Patent classifications
H04R2225/021
Hearing system containing a hearing instrument and a method for operating the hearing instrument
A hearing system contains a hearing instrument and the hearing instrument is configured to support the hearing of a hearing-impaired user. The hearing instrument is operated via an operating method. The method includes capturing a sound signal from an environment of the hearing instrument, processing the captured sound signal to at least partially compensate the hearing-impairment of the user and outputting the processed sound signal to the user. The captured sound signal is analyzed to recognize speech intervals, in which the captured sound signal contains speech. During recognized speech intervals, at least one time derivative of an amplitude and/or a pitch of the captured sound signal is determined. The amplitude of the processed sound signal is temporarily increased, if the at least one derivative fulfills a predefined criterion.
Hearing aid system for estimating acoustic transfer functions
A hearing aid system comprises a hearing aid, and a portable auxiliary device' adapted to establish a communication link between them. The hearing aid comprises a microphone providing an electric input signal, a signal processor, and an output unit. The auxiliary device comprises a microphone providing an auxiliary electric input signal, and a user control interface allowing a user to initiate a specific calibration mode of operation of the hearing aid system. The signal processor of the hearing aid is configured to receive corresponding time segments of said electric input signal and said auxiliary electric input signal to provide an estimate of an acoustic transfer function from said microphone of said auxiliary device to said microphone of said hearing aid. A method of operating a hearing aid system is further disclosed. The invention may e.g. be used in various applications related to own voice detection and estimation.
EAR-WORN DEVICE BASED MEASUREMENT OF REACTION OR REFLEX SPEED
Embodiments herein relate to ear-worn devices and, more specifically, ear-worn devices that can measure reaction and/or reflex speeds. An ear-worn device herein can include a control circuit, a clock circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit, a motion sensor in electrical communication with the control circuit, an electroacoustic transducer for generating sound in electrical communication with the control circuit, and a power supply circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit. The ear-worn device can be configured to initiate generation of a stimulus sufficient to generate a response from the ear-worn device wearer. The ear-worn device can be configured to monitor for a qualified response to the stimulus and measure an amount of time between the stimulus and the qualified response. Other embodiments are also included herein.
AUDIO FEEDBACK REDUCTION SYSTEM FOR HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICES, AUDIO FEEDBACK REDUCTION METHOD AND NON-TRANSITORY MACHINE-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM
To provide improved feedback reduction in hearing assistance devices, technical solutions described herein include remeasuring a feedback path and updating adaptive feedback cancellation parameters whenever a user receives and plays an audio stream signal. When the user converts the audio stream signal into an acoustic audio signal using a speaker within the hearing assistance device, a feedback portion of the acoustic audio signal may be fed back into the microphone of the hearing assistance device. The hearing assistance device can then compare the feedback portion to the received audio stream signal, and that comparison can be used to update adaptive feedback cancellation parameters within the hearing assistance device. When the hearing assistance device receives an acoustic audio input at the microphone, it may amplify that input and apply the received acoustic audio input based on the updated adaptive feedback cancellation parameters to reduce or minimize feedback.
LOOP ANTENNA FOR HEARING AID
A hearing aid including a hearing aid antenna assembly, a transceiver, and an acoustic transducer is provided. The hearing aid assembly includes a resonant loop antenna, a coupling mechanism such as a primary loop, and an electrically conductive assembly. The resonant loop antenna forms an aperture that is arranged to be substantially parallel to a head of the wearer when the hearing aid is worn. The coupling mechanism is configured to transfer RF energy between the transceiver and the resonant loop antenna. The resonant loop antenna excites the electrically conductive assembly. The electrically conductive assembly includes a battery shield. The resonant loop antenna, the coupling mechanism, and/or the electrically conductive assembly are formed in one or more conductive layers of FPCB. The resonant loop antenna includes a course tuning capacitor in series with a fine tuning capacitor. The primary loop includes a resonating capacitor.
MODULATION IN A CONTACT HEARING SYSTEM
In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a contact hearing system comprising: an ear tip including a transmit coil, wherein the transmit coil is connected to an audio processor, including an H Bridge circuit; a first input to the H Bridge circuit comprising an AND circuit wherein a first input to the AND circuit comprises a carrier signal and a second input to the AND circuit comprises an output of a delta sigma modulation circuit, wherein the delta sigma modulation circuit is a component of the audio processor; and a second input to the H Bridge circuit comprising an NAND circuit wherein a first input to the NAND circuit comprises a carrier signal and a second input to the NAND circuit comprises an output of the delta sigma modulation circuit.
A HEARING AID SYSTEM FOR ESTIMATING ACOUSTIC TRANSFER FUNCTIONS
A hearing aid system comprises a hearing aid, and a portable auxiliary device’ adapted to establish a communication link between them. The hearing aid comprises a microphone providing an electric input signal, a signal processor, and an output unit. The auxiliary device comprises a microphone providing an auxiliary electric input signal, and a user control interface allowing a user to initiate a specific calibration mode of operation of the hearing aid system. The signal processor of the hearing aid is configured to receive corresponding time segments of said electric input signal and said auxiliary electric input signal to provide an estimate of an acoustic transfer function from said microphone of said auxiliary device to said microphone of said hearing aid. A method of operating a hearing aid system is further disclosed. The invention may e.g. be used in various applications related to own voice detection and estimation.
Monaural hearing device with parts that are interconnected utilizing near-field wireless communication
A monaural hearing device includes: a first housing accommodating a first near-field magnetic induction communication unit and a first magnetic field antenna connected to the first near-field magnetic induction communication unit, wherein the first housing is configured for placement behind an ear of a user of the monaural hearing device; and a second housing accommodating a second near-field magnetic induction communication unit and a second magnetic field antenna connected to the second near-field magnetic induction communication unit; wherein the first and second near-field magnetic induction communication units connected to the first and second magnetic field antennas, respectively, are configured to perform near-field wireless data communication with each other.
SUSPENSION OF A RECEIVER OF A HEARING DEVICE
The disclosure relates to a hearing device, e.g., a hearing aid, wherein open-cell foam is compressed between a receiver and a second section, e.g., receiver chamber, of the hearing device, a method for providing such hearing device, and a method for identifying a desired property of such open-cell foam of such hearing device. The hearing device comprises a first section comprising the open-cell foam being compressed, such that the open-cell foam has at least a strain value of a first point of an elastic modulus-strain curve of the open-cell foam and at most the strain value of a third point of the elastic modulus-strain curve, and such that the receiver is connected to the second section via the first section.
METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE REQUIRED OR IDEAL LENGTH OF A CABLE IN A HEARING AID
The use of the correct, required length of a cable in a hearing aid substantially contributes to the wearing comfort of the hearing aid. At least one ear depiction of an ear is created by a camera. An associated ear geometry is determined on the basis of the ear depiction. The required length of the cable for the hearing aid can in turn be determined by use of the ear geometry.