EP1198973A2 - Device for adapting at least one acoustic hearing aid - Google Patents

Device for adapting at least one acoustic hearing aid

Info

Publication number
EP1198973A2
EP1198973A2 EP99932594A EP99932594A EP1198973A2 EP 1198973 A2 EP1198973 A2 EP 1198973A2 EP 99932594 A EP99932594 A EP 99932594A EP 99932594 A EP99932594 A EP 99932594A EP 1198973 A2 EP1198973 A2 EP 1198973A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
unit
hearing aid
interface unit
interface
computing unit
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP99932594A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1198973B1 (en
Inventor
Herbert Baechler
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sonova Holding AG
Original Assignee
Phonak AG
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Phonak AG filed Critical Phonak AG
Publication of EP1198973A2 publication Critical patent/EP1198973A2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1198973B1 publication Critical patent/EP1198973B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/70—Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a system for adapting at least one hearing aid according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • Hearing aid technology is increasingly moving towards digitally processing audio signals.
  • the transmission of audio signals to an electrical / mechanical output coupler of the hearing aid is ultimately carried out by means of a digital signal processor unit.
  • the transmission behavior of the hearing aid between the acoustic / electrical input transducer and the electrical / mechanical output transducer is created on the signal processor unit in such a way that individual hearing impairments are largely eliminated by the hearing aid.
  • the coarse tuning is usually carried out on the basis of diagnostic data, such as from audio programs. On the basis of such data, a first adjustment of at least some of the transmission parameters is carried out on the hearing aid or even the hearing aid type is selected.
  • the fine-tuning is then carried out in situ.
  • an individual to whom one or two hearing aids are to be fitted is equipped with the hearing aids to be tuned and test audio signals are exposed. It will Individuals are encouraged to report the audio impression to the test signals, so the parameters are fine-tuned on the hearing aid.
  • the individual is verbally assessed to a specialist, such as a hearing care professional.
  • a specialist such as a hearing care professional.
  • he gives inputs to the adaptation unit on an input unit, usually a computer keyboard.
  • this determines or calculates manipulated variables for electronic units on the hearing aid, which are transmitted from the adaptation computing unit to the hearing aid via the aforementioned communication connection.
  • Digital hearing aids are increasingly being adapted according to psychoacoustic nutritional parameters, namely loudness.
  • EP-A-0 661 905 corresponding to US application 08/720 748 by the same applicant as the present application. It explains, for example, how the psychoacoustic perception size of loudness can be evaluated by an individual on a scaled basis and how a computing unit sets transmission parameters on the hearing aid in accordance with the stimulus response for the specific critical frequency bands of human hearing.
  • This procedure is described in detail in the mentioned document and is only of importance for the present invention in that it explains, for example, how an adaptive computing unit determines parameters of the transmission behavior on the hearing aid based on the individual's scaled loudness information.
  • X shows the configuration of a system known today for the in-situ adaptation of one or - in the binaural case - two hearing aids.
  • the manipulating computing unit 1 transmits the manipulated variables determined by the digital process unit 3 to the hearing aid 7 worn by the individual I, where they lead to fine-tuning parameters relevant to transmission.
  • the individual I is subjected to acoustic test signals T and reacts by scaling the perceived stimulus using an evaluation unit 9.
  • the scaling result is transmitted to an interface unit 11 on the adaptation computing unit 1.
  • the arithmetic unit 3 calculates the fine-tuning of the parameters from these evaluation signals R and usually from the experience of the previous experience.
  • the present invention relates to the communication link between the adapting computing unit 1, the hearing aid 7 and the evaluation unit 9. It has the goal of significantly simplifying the system, as is shown schematically in FIG. 1.
  • the system of the type mentioned above is characterized by the characterizing part of claim 1. Accordingly, the first interface unit for outputting signals to at least one hearing device that can be connected to it, and the second interface unit for receiving individual audio stimulus reaction signals, are implemented by one and the same interface unit.
  • the highest safety requirements are imposed on electromedical interfaces via which electrical signals are transmitted in situ to devices, which leads to complex interfaces, for example with galvanic signal separation.
