EP0054450A1 - Hearing aid devices - Google Patents

Hearing aid devices Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0054450A1
EP0054450A1 EP19810401782 EP81401782A EP0054450A1 EP 0054450 A1 EP0054450 A1 EP 0054450A1 EP 19810401782 EP19810401782 EP 19810401782 EP 81401782 A EP81401782 A EP 81401782A EP 0054450 A1 EP0054450 A1 EP 0054450A1
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bands
frequency
approximately
amplitude
image
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EP19810401782
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0054450B1 (en
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Jean-Claude Lafon
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    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04RLOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/35Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception using translation techniques
    • H04R25/353Frequency, e.g. frequency shift or compression

Definitions

  • the invention is intended for hearing aid devices, devices intended to remedy deafness by enabling deaf people to understand human speech, and it relates more particularly, but not exclusively, among these devices, those intended to remedy insufficiency hearing impairment of severely affected deaf or "deep deaf” deaf people by making speech intelligible to them.
  • the deep deaf perceive only the sounds whose amplitude is sufficiently high and whose frequency is relatively low and generally located in the range of frequencies between 20 and 1000 Hz, range which will be designated hereinafter by the expression "spectrum audible by the deaf”.
  • Prosthesis devices based on this principle give great satisfaction and allow to solve, to a certain extent, the problem of deep deafness.
  • the above formula amounts to transforming the acoustic components having frequencies 2000 and 3000 Hz respectively into strictly identical information. , to know in two identical fractions and superimposed of the same grave sound of transposition.
  • the main object of the present invention is to remedy this loss of information.
  • the hearing aid devices of the above type according to the invention are characterized in that they comprise means for transposing the different sections, of the overall acoustic signal received at each instant, contained respectively in the different useful bands, in as many slices of images situated in the spectrum audible by the deaf and constituting respectively faithful images amplified in amplitude, but compressed and reduced in frequency, of said slices, the amplitude modulation of each image being similar to that of the slice corresponding, but the frequency at each point of this image being equal to a fraction 1 / n of the frequency at the corresponding point of said section and the reduction rate n being a number greater than 1, preferably an integer, which is the same for all the points of a given slice and in that the time constant adopted for the sampling of the amplitude envelope, of each slice, intended to modulate the amplitude of the corresponding image slice is between 0.8 and 1.2 ms.
  • the invention includes, apart from these main provisions, certain other provisions which are preferably used at the same time and which will be more explicitly discussed below.
  • Figure 1 is a gra phique to explain an application of the invention to a hearing aid for the deaf.
  • FIG. 2 is a graph relating to a variant application of the invention concerning the treatment of less deep deafness than the previous one.
  • these signals are of two types, developed respectively from the information sound mations contained respectively in two useful bands C and D of the spectrum inaudible to the deaf.
  • band C these two bands are here those comprised respectively between 1500 and 2400 Hz (band C) and between 4800 and 6000 Hz (band D).
  • the first image slice c 1 corresponds to a faithful image of the slice CI but amplified in amplitude and "compressed in frequency" with a reduction rate of 3.
  • this image c l has an amplitude modulation similar to that of the slice C 1 that it reproduces, but at each of the points m of this image, the amplitude is higher and the frequency f is equal to a third. from frequency F to the corresponding point M of said section C 1 .
  • the image c 1 corresponds to the slice C 1 amplified in amplitude and divided by three in frequency.
  • this image c 1 As for the amplitude modulation of this image c 1 , it is carried out from the envelope of the amplitude of the signal slice C 1 and this envelope is taken with a time constant of less than 1 , 2 ms: in other words, the vibrational quality of the por tions of original acoustic signals, the periodicity of which is less than 1.2 ms, that is to say the laryngeal vibrations of these portions, which are characteristic of the height of the human voice.
  • time constant in question is given a value between 0.8 and 1.2 ms.
  • the constant time is similarly chosen for the various amplifications, for the same reason as above.
  • the image d 1 is formed from the signal slice D 1 by means of an amplification of amplitude and a frequency division of the latter, but here by the factor 6 .
  • the amplified sound message thus reconstructed is reveals to be very rich in information and particularly suitable for understanding human speech.
  • the graph of FIG. 1 - just like that of FIG. 2 - is only a diagram making it possible to explain the frequency divisions carried out according to the invention: the bands c and d are not hatched on this diagram only to distinguish them from other bands; it is also for the sake of distinction that they have been given a higher amplitude than that of the other bands.
  • the amplitudes of the image signals c 1 and d should not be counted from the x-axis, but from the amplitudes of the signals (not shown) which are directly received in the corresponding range. between 500 and 1000 Hz, the two amplitudes considered overlapping.
  • each fraction of a slice corresponding to one of the defined sub-bands is transformed above in a coded train of pulses the number of which is linked to the frequency of said fraction, then a certain number of these pulses are suppressed (namely n-1 over n, if one wishes to ensure a division by the factor n) and finally an amplification is carried out as in the previous case of a signal whose reduced frequency is linked to the number of remaining pulses.
  • FIG. 2 The embodiment shown schematically in FIG. 2 is based on the same principles as the previous schematized in FIG. 1.
  • This second embodiment differs from the previous one in that the number of useful bands of the spectrum inaudible to the deaf is here equal to 3 and no longer to 2 and in that the reduced-frequency images reconstructed from the signal slices included in these three useful bands occupy here the frequency band between 600 and 2000 Hz.
  • the three image bands r, s and t corresponding respectively to the three image slices follow one another in the frequency band between 600 Hz and 2000 Hz without overlapping.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Neurosurgery (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Stereophonic System (AREA)

