Digital hearing aid system
First Claim
1. A digital hearing aid, comprising:
- a front microphone that receives an acoustical intended signal and generates an analog intended signal;
a front microphone analog-to-digital converter coupled to the front microphone that converts the analog intended signal to a digital intended signal;
a rear microphone that receives an acoustical occlusion signal from the ear canal of a digital hearing aid user and generates an analog occlusion signal;
a rear microphone analog-to-digital converter coupled to the rear microphone that converts the analog occlusion signal to a digital occlusion signal;
a sound processor coupled to the front microphone analog-to-digital converter that selectively modifies the frequency response of the digital occlusion signal to match pre-selected signal characteristics and generates a processed intended signal;
an occlusion sub-system coupled to the processed intended signal and the digital occlusion signal that subtracts the digital occlusion signal from the processed intended signal and generates an occlusion sub-system output signal;
a digital-to-analog converter coupled to the occlusion sub-system that converts the occlusion sub-system output signal into an analog hearing aid output signal; and
a speaker coupled to the digital-to-analog converter that converts the analog hearing aid output signal to an acoustical hearing aid output signal that is directed into the ear canal of the digital hearing aid user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A digital hearing aid is provided that includes front and rear microphones, a sound processor, and a speaker. Embodiments of the digital hearing aid include an occlusion subsystem, and a directional processor and headroom expander. The front microphone receives a front microphone acoustical signal and generates a front microphone analog signal. The rear microphone receives a rear microphone acoustical signal and generates a rear microphone analog signal. The front and rear microphone analog signals are converted into the digital domain, and at least the front microphone signal is coupled to the sound processor. The sound processor selectively modifies the signal characteristics and generates a processed signal. The processed signal is coupled to the speaker which converts the signal to an acoustical hearing aid output signal that is directed into the ear canal of the digital hearing aid user. The occlusion sub-system compensates for the amplification of the digital hearing aid user'"'"'s own voice within the ear canal. The directional processor and headroom expander optimizes the gain applied to the acoustical signals received by the digital hearing aid and combine the amplified signals into a directionally-sensitive response.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A digital hearing aid, comprising:
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a front microphone that receives an acoustical intended signal and generates an analog intended signal;
a front microphone analog-to-digital converter coupled to the front microphone that converts the analog intended signal to a digital intended signal;
a rear microphone that receives an acoustical occlusion signal from the ear canal of a digital hearing aid user and generates an analog occlusion signal;
a rear microphone analog-to-digital converter coupled to the rear microphone that converts the analog occlusion signal to a digital occlusion signal;
a sound processor coupled to the front microphone analog-to-digital converter that selectively modifies the frequency response of the digital occlusion signal to match pre-selected signal characteristics and generates a processed intended signal;
an occlusion sub-system coupled to the processed intended signal and the digital occlusion signal that subtracts the digital occlusion signal from the processed intended signal and generates an occlusion sub-system output signal;
a digital-to-analog converter coupled to the occlusion sub-system that converts the occlusion sub-system output signal into an analog hearing aid output signal; and
a speaker coupled to the digital-to-analog converter that converts the analog hearing aid output signal to an acoustical hearing aid output signal that is directed into the ear canal of the digital hearing aid user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A digital hearing aid, comprising:
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a front microphone that receives a front acoustical signal and generates a front microphone analog signal;
a front microphone analog-to-digital converter coupled to the front microphone that converts the front microphone analog signal into a front microphone digital signal, wherein the front microphone analog-to-digital converter includes a front microphone preamplifier that applies a gain to the front microphone analog signal prior to conversion into the digital domain;
a front microphone headroom expander coupled to the front microphone analog-to-digital converter that applies a gain to the front microphone digital signal to generate a front microphone headroom expander output signal, wherein the front microphone headroom expander is configured to detect the energy level of the front microphone digital signal and vary the gain applied by the front microphone preamplifier as a function of the detected energy level;
a sound processor coupled to the front microphone headroom expander output signal that selectively modifies the frequency response of the front microphone headroom expander output signal to match pre-selected signal characteristics and generates a processed signal;
a digital-to-analog converter coupled to the sound processor that converts the processed output into an analog hearing aid output signal; and
a speaker coupled to the digital-to-analog converter that converts the analog hearing aid output signal into an acoustical hearing aid output signal that is directed into the ear canal of the digital hearing aid user. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification