Integrated hearing aid

The invention relates to a hearing aid with a receiving and a Reproducing part.

Conventional hearing aids include the DE 296 02 839 U1, are introduced with a part of your body in the ear canal, a Another part of the housing on the outside of the ear rests (eartip or otoplasty). The shape of the housing is chosen so that they as well as possible conforms to a normal ear, so that a certain Maintenance is given. They allow a hearing impaired person, by improved hearing, discussions follow and thus actively alive can participate.

However, many shy away from the hearing impaired, especially at the beginning of their illness, before purchasing a conventional hearing aid back. Also obtain the users of conventional hearing aids with ear molds often called the closure effects in the ear. can also Pressure points on the ear canal, inflammation or allergies occur. The hearing aid must be cleaned and maintained, it falls high cost of button cells (batteries) on a regular basis, with those Energy supply is ensured. Also often occurs for the user and its environmental tiresome and tedious feedback whistling on. Conventional hearing aids are also relatively normally expensive.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a solution, with the avoiding the disadvantages described, and the handling and Convenience for the user can be increased, while encouraging the entry threshold be reduced for the purchase of a hearing aid.

This object is according to the invention by a hearing aid with a dissolved receiving and a display part, wherein the receiving part Part of a multimedia device forms a part and the reproducing Headphones or earphones which the signal connected to the multimedia device is.

Multimedia device according to the present invention, any electronic his device for processing audio or visual is provided signals or suitable. Basic idea is a virtually any electronic device, typically the consumer electronics, the produced inexpensively in large numbers is to train as a hearing aid to not only this unit to give an additional purpose, but especially cost and not immediately recognizable, a hearing aid provide.

The inventive solution can on a special ear mold and the problems associated with cost and completely be waived. Headphones or headsets are often already in place, about as a component or accessory to audio or video (Play) devices such. B. MC and CD players (Walkman) or MP3 players and telecommunications equipment, in particular mobile phones. This can be wired or wireless, z. B. by infrared ray or Bluetooth or radio with headphones or headset be connected. Headphones or headsets can monaural or biaural be formed, so depending on the impairment of the user Use a situation or even provide both ears.

Thus, the solution of the invention enables the provision of Hearing aid on the one hand, cost-effective way and on the other on for Third unrecognizable way. The hearing aid according to the invention can in realized the simplest case, by installing an appropriate software , since a variety of multimedia devices already complete Hardware include that for providing the hearing aid function is required. These are in particular a microphone, headphones or earphones and an amplifier and corresponding signal connections between. It basically does not matter whether the signal transmission corded or cordless made whether the signals in digital be or transmitted in analog form. Such software-based Hearing aids can function, for example, readily at cell phone with supplied headphones or earphones or MP3 players with integrated Microphone are provided. Since such devices regularly today have interfaces to the computer, the retrofitting can in simpler and cheaper form optionally substituted by one Download on the Internet take place.

Whether the multimedia device is only by software or adapt hardware, comes to the provision of equipment and configuration to and possibly also on the later operating comfort. The Multimedia equipment must be fitted in each case so that the hearing aid function can be activated and optionally disabled. In the simplest Form these control means by a separate input and Off switch can be formed, but it is also known Switches by software reprogrammed in this regard, such that separately or additionally activates the hearing instrument operation or deactivated can be wherein a from the microphone in the receiver part recorded signal is amplified and the earbuds or headphones is passed reproducing portion.

Basically, it is expedient if the existing multimedia device Receiving part using place. For those devices that a not having such a receiving part or in addition a separate have microphone port, it may be advantageous, an external to connect microphone, since the directivity of external microphones regularly cheaper than the most cost-effective built-in microphones is.

In an embodiment it is provided that the receiving part, which is preferably a strong directional microphone receives, in a per se known telecommunication, Audio or video device is integrated. This enables the Waiver of a separate hearing aid receiver. Conventional devices may be prepared by the incorporation of a strong directional microphone and the associated electrotechnical equipment, in particular a A / D converter, a signal processor, a D / A converter and shared one in each device already present amplifier and potentiometer to be extended inexpensively to a hearing aid. At the same time, these are the respective users to completely unobtrusive use. Unlike in itself already known, separate receiving parts with directional microphones, which is clearly visible on each speaking person must be aligned, falls in normal, everyday Handling the use of a conventional mobile phone, an MC or CD playback device (Walkman) or an MP3 player, an organizer or the like. as hearing aids receiving part (with amplification means) not on. The acoustic signals in the the user environment of the directional microphone in the commercial Telecommunications, audio or video device was added, converted into digital signals by means of the signal processor processed, wherein, for example, noise off may be, they are then placed back into analog signals reconverted and amplified. With the help of the potentiometer, the Users adjust the volume as desired.

The receiver can as the commercial telecommunications, Audio or video devices are supported by the user's body, and with conventional rechargeable batteries or accumulators the known device supplied. The to the reproduction part by wire or wirelessly relayed signals can also are mixed with music signals of the respective device, for example, may further (lower volume) music through the speakers forwarded the headphones or headsets to the hearing impaired will. The integration site of the receiving section may vary according to the requirements of the user at the signal processor or behind this lie. The audio signals can optionally by the receiving portion or be selected from both the audio device or.

The invention is explained hereinafter with reference to the drawing. These show in<dl tsize="6"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>a schematic diagram of a receiver and a display section,</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>a circuit diagram of a receiving section.</dd></dl>

A generally designated 1 hearing aid consists of a receiving part 2 and a display part 3. The receiving part 2 can be a conventional mobile devices (mobile phone), a walkie-talkie (walkie-talkie) an audio or video (play) device or the like. Essential is that it has a powerful (Directive) microphone 4, added the voice of interlocutors of the user with the can be. The conventional device comprises, as in from Fig. 2 Each shows a specific circuit and electronic components as follows: In addition to the directional microphone 4 is initially an analog / digital converter 5 and behind it is provided a signal processor 6th The acoustic signals in the user's environment are of the 4 directional microphone included, using the A / D converter 5 into digital converted signals processed by the signal processor 6, for example, by noise is eliminated, and then with a digital / analog converter 7 into analog signals reconverted and finally amplified by an amplifier eighth With the help of a potentiometer 9, the volume of the speaker 10, which, as is apparent from Fig. 1, part of the display section 3 (for example. B. a headsets or headphones) is to be regulated. The entire Receiving part 2 is in an audio or video (play) device or telecommunication device 11 integrated. The speaker 10, as shown in illustrated FIG. 2, wire bonded, or, as shown in Fig. 1, wirelessly connected to the receiving part, in particular the potentiometer 9 be. In the case of a wireless connection, in particular by Radio technology such as. For example, but not limited to DECT, Bluetooth or like, or an infrared connection, has the receiving part 3 nor a receiver circuit 12 and an infrared receiver with a power supply, not shown, in particular a Battery.

Naturally, the invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments limited. Other embodiments are possible, without the departing from the spirit. It is only essential that the receiving part is integrated into a conventional portable electronic device. considering is also a summary of a receiving and reproducing portion, as integrated as in in headphones or headsets receivers may be the case.