Abstract

1. Hearing aid device comprising means for taking bands of acoustic signals (C,D,R,S,T) contained respectively in various bands of useful frequencies which are in the range inaudible to the deaf, and for transposing them into acoustic signals the amplitude of which is sufficient and the frequency is in the audible range for deaf persons, characterised in that the means are arranged so as to give to the latter signals the form of image bands (c,d,r,s,t) of the above mentioned bands (C,D,R,S,T), constituting respectively images of the said bands faithfully amplified in amplitude, but condensed and reduced in frequency, the modulation of amplitude of each image band being similar to that of the corresponding band, but the frequency at each point of this image band being equal to a fraction 1/n of the frequency at the corresponding point of the said band and the rate of reduction n being a number greater than 1, preferably a whole number, which is the same for all the points of a given band, in that the different image bands (c,d,r,s,t) are arranged together stepwise in the spectrum audible to the deaf person, which arrangement corresponds to different rates of reduction n for different image bands and also in that the spacing period adopted for the taking of the amplitude envelope of each band, in order to modulate the amplitude of the corresponding image band, is between 0.8 and 1.2 ms.

Description

L'invention est destinée aux dispositifs de prothèse auditive, dispositifs destinés à porter remède aux surdités en permettant aux sourds de comprendre la parole humaine, et elle concerne plus particulièrement, mais non exclusivement, parmi ces dispositifs, ceux destinés à remédier à l'insuffisance de capacité auditive des sourds gravement atteints ou "sourds profonds" en leur rendant intelligible ladite parole.The invention is intended for hearing aid devices, devices intended to remedy deafness by enabling deaf people to understand human speech, and it relates more particularly, but not exclusively, among these devices, those intended to remedy insufficiency hearing impairment of severely affected deaf or "deep deaf" deaf people by making speech intelligible to them.

On rappelle que les sourds profonds perçoivent uniquement les sons dont l'amplitude est suffisamment élevée et dont la fréquence est relativement basse et généralement située dans la gamme des fréquences comprises entre 20 et 1000 Hz, gamme qui sera désignée dans la suite par l'expression "spectre audible par le sourd".It is recalled that the deep deaf perceive only the sounds whose amplitude is sufficiently high and whose frequency is relatively low and generally located in the range of frequencies between 20 and 1000 Hz, range which will be designated hereinafter by the expression "spectrum audible by the deaf".

Pour fournir à ces sourds des informations auditives relatives au reste de la gamme des fréquences correspondant à la parole humaine, c'est-à-dire de 1000 à 7000 ou 8000 Hz, il a été proposé de transformer en sons graves, audibles par ces sourds, les sons aigus correspondant audit reste de la gamme, lequel reste sera désigné dans la suite par l'expression "spectre inaudible aux sourds".To provide these deaf people with hearing information relating to the rest of the range of frequencies corresponding to human speech, that is to say from 1000 to 7000 or 8000 Hz, it has been proposed to transform into low-pitched sounds, audible by these deaf, the high sounds corresponding to said rest of the range, which remain will be designated in the following by the expression "spectrum inaudible to deaf".

Pour atteindre ce but, le demandeur a lui-même proposé une solution intéressante dans son brevet France n° 1 382 916.To achieve this goal, the applicant himself proposed an interesting solution in his French patent No. 1,382,916.

Cette solution est basée sur la découverte qu'il n'est pas indispensable, pour la compréhension de la parole humaine, de connaître la totalité des informations contenues dans le spectre inaudible aux sourds : il suffit à cet effet de prélever les informations acoustiques situées dans certaines bandes de ce spectre ne couvrant au total qu'une partie de celui-ci, bandes dites ci-après "bandes utiles".This solution is based on the discovery that it is not essential, for the understanding of human speech, to know all the information contained in the spectrum inaudible to deaf people: it suffices for this purpose to take the acoustic information located in certain bands of this spectrum do not cover in total only part of it, bands hereinafter called "useful bands".

Dans son brevet ci-dessus, le demandeur a proposé à cet effet de transposer les portions, des sons reçus, dont les fréquences sont comprises dans deux bandes utiles distinctes du spectre inaudible aux sourds en les remplaçant respectivement par deux sons graves de fréquence unique modulés respectivement par les courbes enveloppes des amplitudes des deux dites portions, chacun de ces deux sons graves de transposition pouvant être un son pur sinusoïdal.In his patent above, the applicant has proposed for this purpose to transpose the portions of the received sounds, the frequencies of which are included in two useful bands distinct from the spectrum inaudible to deaf people by replacing them respectively by two low frequency single modulated sounds respectively by the envelope curves of the amplitudes of the two said portions, each of these two serious transposition sounds possibly being a pure sinusoidal sound.

Les dispositifs de prothèse basés sur ce principe donnent de grandes satisfactions et permettent de résoudre, dans une certaine mesure, le problème de la surdité profonde.Prosthesis devices based on this principle give great satisfaction and allow to solve, to a certain extent, the problem of deep deafness.

