METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR COCHLEAR IMPLANT SIGNAL PROCESSING
First Claim
1. A speech processor configured to be used in a cochlear implant system and comprising:
- signal processing circuitry thatseparates an incoming audio signal into a plurality of channels, wherein each channel included in the plurality of channels includes a channel signal included in a plurality of channel signals and representing a portion of the audio signal;
selects one or more channel signals from the plurality of channel signals that have a spectral power that exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the selected one or more channel signals corresponding to one or more channels included in the plurality of channels, anddesignates only the one or more channels that correspond to the selected one or more channel signals to be used for stimulation representative of the incoming audio signal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An exemplary speech processor configured to be used in a cochlear implant system includes signal processing circuitry that 1) separates an incoming audio signal into a plurality of channels, wherein each channel included in the plurality of channels includes a channel signal included in a plurality of channel signals and representing a portion of the audio signal, 2) selects one or more channel signals from the plurality of channel signals that have a spectral power that exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the selected one or more channel signals corresponding to one or more channels included in the plurality of channels, and 3) designates only the one or more channels that correspond to the selected one or more channel signals to be used for stimulation representative of the incoming audio signal.
16 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A speech processor configured to be used in a cochlear implant system and comprising:
signal processing circuitry that separates an incoming audio signal into a plurality of channels, wherein each channel included in the plurality of channels includes a channel signal included in a plurality of channel signals and representing a portion of the audio signal; selects one or more channel signals from the plurality of channel signals that have a spectral power that exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the selected one or more channel signals corresponding to one or more channels included in the plurality of channels, and designates only the one or more channels that correspond to the selected one or more channel signals to be used for stimulation representative of the incoming audio signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
8. A cochlear implant system adapted to receive an incoming audio signal and apply an electrical stimulus to cochlea tissue as a function of spectral and temporal characteristics of the incoming audio signal, the cochlear implant system comprising:
-
a signal processing apparatus; and a plurality of electrodes adapted to be inserted into cochlea tissue; wherein the signal processing apparatus comprises circuitry that forms a plurality of channels connected in parallel, each channel being adapted to receive a portion of the incoming audio signal, the incoming audio signal being divided among the plurality of channels as a function of frequency, wherein each channel of the plurality of channels has a frequency band associated therewith, and wherein each channel produces a respective channel signal having spectral characteristics associated with components of the incoming audio signal that are within the frequency band of that channel, and circuitry that implements a speech processing strategy that selects how many and which channels within the plurality of channels are used to apply electrical stimuli to cochlea tissue through the plurality of electrodes associated with the selected channels, wherein the speech processing strategy increases or decreases the number of selected channels that apply electrical stimuli as a function of whether the channel signal in at least one of the channels meets a prescribed spectral characteristic; wherein each electrode included in the plurality of electrodes is coupled to at least one of the plurality of channels, wherein an electrical stimulus is applied through one of the plurality of electrodes when the channel signal associated with at least one of the channels coupled to the electrode exhibits a spectral characteristic that meets a prescribed spectral characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification