DE20022831U1 - communication device - Google Patents

Description

BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT

LAW FIRM

Bochmcrt & Boehmcit · POB. 10 71 27 · D-28071 Bremen

German Patent and Trademark Office
Zweibrückenstr. 12
80297 Munich

DR-INO KARL BOEHMERT, PA (18OT-ITO) DIPL-ING. ALBERT BOEHMERT, PA (1902-1993) WILHELM J. H. STAHLBERO, Attorney, Bremen DR.-ING. WALTER HOORMANN. PA·, Brau™ DIPL-PHYS. DR. HEINZ GODDAR. PA·. Mönchen DR..-ING. ROLAND LIESEOANG. PA·, Manchen WOLF-DIETER KUNTZE, Attorney at Law Bremen, All Aunt DIPL.-PHYS. ROBERT MÜNZHUBER, PA (193J-IW2) DR. LUDWIG KOUKER, LAWYER, Bremen DR. (CHEM.) ANDREAS WINKLER, PA*. Bremen MICHAELA HUTH-DIERIG, LAWYER, Munich DIPL.-PHYS. DR. MARION TÖNHARDT, PA-. Dusseldorf DR. ANDREAS EBERT-WEIDENFELLER. Attorney at Law. Beinen DIPL-ING. EVA LIESEGANG, PA·. Monks DR. AXEL NORDEMANN, LAWYER Berlm DIPL.-PHYS. DR. DOROTHEE WEBER-BRULS. PA·. Franklin DIPL.-PHYS. DR. STEFAN SCHOHE. PA·. Mönchen DR-ING. MATTHIAS PHILIPP,PA·.Bielefeld DR. JAN BERND NORDEMANN, LL M., RA. Berlin

PA - Patenuuiwak/Pulent Attorney

RA - Reehtsanwall/Aitomey at La»

• - European Patent Attorney

¹ - Brandenburg, admitted to the Higher Regional Court of Brandenburg

° - Mayor of Law

All« admitted for representation before the European Community.

FrotV**iiiiul Representation il the Community TraJcmark Oiliee. Almnte PROF. DR. WILHELM NORDEMANN, RA, BRB ¹ DIPL -PHYS. EDUARD BAUMANN, PA·. Hallenkirchen DR-ING. GERALD KLÖPSCH. PA-, Düsseldorf DIPL-ING HANS W. GROENING, PA-, Munich DIPL.-ING. SIEGFRIED SCHIRMER, PA·. Bielefeld DIPL.-PHYS. LORENZ HANEWINKEL, PA·. Paderborn DIPL-ING. DR. JAN TONNIES. PA, RA, Kiel DIPL.-PHYS. CHRISTIAN BIEHL, PA·, Kiel MARTIN WIRTZ, RA, Düsseldorf DR. DETMAR SCHÄFER. RA. Bremen DIPL.-PHYS. DR.-ING. UWE NUNASSE, PA·, Bremen DR. CHRISTIAN CZYCHOWSKI, RA, Berlin DR. CARL-RICHARD HAARMANN, RA. Mönchen DIPL-BIOL. DR. ARMIN K. BOHMANN, PA, Mönchen DIPL.-PHYS. DR. THOMAS L. BITTNER, PA·, Burhn DR. VOLKER SCHMITZ, RA. Mönchen DR FRIEDRICH NICOLAUS HEISE, RA. Potsdam DIPL.-PHYS. CHRISTIAN W. APPELT, PA, Munich DR. ANKE NORDEMANN-SCHIFFEL. RA°. Potsdam

KERSTIN MAUCH, LL.M., RA, Potsdam

In cooperation with

DIPL.-CHEM. DR. HANS ULRICH MAY, PA·. Some

Your sign
Your ref.

Your letter
Your letter of

Utility model branching
to DE 100
915.1-35

Our sign Our ref.

B40030(D)

Bremen,

January 30, 2002

Marian Brodbeck Wiesenstraße 72b 40549 Düsseldorf

Mirko Brodbeck Feldstrasse 72 40479 Düsseldorf

Communication device

The invention relates to a multifunctional communication device, with an antenna for receiving and transmitting signals, a signal processing device for converting the signals into audible signals and an output device for audible signals.

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Hollerallee 32 · D-28209 Bremen ■ P.O.B. 10 71 27 · D-28071 Bremen · Telephone+49-421-34090 ■ Fax+49-421-3491768

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Such communication devices, such as mobile phones that also offer Internet access, laptops and the like, have become popular and, depending on the features, even offer a certain image value. They are readily used, and the large number of specialist magazines shows the high level of acceptance among the population.