Mais le demandeur a constaté qu'il était possible d'améliorer encore les dispositifs basés sur le principe ci-dessus.However, the applicant has found that it is possible to further improve the devices based on the above principle.

Il a remarqué en effet que la transformation du signal acoustique contenu dans une bande utile de fréquence en un son grave unique, même si ce son est modulé en amplitude en fonction de l'enveloppe des amplitudes de cette bande, entraînait certaines pertes d'information pouvant conduire à des difficultés d'interprétation du message sonore global reçu par le sourd.He noticed in fact that the transformation of the acoustic signal contained in a useful frequency band into a single low sound, even if this sound is modulated in amplitude according to the envelope of the amplitudes of this band, caused certain losses of information which can lead to difficulties of interpretation of the global sound message received by the deaf person.

C'est ainsi par exemple que, si l'une des deux bandes utiles choisies est celle comprise entre 1500 à 3500 Hz, la formule ci-dessus revient à transformer les composantes acoustiques ayant respectivement pour fréquences 2000 et 3000 Hz en des informations rigoureusement identiques, savoir en deux fractions identiques et superposées d'un même son grave de transposition.Thus, for example, if one of the two useful bands chosen is that between 1500 to 3500 Hz, the above formula amounts to transforming the acoustic components having frequencies 2000 and 3000 Hz respectively into strictly identical information. , to know in two identical fractions and superimposed of the same grave sound of transposition.

La présente invention a pour but, surtout, de remédier à cette perte d'information.The main object of the present invention is to remedy this loss of information.

A cet effet les dispositifs de prothèse auditive du type ci-dessus selon l'invention sont caractérisés en ce qu'ils comportent des moyens pour transposer les différentes tranches, du signal acoustique global reçu à chaque instant, contenues respectivement dans les différentes bandes utiles, en autant de tranches-images situées dans le spectre audible par le sourd et constituant respectivement des images fidèles amplifiées en amplitude, mais comprimées et réduites en fréquence, desdites tranches, la modulation d'amplitude de chaque image .étant semblable à celle de la tranche correspondante, mais la fréquence en chaque point de cette image étant égale à une fraction 1/n de la fréquence au point correspondant de ladite tranche et le taux de réduction n étant un nombre supérieur à 1, de préférence entier, qui est le même pour tous les points d'une tranche donnée et en ce que la constante de temps adoptée pour le prélèvement de l'enveloppe d'amplitude, de chaque tranche, destinée à moduler l'amplitude de la tranche-image correspondante, est comprise entre 0,8 et 1,2 ms.To this end, the hearing aid devices of the above type according to the invention are characterized in that they comprise means for transposing the different sections, of the overall acoustic signal received at each instant, contained respectively in the different useful bands, in as many slices of images situated in the spectrum audible by the deaf and constituting respectively faithful images amplified in amplitude, but compressed and reduced in frequency, of said slices, the amplitude modulation of each image being similar to that of the slice corresponding, but the frequency at each point of this image being equal to a fraction 1 / n of the frequency at the corresponding point of said section and the reduction rate n being a number greater than 1, preferably an integer, which is the same for all the points of a given slice and in that the time constant adopted for the sampling of the amplitude envelope, of each slice, intended to modulate the amplitude of the corresponding image slice is between 0.8 and 1.2 ms.

Dans les modes de réalisation préférés, on a recours en outre à l'une et/ou à l'autre des dispositions suivantes :

  • - les différentes tranches-images s'échelonnent jointivement dans le spectre audible par le sourd, ce qui correspond à des taux de réduction n différents pour ces différentes tranches-images,
  • - les bandes utiles de fréquence sont au nombre de deux, comprises respectivement entre environ 1500 Hz et environ 240Q Hz et entre environ 4800 Hz et environ 6000 Hz, et les taux de réduction appliqués à ces deux bandes sont respectivement de 3 et de 6,
  • - les bandes utiles de fréquence sont au nombre de trois, comprises respectivement entre environ 1200 Hz et environ 2000 Hz, entre environ 3000 Hz et environ 4500 Hz et entre environ 6000 Hz et environ 8000 Hz, et les taux de réduction appliqués à ces trois bandes sont respectivement de 2, 3 et 4,
  • - le dispositif comprend des moyens pour amplifier d'un taux relativement élevé toutes les portions acoustiques, des sons normalement reçus, dont la fréquence est inférieure à environ 500 Hz, et pour réduire ce taux d'amplification progressivement jusqu'à 1000 Hz et au-delà, la constante de temps adoptée pour l'amplification étant comprise entre 0,8 et 1,2 ms.
In the preferred embodiments, use is also made of one and / or the other of the following arrangements:
  • - the different image slices are staggered in the spectrum audible by the deaf, which corresponds to different reduction rates n for these different image slices,
  • - the useful frequency bands are at number of two, respectively between approximately 1500 Hz and approximately 240Q Hz and between approximately 4800 Hz and approximately 6000 Hz, and the reduction rates applied to these two bands are respectively 3 and 6,
  • - there are three useful frequency bands, respectively between approximately 1200 Hz and approximately 2000 Hz, between approximately 3000 Hz and approximately 4500 Hz and between approximately 6000 Hz and approximately 8000 Hz, and the reduction rates applied to these three bands are respectively 2, 3 and 4,
  • - The device comprises means for amplifying at a relatively high rate all the acoustic portions, normally received sounds, the frequency of which is less than about 500 Hz, and for reducing this amplification rate gradually up to 1000 Hz and at beyond, the time constant adopted for the amplification being between 0.8 and 1.2 ms.

