Fitting Two Hearing Devices Simultaneously
20220337964 · 2022-10-20
Inventors
Cpc classification
H04R25/70
ELECTRICITY
H04R25/554
ELECTRICITY
International classification
Abstract
An illustrative fitting system may be configured to connect a first hearing device worn by a first user and a second hearing device worn by a second user with a fitting device for data communication, read configuration and sound processing data from the first hearing device and the second hearing device into the fitting device, determine, with the fitting device and based on the configuration and sound processing data, first parameters for an audiological functionality performable by the first hearing device and second parameters for an audiological functionality performable by the second hearing device, and simultaneously send the first parameters from the fitting device to the first hearing device and the second parameters from the fitting device to the second hearing device.
Claims
1. A method for fitting two hearing devices (12a, 12b), the method comprising: connecting a first hearing device (12a) worn by a first user (16a) and a second hearing device (12b) worn by a second user 16b) with a fitting device (14) for data communication; reading first configuration data (40a) and first sound processing parameterization data (34a) from the first hearing device (12a) into the fitting device (14); reading second configuration data (40b) and second sound processing parameterization data (34b) from the second hearing device (12b) into the fitting device (14); determining, with the fitting device (14), first parameters (38a) for an audiological functionality performable by the first hearing device (12a) dependent on the first configuration data (40a) and the first sound processing parameterization data (34b); determining, with the fitting device (14), second parameters (38b) for the audiological functionality performable by the second hearing device (12b) dependent on the second configuration data (40b) and the second sound processing parameterization data (34b); sending the first parameters (38a) from the fitting device (14) to the first hearing device (12a) and applying the first parameters (38a) to the first hearing device (12a), such that the first hearing device (12a) performs the audiological functionality; simultaneously sending the second parameters (38b) from the fitting device (14) to the second hearing device (12b) and applying the second parameters (38b) to the second hearing device (12b), such that the second hearing device (12b) performs the audiological functionality.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the audiological functionality compensates a hearing loss of a user of the first hearing device (12a) and/or the second hearing device (12b).
3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the audiological functionality is performed by a first audiological program (36a) in the first hearing device (12a) and by a second audiological program (36b) in the second hearing device (12b); wherein, before applying the first parameters (38a) and second parameters (38b), the first audiological program (36a) is sent from the fitting device (14) to the first hearing device (12a) and simultaneously the second audiological program (36b) is sent from the fitting device (14) to the second hearing device (12b).
4. The method of one of the previous claims, wherein the first configuration data (40a) and the second configuration data (40b) comprises pairing information for connecting the first hearing device (12a) and the second hearing device (12b) with a partner device (12a, 12b, 26).
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the fitting device (14) prepares first pairing parameters for the first hearing device (12a) from the pairing information and sends the first pairing parameters to the first hearing device (12a), such that the first hearing device (12a) is adapted for automatically connect to an auxiliary device (26) as partner device; wherein the fitting device (14) prepares second pairing parameters for the second hearing device (12b) from the pairing information and sends the second pairing parameters to the second hearing device (12b), such that the second hearing device (12b) is adapted for automatically connect to the auxiliary device (26) as partner device.
6. The method of claim 4 or 5, wherein the first hearing device (12a) and the second hearing device (12b) are adapted for wireless data communication with each other, such that a voice of a first user (16a) is picked up with a microphone (26) of the first hearing device (12a), sent to the second hearing device (12b) and provided to a second user (16a) by the second hearing device (12b) with the audiological functionality applied.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the fitting device (14) prepares first pairing parameters for the first hearing device (12a) from the pairing information and sends the first pairing parameters to the first hearing device (12a), such that the first hearing device (12a) is adapted for automatically connect to the second hearing device (12b) as partner device; wherein the fitting device (14) prepares second pairing parameters for the second hearing device (12b) from the pairing information and sends the second pairing parameters to the second hearing device (12b), such that the second hearing device (12b) is adapted for automatically connect to the first hearing device (12a) as partner device.
8. The method of one of claims 4 to 7, wherein wireless data communication between the first hearing device (12a) and/or the second hearing device (12b) with the fitting device (14) at least partially takes place via the same communication network (22) as data communication between the first hearing device (12) and/or the second hearing device (12b) with the partner device (12a, 12b, 26).
