Hearing aid for recording data and learning therefrom

• US 20060222194A1
• Filed: 03/15/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oticon A/S (William Demant Fonden)
• Original Assignee: Oticon A/S (William Demant Fonden)
• Inventors: Olsen, Henrik Lodberg, Simonsen, Christian Stender, Bramslow, Lars
• Granted Patent: US 7,738,667 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/314
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/39 Aspects relating to automatic logging of sound environment parameters and the performance of the hearing aid during use, e.g. histogram logging, or of user selected programs or settings in the hearing aid, e.g. usage logging
• 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 25/305 Self-monitoring or self-testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/453 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/505 using digital signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/507 implemented by neural network or fuzzy logic
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hearing aid logging data and learning from these data. The hearing aid (10, 100) comprises an input unit (12) converting an acoustic environment to an electric signal; an output unit (16) converting an processed electric signal to a sound pressure; a signal processing unit (14) interconnecting the input and output unit, and generating the processed electric signal from the electric signal according to a setting; a user interface (18) converting user interaction to a control signal thereby controlling the setting; and finally a memory unit (20) comprising a control section storing a set of control parameters associated with the acoustic environment, and a data logger section receiving data from the input unit (12), the signal processing unit (14), and the user interface (18); and wherein said signal processing unit (14) configures the setting according to the set of control parameters and comprises a learning controller adapted to adjust the set of control parameters according to the data in the data logging section.

Claims

1. A hearing aid for logging data and learning from said data, and comprising an input unit adapted to convert an acoustic environment to an electric signal;

an output unit adapted to convert an processed electric signal to a sound pressure;

a signal processing unit interconnecting said input and output unit and adapted to generate said processed electric signal from said electric signal according to a setting;

a user interface adapted to convert user interaction to a control signal thereby controlling said setting; and

a memory unit comprising a control section adapted to store a set of control parameters associated with said acoustic environment, and a data logger section adapted to receive data from said input unit, said signal processing unit, and said user interface; and

wherein said signal processing unit is adapted to configure said setting according to said set of control parameters and comprising a learning controller adapted to adjust said set of control parameters according to said data in said data logger section.

2. A hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein said control section further comprises a plurality of sets of parameters each associated with further acoustic environments.

3. A hearing aid according to any of claims 1 to 2, wherein said data comprises said electric signal, said setting, and said control signal.

4. A hearing aid according to claim 3, wherein said electric signal comprises a digital signal comprising a value for the sound pressure level, a value describing frequency spectrum of said acoustic environment, a value for noise of said acoustic environment, or any combination thereof.

5. A hearing aid according to claim 3, wherein said setting comprises a set of variables describing gain of one or more frequency bands, limits of said one or more frequency bands, maximum gain of said one or more frequency bands, compression dynamics of said one or more frequency bands, or any combination thereof.

6. A hearing aid according to claim 3, wherein said control signal comprises a value for volume of said sound pressure, selection of said set of parameters, or any combination thereof.

7. A hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein said input unit comprises one or more microphones converting said acoustic environment to an analogue electric signal, a converter for converting said analogue electric signal to said electric signal, and wherein said converter is adapted to generate a digital signal comprising a value for the sound pressure level, a value describing frequency spectrum of said acoustic environment, a value for noise of said acoustic environment, or any combination thereof.

8. A hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein said signal processing unit further comprises a directionality element adapted to generate a directionality signal indicating direction of sound source relative to normal of user'"'"'s face.

9. A hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein said signal processing unit further comprises a noise reduction element adapted to generate a noise reduction signal indicating noise level of said acoustic environment.

10. A hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein said signal processing unit further comprises an adaptive feedback element adapted to generate a feedback signal indicating feedback limit.

11. A hearing aid according to claim 8, wherein said data logger section is adapted to log the directionality signal, the noise reduction signal, the feedback signal, together with the electric signal and control signal.

12. A hearing aid according to claim 11, wherein said data logger is adapted to log volume control settings and changes thereof together with the measured sound pressure level.

13. A hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein said learning controller further comprises an identity learning scheme adapted to utilise the changes in acoustic environments.

14. A hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein said learning controller further is adapted to execute an un-supervised identity learning scheme for individualising parameters of the automatic program selection.

15. A hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein said signal processing unit further comprises an own-voice detector adapted to generate an own-voice data in said data logger section, and an own-voice controller adapted to execute an own-voice learning scheme utilising own-voice data logged in said data logger section.

16. A hearing aid according to claim 1 further comprising an in-activity detector adapted to identify in-activity of the learning hearing aid.

18. A computer program to be executed on a signal processing unit according claim 1 and including the actions of a method for logging data and learning from said data, and comprising:

converting an acoustic environment to an electric signal by means of an input unit;

converting an processed electric signal to a sound pressure by means of an output unit;

interconnecting said input and output unit and generating said processed electric signal from said electric signal according to a setting by means of a signal processing unit;

converting user interaction to a control signal thereby controlling said setting by means of a user interface;

storing a set of control parameters associated with said acoustic environment by means of a control section of a memory unit;

receiving data from said input unit, said signal processing unit, and said user interface by means of a memory unit of a data logger section;

configuring said setting according to said set of control parameters by means said signal processing unit; and

adjusting said set of control parameters according to said data in said data logger section by means of a learning controller.

17. A method for logging data and learning from said data, and comprising:

converting an acoustic environment to an electric signal by means of an input unit;

converting an processed electric signal to a sound pressure by means of an output unit;

interconnecting said input and output unit and generating said processed electric signal from said electric signal according to a setting by means of a signal processing unit;

converting user interaction to a control signal thereby controlling said setting by means of a user interface;

storing a set of control parameters associated with said acoustic environment by means of a control section of a memory unit;

receiving data from said input unit, said signal processing unit, and said user interface by means of a memory unit of a data logger section;

configuring said setting according to said set of control parameters by means said signal processing unit; and

adjusting said set of control parameters according to said data in said data logger section by means of a learning controller.