Configurable hearing instrument

• US 9,560,458 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2013
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oticon A/S (William Demant Fonden)
• Original Assignee: Oticon A/S (William Demant Fonden)
• Inventors: Lunner, Thomas, Pontoppidan, Niels Henrik
• Primary Examiner(s): Weare, Meredith
• Application Number:
  US14/103,399
• Publication Number:
  US 20140169596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/372 Analysis of electroencephalograms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/374 Detecting the frequency distribution of signals, e.g. detecting delta, theta, alpha, beta or gamma waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/41 Detection or adaptation of hearing aid parameters or programs to listening situation, e.g. pub, forest
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/61 Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/603 of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Abstract

A system for operating a hearing instrument is disclosed. The system comprises one or more electrodes for measuring the brain wave signals of a user wearing a hearing instrument. The electrodes are placed on the scalp of the user. Based on the measured brain wave signals, a detecting unit is configured to detect a relaxation state of the hearing instrument. A controller sets the hearing instrument to a relaxation mode setting in response to the detection of the relaxation state of the user.

Claims

1. A signal processing system, comprising:

one or more electroencephalography electrodes configured to be disposed on a scalp and/or in an ear canal and/or implanted in the head of a user to measure brain wave signals of the user wearing a hearing instrument;

a detecting unit configured to determine whether a majority of the measured brain wave signals of the user are in alpha frequency range; and

a controller configured to set the hearing instrument to a relaxation mode setting in response to the determination that the majority of the measured brain wave signals of the user are in the alpha frequency range.

2. The signal processing system of claim 1, wherein the one or more electrodes are disposed on a surface of the hearing instrument.

3. The signal processing system of claim 1, wherein the one or more electrodes are located outside of the hearing instrument and communicatively coupled to the hearing instrument.

4. The signal processing system of claim 1, wherein:

the detecting unit is further configured to detect an active state of the user, based on the measured brain wave signals; and

in response to detection of the active state of the user, the controller is further configured to set the hearing instrument to an active mode setting.

5. The signal processing system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to set the hearing instrument to an active mode setting in response to a user action.

6. The signal processing system of claim 1, wherein the relaxation mode setting comprises at least a reduced gain setting and/or a low pass filter setting.

7. The signal processing system of claim 6, wherein the relaxation mode setting comprises a low pass filter setting.

8. The signal processing system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to generate a tinnitus masking sequence when the controller sets the hearing instrument to the relaxation mode setting.

9. A method for selecting a setting of a hearing instrument, the method comprising:

measuring, using one or more electrodes, brain wave signals of a user wearing a hearing instrument;

determining whether a majority of the measured brain wave signals of the user are in alpha frequency range; and

setting the hearing instrument to a relaxation mode setting in response to the determination that the majority of the measured brain wave signals of the user are in the alpha frequency range.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the brain wave signals are measured using one of electroencephalography and magnetoencephalography.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

analyzing the measured brain wave signals to detect an active state of the user; and

set the hearing instrument to an active mode setting in response to the detection of the active state of the user.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

setting the hearing instrument to the active mode setting in response to a user action.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the relaxation mode setting comprises at least a reduced gain setting and/or a low pass filter setting.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the relaxation mode setting comprises a low pass filter setting.

15. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

generating a tinnitus masking sequence when the hearing instrument is set to the relaxation mode setting.

16. A hearing instrument, comprising:

one or more electroencephalography electrodes configured to be disposed on a scalp of a user to measure brain wave signals of the user wearing the hearing instrument;

a detecting unit configured to determine whether a majority of the measured brain wave signals of the user are in alpha frequency range; and

a controller configured to set the hearing instrument to a relaxation mode setting in response to the determination that the majority of the measured brain wave signals of the user are in the alpha frequency range.

17. The hearing instrument of claim 16, wherein the hearing instrument is one of a in the ear hearing instrument or behind the ear hearing instrument.

18. The hearing instrument of claim 16, wherein the relaxation mode setting comprises at least a reduced gain setting and/or a low pass filter setting.

19. The hearing instrument of claim 18, wherein the relaxation mode setting comprises a low pass filter setting.

20. The hearing instrument according to claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to generate a tinnitus masking sequence when the controller sets the hearing instrument to the relaxation mode setting.