Audio path diagnostics

• US 20050008177A1
• Filed: 07/12/2004
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Original Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Inventors: Ibrahim, Ibrahim
• Granted Patent: US 8,223,982 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/316
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36039 fitting procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/30 Monitoring or testing of hearing aids, e.g. functioning, settings, battery power

Abstract

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method for detecting a change in the performance of an audio signal processing path is disclosed. The method comprises: selecting a characteristic of a received audio signal indicative of its energy content; determining first and second predetermined values of the selected energy characteristic at respective first and second audio signal frequency bands; calculating a ratio of the first and second predetermined values for a reference time period and a test time period; and comparing the ratio at the reference time period with the ratio of the test time period to determine a performance change in the audio path.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a change in the performance of an audio signal processing path, comprising:

selecting a characteristic of the audio signal indicative of its energy content;

determining first and second predetermined values of the selected energy characteristic at respective first and second audio signal frequency bands;

calculating a ratio of said first and second predetermined values for a reference time period and a test time period; and

comparing the ratio at the reference time period with the ratio of the test time period to determine a performance change in the audio path.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected energy characteristic is selected from the group comprising voltage and/or current of the audio signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second predetermined values of the selected energy characteristic each comprise a maximum value of the selected energy characteristic of the audio signal at the respective first and second audio signal frequency bands.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second predetermined values of the selected energy each comprise a median value of the selected energy characteristic at the respective first and second audio signal frequency bands.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second predetermined values of the selected energy characteristic each comprise a root mean square (RMS) value of the selected energy characteristic at the respective first and second audio signal frequency bands.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first frequency band is a higher frequency band than the second frequency band.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first frequency band is a lower frequency band than the second frequency band.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing the ratio at the reference and test time periods comprises:

dividing the ratio at the reference time period by the ratio at the test time period to determine a performance factor;

comparing the performance factor with a change threshold; and

sounding an alarm when the performance factor exceeds the change threshold.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the hearing prosthesis comprises a cochlear implant system.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the hearing prosthesis comprises a conductive hearing aid.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference time period is a month.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference time period is a first month of service.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the test time period comprises a current day.

14. An apparatus for detecting a change in the performance of an audio signal processing path, comprising:

means for determining first and second predetermined values of a selected characteristic at respective first and second frequency bands of a received audio signal, wherein the selected characteristic is indicative of its energy content of said audio signal;

means for calculating a ratio of said first and second predetermined values for a reference time period and a test time period; and

means for comparing the ratio at said reference time period with said ratio of said test time period to determine a performance change in said audio path.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said selected energy characteristic is selected form the group comprising:

voltage and/or current of said audio signal.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said first and second predetermined values of said selected energy characteristic each comprise a maximum value of said selected energy characteristic of said audio signal at said respective first and second audio signal frequency bands.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said first and second predetermined values of said selected energy characteristic each comprise a median value of said selected energy characteristic at said respective first and second audio signal frequency bands.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said first and second predetermined values of said selected energy characteristic each comprise a root mean square (RMS) value of said selected energy characteristic at said respective first and second audio signal frequency bands.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said first frequency band is a higher frequency band than the second frequency band.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said first frequency band is a lower frequency band than the first frequency band.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein comparing said ratio at said reference and test time periods comprises:

dividing said ratio at said reference time period by said ratio at said test time period to determine a performance factor;

comparing said performance factor with a change threshold; and

sounding an alarm when said performance factor exceeds said change threshold.

22. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said hearing prosthesis comprises a cochlear implant system.

23. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said hearing prosthesis comprises a conductive hearing aid.

24. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said reference time period is a month.

25. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the reference time period is a first month of service.

26. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said test time period comprises a current day.

27. A cochlear impant system comprising:

an audio signal processing path comprises of at least portions of one or more components of the cochlear implant system; and

an apparatus for detecting a change in the performance of an audio signal processing path, comprising;

means for determining first and second predetermined values of a selected characteristic at respective first and second frequency bands of a received audio signal, wherein said selected characteristic is indicative of its energy content of said audio signal;

means for calculating a ratio of said first and second predetermined values for a reference time period and a test time period; and

means for comparing said ratio at said reference time period with said ratio of said test time period to determine a performance change in said audio path.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said selected energy characteristic is one or more of either voltage and current of said audio signal.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein said first and second predetermined values of said selected energy characteristic each comprise a maximum value of said selected energy characteristic of said audio signal at said respective first and second audio signal frequency bands.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein said first and second predetermined values of said selected energy characteristic each comprise a median value of said selected energy characteristic at said respective first and second audio signal frequency bands.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein said first and second predetermined values of said selected energy characteristic each comprise a root mean square (RMS) value of said selected energy characteristic at said respective first and second audio signal frequency bands.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein said first frequency band is a relatively high frequency band.

33. The system of claim 27, wherein said first frequency band is a relatively low frequency band.

34. The system of claim 27, wherein comparing said ratio at said reference and test time periods comprises:

dividing said ratio at said reference time period by said ratio at said test time period to determine a performance factor;

comparing said performance factor with a change threshold; and

sounding an alarm when said performance factor exceeds said change threshold.

35. The system of claim 27, wherein said hearing prosthesis comprises a cochlear implant system.

36. The system of claim 27, wherein said hearing prosthesis comprises a conductive hearing aid.

37. The system of claim 27, wherein said reference time period is a month.

38. The system of claim 27, wherein said reference time period is a first month of service.

39. The system of claim 27, wherein said test time period comprises a current day.