L'invention comprend, mises à part ces dispositions principales, certaines autres dispositions qui s'utilisent de préférence en même temps et dont il sera plus explicitement question ci-après.The invention includes, apart from these main provisions, certain other provisions which are preferably used at the same time and which will be more explicitly discussed below.

Dans ce qui suit, l'on va décrire deux modes de réalisation préférés de l'invention en se référant au dessin ci-annexé d'une manière bien entendu non limitative.In what follows, two preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, of course in a non-limiting manner.

La figure 1, de ce dessin, est un graphique permettant d'expliquer une application de l'invention à un appareil de prothèse auditive pour sourds profonds.Figure 1, of this drawing, is a gra phique to explain an application of the invention to a hearing aid for the deaf.

La figure 2 est un graphique relatif à une variante d'application de l'invention concernant le traitement d'une surdité moins profonde que la précédente.FIG. 2 is a graph relating to a variant application of the invention concerning the treatment of less deep deafness than the previous one.

Sur chacun de ces graphiques, les fréquences f des sons reçus à traiter sont portés en abscisses et leurs amplitudes, en ordonnées.On each of these graphs, the frequencies f of the received sounds to be processed are plotted on the abscissa and their amplitudes on the ordinate.

Dans chaque cas, on fait comprendre à 1'appareil de prothèse concerné :

  • - des moyens pour recevoir intégralement les portions, convenablement amplifiées, des signaux acoustiques, comprises dans la bande des fréquences inférieures à 500-Hz, portions audibles par les sourds, même profonds, ainsi qu'il a été schématisé par le tronçon de courbe A,
  • - et des moyens pour recevoir avec un taux d'amplification progressivement décroissant vers les fréquences élevées les portions, des signaux acoustiques, comprises dans la bande des fréquences allant de 500 à 1000 Hz et au-delà, comme schématisé par le tronçon de courbe B.
In each case, the prosthesis device concerned is made to understand:
  • means for integrally receiving the portions, suitably amplified, of the acoustic signals, included in the frequency band below 500-Hz, portions audible by the deaf, even deep, as has been shown diagrammatically by the section of curve A ,
  • - And means for receiving, with an amplification rate progressively decreasing towards the high frequencies, the portions, acoustic signals, included in the frequency band going from 500 to 1000 Hz and beyond, as shown diagrammatically by the section of curve B .

Cet effacement partiel de la zone du spectre audible comprise entre 500 et 1000 Hz permet de libérer en partie cette zone pour y injecter les signaux artificiels porteurs d'informations utiles dont il va être question ci-après.This partial erasure of the region of the audible spectrum between 500 and 1000 Hz makes it possible to partially free this region to inject therein the artificial signals carrying useful information which will be discussed below.

Dans le cas de la figure 1, ces signaux sont de deux types,élaborés respectivement à partir des informations sonores contenues respectivement dans deux bandes utiles C et D du spectre inaudible aux sourds.In the case of FIG. 1, these signals are of two types, developed respectively from the information sound mations contained respectively in two useful bands C and D of the spectrum inaudible to the deaf.

Ces deux bandes sont ici celles comprises respectivement entre 1500 et 2400 Hz (bande C) et entre 4800 et 6000 Hz (bande D).These two bands are here those comprised respectively between 1500 and 2400 Hz (band C) and between 4800 and 6000 Hz (band D).

A partir des tranches de signaux acoustiques C1 et D1 contenues respectivement dans ces deux bandes C et D, on élabore deux "tranches-images" c1 et d1 contenues respectivement dans la bande c comprise entre 500 et 800 Hz et dans la bande d comprise entre 800 et 1000 Hz.From the slices of acoustic signals C 1 and D 1 contained respectively in these two bands C and D, two "image slices" c 1 and d 1 are produced, respectively contained in the band c between 500 and 800 Hz and in the band d between 800 and 1000 Hz.

La première tranche-image c1 correspond à une image fidèle de la tranche CI mais amplifiée en amplitude et "comprimée en fréquence" avec un taux de réduction de 3.The first image slice c 1 corresponds to a faithful image of the slice CI but amplified in amplitude and "compressed in frequency" with a reduction rate of 3.

Plus précisément, cette image cl présente une modulation d'amplitude semblable à celle de la tranche C1 qu'elle reproduit, mais en chacun des points m de cette image, l'amplitude est plus élevée et la fréquence f est égale au tiers de la fréquence F au point correspondant M de ladite tranche C1.More precisely, this image c l has an amplitude modulation similar to that of the slice C 1 that it reproduces, but at each of the points m of this image, the amplitude is higher and the frequency f is equal to a third. from frequency F to the corresponding point M of said section C 1 .

En somme l'image c1 correspond à la tranche C1 amplifiée en amplitude et divisée par trois en fréquence.In short, the image c 1 corresponds to the slice C 1 amplified in amplitude and divided by three in frequency.

Il résulte du choix d'un nombre entier (ici 3) adopté pour le taux de division, que la transposition acoustique effectuée correspond à un changement d'octave conservant la qualité "tonale" de l'information acoustique transposée : les "notes" restent les mêmes, mais sont changées d'octave.It results from the choice of an integer (here 3) adopted for the division rate, that the acoustic transposition carried out corresponds to a change of octave preserving the "tonal" quality of the transposed acoustic information: the "notes" remain the same, but are changed octave.

