FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hearing aid. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hearing aid that assists in the

placement of the aid within a person's ear.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A hearing aid or hearing instrument is a small electro-acoustic apparatus which typically fits into a user's ear (in-the-ear or ITE type) or partly behind a user's ear and partly into the ear (behind-the-ear or BTE type). The apparatus is designed to amplify and modulate sounds for the user who may have a hearing impairment to some degree.

A hearing instrument has three main operational components, an amplifier, a microphone and a receiver, that are operably connected to one another and that are assembled and positioned within a protective casing. In operation, the microphone receives sound from the ambient environment around the user which is then transformed into an electrical signal by appropriate circuitry. The amplifier modifies the transformed signal to increase its amplitude and vary its frequencies within a

spectrum that is dictated by the requirements for the respective user. Other appropriate circuitry further processes and then transforms the amplified electrical signal back to sound waves that the receiver emits into the canal of the user's ear. The instrument and its various

components are powered by a miniature battery located within the casing. Despite its apparent simplicity, several factors can lead a user to incorrectly use the device and, in particular, to incorrectly place a device in an ear. First, as noted above, the electronics of a hearing instrument is customized to a user's requirements since each person's hearing impairment is different from the next. The casing of a hearing instrument is also customized to fit a user and, moreover, to fit a user's respective ear since ear structures vary not only from person to person but also from ear to ear. In the case of a BTE-type hearing instrument, the processed sound is routed from the hearing aid case behind the ear via a tube to an earmold which is customized to fit the user. As a

consequence of its non-standard manufacture, a hearing instrument is often placed, without thought, by a user in the wrong ear, resulting in a mismatch between the instrument and the ear, both operationally and fit- wise. In the common circumstance of a user wearing a hearing

instrument in each ear, a mismatch will be doubled as the instruments are often mistaken for one another. Operating manuals and instructions received at the point of dispensing usually are usually not sufficient to overcome these mistakes.

Also, the necessarily small size of a hearing instrument limits the visual features that can exist on the outer surface of the casing (and/or earmold). This limits the visual cues useable by a user to place the hearing instrument in the correct ear. Further, the small size

exaggerates any visual impairments and dexterity limitations by the user, each of which can easily result in the misplacement of an instrument. Seniors, which make up a large majority of the users of hearing

instruments, can typically present multiple sensorial impairments that, ironically, affect their abilities to properly wear and operate the very technologies, such as, hearing instruments that were designed to assist them in daily living.

Several problems may arise with hearing instruments inserted in the opposite ear for which they were intended. For example, a hearing instrument misplaced in the incorrect ear over time causes "hot spots" or sore points to occur in the ear. The user usually does not understand that the instrument is being worn incorrectly and may simply rotate it until the device seems more comfortable, regardless of how the performance may be diminished. Also, a hearing instrument may be custom

manufactured to meet performance requirements for a user's specific ear side. If a user crosses the prescriptions for each ear side, it is likely that the performance of the overall hearing system (e.g., comprising two hearing instruments) may be substantially different than expected or designed, or degraded altogether. Further, any directional microphone system in a hearing instrument will be reversed when a hearing

instrument is inserted into the incorrect ear. A user who does not understand this may face a hazardous situation when transitioning from a quiet environment into an active sound environment, like walking out of a quiet building into a busy, noisy city street.

In any instance of a user finding discomfort or trouble with a hearing instrument, the user is more likely to find fault in the quality of the device rather than in how they are using the device, leading a user to forego the hearing instrument for periods of time if not permanently.

Currently, there are no known hearing instruments that support actively warning the user that a hearing instrument is not being worn correctly.

Accordingly, there is a need for apparatus or methods for hearing instruments that assist in the proper placement of the hearing instrument aid within a person's ear. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above problems are obviated by the present invention which provides a hearing instrument comprising means for actively identifying the hearing instrument as corresponding to a respective user's ear for which it was intended. The means for actively identifying may comprise means for determining whether the hearing instrument is positioned with the correct ear and means for indicating a match between the hearing instrument and the user's ear.

In such case, the means for determining may comprise a sensor that is located on the surface of the hearing instrument casing and that is adapted to detect a specific characteristic of the respective portion of the ear being monitored. The sensor may then be a pressure sensor that signals the means for indicating upon detecting a pressure that is equal to a predetermined measurement or within a predetermined range, or a temperature sensor that signals the means for indicating upon detecting a temperature that is equal to a predetermined measurement or within a predetermined range.

Alternatively, the means for determining may comprise a signal receiver that is adapted to receive an electromagnetic or acoustic signal at a predefined frequency. The received signal may then be adapted to be emitted by a remote signal transmitter. The signal receiver may use signal triangulation to ascertain whether the hearing instrument is positioned with the correct ear and there is a match between the hearing instrument and the user's ear.

Alternatively, the means for determining may comprise a signal receiver that is adapted to receive a first signal at a first predefined frequency and second signal at a second predefined frequency, the signals being one of either electromagnetic signals or acoustic signals. The first and second signals may be adapted to be emitted by a remote signal transmitter at the same time. The signal receiver may use signal triangulation to ascertain whether the hearing instrument is positioned with the correct ear and there is a match between the hearing instrument and the user's ear.

The means for indicating, noted above, may comprise a signal transmitter that emits a signal adapted to be perceivable by the user upon the means for determining ascertaining a match between the hearing instrument and the user's ear. The signal transmitter may then be a light source and the emitted signal would comprise a light signal, or a sound source and the emitted signal would comprise a sound signal.

Further, the means for determining may comprise a signal transmitter that emits either an electromagnetic or acoustic signal at a predefined frequency. The means for determining may also further comprise a trigger that the user operates on demand and that activates the signal transmitter. The emitted signal may then be adapted to be received by a remote signal receiver. Also, the remote signal receiver may use signal triangulation to ascertain whether the hearing instrument is positioned with the correct ear and a match between the hearing instrument and the user's ear. Also, the means for indicating may comprise a signal transmitter that emits a signal adapted to be

perceivable by the user upon the means for determining ascertaining a match between the hearing instrument and the user's ear, said signal transmitter located on the remote signal receiver. The means for actively identifying may comprise, alternatively, means for communicating to the user the respective positioning side of the user for the hearing instrument. The means for communicating may then comprise a light source which is adapted to emit light of a

predetermined color so as to indicate whether the hearing instrument is a left or right side hearing instrument; a sound source which is adapted to emit sound of a predetermined frequency so as to indicate whether the hearing instrument is a left or right side hearing instrument; or a sound source which is adapted to emit predetermined distinguishable sounds so as to indicate whether the hearing instrument is a left or right side hearing instrument. In the last case, the distinguishable sounds may be in the form of human speech that directly specifies left or right side hearing instrument.

The means for actively identifying may further comprise a trigger that activates the means for communicating. The trigger may be an accelerometer and associated logic circuitry with the accelerometer activating, upon sensing a predetermined motion of the hearing

instrument, the logic circuitry to signal the respective positioning side of the user for the hearing instrument. The logic circuitry may automatically time out after a predetermined time period and stop signaling the respective positioning side of the user for the hearing instrument. The trigger may also comprise a sensor that is located on the surface of the hearing instrument casing and that is adapted to detect a specific characteristic of the respective portion of the ear being monitored, the logic circuitry timing out after the sensor indicates that the specific characteristic is detected. The present invention may also provide a hearing instrument comprising a sensor that determines whether the hearing instrument is inserted in the user's ear for which it is designed and an indicator that informs the user that the hearing instrument is inserted in the correct ear.

The present invention may also provide a hearing instrument comprising an indicator that informs the user which ear of the user the hearing instrument is designed to complement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of exemplary embodiments thereof, and to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 a is a graphic representation of a hearing instrument constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 1 b is a graphic representation of the hearing instrument of Figure 1a placed in a user's ear;

Figure 2a is a graphic representation of a second embodiment of a hearing instrument, constructed in accordance with the present

invention, placed in a user's ear;

Figure 2b is a timing diagram describing an operation of the hearing instrument of Figure 2a;

Figure 3a is a graphic representation of a third embodiment of a hearing instrument constructed in accordance with the present invention (a pair of hearing instruments being shown); and

Figure 3b is a graphic representation of a variation of the third embodiment of the hearing instrument of Figure 3a. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1a shows a graphic representation of a hearing instrument 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention. The hearing instrument 10 comprises a shell 12 that is customized in size and shape to snugly fit in a respective user's ear and a faceplate 14 that faces outward from a user's ear and that is adapted to be attached to the shell 12. Typically, most of the electronic components (not shown) are mounted on the interior side of the faceplate 12 and are contained within the shell 12 when the shell 12 and the faceplate 14 are joined together. The faceplate 14 has a microphone 16 mounted therethrough which is adapted to receive sound from the ambient environment around the user and to send the sound signals to appropriate circuitry (not shown) within the shell 12 for amplification and further processing. The shell 12 has a receiver 18 (shown in dotted line) mounted therethrough that emits the sound waves that result from the processing and amplification into the canal of the user's ear.

