Method for the adjustment of a hearing device, apparatus to do it and a hearing device

• US 7,231,055 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2001
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sonova AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Phonak AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Bachler, Herbert, Uvacek, Bohumir
• Primary Examiner(s): Pendleton; Brian T.
• Application Number:
  US09/999,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20020051549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,057 Days
• Field of Search: 381/312, 381/314, 381/60, 381/323
• US Class Current: 381/312
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/03 Synergistic effects of band splitting and sub-band processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/505 using digital signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Abstract

An adjustment method for a hearing device and an apparatus to do it are proposed, by which a model for the perception of a psycho-acoustic variable, especially of the loudness, is parametrized for a standard group of individuals (L_N) as well as for an individual (L_I). On grounds of model differences, especially in relation to their parametrization, the adjustment values are determined, whereas the signal transmission is planned or adjusted at a hearing device (HG) ex situ or is guided in situ, respectively.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a hearing device which is adapted to an individual comprising:

providing a model modeling a psycho-acoustic perception variable from acoustic signals;

setting said model so that said psycho-acoustic perception variable as modeled is at least substantially equal to said psycho-acoustic perception variable as perceived by a standard individual;

further setting said model so that said psycho-acoustic perception variable as modeled is at least substantially equal to said psycho-acoustic perception variable as perceived by said individual;

providing an adjusting apparatus separate from said hearing device and setting said adjusting apparatus as a function of said setting and of said further setting;

operationally connecting an input of said adjusting apparatus to an output of an input converter of said hearing device; and

adjusting a transmission between said output of said input converter and an input of an output converter of said hearing device as a function of an output of said adjusting apparatus, wherein

said model is provided at said hearing device, feeding a signal dependent on an output signal of said input converter to said model as set and feeding a signal dependent of an input signal to said output converter of said hearing device to said model as further set.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing at said hearing device said model twice, one with said setting, one with said further setting and feeding signals dependent, from output signals of said models as set and as further set to said adjusting apparatus.

3. A hearing device comprising

an input converter;

an output converter;

a signal processing unit interconnected between an output of said input converter and an input of said output converter, said processing unit comprising control inputs;

an adjusting apparatus, one input thereof being operationally connected to the output of said input converter, a further input thereof being operationally connected to the input of said output converter, the output of said adjusting unit being operationally connected to said control inputs.

4. The hearing device of claim 3, further comprising .

a first calculation unit interconnected between said output of said input converter and an input of said adjusting apparatus;

a second calculation unit, an input thereof being operationally connected to said input of said output converter, the output thereof being operationally connected to said further input of said adjusting apparatus.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein said processing unit comprises frequency-selective parallel channels.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein said processing unit comprises frequency-selective parallel channels, the inputs thereof being operationally connected to said output of said input converter, the outputs thereof being operationally connected to an adding unit, the output of said adding unit being operationally connected to said input of said output converter.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein at least a part of said channels comprise non-linear amplification units with control inputs operationally connected to the output of said adjusting apparatus.

8. A method for manufacturing a hearing device which is adapted to an individual, comprising:

manufacturing a hearing device generating a first electric signal dependent from acoustic input signals to said hearing device and generating a second electric signal dependent from an output signal of said hearing device;

providing a model modeling a psycho-acoustic perception variable from signals representing acoustic signals;

setting said model so that said psycho-acoustic perception variable as modeled is at least substantially equal to said psycho-acoustic perception variable as perceived by a standard individual;

Further setting said model so that said psycho-acoustic perception variable as modeled is at least substantially equal to said psycho-acoustic perception variable as perceived by said individual;

Subjecting said first electric signal to said model as set, thereby generating a first model result;

Subjecting said second electric signal to said model as further set thereby generating a second model result;

Adjusting signal transmission between said input and said output signals of said hearing device as a function of said first and second model results.

9. The method of claim 8, providing said model in said hearing device.

10. The method of claim 9, further providing, in said hearing device, said model twice, one with said setting, one with said further setting.

11. The method of claim 8, thereby adjusting said transmission comprising adjusting transmission of frequency-selective parallel channels.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of adjusting transmission of said channels non-linearly.

13. A method for manufacturing a hearing device which is adapted to an individual comprising:

providing a model modeling a psycho-acoustic perception variable from acoustic signals;

setting said model so that said psycho-acoustic perception variable as modeled is at least substantially equal to said psycho-acoustic perception variable as perceived by a standard individual;

further setting said model so that said psycho-acoustic perception variable as modeled is at least substantially equal to said psycho-acoustic perception variable as perceived by said individual;

providing an adjusting apparatus and setting said adjusting apparatus as a function of said setting and of said further setting;

operationally connecting an input of said adjusting apparatus to an output of an input converter of said hearing device;

operationally connecting another input of said adjusting apparatus to an input of an output converter of said hearing device; and

adjusting a transmission between said output of said input converter and an input of an output converter of said hearing device as a function of an output of said adjusting apparatus.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said adjusting apparatus is separate from said hearing device.

15. The method of claim 13, further providing said model at said hearing device, feeding a signal dependent of an output signal of said input converter to said model as set and feeding a signal dependent of an input signal to said output converter of said hearing device to said model as further set.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing at said hearing device said model twice, one with said setting, one with said further setting and feeding signals dependent from output signals of said models as set and as further set to said adjusting apparatus.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing said transmission by frequency-selective parallel channels and performing said adjusting at said channels.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of performing said adjusting at said channels non-linearly.