Method and apparatus for own-voice sensing in a hearing assistance device

• US 9,900,710 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2015
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Burns, Thomas Howard, Jensen, Lars Tuborg
• Primary Examiner(s): Elahee, Md S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Diaz, Sabrina
• Application Number:
  US14/720,036
• Publication Number:
  US 20150334492A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 381150, 381151, 381374, 381312, 381328, 381326, 381322, 381318
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/38 in which sound waves act upon both sides of a diaphragm and incorporating acoustic phase-shifting means, e.g. pressure-gradient microphone
• 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 2225/43 Signal processing in hearing aids to enhance the speech intelligibility
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2410/05 Noise reduction with a separate noise microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/00 Deaf-aid sets , i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception electrical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N1/36038; optical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N5/0622
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/453 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/48 using constructional means for obtaining a desired frequency response H04R25/652 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/60 Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles ear wax retarders, e.g. mounting thereof H04R25/654
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/603 of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/604 of acoustic or vibrational transducers

Abstract

Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for own-voice sensing in hearing assistance devices. One aspect of the present subject matter includes an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing assistance device adapted to process sounds, including sounds from a wearer'"'"'s mouth. According to various embodiments, the device includes a hollow plastic housing adapted to be worn in the ear of the wearer and a differential sensor mounted to an interior surface of the housing in an ear canal of the wearer. The differential sensor includes inlets located within the housing and the differential sensor is configured to improve speech intelligibility of sounds from the wearer'"'"'s mouth, in various embodiments.

Claims

1. A hearing assistance device adapted to process sounds, including sounds from a wearer'"'"'s mouth, comprising:

a hollow plastic housing adapted to be worn in an ear of the wearer; and

a differential electret microphone enclosed in a microphone enclosure located within the housing, the microphone enclosure mounted to an interior surface of the housing and configured to amplify bone-conducted vibration in selected frequency regions to improve speech intelligibility of sounds from the wearer'"'"'s mouth, wherein the housing includes a portion configured to resonate and enhance output of the differential electret microphone in the selected frequency regions.

2. The hearing assistance device of claim 1, wherein the differential electret microphone is configured to amplify and enhance the microphone'"'"'s bone-conduction response in Speech Intelligibility Index (SII) weighted frequency bands.

3. The hearing assistance device of claim 1, wherein the microphone enclosure is configured to be mounted directly to the housing.

4. The hearing assistance device of claim 1 wherein the microphone enclosure is configured to be mounted indirectly to the housing.

5. The hearing assistance device of claim 1, wherein the differential electret microphone and the microphone enclosure are configured to be placed in an elastomeric sleeve, the sleeve having a resonance frequency configured to enhance frequency response of the differential electret microphone.

6. The hearing assistance device of claim 1, wherein the portion of the housing includes a barrier window at an eartip proximate to a medial ear canal air cavity.

7. The hearing assistance device of claim 6, wherein the barrier window includes a plastic material that has a thickness less than a thickness of the housing.

8. The hearing assistance device of claim 1, wherein the portion of the housing includes a barrier window located on a side of the housing proximate to but not flush against ear canal skin.

9. The hearing assistance device of claim 1, wherein the portion of the housing includes a barrier window, and wherein the differential electret microphone is integrated onto the barrier window.

10. The hearing assistance device of claim 1, wherein the hearing assistance device includes a hearing aid.

11. The hearing assistance device of claim 10, wherein the hearing aid includes an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid.

12. The hearing assistance device of claim 10, wherein the hearing aid includes an in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aid.

13. The hearing assistance device of claim 10, wherein the hearing aid includes a receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aid.

14. The hearing assistance device of claim 10, wherein the hearing aid includes a completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aid.

15. The hearing assistance device of claim 10, wherein the hearing aid includes a receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) hearing aid.

16. A method of making a hearing assistance device for a wearer, the method comprising:

mounting a differential electret microphone to an interior surface of a housing of the device, the differential electret microphone enclosed in a microphone enclosure located within the housing, wherein the differential electret microphone is configured to amplify bone-conducted vibration in selected frequency regions to improve speech intelligibility of sounds from the wearer'"'"'s mouth, wherein the housing includes a portion configured to resonate and enhance output of the differential electret microphone in the selected frequency regions.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein mounting the differential electret microphone includes using a mounting suspension stiffness configured to resonate with the differential electret microphone so as to amplify and enhance the microphone'"'"'s bone-conduction response in Speech Intelligibility Index (SII) weighted frequency bands.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein mounting the differential electret microphone includes mounting the microphone enclosure directly to the housing.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein mounting the differential electret microphone includes mounting the microphone enclosure indirectly to the housing.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein mounting the differential electret microphone includes placing the differential electret microphone and the microphone enclosure in an elastomeric sleeve, the sleeve having a resonance frequency configured to enhance frequency response of the differential electret microphone.