, including aspects such as an ultrasound frequency above 18 kHz and a configured spatial emission range to a pre-defined area. The gestural signal can be separated from the acoustic signal during sound processing to preserve intelligibility, including by subtracting the gestural component.
In another approach, the hearing aid detects a gestural signal configured as a sound pattern caused by movement of an object or hand of a person in close proximity to the hearing aid. The sound pattern is picked up by the one or more microphones and detected by the signal processor, and specific sound patterns control specific commands such as program selection and/or a setting. The document also describes sensor-based control using in-ear EEG to detect visual evoked potentials from flickering LEDs/screens at different frequencies that are mapped to actions, including selection from a blinking menu and example scenarios such as volume/program changes, an alarm trigger, and office mode gain reduction when looking at a screen.
Claims Coverage
Independent claims clm-00001 and clm-00013 cover handsfree gesture-based control of a hearing aid using gestural signals received by one or more microphones and communicated to a program selector and/or settings processor, with separate inventive feature sets for ultrasonic gesture sensing and sound-pattern gesture sensing.
Ultrasonic emitter for reflected gesture sensing with microphone-based gestural signal control
A hearing aid in which a signal processor processes an input signal and communicates a gestural signal forming part of the input signal to a program selector and/or settings processor to control program selection and/or a setting, wherein an ultrasonic emitter emits an ultrasound wave into the surroundings and the one or more microphones receive the ultrasonic wave reflected from a gesture presented in close proximity to the hearing aid.
Microphone-detected sound pattern caused by nearby object or hand movement
A hearing aid in which a signal processor processes an input signal and communicates a gestural signal to a program selector and/or settings processor to control program selection and/or a setting, wherein the gestural signal is configured as a sound pattern caused by a movement of an object or hand of a person in close proximity, the sound pattern is picked up by the one or more microphones and detected by the signal processor, and specific sound patterns control specific commands including program selection and/or a setting.
Overall, the claim coverage centers on gesture-derived control signals communicated to a program selector and/or settings processor. The covered gesture modalities include ultrasonic sensing of reflected ultrasound from a nearby gesture and detection of sound patterns caused by nearby object or hand movement.
Stated Advantages
Preserves intelligibility by subtracting the gestural component from the acoustic signal during sound processing.
Documented Applications
Control scenarios where gestural commands change volume/program, trigger an alarm, and implement an office mode gain reduction when looking at a screen.
Pairing/use scenarios involving a TV box, where flickering/diode or screen patterns are used with a blinking menu for EEG-based selection of settings.
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