Hearing device with a multi-stage activation circuit and method for operating it

• US 20090010464A1
• Filed: 07/03/2008
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd. (WS Audiology A/S)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Instruments Pte Ltd (WS Audiology A/S)
• Inventors: Kornagel, Ulrich
• Granted Patent: US 8,126,174 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/312
• 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 2460/03 Aspects of the reduction of energy consumption in hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/00 Deaf-aid sets , i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception electrical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N1/36038; optical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N5/0622
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency

Abstract

In one aspect, a hearing device is provided with a multi-stage activation circuit including a primary activation unit, an evaluation unit and a main activation unit. The primary activation unit monitors a sound-induced input level and forwards incoming signals to the evaluation unit when a threshold value of the input level is exceeded. The evaluation unit is activated when the threshold value is exceeded and determines a feature of incoming signals suitable for identifying and/or classifying a sound causing the incoming signals. The main activation unit is activated, for example, when the feature determined by the evaluation unit indicates a noise that should be perceptible to the wearer of the hearing device. The main activation unit activates further components of the hearing device including the signal processing and amplification circuit and the output unit.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A hearing device with a multi-stage activation circuit, a signal processing and amplification circuit a microphone and an output unit, comprising:

a primary activation unit in the first stage of the activation circuit,

an evaluation unit in the second stage of the activation circuit and to be activated by the primary activation unit; and

a main activation unit in the third stage of the activation circuit,

wherein the primary activation unit monitors a sound-induced input level and activates the evaluation unit when a threshold value of the monitored input level is exceeded, the primary activation unit forwards input signals to the activated evaluation unit,

wherein the evaluation unit determines a feature of the forwarding input signals suitable for identifying and/or classifying a noise causing the respective signals, the evaluation unit having a storage unit having stored features associated to noises,

wherein the main activation unit is activated by the evaluation unit when the feature determined by the evaluation unit indicates a noise that should be perceptible to the wearer of the hearing device,

wherein the activated main activation unit activates further components such that a full activation of the hearing device occurs.

17. The hearing device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the primary activation unit includes a signal buffer in which incoming signals are recorded.

18. The hearing device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the signal buffer has a capacity to at least store the incoming signals received in a time duration between the exceeding of the threshold value of a sound-induced input level and the establishment of the evaluation readiness of the evaluation unit.

19. The hearing device as claimed in one of claims 16, wherein a predetermined feature is stored in the storage unit, the predetermined feature selected from the group consisting of a typical telephone ring, typical alarm clock noises, typical speech patterns, music patterns and typical human voices being represented.

20. The hearing device as claimed in one of claims 16, wherein a plurality of predetermined features are stored in the storage unit, wherein at least one of the predetermined features selected from the group consisting of a typical telephone ring, typical alarm clock noises, typical speech patterns, music patterns and typical human voices being represented.

21. The hearing device as claimed in one of claims 16, wherein individually recorded features are stored in the storage unit.

22. The hearing device as claimed in one of claims 16, a degree of correspondence between features stored in the storage unit and the feature of the respectively incoming signal is determined by the evaluation unit.

23. The hearing device as claimed in one of claims 16, wherein feature, which is suitable for identifying and/or classifying the noise causing the incoming signals, is a time-based frequency pattern of an incoming signal.

24. The hearing device as claimed in one of claims 16, wherein a fourth stage of the activation circuit is included, by way of which manual activation/deactivation and/or alternative activation/deactivation and/or a request for the content of the signal buffer can be effected.

25. The hearing device as claimed in one of claims 16, wherein the hearing device is a component of a binaurally coupled hearing device system and includes a transmitter to transmit an activation signal or a receiver to receive an activation signal such that the activation of the hearing device occurs in the event of a received activation signal.

26. The hearing device as claimed in one of claims 16, wherein the hearing device is designed as multiple components including an external device for activating the hearing device.

30. The method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the activation occurs independently of the evaluation unit when the activation signal is received, the activation signal indicates an activation of a further hearing device or was transmitted by an external additional device.

27. A method for activating a hearing device with a multi-stage activation circuit, the hearing device comprising:

a microphone, a signal processing and amplification circuit, and an output unit, the method comprising;

monitoring a sound-induced input level by a primary activation unit included in a first stage of the activation circuit;

activating an evaluation unit included in a second stage of the activation unit, the evaluation unit activated when a threshold value of the monitored input level is exceeded;

forwarding signals incoming to the primary activation unit to the evaluation unit;

determining by the evaluation unit a feature of the forwarded incoming signals, a degree of correspondence is determined between features stored in a storage unit and the feature of the respective incoming signal, the feature suitable for identifying and/or classifying a noise causing the incoming signals;

activating the main activation unit include in a third stage of the activation circuit when the identification and/or classification indicates a noise that should be perceptible to the wearer of the hearing aid, activates; and

activating by an activation unit in a third stage of the activation circuit further components of the hearing device including the signal processing and amplification circuit and output unit.

28. The method as claimed in claim 27, wherein the activation occurs independently of the evaluation unit after exceeding the threshold value for a time duration.

29. The method as claimed in claim 27, wherein an activation signal is transmitted when activation takes place.

31. The method as claimed in claim 27, wherein a time-based frequency pattern of the incoming signal is determined as a feature suitable for identifying and/or classifying a noise causing the incoming signals.