Method and apparatus for distortion product emission testing of heating

• US 5,526,819 A
• Filed: 08/26/1994
• Issued: 06/18/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baylor College of Medicine (Baylor College)
• Original Assignee: Baylor College of Medicine (Baylor College)
• Inventors: Martin, Glen K., Lonsbury-Martin, Brenda L.
• Primary Examiner(s): McElheny, Jr,, Donald
• Assistant Examiner(s): Poinvil, Frantzy
• Application Number:
  US08/296,868
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 367/413.02, 128/746, 73/585, 73/587, 381/54
• US Class Current: 600/559
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/12 Audiometering
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/121 evaluating hearing capacity

Abstract

Apparatus and method are disclosed for the recording of distortion product emission (DPE) levels in human beings. At least one microphone and a sound-delivery system is inserted in the external ear canal in a manner similar to that required to position a small hearing aid. Two primary tones T_f1, T_f2 are applied simultaneously to the ear. The cochlea of the inner ear produces a DPE tone which is sensed by the microphone. DPE levels are sensed as a function of input frequencies f₁ and f₂. Such DPE frequency is equal to 2f₁ -f₂. Such DPE frequencies are collected in 100 Hz steps by adjusting f₁ and f₂ and maintaining a substantially constant ratio between f₁ and f₂. Two output forms are created: an DPE audiogram and a DPE input/output function. Noise picked up by the microphone is reduced by averaging the DPE signal many times, yet causing each of the DPE signals that is averaged to be of the same phase as every other DPE signal. Random phase noise is reduced by the averaging process. Body noise may be reduced by using two microphones and applying the output of one such microphones to the plus input of a differential amplifier. The output of the other less sensitive microphone, after amplification and phase adjustment is applied to the negative input of such differential amplifier. The output of such amplifier results with the body noise signal substantially reduced, but with the DPE signal substantially unchanged. This abstract of the disclosure-is not intended to define the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Distortion product emission apparatus comprising,

signal generating means for generating a first electrical signal of frequency f₁ and a second electrical signal of frequency f₂, the frequency f₂ being greater than the frequency f₁,

first and second earphones responsive respectively to said first and second electrical signals for producing a first tone of frequency f₁ and a second tone of frequency f₂,

an eartip arranged and designed insertion in the ear canal of the outer ear of a human being, said eartip having first and second audio tubes terminated therein which are connected respectively to said first and second earphones which transmit said first tone and said second tone to said ear,

said eartip including a first microphone means with a first output lead connected thereto for generating a first electrical signal on said first output lead which is proportional to a distortion product emission tone generated in the ear of said human being at a frequency of 2_f1 -f₂ and to other body noises,

said eartip including a second microphone means with a second output lead connected thereto for generating a second electrical signal on said second output lead which is proportional to said other body noises but is not substantially proportional to distortion product emission tone generated in the ear of said human being at a frequency of 2_f1 -f₂,

differential amplifier means responsive to said first and second signals for generating a differential signal proportional to the differences between said first and second electrical signals on a third output lead on which said distortion product emission tone at a frequency of 2f₁ -f₂ is present, but noise signals due to body noises of said human being have been reduced, and

signal analyzing means responsive to said differential signal on said third output lead for generating a level signal corresponding to said distortion product emission tone generated in the ear of said human being at a frequency of 2f₁ -f₂.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising,

digital computer means for controlling said signal generating means to produce a plurality of sets of signals of frequency f₁ and f₂ where the ratio of such frequencies f₂ /f₁ is approximately the same for each set of signals, and responsive to said signal analyzing means for recording each level of said tone at frequency 2f₁ -f₂ corresponding to each of said sets of frequencies f₁, f₂.

3. Distortion product emission apparatus comprising,

signal generating means for generating a first electrical signal of frequency f₁ and a second electrical signal of frequency f₂, the frequency f₂ being greater than the frequency f₁, said first and second signals having substantially equal amplitude levels,

first and second earphones responsive respectively to said first and second electrical signals for producing a first tone of frequency f₁ and a second tone of frequency f₂,

an eartip arranged and designed insertion in the ear canal of the outer ear of an human being, said eartip having first and second audio tubes terminated therein which are connected respectively to said first and second earphones which transmit said first tone and said second tone to said ear,