9. The method of one of claims 4 to 7, wherein a pairing related audiological functionality of the first hearing device (12a) and/or second hearing device (12b) relates to receiving and processing a sound signal from the partner device (12a, 12b, 26), when the partner device is connected with the first hearing device (12a) and/or second hearing device (12b); wherein the first and/or second parameters are determined by the fitting device (14), such that the pairing related audiological functionality of the first hearing device (12a) and/or second hearing device (12b) is automatically activated, when the partner device connects with the first hearing device (12a) and/or second hearing device (12b).
10. The method of one of the previous claims, wherein data communication between the first hearing device (12a) and the fitting device (14) takes place via a mobile device (24a), which is connected via Internet (23) with the fitting device (14); and/or wherein data communication between the second hearing device (12b) and the fitting device (14) takes place via the mobile device (24a) or a further mobile device (24b), which is connected via Internet (23) with the fitting device (14).
11. The method of one of the previous claims, wherein the first hearing device (12a) or the second hearing device (12b) is a hearing aid; wherein the second hearing device (12b) or the first hearing device (12a) is a hearable.
12. A computer program (44) for fitting two hearing devices (12a, 12b), which, when being executed by a processor, is adapted to carry out the steps of the method of one of the previous claims.
13. A computer-readable medium (35), in which a computer program (44) according to claim 12 is stored.
14. A fitting system (10) comprising a fitting device (14) and two hearing devices (12a, 12b), wherein the fitting system (10) is adapted for performing the method of one of claims 1 to 11.
15. The fitting system (10) of claim 14, further comprising: at least one mobile device (24a, 24b) for communicatively interconnecting the first hearing device (12a) and the second hearing device (12b) with the fitting device (14).
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0043] Below, embodiments of the present invention are described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings.
[0044]
[0045]
[0046]
[0047]
[0048] The reference symbols used in the drawings, and their meanings, are listed in summary form in the list of reference symbols. In principle, identical parts are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0049]
[0050] Both hearing devices 12a, 12b are connected via communication channels 18a, 18b with the fitting device 14, which is used for adjusting a configuration (i.e. a fitting) of the hearing devices 12a, 12b. The fitting device 14, which may be a PC, is operated by a hearing care specialist 20.
[0051] Each of the hearing devices 12a, 12b may be adapted for establishing data communication with other devices and/or may establish a wireless communication network 22, such as a Bluetooth network. The communication channels 18a, 18b may be generated in this way. It also may be possible that the two hearing devices 12a, 12b establish a communication channel 18c between each other in such a way.
[0052] As shown in
[0053]
[0054]
[0055] With the fitting system 10, a fitting and support functionality can be provided to the two users 16a, 16b simultaneously. The fitting device 14 may execute a fitting software, which may handle the two users 16a, 16b at the same time, for example by opening a specific mode.
[0056] For example, in
[0057] Alternatively, as shown in
[0058]
[0059] Each hearing device 12a, 12b may comprise a microphone 26, a sound processor 28 and a sound output device 30, such as a loudspeaker or so-called receiver. The microphone 26 may acquire environmental sound of the user 16a, 16b and may generate a sound signal, the sound processor 28 may amplify the sound signal and the sound output device 30 may generate sound provided to the respective user 16a, 16b.
[0060] Each hearing device 12a, 12b may comprise a processor 32, which is adapted for adjusting parameters of the sound processor 28. In particular, sound processing parameterization data 34a, 34b, such as fitting curves, may be stored in a memory of the respective hearing device 12a, 12b.
[0061] The audiological functionality of the respective hearing device 12a, 12b may be implemented as computer programs and/or software modules 36a, 36b stored in the memory 35 of the hearing device 12a, 12b, which software modules 36a, 36b may be executed by the processor 32. The audiological functionality may be parameterized with parameters 38a, 38b stored in the respective memory 35 of the hearing device 12a, 12b. Furthermore, configuration data 40a, 40b, for example indicating a type of hearing device and/or software modules presented in the hearing device, may be stored in the hearing device 12a, 12b.
[0062] Every hearing device 12a, 12b furthermore may comprise a sender/receiver and/or interface 42 for wireless data communication, the communication channels 18a, 18b, 18c and/or the wireless network 22 may be established via these interfaces 42.
[0063] The fitting device 14, which may be a PC, also may comprise such a sender/receiver and/or interface 42 for wireless data communication. A processor 32 of the fitting device 14 may execute a fitting software 44 stored in a memory 35 of the fitting device 14. Furthermore, the fitting device 14 may store software modules 36, which may be uploaded to the hearing devices 12a, 12b, as described below.
