Patent classifications
H04R2225/55
COMMUNICATION DEVICE, HEARING AID SYSTEM AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM
A communication device is provided including at least one processor coupled between a wireless communication terminal interface and an audio source; and a memory having a personal audibility feature (PAF) file stored therein and coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is configured to provide an audio stream to the wireless communication terminal interface based on a processed audio signal, determined using the audio source, wherein the processing corresponds to the information stored in the PAF file, the PAF file comprising personal auditability feature of a predetermined user and an audio reproduction feature of a predetermined terminal hearing device.
Hearing device and method of updating a hearing device
A hearing device includes: a processing unit configured to compensate for hearing loss of a user of the hearing device; a memory unit; and an interface; wherein the processing unit is configured to obtain one or more security settings via the interface, the one or more security settings comprising a hearing device key identifier, verify the one or more security settings, and update the hearing device based on the one or more security settings if the one or more security settings are verified.
Hearing device adapted to perform a self-test and a method for testing a hearing device
Hearing devices capable of performing a self-test as well as a method for automatically testing a hearing device. A hearing device includes a measurement bridge circuit connected to the receiver of the hearing device in parallel with the audio amplifier of the hearing device. A method for self-testing a hearing device includes the steps of i) disabling the audio amplifier connected to the receiver, in particular by putting the amplifier in a high impedance state, ii) applying with a measurement bridge circuit a direct current (DC) and/or an alternating current (AC) to the receiver, iii) measuring with the measurement bridge circuit (5) a voltage at the receiver, and iv) detecting a presence or absence of a fault condition based on the measured voltage.
Hearing apparatus and related methods for evaluation of speech exposure
A hearing apparatus includes: a receiving unit configured to obtain a first speech signal; a processor configured to provide of an electrical output signal based on the first speech signal; and a receiver for providing an audio output signal based on the electrical output signal; wherein the hearing apparatus is configured to determine a first word count of the first speech signal, and update a total word count based on the first word count.
Hearing device configured to utilize non-audio information to process audio signals
A hearing device, e.g. a hearing aid, is configured to be worn by a user, e.g. fully or partially on the head of the user, comprises a) an input transducer for converting a sound comprising a target sound from a target talker and possible additional sound in an environment of the user, when the user wears the hearing device, to an electric sound signal representative of said sound, b) an auxiliary input unit configured to provide an auxiliary electric signal representative of said target signal or properties thereof, c) a processor connected to said input transducer and to said auxiliary input unit, and wherein said processor is configured to apply a processing algorithm to said electric sound signal, or a signal derived therefrom, to provide an enhanced signal by attenuating components of said additional sound relative to components of said target sound in said electric sound signal, or said signal derived therefrom. The auxiliary electric signal is derived from visual information, e.g. from a camera, containing information of current vibrations of a facial or throat region of said target talker, and the processing algorithm is configured to use the auxiliary electric signal or the signal derived therefrom to provide the enhanced signal.
Hearing device or system for evaluating and selecting an external audio source
A hearing system comprises a) at least one hearing device adapted for being worn on the head, or fully or partially implanted in the head, of a user, and b) a multitude of external, spatially separated, audio transmitters, each providing respective external electric sound signals comprising audio. The hearing system is configured to allow wireless communication, including audio communication, between the hearing device and the external audio transmitters, at least from the external audio transmitters to the at least one hearing device, to be established. The at least one hearing device comprises A) a multitude of microphones, each providing an electric input signal representative of sound; B) a beamformer filter providing a beamformed signal from the multitude of electric input signals; and C) an output unit configured to provide stimuli perceivable by the user as sound. The hearing system further comprises c) a selector/mixer for selecting and possibly mixing one or more of the electric input signals or the beamformed signal from the hearing device and the external electric signals from the audio transmitters and to provide a current input sound signal based thereon intended for being presented to the user, possibly in a further processed form. The selector/mixer is controlled by a source selection control signal provided by a source selection processor. The source selection processor is configured to determine the source selection control signal in dependence of a comparison of the beamformed signal and the external electric sound signals or processed versions thereof. A hearing device, and a method of operating a hearing system is further disclosed. The invention may e.g. be used in hearing aids, headsets, active ear protection devices, headphones, etc.
AUTOMATED INNER EAR DIAGNOSES
An expert diagnosis system integrated in a hearing prosthesis system is configured to diagnosis, grade, and remediate inner ear crises. In particular, the expert diagnosis system analyzes combinations of in-situ measured inner ear potentials, obtained in response to electrical and/or acoustic stimulation, in order to identify crisis signatures and to correlate those crisis signatures to clinical symptoms of a specific type and cause of an inner ear crises (i.e., automatically diagnosis the inner ear crisis). The expert system is further configured to grade the severity of the identified clinical symptoms and initiate some form of remedial action to address the identified inner ear crisis.
HEARING DEVICE WITH ACCELERATION-BASED BEAMFORMING
A hearing device includes: a first microphone and a second microphone for provision of a first microphone input signal and a second microphone input signal, respectively; a beamforming module configured to process the first microphone input signal and the second microphone input signal, the beamforming module configured to provide a beamformed input signal; a processor configured to process the beamformed input signal for provision of an electrical output signal based on the beamformed input signal from the beamforming module; a receiver configured to convert the electrical output signal to an audio output signal; and a motion detector; wherein the beamforming module comprises a beamforming controller coupled to the motion detector, and wherein the beamforming controller is configured to control the beamforming module based on motion data from the motion detector.
Method and apparatus for channel selection in ear-to-ear communication in hearing devices
A pair of binaural hearing devices can dynamically assess and select a channel from a plurality of frequency channels suitable for ear-to-ear communication with each other. In various embodiments, the hearing aids can each initiate a channel assessment by calibrating a channel quality threshold and transmitting a packet including the channel quality threshold to the other hearing aid. The other hearing aid can then receive the packet, measure the quality parameter on the packet, and compare the measured value of the quality parameter to the received channel quality threshold to determine whether the channel is suitable for the ear-to-ear communication.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING SPEECH INTELLIGIBILITY IN HEARING DEVICES USING REMOTE MICROPHONE
A hearing system includes a pair of first and second hearing devices wirelessly coupled to a remote device that includes a microphone. One or more gains can each be calculated as a function of a first microphone signal received from the first hearing device, a second microphone signal received from the second hearing device, and a remote microphone signal received from the remote device. The function can be designed to improve speech intelligibility in a noisy environment. The one or more gains are applied to the first and second microphone signals to produce output sounds by the first and second hearing devices.