Pour ce qui est de la modulation d'amplitude de cette image c1, elle est effectuée à partir de l'enveloppe de l'amplitude de la tranche de signal C1 et'cette enveloppe est prélevée avec une constante de temps inférieure à 1,2 ms : en d'autres termes, on conserve dans la transposition effectuée la qualité vibratoire, des portions de signaux acoustiques d'origine, dont la périodicité est inférieure à 1,2 ms, c'est-à-dire les vibrations laryngées de ces portions, lesquelles sont caractéristiques de la hauteur de la voix humaine.As for the amplitude modulation of this image c 1 , it is carried out from the envelope of the amplitude of the signal slice C 1 and this envelope is taken with a time constant of less than 1 , 2 ms: in other words, the vibrational quality of the por tions of original acoustic signals, the periodicity of which is less than 1.2 ms, that is to say the laryngeal vibrations of these portions, which are characteristic of the height of the human voice.

Cette observation présente un grand intérêt pour la reconstitution intellectuelle de la voix humaine par le sourd équipé de la prothèse considérée.This observation is of great interest for the intellectual reconstruction of the human voice by the deaf person equipped with the prosthesis considered.

D'ùne façon plus générale, on donne à la constante de temps en question une valeur comprise entre 0,8 et 1,2 ms.More generally, the time constant in question is given a value between 0.8 and 1.2 ms.

On choisit semblablement laconstante de temps pour les diverses amplifications, pour la même raison que précédemment.The constant time is similarly chosen for the various amplifications, for the same reason as above.

Exactement dans les mêmes conditions que pour l'image c1, l'image d1 est formée à partir de la tranche de signaux D1 moyennant une amplification d'amplitude et une division en fréquence de cette dernière, mais ici par le facteur 6.Exactly under the same conditions as for the image c 1 , the image d 1 is formed from the signal slice D 1 by means of an amplification of amplitude and a frequency division of the latter, but here by the factor 6 .

Ceci étant, on peut faire les deux constatations suivantes :

  • - les deux images c1 et d1 s'étendent chacune sur une bande de fréquences relativement large au lieu d'être constituées par des sons graves de fréquence unique : il en résulte un transfert d'information beaucoup plus riche et complet que dans l'hypothèse de ces sons graves uniques,
  • - les bandes de fréquences c et d dans lesquelles sont contenues respectivement les deux images c1 et d1 se succèdent jointivement dans la gamme des fréquences, de sorte qu'elles occupent ensemble la totalité de la zone comprise entre 500 et 1000 Hz qui a été partiellement libérée de la manière prévue plus haut pour recevoir les sons transposés, et ce sans se gêner mutuellement par un chevauchement partiel desdites bandes.
That said, we can make the following two observations:
  • - the two images c 1 and d 1 each extend over a relatively wide frequency band instead of being constituted by low frequency sounds of single frequency: this results in a much richer and more complete transfer of information than in l hypothesis of these unique bass sounds,
  • the frequency bands c and d in which the two images c 1 and d 1 are respectively contained successively in the frequency range, so that they occupy together the whole of the zone between 500 and 1000 Hz which has been partially released in the manner provided above to receive the transposed sounds, and this without interfering with each other by a partial overlapping of said bands.

Le message sonore amplifié ainsi reconstitué se révèle très riche en informations et particulièrement adapté à la compréhension de la parole humaine.The amplified sound message thus reconstructed is reveals to be very rich in information and particularly suitable for understanding human speech.

Le graphique de la figure 1 - tout comme d'ailleurs celui de la figure 2 - n'est qu'un schéma permettant d'expliciter les divisions de fréquence effectuées selon l'invention : les bandes c et d ne sont hachurées sur ce schéma que pour bien les distinguer des autres bandes ; c'est également dans ce souci de distinction qu'on leur a donné une amplitude supérieure à celle des autres bandes. De plus, en toute rigueur, les amplitudes des signaux-images c1 et d ne devraient pas être comptées à partir de l'axe des abscisses, mais à partir des amplitudes des signaux (non représentés) qui sont directement reçus dans la gamme correspondante comprise entre 500 et 1000 Hz, les deux amplitudes considérées se superposant.The graph of FIG. 1 - just like that of FIG. 2 - is only a diagram making it possible to explain the frequency divisions carried out according to the invention: the bands c and d are not hatched on this diagram only to distinguish them from other bands; it is also for the sake of distinction that they have been given a higher amplitude than that of the other bands. In addition, strictly speaking, the amplitudes of the image signals c 1 and d should not be counted from the x-axis, but from the amplitudes of the signals (not shown) which are directly received in the corresponding range. between 500 and 1000 Hz, the two amplitudes considered overlapping.

On peut procéder de toute manière désirable pour assurer la transposition de chaque tranche de signal C1 ou D1 en son image de fréquence réduite c1 ou dl.One can proceed in any desirable way to ensure the transposition of each signal slice C 1 or D 1 into its reduced frequency image c 1 or d l .

