Hearing assistance system and method

摘要

A system for providing hearing assistance to at least one user, having at least one audio signal source; a transmission unit with a digital transmitter for wirelessly transmitting audio signals as data packets to a frame structure from the audio signal source; at least one ear-worn receiver unit for receiving the transmitted audio signals and a hearing stimulating mechanism, the receiver unit having a digital transceiver adapted to listen, and optionally transmit, during part of each frame and to sleep during the remainder of the frame; wherein the receiver unit has a capacitor for supplying current to the transceiver during listening or transmission operation, and a controlled current source including a control unit for controlling current flowing to the transceiver and the capacitor a manner preventing changes in the current flowing to the transceiver and the capacitor caused by the transceiver switching between sleeping and listening/transmission operation and vice versa.

主权项

1. A system for providing hearing assistance to at least one user, comprising: at least one audio signal source for providing audio signals; a transmission unit comprising a digital transmitter for applying a digital modulation scheme in order to transmit the audio signals as data packets according to a frame structure from the audio signal source via a wireless digital audio link; at least one receiver unit for reception of audio signals from the transmission unit via the digital audio link, wherein the receiver unit is connected to or integrated within an ear- worn device comprising a power source and means for stimulating a hearing of the user(s) according to audio signals supplied from the receiver unit, wherein the receiver unit comprises a digital transceiver which is powered by a power source of the ear-worn device and which is adapted to at least listen during part of each frame and to sleep during the remainder of the frame; wherein the receiver unit comprises a capacitor connected in parallel to the transceiver for supplying the transceiver during listening or transmission operation with current and for being recharged by the power source of the ear-worn device and a controlled current source including a control unit for controlling the current flowing from the power source to the transceiver and the capacitor in a manner so as to prevent changes in the current flowing from the power source to the transceiver and the capacitor caused by the transceiver switching between sleeping and listening/transmission operation and vice versa, respectively, which are expected to add an audible noise signal to the audio signals supplied to the stimulation means, wherein the controlled current source includes a voltage multiplier for increasing a voltage provided by the power source, and wherein the voltage multiplier is a step-up DC/DC converter having its input connected to the power source and delivering an output voltage to the capacitor and the transceiver having a value set between a lower limit and an upper limit, and wherein the controlled current source is adapted to adjust the current flowing from the power source to the transceiver and the capacitor to a constant target current value selected according to an estimated quality of the audio link or according to the estimated average current consumption of the transceiver.