JPH11275694A - Hearing aid - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the howling of a hearing aid and eliminate the need for a mechanical power switch from the hearing aid, and then to prevent the consumption of a battery. SOLUTION: A hearing aid having a microphone 8, a loudspeaker 5, an aural signal processing circuit 6, and a power supply circuit for the circuit 6 is provided with an electronic switch 304, which turns on/off the power supply circuit and an electronic switch turning-on/off control circuit consisting of an infrared sensor 4 which controls the turning-on/off of the switch 304 and an output discriminating circuit for the sensor 4. When the earplug of this hearing aid is inserted into the external auditory meatus 2 of a wearer, the infrared sensor 4 detects the infrared rays being radiated from the eardrum 3 and external auditory meatus 2 of the wearer and the electronic switch turning-on/off control circuit controls the electronic switch 304 to a turned-on state. When the earplug is removed from the ear of the wearer, the control circuit controls the switch 304 to a turned-off state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hearing aid, and more particularly, to an ear-hook hearing aid, a power on / off of an in-the-ear hearing aid, a mute output, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional ear-hook hearing aid and an in-the-ear hearing aid will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
Indicates an ear-hook hearing aid. As shown, this type of hearing aid comprises a main body and earplugs connected by an acoustic tube or a lead wire. In use, the main body is hung on an ear and the earplug is inserted into an ear hole. A microphone and a volume control dial are attached to the main body, and a speaker is attached to the earplugs.

FIG. 8 shows an external view of an in-the-ear type hearing aid. This type of hearing aid has an earplug part and a main body part integrally formed as shown. At the time of use, the entire hearing aid is supported by the ear canal simply by inserting the ear plug into the ear hole. A microphone, a battery, a battery holder, a volume control knob, and the like are attached to the main body. A speaker is attached to the earplug.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the hearing aid circuit shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. As is clear from the figure, external sound is converted into an electric signal by a microphone, amplified by an amplifier, and sent to a speaker. The speaker converts the transmitted electric signal into sound and emits the sound into the air. Power for operating the amplifier is supplied from a built-in battery, and a power supply circuit is provided with a power switch. A volume control means such as a variable resistor is provided to control the amplification of the amplifier.

[0005]

The ear-hook-type hearing aid and the ear-hole-type hearing aid described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 are made to be used by being hung on an ear or to be supported by being inserted into an ear hole. Therefore, the entire device is made compact, and the microphone and the speaker are mounted at spatially close positions. Therefore, if the earplug is operated without being inserted into the ear canal, the sound coming from the microphone is amplified and goes out of the speaker, and the sound propagates in the air and enters the microphone again, which may cause howling.

The power switch of a conventional ear-hook hearing aid or an in-the-ear hearing aid is a mechanical switch, and is manually turned on and off by a user. Therefore, the power switch may be turned on before the user inserts the earplug of the hearing aid into the ear canal. In this case, since the hearing aid is in an operating state, the sound that has entered the microphone is amplified and exits from the speaker. However, since the speaker has not yet entered the ear canal, the sound is radiated into the space and enters the microphone again, which may cause howling and generate unpleasant sound.

Similarly, when the hearing aid is removed from the ear, howling may occur for the same reason. In other words, if the user operates the power switch to turn off after the earplug of the hearing aid is removed from the ear hole, the speaker is disconnected from the speaker until the power switch is turned off after the ear plug is removed from the ear hole. Howling may occur for the same reason as described above because the emitted sound is in a state where it is easy to enter the microphone.