C'est ainsi qu'on peut considérer dans chacune des tranches C1 et D1 un certain nombre de sous-bandes de fréquences successives et jointives sélectées à l'aide de filtres appropriés, puis transformer les fractions de signal contenues dans chacune des sous-bandes ainsi sélectées en un signal électrique alternatif, après quoi on divise la fréquence de ce signal par le taux de réduction n désiré pour la tranche considérée en supprimant, dans ledit signal alternatif, n-1 alternances sur n, et enfin on amplifie le signal à fréquence réduite ainsi obtenu de façon non seulement à compenser la perte d'énergie due à la suppression ci-dessus, mais aussi à atteindre la zone audible par le sourd.This is how we can consider in each of the slices C 1 and D 1 a certain number of successive and contiguous frequency sub-bands selected using appropriate filters, then transform the signal fractions contained in each of the sub -bands thus selected into an alternating electrical signal, after which the frequency of this signal is divided by the reduction rate n desired for the section considered by removing, in said alternating signal, n-1 alternations out of n, and finally amplifying the reduced frequency signal thus obtained so as not only to compensate for the loss of energy due to the above suppression, but also to reach the zone audible by the deaf.

Selon une variante, on transforme chaque fraction de tranche correspondant à l'une des sous-bandes définies ci-dessus en un train codé d'impulsions dont le nombre est lié à la fréquence de ladite fraction, puis on supprime un certain nombre de ces impulsions (savoir n-1 sur n, si l'on désire assurer une division par le facteur n) et enfin on procède à une amplification comme dans le cas précédent d'un signal dont la fréquence réduite est liée au nombre des impulsions restantes.According to a variant, each fraction of a slice corresponding to one of the defined sub-bands is transformed above in a coded train of pulses the number of which is linked to the frequency of said fraction, then a certain number of these pulses are suppressed (namely n-1 over n, if one wishes to ensure a division by the factor n) and finally an amplification is carried out as in the previous case of a signal whose reduced frequency is linked to the number of remaining pulses.

On peut également faire appel, pour assurer chacune des divisions de fréquence, à un circuit logique, à un micro-processeur ou à tout autre dispositif désirable.It is also possible to use, for each frequency division, a logic circuit, a microprocessor or any other desirable device.

Le mode de réalisation schématisé sur la figure 2 est basé sur les mêmes principes que le précédent schématisé sur la figure 1.The embodiment shown schematically in FIG. 2 is based on the same principles as the previous schematized in FIG. 1.

Il s'applique au traitement de sourds moins gravement atteints que dans le cas précédent, ceux-ci étant capables d'entendre les sons jusqu'à une fréquence d'au moins 2000 Hz.It applies to the treatment of deaf people who are less seriously affected than in the previous case, who are able to hear sounds up to a frequency of at least 2000 Hz.

Ce deuxième mode de réalisation diffère du précédent en ce que le nombre des bandes utiles du spectre inaudible aux sourds est ici égal à 3 et non plus à 2 et en ce que les images à fréquence réduite reconstituées à partir des tranches de signaux comprises dans ces trois bandes utiles occupent ici la bande des fréquences comprises entre 600 et 2000 Hz.This second embodiment differs from the previous one in that the number of useful bands of the spectrum inaudible to the deaf is here equal to 3 and no longer to 2 and in that the reduced-frequency images reconstructed from the signal slices included in these three useful bands occupy here the frequency band between 600 and 2000 Hz.

Plus précisément, les trois bandes en question s'étendent respectivement :

  • - la première, R, d'environ 1200 Hz à environ 2000 Hz,
  • - la seconde, S, d'environ 3000 Hz à environ 4500 Hz,
  • - la troisième,T, d'environ 6000 Hz à environ 8000 Hz.
More specifically, the three bands in question extend respectively:
  • - the first, R, from around 1200 Hz to around 2000 Hz,
  • - the second, S, from around 3000 Hz to around 4500 Hz,
  • - the third, T, from around 6000 Hz to around 8000 Hz.

Les trois images correspondantes r, s et-t sont obtenues à partir des tranches de signaux acoustiques comprises dans ces trois bandes R, S et T par des amplifications d'amplitude et divisions de fréquence dont les diviseurs sont respectivement égaux à 2, 3 et 4, ces tranches-images occupant donc respectivement :

  • - la première, r, la bande de fréquence comprise entre environ 600 et environ 1000 Hz,
  • - la seconde, s, la bande de fréquence comprise entre environ 1000 et environ 1500 Hz,
  • - et la troisième, t, la bande de fréquence comprise entre environ 1500 et environ 2000 Hz.
The three corresponding images r, s and -t are obtained from the slices of acoustic signals included in these three bands R, S and T by amplitude amplifications and frequency divisions whose dividers are respectively equal to 2, 3 and 4, these image slices therefore occupying respectively:
  • - the first, r, the frequency band between approximately 600 and approximately 1000 Hz,
  • - the second, s, the frequency band between approximately 1000 and approximately 1500 Hz,
  • - and the third, t, the frequency band between approximately 1500 and approximately 2000 Hz.

Comme dans la première variante, les trois bandes- images r, s et t correspondant respectivement aux trois tranches -images se succèdent dans la bande de fréquence comprise entre 600 Hz et 2000 Hz sans se chevaucher.As in the first variant, the three image bands r, s and t corresponding respectively to the three image slices follow one another in the frequency band between 600 Hz and 2000 Hz without overlapping.

