Method and an apparatus for processing an auscultation signal
First Claim
1. A method of processing an auscultation signal, said auscultation signal being divided into a plurality of signal segments each having an individual duration of time and extending between a zero crossing in a positive or negative direction and a next zero crossing in the same positive or negative direction, said signal segments being processed into an output signal of successive signal segments, said signal segments being processed such that at least one of the signal segments is repeated at least once in said output signal, the method comprising:
- analyzing the duration time of each signal segment and subjecting those signal segments that exceed a limit of 50 ms to a processing that increases the number of zero crossings during its individual duration of time so as to convert those signal segments that exceed said limit into a greater number of signal segments of a shorter duration, such that echo perception from the auscultation signal is reduced.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of processing a signal representing an input sound signal is disclosed. The signal is divided in time into a plurality of signal segments, each having an individual duration of time. The signal segments are processed into an output signal of successive signal segments in such a way that at least one, preferably all, of the signal segments are repeated immediately and successively at least once in the output signal. Each signal segment is established in such a way that the duration of time of a majority, preferably all, of the signal segments is less than 60 ms. Thus, a sound signal can be reduced in speed by doubling the number of short cycles.
12 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of processing an auscultation signal, said auscultation signal being divided into a plurality of signal segments each having an individual duration of time and extending between a zero crossing in a positive or negative direction and a next zero crossing in the same positive or negative direction, said signal segments being processed into an output signal of successive signal segments, said signal segments being processed such that at least one of the signal segments is repeated at least once in said output signal, the method comprising:
analyzing the duration time of each signal segment and subjecting those signal segments that exceed a limit of 50 ms to a processing that increases the number of zero crossings during its individual duration of time so as to convert those signal segments that exceed said limit into a greater number of signal segments of a shorter duration, such that echo perception from the auscultation signal is reduced. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An a apparatus for processing an auscultation signal, the apparatus comprising:
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a signal processing unit that divides the auscultation signal into a plurality of signal segments, each segment having an individual duration of time and extending between a zero crossing in a positive or negative direction and a next zero crossing in the same positive or negative direction, said signal segments being processed into an output signal of successive signal segments such that at least one signal segment is repeated at least once in said output signal, the signal processing unit analyzing the duration time of each signal segment and subjecting those signal segments that exceed a limit of 50 ms to a processing that increases the number of zero crossings during its individual duration of time so as to convert those signal segments that exceed said limit into a greater number of signal segments of a shorter duration, such that echo perception from the auscultation signal is reduced. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An electronic stethoscope comprising:
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at least one input transducer; at least one output transducer; and a signal processing unit divides an input signal in time into a plurality of signal segments, each segment having an individual duration of time, said signal segments being processed into an output signal of successive signal segments such that at least one signal segment is repeated at least once in said output signal, the signal processing unit processing the auscultation signal to analyze the duration of time of each signal segment and subjecting those signal segments that exceed a limit of 50 ms to a processing that increases the number of zero crossings during its individual duration of time so as to convert those signal segments that exceed said limit into a greater number of signal segments of a shorter duration, such that echo perception from the auscultation signal is reduced, said at least one output transducer reproducing said output signal.
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Specification