Furthermore, since the user of the hearing aid turns on and off the power switch manually, after removing the ear plug,
You may forget to turn off the power switch. If the power switch is turned on and left for a long time, the battery will be consumed even though it is not used.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of conventional hearing aids and to prevent unwanted operations such as howling. Another object of the present invention is to eliminate the need for a mechanical power switch that is manually operated, to automatically switch on when used, and to automatically switch off when not in use, resulting in troublesome operation. And to prevent battery consumption due to forgetting to turn off the power.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a hearing aid having the following means.
That is, a hearing aid including a microphone, a speaker, an audio signal processing circuit, and a power supply circuit of the audio signal processing circuit, and an electronic switch for turning on and off the power supply circuit and on / off control of the electronic switch. An electronic switch on / off control circuit comprising an infrared sensor and an output discrimination circuit of the sensor, wherein the electronic switch on / off control circuit is configured to detect the infrared sensor when the earplug of the hearing aid is inserted into an ear canal. However, the present invention provides a hearing aid in which the electronic switch is turned on by detecting infrared rays radiated from the eardrum and the ear canal, and the electronic switch is turned off when the electronic switch is removed from the ear.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hearing aid having the following means. That is, a hearing aid including a microphone, a speaker, an audio signal processing circuit, a power supply circuit of the audio signal processing circuit, and a mechanical switch for turning on / off the power supply circuit, and muting an output of the audio signal processing circuit. A muting circuit is provided, and an infrared sensor for performing on / off control of the output muting circuit and a muting circuit on / off control circuit including an output discrimination circuit of the infrared sensor are provided, and the mechanical switch is on and When the earplug of the hearing aid is not inserted into the ear canal of the user, the muting circuit on / off control circuit controls the muting circuit to be on, and the ear plug of the hearing aid is inserted into the ear canal of the user. When inserted, the infrared sensor detects infrared rays radiated from the user's eardrum and ear canal, and turns the muting circuit on / off. Providing a hearing aid control circuit has no such control to turn off the muting circuitry.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a hearing aid according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Although the hearing aid shown in the figure is drawn assuming an ear-hole type hearing aid, it can also be configured based on a similar technical idea in an ear-hearing type hearing aid.
As shown, the hearing aid 1 includes an infrared sensor 4, a speaker 5, a signal processing circuit 6, a microphone 8 and the like housed in a case 7. Although not shown, the hearing aid is provided with other means necessary for the hearing aid, such as a power supply battery, a power switch, and a volume adjusting means.

The case 7 is provided with an earplug for insertion into a human ear. When the hearing aid is attached and the earplug is inserted into the ear canal, the ear canal is connected to the ear canal through the opening at the tip of the earplug. The inside of the case communicates. A speaker 5 is arranged at a position inside the case where the distal end opening is located, facing the ear canal, and can emit sound into the ear canal.

Further, an infrared sensor 4 is attached to a position of the earplug portion with respect to the distal end opening. The infrared sensor 4 is used for the eardrum 3 and the ear canal 2 of the ear of the hearing aid wearer.
It serves to detect infrared rays emitted from inside.

The infrared sensor 4 detects infrared rays, converts them into electric signals, and sends them to a signal processing circuit 6. The signal processing circuit 6 is provided with a signal discrimination circuit (not shown), which will be described later, and discriminates whether the output voltage of the infrared sensor 4 is higher or lower than the reference voltage. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the infrared sensor 4 and the output discriminating circuit constitute a control circuit that controls the power switch of the audio signal processing circuit that amplifies the signal from the microphone and sends it to the speaker.

Here, an electronic switch on / off control circuit using the infrared sensor 4 (an electronic switch on / off control circuit provided in a power supply circuit of an audio signal processing circuit)
Will be described. In general, when infrared radiation emitted from an object to be measured is measured by an infrared sensor,
FIG. 2 shows a relationship between the temperature t of the measurement object and the output voltage vo of the infrared sensor. Focusing on this relationship, a thermometer has been developed that detects the amount of infrared radiation emitted from the eardrum 2 of the human ear and measures the human body temperature.