The hearing instrument 10 is further adapted to actively identify the hearing instrument 10 and thus match the instrument 10 with the ear of the user for which it was intended or designed. This helps to overcome the relatively small size of the hearing instrument 10, which limits the visual features and cues that can exist on the outer surface of the instrument 10 and, moreover, that are useable by users with visual impairments and dexterity limitations. The hearing instrument 10 may be further adapted to provide automatic active identification. As an example of active identification, Figure 1a shows the hearing instrument 10 also comprises pressure or temperature sensors 22a, 22b, 22c that are located at appropriate positions on the outer surface of the instrument 10 and that are operably connected to signaling circuitry and components detailed below. The appropriate positions will vary from instrument to instrument because of the customized nature of the hearing instrument 10, as explained above. However, generally, the appropriate positions will be at the more acute curvatures of the outer surface of the hearing instrument 10 that come into contact with the user's ear structure when the instrument 10 is placed in the correct ear. Although several sensors are shown, the hearing instrument 10 may only use one such pressure or temperature sensor 22a, 22b, 22c.

Figure 1 b shows a graphic representation of the hearing instrument 10 placed in a user's ear 26, and partly in the ear canal 28, and an

exemplary location of a sensor 22a.

In operation, the sensors 22a, 22b, 22c are configured to detect a predetermined measurement or range of measurement for either pressure or temperature when the hearing instrument 10 is inserted into the user's ear 26. The predetermined measurement or range of measurement will be set during the design and manufacture of the instrument 10 and the customized fit with the user's ear 26. Upon such detection, the sensors 22a, 22b, 22c will trigger signaling circuitry and components, such as, a light-emitting diode (LED) 24 mounted on the outer surface of the instrument 10, to alert the user of a match with the correct ear, i.e., the ear for which it was intended or designed and customized.

Figure 2a shows a graphic representation of a second embodiment of a hearing instrument 40, constructed in accordance with the present invention, placed in a user's ear 41. In addition to the main operational components detailed above with respect to Figure 1a, the hearing instrument 40 also comprises a signal receiver 42 which may be housed along with the components within the shell. The receiver 42 is adapted to receive an acoustic or electromagnetic signal 44 with certain selected frequencies. The receiver 42 works with a separate hearing instrument remote control 46 having two signal transmitters 48a, 48b, and

accompanying directional antennae (not shown), that are each adapted to emit a respective electromagnetic or acoustic signal 44a, 44b with a frequency that is different from the other and that is one of the selected frequencies that can be received by the receiver 42. The signal transmitters 48a, 48b are located apart from one another, each on a respective side of the remote control 46, or of its face.

In operation, after the hearing instrument 40 is placed in the user's ear 41 , the user orients the face of the remote control 46 towards the hearing instrument 40 casing and triggers the remote control 46 to emit the two signals 44a, 44b from the transmitters 48a, 48b at the same time. The triggering mechanism may be a simple control, such as, an on/off button located on the body of the remote control 46. The hearing instrument 40 may comprise conventional circuitry (not shown) to determine the order in which the signals 44a, 44b are received by the receiver 42 and to calculate the reception time delay between them. The instrument 10 may be adapted to use any form of signal

triangulation. The hearing instrument 40 uses the calculated reception time delay to determine if the hearing instrument 40 is placed in the correct ear 41. For example, if the hearing instrument 40 is to be inserted in the right side ear 41 of the user, then the signal 44b from the right side transmitter 48b will be received later in time (T2) than the signal 44a from the left side transmitter 48a (T1 ). Upon such

determination, the hearing instrument 40 will trigger signaling circuitry and components, such as, a light-emitting diode (LED) 49 mounted on the outer surface of the casing of the hearing instrument 40, to alert the user of a match with the correct ear, i.e., the ear for which it was intended or designed and customized. Figure 2b shows a simple timing diagram describing the operation of the hearing instrument 40 and its remote control 46 (the left side transmitter 48a labeled as LT and the right side transmitter 48b labeled as RT).

Alternatively, the hearing instrument 40 casing may comprise a signal transmitter and the remote control 46 may comprise two signal receivers. In such a switch of components, the hearing instrument 40 transmitter would be adapted to emit a signal of a certain frequency and the remote control 46 would be adapted to receive the signal via the two receivers to determine the order in which the signal is received by the receivers and to calculate the reception time delay between them. As above, the remote control 46 would use the calculated reception time delay to determine if the hearing instrument 40 is inserted in the correct ear 41 (for example, if the hearing instrument 40 is to be inserted in the right side ear 41 of the user, then the signal will be received by the right side receiver later in time than the left side receiver). Upon such determination, the remote control 46 will trigger signaling circuitry and components, such as, an LED mounted on the outer surface of the remote control, to alert the user of a successful match with the correct ear. In such an alternative configuration, the hearing instrument 40 may comprise a trigger that the user operates on demand and that activates the signal transmitter, such as a simple on/off button, which may be located on the hearing instrument 40 casing or the remote control 46. Regardless of the configuration, the optimization of the operation of the remote control 46 with the hearing instrument 40 casing depends upon several factors, including the orientation of the face of the remote control 46 relative to the inserted hearing instrument 40 and/or user. Further, the hearing instrument 40 casing and remote control 46 may each employ other signal triangulation methods as well.

Figure 3a shows a graphic representation of a third embodiment of a hearing instrument constructed in accordance with the present invention (a pair of hearing instruments 60a, 60b being shown). In addition to the main operational components detailed above with respect to Figure 1 a, each hearing instrument 60a, 60b also comprises a light source 62a, 62b such as an LED embedded into the hearing instrument 60a, 60b. Each light source 62a, 62b may be located at a position on the outer surface of the faceplate 64a, 64b of the respective instrument 60a, 60b so as not to interfere with the operation of the hearing

instrument 60a, 60b or the fit with the user's ear. Further, each light source 62a, 62b may be located on the faceplate 64a, 64b to be clearly visible to a user of the instrument 60a, 60b, upon inspection. Each light source 62a, 62b is adapted to emit light of a predetermined color so as to indicate whether it is located on a left or right side hearing instrument. Thus, in the case of the pair of hearing instruments 60a, 60b being worn by a user, the respective lights sources 62a, 62b are adapted to emit light of different colors for easy distinction between left and right side hearing instruments 60a, 60b.

The light sources 62a, 62b may be replaced with other audiovisual indicators, for example, sound sources. This is illustrated in Figure 3b which shows a graphic representation of this variation of the hearing instrument of Figure 3a (a pair of hearing instruments 60a, 60b also being shown). Each sound source 66a, 66b is adapted to emit a sound of a predetermined frequency so as to indicate whether it is located on a left or right side hearing instrument. Thus, in the case of a pair of hearing instruments 60a, 60b being worn by a user, the respective sound sources 66a, 66b are adapted to emit sound of different frequencies for easy distinction between left and right side hearing instruments 60a, 60b. Each sound source 66a, 66b may also be adapted to emit any of a variety of distinguishable sounds, for example, tonal pulses at different frequencies, different beep counts at the same or different frequencies, and human speech to directly specify left or right side hearing instrument.

Regardless of the type of audio-visual indicator 62, 66 employed, each hearing instrument 60a, 60b also comprises an indicator trigger or activator 68a, 68b which may be housed along with the components within the shell (shown by dotted line in both Figure 3a and Figure 3b). The trigger 68a, 68b is adapted to activate the respective audio-visual indicator 62, 66 automatically upon the user contacting and handling the hearing instrument 60a, 60b. The trigger 68a, 68b may be an

accelerometer that is operably connected to activation logic circuitry. In such case, the accelerometer activates the activation logic circuitry when the hearing instrument 60a, 60b is picked up by the user (and thus causes a predetermined motion that is sensed by the accelerometer) which, in turn, signals the audio-visual indicator 62, 66 to operate. The activation logic circuitry can then automatically time-out, i.e., stop functioning, using a timer, thermal sensor, etc. Upon timing-out, the activation logic circuitry signals the audio-visual indicator 62, 66 to stop operating as well (or doesn't signal the audio-visual indicator 62, 66 to continue operating). This reduces battery drain that powers the hearing instrument 60a, 60b components. The trigger 68a, 68b may also be configured as part of a remote control for the hearing instrument 60a, 60b or as a simple on/off button on the faceplate and/or shell of the hearing instrument 60a, 60b.

Other modifications are possible within the scope of the invention. For example, the hearing instruments 10, 40, 60 have been described in a simplified fashion and may be constructed in various well-known manners and using various well-known conventional components. Also, the hearing instruments 20, 40, 60 have been described as ITE-type devices but they may be BTE-type devices wherein the earmold takes the place of the shell inserted in the ear as appropriate. Also, the hearing instrument 10 may use a combination of pressure and

temperature sensors 22a, 22b, 22c to detect a predetermined

measurement or range of measurement for each parameter when the instrument 10 is inserted into the user's ear 26. Also, the hearing instrument 10 may employ a sensor 22 that is adapted to detect another characteristic of the respective portion of the ear being monitored.

Further, the separate hearing instrument remote control 46 may be adapted to perform other functions of the hearing instrument. Also, the signal receiver 42 may be adapted to receive a signal 44 with one predetermined frequency and the two signal transmitters 48a, 48b may be adapted to each emit a respective signal 44a, 44b with the

predetermined frequency that can be received by the receiver 42.