Presence activated hearing assistive system
AssigneeCingular Wireless, LLC
InventorsMelvin Frerking, George Hirvela
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electronic device includes a receiver, a processor, and a presence activation sensor configured to receive a signal from a user. The user signal includes a user specific performance parameter, or the user specific performance parameter may be accessed from a memory by the processor in response to the user signal. In non-enhanced mode operation, the device receives standard signals and outputs them according to standard performance parameters. In enhanced mode operation the device receives standard signals, as well as a user signal which triggers the processor to manipulate the standard signals to output unique signals according to the user specific performance parameters.
Claims52
A hearing assistive apparatus, comprising:
- a receiver configured to receive a first audio signal and output said first audio signal to a processor;
- a presence activation sensor configured to receive a user signal comprising at least one hearing loss parameter, and output said user signal to said processor;
- said processor programmed to receive said first audio and said user signal, and manipulate said first audio signal in response to said user signal;
- an amplifier configured to receive and amplify said manipulated audio signal;
- and,
- a speaker configured to receive and output said manipulated audio signal.
A hearing assistive apparatus, comprising:
- a signal source configured to output a first signal;
- a module comprising a presence activation sensor configured to receive a user signal and output said user signal to a processor, said processor programmed to receive said first and user signals and manipulate said first signal in response to said user signal;
- an interface linking said signal source to a module;
- an amplifier configured to receive and amplify said manipulated signal;
- and,
- a speaker configured to receive and output said manipulated audio signal.
A hearing assistive apparatus, comprising:
- a processor configured to receive a digital signal via a communication link;
- a presence activation sensor configured to receive a user signal and output said user signal to said processor;
- said processor programmed to receive said signals and manipulate said digital signal in response to said user signal;
- and,
- a codec programmed to receive and convert said manipulated digital signal to an audio signal.
A hearing assistive system, comprising:
- a processor configured to receive a first signal via a communication link;
- a user specific tag comprising a user signal, proximate to a presence activation sensor configured to receive and output said user signal to said processor;
- said processor programmed to receive said signals and manipulate said first signal in response to said user signal;
- an amplifier configured to receive and amplify said manipulated signal;
- and,
- a speaker configured to receive and output said amplified signal.
A hearing assistive system, comprising:
- a means for audio communication including a processor configured to receive a first signal via a communication link;
- a means for receiving a presence activation signal, in communication with said processor, configured to receive and output an activation signal;
- a means for presence activation, comprising an activation signal, proximate to said means for receiving a presence activation signal,
- said processor programmed to receive said signals and manipulate said first signal in response to said activation signal;
- an amplifier configured to receive and amplify said manipulated signal;
- and,
- a speaker configured to receive and output said amplified signal.
A method for improving the hearing ability of individuals with hearing loss to hear sound from certain devices, comprising:
- providing a hearing assistive device configured to selectively output audio signals in a non-enhanced mode and in enhanced modes;
- providing a first user specific tag comprising a first user specific signal;
- placing said tag proximate to said device;
- receiving by said device said user signal;
- in response to said receiving, said device selectively starting an enhanced mode operation;
- manipulating said output audio signals in response to said user signal;
- and
- outputting said manipulated audio signal.
A method for improving the hearing ability of individuals with hearing loss to hear sound from certain devices, comprising:
- providing a hearing assistive device configured to selectively output audio signals in a non-enhanced mode and enhanced modes;
- providing a first user specific tag;
- placing said tag proximate to said device;
- in response to said placing, said device retrieving a first stored user signal;
- in response to said retrieving, said device selectively starting enhanced mode operation;
- manipulating said output audio signals in response to said user signal;
- and
- outputting said manipulated audio signal.
A wireless communication device, comprising:
- a processor;
- a receiver configured to receive at least a first signal and output said first signal to a processor;
- a radio frequency identification reader configured to receive a user signal and output said user signal to said processor, and,
- wherein said processor is programmed to receive said first signal and said user, and manipulate the output characteristics of said first signal in response to said user signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.