The electronic switch on / off control circuit used in the hearing aid of the present invention turns on and off the power of the audio signal processing circuit of the hearing aid using the temperature relationship. When the earplug part of the hanging hearing aid is inserted into the ear hole and detects normal human body temperature,
Infrared sensor 4 measures the output voltage out by detecting infrared rays emitted from the eardrum and ear canal, is set slightly lower voltage as the threshold voltage V _T than infrared the threshold voltage as a reference voltage of the comparator Output voltage vo from sensor 4
And an on / off control signal for the electronic switch by comparing the reference voltage with the reference voltage.

FIG. 3 schematically shows a power on / off circuit of an audio signal processing circuit in one embodiment of the hearing aid of the present invention.
FIG. 5 shows operation waveforms of the circuit of FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the power supply on / off circuit includes an electronic switch on / off control circuit including an infrared sensor 301, a reference voltage source 302, and a comparator 303, and an electronic switch controlled by the control circuit. 304. The electronic switch 304 includes a power supply 305 and an audio signal processing circuit 306.
The audio signal processing circuit 306 amplifies the input signal from the microphone 308 and sends it to the speaker 307 only when the electronic switch 304 is turned on.

The electronic switches on-off control circuit, an infrared sensor 301, is applied to the output voltage is one input of the infrared sensor, a comparator the other input of the reference voltage V _T from the reference voltage source 302 is applied An output discrimination circuit 303 detects whether or not the output voltage of the infrared sensor exceeds the reference voltage and outputs an on or off signal.

Next, the operation of the power on / off circuit according to this embodiment will be described below. Now, when the hearing aid is not in use, the output voltage of the infrared sensor 301 is very low because the amount of infrared light that enters the infrared sensor 301 is usually very small. Accordingly, the output vo of the infrared sensor is lower than the reference voltage V _T output voltage of the comparator 303 goes low, switch 304 remains in remains open (off).

When the user wears the hearing aid and puts the earplugs into the ear canal, the infrared sensor 301 detects infrared rays emitted from the ear canal and the eardrum of the wearer.
01 is higher. Therefore, the comparator 30
3 result comparator 303 compares the output vo and the reference voltage V _T of the infrared sensor 301 issues a high output to the output, the switch 304 in the closed (ON). Switch 30
4 is closed, the power supply 305 sends the audio signal processing circuit 306
Is supplied to the speaker 307, an operation as a hearing aid is performed in which the audio signal from the microphone 308 is amplified and output to the speaker 307.

This situation will be described with reference to the waveform diagram of FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5A, the output voltage of the infrared sensor changes from a low voltage when not in use to a high voltage by mounting and is referred to. When the voltage level (threshold voltage) V _T is exceeded, the output of the comparator changes from off to on, as shown in FIG.

Since the output of the comparator 303 is applied to the control terminal of the electronic switch 304, the electronic switch 304 is turned on as shown in FIG. Therefore,
Power is supplied from the power supply 305 to the audio signal processing circuit through the electronic switch 304, and the audio signal processing circuit 306 performs a normal operation and outputs an audio output as shown in FIG.

As described above, the power source of the audio signal processing circuit of the hearing aid starts operating with the hearing aid attached to the user's ear and the earplug inserted into the ear canal, so that the sound output from the speaker is generated. Stays in the ear canal and does not reach the microphone located outside the ear canal. Therefore, no howling occurs.

The power on / off circuit of FIG. 3 is made on the assumption that almost no infrared light enters the infrared sensor when the hearing aid is not used. However, even when the hearing aid is not used, the hearing aid operates when a certain amount or more of infrared light enters the infrared sensor and the output voltage exceeds the reference voltage.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the power on / off circuit of the hearing aid of the present invention. In this embodiment, the power switch 404 is constituted by a mechanical switch. When the hearing aid is not used, the power switch is open (turned off), and the audio signal processing circuit 406 is completely inactive.

