Method to operate a hearing device and arrangement with a hearing device

• US 7,457,426 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2002
• Issued: 11/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sonova AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Phonak AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Drtina, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Mei; Xu
• Application Number:
  US10/172,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20030231773A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,356 Days
• Field of Search: 381/23.1, 381312-313, 381/356, 381 17- 18, 381/26, 381/74, 381309-310, 704/231, 704/271
• US Class Current: 381/313
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/807 the desired condition being maintained automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/18 using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/407 Circuits for combining signals of a plurality of transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/505 using digital signal processing

Abstract

A hearing device has a transfer function adjustable by a set of parameters. The hearing device can have two microphones, a processing unit, and a speaker unit. A direction identification unit is operationally connected to the processing unit. Communication between a user of the hearing device and at least one reference person is ensured for changing positions of the user and/or the reference person. The transfer function is adjusted as a function of at least one current reference person direction by changing the set of parameters. The reference person direction encloses an angle with a reference plane of the user.

Claims

1. A method to operate a hearing device having a transfer function adjustable by a set of parameters, the communication between a hearing device user, having a reference plane, and at least a reference person is in particular ensured for changing positions of the hearing device user and/or of the reference person, the method comprising the step that the transfer function of the hearing device is adjusted in function of at least a current reference person direction by changing the parameter set of the transfer function, whereby the reference person direction encloses an angle with the reference plane of the hearing device user, whereas the reference person carries a user unit which emits a predefined reference signal, and a direction identification unit is provided in the hearing device for receiving the predefined reference signal, the reference person direction being determined in the hearing device on the basis of the direction-sensitive information of the direction identification unit.

2. A method to operate a hearing device having a transfer function adjustable by a set of parameters, the communication between a hearing device user, having a reference plane, and at least a reference person is in particular ensured for changing positions of the hearing device user and/or of the reference person, the method comprising the step that the transfer function of the hearing device is adjusted in function of at least a current reference person direction by changing the parameter set of the transfer function, whereby the reference person direction encloses an angle with the reference plane of the hearing device user, whereas a predefined stimulation signal is generated and emitted by the hearing device, which simulation signal excites a transponder unit provided in the vicinity of the reference person, the transponder unit generating a response signal after excitation, and a direction identification unit is being provided in the hearing device, which direction identification unit receives the response signal, and the desired reference person direction is being determined in the hearing device on the basis of the direction-sensitive information of the direction identification unit.

3. A method to operate a hearing device having a transfer function adjustable by a set of parameters, the communication between a hearing device user, having a reference plane, and at least a reference person is in particular ensured for changing positions of the hearing device user and/or of the reference person, the method comprising the step that the transfer function of the hearing device is adjusted in function of at least a current reference person direction by changing the parameter set of the transfer function, whereby the reference person direction encloses an angle with the reference plane of the hearing device user and the current reference person direction is determined by a Speaker Recognition Method, wherein the Speaker Recognition Method identifies the speaker and the speaker identification takes place over a single predefined codeword.

4. An arrangement with a hearing device with at least two microphones, a processing unit and a speaker unit, the microphones as well as the speaker unit are connected to the processing unit, whereas a direction identification unit is provided, which is operationally connected to the processing unit, whereas the direction identification unit comprises a receiver unit and whereas a reference person carries an emitter unit or is in the vicinity of the emitter unit, and further whereas the emitter unit generates a predefined reference signal that is receivable by the receiver unit,

wherein the hearing device includes a transfer function adjustable by a set of parameters and communication between a hearing device user, having a reference plane, and the reference person is ensured for changing positions of the hearing device user and/or of the reference person, and

wherein the transfer function of the hearing device is adjusted in function of at least a current reference person direction by changing the parameter set of the transfer function, whereby the reference person direction encloses an angle with the reference plane of the hearing device user, and further

wherein the reference person direction is determined in the hearing device based on direction-sensitive information of the direction identification unit.

5. The arrangement according to claim 4, whereas the direction identification unit is operationally connected to the microphones.

8. The arrangement as in any one of claims 4, 5, 6, and 7, whereas the direction identification unit is integrated into the hearing device.

9. The arrangement as in any one of claims 4, 5, 6, and 7, whereas the direction identification unit is detachably connected to the hearing device.

6. An arrangement with a hearing device with at least two microphones, a processing unit and a speaker unit, the microphones as well as the speaker unit are connected to the processing unit, whereas a direction identification unit is provided, which is operationally connected to the processing unit, whereas the direction identification unit comprises an emitter unit as well as a receiver unit and whereas a transponder unit is provided in the vicinity of a reference person,

wherein the hearing device includes a transfer function adjustable by a set of parameters and communication between a hearing device user, having a reference plane, and the reference person is ensured for changing positions of the hearing device user and/or of the reference person, and

wherein the transfer function of the hearing device is adjusted in function of at least a current reference person direction by changing the parameter set of the transfer function, whereby the reference person direction encloses an angle with the reference plane of the hearing device user, and

wherein the emitter unit emits a predefined stimulation signal which excites the transponder unit and the transponder unit generates a response signal after excitation, said response signal being received by the receiver unit of the direction identification unit, and further

wherein a desired reference person direction is determined in the hearing device based on direction-sensitive information of the direction identification unit.

7. The arrangement according to claim 6, whereas the direction identification unit is operationally connected to the microphones.

10. A method to operate a hearing device having a transfer function adjustable by a set of parameters, the communication between a hearing device user, having a reference plane, and at least a reference person is in particular ensured for changing positions of the hearing device user and/or of the reference person, the method comprising the step that the transfer function of the hearing device is adjusted in function of at least a current reference person direction by changing the parameter set of the transfer function, whereby the reference person direction encloses an angle with the reference plane of the hearing device user and the current reference person direction is determined by a Speaker Recognition Method,

wherein the Speaker Recognition Method includes the steps of recognizing a word spoken by the current reference person and identifying the current reference person.