Hearing aid with delayed activation
US7031481B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 7, 2003 |
| Grant date | Apr 18, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 21, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04R25/505
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A hearing aid comprises a microphone, a sound transducer, an amplification signal path configured for coupling the sound transducer to the microphone; and a circuit configured for completely or partly blocking the signal path during a comfort delay period, which may be adjustable, when the hearing aid is switched on. It can hereby be avoided that the hearing aid transmits a disturbing howling tone during the period until it is placed correctly at or in the ear of the user, if the user switches on the hearing aid before it is correctly positioned. The circuit is further configured for generating and transmitting a special acoustic signal to the sound transducer during at least a portion of the comfort delay period. In this way a user will be able to ascertain whether the hearing aid is switched on and that it functions as it should.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.