  • the evaluation unit 9 should also be viewed critically, although less critically than at the ear, so that by combining the two interfaces according to the invention, the well-known advantage is achieved that with one and the same interface, both are designed to be relatively complex for the electro-medical safety requirements Devices, namely hearing aid and evaluation input unit, are optimally filtered.
  • the interface used according to the invention is a bidirectional interface, that is to say that signals originating from the computing unit must be output as well as signals must be routed to the computing unit.
  • the interface unit provided according to the invention is designed as an IC interface unit and the communication connections on the one hand to the at least one hearing aid, and on the other hand to the evaluation input unit as a two-line IC bus.
  • This two-wire control bus technology is widely known and is currently marketed by the Philipps company.
  • the communication link can also be established, for example, via I 2 S interfaces, also sold by the Philipps company, in particular if further developed for two-way communication, as is described in detail in WO99 / 13699 by the same applicant as the present application.
  • an evaluation input unit for audio stimulus reaction signals preferably in the form of a keypad or a voice input unit, is provided on the system, in a ready-to-use constellation, the evaluation input unit being connectable to the interface unit.
  • the interface unit provided according to the invention designed as a branching unit, at least with one connection to the adaptation computing unit, one to an evaluation input unit and one to the at least one hearing aid.
  • the communication between the provided interface unit and hearing aid or evaluation input unit takes place in a wired or wireless manner, for which purpose, on the hearing device side, a receiver stage, on the part of the evaluation input unit at least one transmitter and, accordingly, transmitter and receiver must be provided on the interface unit.
  • FIG. 1 shows a system according to the invention.
  • a single interface unit 13 is provided for communication both with the evaluation input unit 9 and with the hearing aid 7, which communicates in two directions with the computing unit 3 in the adapting computing unit 1 and by means of which either the evaluation input unit 9 is released for writing data to the computing unit 3 or the computing unit 3 for outputting data to the hearing aid 7.
  • the interface unit 13 provided in accordance with the invention can in principle be placed anywhere near the computing unit 3, but - as the preferred embodiment according to FIG. 2 shows - is designed as a branching unit 15.
  • communication takes place between the interface unit 13 and the evaluation input unit 9 and between the interface unit 13 and hearing aids, K 15/9 or K ls / 7 according to FIG. 2,
  • the interface unit 13 is at least as an I 2 C interface, as far as the communication with said units 7 and 9 is concerned.
  • Corresponding I 2 C interfaces are provided on the units 9 and 7.
  • all of the communication connections K mentioned, including those between the interface unit 13 and the computing unit 3, can be implemented wirelessly, individually or in combination, for which purpose corresponding transmitter / receiver devices (not shown) on the units 1, 15, 9 and 7 are to be provided.
  • the interface unit 13 is controlled by the computing unit 3 in order to establish the sequential communication between the evaluation input unit 9 and the computing unit 3 or the computing unit 3 and the hearing aid 7.

Abstract

The invention relates to a unit for adapting acoustic hearing aids. Said unit comprises a first interface unit for outputting signals to an acoustic hearing aid (7), and comprises a second interface unit for receiving individual audio-stimulant reaction signals (9) via one and the same interface unit (13).

Description

Anlage zur Anpassung mindestens eines HörgerätesSystem for adapting at least one hearing aid
Die vorliegende Erfindung betrifft eine Anlage zur Anpassung mindestens eines Hörgerätes nach dem Oberbegriff von Anspruch 1.The present invention relates to a system for adapting at least one hearing aid according to the preamble of claim 1.
In der Hörgeräte-Technologie geht man mehr und mehr dazu über, die Audiosignale digital zu verarbeiten. Mittels einer digitalen Signalprozessoreinheit wird die Übertragung von Audiosignalen letztendlich auf einen elektrisch/mechanischen Ausgangs- koppler des Hörgerätes vorgenommen. Das Obertragungsverhalten des Hörgerätes zwischen akustisch/elektrischem Eingangs- und elektrisch/mechanischem Ausgangswandler wird an der Signalprozessoreinheit so erstellt, dass individuelle Gehörinsuffizienzen durch das Hörgerät weitestgehend behoben werden.Hearing aid technology is increasingly moving towards digitally processing audio signals. The transmission of audio signals to an electrical / mechanical output coupler of the hearing aid is ultimately carried out by means of a digital signal processor unit. The transmission behavior of the hearing aid between the acoustic / electrical input transducer and the electrical / mechanical output transducer is created on the signal processor unit in such a way that individual hearing impairments are largely eliminated by the hearing aid.