Pour éviter tout risque de traumatisme de l'oreille équipée de l'appareil de prothèse décrit ci-dessus lors de l'application sur elle des sons amplifiés élaborés par cet appareil, on fait comprendre audit appareil des moyens pour supprimer automatiquement tous ceux, de ces sons amplifiés, qui présentent à la fois une amplitude trop importante et une vitesse d'établissement trop élevée : on met en oeuvre avantageusement à cet effet les enseignements du brevet des Etats-Unis d'Amérique n° 3 458 669 dont le demandeur est co-inventeur.To avoid any risk of trauma to the ear equipped with the prosthesis device described above during the application to it of the amplified sounds produced by this device, we make it understood to said device means for automatically removing all those, these amplified sounds that have both too much and too high a speed setting amplitude of: m and used advantageously for this purpose the teachings of patent US patent No. 3,458,669 whose applicant is co-inventor.

En suite de quoi et quel que soit le mode de réalisation adopté, on dispose finalement d'un appareil de prothèse auditive dont la construction, le fonctionnement et les avantages résultent suffisamment de ce qui précède.As a result of what and whatever the embodiment adopted, there is finally a hearing aid device whose construction, operation and advantages result sufficiently from the above.

Comme il va de soi, et comme il résulte d'ailleurs déjà de ce qui précède, l'invention ne se limite nullement à ceux de ses modes d'application et de réalisation qui ont été plus spécialement envisagés ; elle en embrasse, au contraire, toutes les variantes.As is obvious, and as already follows from the foregoing, the invention is in no way limited to those of its modes of application and embodiments which have been more especially envisaged; on the contrary, it embraces all its variants.

Claims (5)

1. Dispositif de prothèse auditive comprenant des moyens pour prélever des tranches de signaux acoustiques (C,D,R,S,T) contenues respectivement dans différentes bandes de fréquences utiles situées dans le spectre inaudible aux sourds et pour les transposer en des signaux acoustiques dont l'amplitude est suffisante et dont la fréquence est contenue dans le spectre audible aux sourds, caractérisé en ce que ces moyens sont agencés de façon à donner à ces derniers signaux la forme de tranches-images (c,d,r,s,t) des tranches ci-dessus (C,D,R,S,T) constituant respectivement des images fidèles amplifiées en amplitude, mais comprimées et réduites' en fréquence, desdites tranches, la modulation d'amplitude de chaque image étant semblable à celle de la tranche correspondante, mais la fréquence en chaque point de cette image étant égale à une fraction 1/n de la fréquence au point correspondant de ladite tranche et le taux de réduction n étant un nombre supérieur à 1, de préférence entier, qui est le même pour tous les points d'une tranche donnée et en ce que la constante de temps adoptée pour le prélèvement de l'enveloppe d'amplitude, de chaque tranche, destinée à moduler l'amplitude de la tranche-image correspondante, est comprise entre 0,8 et 1,2 ms.1. Hearing aid device comprising means for taking slices of acoustic signals (C, D, R, S, T) contained respectively in different useful frequency bands located in the spectrum inaudible to deaf people and for transposing them into acoustic signals whose amplitude is sufficient and whose frequency is contained in the spectrum audible to the deaf, characterized in that these means are arranged so as to give these latter signals the form of image slices (c, d, r, s, t) of the above sections (C, D, R, S, T) respectively constituting faithful images amplified in amplitude, but compressed and reduced in frequency, of said sections, the amplitude modulation of each image being similar to that of the corresponding section, but the frequency at each point of this image being equal to a fraction 1 / n of the frequency at the corresponding point of said section and the reduction rate n being a number greater than 1, preferably an integer, which is the same for all the points of a given slice and in that the time constant adopted for the sampling of the amplitude envelope, of each slice, intended to modulate the amplitude of the corresponding slice-image, is included between 0.8 and 1.2 ms. 2. Dispositif de prothèse auditive selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les différentes tranches-images s'échelonnent jointivement dans le spectre audible par le sourd, ce qui correspond à des taux de réduction n différents pour ces différentes tranches-images.2. A hearing aid device according to claim 1, characterized in that the different image slices are staggered in the spectrum audible by the deaf, which corresponds to different reduction rates n for these different image slices. 3. Dispositif de prothèse auditive selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que les bandes utiles de fréquence sont au nombre de deux, comprises respectivement entre environ 1500 Hz et environ 2400 Hz et entre environ 4800 Hz et environ 6000 Hz, et en ce que les taux de réduction appliqués à ces deux bandes sont respectivement de 3 et de 6 (figure 1).3. Hearing aid device according to claim 2, characterized in that the useful frequency bands are two in number, respectively between approximately 1500 Hz and approximately 2400 Hz and between approximately 4800 Hz and approximately 6000 Hz, and in that the reduction rates applied to these two bands are respectively 3 and 6 (FIG. 1). 4. Dispositif de prothèse auditive selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que les bandes utiles de fréquence sont au nombre de trois, comprises respectivement entre environ 1200 Hz et environ 2000 Hz, entre environ 3000 Hz et environ 4500 Hz et entre environ 6000 Hz et environ 8000 Hz, et les taux de réduction appliqués à ces trois bandes sont respectivement de 2, 3 et 4 (figure 2).4. Hearing aid device according to claim 2, characterized in that the useful frequency bands are three in number, respectively between approximately 1200 Hz and approximately 2000 Hz, between approximately 3000 Hz and approximately 4500 Hz and between approximately 6000 Hz and around 8000 Hz, and the reduction rates applied to these three bands are respectively 2, 3 and 4 (Figure 2). 5. Dispositif de prothèse auditive selon l'une quelconque des précédentes revendications, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend des moyens pour amplifier d'un taux relativement élevé toutes les portions acoustiques, des sons normalement reçus, dont la fréquence est inférieure à environ 500 Hz, et pour réduire ce taux d'amplification progressivement jusqu'à 1000 Hz et au- délà, la constante de temps adoptée pour l'amplification étant comprise entre 0,8 et 1,2 ms.5. Hearing aid device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for amplifying, at a relatively high rate, all the acoustic portions, normally received sounds, the frequency of which is less than about 500 Hz, and to reduce this amplification rate gradually up to 1000 Hz and beyond, the time constant adopted for amplification being between 0.8 and 1.2 ms.
EP19810401782 1980-11-28 1981-11-10 Hearing aid devices Expired EP0054450B1 (en)

