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Hearing aid incorporating a novelty filter

DC
  • US 5,396,560 A
  • Filed: 03/31/1993
  • Issued: 03/07/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A hearing aid comprising:

  • a microphone operable to sense acoustical events and convert them to proportionate electrical signals;

    a variable gain amplifier operable to amplify the electrical signals from the microphone and provide an amplified output of that signal depending on the gain of the amplifier;

    a difference amplifier operable to adjust the gain of the variable gain amplifier;

    a long-term energy averaging circuit operable to sense substantially steady state acoustical events received by the microphone and force the difference amplifier to reduce the gain of the variable gain amplifier in view of the steady state signals;

    a short-term energy averaging circuit operable to sense novel acoustical signals received by the microphone and force the difference amplifier to increase the gain of the variable gain amplifier in view of the novel signals; and

    an earphone operable to receive an output signal from the variable gain amplifier and convert it to an audible sound.

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