Switch responsive to an audio cue

• US 6,748,089 B1
• Filed: 10/17/2000
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oticon A/S (William Demant Fonden)
• Original Assignee: Richard W. Harris, Sonic Innovations Incorporated (William Demant Fonden)
• Inventors: Harris, Richard W., Davis, Keith L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US09/691,765
• Time in Patent Office: 1,330 Days
• Field of Search: 381/107, 381/104, 381/109, 381/57, 381/317, 381/312, 381/318, 381/320, 381/321
• US Class Current: 381/107
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3026 the gain being discontinuously variable, e.g. controlled by switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/502 using analog signal processing

Abstract

The present invention provides a switch method and apparatus that is switchable among a plurality of operational modes by attenuating an input audio signal detected by the apparatus. The apparatus includes a microphone which converts the input audio signal to an input electrical signal (IES), a first memory which stores a threshold value, a second memory which stores at least one parameter set, a selector which is responsive to the first memory and to the IES for selecting a first parameter set as an enabled parameter set, and a signal conditioner coupled to the IES, the signal conditioner being responsive to the IES and to an enabled parameter set for producing a conditioned electrical signal (CES). An alternative switch method and apparatus switchable among a plurality of operational modes by attenuating an input audio signal detected by the apparatus includes a microphone which converts the input audio signal to an IES, a signal envelope detector (SED) coupled to the IES, the SED having a first time constant, wherein the SED produces a SED output in response to the IES, a noise envelope detector (NED) coupled to the IES, the NED having a second time constant that is greater than the first time constant, the NED produces a NED output in response to the IES, a first memory which stores at least one parameter set, a selector which is responsive to the SED output and to the NED output for selecting a first parameter set as an enabled parameter set, and a signal conditioner coupled to the IES, the signal conditioner being responsive to the IES and to an enabled parameter set for producing a CES.

Claims

1. A user operated switch apparatus switchable among a plurality of operational modes by having the user selectively attenuate an input audio signal detected by said apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

a microphone which converts the selectively attenuated input audio signal to an input electrical signal (IES);

a first memory which stores a threshold value;

a second memory which stores at least one parameter set;

a selector which is responsive to the first memory and to the IES for selecting a first parameter set as an enabled parameter set; and

a signal conditioner coupled to the input electrical signal, said signal conditioner being responsive to the IES and to an enabled parameter set for producing a conditioned electrical signal (CES).

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said selector is responsive to an intensity level of the IES.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said selector is responsive to an intensity level of the IES, wherein said selector selects a first parameter set stored in said second memory as the enabled parameter set when the intensity level of the IES is less than the threshold value stored in said first memory.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

a timer for measuring a timed interval, wherein said timer is responsive to said selector for starting and stopping the timed interval, wherein said selector starts the timer for measuring the timed interval when the intensity level of the IES is less than the threshold value stored in said first memory, wherein said selector stops the timer for measuring the timed interval when the intensity level of the IES is greater than or equal to the threshold value stored in said first memory;

a third memory for storing the timed interval; and

a fourth memory for storing a first time setting, wherein said selector is responsive to said third memory and to said fourth memory for selecting the first parameter set stored in said second memory as the enabled parameter set.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

a fifth memory for storing a second time setting, wherein said selector is responsive to said third memory for storing the timed interval and responsive to the fifth memory for storing a second time setting for selecting a second parameter set stored in said second memory as the enabled parameter set.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

a sixth memory for storing a number proportional to the long term average of the absolute value of the intensity of the IES, wherein said selector is responsive to said sixth memory for changing said first memory storing the threshold value, thereby changing the threshold value in response to the long term average of the absolute value of the intensity of the IES.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an external adjuster which adjusts the data stored in said first memory to change the threshold value.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an external changer which changes the data stored in said second memory to change the parameter set.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

an external modifier which modifies the data stored in said fourth and fifth memory to change the first and second time settings, respectively.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an output transducer coupled to the CES for producing an audio output.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said apparatus is a hearing aid.