Damit versteht sich praktisch von selbst, dass optimaler Nutzen aus derartigen Hörgeräten nur dann gezogen werden kann, wenn - üblicherweise in Schritten - erst eine Grobabstimmung, dann aber eine In-situ-Feinabstimmung des Hörgerätes erfolgt, bei welcher die Übertragungsparameter am Hörgerät den individuellen Bedürfnissen angepasst werden.This practically goes without saying that optimum benefit from such hearing aids can only be obtained if - usually in steps - there is first a rough adjustment, but then an in-situ fine-tuning of the hearing aid, in which the transmission parameters on the hearing aid meet the individual needs be adjusted.
Üblicherweise erfolgt die Grobabstimmung anhand diagnostischer Daten, wie von Audiogrammen. Anhand solcher Daten wird eine erste Abstimmung mindestens eines Teils der Übertragungsparameter am Hörgerät vorgenommen oder erst gar der Hδrgerätetyp selek- tioniert .The coarse tuning is usually carried out on the basis of diagnostic data, such as from audio programs. On the basis of such data, a first adjustment of at least some of the transmission parameters is carried out on the hearing aid or even the hearing aid type is selected.
Anschliessend wird die Feinabstimmung in Situ vorgenommen.The fine-tuning is then carried out in situ.
Grundsätzlich wird dabei ein Individuum, an welches ein oder zwei Hörgeräte anzupassen sind, mit den abzustimmenden Hörgeräten ausgerüstet und Prüfaudiosignalen ausgesetzt . Es wird das Individuum angehalten, den Audioeindruck auf die TestSignale zu rapportieren, dementsprechend wird die Parameter-Feinabstimmung am Hörgerät vorgenommen.Basically, an individual to whom one or two hearing aids are to be fitted is equipped with the hearing aids to be tuned and test audio signals are exposed. It will Individuals are encouraged to report the audio impression to the test signals, so the parameters are fine-tuned on the hearing aid.
Es ist nun ohne weiteres ersichtlich, dass eine manuelle Fein- abstimmung der Übertragungsparameter an den Hörgeräten, am Ohr des Individuums, manuell - wie durch Potentiometer-Bedienung - nicht machbar ist. Deshalb wird an den Hörgeräten dieser Art, über eine entsprechende Schnittstelle, eine Kommunikationsverbindung zu einer Anpass-Recheneinheit erstellt, und zwar primär mit der Kommunikationsrichtung "Rechner zu Hörgerät".It is now readily apparent that manual fine-tuning of the transmission parameters on the hearing aids, on the ear of the individual, manually - as by potentiometer operation - is not feasible. Therefore, on the hearing aids of this type, a communication connection to an adapting computing unit is established via a corresponding interface, primarily with the communication direction "computer to hearing aid".
Im einfachsten Fall, nicht aber im bedienungsoptimalsten, erfolgt nach einem Audioprüfsignal mündlich die Bewertung des Individuums an eine Fachperson, wie an einen Hörgeräte-Akustiker . Nach entsprechender Umsetzung gibt er an einer Eingabeeinheit, üblicherweise einer Rechnertastatur, Eingaben an die Anpass-In the simplest case, but not in the most user-friendly way, after an audio test signal, the individual is verbally assessed to a specialist, such as a hearing care professional. After appropriate implementation, he gives inputs to the adaptation unit on an input unit, usually a computer keyboard.