[0064]
[0065] In step S10, the first hearing device 12a and the second hearing device 12b are connected with the fitting device 14 for data communication. For example, the hearing devices 12a, 12b are in proximity to the fitting device 14, the fitting device 14 may recognize the two hearing devices 12a, 12b as present, and the communication channels 18a, 18b may be established directly by the fitting device 14, such as shown in
[0066] It also may be that the hearing devices 12a, 12b are already connected to one or two mobile devices 24, 24b. The fitting device 14 then may be connected via Internet 23, for example with the aid of an application run in the one or two mobile devices 24, 24b.
[0067] When the fitting device 14 is connected, the fitting device 14 reads the first configuration data 40a and the first sound processing parameterization data 34a from the first hearing device 12a and the second configuration data 40b and the second sound processing parameterization data 34b from the second hearing device 12b into the fitting device 14. Form this data, the fitting device 14 can determine the types of hearing devices connected, their configuration, such as presently installed programs and/or modules 36a, 36b and/or the actual sound processing settings, such as fitting curves.
[0068] The fitting device 14 and/or the fitting software 44, which performs the functionality of the fitting device 14 as described herein, may comprise a user interface, which displays the collected information to the hearing care specialist 20. The hearing care specialist 20 can inspect the two hearing devices 12a, 12b and their fitting and can compare them. After that, the hearing care specialist 20 can adapt specific audiological functionality of both hearing devices 12a, 12b and can select new audiological functionality, he or she wants to present the two users 16a, 16b. It also may be possible that the desired adaption or selection of audiological functionality was defined before and that the fitting software 44 continues immediately with the following steps.
[0069] In step S12, the fitting device 14 determines first parameters 38a for an audiological functionality performable by the first hearing device 12a dependent on the first configuration data 40a and the first sound processing parameterization data 34b. Additionally, the fitting device 14 determines second parameters 38b for the audiological functionality performable by the second hearing device 12b dependent on the second configuration data 40b and the second sound processing parameterization data 34b.
[0070] For example, the audiological functionality may be a beam former program, a program for TV listening, etc. the audiological functionality may be performed by one or more of the software modules 36a, 36b stored in the hearing devices 12a, 12b.
[0071] One example for an audiological functionality is the pairing of the two hearing devices 12a, 12b with each other or with a further auxiliary device 26. For example, a pairing related audiological functionality of the first hearing device 12a and/or second hearing device 12b may relate to receiving and processing a sound signal from the other hearing device 12a, 12b, when the hearing devices 12a, 12b are connected with each other. This sound signal may be a voice signal of the user 16a, 16b of the other hearing device 12a, 12b.
[0072] The fitting device 14 may check compatibility of the two hearing devices 12a, 12b in view of pairing and/or may be used by the hearing care specialist 20 to solve issues to use a communication network 22, such as Proxicom, Bluetooth, etc., in this context.
[0073] For example, it may be that the two users 167a, 16b, such as an elderly couple who are both hearing impaired, want to use their hearing devices 12a, 12b with each other. They tried to activate and use this function at home, but failed. At his office, the hearing care specialist then may connect the two hearing devices 12a, 12b simultaneously to the fitting device 14. For example, in a simultaneous mode, the compatibility of the two hearing devices 12a, 12b can be checked with regard to all functionality, such as Proxicom. If the two hearing devices 12a, 12b are compatible, the hearing care specialist 20 may pair the two hearing devices 12a, 12b, by commanding the fitting device 14 accordingly.
[0074] For example, to use Proxicom or another communication network 22, the hearing devices 12a, 12b may need to give rights and access to each other to be able to offer and request respectively their own microphone signal over Bluetooth or a similar protocol. To not suffer of misuse this intention, a secure pairing may have to be performed, which allows those two hearing devices 12a, 12b to have access to each other. During the pairing process, a secure key may be exchanged and stored in both hearing devices 12a, 12b. Such a secure key may be included in the first and second parameters 38a, 38b.
[0075] Since the process of pairing may be a difficult task for the users 16a, 16b, the pairing process may be performed by the hearing care specialist 20 during a simultaneous fitting process, which may be provided with the method described herein.
[0076] In summary, the first configuration data 40a and the second configuration data 40b may comprise pairing information for connecting the first hearing device 12a and the second hearing device 12b with a partner device 12a, 12b, 26. This pairing information may comprise a secure key, identifiers of the devices 12a, 12b, 26 and/or information about the useable communication channels, such as a data rate, etc.
[0077] The fitting device 14 may prepare first pairing parameters for the first hearing device 12a from the pairing information and sends the first pairing parameters to the first hearing device 12a, such that the first hearing device 12a is adapted for automatically connect to the second hearing device 12b as partner device. Also, the fitting device 14 may prepare second pairing parameters for the second hearing device 12b from the pairing information and sends the second pairing parameters to the second hearing device 12b, such that the second hearing device 12b is adapted for automatically connect to the first hearing device 12a as partner device.
[0078] The first pairing parameters may be part of the first parameters 38a and the second pairing parameters may be part of the second parameters 38a. The first pairing parameters and the second pairing parameters may include information from the first configuration data 40a and the second configuration data 40b, such as the secure key, the identifiers of the devices 12a, 12b, 26 and/or information about the useable communication channels, such as a data rate, etc.
[0079] It may be that the first and/or second pairing parameters are determined by the fitting device 14, such that the pairing related audiological functionality of the first hearing device 12a and/or second hearing device 12b is automatically activated, when the hearing devices 12a, 12b connect with each other.
[0080] It also may be that the users 16a, 16b were successful in pairing their hearing devices 12a, 12b, but are not satisfied with the result. For example, it is known that some voices, which are streamed, are very unpleasant to listen to. It is also known that some voices are more difficult to understand than others. This may also depend on the individual hearing loss. In the present case of the two paired hearing devices 12a, 12b, the voice, which is arriving from the other paired hearing device 12a, 12b, may be always the same (e.g. the one of the spouse). Therefore, this voice can be adapted to the user 16a, 16b at the receiving side. This may improve speech intelligibility by fine tuning this particular voice and/or adaptation and individualization of frequency compression. This may also improve comfort by fine tuning this particular voice and applying loudness adaptations.
[0081] The first and second pairing parameters may comprise parameters on adaptation and/or individualization of the sound processing of the hearing devices 12a, 12b, when receiving a voice signal from the paired other hearing device 12a, 12b.
[0082] It also may be that an ambient balancing is adjusted for the pairing. Ambient balancing is a function, which controls the attenuation among different audio sources streamed to a hearing device 12a, 12b. An amount of microphone attenuation may be individualized for each streaming input, such as from an auxiliary microphone and/or a TV connector.
[0083] However, if the microphone input (also known as “ambient”) is attenuated too much during the use of the pairing of the two hearing devices 12a, 12b, the users 16a, 16b may not hear other noises or other individuals around themselves. If the microphone input is not attenuated, the signal-to-noise ratio may be too low, i.e. the intelligibility of the streamed input may be decreased in an acoustically loud environment.
[0084] With the method, ambient balancing may be optimized for the two users 16a, 16b jointly, in particular dependent in which scenario they want to use the pairing. It also may be that the users 16a, 16b may want to have more than one pairing program, each one adapted to a particular scenario, such as restaurant or car driving.
[0085] For example, for a car driving program, the driver may need to have less ambient attenuation, since he needs to hear car functionalities and the street environment. The co-driver may have the full ambient suppression for best speech intelligibility and best comfort (car noise may be suppressed as well).
[0086] As a second example, for a restaurant program, the user who has the more severe hearing loss may have the setting with the maximum of ambient attenuation, the user with better hearing may have very limited ambient attenuation to understand the waitress and other people approaching their table.
[0087] The first pairing parameters and the second pairing parameters may comprise information on attenuating a plurality of sound signals received in the hearing devices 12a, 12b, when the two hearing devices 12a, 12b are paired.
[0088] It is also possible that the hearing devices 12a, 12b are additionally or alternatively paired with an auxiliary device 26.
[0089] For example, the hearing devices 12a, 12b may be paired with a table microphone 26. A table microphone 26 may be useful to be incorporated into a communication network 22.
[0090] A pre-configuration may help the users 16a, 16b to setup such a communication network 22 quickly. This may be performed by an audiological program, which launches the connection to all other already paired hearing devices 12a, 12b.
[0091] This all may be included into first and second pairing parameters, such as a secure key, an identifier and/or configuration parameters of the auxiliary device 26.
