Method and Apparatus for Implementing Hearing Aid with Array of Processors
First Claim
1. A digital hearing aid comprising:
- a plurality of microphones for converting acoustic energy into analog electrical signals; and
a signal processing unit including plurality of substantially similar processing devices connected to said microphones for digitizing said electrical signal into computer words; and
wherein said processing devices further divide said signal into a plurality of frequency bands; and
sill further convert said words into an analog sample; and
a transducer for converting said signal into acoustic energy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for operation of a hearing aid 205 with signal processing functions performed with an array processor 220. In one embodiment, a reconfiguration module 250 allows reconfiguration of the processors 220 in the field. Another embodiment provides wireless communication by use of earpieces 105, 110 provided with antennas 235 in communication with a user module 260. The method includes steps of converting analog data into digital data 915 filtering out noise 920 and processing the digital data in parallel 925 compensating for the user'"'"'s hearing deficiencies and convert the digital data back into analog. Another embodiment adds the additional step of reconfiguring the processor in the field 1145. Yet another embodiment adds wireless communication 1040-1065.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A digital hearing aid comprising:
- a plurality of microphones for converting acoustic energy into analog electrical signals; and
a signal processing unit including plurality of substantially similar processing devices connected to said microphones for digitizing said electrical signal into computer words; and
wherein said processing devices further divide said signal into a plurality of frequency bands; and
sill further convert said words into an analog sample; and
a transducer for converting said signal into acoustic energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- a plurality of microphones for converting acoustic energy into analog electrical signals; and
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14. A method of operation of an array hearing aid including:
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Dividing the tasks of the array hearing aid in plurality of simple tasks; Distributing the said simpler tasks of the array hearing aid device to plurality of processing devices; and
,Executing said simpler tasks of the array hearing aid device in parallel where possible.
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15. A method of operation of an array hearing aid comprising the steps of:
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Dividing the tasks of the array hearing aid into a plurality of subtasks; and
,Distributing said subtasks of the array hearing aid device to a plurality of processing devices; and
,Executing said subtasks of the array hearing aid device in parallel. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A digital hearing aid with at least one earpiece comprising:
- a plurality of microphones positioned on said earpiece for converting acoustic energy into analog electrical signals;
and a signal processing unit including plurality of substantially similar processing devices connected to said microphones for digitizing said electrical signal into computer words; and wherein said processing devices further divide said signal into a plurality of frequency bands; and
sill further convert said words into an analog sample; and
a transducer positioned in said earpiece for converting said signal into acoustic energy. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
- a plurality of microphones positioned on said earpiece for converting acoustic energy into analog electrical signals;
Specification