Method and apparatus for a binaural hearing assistance system using monaural audio signals
First Claim
1. A method for providing sound to a first ear and a second ear of a wearer of first and second hearing assistance devices, comprising:
- receiving a monaural information signal;
generating an interaural delay using a processor based on a head-related transfer function;
converting the monaural information signal into a first monaural signal and a second monaural signal with the interaural delay between the first and second monaural signals; and
providing a first sound based on the first monaural signal to the first ear using the first hearing assistance device and a second sound based on the second monaural signal to the second ear using the second hearing assistance device to provide binaural sound to the wearer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present application provides method and apparatus for a binaural hearing assistance system using a monaural audio signal input. The system, in various examples, provides adjustable delay/phase adjustment and sound level adjustment. Different embodiments are provided for receiving the monaural signal and distributing it to a plurality of hearing assistance devices. Different relaying modes are provided. Special functions are supported, such as telecoil functions. The system also has examples that account for a head-related transfer function in providing advanced sound processing for the wearer. Other examples are provided that are described in the detailed description.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for providing sound to a first ear and a second ear of a wearer of first and second hearing assistance devices, comprising:
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receiving a monaural information signal; generating an interaural delay using a processor based on a head-related transfer function; converting the monaural information signal into a first monaural signal and a second monaural signal with the interaural delay between the first and second monaural signals; and providing a first sound based on the first monaural signal to the first ear using the first hearing assistance device and a second sound based on the second monaural signal to the second ear using the second hearing assistance device to provide binaural sound to the wearer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for a user having a first ear and a second ear to receive a signal from a wireless device, the signal containing monaural information, the apparatus comprising:
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a first hearing assistance device including a first radio receiver configured to receive the signal, a processor configured to apply a phase shift to the signal based on a head-related transfer function, and a first speaker configured to produce a first audio signal for the first ear; and a second hearing assistance device including a second radio receiver and a second speaker configured to produce a second audio signal for the second ear, wherein the first and second audio signals are produced with an interaural phase difference determined by the processor based on the head-related transfer function. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for a user having a first ear and a second ear, comprising:
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a processor configured to receive a monaural information signal and convert the received monaural information signal into a first monaural signal and a second monaural signal using a head-related transfer function, the first and second monaural signals having an interaural phase difference; a first hearing assistance device including a first receiver configured to receive the first monaural signal and a first speaker configured to produce a first audio signal for the first ear; and a second hearing assistance device including a second receiver configured to receive the second monaural signal and a second speaker configured to produce a second audio signal for the second ear. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification