GB2385738A

GB2385738A - Head-mounted microphone transmitting signals to a hearing aid

Info

Publication number: GB2385738A
Application number: GB0303868A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gordon Maclean Campbell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-02-21
Filing date: 2003-02-20
Publication date: 2003-08-27
Also published as: GB0303868D0

Abstract

A listening device has a microphone 10 carried by the user's head, preferably on the arm of a pair of spectacles 3, which transmits signals produced by input sound signals to an associated hearing aid. The signal may be transmitted via an inductive loop 2 installed in a spectacle neck-cord 2A or in an ear-hook 2D. Housings 5 for the microphone 10 and inductive loop electrical components may be removably attached to spectacle arms 3, 4. The device may operate as a CROS (Contralateral Routing Of Signal) hearing aid wherein a microphone on one side of the head transmits to a hearing aid on the other side.

Description

"Listening Device." The present invention relates to a listening device especially for

use with hearing aids (HA'S), and especially but not exclusively utilising induction transmission via the"T"setting of the HA.

HA'S nowadays are commonly of the behind the ear or all in ear type but a problem with an individual HA of this type is that has limited angular response range (see attached Fig. 6A) with respect to the ear to which it is fitted i. e. has limited assistance with respect to the other side of the head. The older body worn HA'S with a multi-posit- ional microphone connected to an ear speaker by wire can be superior in this regard but this HA type has the disadvantage of being less attractive to the user due to its bulk.

Body worn listening devices are available and supplied by the RNID (AT TAt) under the"Crystal"and"Hearit"tradenames and can couple to a users HA by induction transmission via a neckloop and the HA's"T"control.

The microphone of the device can be positioned to provide improved directional sound pick up. However these devices have the disadvantage of the body worn HA.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the above problem.

Therefor, broadly according to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a listening device including a microphone device, means enabling the micrpphone device to be carried by the user's head, and an electrical line to transmit an electrical signal, produced by

a sound indu. signal, from the microphone device to an associates HA.

C > In one preferred embodiment means are provided whereby the microphone device can be carried by a spectacle leg. In an altrnative embodiment tne microphone device is adapted to be carried by : he ear. The elec-

trical line (flexible) may be inthe form of an induction device especially to provide induction transmission via the"T"setting of an HA, or alternatively the line may couple to a direct audio input of an HA.

Therefore, in one preferred embodiment the present invention proviaes a listening device comprising an induction loop and electrical components to provide an induction current in the loop responsive to a sound signal, said components being for example a microphone, transducer and battery etc. , wherein the device includes a pair of carrying means each adapted to be supported by a respective arm of a pair of spectacles and a cord attached to said carrying means so as to extend around the user's head or neck, one of said carrying means comprising a housing for a microphone, and wherein said induction loop comprises a portion of said cord so as to transmit an electrical signal from the microphone to an

HA.

Preferably both carrying means comprise housings and the electrical components are distributed between these housings.

In an alternative embodiment, at least some of the electrical components are located in a housing intercalated in the cord.

'Preferably each carrying means includes support means enabling the carrying means to be detachably supported by its leg, these support means comprising for example a tab on the carrying means to extend over the leg, and a VELCRO (RT) fastener.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a neckloop for support of a microphone device, part of said neckloop comprising a portion of an electrical line serving for connection of t'r'e microphone evice to an ear located speaker device.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of

example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein : Fig. 1 shows a pictorial view of a pair of spectacles (glasses) fitted with a listening device in accordance with the present invention but with the right side carrying means removed; Fig. 2 shows an end view of the right side carrying means of the device now fitted on its leg; Fig. 3 shows a schamatic plan view of the device; Fig. 4 shows a pictorial view of another embodiment; Fig. 5A shows a pictorial view of another embodiment, while Fig. 5B shows a detailed elevational view of this embodiment ; Fig. 5C shows a modification to fig. 5A; Figs. 6A. 6C'show diagramatically the angular sound range of the various arrangements; Fig. 7A shows a pictorial view of yet a further embodiment with the auxiliary microphone retracted; Fig. 7B is a top view of the user's head with the Fig. 7A embodiment installed; Fig. 7C shows an elevational view of this embodiment with the microphone in the extended condition; Figs. 7E show the angular sound range of the microphones of the Fig. 7A embodiment;

Fig. 8A shows an elavational view (substantially actual size) of another embodiment; Fig. 8B is a detail of the microphone device in the adjusted (shrouded) condition; Fig. 9A shows a side view of an alternative induction transmitter usable especially mn the embodiments of Figs. 5C and 7A; and Fig. 9B shows an end view of this transmitter.

Description of the embodiments.

Referring to figs. 1-3 of the drawings, a listening device 1 is adapted to be carried by a pair of spectacles S and includes a loop 2 encased in acord or strap 2A to extend around the head or neck of the spectacle user W. The device further includes a pair of carrying means each for fitting to a respective leg '3,. 4 of the spectacles S, and a feature of the device 1 is that the carrying means comprise housings 5,6 for the loops

electrical components, the loop 2 being fitted to these housings cm by snap connectors 7.

In this example, each housing 3, 6 is removably carried by its leg, and in this example this is achieved by means of a tab 8 on the housings which passes over the leg (see Fig. 2)

and has its free end secured to the housing by a VELCRO (RTM) fastener 9A19B, but other arrangements are of course possible whereby each housing 5,6 is carried by its leg.

For bulk minimisation, the electrical components associated with the loop 2 are distributed between both housings 5,6.

Thus housing 5 can house microphone 10, transducer 11 plus any other necessary electrical devices 12, a gain control 13 being present, while housing 6 houses a battery 14 and an on-off switch 15, the current signal from the tranducer being fed to the coil 16 of the loop 2 while power line 17

in the loop cable 2A links the battery 14 to the transducer The electrical components are of a miniaturised form : the technology for this is available and improving.

The arrangement enables the loop 2 to be located relatively close to a users HA by appropriate positioning of the housings 5,6 on the legs 3,4 e. g. at the position A.

This has the benefit of enabling the device 1 to function with relatively low power level ie the battery 14 can be small. The cable 2A with loop 2 has the attractive secondary function of supporting the spectacles S from the users neck for an out of use condition and to facilitate this function the housings 5, 6 can be pushed back to the position B (Fig. l).

Referring to Fig 3, the device 1 has the particular benefit of enabling the user W to hear more clearly sound approaching from the opposite side to the HA (the left

side S in this example) by induction transfer C around the loop 2 to the HA. The housings 5,6 can of course be transposed.

The device 1 is particularly usable with an HA controlled by a remote infra-red controller 18 (commonly referred to as a zapper), such HA'a being supplied by a number of companies. The device 1 could be zapper controlled also but this is not absolutely necessary as the HA can function in the normal"M"mode for better pick up of right side S sound even with the device 1 in an operating mode.

The housings could of course be made integral with the spectacle legs 3,4 as shown in Fig. 4 (the circuit of Fig. 3 still applying) but it is felt this will reduce the versatility of the devmce, bearing in mind the device 1 is essentially auxiliary to the HA.

In the embodiment of FIgs. 5A-B, size reduction of the individual units especially of the leg carried items, is achieved by having the amplifier 11 with gain control 13, the electrical item 12, the battery 14, the loop coil 16, and the battery switch 15 assembled as a unit located in a housing 2B intercalated in the cord device 2A. Thus leg 3 simply carries the microphone 10 and associated transducer 11. and a line 2C connects these items to the battery 14.

Alternatively the battery 14 can be part of a replaceable package unit by having tab 22/8-comprise a battery housed casing with Velcro tabs 9A, 9B for fitting on leg 4.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5C, the induction loop 2 now comprises an earhook line 2D separate from cord 2A (shown dashed in Fig. 5A).

Fig. 5B shows the components in substantial actual size: the spacing L of the housing 5 and tab 22 will be chosen appropratialy.

Fig. 6A is a schematic illustration (horizontal shading) of the angular response range of the HA alone while Fig. 6B shows (by vertical shading) that of the microphone unit 10/11 (superior to that of the HA by virtue of its more forward position): Fig. 6C shows the full response range of the combination.

In the Figs. 7A-7C embodiment the microphone unit 10/11 has now been incorporated in a behind the ear device 25 in HA fashion. An induction earhook line 2D is employed The device 25 includes a microphone arrangement of telescopic form.