12. A user operated switch apparatus switchable among a plurality of operational modes by having the user selectively attenuate an input audio signal detected by said apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

a microphone which converts the selectively attenuated input audio signal to an input electrical signal (IES);

a first circuit which expresses a threshold value;

a second circuit which expresses at least one parameter set;

a selector which is responsive to said first circuit and to the IES for selecting a first parameter set expressed by said second circuit as an enabled parameter set; and

a signal conditioner coupled to the IES, said signal conditioner being responsive to the IES and to the enabled parameter set for producing a conditioned electrical signal (CES).

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

said selector is responsive to an intensity level of the IES.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said selector is responsive to an intensity level of the IES, wherein said selector selects a first parameter set expressed by said second circuit as the enabled parameter set when the intensity level of the IES is less than the threshold value expressed by said first circuit.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

a timer for measuring a timed interval, wherein said timer is responsive to said selector for starting and stopping the timed interval, wherein selector starts the timer for measuring the timed interval when the intensity level of the IES is less than the threshold value expressed by said first circuit, wherein said selector stops the timer for measuring the timed interval when the intensity level of the IES is greater than or equal to the threshold value expressed by said first circuit;

a third circuit for expressing the timed interval; and

a fourth circuit for expressing a first time setting, wherein said selector is responsive to said third circuit and to said fourth circuit for selecting the first parameter set expressed by said second circuit as the enabled parameter set.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

a fifth circuit for expressing a second time setting, wherein said selector is responsive to said third circuit for expressing the timed interval and responsive to the fifth circuit for expressing a second time setting for selecting a second parameter set expressed by said second memory as the enabled parameter set.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

a sixth circuit for expressing a number proportional to the long term average of the absolute value of the intensity of the IES, wherein said selector is responsive to said sixth circuit for changing said first circuit for expressing the threshold value, thereby changing the threshold value in response to the long term average of the absolute value of the intensity of the IES.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

an external adjuster which adjusts said first circuit which expresses the threshold value.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

an external changer which changes the settings of said second circuit which expresses the at least one parameter set.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

an external modifier which modifies the settings of said fourth and fifth circuits which express the first and second time settings, respectively.

21. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

an output transducer coupled to the conditioned electrical signal for producing an audio output.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said apparatus is a hearing aid.

23. A user operated switch apparatus switchable among a plurality of operational modes by having the user selectively attenuate an input audio signal detected by said apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

a microphone which converts the selectively attenuated input audio signal to an input electrical signal (IES);

a first circuit which expresses a default parameter set;

a first memory which stores a threshold value;

a second memory which stores at least one parameter set;

a selector which is responsive to said first memory and to the IES for selecting a first parameter set stored in said second memory as the enabled parameter set; and

a signal conditioner coupled to the IES, said signal conditioner responsive to the IES and to an enabled parameter set for producing a conditioned electrical signal (CES), wherein a first operational state is activated when said apparatus is initially turned on by using said first circuit which expresses the default parameter set as the enabled parameter set, and wherein a second operational state is activated when said selector selects a first parameter set from said second memory as an enabled parameter set.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said selector is responsive to an intensity level of the IES.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said selector is responsive to an intensity level of the IES, wherein said selector selects a first parameter set stored in said second memory as the enabled parameter set when the intensity level of the IES is less than the threshold value stored in said first memory.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:

a timer for measuring a timed interval, wherein said timer is responsive to said selector for starting and stopping the timed interval, wherein said selector starts the timer for measuring the timed interval when the intensity level of the IES is less than the threshold value stored in said first memory, wherein said selector stops the timer for measuring the timed interval when the intensity level of the IES is greater than or equal to the threshold value stored in said first memory;

a third memory for storing the timed interval; and

a fourth memory for storing a first time setting, wherein said selector is responsive to said third memory and to said fourth memory for selecting the first parameter set stored in said second memory as the enabled parameter set.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

a fifth memory for storing a second time setting, wherein said selector is responsive to said third memory for storing the timed interval and responsive to the fifth memory for storing a second time setting for selecting a second parameter set stored in said second memory as the enabled parameter set.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:

a sixth circuit for expressing a number proportional to the long term average of the absolute value of the intensity of the IES, wherein said selector is responsive to said sixth circuit for changing said first circuit for expressing the threshold value, thereby changing the threshold value in response to the long term average of the absolute value of the intensity of the IES.

29. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:

an external adjuster which adjusts the data stored in said first memory to change the threshold value.

30. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:

an external changer which changes the data stored in said second memory to change the parameter set.

31. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising:

an external modifier which modifies the data stored in said fourth and fifth memory to change the first and second time settings, respectively.

32. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:

an output transducer coupled to said CES for producing an audio output.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said apparatus is a hearing aid.

34. A switch apparatus switchable among a plurality of operational modes by attenuating an input audio signal detected by said apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

a microphone which converts the input audio signal to an input electrical signal (IES);

a signal envelope detector (SED) coupled to the IES, said SED having a first time constant, wherein said SED produces a SED output in response to the IES;

a noise envelope detector (NED) coupled to the IES, said NED having a second time constant that is greater than the first time constant, said NED produces a NED output in response to the IES;

a first memory which stores at least one parameter set;

a selector which is responsive to the SED output and to the NED output for selecting a first parameter set as an enabled parameter set; and

a signal conditioner coupled to the IES, said signal conditioner being responsive to the IES and to an enabled parameter set for producing a conditioned electrical signal (CES).

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said selector is responsive to a relative difference between the SED output and the NED output.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein:

said selector is responsive to an intensity level of the SED output and the intensity level of the NED output, wherein said selector selects the first parameter set stored in the first memory as the enabled parameter set when the intensity level of the SED output is less than the intensity of the NED output.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising:

a timer for measuring a timed interval, wherein said timer is responsive to said selector for starting and stopping the timed interval, wherein said selector starts the timer for measuring the timed interval when SED output is less than the NED output, wherein said selector stops the timer for measuring the timed interval when the SED output is greater than or equal to NED output;

a second memory for storing the timed interval; and

a third memory for storing a first time setting, wherein said selector is responsive to said second memory and to said third memory for selecting the first parameter set stored in said first memory as the enabled parameter set.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising:

a fourth memory for storing a second time setting, wherein said selector is responsive to said second memory which stores the timed interval and responsive to said fourth memory which stores the second time setting for selecting a second parameter set stored in said first memory as the enabled parameter set.

39. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

an external adjuster which adjusts the SED time constant.

40. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

an external adjuster which adjusts the NED time constant.

41. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

an external changer which changes the component values of the plurality of parameter sets stored in said first memory.

42. The apparatus of claim 38, further comprising:

an external modifier which modifies the first and second time settings stored in said third and fourth memory, respectively.

43. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

an output transducer coupled to the CES for producing an audio output.

44. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein said apparatus is a hearing aid.

45. A method of operating a switch switchable among a plurality of operational modes by having a user selectively attenuate an input audio signal detected by said apparatus, said method comprising:

converting the selectively attenuated input audio signal to an input electrical signal (IES) with a microphone;

storing a threshold value in a first memory;

storing at least one parameter set in a second memory;

selecting a first parameter set as an enabled parameter set by a selector which is responsive to the first memory and to the IES; and

producing a conditioned electrical signal (CES) by a signal conditioner coupled to the IES, wherein the signal conditioner being responsive to the IES and to an enabled parameter set.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein:

responding to an intensity level of the IES by the selector.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein:

selecting a first parameter set stored in the second memory as the enabled parameter set when the intensity level of the IES is less than the threshold value stored in the first memory.

48. The method of claim 47, further comprising:

measuring a timed interval by a timer, wherein the timer is responsive to the selector for starting and stopping the timed interval, wherein the selector starts the timer for measuring the timed interval when the intensity level of the IES is less than the threshold value stored in the first memory, wherein the selector stops the timer for measuring the timed interval when the intensity level of the IES is greater than or equal to the threshold value stored in the first memory;

storing the timed interval in a third memory; and

storing a first time setting in a fourth memory, wherein the selector is responsive to the third memory and to the fourth memory for selecting the first parameter set stored in the second memory as the enabled parameter set.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

storing a second time setting in a fifth memory, wherein the selector is responsive to the third memory for storing the timed interval and responsive to the fifth memory for storing a second time setting for selecting a second parameter set stored in said second memory as the enabled parameter set.

50. The method of claim 49, further comprising:

storing a number in a sixth memory, the number proportional to the long term average of the absolute value of the intensity of the IES, wherein the selector is responsive to the sixth memory for changing the first memory storing the threshold value, thereby changing the threshold value in response to the long term average of the absolute value of the intensity of the IES.

51. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

adjusting the first memory to change the threshold value by an external adjuster.

52. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

changing the data stored in the second memory to alter the parameter set by an external changer.

53. The method of claim 49, further comprising:

modifying the data stored in the fourth and fifth memory to alter the first and second time settings, respectively by an external modifier.

54. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

producing an audio output by an output transducer coupled to the CES for producing an audio output.

55. The method of claim 54, further comprising using the apparatus as a hearing aid.

56. A method of operating a switch apparatus switchable among a plurality of operational modes by attenuating an input audio signal detected by said apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

converting the input audio signal to an input electrical signal (IES) with a microphone;

using a signal envelope detector (SED) coupled to the IES, the SED having a first time constant to produces a SED output in response to the IES;

using a noise envelope detector (NED) coupled to the IES, said NED having a second time constant that is greater than the first time constant to produce a NED output in response to the IES;

storing at least one parameter set in a first memory;

selecting a first parameter set as an enabled parameter set with a selector which is responsive to the SED output and to the NED output; and

producing a conditioned electrical signal (CES) with a signal conditioner coupled to the IES, said signal conditioner being responsive to the IES and to an enabled parameter set.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the selector responds to a relative difference between the SED output and the NED output with the selector.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein:

responding to an intensity level of the SED output and the intensity level of the NED output with the selector;

determining when the intensity level of the SED output is less than the intensity of the NED output with the selector; and

selecting the first parameter set stored in the first memory as the enabled parameter set with the selector.

59. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

using a timer for measuring a timed interval, wherein the timer is responsive to the selector for starting and stopping the timed interval with the selector;

starting the timer with the selector for measuring the timed interval when SED output is less than the NED output;

stopping the timer with the selector for measuring the timed interval when the SED output is greater than or equal to NED output;

storing the timed interval in a second memory with the selector; and

storing a first time setting in a third memory with the selector, wherein said selector is responsive to said second memory and to said third memory; and

selecting with the selector the first parameter set stored in the first memory as the enabled parameter set.

60. The method of claim 59, further comprising:

storing a second time setting in a fourth memory; and

selecting with the selector a second parameter set stored in said first memory as the enabled parameter set, wherein the selector is responsive to said second memory which stores the timed interval and responsive to said fourth memory which stores the second time setting.

61. The method of claim 56, further comprising:

adjusting the first time constant of the SED with an external adjuster.

62. The method of claim 56, further comprising:

adjusting the second time constant of the NED with an external adjuster.

63. The method of claim 56, further comprising:

changing the component values of the plurality of parameter sets stored in the first memory with an external changer.

64. The method of claim 59, further comprising:

modifying the first and second time settings stored in the third and fourth memory, respectively.

65. The method of claim 56, further comprising:

producing an audio output with an output transducer coupled to the CES.

66. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein said apparatus is a hearing aid.

67. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method of operating a switch switchable among a plurality of operational modes by having a user selectively attenuate an input audio signal detected by said apparatus, the method comprising:

converting the selectively attenuated input audio signal to an input electrical signal (IES) with a microphone;

storing a threshold value in a first memory;

storing at least one parameter set in a second memory;

selecting a first parameter set as an enabled parameter set by a selector which is responsive to the first memory and to the IES for; and

producing a conditioned electrical signal (CES) by a signal conditioner coupled to the IES, wherein said signal conditioner being responsive to the IES and to an enabled parameter set for.

68. The device in accordance with claim 67 wherein said method further comprises:

responding to an intensity level of the IES by the selector.

69. The device in accordance with claim 67 wherein said method further comprises:

selecting a first parameter set stored in said second memory as the enabled parameter set when the intensity level is less than the threshold value stored in the first memory.

70. The device in accordance with claim 69 wherein said method further comprises:

measuring a timed interval by a timer, wherein the timer is responsive to the selector for starting and stopping the timed interval, wherein the selector starts the timer for measuring the timed interval when the intensity level of the IES is less than the threshold value stored in the first memory, wherein the selector stops the timer for measuring the timed interval when the intensity level of the IES is greater than or equal to the threshold value stored in the first memory;

storing the timed interval in a third memory; and

storing a first time setting in a fourth memory, wherein the selector is responsive to the third memory and to the fourth memory for selecting the first parameter set stored in the second memory as the enabled parameter set.

