Systems and methods of telecommunication for bilateral hearing instruments

• US 9,473,859 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2014
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Burns, Thomas Howard, Helgeson, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): HUBER, PAUL W
• Application Number:
  US14/276,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20150334493A1
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/023 Completely in the canal [CIC] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/025 In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/456 mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/552 Binaural

Abstract

Disclosed herein, among other things, are systems and methods for improved telecommunication for hearing instruments. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a hearing assistance method. The method includes receiving a first signal from a first hearing assistance device, receiving a second signal from a second hearing assistance device, and processing the first signal and the second signal to produce an output signal for use in telecommunication. In various embodiments, processing the first signal and the second signal includes comparing the first signal and the second signal, and selecting one or more of the first hearing assistance device and the second hearing assistance device for use in telecommunication based on the comparison. According to various embodiments, processing the first signal and the second signal includes combining the first signal and the second signal algorithmically to produce the output signal.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a first signal from a first hearing assistance device, the first signal including an indication of noise and gain of the first hearing assistance device and generated using information from a first microphone and a first vibration sensor of the first hearing assistance device;

receiving a second signal from a second hearing assistance device, the second signal including an indication of noise and gain of the second hearing assistance device and generated using information from a second microphone and a second vibration sensor of the second hearing assistance device; and

processing the first signal and the second signal, including comparing own voice signals from the first and second hearing assistance device and using the comparison to control processing of the first and second signals to produce an output signal for use in telecommunication.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the first signal and the second signal includes:

comparing the first signal and the second signal; and

selecting one or more of the first hearing assistance device and the second hearing assistance device for use in telecommunication based on the comparison.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the first signal and the second signal includes combining the first signal and the second signal algorithmically to produce the output signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first signal includes a power spectral estimate of ambient noise from the first microphone.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first hearing assistance device includes a first receiver, and wherein the first signal includes an open loop gain between the first receiver and the first vibration sensor.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first signal includes an open loop gain between the first microphone and the first receiver.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first vibration sensor includes a mechanical vibration sensor (MVS).

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second signal includes a power spectral estimate of ambient noise from the second microphone.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second hearing assistance device includes a second receiver, and wherein the second signal includes an open loop gain between the second receiver and the second vibration sensor.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second signal includes an open loop gain between the second microphone and the second receiver.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the second vibration sensor includes a mechanical vibration sensor (MVS).

12. The method of claim 2, wherein selecting one or more of the first hearing assistance device and the second hearing assistance device for use in telecommunication includes using one or more of a monaural, diotic or dichotic signal.

13. A hearing assistance system, comprising:

a first hearing assistance device including a first microphone and a first vibration sensor;

a second hearing assistance device including a second microphone and a second vibration sensor;

a processor configured to;

receive a first signal from the first hearing assistance device, the first signal including an indication of noise and gain of the first hearing assistance device and generated using information from the first microphone and the first vibration sensor;

receive a second signal from the second hearing assistance device, the second signal including an indication of noise and gain of the second hearing assistance device and generated using information from the second microphone and the second vibration sensor; and

process the first signal and the second signal, including comparing own voice signals from the first and second hearing assistance device and using the comparison to control processing of the first and second signals to produce an output signal for use in telecommunication.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to:

compare the first signal and the second signal; and

select one or more of the first hearing assistance device and the second hearing assistance device for use in telecommunication based on the comparison.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to combine the first signal and the second signal algorithmically to produce the output signal.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor includes a digital signal processor (DSP).

17. The system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first hearing assistance device and the second hearing assistance device includes a hearing aid.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the hearing aid includes an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the hearing aid includes a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the hearing aid includes an in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aid.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the hearing aid includes a receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aid.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the hearing aid includes a completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aid.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the hearing aid includes a receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) hearing aid.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the hearing aid includes an invisible-in-canal (IIC) hearing aid.