Control of low power or standby modes of a hearing assistance device

Abstract

Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods to provide improved control of hearing aids and hearing aid applications. In one embodiment, a hearing assistance device includes a microphone, a receiver for playing sound to a wearer, a processor connected to the microphone and the receiver, and a radio connected to the processor. The processor is adapted to enter a low power or standby mode upon receipt of a predetermined command from one or more of the microphone or the radio. The processor is further adapted to exit a low power or standby mode upon receipt of a predetermined command from one or more of the microphone or the radio. Other embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the present subject matter.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of controlling a hearing assistance device, the method comprising:
 receiving a predetermined command at a hearing assistance device processor from one or more of a hearing assistance device microphone or a radio connected to the processor;   exiting a standby mode of the radio of the hearing assistance device upon receipt of the command; and   enabling audio processing of the hearing assistance device upon exiting the standby mode.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein receiving a predetermined command includes receiving a DTMF tone sequence. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein receiving the DTMF tone sequence includes receiving the sequence from a cellular phone. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein entering standby mode includes disabling wireless radio frequency transmission. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein receiving a predetermined command includes receiving a voice activation command. 
     
     
         7 . A hearing assistance device for a wearer, comprising:
 a microphone;   a receiver for playing sound to the wearer;   a processor connected to the microphone and the receiver; and   a radio connected to the processor,   wherein the processor is configured to remove the radio from a low power or standby mode upon receipt of a predetermined command from one or more of the microphone or the radio, wherein removing the radio from a low power or standby mode includes enabling audio processing of the hearing assistance device.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to exit the radio from the low power mode upon receipt of a predetermined audio command from the microphone. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to exit the radio from the standby mode upon receipt of a predetermined audio command from the microphone. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to exit radio from the low power mode upon receipt of a predetermined wireless command from the radio. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to exit radio from the standby mode upon receipt of a predetermined wireless command from the radio. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to receive the predetermined command via dual tone multifunction (DTMF) tones from the microphone or from the radio. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the hearing assistance device includes a cochlear implant. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the hearing assistance device includes a hearing aid. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the hearing aid includes an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the hearing aid includes a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the hearing aid includes an in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aid. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the hearing aid includes a receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aid. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the hearing aid includes a completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aid. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the hearing aid includes a receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) hearing aid.