Binaural hearing system and method

• US 9,906,874 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2013
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cirrus Logic Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cirrus Logic Incorporated
• Inventors: Shilton, Anthony John
• Primary Examiner(s): Sniezek, Andrew L
• Application Number:
  US14/433,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20150256950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,607 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1083 Reduction of ambient noise active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/041 Adaptation of stereophonic signal reproduction for the hearing impaired
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2410/05 Noise reduction with a separate noise microphone
• 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 25/552 Binaural
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/005 for combining the signals of two or more microphones specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/027 Spatial or constructional arrangements of microphones, e.g. in dummy heads
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S

Abstract

A system (202) for binaural signal processing. A first speaker (210) and a second speaker (220) are respectively mounted proximal to, and deliver respective first and second acoustic signals to, the left and right ears of a user. A first microphone (212) and a second microphone (222) are respectively mounted proximal to the left and right ears. A binaural processing device receives signals from the microphones and, based on the microphone signals, determines the first and second acoustic signals. The binaural processing device operates at a distance from both the left and right ears of the user. The speakers, microphones and the binaural processing device are connected by a signal network.

Claims

1. A system for binaural signal processing, the system comprising:

a first speaker and a second speaker respectively configured to be mounted proximal to, and to deliver respective first and second acoustic signals to, left and right ears of a user;

a first microphone and a second microphone respectively configured to be mounted proximal to the left and right ears of the user; and

a binaural processing device for receiving signals from each of the first and second microphones and for defining each of the first and second acoustic signals based upon the signals from both of the first and second microphones, wherein sound captured at both ears is used to produce the first acoustic signal and sound captured at both ears is used to produce the second acoustic signal, wherein the binaural processing device being operable when distal from the left and right ears of the user;

wherein the first and second speakers, the first and second microphones and the binaural processing device are connected by a signal network configured to pass signals from the first and second microphones to the binaural processing device and from the binaural processing device to the speakers,

wherein the signal network comprises a single wire chained bus loop having a chained configuration in which data from upstream on the single wire chained bus loop is recovered by each of the first and second speakers and the first and second microphones and re-modulated downstream onto the single wire chained bus loop,

wherein the first and second speakers are positioned downstream of the binaural processing device on the single wire chained bus loop, and the first and second microphones are positioned downstream of the first and second speakers on the single wire chained bus loop, and wherein the binaural processing device operates as a network master and provides a master clock signal on the single wire chained bus loop for clock retrieval by other devices on the single wire chained bus loop.

2. The system of claim 1, when configured to implement a hearing aid.

3. The system of claim 1, when configured to implement an assisted listening device (ALD) or personal sound amplifier product (PSAP).

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the single wire chained bus loop is connected to the binaural processing device by a 3.5 mm jack.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the binaural processing device comprises one of:

a mobile telephone, smart phone, tablet computer, and e-reader.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein more than one microphone is provided at one or both ears.

7. A system for binaural signal processing according to claim 1 included in a telephone headset.

8. A system for binaural signal processing according to claim 1 included in an audio playback device.

9. A system for binaural signal processing according to claim 1 included in an audio recording device.

10. A system for binaural signal processing, the system comprising:

a first speaker and a second speaker respectively configured to be mounted proximal to, and to deliver respective first and second acoustic signals to, left and right ears of a user;

a first microphone and a second microphone respectively configured to be mounted proximal to the left and right ears of the user; and

a binaural processing device for receiving signals from each of the first and second microphones and for defining each of the first and second acoustic signals based upon the signals from both of the first and second microphones, wherein sound captured at both ears is used to produce the first acoustic signal and sound captured at both ears is used to produce the second acoustic signal, wherein the binaural processing device being operable when distal from the left and right ears of the user;

wherein the first and second speakers, the first and second microphones and the binaural processing device are connected by a signal network configured to pass signals from the first and second microphones to the binaural processing device and from the binaural processing device to the speakers,

wherein the signal network comprises a single wire chained bus loop having a chained configuration in which data from upstream on the single wire chained bus loop is recovered by each of the first and second speakers and the first and second microphones and re-modulated downstream onto the single wire chained bus loop, wherein the first and second speakers are positioned downstream of the binaural processing device on the single wire chained bus loop, and the first and second microphones are positioned downstream of the first and second speakers on the single wire chained bus loop, and

wherein the signal network supports multiple data channels to permit multiple devices to be sending or receiving simultaneously.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the binaural processing device operates as a network master and provides a master dock signal on the single wire chained bus loop for clock retrieval by other devices on the single wire chained bus loop.

12. The system of claim 10, when configured to implement a hearing aid.

13. The system of claim 10, when configured to implement an assisted listening device (ALD) or personal sound amplifier product (PSAP).

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the single wire chained bus loop is connected to the binaural processing device by a 3.5 mm jack.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the binaural processing device comprises one of:

a mobile telephone, smart phone, tablet computer, and e-reader.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein more than one microphone is provided at one or both ears.

17. A method for binaural signal processing, the method comprising:

obtaining a first microphone signal from a first microphone mounted proximal to a left ear of a user, and obtaining a second microphone signal from a second microphone mounted proximal to a right ear of the user;

a binaural processing device receiving each of the first and second microphone signals via a signal network and, based upon both of the first and second microphone signals, producing first and second output signals, wherein sound captured at both ears is used to produce the first acoustic signal and sound captured at both ears is used to produce the second acoustic signal, and wherein the binaural processing device being operable when distal from the left and right ears of the user; and

a first speaker and a second speaker, respectively mounted proximal to the left and right ears of the user, respectively receiving the first and second output signals from the binaural processing device via the signal network and delivering respective first and second acoustic signals to the left and right ears of the user,

wherein the signal network comprises a single wire chained bus loop having a chained configuration in which data from upstream on the single wire chained bus loop is recovered by each of the first and second speakers and the first and second microphones and re-modulated downstream onto the single wire chained bus loop,

wherein the first and second speakers are positioned downstream of the binaural processing device on the single wire chained bus loop, and the first and second microphones are positioned downstream of the first and second speakers on the single wire chained bus loop, and wherein the binaural processing device operates as a network master and provides a master clock signal on the single wire chained bus loop for clock retrieval by other devices on the single wire chained bus loop.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium for binaural signal processing, comprising instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes performance of the following:

obtaining a first microphone signal from a first microphone mounted proximal to a left ear of a user, and obtaining a second microphone signal from a second microphone mounted proximal to a right ear of the user;

a binaural processing device receiving each of the first and second microphone signals via a signal network and, based upon both of the first and second microphone signals, producing first and second output signals, wherein sound captured at both ears is used to produce the first acoustic signal and sound captured at both ears is used to produce the second acoustic signal, and wherein the binaural processing device being operable when distal from the left and right ears of the user; and

a first speaker and a second speaker, respectively mounted proximal to the left and right ears of the user, respectively receiving the first and second output signals from the binaural processing device via the signal network and delivering respective first and second acoustic signals to the left and right ears of the user,

wherein the signal network comprises a single wire chained bus loop having a chained configuration in which data from upstream on the single wire chained bus loop is recovered by each of the first and second speakers and the first and second microphones and re-modulated downstream onto the single wire chained bus loop,

wherein the first and second speakers are positioned downstream of the binaural processing device on the single wire chained bus loop, and the first and second microphones are positioned downstream of the first and second speakers on the single wire chained bus loop, and wherein the binaural processing device operates as a network master and provides a master clock signal on the single wire chained bus loop for clock retrieval by other devices on the single wire chained bus loop.

19. A method for binaural signal processing, the method comprising:

obtaining a first microphone signal from a first microphone mounted proximal to a left ear of a user, and obtaining a second microphone signal from a second microphone mounted proximal to a right ear of user;

a binaural processing device receiving each of the first and second microphone signals via a signal network and, based upon both of the first and second microphone signals, producing first and second output signals, whereby sound captured at both ears is used to produce the first output signal and sound captured at both ears is used to produce the second output signal, the binaural processing device being operable when distal from the left and right ears of the user; and

a first speaker and a second speaker, respectively mounted proximal to the left and right ears of the user, respectively receiving the first and second output signals from the binaural processing device via the signal network and delivering respective first and second acoustic signals to the left and right ears of the user,

wherein the signal network comprises a single wire chained bus loop having a chained configuration in which data from upstream on the single wire chained bus loop is recovered by each of the first and second speakers and the first and second microphones and re-modulated downstream onto the single wire chained bus loop, wherein the first and second speakers are positioned downstream of the binaural processing device on the single wire chained bus loop, and the first and second microphones are positioned downstream of the first and second speakers on the single wire chained bus loop, and wherein the signal network supports multiple data channels to permit multiple devices to be sending or receiving simultaneously.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium for binaural signal processing, comprising instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes performance of the following:

obtaining a first microphone signal from a first microphone mounted proximal to a left ear of a user, and obtaining a second microphone signal from a second microphone mounted proximal to a right ear of user;

a binaural processing device receiving each of the first and second microphone signals via a signal network and, based upon both of the first and second microphone signals, producing first and second output signals, whereby sound captured at both ears is used to produce the first output signal and sound captured at both ears is used to produce the second output signal, the binaural processing device being operable when distal from the left and right ears of the user; and

a first speaker and a second speaker, respectively mounted proximal to the left and right ears of the user, respectively receiving the first and second output signals from the binaural processing device via the signal network and delivering respective first and second acoustic signals to the left and right ears of the user, wherein the signal network comprises a single wire chained bus loop having a chained configuration in which data from upstream on the single wire chained bus loop is recovered by each of the first and second speakers and the first and second microphones and re-modulated downstream onto the single wire chained bus loop, wherein the first and second speakers are positioned downstream of the binaural processing device on the single wire chained bus loop, and the first and second microphones are positioned downstream of the first and second speakers on the single wire chained bus loop, and wherein the signal network supports multiple data channels to permit multiple devices to be sending or receiving simultaneously.