IP Library Granted Patent US 9,635,476
Granted Patent B2
US 9,635,476 · App. 14/474,807 · Granted Apr 25, 2017

Method of preventing feedback based on detection of posture and devices for performing the method

Inventors: Jonghee Han (Seoul, KR); Jongjin Kim (Hwaseong-si, KR); Hee Suk Shin (Daejeon, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
H04R25/554H04R25/453H04R2225/61H04R2460/03
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,635,476
App. No.
14/474,807
Granted
Apr 25, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A hearing apparatus includes a first hearing device and a second hearing device. The first hearing device is configured to block a transmission path of a first digital signal, based on a posture of a user wearing the first hearing device and the second hearing device, the first digital signal being based on a first audio signal. The second hearing device is configured to wirelessly transmit a second digital signal to the first hearing device, based on the posture of the user, the second digital signal being based on a second audio signal.

Claims (87)

1. A hearing apparatus, comprising:

a first hearing device attached to a left ear of a user; and

a second hearing device attached to a right ear of the user,

wherein the first hearing device is configured to block a transmission path through which a first digital signal is transmitted to the left ear, based on a posture of the user, the first digital signal being based on a first audio signal, and

wherein the second hearing device is configured to wirelessly transmit a second digital signal to the first hearing device, based on the posture of the user, the second digital signal being based on a second audio signal.

2. The hearing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first hearing device and the second hearing device are further configured to:

operate in a low-power operation mode based on a strength of the first digital signal and a strength of the second digital signal; and

turn off a wireless communication in the low-power operation mode.

3. The hearing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first hearing device and the second hearing device are further configured to:

sense a movement of the user; and

detect the posture of the user based on the sensed movement.

4. The hearing apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first hearing device and the second hearing device are configured to:

periodically sense the movement of the user.

5. The hearing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first hearing device comprises:

a microphone configured to

sense a sound, and

generate the first audio signal based on the sensed sound;

an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the first audio signal to the first digital signal;

an acceleration sensor configured to

sense a movement of the user, and

generate a sensing signal based on the sensed movement; and

a digital signal processor (DSP) configured to

measure an acceleration of gravity of the first hearing device based on the sensing signal,

detect the posture of the user based on the measured acceleration of gravity, and

block the transmission path of the first digital signal based on the detected posture.

6. The hearing apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the DSP is configured to:

block the transmission path of the first digital signal in response to the measured acceleration of gravity being greater than or equal to a set threshold.

7. The hearing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second hearing device comprises:

a microphone configured to

sense a sound, and

generate the second audio signal based on the sensed sound;

an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the second audio signal to the second digital signal;

an acceleration sensor configured to

sense a movement of the user, and

generate a sensing signal based on the sensed movement; and

a digital signal processor (DSP) configured to

measure an acceleration of gravity of the second hearing device based on the sensing signal,

detect the posture of the user based on the measured acceleration of gravity, and

transmit the second digital signal to the first hearing device based on the detected posture.

8. The hearing apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the DSP is configured to:

transmit the second digital signal to the first hearing device in response to the measured acceleration of gravity being less than or equal to a set threshold.

9. A hearing device attached to an ear of a user, comprising:

a microphone configured to

sense a sound, and

generate an audio signal based on the sensed sound;

an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the audio signal to a digital signal;

an acceleration sensor configured to

sense a movement of the user wearing the hearing device, and

generate a sensing signal based on the sensed movement; and

a digital signal processor (DSP) configured to

detect a posture of the user based on the sensing signal,

block a transmission path through which the digital signal is transmitted to the ear based on the detected posture, and

transmit the digital signal to another hearing device, based on the detected posture.

10. The hearing device of claim 9 , wherein

the DSP is further configured to: control the hearing device to operate in a low-power operation mode based on a strength of the digital signal; and

wherein the operation in the low-power operation mode comprises turning off the transmission of the digital signal to the other hearing device.

11. The hearing device of claim 9 , wherein:

the acceleration sensor is configured to periodically sense the movement of the user; and

the DSP is configured to

measure an acceleration of gravity based on the sensing signal,

sample values of the measured acceleration of gravity for a predetermined period of time, and

block the transmission path of the digital signal, or transmit the digital signal to the other hearing device, based on the sampled values of the measured acceleration of gravity.

12. The hearing device of claim 11 , wherein the DSP is configured to:

block the transmission path of the digital signal in response to a value of the measured acceleration of gravity being greater than or equal to a set threshold.

13. The hearing device of claim 11 , wherein the DSP is configured to:

transmit the digital signal to the other hearing device in response to a value of the measured acceleration of gravity being less than or equal to a set threshold.

14. The hearing device of claim 9 , further comprising:

a communication unit configured to wirelessly transmit the digital signal to the other hearing device.

15. An operation method of a hearing device attached to an ear of a user, the operation method comprising:

sensing a movement of the user;

generating a sensing signal based on the sensed movement;

detecting a posture of the user based on the sensing signal;

blocking a transmission path through which a digital signal is transmitted to the ear, based on the detected posture

the digital signal being based on an audio signal; and

transmitting a digital signal to another hearing device, based on the detected posture.

16. The operation method of claim 15 , further comprising:

operating in a low-power operation mode based on a strength of the digital signal; and

wherein the operating in the low-power operation mode comprises turning off the transmitting of the digital signal to the other hearing device.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program comprising instructions to cause a computer to perform the operation method of claim 15 .

18. A hearing device attached to an ear of a user, comprising:

a processor configured to

detect a posture of the user based on a movement of the user;

block a transmission path through which a digital signal is transmitted to the ear, based on the detected posture, the digital signal being based on an audio signal; and

transmit the digital signal to another hearing device, based on the detected posture.

19. The hearing device of claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to:

block the transmission path of the digital signal in response to the detected posture being a posture in which an ear of the user that wears the hearing device is directed towards the center of the earth; and

transmit the digital signal to the other hearing device in response to the detected posture being a posture in which the ear of the user is directed opposite to the center of the earth.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 2, 2014
From: HAN, JONGHEE; KIM, JONGJIN; SHIN, HEE SUK
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 033651/0720 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2013-0106285 · Sep 4, 2013 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150063613A1 · Mar 5, 2015