FI121908B - Device for facilitating the use of a mobile phone for hearing impaired - Google Patents

Description

EQUIPMENT TO FACILITATE YOUR USE OF YOUR MOBILE PHONE

hearing impaired

The invention relates to a device for facilitating the use of a mobile phone for the hearing impaired. The device includes a handset unit having a microphone, a speaker, an induction transmitter and a switch 5 for making and ending calls.

An analog hearing aid user cannot use the GSM phone without a separate accessory. The reason for this is the interference caused by the GSM phone to the hearing aid caused by the GSM phone signal. The hearing aid user may also, if they so wish, switch on the hearing aid to operate in an '' induction mode '', whereby the hearing aid does not amplify the sound waves applied thereto, but amplifies the magnetic field produced by the induction. In this case, the user of the hearing aid does not hear the background noise around, but only the induction magnetic field signal amplified in the hearing aid.

There are currently on the market inductive loop assistive devices to enable the use of a mobile phone with a hearing aid. Products often consist of 15 amplifiers, induction loops and power supplies. Existing such aids on the market are often found to be uncomfortable to use because the induction loop must work in order to function in the neck of the wearer. In addition, they require a separate power supply to operate and are therefore often heavy and difficult to use. Because of their complex design and technology, such devices are often expensive to acquire.

20 There are also headset type induction loop cellular phone accessories in the market. The headset often has a problem with operation because the headset portion of the headset prevents adjusting the hearing aid volume and changing the hearing aid settings between the t and m positions. Previously known headset type auxiliaries do not have a separate switch to initiate and end a call. This further complicates the use of the device as the user of the device has to dig out the phone from its pocket or remove it from its cradle to make and end a call. Making and ending a call can be particularly difficult if the cellular phone you are using is a so-called. and if it is used, for example, when driving a vehicle.

An example of such a headset-type auxiliary device is patent application US 6078675. The induction coil of the device in question is coin shaped and is located behind the speaker of the headset part of the device. As a result, the induction coil is relatively distant from the power of the hearing aid receiving coil and therefore the power of the induction coil may be insufficient to ensure adequate reception. In addition, the induction coils typically used in such auxiliary devices 2 require a large amount of power to operate because the size of the induction coil is quite large in relation to the current received from the mobile phone. This, in turn, consumes much of the battery of the mobile phone connected to the accessory. Furthermore, the inductance of the induction clock of such a device towards the coil of the hearing aid is rather poor, which in turn further increases the need for power of the device to achieve sufficient audibility.

Earphones for listening to music are commonly known to cause '' rotation '' in hearing aids, especially when the earpiece is used at very high volume. This same feature is also present in headset type 10 loudspeaker and induction loop auxiliary devices and therefore users with very hearing loss may not be able to use a headset type auxiliary device. In addition, the use of headset type aids can be difficult if the hearing aid user does not wish to keep the headset on during the whole day, for example, when walking, driving, or wearing a hat.

15 Also, not all hearing-impaired people want to use traditional neck-mounted induction loops or headband-type aids because they find their use to be a hallmark. In many situations, the use of such auxiliaries can also be very difficult or even dangerous. The use of a neck-mounted induction loop can be uncomfortable if the device is used outdoors, for example, in severe freezing conditions under clothing. 20 Wearing headpiece-type auxiliaries, for example with a hat, may make the wearer feel uncomfortable and overwhelming. Such devices are also unsuitable for persons who need an accessory occasionally, since they must be worn to function. This can be uncomfortable, impractical and dangerous, for example when driving a vehicle.

25 Other aids for the hearing impaired based on sound amplification include aids permanently installed in buildings or otherwise space-specific. Examples include loudspeakers and induction loops installed in public spaces, as well as induction loops or auxiliary loudspeakers installed in households, for example for television broadcasting.

