Method for operating a hearing aid system and hearing aid system

• US 20040013280A1
• Filed: 03/21/2003
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sivantos Gmbh (WS Audiology A/S)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Niederdrank, Torsten
• Granted Patent: US 7,020,296 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/41 Detection or adaptation of hearing aid parameters or programs to listening situation, e.g. pub, forest
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/453 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/552 Binaural
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency

Abstract

In a hearing aid system having at least two hearing aid devices acoustic field characteristics are generated in the hearing aid devices and are transmitted between the hearing aid devices for adapting the signal processing units to different hearing situations. Both hearing aid devices are thus always operated in the same hearing program.

Claims

1. Method for operating a hearing aid system (1, 2, 3) having at least two hearing aid devices (1, 2, 3) between which a signal path (4, 5, 6, 18, 25) is provided and having at least one signal processing unit that is adaptable to different hearing situations, whereby acoustic field characteristics of an acoustic field are generated in a first hearing aid device (1) and in a second hearing aid device (2), and whereby acoustic field characteristics are transmitted from the first hearing aid device (1) onto the second hearing aid device (2) for the adaptation of the signal processing unit of the second hearing aid device (2) to the acoustic field on the basis of the acoustic field characteristics generated on both hearing aid devices (1, 2).

2. Method for operating a hearing aid system according to claim 1, whereby acoustic field characteristics are transmitted from the second hearing aid device (2) onto the first hearing aid device (1) for adapting the signal processing unit (11) of the first hearing aid device (1) to the acoustic field by means of the acoustic field characteristics generated in both hearing aid devices (1, 2).

9. Hearing aid system according to one of the claims 1 through 8, whereby the acoustic field characteristics characterize signal levels of acoustic signals of the acoustic field.

10. Hearing aid system according to one of the claims 1 through 9, whereby the acoustic field characteristics characterize frequency spectra of acoustic signals of the acoustic field.

11. Hearing aid system according to one of the claims 1 through 10, whereby the acoustic field characteristics characterize modulation levels of acoustic signals of the acoustic field.

12. Hearing aid system according to one of the claims 1 through 11, whereby the acoustic field characteristics characterize modulation depths of acoustic signals of the acoustic field.

13. Hearing system according to one of the claims 1 through 12, whereby the acoustic field characteristics characterize noise parts of acoustic signals of the acoustic field.

14. Hearing aid system according to one of the claims 1 through 13, whereby the acoustic field characteristics comprise spatial acoustic field characteristics.

15. Hearing aid system according to one of the claims 1 through 14, whereby a transmission of acoustic field characteristics between hearing aid devices (1, 2, 3) of the hearing aid system (1, 2, 3) ensues at periodic time intervals.

16. Hearing aid system according to one of the claims 1 through 15, whereby a transmission of acoustic field characteristics ensues before the modification of parameters of the signal processing unit (11) or at least one of the hearing aid devices (1, 2, 3) of the hearing aid system (1, 2, 3).

17. hearing aid system according to one of the claims 1 through 16, whereby a transmission of acoustic field characteristics between hearing aid devices (1, 2, 3) of the hearing aid system (1, 2, 3) ensues after the actuation of an operating element of the hearing aid system (1, 2, 3).

3. Hearing aid system (1, 2, 3) having at least two hearing aid devices (1, 2, 3) between which a signal path (4, 5, 6, 18, 25) is provided, having at least two signal analysis units (14, 21), and having at least one signal processing unit (11), whereby acoustic field characteristics can be determined in the signal analysis unit (14) of a first hearing aid device (1) and the signal analysis unit of a second hearing aid device (2), and whereby the acoustic field characteristics can be transmitted from the first hearing aid device (1) onto the second hearing aid device (2) via the signal path (4) for the adaptation of the signal processing unit of the second hearing aid device (2) to the acoustic field on the basis of the acoustic field characteristics generated on both hearing aid devices (1, 2).

4. Hearing aid system according to claim 3, whereby the first hearing aid device (1) comprises at least one transmission unit, and the second hearing aid device (2) comprises at least a reception unit for the wireless signal transmission between the hearing aid devices (1, 2).

5. Hearing aid system according to claim 3 or 4, whereby the acoustic field characteristics of the second hearing aid device (2) can be transmitted onto the first hearing aid device (1) via the signal path (4) for adapting the signal processing unit (11) of the first hearing aid device (1) to the acoustic field by means of the acoustic field characteristics generated in both hearing aid devices (1, 2).

6. hearing aid system according to claim 3 or 4, whereby at least one of the hearing aid devices is fashioned as external processor unit (3) and at least one of the hearing aid device [sic] is fashioned as a hearing aid (1, 2) that can be worn at the head.

7. Hearing aid system according to claim 6, whereby a plurality of hearing aids (1, 2) that can be worn at the head are provided, and a transmission of acoustic field characteristics between the hearing aids (1, 2) and the external processor unit (3) ensues.

8. Hearing aid system according to claim 6 or 7, whereby the external processor unit (3) is fashioned as remote control for at least one hearing aid (1, 2).