71. The device in accordance with claim 70 wherein said method further comprises:

storing a second time setting in a fifth memory, wherein the selector is responsive to the third memory for storing the timed interval and responsive to the fifth memory for storing a second time setting for selecting a second parameter set stored in the second memory as the enabled parameter set.

72. The device in accordance with claim 71 wherein said method further comprises:

storing a number a sixth memory, said number proportional to the long term average of the absolute value of the intensity of the IES, wherein said selector is responsive to said sixth memory for changing said first memory storing the threshold value, thereby changing the threshold value in response to the long term average of the absolute value of the intensity of the IES.

73. The device in accordance with claim 67 wherein said method further comprises:

adjusting the data stored in the first memory to alter the threshold value by an external adjuster.

74. The device in accordance with claim 67 wherein said method further comprises:

changing the data stored in the second memory to alter the parameter set by an external changer.

75. The device in accordance with claim 71 wherein said method further comprises:

modifying the data stored in the fourth and fifth memory to alter the first and second time settings, respectively by an external modifier.

76. The device in accordance with claim 67 wherein said method further comprises:

producing an audio output by an output transducer coupled to the CES for producing an audio output.

77. The device in accordance with claim 76 wherein said method further comprises using the apparatus as a hearing aid.

78. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method of operating a switch apparatus switchable among a plurality of operational modes by attenuating an input audio signal detected by an apparatus, the method comprising:

converting the input audio signal to an input electrical signal (IES) with a microphone;

using a signal envelope detector (SED) coupled to the IES, the SED having a first time constant to produces a SED output in response to the IES;

using a noise envelope detector (NED) coupled to the IES, said NED having a second time constant that is greater than the first time constant to produce a NED output in response to the IES;

storing at least one parameter set in a first memory;

selecting a first parameter set as an enabled parameter set with a selector which is responsive to the SED output and to the NED output; and

producing a conditioned electrical signal (CES) with a signal conditioner coupled to the IES, the signal conditioner being responsive to the IES and to an enabled parameter set.

79. The device in accordance with claim 78 wherein said method further comprises:

responding to a relative difference between the SED output and the NED output with said selector.

80. The device in accordance with claim 78 wherein said method further comprises:

responding to an intensity level of the SED output and the intensity level of the NED output said with the selector;

determining when the intensity level of the SED output is less than the intensity of the NED output with the selector; and

selecting the first parameter set stored in said first memory as the enabled parameter set with the selector.

81. The device in accordance with claim 80 wherein said method further comprises:

using a timer for measuring a timed interval, wherein the timer is responsive to the selector for starting and stopping the timed interval with the selector;

starting the timer for measuring the timed interval when SED output is less than the NED output with the selector; and

stopping the timer for measuring the timed interval when the SED output is greater than or equal to NED output with the selector;

storing the timed interval in a second memory with the selector; and

storing a first time setting in a third memory with the selector, wherein the selector is responsive to the second memory and to the third memory;

selecting the first parameter set stored in the first memory as the enabled parameter set.

82. The device in accordance with claim 81 wherein said method further comprises:

storing a second time setting in a fourth memory; and

selecting a second parameter set stored in the first memory as the enabled parameter set, wherein the selector is responsive to the second memory which stores the timed interval and responsive to the fourth memory which stores the second time setting.

83. The device in accordance with claim 78 wherein said method further comprises:

adjusting the SED time constant with an external adjuster.

84. The device in accordance with claim 78 wherein said method further comprises:

adjusting the NED time constant with an external adjuster.

85. The device in accordance with claim 78 wherein said method further comprises:

changing the component values of the plurality of parameter sets stored in the first memory with an external changer.

86. The device in accordance with claim 78 wherein said method further comprises:

modifying the first and second time settings stored in the third and fourth memory, respectively.

87. The device in accordance with claim 78 wherein said method further comprises:

producing an audio output with an output transducer coupled to the CES.

88. The device in accordance with claim 87 wherein said method further comprises:

using the apparatus as a hearing aid.