The induction loops 30 used in the induction technology devices currently available on the market are significantly larger in size and differ in design significantly from the induction loop used in the invention. Previously known devices are often bulky and heavy due to the large size of the induction loop coil, as well as uncomfortable and inconvenient to use. Because such devices require a large amount of power to operate, they require a separate amplifier with power supplies, or alternatively, they consume much of the battery of the attached device. In addition, the power of the induction loops of some devices on the market 3 has been insufficient to ensure the necessary coverage.

Existing handsfree units for mobile phones are not compatible with a GSM phone and hearing aid. In particular, devices with earpiece 5 are not suitable for the hearing impaired at all because the hearing aid prevents the earpiece from being inserted into the ear canal. In addition, the power of the loudspeakers of these devices was not sufficient to ensure audibility. Also, the handsfree of the mobile phones does not have an induction feature that would greatly improve the hearing of the hearing aid user in conditions with high background noise.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide a device facilitating the use of a mobile phone for the hearing impaired which eliminates the aforementioned drawbacks of the present aids.

The invention fulfills the requirements of the Road Traffic Act (Section 24a of the Road Traffic Act), which came into force in Finland at the beginning of 2003, and is a headset approved for use in vehicles. Because the 15 devices have a separate loudspeaker and an induction transmitter, the device can be used like a standard headset without or with a hearing aid. The device does not need a separate power supply to operate and is simple in design and affordable compared to the devices currently available on the market.

The induction transmitter used in the device is very small in size and its coil is powered by 20 mobile phones. An induction transmitter is mounted on the device so that when using the device, the center axis of its coil points directly toward the user's head. The placement of the induction transmitter, the design of the induction coil, and the interaction of the induction transmitter with the speaker of the device make the device extremely functional and allow the best reception when using the hearing aid in the t position.

The object of the invention is achieved by a device characterized by what is stated in the claims.

The handset part includes an interface cable connected to the handset microphone and an induction transmitter and a speaker having a connector end for connecting and attaching the interface cable to a socket 30 for external microphone and speaker in a mobile phone. Such a device connected to a mobile phone prevents the interference caused by the GSM phone signal from being transmitted to the hearing aid and thus enables the use of the mobile phone with the hearing aid. The device's connection method and the small size and structure of the induction loop allow the device not to need a separate amplifier, but to use the headset amplifier inside the mobile phone.

4

The induction transmitter of the invention differs from the conventional induction suckers on the market due to its small size, design and unique placement. The combination of the loudspeaker and the induction transmitter with the same device, and their simultaneous or optional operation, allows the device to be operated with or without a hearing aid '5.

Because the invention meets the requirements of the Road Traffic Act (§ 24a) and is an approved handsfree device, it can be used in a car as a normal handsfree device, whether the user of the device is hearing impaired or not. This also provides an advantage over the devices currently on the market, as there is no need to purchase many handsfree units in a vehicle.

The induction transmitter coil of the invention is an elongated cylindrical shape, only a few millimeters in diameter. Although very small, the induction transmitter used in the device meets the recommendations of the ITU-T (International Standard IEC 60118-4 Induction Loops for Hearing-Aid Purposes) on the magnetic field strength of an induction loop. The size, shape, position and placement of the induction transmitter have been tested with various hearing aids and hearing injuries, and the induction transmitter is mounted inside the device to give the best possible hearing when the hearing aid is used in the T position. The shape of the induction coil makes the magnetic field it produces highly directional, which allows the magnetic field to be directed very precisely towards the receiving coil of the hearing aid. Furthermore, the small size and placement of the induction coil allows the induction coil 20 to be brought very close to the hearing coil receiving coil. This allows the device not to need a lot of power to operate. As a result, the induction transmitter does not emit too much radiation, and therefore the use of the device of the invention can reduce the amount of potentially harmful radio waves emitted from the mobile phone.

In addition, due to its small size, the induction coil does not significantly increase the weight of the auxiliary device used. Alternatively, the device can be manufactured with two induction transmitters to operate both the right and left ears, or different versions for use on the right or left ear, depending on which ear is used.

In the following, the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a top view of a device according to Figure 1; Figure 3 is a top view of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a side elevation view of the handset portion and Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the handset portion shown in Figure 1.

