Method and apparatus for detecting user activities from within a hearing assistance device using a vibration sensor
First Claim
1. A hearing assistance device configured to be worn by a user having an ear canal, comprising:
- a microphone configured to receive sound and produce a sound signal relating to the received sound;
a sensor configured to sense user activities and produce a sensor signal relating to the user activities;
a signal processor coupled to the microphone and the sensor, the signal processor configured to determine correlations each between the sensor signal and a signature of predetermined signatures characterizing types of the user activities, detect the types of the user activities using the correlations, and process the sound signal using an outcome of the detection; and
an earmold shell housing at least the signal processor.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present subject matter relates to method and apparatus for processing sound by a hearing assistance device. In one example, the present subject matter is an apparatus for processing sound for a hearing assistance device, comprising: a microphone adapted for reception of the sound and to create a sound signal relating to the sound; a transducer that produces an output voltage related to motion; a signal processor, connected to the microphone and the transducer, the signal processor adapted to process the sound signal and the output voltage, the signal processor performing a vibration detection algorithm adapted to adjust hearing assistance device settings for a detected activity; and a housing adapted to house the signal processor.
38 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A hearing assistance device configured to be worn by a user having an ear canal, comprising:
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a microphone configured to receive sound and produce a sound signal relating to the received sound; a sensor configured to sense user activities and produce a sensor signal relating to the user activities; a signal processor coupled to the microphone and the sensor, the signal processor configured to determine correlations each between the sensor signal and a signature of predetermined signatures characterizing types of the user activities, detect the types of the user activities using the correlations, and process the sound signal using an outcome of the detection; and an earmold shell housing at least the signal processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for operating a hearing assistance device, comprising:
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receiving a sound using a microphone of the hearing assistance device; sensing a vibration signal indicative of user activities using a transducer of the hearing assistance device; detecting types of the user activities using the vibration signal and predetermined signatures each characterizing a type of the types of the user activities; and processing the received sound using an outcome of the detection of the types of the user activities, wherein the detecting and the processing are performed by a signal processor housed in an earmold shell of the hearing assistance device. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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15. A method for operating a hearing assistance device, comprising:
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receiving a sound using a microphone; sensing a vibration signal indicative of user activities using a transducer; detecting types of the user activities using the vibration signal and predetermined signatures each characterizing a type of the types of the user activities; and processing the received sound using an outcome of the detection of the types of the user activities, wherein detecting the types of the user activities comprises; computing a squared correlation coefficient representing a relationship between the vibration signal and each signature of the predetermined signatures; and comparing the squared correlation coefficient to a detection threshold for detecting the type of user activity characterized by the each signature. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification