GB2160075A - Personal inductive coupler apparatus - Google Patents

Personal inductive coupler apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2160075A
GB2160075A GB08512968A GB8512968A GB2160075A GB 2160075 A GB2160075 A GB 2160075A GB 08512968 A GB08512968 A GB 08512968A GB 8512968 A GB8512968 A GB 8512968A GB 2160075 A GB2160075 A GB 2160075A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
housing
headband
inductive coupler
wearer
coils
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB08512968A
Other versions
GB8512968D0 (en
GB2160075B (en
Inventor
Gordon Buckley
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of GB8512968D0 publication Critical patent/GB8512968D0/en
Publication of GB2160075A publication Critical patent/GB2160075A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2160075B publication Critical patent/GB2160075B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R27/00—Public address systems
    • H04R27/02—Amplifying systems for the deaf
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B5/00—Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive loop type
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/55—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception using an external connection, either wireless or wired
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/55—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception using an external connection, either wireless or wired
    • H04R25/554—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception using an external connection, either wireless or wired using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils

Abstract

A housing 10 enclosing an inductive coupler coil is connected to a headband 14 of flexible material. The coil is connected via an electrical lead 12 to a plug which in use is inserted into an isolated socket of a television or radio set or other sound-producing equipment. A person who wears a hearing aid places the headband 14 on his/her head so that the housing 10 is close to the ear with the hearing aid and switches the latter to the 'telecoil' position. Sound from the set or equipment is then received without interference or background noise and the headband arrangement is more comfortable and readily adjustable than previous inductive coupler equipment. For users who wear hearing aids in both ears, a headband having inductive coupler coils in respective housings at each end is provided, the coils being connected to each other through the headband. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Personal inductive coupler apparatus This invention concerns personal inductive coupler apparatus.
Inductive coupler equipment is known for improving the quality of sound reception from, for example, a television or radio set or stereo or cassette recorder equipment, by a person wearing a hearing aid. An inductive coupler, sometimes called a "telecoil", comprises a copper coil, invariably located within a housing, which is placed in close proximity to the hearing aid and has an electrical lead which is plugged into a suitably isolated socket of the set or equipment from which sound is to be received. When the television or radio set or other equipment is switched on, the electrical signal passing to the copper coil is proportional to the volume of sound. This signal induces a corresponding varying magnetic field around the coil.A second coil inside the hearing aid is within this magnetic field and converts the varying field back into a corresponding electrical signal in exactly the same manner as an electrical transformer. The hearing aid should, of course, be switched to the T (or telecoil) position. Sound reception via the hearing aid is then usually much improved for the person wearing the aid compared to listening without the inductive coupler equipment since interference and background noise is minimised.
Two types of inductive coupler equipment are known. Firstly there are devices which are designed to be hooked over the back of an ear in which a hearing aid is located. These are rather uncomfortable and often difficult for elderly people to put on. Secondly, there are collars or neck loops incorporating one or more inductive coils for draping around the neck of a person wearing a hearing aid. When such collars are in position the inductive coil may in some cases not be sufficiently close to the hearing aid coil to give optimum sound reception and this can be a problem as such collars are not readily adjustable in position. Moreover, such collars are rather bulky and conspicuous.
It is an object of the present invention to provide improved inductive coupler apparatus.
With this object in view, the present invention provides personal inductive coupler apparatus comprising an electrically-conductive coil enclosed within a housing, an electrical lead extending from the coil outside the housing and culminating in a plug, and a curved headband of flexible material which is connected to the housing and is adapted for fitting into the head of a wearer so that the housing is positioned close to one of the wearer's ears.
The invention also encompasses a modified arrangement comprising a pair of electrically-conductive coils enclosed within respective housings, an electrical lead extending from one of the coils outside its respective housing and culminating in a plug, and a curved headband of flexible material which connects the respect housings together and is adapted for fitting onto the head of a wearer so that one housing is positioned close to each of the wearer's ears, the respective coils being electrically connected to each other by a wire extending through the headband.
Advantageously, each housing has a pad or plug of soft material arranged on its side which is intended to contact the head of the wearer.
The proposed personal inductive coupler apparatus, whether with one or two coils, is extremely easy for a wearer to put on, the headband simply being placed onto the wearers head in the manner of an earphone headband. It is also extremely comfortable to wear and is made more so by the soft pad or plug on the or each housing. The main practical advantage as regards sound reception for the wearer is the fact that this inductive coupler apparatus can be easily adjusted by moving the housing or housings back and forth on the head.
Accordingly a clearer sound signal than hitherto can be obtained from radio and telecision etc. by a wider range of hearing aid wearers and this leads to much greater enjoyment by them of radio and television programmes or music from stereo equipment.
The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the personal inductive coupler apparatus of the invention; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the personal inductive coupler apparatus of the invention, as shown in Fig. 1, is designed for use by a person who wears a hearing aid in one ear only. It comprises a coil of fine copper wire, about 2 cm long, disposed in a rigid dishlike plastics housing 10 of rectangular cross section. The housing is closed at one side by insertion of a soft rectangular rubber pad 11.
The coil is connected to a standard plug (not shown), which is insertable into an isolated socket of a television, radio, stereo or cassette player etc.
by an electrical lead 12 of several metres in length which emerges through one face of the housing 10. The lead 12 is surrounded by a resilient strain relief sleeve 13 as it passes through the housing 10 and for a few millimetres outside the housing 10 to reduce wear and tear in that region. The opposite face of the housing 10 is connected to a headband 14 in the form of a flexible curved nylon rod the free end 15 of which lies opposite to the soft rubber pad 11 of the housing 10.
In use, a person wearing a hearing aid switches the hearing aid to the T-position, plugs the inductive coupler apparatus into a radio, for example, and puts the headband 14 on his/her head such that the housing 10 is close to the ear in which the hearing aid is located and the soft pad 11 is in contact with the head. The position of the headband 14 can be adjusted by the user for optimum comfort and for the clearest possible sound reception.
The volume of sound can be adjusted to the requirement of the user by way of the hearing aid volume control switch whilst the volume from the radio can be set for normal hearing persons.
The second embodiment of the personal inductive coupler apparatus of the invention as shown in Fig. 2, is designed for use by a person who wears a hearing aid in each ear. It is constructed along similar lines to the first embodiment and the same reference numerals have been used for corresponding parts, but shown with, . There are in this case two housings 10' each enclosing a copper coil. The pads 11' of the two housings 10' face each other. The housings 11' are connected by the flexible nylon headband 14' and the coils inside the respective housings 10' are connected by a wire extending through the headband 14'. There is only a single electrical lead 12' extending from one housing 10', which lead 12', of course, culminates in a plug (not shown). This 'double' inductive cou pler apparatus is used in the same way as the 'single' version which is shown in Fig. 1. When on the head it looks rather like a pair of earphones, although the housings 10' are placed adjacent not against the wearer's ears.
The soft rubber pads 11, 11' of the housings 10, 10' can be replaced if they become soiled.
Other variations are possible within the scope of the invention. For example, the rubber pads 11, 11' may be replaced by soft pads adhered to the outside of a rigid closed housing. Also the headband 14, 14' may be adjustable in length, for example, by virtue of a telescopic arrangement.