5

The embodiment of the device according to the invention shown in Figs. 1-5 includes a handset part 1, an interface cable 2 between the handset part and a mobile phone 4 having a connector end 3 for connecting the handset part to the headset socket 5 of the mobile phone and a holder 6 which can be secured to the vehicle hang 5 on the holder 6 at your fingertips so that the handset is easy to grasp and answer the phone while steering the vehicle.

The handset part 1 shown in Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5 comprises a body 7 resembling a telephone handset known per se having a microphone 8 at one end and a speaker 9 and an induction transmitter 10 and / or 10a at the other end. In addition, on the side of the body at the end of the handset 10, there is a switching device 11 which allows the call to be started and ended. The switching device 11 in this case is a push button operated microswitch coupled to the handset microphone 8 so as to give the mobile phone 4 a control pulse that connects the call to the handset microphone when the push button is pressed once. When the push-button is pressed a second time during a call, the microswitch will end the call. The handset body 7 15 conveniently comprises a housing-like body formed by two shells joined together. Inside the body are formed fastening elements made of the body material, to which a microphone 8, a speaker 9, an induction transmitter 10 and / or 10a, a switching device 11 and other necessary internal parts of the body can be fixed. The handset body also has a recess 12 for engaging the handset member with the retaining part 6 provided with the device. Such a handset body 20 can be manufactured conventionally, e.g., by injection molding of a suitable plastic material.

The handset part 1 shown in Figures 1 and 3 includes a switching device 11a for selecting whether the device operates in addition to the speaker 9 but also on the induction principle and vice versa. In the figures shown, the switching device 11a is a known slider switch whose position 25 changes whether the speaker 9, the induction transmitter 10 and / or 10a are switched on, or both at the same time. This function saves the battery of the mobile phone connected to the auxiliary device if the induction transmitter (10 and / or 10a) or the speaker 9 is only switched on when needed.

The connection cable 2 is a helical cable attached to the microphone end 30 of the handset as shown in Fig. 1, the threads of which allow the connection cable to be lengthened and shortened like a regular landline telephone cable. The end of the handset portion 1 of the connection cable is secured by a strain relief that engages the connection cable housing portion inside the handset housing body 7. In this embodiment, there are a total of four conductors within the interface cable, i.e. one pair of conductors (+ and -) for the microphone 8 and another pair of conductors 35 for the speaker 9 and the induction transmitter 10 and / or 10a. The push button 11 is connected by separate wires in parallel with the microphone, whereby pressing the push button 6 of the switching device gives a switching pulse to the microphone line. The end of the connection cable to the mobile phone includes a connector end 3 for connecting the connection cable to the headset jack 5 of the mobile phone. 10a an incoming pair of wires to the interface that connects to the external speaker / headphone connector of the mobile phone. Depending on the phone model you are using, the push button can be used to control other phone functions besides making and ending a call. Such functions may include, for example, a microphone mute function, placing a call on hold 10, adjusting the speaker volume, or activating a voice dialing function in the phone.

In this case, the connector head 3 is the Nokia HDC-5, but in various applications the connector head structure and the number of associated interface surfaces and hence the number of wires inside the connection cable depend on the connection of the mobile phone. The most common connector heads for Nokia 15 mobile phones used in the device of the invention are the aforementioned HDC-5 and Pop-Port as well as HDC-9P, for example. Connectors suitable for other mobile phones include the 2.5mm connector used in many makes of phones, the HBP-10 used by Sony Ericsson or the mini USB connector used by Motorola.

To facilitate the use of the device, the device includes a retaining member 6 shown in Figure 2.

20 For hanging the handset part 1, the holder part includes a mounting projection 13 to which the handset part 1 can be secured by a recess 12 in the handset part. . In the embodiment of Figure 2, the retainer portion 25 further includes wire clips 14 for connecting the cable between the handset portion and the mobile phone. They are designed to facilitate the handling of the connection cable and to prevent the cables from becoming tangled.

