KR20220007310A - Hearing assisting device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hearing assisting device, and more specifically, to a hearing assisting device capable of improving cognitive ability by radiation of near-infrared rays with a preset frequency in addition to the function of assisting hearing. The hearing assisting device according to the present invention desirably comprises: a main body part having an accommodation space formed therein; an ear tip mounted on a first side surface of the main body part and including an acoustic path; a speaker for emitting sound through the acoustic path; a microphone formed in the main body part; a light radiation part including a light element mounted on at least one among the main body part, the ear tip and the acoustic path to radiate near-infrared rays; and a data processor for processing a first electric signal from the microphone depending on a preset fitting value to generate a second electric signal, applying the generated second electric signal to the speaker to emit sound, thereby performing the function of assisting hearing, and generating a control signal for radiating near-infrared rays with a set frequency during the performance of the function of assisting hearing to apply the same to the light radiation part and to radiate light, thereby performing the function of radiating light.

Description

Hearing Aids {HEARING ASSISTING DEVICE}

The present invention relates to a hearing aid device, and more particularly, to a hearing aid device capable of improving cognitive ability by irradiating near-infrared rays of a preset frequency in addition to a hearing aid function.

As the population aging progresses, various negative problems such as loneliness, alienation, and depression are increasing throughout society due to the increase in single-person households living alone.

For the elderly, the demand for IT technology that can easily relieve psychological anxiety, recognize a dangerous state, and check the safety of family members is increasing.

In addition, hearing loss that appears in the elderly is called geriatric hearing loss, and hearing aids such as hearing aids are widely used as the most important method for solving age-related hearing loss. However, the hearing aid device only performs a hearing aid function of acquiring an external sound, amplifying and attenuating the acquired external sound based on a preset fitting value, and then transmitting it to the user as a sound or vibration.

An object of the present invention is to provide a hearing assistance device capable of improving cognitive ability through near-infrared irradiation of a preset frequency in addition to a hearing assistance function.

A hearing aid device according to the present invention includes a main body having an internal accommodation space, an ear tip mounted on the first side of the main body and having a sound path, a speaker emitting sound through the sound path, a microphone formed in the main body, and the main body A light irradiator that is mounted on at least one of the part wire, the eartip, and the sound path and has an optical element for irradiating near-infrared rays, and processing the first electrical signal from the microphone according to a preset fitting value to generate a second electrical signal, and generate The second electrical signal is applied to the speaker to emit sound to perform a hearing aid function, and while performing the hearing aid function, a control signal for near-infrared irradiation of a set frequency is generated and applied to the light irradiator to irradiate the light to perform the light irradiation function. It is desirable to include a data processor that performs

In addition, it is preferable that the set frequency is a frequency related to a stimulus for cognitive ability.

In addition, it is preferable that the data processor determines a frequency corresponding to the frequency characteristic of the first or second electrical signal as a set frequency.

In addition, the data processor determines a frequency corresponding to the frequency characteristic of the first or second electrical signal as a set frequency, and determines a set light intensity in response to the amplitude of the first or second electric signal, the set frequency and the set light It is desirable to generate a control signal for intense near-infrared irradiation.

In addition, the data processor has at least one of a preset wavelength included in the reference wavelength range, a preset frequency included in the reference frequency range, and a preset light intensity included in the reference light intensity range at which the near-infrared rays irradiated by the optical element are included in the reference wavelength range, , it is preferable to generate a control signal that causes the optical device to operate in response to a set duty ratio included in the reference duty ratio.

In addition, it is preferable that the reference wavelength range is 810 to 900 nm, the reference frequency range is 1 Hz to 100 kHz, the reference light intensity range is 16 to 26 mW/cm ² , and the reference duty ratio is 2 to 10%.

In the present invention, near-infrared rays having a set frequency stimulate the vagus nerve, and the deep brain is stimulated by stimulation of the vagus nerve, so that the cognitive function of the wearer is improved or cognitive function is maintained, and stimulation with a specific frequency It has the effect of further activating a specific function (eg, a specific cognitive ability) in synchronization with

1A and 1B are a front view and a side perspective view of a hearing aid device according to the present invention.
2 is a block diagram of a hearing assistance system including a hearing assistance device according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail through examples and drawings. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, and it should be understood that various modifications, equivalents, and/or alternatives of the embodiments of the present invention are included. In connection with the description of the drawings, like reference numerals may be used for like components.