Recheneinheit ein. Diese bestimmt bzw. errechnet daraus Stell- grδssen für elektronische Einheiten am Hörgerät, welche via die erwähnte Kommunikationsverbindung von der Anpass-Recheneinheit ans Hörgerät übermittelt werden.Computing unit. From this, this determines or calculates manipulated variables for electronic units on the hearing aid, which are transmitted from the adaptation computing unit to the hearing aid via the aforementioned communication connection.
Aufrund der mündlichen Übermittlung der individuellen Reaktion auf auditive Testsignale hin, Umsetzung in quantifizierte Eingaben an die Anpass-Recheneinheit, erfordert diese Arbeit bestens ausgebildetes Fachpersonal .Based on the oral communication of the individual reaction to auditory test signals, implementation in quantified inputs to the adaptation computing unit, this work requires well-trained specialist personnel.
Um dieses Problem zu beheben und die Abstimmungsprozedur in Si- tu auch für das betroffene Individuum kürzestmöglich und so rationell wie möglich zu gestalten, ist man dazu übergegangen, die individuellen Reaktionen zu standardisieren und sie nicht über den Hδrgerätespezialisten der Anpass-Recheneinheit zu übermitteln, sondern direkt. Hierzu werden Eingabeeinheiten eingesetzt mit einfachen Tastaturfeldern, die es dem Individuum erlauben, beispielsweise entsprechend einer Skala, die gehörten Audiotestsignale zu bewerten. Diese Eingabeeinheit kommuniziert direkt mit der Anpass-Recheneinheit .In order to remedy this problem and to make the voting procedure in situ as short as possible and as rational as possible for the individual concerned, it has become common practice to standardize the individual reactions and not to transmit them via the hearing aid specialist to the adaptation computing unit, but instead directly. For this purpose, input units used with simple keyboard fields that allow the individual to evaluate the audio test signals heard, for example on a scale. This input unit communicates directly with the adaptation computing unit.
Die Anpassung digitaler Hörgeräte erfolgt dabei zunehmend nach psychoakustischen ahrnehrnungsgrössen, nämlich der Lautheit. Diesbezüglich wird auf die EP-A-0 661 905 entsprechend der US- Anmeldung 08/720 748 der gleichen Anmelderin wie vorliegender Anmeldung verwiesen. Darin ist beispielsweise erläutert, wie die psychoakustische ahrnehmungsgrösse Lautheit von einem Individuum skaliert bewertet werden kann und wie eine Recheneinheit entsprechend der Reiz-Reaktion, für die spezifischen kritischen Frequenzbänder des menschlichen Gehörs, Übertragungsparameter am Hörgerät setzt. Dieses Vorgehen ist in der erwähnten Schrift ausführlich beschrieben und nur insofern für die vorliegende Erfindung von Bedeutung, als dass damit beispielsweise erläutert wird, wie eine Anpass-Recheneinheit, aufgrund skalierter Lautheitsangaben vom Individuum, Parameter des Übertragungsverhaltens am Hörgerät ermittelt.Digital hearing aids are increasingly being adapted according to psychoacoustic nutritional parameters, namely loudness. In this regard, reference is made to EP-A-0 661 905 corresponding to US application 08/720 748 by the same applicant as the present application. It explains, for example, how the psychoacoustic perception size of loudness can be evaluated by an individual on a scaled basis and how a computing unit sets transmission parameters on the hearing aid in accordance with the stimulus response for the specific critical frequency bands of human hearing. This procedure is described in detail in the mentioned document and is only of importance for the present invention in that it explains, for example, how an adaptive computing unit determines parameters of the transmission behavior on the hearing aid based on the individual's scaled loudness information.
