Method to operate a hearing device and arrangement with a hearing device

• US 20030231773A1
• Filed: 06/14/2002
• Published: 12/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonova AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Phonak AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Drtina, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,457,426 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/17
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/807 the desired condition being maintained automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/18 using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/407 Circuits for combining signals of a plurality of transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/505 using digital signal processing

Abstract

A hearing device has a transfer function adjustable by a set of parameters. The hearing device can have two microphones, a processing unit, and a speaker unit. A direction identification unit is operationally connected to the processing unit. Communication between a user of the hearing device and at least one reference person is ensured for changing positions of the user and/or the reference person. The transfer function is adjusted as a function of at least one current reference person direction by changing the set of parameters. The reference person direction encloses an angle with a reference plane of the user.

Claims

1. A method to operate a hearing device having a transfer function adjustable by a set of parameters, the communication between a hearing device user, having a reference plain, and at least a reference person is in particular ensured for changing positions of the hearing device user and/or of the reference person, the method comprising the step that the transfer function of the hearing device is adjusted in function of at least a current reference person direction by changing the parameter set of the transfer function, whereby the reference person direction encloses an angle with the reference plain of the hearing device user.

2. The method according to claim 1, whereas the current reference person direction is determined by a Speaker Recognition Method.

3. The method according to claim 1, whereas the reference person carries a user unit which emits a predefined reference signal, and a direction identification unit is provided in the hearing device for receiving the predefined reference signal, the reference person direction being determined in the hearing device on the basis of the direction-sensitive information of the direction identification unit.

4. The method according to claim 1, whereas a predefined stimulation signal is generated and emitted by the hearing device, which simulation signal excites a transponder unit provided in the vicinity of the reference person, the transponder unit generating a response signal after excitation, and a direction identification unit is being provided in the hearing device, which direction identification unit receives the response signal, and the desired reference person direction is being determined in the hearing device on the basis of the direction-sensitive information of the direction identification unit.

5. The method according to claim 2, whereas the speaker identification takes place over a single predefined codeword.

6. The method according to one of the claims 1 to 5, whereas a medial plain is used as a reference plain for the hearing device user.

7. An arrangement with a hearing device with at least two microphones, a processing unit and a speaker unit, the microphones as well as the speaker unit are connected to the processing unit, whereas a direction identification unit is provided, which is operationally connected to the processing unit.

8. The arrangement according to claim 7, whereas the direction identification unit is operationally connected to the microphones.

9. The arrangement according to claim 7, whereas the direction identification unit comprises a receiver unit and whereas a reference person carries an emitter unit or is in the vicinity of the emitter unit, the signals being generated in the emitter unit are receivable by the receiver unit.

10. The arrangement according to claim 7, whereas the direction identification unit comprises an emitter unit as well as a receiver unit and whereas a user unit is provided in the vicinity of a reference person.

11. The arrangement according to one of the claims 7 to 10, whereas the direction identification unit is integrated into the hearing device.

12. The arrangement according to one of the claims 7 to 10, whereas the direction identification unit is detachably connected to the hearing device.