In this document, expressions such as "have", "may have", "includes", or "may include" indicate the presence of a corresponding characteristic (eg, a numerical value, function, operation, or component such as a part). and does not exclude the presence of additional features.

In this document, expressions such as “A or B”, “at least one of A or/and B”, or “one or more of A or/and B” may include all possible combinations of the items listed together. . For example, "A or B", "at least one of A and B", or "at least one of A or B" means (1) includes at least one A, (2) includes at least one B; Or (3) it may refer to all cases including both at least one A and at least one B.

Expressions such as "first", "second", "first", or "second" used in this document may modify various elements, regardless of order and/or importance, and may modify one element to another. It is used only to distinguish it from the components, and does not limit the components. For example, the first user equipment and the second user equipment may represent different user equipment regardless of order or importance. For example, without departing from the scope of the rights described in this document, a first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, the second component may also be renamed as a first component.

A component (eg, a first component) is "coupled with/to (operatively or communicatively)" to another component (eg, a second component); When referring to "connected to", it will be understood that the certain element may be directly connected to the other element or may be connected through another element (eg, a third element). On the other hand, when it is said that a component (eg, a first component) is "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another component (eg, a second component), the component and the It may be understood that other components (eg, a third component) do not exist between other components.

The expression "configured to (or configured to)" as used in this document, depending on the context, for example, "suitable for", "having the capacity to" It can be used interchangeably with "," "designed to", "adapted to", "made to", or "capable of". The term "configured (or set up to)" may not necessarily mean only "specifically designed to" in hardware. Instead, in some circumstances, the expression “a device configured to” may mean that the device is “capable of” with other devices or parts. For example, the phrase "a processor configured (or configured to perform) A, B, and C" executes a dedicated processor (eg, an embedded processor), or one or more software programs stored in a memory device, to perform the corresponding operations. By doing so, it may refer to a generic-purpose processor (eg, a CPU or an application processor) capable of performing corresponding operations.

Terms used in this document are only used to describe specific embodiments, and may not be intended to limit the scope of other embodiments. The singular expression may include the plural expression unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, may have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art described in this document. Among the terms used in this document, terms defined in a general dictionary may be interpreted with the same or similar meaning as the meaning in the context of the related art, and unless explicitly defined in this document, have an ideal or excessively formal meaning. not interpreted In some cases, even terms defined in this document cannot be construed to exclude embodiments of this document.

1A and 1B are a front view and a side perspective view of a hearing aid device according to the present invention.

The hearing aid device 10 includes a main body 1 in which a control device such as a circuit board is mounted in an internal accommodation space, and an ear tip mounted on the first side of the main body 1 and having a sound passage 3a ( 3), and at least one optical element (18a to 18g) mounted on the main body (1) or the ear tip (3) or the acoustic passage (3a) of the ear tip (3), and the like.

The body part 1 is provided with a control device as in FIG. 2 in the receiving space formed inside the body part 1, and is worn on the outer ear (or turbinate) when worn by the user, and the ear tip 3 is It is inserted into the ear (eg, the ear canal). The side opposite to the first side of the main body 1 (a side symmetrical to the first side with respect to the main body 1) faces outward when the user inserts and mounts the hearing aid 10 in the ear. That is, at least a portion of the first side surface of the main body 1 is close to or in contact with an ear wheel (eg, an ear conch such as turbinate), and at least a portion of the ear tip 3 is inserted into the ear canal. A state in which the hearing aid device 10 is attached to the ear. As another embodiment, both the main body 1 and the ear tip 3 may be inserted and mounted in the external auditory meatus.

In the state in which the hearing aid device 10 is mounted on the wearer, each of the optical elements 18a to 18g is irradiated with near-infrared rays, but the first irradiation area of the ear (eg, auricular scabies exposed to the outside) ), the area of the auricle, etc.) and the second irradiation area of the ear (the area of the external auditory meatus, etc. inside the body in contact with the scapula) are respectively irradiated.

When the same near-infrared rays are irradiated to each of the first and second irradiated regions of the ear, the degree of stimulation for the first irradiated region of the ear is relatively stronger than that of the second irradiated region of the ear due to the location of the vagus nerve formed in the ear.

2 is a block diagram of a hearing assistance system including a hearing assistance device according to the present invention.

The hearing aid system performs a hearing aid function and a light irradiation function, and performs wired or wireless communication with the electronic communication device 30 to perform data (eg, fitting value, light irradiation setting) for the hearing aid function and light irradiation function. information, etc.) and performs wired or wireless communication with the hearing aid 10 and the hearing aid 10 to receive and store data for the hearing aid 10 It is configured to include an electronic communication device 30 and the like.

The hearing aid device 10 obtains an input from the user (eg, power on/off, on/off of the light irradiation function, setting the execution time of the light irradiation function, wireless communication connection and connection termination, etc.) to process the data An input unit 11 for applying to 29, a display unit 13 for displaying various information (eg, power state, whether a light irradiation function is performed, etc.), and a sound obtained and applied to the data processor 29 a microphone 15 for emitting sound, a speaker 17 for emitting sound through the acoustic path 3a of an electrical signal from the data processor 29, and a light for performing light irradiation according to a control signal from the data processor 29 The irradiation unit 19, the communication unit 21 for performing wired or wireless communication with the electronic communication device 30, the power supply unit 23 for supplying power, and a hearing aid function and light irradiation function by controlling the above-described components It is configured to include a data processor 29 and the like to perform

In addition, the control device including the input unit 11 , the display unit 13 , the microphone 15 , the speaker 17 , the communication unit 21 , the power supply unit 23 , and the data processor 29 is accommodated in the body unit 1 . installed in space.

However, the input unit 11, the display unit 13, the microphone 15, the speaker 17, the communication unit 21, and the power supply unit 23 are only technologies that are naturally recognized by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs. , a detailed description thereof is omitted.

The light irradiation unit 19 is controlled by a control signal from the data processor 29, and the wavelength (set wavelength) included in the range of 810 ~ 900 nm and the frequency (set frequency) included in the range of 1 Hz ~ 100 kHz It is configured to include a plurality of optical elements (18a to 18g) for irradiating light in the near-infrared band, for example, it is configured to include LED elements. In addition, the optical elements 18a to 18g emit near-infrared rays having an intensity of light included in a range of ^{16 to 26 mW/cm 2 .} In the present embodiment, the light emitting unit 19 controls each of the optical elements 18a to 18g at a duty ratio included in the reference duty ratio range of 2 to 10%, and sets it to be included in the reference wavelength range of 810 to 900 nm. Near-infrared rays having a wavelength, a set frequency included in the reference frequency range of 1 Hz to 100 kHz, and a preset light intensity included in the reference light intensity range of ^{16 to 26 mW/cm 2 are to be irradiated.}

The wavelength characteristic of the irradiated near-infrared rays is related to the penetration depth in the first and second irradiated regions to which the near-infrared rays are irradiated, and the penetration depth is constantly maintained within the above reference wavelength range without significant change. In addition, the frequency and duty ratio of the irradiated near-infrared rays are related to the repetition of the stimulus and affect the effect of the stimulus. In addition, the light intensity of the irradiated near-infrared light is related to the influence or effect of the stimulus, the stimulus has no effect at the light intensity less than the reference light intensity range, and adversely affects health at the light intensity exceeding the reference light intensity range. In addition, the duty ratio of the irradiated near-infrared rays is also related to the duration of stimulation, and is related to the immediate effect and the sustained effect.

The light irradiator 19 selectively controls each of the optical elements 18a to 18g according to a duty ratio (set duty ratio) included in a reference duty ratio range of 2 to 10% according to an operation command of the data processor 29 . may be Alternatively, the data processor 29 operates or stops the light irradiator 19 according to a duty ratio (set duty ratio) included in a reference duty ratio range of 2 to 10%, and the light irradiator 19 operates Each of the optical elements 18a to 18g may be selectively operated during operation, and all optical elements 18a to 18g may be stopped when the operation is stopped.

The data processor 29 includes a processor (eg, CPU, MICROPROCESSOR, MCU, etc.) performing a hearing aid function and a light irradiation function, a fitting value for a hearing aid function, light irradiation setting information for a light irradiation function, etc. It is configured to include a storage space (eg, memory, etc.) for storing the.

First, the light irradiation setting information includes a reference wavelength range and a set wavelength, a reference frequency range and a set frequency, a reference light intensity range and a set light intensity, and a reference duty ratio and a set duty ratio.

The data processor 29 controls the microphone 15 and the speaker 17 to process an electrical signal (a first electrical signal) from the microphone 5 according to a pre-stored fitting value (or a fitting curve, etc.), and An electric signal (second electric signal) is applied to the speaker 7 to perform a hearing aid function of emitting sound. In more detail, the data processor 29 converts the first electrical signal SA1 in the time domain to the first electrical signal SD1 in the frequency domain by a preset size or frame by frame, and converts the first electrical signal SD1 to the first electrical signal SD1 is calculated according to the fitting value to generate a second electrical signal SD2 in the frequency domain, converts the second electrical signal SD2 into a second electrical signal SA2 in the time domain, and a second electrical signal ( SA2) is applied to the speaker 7 .

When performing the hearing aid function, the data processor 29 generates a control signal and applies it to the light irradiation unit 19 to perform the light irradiation function. The control signal generated by the data processor 29 causes the light irradiator 19 to set the reference wavelength range, the reference frequency range, and the reference light intensity range included in the above-described light irradiation setting information, respectively, the set wavelength, the set frequency, and the setting. The near-infrared light having the light intensity is irradiated with a set duty ratio included in the reference duty ratio. In addition, the data processor 29 may control the light irradiation unit 19 using light irradiation setting information to independently turn on and off each of the optical elements 18a to 18g.

In the present invention, the data processor 29 is configured such that near-infrared rays with a set frequency stimulate the vagus nerve, and the deep brain is stimulated by stimulation of the vagus nerve, so that the cognitive function of the wearer is improved or the cognitive function is maintained. do. For example, like the Binaural Beats effect, these vagus nerves and deep brains are known to be tuned to stimuli with specific frequencies (near infrared or acoustics) to activate specific functions (eg, specific cognitive abilities). The processor 29 uses this specific frequency as a set frequency, and this specific frequency is also included in the reference frequency range described above.

As another embodiment of determining the set frequency, the data processor 29 may determine the set frequency from the first electrical signal input from the microphone 15 . The data processor 29 determines a set frequency within a reference frequency range in consideration of the frequency characteristic of the first electrical signal SD1 . The set frequency may be set to include all the frequency bands of the first electrical signal SD1 or may be set to include a specific frequency of the first electrical signal SD1 .

In another embodiment of determining the set frequency and set light intensity, the data processor 29 sets the frequency (set frequency) of the near-infrared light of the light irradiator 19 equal to the frequency of the first electric signal or the second electric signal. In addition, the near-infrared light intensity (set light intensity) of the light irradiation unit 19 may be determined according to the amplitude of the first electric signal or the second electric signal.

Also, as another embodiment of determining the set frequency, the data processor 29 may determine the frequency (set frequency) of the near-infrared light of the light irradiator 19 as the frequency of the portion with the most distortion in the second electrical signal.

The data processor 29 includes and stores the above-described set frequency and set light intensity in the light irradiation setting information.

The data processor 29 applies a second electrical signal to the speaker 17 and a control signal to the light irradiator 19 so that the light irradiation function is performed while the hearing aid function is performed. The vagus nerve is stimulated by this light irradiation function, and the deep brain is stimulated by the stimulation of the vagus nerve, so that the cognitive function of the wearer is improved or the cognitive function is maintained, and the sound emitted from the speaker 17 There is an effect that the hearing effect is also improved.

The electronic communication device 30 corresponds to, for example, an electronic device such as a smart phone or a tablet, and obtains an input (eg, correction of a fitting value, input and correction of light irradiation setting information, etc.) from a user. to perform wireless communication with the input unit 31 applied to the data processor 39, the display unit 33 for visually and/or audibly displaying fitting values and light irradiation setting information, and the like, and the hearing aid device 10 A data processor that transmits the fitting value and light irradiation setting information to the hearing aid device 10 by controlling the communication unit 35 that performs and the above-described components (the input unit 31, the display unit 33, the communication unit 35) (39) is included. However, the power supply unit (not shown), the input unit 31, the display unit 33, and the communication unit 35 are only technologies that are naturally recognized by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The data processor 39 transmits the fitting value and/or light irradiation setting information to the hearing aid 10 through the communication unit 35 while being communicatively connected with the hearing aid 10 through the communication unit 35 . The data processor 29 receives and stores the fitting value and/or light irradiation setting information from the electronic communication device 30 through the communication unit 21 . The data processor 29 reads the stored fitting value and light irradiation setting information to perform a hearing aid function and light irradiation function.

At least a portion of an apparatus (eg, a processor or functions thereof) or a method (eg, operations) according to various embodiments is stored in a computer-readable storage medium in the form of, for example, a program module It can be implemented with stored instructions. When the instruction is executed by a processor, the one or more processors may perform a function corresponding to the instruction. The computer-readable storage medium may be, for example, a memory.

Computer-readable recording media include hard disks, floppy disks, magnetic media (eg, magnetic tape), optical media (eg, CD-ROM, DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), magnetic- It may include an optical medium (eg, a floptical disk), a hardware device (eg, ROM, RAM, or flash memory, etc.), etc. In addition, program instructions include It may include not only machine code but also high-level language code that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter, etc. The above-described hardware device may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform operations of various embodiments, and the The same goes for the station.

The processor or functions by the processor according to various embodiments may include at least one or more of the aforementioned components, some may be omitted, or may further include additional other components. Operations performed by a module, a program module, or other components according to various embodiments may be executed sequentially, in parallel, iteratively, or in a heuristic method. Also, some operations may be executed in a different order, omitted, or other operations may be added.

As described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific preferred embodiments described above, and anyone with ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains can use various methods without departing from the gist of the present invention as claimed in the claims. It goes without saying that modifications are possible, and such modifications are intended to be within the scope of the claims.

10: Hearing aids 30: electronic communication device

Claims (6)

a body portion having an internal accommodating space;
an ear tip mounted on the first side of the main body and having a sound passage;
a speaker emitting sound through the sound path;
a microphone formed in the main body;
a light irradiation unit mounted on at least one of the body unit, the ear tip, and the sound path and having an optical element for irradiating near-infrared rays;
The first electrical signal from the microphone is processed according to a preset fitting value to generate a second electrical signal, and the generated second electrical signal is applied to a speaker to emit sound to perform a hearing assistance function, and to perform a hearing assistance function and a data processor for generating a control signal for irradiating near-infrared rays of a set frequency, applying it to the light irradiator, and irradiating the light to perform a light irradiating function. The method of claim 1,
The set frequency is a frequency related to stimulation for cognitive ability. The method of claim 1,
The data processor determines a frequency corresponding to the frequency characteristic of the first or second electrical signal as a preset frequency. The method of claim 1,
The data processor determines a frequency corresponding to the frequency characteristic of the first or second electrical signal as a set frequency, and determines a set light intensity in response to the amplitude of the first or second electric signal, and includes: A hearing aid device, characterized in that it generates a control signal for near-infrared irradiation. 5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The data processor has at least one of a set wavelength included in the reference wavelength range, a preset frequency included in the reference frequency range, and a preset light intensity included in the reference light intensity range, at which the near-infrared ray irradiated by the optical element is included in the reference wavelength range, A hearing assistance device, characterized in that it generates a control signal to operate in response to a set duty ratio included in the self reference duty ratio. 4. The method of claim 3,
The reference wavelength range is 810 to 900 nm, the reference frequency range is 1 Hz to 100 kHz, the reference light intensity range is 16 to 26 mW/cm ² , and the reference duty ratio is 2 to 10%. A sound transducer with a function.

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