In Fig. X ist die heute bekannte Konfiguration einer Anlage dargestellt für die In-Situ-Anpassung eines oder - im binaura- len Fall - zweier Hörgeräte. Sie umfasst einerseits eine An- pass-Recheneinheit 1 mit einer digitalen Recheneinheit 3. Über eine Schnittstelle 5 werden von der Anpass-Recheneinheit 1 die von der digitalen Prozesseinheit 3 ermittelten Stellgrössen an das vom Individuum I getragene Hörgerät 7 übermittelt und führen dort zur Feinabstimmung von übertragungsrelevanten Parametern. Wie schematisch dargestellt, wird das Individuum I akustischen Testsignalen T unterworfen und reagiert durch Skalie- rung des wahrgenommenen Reizes mittels einer Bewertungseinheit 9. Das Skalierungsresultat wird einer Schnittstellen-Einheit 11 an der Anpass-Recheneinheit 1 übermittelt. Es berechnet die Recheneinheit 3 aus diesen Bewertungssignalen R und üblicherweise der vorerfahrenen Abstimmungsgeschichte die Parameterfeinab- Stimmung.X shows the configuration of a system known today for the in-situ adaptation of one or - in the binaural case - two hearing aids. On the one hand, it comprises an adapting computing unit 1 with a digital computing unit 3. Via an interface 5, the manipulating computing unit 1 transmits the manipulated variables determined by the digital process unit 3 to the hearing aid 7 worn by the individual I, where they lead to fine-tuning parameters relevant to transmission. As shown schematically, the individual I is subjected to acoustic test signals T and reacts by scaling the perceived stimulus using an evaluation unit 9. The scaling result is transmitted to an interface unit 11 on the adaptation computing unit 1. The arithmetic unit 3 calculates the fine-tuning of the parameters from these evaluation signals R and usually from the experience of the previous experience.
Die vorliegende Erfindung betrifft die Kommunikationsverbindung zwischen Anpass-Recheneinheit 1, Hörgerät 7 und Bewertungseinheit 9. Sie setzt sich zum Ziel, die Anlage, wie sie schematisch in Fig. 1 dargestellt ist, wesentlich zu vereinfachen. Zu diesem Zweck zeichnet sich die Anlage eingangs genannter Art nach dem Kennzeichen von Anspruch 1 aus . Demnach wird die erste Schnittstellen-Einheit zur Ausgabe von Signalen an mindestens ein daran anschliessbares Hörgerät sowie die zweite Schnittstellen-Einheit zur Aufnahme von individuellen Audioreiz- Reaktionssignalen durch ein und dieselbe Schnittstellen-Einheit realisiert.The present invention relates to the communication link between the adapting computing unit 1, the hearing aid 7 and the evaluation unit 9. It has the goal of significantly simplifying the system, as is shown schematically in FIG. 1. For this purpose, the system of the type mentioned above is characterized by the characterizing part of claim 1. Accordingly, the first interface unit for outputting signals to at least one hearing device that can be connected to it, and the second interface unit for receiving individual audio stimulus reaction signals, are implemented by one and the same interface unit.
Bekanntlich werden an elektromedizinische Schnittstellen, über welche elektrische Signale, in Situ, an Geräte übertragen werden, höchste Sicherheitsanforderungen gestellt, was zu aufwen- digen Schnittstellen, z.B. mit galvanischer Signaltrennung, führt. Wenn auch weniger kritisch als am Ohr, ist auch die Bewertungseinheit 9 unter diesem Gesichtspunkt kritisch zu betrachten, so dass durch erfindungsgemässen Zusammenzug der beiden Schnittstellen der namhafte Vorteil erwirkt wird, dass mit ein und derselben Schnittstelle - relativ aufwendig für die elektromedizinischen Sicherheitsanforderungen ausgelegt - beide Geräte, nämlich Hörgerät und Bewertungs-Eingabeeinheit, optimal abgesiehert sind. Die erfindungsgemäss eingesetzte Schnittstelle ist eine bidirektionale Schnittstelle, d.h. es müssen sowohl Signale von der Recheneinheit stammend ausgegeben wie auch Signale an die Recheneinheit geleitet werden.As is known, the highest safety requirements are imposed on electromedical interfaces via which electrical signals are transmitted in situ to devices, which leads to complex interfaces, for example with galvanic signal separation. From this point of view, the evaluation unit 9 should also be viewed critically, although less critically than at the ear, so that by combining the two interfaces according to the invention, the well-known advantage is achieved that with one and the same interface, both are designed to be relatively complex for the electro-medical safety requirements Devices, namely hearing aid and evaluation input unit, are optimally filtered. The interface used according to the invention is a bidirectional interface, that is to say that signals originating from the computing unit must be output as well as signals must be routed to the computing unit.
In einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform wird die erfindungsgemäss vorgesehene Schnittstellen-Einheit als IC-Schnittstellen-Ein- heit ausgelegt und die Kommunikationsverbindungen einerseits zum mindestens einen Hörgerät, anderseits zur Bewertungs-Einga- beeinheit als Zweileitungs-IC-Bus. Diese Zweidraht-Kontroll- bus-Technologie ist verbreitet bekannt und wird zur Zeit von der Firma Philipps vertrieben.In a preferred embodiment, the interface unit provided according to the invention is designed as an IC interface unit and the communication connections on the one hand to the at least one hearing aid, and on the other hand to the evaluation input unit as a two-line IC bus. This two-wire control bus technology is widely known and is currently marketed by the Philipps company.
Die Kommunikationsverbindung kann aber auch z.B. über ebenfalls von der Firma Philipps vertriebene I2S-Schnittstellen erfolgen, insbesondere, wenn für Zweiweg-Kommunikation weiterentwickelt, wie dies in der W099/13699 derselben Anmelderin wie vorliegende Anmeldung ausführlich beschrieben ist.However, the communication link can also be established, for example, via I 2 S interfaces, also sold by the Philipps company, in particular if further developed for two-way communication, as is described in detail in WO99 / 13699 by the same applicant as the present application.
Dem Wortlaut von Anspruch 3 folgend, ist an der Anlage, in betriebsbereiter Konstellation, eine Bewertungs-Eingabeeinheit vorgesehen für Audioreiz-Reaktionssignale, vorzugsweise in Form eines Tastenfeldes oder einer Spracheingabe-Einheit, wobei die Bewertungs-Eingabeeinheit mit der Schnittstellen-Einheit verbindbar ist.Following the wording of claim 3, an evaluation input unit for audio stimulus reaction signals, preferably in the form of a keypad or a voice input unit, is provided on the system, in a ready-to-use constellation, the evaluation input unit being connectable to the interface unit.
Obwohl es durchaus möglich ist, die erfindungsgemäss vorgesehene Schnittstellen-Einheit physisch innerhalb der Anpass- Recheneinheit vorzusehen, mit je einem physischen Anschluss für das mindestens eine Hörgerät und einem Anschluss für die Bewertungs-Eingabeeinheit, wird in einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform die erfindungsgemäss vorgesehene Schnittstellen-Einheit als Verzweigungseinheit ausgebildet, mindestens mit einem Anschluss zur Anpass-Recheneinheit , einem zu einer Bewertungs- Eingabeeinheit und einem zu dem mindestens einen Hörgerät .Although it is entirely possible to physically provide the interface unit provided according to the invention within the adaptation computing unit, each with a physical connection for the at least one hearing aid and a connection for the evaluation input unit, in a preferred embodiment the interface unit provided according to the invention designed as a branching unit, at least with one connection to the adaptation computing unit, one to an evaluation input unit and one to the at least one hearing aid.
Im weiteren erfolgt die Kommunikation zwischen der einen vorgesehenen Schnittstellen-Einheit und Hörgerät bzw. Bewertungs- Eingabeeinheit drahtgebunden oder drahtlos, wozu dann, Hδrgerä- te-seitig, eine Empfängerstufe, seitens der Bewertungs-Eingabeeinheit mindestens ein Sender und, entsprechend, Sender und Empfänger an der Schnittstellen-Einheit vorzusehen sind.Furthermore, the communication between the provided interface unit and hearing aid or evaluation input unit takes place in a wired or wireless manner, for which purpose, on the hearing device side, a receiver stage, on the part of the evaluation input unit at least one transmitter and, accordingly, transmitter and receiver must be provided on the interface unit.
Die Erfindung wird anschliessend anhand einer weiteren Figur erläutert. Diese zeigt, ausgehend von der Darstellung gemass Figur 1, eine erfindungsgemässe Anlage.The invention is subsequently explained on the basis of a further figure. Starting from the illustration according to FIG. 1, this shows a system according to the invention.