1-5, the microphone 8 of the handset is positioned near the user's mouth (not shown in the figures), and the speaker 9 is positioned near the user's ear 15, and the induction transmitter 10 and / or 10a is positioned receiving device 17 for hearing aid 16. With such an arrangement, the speaker 9 and the induction coil 10 and / or 10a of the handset can be directed precisely to the correct distance to ensure optimum reception.

The handset part 1 according to the invention may be provided with a single induction coil 10 if the device 35 is made for use with an induction function only for use with the right ear.

7

Alternatively, a single induction coil 10a may be mounted in the handset part 1 if the device is manufactured for use with the induction function only for use with the left ear. In addition to these mounting options, the induction coils 10 and 10a can be mounted simultaneously on the device, whereby the invention can be operated by an induction function 5 regardless of whether the device user's hearing aid is in the right or left or both ears.

When using the device of Figures 1-5, the retaining part 6 included in the device is mounted at a suitable position, for example on the vehicle's dashboard, so that the handset part 1 is easily accessible when driving. When entering the car, the handset cord 2 is attached to the headset jack 5 of the mobile phone 4, and the mobile phone is placed in a convenient location during driving (e.g., in a car holder) so that the handset connector wire does not become too short or when the handset is attached. When the phone is ringing, the handset is picked up and the push button of the switching device 11 is pressed to transfer the call from the mobile to the handset. After the call, the push button on the switching device is pressed again and the call is terminated.

The device according to the invention can be implemented in many respects differently from the exemplary embodiments shown in Figures 1-5. The size and appearance of the handset included with the device may vary as required. Instead of a handset that resembles a traditional landline handset, a more modernly designed handset can be used, for example. 1-5, the connection cable between the handset part and the mobile phone in the embodiment of Figures 1-5 may be, for example, a direct connection cable instead of 20 threaded cables.

The function control devices / devices of the device of Figures 1-5 may vary from application to application. In some applications, the handset speaker will beep when a connection is established between the mobile phone and the handset. Further, an application may include an additional loudspeaker, an amplifier and, if necessary, a microphone, so that the device can be operated like a conventional headset by holding it in a cradle during a call. In this case, the switch for answering and ending a call is placed in the handset at a convenient location so that the switch is within easy reach. The use of an induction transmitter is then possible if a sufficiently effective amplifier circuit is integrated in the handset part. Further, some applications may include additional enhancements to device comfort, such as volume control, indicator lights, or display information such as calls and handset information.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the interface cable 2 is an interface cable connected to a microphone 8 of the handset part 1, an induction transmitter 10 and / or 10a and a speaker 9 having a connector end 3 for detachably connecting and connecting the interface cable to the 35 connector socket 5 of the mobile phone. The device can be used in the normal (M) 8 position of the hearing aid, or in the induction position (T), or both (M + T). A person with normal hearing may operate the device without a hearing aid, as with a normal headset.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the handset part 1 includes a switching device 11 for initiating and terminating a call. Such a switching device can be made such that the call 5 can be connected, for example, by a push button under the thumb when the handset part is taken up.

In a third preferred embodiment of the invention, the handset part 1 includes a switching device 11a which can be used to select whether the device operates in addition to the loudspeaker 9 also on the induction principle and vice versa. This function enables the device speaker 9 or the induction coil 10 and / or 10a to be switched off, which further saves the battery of the mobile phone 10 connected to the auxiliary device. In this case, the device can be operated in the normal or induction position of the hearing aid 16 or at the same time. In this case, the device can be used without a hearing aid as with a normal headset.

In a fourth preferred embodiment of the invention, the device includes a holder 6 for hanging the handset 1, for example, in a vehicle (not shown in the figures) for the time between calls 15. This ensures that the handset part is always as accessible as possible when the phone 4 rings. This increases the convenience of the device and reduces the traffic safety risks associated with answering an incoming call while driving if; The device is used as a car headset.

In a fifth preferred embodiment of the invention, the handset part 1 has a connector socket (not shown in the Figures) and a connector) The coil 2 has 1 connector head (not shown) for detachably connecting and connecting the connection cable to the handset part. This allows one cord to be replaced on the same handset with a matching end for a different brand of mobile phone connector or, if the cord is too short, to be replaced longer without having to replace the handset.

In a sixth preferred embodiment of the invention, an additional high-performance speaker (not shown) is added to the handset part 1 of the device in addition to a speaker 9, an induction transmitter 10 and / or 10a and a microphone 8 to be used purely as a HF device. pictured) during a call.

In a seventh preferred embodiment of the invention, an additional high-power speaker (not shown) and a microphone (not shown) are added to the handset portion 1 of the device in addition to speaker 9, 30 induction transmitter 10 and / or 10a and microphone 8 so that the device can be used purely as a HF device. 6 or, for example, on a desk (not shown) during a call.

9

In an eighth preferred embodiment of the invention, the handset portion 1 of the device has an amplifier (not shown) in addition to a speaker 9, an induction transmitter 10 and / or 10a, and a microphone 8, and an extra high power speaker (not shown). in a rack 6 or, for example, on table 5 (not shown) during a call.

In a ninth preferred embodiment of the invention, the handset portion 1 of the device has an amplifier (not shown), in addition to a speaker 9, an induction transmitter 10 and / or 10a and a microphone 8, and an extra high power speaker (not shown) and microphone (not shown) use it purely as a handsfree unit by holding it in its 10 holder 6 or for example on a desk during a call.

In a tenth preferred embodiment of the invention, the handset portion 1 of the device has an amplifier (not shown), in addition to a speaker 9, an induction transmitter 10 and / or 10a and a microphone 8, and an extra high power speaker (not shown) and multiple microphones (not shown) can be used purely as a handsfree device 15 by holding it in its holder 6 or, for example, on a desk during a call.

The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments shown, but may vary within the inventive idea of the claims.

Claims (7)

1. Device for hearing impaired to facilitate the use of a mobile phone, the device according to ITU-T's recommendation (international standard IEC 60118-4 induction loops for hearing aid purposes) comprises a microphone (1) which can be used in use (if required) 8), a loudspeaker (9), at least one induction transmitter (10; 10a) operating simultaneously with the speaker (9) and at least one switching device (11; 1a) for starting and ending calls, and the handset (1) comprises one of the handset microphone (8), loudspeaker (9) and induction transmitter (10; 10a) coupled connecting device (2) for connecting the handset part (1) to a mobile phone (4), characterized in that the handset part (1) induction transmitter (10; 10a) comprises of a cylinder longitudinally shaped, the length of which is not more than 15 mm and whose core has a length greater than the outer diameter of the winding in the coil, and said core has been wound with trees to provide the induction transmitter (10; 10a), which is placed adjacent to the wiring portion ns (1) speakers (9) such that the speaker and induction transmitter (10; 10a) center shafts are parallel and mounted on the side of the headset (1) which comes to the side towards the user's ear and is positioned so that both the hearing aid coil (17) and the induction transmitter (10; 10a) come as close as possible to the headset (1) raised against orate. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the axis (10b) of the induction transmitter (10; 10a) is substantially parallel to the axis (9a) of the coil in the loudspeaker (9) of the handset (1) and thus creates a strongly directed magnetic field in the direction. with these shoulders. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that one or more induction transmitters (10a) have been further connected to the connecting device (2) in addition to the microphone (8), the speaker (9) and the induction transmitter (10). Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the handset (1) is provided with a coupling (1a), by means of which the speaker (9), the induction transmitter (10 and / or 10a) or bed are simultaneously selected for operation. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a second high-power speaker (not indicated in the figures) has been further connected to the connecting device (2) in addition to the microphone (8), the speaker (9) and the induction transmitter (10; 10a). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that one or more microphones (not indicated in the figures) have been further connected to the connecting device (2) in addition to the microphone (8), the speaker (9) and the induction transmitter (10; 10a). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device comprises a pouring part (6) for suspending the handset part (1) within the railing of a vehicle for the time between calls (not indicated in the figures).