said eartip including a first microphone of high signal sensitivity with a first output lead connected thereto, and a second microphone of low signal sensitivity with a second output lead connected thereto, said first microphone being sensitive to small amplitude DPE signals of frequency 2f₁ -f₂ and to contaminating large amplitude signals caused by coughs and the like whereas said second microphone is not sensitive to said small amplitude DPE signals of frequency 2f₁ -f₂ but is sensitive to said large amplitude body-induced signals,

differential amplifier means having positive and negative input terminals to which said first output lead and said second output leads are connected for subtracting the respective signals on said first and second output leads to produce a DPE signal on an output lead with reduced contamination due to said large amplitude signals.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising gain adjusting circuit means between said second output lead of said second microphone and said differential amplifier means for manual adjustment of the amplitude of large amplitude signals sensed by said second microphone.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising phase adjusting circuit means between said second output lead of said second microphone and said differential amplifier means for manual adjustment of the phase of large amplitude signals sensed by said second microphone.

6. Distortion product emission apparatus comprising,

signal generating means for generating a first steady state oscillating signal of frequency f₁, and a second steady state oscillating signal of frequency f₂, the frequency f₂ being greater than the frequency f₁, said first and second signals having substantially equal amplitude levels,

means for synchronizing said first and second signals such that there is substantially no phase drift between said first and second signals,

first and second earphones responsive respectively to said first and second signals for producing a first tone of frequency f₁ and a second tone of frequency f₂,

an eartip arranged and designed for insertion in the ear canal of the outer ear of a human being, said eartip having first and second audio tubes which are connected respectively to said first and second earphones which transmit said first tone and said second tone to said ear,

said eartip including a microphone with a first output lead connected thereto,

said microphone generating an output signal on said first output lead which includes random phase noise and a steady state oscillating distortion product emission (DPE) tone generated in the ear of said human being, said distortion product emission (DPE) tone being a sinusoid of substantially constant amplitude and phase with a frequency of 2f₁ -f₂,

means coupled to said signal generating means for generating a triggering signal which is of substantially the same frequency and phase as that of said DPE tone of said output signal,

a signal analyzer including

(i) time averaging means for time averaging said output signal prior to spectral analysis of said output signal, said time averaging means including

means responsive to said output signal and to said triggering signal for time averaging said output signal by separating said output signal into a plurality of equal length time segments such that the DPE tone component of frequency 2f₁ -f₂ of said output signal begins with the same phase in each time segment, and

means for averaging said equal length time segments to produce an averaged signal, and

(ii) a Fourier-transform spectrum analyzer means responsive to said averaged signal for determining the amplitude versus frequency spectrum of said averaged signal,

whereby said amplitude at said frequency 2f₁ -f₂ substantially represents the level of the DPE tone and the noise level is substantially reduced.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising,

digital computer means for controlling said signal generating means to produce a plurality of sets of signals of frequency f₁ and f₂ where the ratio of such frequencies f₂ /f₁ is approximately the same for each set of signals, and responsive to said signal analyzing means for recording each level of said tone at frequency of 2f₁ -f₂ corresponding to each of said sets of frequencies f₁, f₂.

8. A method for reducing noise in distortion product emission testing comprising the steps of

generating a first steady state oscillating signal of frequency f₁ and a second steady state oscillating signal of frequency f₂ and a triggering signal of frequency 2f₁ -f₂ such that said first signal, said second signal and said triggering signal have substantially no phase drift among any of such signals,

applying said first steady state oscillating signal of frequency f₁ and said second steady state oscillating signal of frequency f₂ to the ear canal of the outer ear of a human being,

generating a steady state electrical response signal representative of the distortion product emission tone (DPE) of substantially constant amplitude and phase of frequency 2f₁ -f₂ which is generated in the ear in response to said first and second signals, said steady state electrical response signal being contaminated by random phase noise,

dividing said steady state electrical response signal by reference to said triggering signal into a plurality of equal length time segment DPE signals such that each DPE signal of frequency 2f₁ -f₂ begins with the same phase,

averaging said DPE signals over a predetermined number of time segments to produce an averaged signal, and

applying said averaged signal to a Fourier-transform spectrum analyzer to determine the amplitude level versus DPE frequency spectrum of said averaged signal, whereby said amplitude at said frequency 2f₁ -f₂ substantially represents the level of said DPE tone and the noise level is substantially reduced.

9. Distortion product emission apparatus comprising,

first signal generating means for generating a first electrical signal of frequency f₁ and a second electrical signal of frequency f₂, the frequency f₂ being greater than the frequency f₁, such that the phase of the first and second signals do not substantially drift with respect to each other,

second signal generating means for generating an oscillating triggering signal of frequency 2f₁ -f₂, the phase of which does not substantially drift from that of said first electrical signal of frequency f₁ or that of said second electrical signal of frequency f₂,

first and second earphones responsive respectively to said first and second electrical signals for producing a first tone of frequency f₁ and a second tone of frequency f₂,

an eartip arranged and designed for insertion in the ear canal of the outer ear of a human being, said eartip having first and second audio tubes which are connected respectively to said first and second earphones which transmit said first tone and said second tone to said ear,

said eartip including a microphone with a first output lead connected thereto,

said microphone generating an electrical signal on said first output lead which includes random phase noise and a distortion product emission tone being a sinusoid of substantially constant amplitude and phase with a frequency of 2f₁ -f₂,

a signal processor including

(i) time averaging means responsive to positive going zero crossing times of said triggering signal for time averaging said signal on said first output lead by separating said signal into a plurality of equal length time segments such that the distortion product emission tone of said signal begins with the same phase in each time segment and averaging said equal length time segments to produce an averaged signal, and

(ii) a spectral analyzer including

a Fourier-transform spectrum analyzer, and

means for applying said averaged signal to said Fourier-transform spectrum analyzer for determining an amplitude versus frequency spectrum of said averaged signal, whereby said amplitude at said frequency 2f₁ -f₂ substantially represents the level of said distortion product emission tone and the noise level is substantially reduced.

10. Distortion product emission apparatus comprising,

signal generating means for generating a first electrical sinusoidal signal of frequency f₁, a second electrical sinusoidal signal of frequency f₂ and a third electrical square-wave signal of frequency 2f₁ -f₂, where said first, second and third signals have substantially no phase drift among them,

first and second earphones responsive respectively to said first and second electrical signals for producing a first tone of frequency f₁ and a second tone of frequency f₂,

an eartip adapted for insertion in the ear canal of the outer ear of a human being, said eartip having first and second audio tubes which are connected respectively to said first and second earphones which transmit said first tone and said second tone to said ear,

said eartip including a microphone with a first output lead connected thereto,

said microphone generating a fourth electrical signal on said first output lead which includes random phase noise and a distortion product emission tone generated in the ear of said human being, said distortion product emission tone being a sinusoid of substantially constant amplitude and phase with a frequency of 2f₁ -f₂,

signal processing means for

(a) producing from said fourth electrical signal a plurality of time segments such that each time segment of frequency 2f₁ -f₂ begins with the same phase,

(b) averaging over a predetermined number of said time segments of said fourth electrical signal to produce an averaged signal, and

(c) applying said averaged signal to a spectrum analyzer for determining the amplitude versus frequency spectrum of said averaged signal, whereby said amplitude at said frequency 2f₁ -f₂ substantially represents the level of said distortion product emission tone and the noise level at other frequencies is substantially reduced,

said spectrum analyzer means including a trigger input and a signal input, wherein said first output lead is connected to said signal input of said spectrum analyzer and said third electrical square wave signal of frequency 2f₁ -f₂ is applied to said trigger input.

11. A method for reducing noise in distortion product emission testing comprising the steps of:

generating a steady state electrical signal representative of the distortion product emission (DPE) tone from an ear, said DPE tone being of constant amplitude, frequency and phase, said steady state electrical signal being contaminated by random phase noise,

repeatedly initiating a time sample having a length which does not drift with respect to the period of said DPE tone to produce a plurality of time samples,

producing an averaged signal by averaging segments of said steady-state electrical signal which occur in said time samples; and

applying said averaged signal to a Fourier-transform spectrum analyzer to determine the amplitude level of said DPE tone of said averaged signal, whereby noise is reduced.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said generating step includes the substeps of

generating a first signal of frequency f₁ and a second signal of frequency f₂ such that the phase of said first and second signals do not drift with respect to each other, and said first and second signals are of substantially constant amplitude and substantially constant frequency, and

applying said first and second signals to an ear, whereby said ear produces said DPE tone in response thereto of constant frequency 2f₁ -f₂ and of a phase which does not drift with respect to the phase of said first signal or to the phase of said second signal.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps of

generating a triggering signal of frequency 2f₁ -f₂ having a phase which does not substantially drift from the phase of said first signal or from the phase of said second signal, and

controlling the beginning of said time samples in said initiating step to coincide with a positive going zero crossing time of said triggering signal.