Method and apparatus for a hearing aid coupling system

Patent 6925179 Issued on August 2, 2005. Estimated Expiration Date:

March 29, 2021. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

2048604

2554834

2837607

3396245

3668334

3742359

3862378

Cable connector for hearing aids
Patent #: 4137431
Issued on: 01/30/1979
Inventor: Pallesen

Telephone earphone amplifier
Patent #: 4160122
Issued on: 07/03/1979
Inventor: Jacobson

Earphone
Patent #: 4403120
Issued on: 09/06/1983
Inventor: Yoshimi

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Inventors

Assignee

New World Sounds, Inc.

Application

No. 09821097 filed on 03/29/2001

US Classes:

379/443, Including coupler (e.g., inductive)379/52, INCLUDING AID FOR HANDICAPPED USER (E.G., VISUAL, TACTILE, HEARING AID COUPLING)379/442, With circuit connection to terminal379/430, Body supported (e.g., headgear)455/575.2, Headgear375/259, SYSTEMS USING ALTERNATING OR PULSATING CURRENT381/71.6, Adjacent ear381/330Hook over ear

Examiners

Primary: Chiang, Jack

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Foreign Patent References

565181 EP 10/01/1993
58-31647 JP 02/01/1983
363102495 JP 05/01/1988

International Classes

H04M001/00
H04M011/00

Abstract

An audio coupler device for communication with a T-coil in a hearing aid is described to fit inside the receiver section of a handset as defined. The coupler device is so mounted inside the receiver section as to provide strong inductive coupling with a T-coil inside the hearing aid to deliver audio signals from the handset to the person wearing the hearing aid. The coupler device has a coil and a magnetic core that is preferably formed of a ferromagnetic material and a capacitor is placed in series with the coil. The coupler device in turn is connected in series with the speaker so as to reduce loading of circuitry inside the handset and driving the speaker. The coupler device can be mounted in many different handset devices and is preferably mounted to concentrate an audio inductive field at the T-coil in a hearing aid worn by a person using the handset device.