Another class of devices that also support communication has a rather negative image, namely hearing aids. Hearing loss is seen as a disability, and many people with normal hearing do not believe that this physical deficiency can be compensated for by a technical device. The appearance of the hearing aid is often perceived as ugly and bulky. This image is then transferred to the hearing aid wearer, who appears old and frail in the eyes of the observer.

DE 196 45 259 A1 discloses a mobile phone system with a mobile phone with at least one loudspeaker and at least one microphone. A unit is provided as a loudspeaker, which is spatially separated from the mobile phone and can be attached in the area of the person's ear. This spatially separated unit can be a component of a hearing aid for the hard of hearing. The spatially separated arrangement of the loudspeaker enables the user of the mobile phone system to look at the display of the mobile phone during a phone call or to put it aside. The loudspeaker unit has a receiver which is connected to a transmitter unit of the mobile phone via short-range radio signals. DE 196 45 259 A1 discloses a mobile phone system which can be used by people suffering from hearing loss, but only offers the possibility of making phone calls and cannot be used globally, since different frequency bands are released for radio connections for different purposes in different countries.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a communication device that is multifunctional, can be used in particular by people suffering from hearing loss and can be used globally.

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This object is achieved by a multifunctional communication device according to claim 1. According to the invention, the transmission of the signals to the hearing aid takes place according to the Bluetooth standard and the functions are selected via a user interface which is provided by a command control.

"Hearing aid" refers to a device for compensating for reduced hearing ability in hearing-impaired people, which is based on the principle of counteracting the reduced hearing sensitivity by amplifying the sound pressure reaching the ear.

In modern hearing aids, this amplification is carried out exclusively electronically, with a signal processor ensuring the necessary conversion of the signals so that an acoustic sound pattern is generated that is as close to natural conditions as possible. Due to miniaturization, it has been possible to combine the microphone, amplifier, earpiece and power source into a single unit that is worn entirely in the ear. The signal processor included can also, according to the invention, take on functions that are important for communication.

Thus, according to the invention, the hearing aid is ultimately designed as a multifunctional communication device that can take on a number of functions. For example, it is within the scope of the invention to integrate a telephone functionally with the hearing aid, with conventional electronic switches being used to switch the functions. Voice dialing can be implemented. A GPS receiver can also be connected, which tells the pedestrian in which direction to go. It can even be considered to provide immediate language translation when talking to third parties. The necessary software is known per se and can be implemented without further ado. Other communication options include baby monitor room monitoring, where signals are transmitted from an external microphone, radio reception, sound reception when combined with television sets, simulation of other communication devices, such as walkie-talkies. Electronic switching options between these functions and the pure

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A hearing function is provided. It is also conceivable to use the communication device according to the invention for voice recording.

All functions of the invention can be performed individually or in combination. A command control is therefore provided to select the functions, which provides a user interface.

According to a practical embodiment, the user is provided with a keypad and/or a touchscreen with which the individual functions can be selected. It can also be provided to attach a device for displaying images to the user interface. The communication options with the device of the invention can thus be expanded further, for example to include television, telephone image transmission, display of telephone numbers, display of a city map at the same time as GPS, even a personal computer function with the option of using the Internet can be considered. Since it is already possible nowadays to pay at machines with a mobile phone, it makes sense to integrate this use here as well.

According to a practical design, the command control is designed as an integrated unit that communicates with the hearing aid according to the Bluetooth standard.

"Integrated unit" means that the command control is designed as a compact component, which is preferably miniaturized to such an extent that it can be worn as a bracelet.

For this purpose, the control panel, for example a keypad, a touchscreen or combinations thereof, can be provided on or on a housing that rests on the arm when the bracelet is in use, so that the forces acting during operation are safely absorbed. The display panel can be folded down from this housing via a hinge connection, which at the same time ensures that a comfortable and correct

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correct viewing angle is maintained. The display panel, designed accordingly, serves as a cover for at least one control panel when the communication functions of the communication device according to the invention are not in use. A microphone is also expediently integrated into the housing.

With the multifunctional communication device according to the present invention, a hearing aid is upgraded in the eyes of the wearer and also those around him to such an extent that it is no longer perceived as an auxiliary device, but as an almost indispensable, active support for a variety of communication purposes, whereby the space requirement is only slightly increased compared to a conventional hearing aid and in conjunction with a conventional wristwatch.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows:

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a command control for the multifunctional communication device of the present invention in the closed state;

Figure 2 shows the command control of Figure 1 opened, i.e. with the display panel swung open;

Figure 3 is a view from a first side of the command control;

Figure 4 is a view from the opposite side of the command control;

Figure 5 is a view from the side of Figure 4, but with the display panel swung open.