In this embodiment, the infrared sensor 40
1. The reference voltage source 402 and the comparator 403 are the same circuits as those described above with reference to FIG. 3, but here, a circuit for transmitting a signal for controlling the muting circuit of the audio signal processing circuit 406 is configured. doing. Therefore, this part of the circuit can be called a mute-on signal generation circuit. Although not shown in FIG. 4, the muting circuit is provided on the output side of the audio signal processing circuit 406,
It is also possible to control the bias of the output stage amplifier circuit without providing it.

Next, the operation of the circuit of FIG. 4 will be described. When the user of the hearing aid turns on the power switch 404 manually before putting the hearing aid on the ear, power is supplied from the power supply 405 to the audio signal processing circuit 404, and the audio signal processing circuit 406 starts operating. .

However, at this time, the infrared sensor 4
Since the 01 infrared hardly enters a result of comparing a reference voltage V _T from the output voltage vo and the reference voltage source 402 of infrared sensor 401 in the comparator 403,
Since the output voltage of the infrared sensor is lower than the reference voltage, the comparator 403 outputs a mute-on signal as an output.

This mute-on signal is applied to the muting circuit of the audio signal processing circuit 406. When the power switch 404 is turned on, the audio signal processing circuit 406 operates. Therefore, when sound enters the microphone 408, it is converted into an electric signal and amplified, but the output of the audio signal processing circuit is output by the mute-on signal. Is muted, so that no sound is output from the speaker 407. For this reason, howling does not occur even if there is a sound transmission circuit between the microphone and the speaker.

When the user puts the earplugs of the hearing aid into the ear canal, the infrared sensor 401 detects infrared rays radiated from the eardrum or the ear canal, and the output voltage vo rises.
Exceeds reference voltage. At this time, the comparator 403 stops sending the mute-on signal.

When the mute is released, sound is output from the speaker 407. At this time, the output of the sound from the speaker 407 is already in the ear canal. Never enter. Therefore, no howling occurs.

When the user removes the earplug of the hearing aid from the ear canal, the sound emitted from the speaker 407 travels through the air and enters the microphone 408, where a howling can occur.
At this time, the amount of infrared light incident on the infrared sensor 401 is decreasing, and the output of the comparator 403 is muted.
Since the ON signal has been transmitted, the audio signal processing circuit 40
6 is muted and no sound is output from the speaker 407, so no howling occurs.

As described above, in this embodiment, the period from when the user turns on the power switch of the hearing aid to when the earplug is inserted into the ear canal, and from when the earplug is removed from the ear canal to turn off the power switch. During this period, a mute-on signal is output to the output of the comparator 403 so that no sound is output from the speaker.
The transmission of the mute-on signal from the CPU 03 is stopped.

This situation will be described with reference to FIG. When the hearing aid is not used, the mechanical switch 404 is open and the power to the audio signal processing circuit 406 is cut off, so that the circuit does not operate. When the user closes the mechanical switch 404 when using the hearing aid, the switch is turned on and the audio signal processing circuit 406 is turned on as shown in FIG.
Is supplied with power, the circuit operates.

When the mechanical switch 404 is turned on, the output voltage from the infrared sensor 401 is almost zero, which is lower than the voltage supplied from the reference voltage source 402. An on signal is output, and this signal is applied to the muting circuit of the audio signal processing circuit 406. Therefore, the signal sent from the audio signal processing circuit 406 to the speaker 407 is muted.

When the earplug of the hearing aid is inserted into the ear canal, the infrared sensor 401 receives infrared rays emitted from the eardrum and the ear canal, and the output voltage of the sensor increases. Then, when the output voltage of the infrared sensor 401 exceeds the reference voltage as shown in FIG. 6B, the comparator 403 stops sending the mute-on signal as shown in FIG. 6C.

When the mute of the output of the audio signal processing circuit 406 is released, the output is sent from the audio signal processing circuit 406 to the speaker 407 and transmitted as sound. Thus, the hearing aid is in normal use after the earplug is inserted into the ear canal.

