Method of programming a communication device and a programmable communication device

• US 7,340,231 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2002
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oticon A/S (William Demant Fonden)
• Original Assignee: Oticon A/S (William Demant Fonden)
• Inventors: Lunner, Thomas, Elberling, Claus, Behrens, Thomas, Nielsen, Claus
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehrpour; Naghmeh
• Application Number:
  US10/491,332
• Publication Number:
  US 20040208326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,992 Days
• Field of Search: 381/92, 381/95, 381/122, 381/56, 381/312, 381/58, 381/60, 381/68.2, 381/68.4, 381/23.1, 381/314, 381/317, 381/320, 434/307.A, 434308-318, 434/319, 844/77.R, 846/00, 84609-610, 846/34, 704/209, 704/261, 735/85, 600/559, 455/92, 455/95, 455/58, 455/60, 455/312, 455/68.2, 455/68.4, 455/23.1, 455/314, 455/317, 455/320, 455/177.1, 455/355, 455/200.1, 455/219, 455/340, 455/68, 455/23
• US Class Current: 455/173.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/10 Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones H04R1/28 takes precedence; stereophonic headphones H04R5/033
• 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 2225/43 Signal processing in hearing aids to enhance the speech intelligibility
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Abstract

In the method according to the invention the communication device has a microphone and a signal path leading from the microphone to a speaker, where the signal path comprises a programmable signal processing unit. According to the method the user is given control in a training session over one or more signal processing parameters within the signal processing unit. In the training session the user listens to the sound of his or her own voice transmitted through the communication device, and adjusts the one or more signal processing parameters until he or she is satisfied with the sound quality of his/her own voice. The values of the signal processing parameters chosen by the user during the training session are stored in a storing means within the device, and the programmable signal processing automatically uses the stored parameter when detection means within the unit detects the users own voice.

Claims

1. A method of programming a communication device which includes a microphone, a speaker and a signal path that extends from the microphone to the speaker and which includes a programmable signal processing unit, said method comprising the steps of:

a. conducting a training session wherein a user listens to his or her own voice through the communication device and adjusts at least one signal processing parameter of the programmable signal processing unit so that the sound quality of his or her voice is deemed satisfactory, and

b. storing a value of each signal processing parameter obtained in step (a) in a storing means for automatic use when the programmable signal processing unit detects the user'"'"'s voice passing through the signal path.

2. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal processing parameters, which are controlled by the user during the training session, comprise one or more of the following:

overall level, pitch, spectral shape, spectral comparison of auto correlation and auto-correlation of predictor coefficients, spectral coefficients, prosodic features and modulation metrics.

3. Method as claimed in claim 1, including an input channel which is connected to detection means in order to detect when the user'"'"'s own voice is active.

4. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detection of the user'"'"'s own voice is accomplished by use of a means for generating and storing a first set of descriptive parameters of the signal from the microphone during user vocalization and means for generating a further set of descriptive parameters during normal use of the communication device and use of a means for comparing the further set of descriptive parameters with the first set of stored descriptive parameter in order to decide whether the signal from the microphone comprises sounds originating from the user'"'"'s voice.

5. Method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the descriptive parameters comprises the energy content of low and high frequency bands.

6. Communication and listening device for use in the method according to claim 1 with a microphone and a signal path leading from the microphone to a speaker, where the signal path comprises a programmable signal processing unit whereby the communication device further comprises:

detection means associated with the signal path for detecting when a signal in the signal path contains sounds originating from the user'"'"'s voice;

means for storing at least one user-chosen parameter set of the program for controlling the processing unit, and

means for applying the user-chosen parameter set for the program for controlling the signal processing unit when sounds originating from the user'"'"'s voice are detected.

7. Communication and listening device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the detection means for detecting when the signal in the signal path contains signals originating from the user'"'"'s voice comprises:

means for generating and storing a first set of descriptive parameters of the signal from the microphone during user vocalization;

means for generating a further set of descriptive parameters during normal use of the communication device; and

means for comparing the further set of descriptive parameters with the first set of stored descriptive parameters in order to decide whether the signal from the microphone comprises sounds originating from the user'"'"'s voice.

8. Communication and listening device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the descriptive parameters comprise one or more of the following:

overall level, pitch, spectral shape, spectral comparison of auto-correlation and auto-correlation of predictor coefficients, prosodic features, modulation metrics and activity on a further input channel caused by vocal activity.