In particular the device includes an upper elongate housing 25A (Fig. 7C) for a telescopic rod 26 of the arrangement, the rod 26 carrying at its forward end a microphone 1e with associated transducer eg of piezoelectric form (not shown) while towards the rear there is an electrical contact 27 engageable a) with arear tab contact 27A for operation in the retracted condition (Fig. 7A) with b) forward tab contact 27B for operation in the extended condition (Fig. 7C. The electrical input from the microphone 10 is fed to the device via an electrical conduit 28 in the rod 26 and an electrical conduit 29 between the contacts 27A/B. A small tail portion 26T of the rod 26 facilitates rod support in the extended condition.

The hook part 25H serves to retain the device 25 on the ear.

Preferably the microphone arrangement has a telescopic extension bringing the microphone 10 substantially to the front of the face.

Normally, operation will be in the retracted (and less conspicuous)) position but where greater angle of hearing is required the microPhone can be moved to its advanced position.

Fig. 7 shows the angular response range of the microphone device 25 alone while Fig. 7E shows the range of the HA and device combined.

The conventional switching O-T-M of an HA provides a simple switching facility wherebyaa convenient switch from the main HA microphone to the auxiliary microphone 10 (and vice versa) is possible.

It will be understood that the microphone unit 10/11, especially that of Fig. 7A (by virtue of its superior response range) could constitute the main and sole microphone so that the listening device must fit to the HA for HA use.

As may be noted, the auxiliary mcrophone 10 in the Figs. 1,4, 5A and7A embodiments could be utilised in a hand held mode (with say a longer cord 2D in fig. 7A), in which case the need for switching between the microphone 10 and the HA microphone can be substantially reduced.

Also, with regard to Figs. 1 and 5A the Velcro item 9A/B at the housing 5 and that at the other end of cord 2A could be arranged for joining of the items so that the cord 2A can form a hoop eg as a sort of neckloop of a hand listening device when the spectacles are absent.

The embodiment of Figs. SA/B employs a dedicated hand held microphone 30 located in asmall cylindrical body-worn casing 31 which additionally houses a battery 32 (eg of AAA type) and the transducer 33 (preferably foupled with a low gain amplifier) of the microphone 30, the casing 31 including for example a scewable portion 31A to bring contacts 32A/33A into and out of engagement for operation of the microphone 30.

The microphone 30 is body worn via a neckloop 34 and part 35A of the neckloop constitutes a portion of a connecting wire 35 coupling the microphone 30 to an ear mounted speaker device 36 via conneectors 353 < 35C, whereby in this the microphone is remote from the body of the device 36. In contrast to the speaker of the conventional body worn HA the speaker 31) houses an amplifier 38, a telecoil 39 and a small battery 40 ie has the structure of an ear mounted HA minus the microphone, a switch 3 providing for selective operation at the

"T"and M"settings from the"off" (O) position.

To provide for improved sound focusing, a conical shroud 41 is moveable cnnthe casing 31 from a retracted position (Fig, 8A) to an operative advanced position (Fig. 8B) surrounding the microphone: as can be seen from Fig. 8B tis enables frontal sound SF to be received whereas lateral sound SL is substantially blocked so giving improved sound focusing especially in a noisy environment.

Instead of induction transmission in the Figs. 5C and7A embodiments a direct audio input somewhat as shown in Fig. 8A could be employed.

Figs. 9A, 9B show an alternative induction coupling. In this case, the line 2 carries a primary coil 39P which is housed in a slim casing 42 removably fixed on the HA at an appropriate location by means of a Velcro (RTM) fastener'43A/B : preferably, for reduced obtrusiveness, the casing 42 is located between the HA and the user's head as shown.

Claims

Claims : 1. A listening device including a microphone device, means enabling the microphone device to be carried by the user's head, and an electrical line to transmit an electrical signal, produced by an input sound signal, from the microphone device to an associated hearing aid.
2. The listening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein means are provided whereby the microphone device can be carried by a spectacle leg.
3. The listening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microphone device is adapted to be carried by the ear.
4. The listening device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the electrical line is in the form of an induction device to provide induction. transmission via the"T"setting of a hearing aid.
5. The listening device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the electrical line is coupled to a direct audio input of a hearing aid.
6. The listening device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical line includes a housing for housing electrical components associated with the microphone device.
7. A listening device comprising an induction loop and elec- trical components to proviae an induction current in the loop responsive to a sound signal, said components being for example a microphone, transducer and battery etc., wherein t. e device includes a pair of carry- means each

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adapted to be supported by a respective leg of a pair of spectacles and a cord attached to said carrying means so as to extend around the user's head or neck, one of said carrying means comprising a housing for a microphone, and wherein said induction loop comprises a portion of or an appendage to said cord so as to transmit an

electrical signal from the microphone to a hearing aid.
8. The listening device as claimed in claim 7, wherein both carrying means comprise housings and the electrical components are distributed between these housings.
9. The listening device as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least some of the electrical components ase located in a housing intercalated in the cord.
10. The listening device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the induction loop is embedded in the cord.
11. The listening device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the induction loop comprises an earhook device as an appendage of the cord.
12. The listening device as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein each carrying means includes support means enabling the carrying-means to be detachably supported by its leg.
13. A listening device fashioned from a pair of spectacles, said device including an electrical signal line and electrical components housed in at least one leg of the spectacles and including a cicrophone whereby said components provide an electrical curren. t signal in said line responsive to a sound signal, a cord attached to the spectacle legs so as to extend around the user's head or neck and arranged so as to constitute a spectacle cord to support the n ) C'n 0 0spectacles vi ?. ths serTs eck in' out of use conii' : i' ;'n, and wherein said electrical signsl line comprises a pcr: ; icn of or appendage to said cord so as o transmit a. n electrical signal from .. -,,
14. A listening device substantially as hereinbefore described wi-h of the accompanying dra'. vinss.

O~ v e w

13. The listening device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the support means comprise a tab on the carryig means to extend over the leg, and a Velcro (RTM) fastener.

14. The listening device as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein the carrying means are adapted to be joined together enabling the cord to form a neckloop, when the cord is free of the spectacles.

15. A listening device substantially as hereinbefore described with referenceto and as illustrated in Fig. 1, Fig. 5A or Fig. 7A of the accompanying dravii-igs.

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6. A teckloop for support of a microphone device, part of said neckloop comprising a portion of an electrical line serving for connection of the microphone device to an ear located speaker device.

17. A neckloop substantially as hereinbefore describea with reference to fig. 8A of the accompanying drawings.

18. The neckloop of claim 16 or 17 in combination with a microphone device and a speaker device, said devices being joined by said electrical line.

19. The combination of claim 18, wherein the microphone device includes a shroud for location around the microphone thereof for improved sound focusing.

20. A listening device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 8A and 8B of the accompanying drawings,

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Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A listening device comprising an electrical signal line and electrical components to provide an electric signal current in the line responsive to a sound signal, said components being for example a microphone, trans- ducer and battery etc. , wherein the device includes a pair of carrying means each adapted to be supported by a respective leg of a pair of spectacles and a cord attached to said carrying means so as to extend around the user's head or neck, one of said carrying means comprising a housing for a microphone, and wherein said electrical signal line comprises a portion of or an appendage to said cord so as to transmit an electrical signal from the microphone to a hearing aid.

, 2. The listening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical signal line constitutes an induction loop.

3. The listening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical signal. line. is adapted o transmit an electrical signal to a direct'. audio input of a hearing aid.

4. The listening device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, v ; "erin at least one of the carrying meansis slidable on its respective spectacle leg bet'.'.'een an advanced position and a retracted position.

5. The listening device as claimed in any one of ihe preceding claims, wherein both carrying means comprise housings and the electrical cornces 2e i3 be a29 : 3S.

6. ^ : ee i 3 > e-^~ng se-. ~s ~'a-ev-iX arç 5 ~ Cs ^'. S 1'JA 4 X T. t3 :''"'9ir :. 2. : le4. 3 so : : : e of - : -- -=2. -$2. " : :, : ;'- ;. 1 8 : -~". Ç :' :. s : : :. -. -"'= lJ3. - : ; 2- . : 1 =housing intercalatei in e cord.

7. The listening device as claimed in claim 2,'. vherein the induction as

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8. The listening device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the induction loop

cc-*, r ses a : earnoc ; de ï i ce ebs ~ AW~e ; 1$ e O Q ; < e CO-n4* 9. The listening device, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the arrangement is such that an electric induction part of the loop can lie alongside C > the hearing aid.

10. The listening device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each carrying means includes support means enabling the carrying means to be detachably supported by its leg.

11. The listeninS device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the support Dpo--t u u means comprise a tab on the carrying means to extend over the leg, and a Velcro (RTK) fastener.

12. The listening device as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein the ZD carrying means are adapted to be joined together enabling the cord to form a necklood, wher, the cord is free of the spe'ctacles.