Hearing Aid Connectivity to Consumer Electronics

项目描述（由申请人提供）：本项目将应用新型超宽带（UWB）无线脉冲无线电技术，提供从消费电子设备直接到微型耳后助听器（micro- bte）的连接。在助听器中，在声音与背景噪声结合之前捕获靠近声源的声音可以提供更好的信噪比。以消费电子设备为例，助听器用户在使用此类设备的集成扬声器时，会遇到音质方面的困难。这些设备通常提供提供低噪声信号的音频输出。所提出的设备将在添加噪声之前将来自音频端口的该信号数字化，并将其直接以数字方式传输到助听器。从消费电子设备向助听器传输音频信号的现有方法包括蓝牙、磁耦合（数字和模拟）和调频。调频收音机容易受到干扰和失真，正被数字无线解决方案所取代。蓝牙的功耗太高，无法直接集成到助听器中，因此这些解决方案需要在助听器外部的模块中安装更大的电池。磁耦合可以做得低功率，但只能传输短距离。以前的连接系统采用率低的原因有很多，其中大多数与当前解决方案中的中间中继模块有关。提出的解决方案将是第一个消除这种中继模块，允许直接远程传输到微型BTE助听器。所提出的无线技术将提供比磁耦合解决方案更大的距离（15英尺）和比所有数字替代方案更低的功率（<200uW）。这项技术可以直接集成到微型bte助听器中。发射器模块也将围绕标准音频插头小型化，用于离散（< 0.3 in3），易于使用的设备。超过2800万美国人患有或即将面临听力损失。可以从拟议的技术中获得最大利益的助听器用户部分是估计有10%的听力受损者遭受信噪比损失。这些人在嘈杂的环境中听力下降。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This project will apply novel ultra-wideband (UWB) wireless impulse radio technology to provide connectivity from consumer electronics devices directly to micro- behind-the-ear (micro-BTE) hearing aids. In hearing aids, capturing sound close to the source before it is combined with background noise offers better signal to noise ratio. In the case of consumer electronics devices, hearing aid users encounter difficulties with sound quality when using the integrated speakers of such devices. These devices often provide an audio output which offers a low noise signal. The proposed device will digitize this signal from the audio port before noise is added and transmit it digitally directly to the hearing aid. Existing methods to transmit audio signals to hearing aids from consumer electronics devices include Bluetooth, magnetic coupling (digital and analog), and FM. FM radios are prone to interference and distortion and are being replaced by digital wireless solutions. Bluetooth is too high of power to be directly integrated into hearing aids and so these solutions require larger batteries in modules external to the hearing aid. Magnetic coupling can be made low power but can only transmit for short distances. There are many reasons why previous connectivity systems have experienced poor adoption rates and most are related to the intermediate relay module found in current solutions. The proposed solution will be the first to eliminate this relay module allow direct long-range transmission to a micro BTE hearing aid. The proposed wireless technology will offer larger distances (15 ft.) than magnetic coupling solutions and lower power (<200uW) than all digital alternatives. This technology can be integrated directly into micro-BTE hearing aids. The transmitter module will also be miniaturized around a standard audio plug for a discrete (< 0.3 in3), easy to use device. Project Narrative More than 28 million Americans suffer from or face imminent hearing loss. The segments of hearing aid users that can receive the greatest benefit from the proposed technology are the estimated 10% of hearing-impaired persons suffering signal-to-noise-ratio loss. These individuals have a reduced ability to hear in acoustically noisy environments.