Darin sind für die bereits anhand von Fig. 1 erläuterten Teile dieselben Bezugszeichen verwendet.The same reference numerals are used therein for the parts already explained with reference to FIG. 1.
Erfindungsgemäss ist für die Kommunikation sowohl mit der Be- wertungs-Eingabeeinheit 9 wie auch mit dem Hörgerät 7 eine einzige Schnittstellen-Einheit 13 vorgesehen, die mit der Recheneinheit 3 in der Anpass-Recheneinheit 1 zweirichtungskommuni- ziert und mittels welcher entweder die Bewertungs-Eingabeeinheit 9 zum Schreiben von Daten zur Recheneinheit 3 freigege- ben wird oder die Recheneinheit 3 zum Ausgeben von Daten an das Hörgerät 7.According to the invention, a single interface unit 13 is provided for communication both with the evaluation input unit 9 and with the hearing aid 7, which communicates in two directions with the computing unit 3 in the adapting computing unit 1 and by means of which either the evaluation input unit 9 is released for writing data to the computing unit 3 or the computing unit 3 for outputting data to the hearing aid 7.
Wie für den Fachmann aus Fig. 2 ohne weiteres ersichtlich, kann die erfindungsgemäss vorgesehene Schnittstellen-Einheit 13 grundsätzlich beliebig nahe an die Recheneinheit 3 gelegt wer- den, wird aber - wie die bevorzugte Ausführungsform nach Fig. 2 zeigt - als Verzweigungseinheit 15 ausgebildet . An einem ersten Anschluss 153 kommuniziert sie mit der Recheneinheit 3, an einem zweiten 159 mit der Bewertungs-Eingabeeinheit 9 und über einen dritten 15- mit dem Hörgerät 7. In weiter bevorzugter Ausführungsform erfolgt die Kommunikation zwischen Schnittstellen-Einheit 13 und Bewertungs-Eingabeeinheit 9 sowie zwischen Schnittstellen-Einheit 13 und Hörgeräten, K15/9 bzw. Kls/7 gemass Fig. 2, über I2C-Busverbindungen, die Schnittstellen-Einheit 13 ist, mindestens, was die Kommunikation mit besagten Einheiten 7 und 9 anbelangt, als I2C-Schnittstelle ausgebildet. Entsprechende I2C-Schnittstellen sind an den Einheiten 9 und 7 vorgesehen.As is readily apparent to the person skilled in the art from FIG. 2, the interface unit 13 provided in accordance with the invention can in principle be placed anywhere near the computing unit 3, but - as the preferred embodiment according to FIG. 2 shows - is designed as a branching unit 15. At a first connection 15 3 to communicate with the processor 3, to a second 15 9 with the evaluation input unit 9 and a third 15 with the hearing aid 7. In a further preferred embodiment, communication takes place between the interface unit 13 and the evaluation input unit 9 and between the interface unit 13 and hearing aids, K 15/9 or K ls / 7 according to FIG. 2, Via I 2 C bus connections, the interface unit 13 is at least as an I 2 C interface, as far as the communication with said units 7 and 9 is concerned. Corresponding I 2 C interfaces are provided on the units 9 and 7.
Es versteht sich aber von selbst, dass alle erwähnten Kommunikationsverbindungen K, inklusive diejenige zwischen Schnittstellen-Einheit 13 und Recheneinheit 3, drahtlos realisiert werden können, einzeln oder in Kombination, wozu entsprechende Sender/Empfänger-Einrichtungen (nicht dargestellt) an den Ein- heiten 1, 15, 9 bzw. 7 vorzusehen sind. Von der Recheneinheit 3 aus wird die Schnittstellen-Einheit 13 gesteuert, um zeitsequentiell die Kommunikation zwischen Bewertungs-Eingabeeinheit 9 und Recheneinheit 3 bzw. Recheneinheit 3 und Hörgerät 7 zu erstellen. However, it goes without saying that all of the communication connections K mentioned, including those between the interface unit 13 and the computing unit 3, can be implemented wirelessly, individually or in combination, for which purpose corresponding transmitter / receiver devices (not shown) on the units 1, 15, 9 and 7 are to be provided. The interface unit 13 is controlled by the computing unit 3 in order to establish the sequential communication between the evaluation input unit 9 and the computing unit 3 or the computing unit 3 and the hearing aid 7.