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The command control shown in Figure 1 is designed in the manner of a wristwatch and consists of a housing 10 which is held in the usual way by a wristband 20. The wristband 20 can be closed using a Velcro connection 30. Buckle closures or the like can also be provided. The housing 10 contains, among other things, the control electronics. The hearing aid has the usual design and is only supplemented with regard to the signal control. The housing 10 has a cover 12 on the side normally facing the viewer, which contains a control panel. The control panel consists of an on/off switch 14, a large number of function keys 16 for selecting a communication function, for example language translation, GPS, baby monitor, etc., a clock 18 and a radio 22, for which volume controls 24, 26 are also provided. To make it easier to operate the individual keys, an essentially captive operating pin 28 is arranged on the edge of the housing, which can be removed from a holder by the operator if necessary. This operating pen 28 allows not only the mechanical operation of keys, but also the activation of a touch screen, as will be described later.

The lid 12 is held in its closed position by a locking mechanism against the preloading force of a spring. If the user presses a button 32, the lid 12 springs open, rotating about a hinge connection 34. It can be provided that the hinge connection initially only opens to a first angular position, which the user can adjust to his own requirements if necessary. An optimal angle (α), see Fig. 5, is 135%.

Figure 2 shows the housing 10 with the lid 12 open. A touchscreen 40 is now exposed on the housing, with which command functions can be transmitted in the manner of a computer mouse. To simplify operation, the operating pen 28 is again provided, the tip of which is designed in the usual way to activate the touchscreen 40. The inside of the lid of the housing 12, i.e. the side opposite the control panel, has a display panel 42, for example a liquid crystal display, for

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the display of numbers, letters and, with the appropriate resolution, images. Here, the functions of a laptop can be carried out in a completely miniaturized form.

The antenna used to receive and send signals is not shown in the drawings. The antenna is also located on or in the housing, so it is far enough away from sensitive areas of the body that could be affected by high-frequency radiation.

Figure 3 shows a side view of the housing 10 with the lid 12 closed, with the button 32 for opening the housing lid being arranged near the side of the housing 10 facing the user when normally worn. A socket 46 is also provided for the external power supply, via which a battery housed in the housing can also be charged. Lithium-ion batteries are particularly suitable. A microphone 44 is provided on the other side of the housing opposite the button 32.

Figure 4 also shows a holder for the pivot pin 28 in combination with the hinge joint 34, which here forms a sleeve as a receptacle for the pivot pin. The sleeve or a similar holder, for example consisting of retaining rings, can also be arranged independently of the hinge joint.

Figure 5 shows a side view of the housing 10 with the cover 12 open, wherein the opening angle α is either predetermined by the device construction or can be adjusted by the user.

The communication device according to the invention can be expanded by a USB interface for connecting a miniature camera.

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The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, in the drawings and in the claims can be essential for the realization of the invention both individually and in any combination.

Claims (6)

1. Multifunctional communication device, with an antenna for receiving and transmitting signals, a signal processing device for converting the signals into audible signals and an output device for audible signals, wherein the output device for the audible signals is part of a hearing aid, characterized in that a command control is provided which provides a user interface, and the command control is designed as an integrated unit which communicates with the hearing aid according to the Bluetooth standard. 2. Multifunctional communication device according to claim 1, characterized in that the hearing aid is an in-ear hearing aid. 3. Multifunctional communication device according to claim 1, characterized in that a command control has at least one control panel ( 14 , 16 , 24 , 26 , 40 ) and a display panel ( 42 ). 4. Multifunctional communication device according to one of claims 1 or 3, characterized in that the command control is accommodated in a housing ( 10 ) which has a pivotable cover ( 12 ), wherein at least the parts of the control panel ( 14 , 16 , 24 , 26 ) requiring mechanical actuation are arranged on the side of the cover ( 12 ) which is at the top when the cover ( 12 ) is closed. 5. Multifunctional communication device according to claim 4, characterized in that the inside of the cover ( 12 ) has the display field ( 42 ). 6. Multifunctional communication device according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that an operating pin ( 28 ) for the control panels is arranged essentially captively on the housing ( 10 ) and/or on the cover ( 12 ).