Claims (4)

1. Personal inductive coupler apparatus comprising an electrically-conductive coil enclosed within a housing, an electrical lead extending from the coil outside the housing and culminating in a plug, and a curved headband of flexible material which is connected to the housing and is adapted for fitting onto the head of a wearer so that the housing is positioned close to one of the wearer's ears.
2. Personal inductive coupler apparatus comprising a pair of electrically-conductive coils enclosed within respective housings, an electrical lead extending from one of the coils outside its respective housing and culminating in a plug, and a curved headband of flexible material which connects the respective housings together and is adapted for fitting onto the head of a wearer so that one housing is positioned close to each of the wearer's ears, the respective coils being electricaliy connected to each other by a wire extending through the headband.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein each housing has a pad or plug of soft material arranged on its side which is intended to contact the head of the wearer.
4. Personal inductive coupler apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.
GB08512968A 1984-05-29 1985-05-22 Personal inductive coupler apparatus Expired GB2160075B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB848413593A GB8413593D0 (en) 1984-05-29 1984-05-29 Personal inductive coupler

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8512968D0 GB8512968D0 (en) 1985-06-26
GB2160075A true GB2160075A (en) 1985-12-11
GB2160075B GB2160075B (en) 1988-01-27

Family

ID=10561591

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB848413593A Pending GB8413593D0 (en) 1984-05-29 1984-05-29 Personal inductive coupler
GB08512968A Expired GB2160075B (en) 1984-05-29 1985-05-22 Personal inductive coupler apparatus

