Method for operating a hearing aid system and hearing aid system

• US 7,020,296 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2001
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sivantos Gmbh (WS Audiology A/S)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Niederdränk, Torsten
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HUYEN D
• Application Number:
  US10/381,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20040013280A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,653 Days
• Field of Search: 381/23.1, 381/312, 381/314, 381/315, 381/317, 381/320, 381/321, 381/323, 381/92, 381/60
• US Class Current: 381/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/41 Detection or adaptation of hearing aid parameters or programs to listening situation, e.g. pub, forest
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/453 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/552 Binaural
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency

Abstract

In a hearing aid system having at least two hearing aid devices acoustic field characteristics are generated in the hearing aid devices and are transmitted between the hearing aid devices for adapting the signal processing units to different hearing situations. Both hearing aid devices are thus always operated in the same hearing program.

Claims

1. A method for operating a hearing aid system having a at least two hearing aid devices including a first hearing aid device and a second hearing aid device having a signal-processing unit adaptable to different hearing situations, and a signal path between said first and second hearing aid devices, said method comprising the steps of:

generating acoustic field characteristics of an acoustic field in said first hearing aid device and in said second hearing aid device;

transmitting the acoustic field characteristics generated in said first hearing aid device to said signal-processing unit of said second hearing aid device via said signal path; and

adapting the signal-processing unit of said second hearing aid device to said acoustic field dependent on said acoustic field characteristics generated in said first hearing aid device and said acoustic field characteristics generated in said second hearing aid device.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first hearing aid device has a signal-processing unit and comprising the additional steps of:

transmitting the acoustic field characteristics generated in said second hearing aid device to said signal-processing unit in said first hearing aid device via said signal path; and

adapting said signal-processing unit in said first hearing aid device to said acoustic field dependent on said acoustic field characteristics generated in said first hearing aid device and said acoustic field characteristics generated in said second hearing aid device.

3. A hearing aid system comprising:

a first hearing aid device having a signal analysis unit in which acoustic field characteristics of an acoustic field are determined;

a second hearing aid device, in communication with said first hearing aid device via a signal path, having a signal analysis unit for generating acoustic field characteristics of said acoustic field, and having a signal-processing unit;

said first hearing aid device transmitting the acoustic field characteristics determined in said signal analysis unit in said first hearing aid device to said signal-processing unit in said second hearing aid device, via said signal path; and

said signal-processing unit in said second hearing aid device being adapted to said acoustic field dependent on said acoustic field characteristics determined in said signal analysis unit of said first hearing aid device and said acoustic field characteristics determined in said signal analysis unit of said second hearing aid device.

4. A hearing aid system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said signal path comprises a transmission unit in said first hearing aid device and a reception unit in said second hearing aid device, for wireless signal transmission between said first hearing device and said second hearing aid device.

5. A hearing aid system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first hearing aid device comprises a signal-processing unit, and wherein said second hearing aid device transmits the acoustic field characteristics determined in said signal-processing unit of said second hearing aid device to said signal processing unit in said first hearing aid device via said signal path, and wherein said signal-processing unit in said first hearing aid device is adapted to said acoustic field dependent on said acoustic field characteristics determined in said signal analysis unit in said first hearing aid device and said acoustic field characteristics determined by said signal analysis unit in said second hearing aid device.

6. A hearing aid system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said signal path comprises a transmission/reception unit in said first hearing aid device and a transmission/reception unit in said second hearing aid device, for wireless signal transmission between said first and second hearing aid devices.

7. A hearing aid system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said first hearing aid device is a hearing aid adapted to be worn at a head, and wherein said second hearing aid device is an external processor unit.

8. A hearing aid system as claimed in claim 7 comprising a further hearing aid, identical to said first hearing aid device, adapted to be worn at said head, said hearing aid and said further hearing aid being in bi-directional communication with each other via a first signal path, and each of said hearing aid and said further hearing aid being in communication with said external processor unit via respective second and third signal paths.

9. A hearing aid system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said external processor unit comprises a remote control for at least one of said hearing aid and said further hearing aid.

10. A hearing aid system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first hearing aid device is a hearing aid adapted to be worn at a head, and wherein said second hearing aid device is an external processor unit.

11. A hearing aid system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said external processor unit comprises a remote control for said hearing aid.

12. A hearing aid system as claimed in claim 3 wherein at least one of said signal analysis unit in said first hearing aid device and said signal analysis unit in said second hearing aid device determines signal levels of acoustic signals of said acoustic field, as said acoustic field characteristics.

13. A hearing aid system as claimed in claim 3 wherein at least one of said signal analysis unit in said first hearing aid device and signal analysis unit in said second hearing aid device determines frequency spectra of acoustic signals of said acoustic field, as said acoustic field characteristics.

14. A hearing aid system as claimed in claim 3 wherein at least one of signal analysis unit in said first hearing aid device and said signal analysis unit in said second hearing aid device determines modulation levels of acoustic signals of said acoustic field, as said acoustic field characteristics.

15. A hearing aid system as claimed in claim 3 wherein at least one of said signal analysis unit in said first hearing aid device and said signal analysis unit in said second hearing aid device determines modulation depths of acoustic signals of said acoustic field as said acoustic field characteristics.

16. A hearing aid system as claimed in claim 3 wherein at least one of said signal analysis unit in said first hearing aid device and said signal analysis unit in said second hearing aid device determines noise components of acoustic signals of said acoustic field, as said acoustic field characteristics.

17. A hearing aid system as claimed in claim 3 wherein at least one of said signal analysis unit in said first hearing aid device and said signal analysis unit in said second hearing aid device determines spatial acoustic field characteristics of said acoustic field, as said acoustic field characteristics.

18. A hearing aid system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first hearing aid device transmits said acoustic field characteristics determined in said signal analysis unit of said first hearing aid device to said signal-processing unit in said second hearing aid device via said signal path, at periodic time intervals.

19. A hearing aid system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said signal-processing unit is adapted to said acoustic field by modifying parameters of a hearing program executed by said signal-processing unit.

20. A hearing aid system as claimed in claim 3 wherein at least one of said first hearing aid device and said second hearing aid device has an actuatable operating element, and wherein the transmission of said acoustic field characteristics from said first hearing aid device to said second hearing aid device ensues upon actuation of said operating element.