When the hearing aid is removed from the ear, the amount of infrared rays received by the infrared sensor 401 decreases and becomes lower than the reference voltage, and the comparator 403 again outputs a mute-on signal as shown in FIG. 6C. The output from the audio signal processing circuit 406 is muted. Thereafter, when the mechanical switch 404 is turned off, the power of all the circuits is turned off, so that the mute signal is not transmitted from the comparator 403, and the hearing aid becomes inoperative.

Although the embodiments of the hearing aid of the present invention have been described above, it is needless to say that various forms other than the above can be provided without departing from the technical idea of the present invention.

For example, as an ear-hook type hearing aid, there is a model in which a speaker is attached to an earplug and a microphone is attached to the outside of the earplug. In this case, the technology of the present invention can be applied. .

In most of the ear-hung type, both the microphone and the speaker are provided in the main body, and the sound emitted from the speaker is transmitted to the earplug through an acoustic tube (merely a vinyl tube). In this case, however, an infrared sensor may be placed on the earplug, and the output of the infrared sensor may be sent to the main body through a lead wire inside the acoustic tube.

[0043]

【The invention's effect】

The hearing aid of the invention described in [Claim 1] and [Claim 2] starts sound output after the earplug of the hearing aid is inserted into the ear canal, and cuts off the sound output at the same time as the earplug is removed from the ear. As a result, an unpleasant howling sound is not generated. -Since the hearing aid of the invention described in [Claim 1] uses an electronic switch that is turned on when the earplug of the hearing aid is inserted into the ear hole and turned off when the earplug is removed, the battery is consumed due to forgetting to turn off the power switch after use. prevent. The hearing aid of the invention described in [Claim 1] does not require a mechanical switch as a power switch of the audio signal processing circuit. The hearing aid of the invention described in [Claim 2] turns off the entire power supply of the hearing aid by a mechanical switch, so that it does not operate erroneously when not in use.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of the structure of a hearing aid of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a characteristic diagram of an infrared sensor.

FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram of an example of a hearing aid of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram of another example of the hearing aid of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an operation waveform diagram of the circuit of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an operation waveform diagram of the circuit of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an external view of an example of an ear-hook hearing aid.

FIG. 8 is an external view of an example of an in-the-ear type hearing aid.

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram of an example of an audio signal processing circuit of the hearing aid.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 hearing aid, 2 ear canal, 3 eardrum, 4 infrared sensor, 5 speaker, 6 signal processing circuit, 7
Case, 8 ‥‥ microphone

Claims (2)

[Claims] A microphone, a speaker, an audio signal processing circuit,
A hearing aid having a power supply circuit of the audio signal processing circuit, comprising: an electronic switch for turning on and off the power supply circuit; an infrared sensor for performing on / off control of the electronic switch; and an output discrimination circuit of the sensor. Electronic switch-on
The electronic switch on / off control circuit, wherein when the earplug of the hearing aid is inserted into the ear canal, the infrared sensor detects infrared rays radiated from the eardrum and the ear canal. A hearing aid configured to control the electronic switch to be on, and to control the electronic switch to be turned off when the electronic switch is removed from the ear. 2. A microphone, a speaker, an audio signal processing circuit,
A hearing aid having a power supply circuit for the audio signal processing circuit, a mechanical switch for turning on and off the power supply circuit, a muting circuit for muting an output of the audio signal processing circuit, An infrared sensor for performing on / off control, and a muting circuit on / off control circuit comprising an output discrimination circuit of the infrared sensor, wherein the mechanical switch is on and the earplug of the hearing aid is in the ear canal of the user. When the hearing aid is not inserted into the ear canal, the muting circuit on / off control circuit controls the muting circuit to turn on, and the earplug of the hearing aid is inserted into a user's ear canal. And the muting circuit on / off control circuit controls the muting circuit to off by detecting infrared rays radiated from the ear canal. Hearing aid No to so that.