Hearing aid with active noise canceling

• US 7,590,254 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2004
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oticon A/S (William Demant Fonden)
• Original Assignee: Oticon A/S (William Demant Fonden)
• Inventors: Olsen, Jes
• Primary Examiner(s): Ensey; Brian
• Application Number:
  US10/580,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20070172087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,762 Days
• Field of Search: 381/23.1, 381/71.6, 381/312, 381/317, 381/328, 381/380
• US Class Current: 381/328
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17821 characterised by the analysis of the input signals only
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/1783 handling or detecting of non-standard events or conditions, e.g. changing operating modes under specific operating conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17857 Geometric disposition, e.g. placement of microphones
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17881 the reference signal being an acoustic signal, e.g. recorded with a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17885 additionally using a desired external signal, e.g. pass-through audio such as music or speech
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/1081 Earphones, e.g. for telephones, ear protectors or headsets
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/025 In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/407 Circuits for combining signals of a plurality of transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/453 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/005 for combining the signals of two or more microphones specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

The invention relates to a hearing aid comprising a signal path with an input transducer, a signal processor and an output transducer, the signal processor being adapted to produce a compensation signal capable of at least partly attenuating acoustic signals bypassing the signal path and entering the ear canal.

Claims

1. A hearing aid comprising:

an open fitting to reduce occlusion;

a signal path with an external input transducer;

a wireless receiver or a direct audio input receiver providing an auxiliary electric input to the signal path;

an attenuation portion that attenuates the external input transducer signal or switches it off;

at least one internal input transducer that obtains a sound signal within the ear canal, said internal transducer being connected to said signal path;

a signal processor that produces a compensation signal that at least partly attenuates acoustic signals bypassing the signal path and entering the ear canal; and

an output transducer that produces an output audio signal based on said compensation signal.

2. A hearing aid according to claim 1, the signal processor further comprising a switch that activates generation of the compensation signal when said auxiliary input is provided.

3. A hearing aid according to claim 2, where the switch is automatically activated upon receiving the auxiliary input.

4. A hearing aid according to claim 1, the hearing aid having at least one significant opening in the hearing aid or an ear mould or around a tubing leading into the ear canal.

5. A hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver is a telecoil receiver that receives magnetically transmitted signals, or a radio frequency receiver.

6. A hearing aid according to claim 1, where said signal processor produces said compensation signal based on the sound signal within the ear canal obtained by the internal input transducer.

7. A hearing aid according to claim 1, where said signal processor produces said compensation signal based on input to said external input transducer.