Claims

Patentansprüche: Claims:
1. Anlage zur Anpassung mindestens eines Hörgerätes an die Bedürfnisse eines Individuums mit1. System for adapting at least one hearing aid to the needs of an individual with
• einer Anpass-Recheneinheit (1) , daran• an adaptation computing unit (1), on it
- einer ersten Schnittstellen-Einheit zur Ausgabe von Signalen an mindestens ein daran anschliessbares Hörgerät (7) ,a first interface unit for outputting signals to at least one hearing device (7) that can be connected to it,
- eine zweite Schnittstellen-Einheit zur Aufnahme von individuellen Audioreiz-Reaktionssignalen,a second interface unit for recording individual audio stimulus reaction signals,
- einer Recheneinheit (3) , welche in Funktion von Eingaben an die zweite Schnittstellen-Einheit Ausgaben an die erste berechnet,- a computing unit (3) which calculates outputs to the first as a function of inputs to the second interface unit,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die erste und zweite Schnittstellen-Einheit durch ein und dieselbe Schnittstellen-Einheit (13) gebildet sind, welche Schnittstellen-Einheit (13) eine Zwei- richtungs-Kommunikationseinheit ist.characterized in that the first and second interface units are formed by one and the same interface unit (13), which interface unit (13) is a bidirectional communication unit.
2. Anlage nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Schnittstellen-Einheit (13) eine I2C-Schnittstellen-Einheit ist.2. Plant according to claim 1, characterized in that the interface unit (13) is an I 2 C interface unit.
3. Anlage nach einem der Ansprüche 1 oder 2 , dadurch gekenn- zeichnet, dass eine Bewertungs-Eingabeeinheit (9) vorgesehen ist für Audioreiz-Reaktionssignale, vorzugsweise in Form eines Tastenfeldes oder einer Spracheingabeeinheit, wobei die Bewertungs-Eingabeeinheit mit der Schnittstellen-Einheit (13) verbindbar ist.3. System according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that an evaluation input unit (9) is provided for audio stimulus reaction signals, preferably in the form of a keypad or a voice input unit, the evaluation input unit with the interface unit (13) is connectable.
4. Anlage nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Schnittstellen-Einheit als Verzweigungsein- heit ausgebildet ist, mindestens mit einem Anschluss zur An- pass-Recheneinheit , einem zu einer Bewertungs-Eingabeeinheit und einem zu dem mindestens einen Hörgerät .4. Plant according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the interface unit as a branching unit is formed, at least with a connection to the matching computing unit, one to an evaluation input unit and one to the at least one hearing aid.
5. Anlage nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, dadurch gekenn- zeichnet, dass die Kommunikationsverbindung zwischen Hörgerät und/oder einer Eingabeeinheit und Anpass-Recheneinheit (1) mindestens abschnittsweise drahtlos erfolgt. 5. System according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the communication link between the hearing aid and / or an input unit and adaptation computing unit (1) is wireless at least in sections.
EP99932594A 1999-07-29 1999-07-29 Device for adapting at least one acoustic hearing aid Expired - Lifetime EP1198973B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

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PCT/CH1999/000355 WO1999049715A2 (en) 1999-07-29 1999-07-29 Device for adapting at least one acoustic hearing aid

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EP (1) EP1198973B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2002541683A (en)
CN (1) CN1359605A (en)
AU (1) AU4893799A (en)
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US7006646B1 (en) 2006-02-28
WO1999049715A2 (en) 1999-10-07
AU4893799A (en) 1999-10-18
CN1359605A (en) 2002-07-17
EP1198973B1 (en) 2003-06-18
DK1198973T3 (en) 2003-10-06
JP2002541683A (en) 2002-12-03
CA2380436A1 (en) 1999-10-07
WO1999049715A3 (en) 2000-07-06
DE59906049D1 (en) 2003-07-24

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