Patent classifications
H04R25/50
Hearing system comprising a personalized beamformer
A hearing system configured to be located at or in the head of a user, comprises a) at least two microphones providing at least two electric input signals, b) an own voice detector, c) access to a database (O.sub.l, H.sub.l) comprising c1) relative or absolute own voice transfer function(s), and corresponding c2) absolute or relative acoustic transfer functions for a multitude of test-persons, d) a processor connectable to the at least two microphones, to the own voice detector, and to the database. The processor is configured A) to estimate an own voice relative transfer function for sound from the user's mouth to at least one of the at least two microphones, and B) to estimate personalized relative or absolute head related acoustic transfer functions from at least one spatial location other than the user's mouth to at least one of the microphones of the hearing system in dependence of the estimated own voice relative transfer function(s) and the database (O.sub.l, H.sub.l). The hearing system further comprises e) a beamformer configured to receive the at least two electric input signals, or processed versions thereof, and to determine personalized beamformer weights based on the personalized relative or absolute head related acoustic transfer functions or impulse responses. A method of determining personalized beamformer coefficients (w.sub.k) is further disclosed.
Audio profile for personalized audio enhancement
A system creates an audio profile. The audio profile may be stored in a database. For example, the audio profile may be securely stored in a database of a social network and associated with a user account. The audio profile may contain data describing the way in which the specific user hears and interprets sounds. Systems and applications which present sounds to the user may access the audio profile and modify the sounds presented to the user based on the data in the audio profile to enhance the audio experience for the user.
HEARING SYSTEM AND A METHOD FOR PERSONALIZING A HEARING AID
A hearing system includes a processing device, a hearing aid adapted to be worn by a user, and a data logger. The hearing aid includes an input transducer providing an electric input signal representing sound in the environment of the user, and a hearing aid processor executing a processing algorithm in dependence of a specific parameter setting. The data logger stores time segments of said electric input signal, and data representing a corresponding user intent. The processing device comprises a simulation model of the hearing aid. The simulation model is based on a learning algorithm configured to provide a specific parameter setting optimized to the user's needs in dependence of a hearing profile of the user, the logged data, and a cost function. A method of determining a parameter setting for a hearing aid is further disclosed.
Restricting hearing device adjustments based on modifier effectiveness
A method for fitting a hearing device comprises: receiving an audio signal in the hearing device; providing a user interface for inputting at least one modifier value into the fitting device, the modifier value indicating, how a sound property of the audio signal should be modified by the hearing device; processing the audio signal with a sound processor of the hearing device in dependence of the at least one modifier value, thus providing a processed audio signal; outputting the processed audio signal to a user of the hearing device; determining an modifier effectiveness value based on the audio signal, the modifier effectiveness value indicating how much a change of the at least one modifier value results in a perceptible change of the processed audio signal output to the user; and restricting the inputting of the at least modifier value in dependence of the modifier effectiveness value.
Sensory-based environmental adaptation
Presented herein are techniques for monitoring the sensory outcome of a recipient of a sensory prosthesis in an ambient environment that includes one or more controllable network connected devices. The sensory outcome of the recipient in the environment is used to make operational changes to the one or more controllable network connected devices in order to create an improved environment for recipient.
AUTOMATED SCANNING FOR HEARING AID PARAMETERS
A hearing aid system is provided that facilitates adjustment of signal processing parameters θ of the hearing aid system with minimum user intervention, wherein the hearing aid system is capable of calculating signal processing parameters θ for evaluation of the user when the user has entered an input, e.g. using a smartwatch, to this effect. The evaluation takes place for a certain time period and in the event that the user has entered a consent input indicating that he or she is pleased with the set θ of signal processing parameters under evaluation, the hearing aid system continues processing with those signal processing parameters; and if the user is not pleased with the signal processing parameters θ under evaluation, the hearing aid system calculates another set {circumflex over (θ)} of signal processing parameters for evaluation of the user.
Optimization tool for auditory devices
An optimization system for testing a patient's hearing comprises a controller, an ear piece, and a memory. The controller: provides a series of tones to the ear piece; receives feedback from the patient between each tone; generates a data point to be used in an audiogram after receiving each feedback; after each data point is generated, computes a statistical distribution based on the generated data points; identifies an area of the statistical distribution most in need of additional data; and selects a subsequent tone to provide in the series of tones. Each feedback indicates whether the respective tone was detected or not detected, and each data point is based on the respective feedback. Each subsequent tone provided in the series of tones is a tone represented in the area of the statistical distribution most in need of additional data at the time of selection.
ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES
The present disclosure discloses an assistive listening device. The assistive listening device includes a signal input module configured to receive an initial sound and convert the initial sound into an electric signal, a signal processing module configured to process the electric signal and generate a control signal, and at least one output energy converter configured to convert the control signal into a bone conduction sound wave that can be perceived by a user and an air conduction sound wave that can be heard by the user's ears. Within a target frequency range, the air conduction sound wave is transmitted to the user's ears, so that a sound intensity of the air conduction sound heard by the user's ears is greater than a sound intensity of the initial sound received by the signal input module.
MULTIPLE FLEXIBLE TIPS FOR A HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICE
The flexible attachable tip is manufactured to repeatedly connect as well as disconnect to a body of a hearing assistance device. The flexible attachable tip is manufactured to have two or more offset layers of flexible earmolds. The tip has a dome-shaped earmold that is separated by an air gap from offset layers of inner earmolds. Each layer of ear mold has multiple bendable members with an air vent constructed into the bendable members for that earmold. Air space is formed in between each of the individual bendable members making up the flexible earmold for a given layer of the offset layers. The flexible earmolds including their bendable members bend to a deformed state in order to secure the hearing assistance device in position inside an ear canal, which prevents the device from falling out of an ear, while still providing both a sound path and an airflow path through the ear canal.
Custom electronic switchable hearing protection system
An electronic hearing protection system includes an electronic hearing device having a housing that is disposed in a recessed cavity in an earplug. The housing of the electronic hearing device is configured to be rotatable between multiple positions, including a first position in which a speaker of the electronic hearing device aligns with a sound tube in the earplug to permit sound generated by the speaker to travel through the sound tube to the user's ear canal, and a second position in which the housing blocks the sound tube to at least partially prevent sound from reaching the user's ear canal.