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB848413593A Pending GB8413593D0 (en) 1984-05-29 1984-05-29 Personal inductive coupler

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (2) GB8413593D0 (en)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0296092A2 (en) * 1987-06-19 1988-12-21 George Geladakis Arrangement for wireless earphones without batteries and electronic circuits, applicable in audio-systems or audio-visual systems of all kinds
US4958372A (en) * 1987-10-12 1990-09-18 The Commonwealth Of Australia Hearing protector utilizing aural reflex mechanism
AU675048B3 (en) * 1995-05-18 1997-01-16 Gn Netcom A/S Communication system for users of hearing aids
EP0936841A1 (en) * 1998-02-11 1999-08-18 Vym S.A. Auricular device for patients with hypoacusis
FR2777726A1 (en) * 1998-04-17 1999-10-22 Thomson Csf Audio headset design
WO2003017715A2 (en) * 2001-08-09 2003-02-27 Auric Hörsysteme Gmbh & Co. Kg Wireless coupling for audio transmission in hearing aids
US7561711B2 (en) * 2005-09-20 2009-07-14 Research In Motion Limited Audio peripheral for an electronic device
EP2538698A1 (en) * 2011-06-23 2012-12-26 GN Netcom A/S Inductive earphone coupling

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB788099A (en) * 1954-03-18 1957-12-23 Fortiphone Ltd Improvements in and relating to hearing aids
US3659056A (en) * 1969-11-13 1972-04-25 William B Morrison Hearing aid systems
GB1504065A (en) * 1975-05-27 1978-03-15 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Headphone
US4361733A (en) * 1979-05-21 1982-11-30 Rion Kabushiki Kaisha Hard-of-hearing aid appliance
GB2103902A (en) * 1981-07-20 1983-02-23 Akg Akustische Kino Geraete Head bands for headphones

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB788099A (en) * 1954-03-18 1957-12-23 Fortiphone Ltd Improvements in and relating to hearing aids
US3659056A (en) * 1969-11-13 1972-04-25 William B Morrison Hearing aid systems
GB1504065A (en) * 1975-05-27 1978-03-15 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Headphone
US4361733A (en) * 1979-05-21 1982-11-30 Rion Kabushiki Kaisha Hard-of-hearing aid appliance
GB2103902A (en) * 1981-07-20 1983-02-23 Akg Akustische Kino Geraete Head bands for headphones

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0296092A2 (en) * 1987-06-19 1988-12-21 George Geladakis Arrangement for wireless earphones without batteries and electronic circuits, applicable in audio-systems or audio-visual systems of all kinds
EP0296092A3 (en) * 1987-06-19 1989-08-16 George Geladakis Arrangement for wireless earphones without batteries and electronic circuits, applicable in audio-systems or audio-visual systems of all kinds
US4958372A (en) * 1987-10-12 1990-09-18 The Commonwealth Of Australia Hearing protector utilizing aural reflex mechanism
AU675048B3 (en) * 1995-05-18 1997-01-16 Gn Netcom A/S Communication system for users of hearing aids
US6078675A (en) * 1995-05-18 2000-06-20 Gn Netcom A/S Communication system for users of hearing aids
EP0936841A1 (en) * 1998-02-11 1999-08-18 Vym S.A. Auricular device for patients with hypoacusis
FR2777726A1 (en) * 1998-04-17 1999-10-22 Thomson Csf Audio headset design
WO2003017715A2 (en) * 2001-08-09 2003-02-27 Auric Hörsysteme Gmbh & Co. Kg Wireless coupling for audio transmission in hearing aids
WO2003017715A3 (en) * 2001-08-09 2003-07-10 Auric Hoersysteme Gmbh & Co Kg Wireless coupling for audio transmission in hearing aids
US7561711B2 (en) * 2005-09-20 2009-07-14 Research In Motion Limited Audio peripheral for an electronic device
EP2538698A1 (en) * 2011-06-23 2012-12-26 GN Netcom A/S Inductive earphone coupling
US9031254B2 (en) 2011-06-23 2015-05-12 Gn Netcom A/S Inductive earphone coupling

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8512968D0 (en) 1985-06-26
GB8413593D0 (en) 1984-07-04
GB2160075B (en) 1988-01-27

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PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee