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 Title: |
US5721783:
Hearing aid with wireless remote processor
[ Derwent Title ]
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| Country: |
US United States of America
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| Inventor: |
Anderson, James C.; Westwood, MA 02090
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| Assignee: |
None
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| Published / Filed: |
1998-02-24
/ 1995-06-07
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| Application Number: |
US1995000479629
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| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
H04M 1/60;
H04R 25/00;
H04R 25/04;
IPC-7:
H04R 25/00;
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| ECLA Code: |
H04M1/60T2B2; H04B1/38P4; H04M1/725F1E2; H04R25/55D; T04R25/30B; T04R25/55B; T04R25/70; T04R25/04; T04R225/023; T04R225/51; T04R460/07;
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| U.S. Class: |
Current:
381/328;
381/312;
381/316;
381/321;
Original:
381/068.6;
381/068;
381/068.2;
381/068.4;
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| Field of Search: |
381/068,68.2,68.4,68.6
342/042-51,2
340/006,825.54,505
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| Priority Number: |
| 1995-06-07 |
US1995000479629 |
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| Abstract: |
A hearing aid or audio communication system includes an earpiece (10) that can be hidden in the ear canal, and which communicates wirelessly with a remote processor unit, or RPU (16), that enhances audio signals and can be concealed under clothing. Sounds from the environment are picked up by a microphone (12) in the earpiece and sent with other information over a two-way wireless link (17) to the RPU (16). The wireless link (17) uses microwaves for component miniaturization. Furthermore, use of radar technology to implement the wireless link (17), with an RPU (16) interrogator and earpiece (10) transponder, reduces earpiece size and power, as no microwave oscillator is needed in the earpiece (10). Optional secondary wireless link circuitry (19) can be used between the RPU (16) and a cellular telephone system or other sources of information. Electronic voice recognition and response can control system operation.
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| Attorney, Agent or Firm: |
Benway, Richard F. ;
Santa, Martin M. ;
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| Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Kuntz, Curtis; Barnie, Rexford N.
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| INPADOC Legal Status: |
Show legal status actions
Family Legal Status Report
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| Designated Country: |
AL AM AP AZ BB BG BR BY CZ EE GE HU IS KG KP KR KZ LK LR LT LV MD MK AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB IE IT LI
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| Family: |
Show 20 known family members
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First Claim:
Show all 71 claims |
What is claimed is:
1. A hearing aid system comprising an earpiece suitable for being worn at the head of a user, and a processor unit,
- said earpiece comprising,
- a microphone responsive to a first sound from the environment, present at the input of said microphone, to provide a first electrical signal,
- a first wireless reflective transponder to provide a first wireless transmission in response to said first electrical signal by modulating energy from a wireless interrogator,
- a first wireless receiver to receive a second wireless transmission to generate a second electrical signal, said second electrical signal being an enhanced version of said first electrical signal,
- a speaker transducer responsive to said second electrical signal to convert said second electrical signal into a second sound;
- said processor unit comprising,
- a second wireless receiver responsive to said first wireless transmission to provide a third electrical signal that is a replica of said first electrical signal,
- a signal processor responsive to said third electrical signal to provide a fourth electrical signal, said fourth electrical signal being an enhanced version of said third electrical signal,
- said wireless interrogator being responsive to said fourth electrical signal to provide said second wireless transmission of said fourth electrical signal, said second electrical signal being a replica of said fourth electrical signal.
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| Background / Summary: |
Show background / summary
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| Drawing Descriptions: |
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| Description: |
Show description
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| Forward References: |
Show 337 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one
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| U.S. References: |
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All U.S. references
| Forward references (337)
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Backward references (26)
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Citation Link
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PDF |
Patent |
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Remote-controllable, programmable, hearing aid system
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1993-05 |
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Siemens Aktiengesellschaft |
Hearing aid having a data storage
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1993-07 |
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Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company |
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1993-09 |
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Pole/Zero Corporation |
Transponder control of animal whereabouts
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1994-03 |
Van Vroenhoven |
U.S. Philips Corporation |
Hearing aid intended for being mounted within the ear canal
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1994-04 |
Brillhart et al. |
AudioScience, Inc. |
Hearing aid with programmable remote and method of deriving settings for configuring the hearing aid
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1995-02 |
Adelman |
|
Hearing apparatus
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1995-12 |
Lindemann et al. |
AudioLogic, Inc. |
Binaural hearing aid
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1997-03 |
Mills et al. |
Instromedix, Inc. |
High functional density cardiac monitoring system for captured windowed ECG data
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1997-06 |
Sauer |
Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH |
Voice-controlled hearing aid
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| * some details unavailable |
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| Foreign References: |
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| Other Abstract Info: |
DERABS G1997-052752
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| Other References: |
"Q & A about Biological Effects and Potential Hazards of RF Radiation", OET Bulletin 56, FCC, Washington, D.C., Jan. 1989, pp. 1-3.
"How to Buy a Hearing Aid", Consumer Reports Magazine, Nov. 1992, pp. 716-712.
T. Tanji, "A digital Radio Hearing Aid", I-P-14, Program and Abstracts of First Biennial Conference on Advancing Human Communication: An Interdisciplinary Forum on Hearing Aid Research and Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, Sep. 11-13, 1995.
SHS Wireless Radio Communications Data Sheet From E.A.R. Inc.; Jan. 1990.
CROS Product Data Sheets From Telex Communications, Inc.; Jan. 1989.
H. Levitt, A. Neuman, R. Mills and T. Schwander, "Digital Master Hearing Aid" Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, vol. 23, No. 1, 1986, pp. 79-87, May 1986.
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