[0092] The fitting device 14 may prepare first pairing parameters for the first hearing device 12a from the pairing information and sends the first pairing parameters to the first hearing device 12a, such that the first hearing device 12a is adapted for automatically connect to an auxiliary device 26 as partner device. The fitting device 14 also may prepare second pairing parameters for the second hearing device 12b from the pairing information and sends the second pairing parameters to the second hearing device 12b, such that the second hearing device 12b is adapted for automatically connect to the auxiliary device 26 as partner device.
[0093] In step S14, before applying the first parameters 38a and second parameters 38b, the fitting device 14 may check, whether the programs or modules 36a, 36b are already present in the hearing devices 12a, 12b, which are adapted for performing the audiological functionality as commanded by the first parameters 38a and second parameters 38b.
[0094] Different audiological programs 36, 36a, 36b may be defined and optimized for a specific scenario, e.g. improvement of speech intelligibility in a restaurant, noise reduction while working in an open office, streaming phone calls, using Proxicom with a specific individual, using Proxicom with anybody/with a group.
[0095] A set of programs and/or modules 36 for different types and/or configuration of hearing devices 12a, 12b may be stored in the fitting device 14. From this set, the respective program and/or module 36 may be selected and installed in the respective hearing device 12a, 12b.
[0096] A first audiological program 36a may be sent from the fitting device 14 to the first hearing device 12a and simultaneously a second audiological program 36b may be sent from the fitting device 14 to the second hearing device 12b.
[0097] In step S16, the fitting device sends the first parameters 38a to the first hearing device 12a and the first parameters 38a are applied to the first hearing device 12a, such that the first hearing device 12a performs the audiological functionality. Simultaneously, the fitting device sends the second parameters 38b to the second hearing device 12b and the second parameters 38b are applied to the second hearing device 12b, such that the second hearing device 12b performs the audiological functionality.
[0098] As already mentioned, the audiological functionality may compensate a hearing loss of the user 16a, 16b of the first hearing device 12a and/or the second hearing device 12b. The audiological functionality may be performed by a first audiological program 36a in the first hearing device 12a and by a second audiological program 36b in the second hearing device 12b.
[0099] For example, in the case, the two hearing devices 12a, 12b are paired with each other, audiological programs 36a, 36b may be performed, such that the first hearing device 12a and the second hearing device 12b are adapted for wireless data communication with each other and that in particular a voice of the first user 16a (and/or second user 16b) is picked up with a microphone 26 of the first hearing device 12a (and/or second hearing device 12b), sent to the second hearing device 12b (and/or first hearing device 12a) and provided to a second user 16b (and/or first user 16a) by the second hearing device 12b and/or first hearing device 12a) with the audiological functionality applied.
[0100] In the case, the two hearing devices 12a, 12b are paired with the auxiliary device 26, such as a table microphone, audiological programs 36a, 36b may be performed, such that the first hearing device 12a and the second hearing device 12b are adapted for wireless data communication with the auxiliary device 26. A sound signal from the auxiliary device 26 may be sent to the first hearing device 12a and the second hearing device 12b. The sound signal may be provided to the first users 16a and the second user 16b by the respective first and second hearing device 12a, 12b with the audiological functionality applied. The audiological programs 36a, 36b may be adapted for ambient balancing and attenuating the voice signal from the other user and the sound signal from the auxiliary device 26 accordingly.
[0101] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art and practising the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or controller or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.
LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS
[0102] 10 fitting system [0103] 12a first hearing device [0104] 12b second hearing device [0105] 14 fitting device [0106] 16a first user [0107] 16b second user [0108] 18a communication channel [0109] 18b communication channel [0110] 18c communication channel [0111] 18d communication channel [0112] 20 hearing care specialist [0113] 22 wireless communication network [0114] 23 Internet [0115] 24a first mobile device [0116] 24b second mobile device [0117] 25 table microphone [0118] 26 microphone [0119] 28 sound processor [0120] 30 sound output device [0121] 32 processor [0122] 34a first parameterization data [0123] 34b first parameterization data [0124] 35 memory [0125] 36 software module [0126] 36a software module [0127] 36b software module [0128] 38a first parameters [0129] 38b second parameters [0130] 40a first configuration data [0131] 40b second configuration data [0132] 42 sender/receiver/interface [0133] 44 fitting software