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US4499339A (en) * 1982-11-24 1985-02-12 Baptist Medical Center Of Oklahoma, Inc. Amplitude modulation apparatus and method
US4617536A (en) * 1982-11-24 1986-10-14 Baptist Medical Center Of Oklahoma, Inc. Amplitude modulation apparatus and method
EP0246970A1 (en) * 1986-05-23 1987-11-25 Université de Franche-Comté Hearing aid devices
EP0329383A2 (en) * 1988-02-15 1989-08-23 Avr Communications Ltd. Frequency transposing hearing aid
WO1999014986A1 (en) * 1997-09-19 1999-03-25 University Of Iowa Research Foundation Hearing aid with proportional frequency compression and shifting of audio signals
EP1333700A2 (en) * 2003-03-06 2003-08-06 Phonak Ag Method for frequency transposition in a hearing device and such a hearing device
EP1661434A1 (en) * 2003-08-11 2006-05-31 Vast Audio Pty Ltd Sound enhancement for hearing-impaired listeners
WO2007000161A1 (en) * 2005-06-27 2007-01-04 Widex A/S Hearing aid with enhanced high frequency reproduction and method for processing an audio signal
EP1796082A1 (en) * 2005-12-09 2007-06-13 QNX Software Systems (Wavemakers), Inc. System for improving speech intelligibility through high frequency compression
US7248711B2 (en) 2003-03-06 2007-07-24 Phonak Ag Method for frequency transposition and use of the method in a hearing device and a communication device
USRE41005E1 (en) * 1996-11-06 2009-11-24 Sequenom, Inc. Beads bound to a solid support and to nucleic acids
US7813931B2 (en) 2005-04-20 2010-10-12 QNX Software Systems, Co. System for improving speech quality and intelligibility with bandwidth compression/expansion
EP2375782A1 (en) * 2010-04-09 2011-10-12 Oticon A/S Improvements in sound perception using frequency transposition by moving the envelope
US8249861B2 (en) 2005-04-20 2012-08-21 Qnx Software Systems Limited High frequency compression integration
EP3128765A1 (en) * 2015-08-07 2017-02-08 Tain-Tzu Chang Method of processing sound track
EP2437521B2 (en) 2010-09-29 2017-09-13 Sivantos Pte. Ltd. Method for frequency compression with harmonic adjustment and corresponding device

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Cited By (28)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4617536A (en) * 1982-11-24 1986-10-14 Baptist Medical Center Of Oklahoma, Inc. Amplitude modulation apparatus and method
US4499339A (en) * 1982-11-24 1985-02-12 Baptist Medical Center Of Oklahoma, Inc. Amplitude modulation apparatus and method
EP0246970A1 (en) * 1986-05-23 1987-11-25 Université de Franche-Comté Hearing aid devices
US4843623A (en) * 1986-05-23 1989-06-27 University De Franche-Comte Hearing aid devices in which high frequency signal portions are transposed in low frequency compenstion signal portions
EP0329383A2 (en) * 1988-02-15 1989-08-23 Avr Communications Ltd. Frequency transposing hearing aid
US5014319A (en) * 1988-02-15 1991-05-07 Avr Communications Ltd. Frequency transposing hearing aid
EP0329383A3 (en) * 1988-02-15 1991-10-16 Avr Communications Ltd. Frequency transposing hearing aid
USRE41005E1 (en) * 1996-11-06 2009-11-24 Sequenom, Inc. Beads bound to a solid support and to nucleic acids
WO1999014986A1 (en) * 1997-09-19 1999-03-25 University Of Iowa Research Foundation Hearing aid with proportional frequency compression and shifting of audio signals
US7248711B2 (en) 2003-03-06 2007-07-24 Phonak Ag Method for frequency transposition and use of the method in a hearing device and a communication device
EP1333700A2 (en) * 2003-03-06 2003-08-06 Phonak Ag Method for frequency transposition in a hearing device and such a hearing device
EP1333700A3 (en) * 2003-03-06 2003-09-17 Phonak Ag Method for frequency transposition in a hearing device and such a hearing device
EP1661434A4 (en) * 2003-08-11 2007-08-22 Vast Audio Pty Ltd Sound enhancement for hearing-impaired listeners
EP1661434A1 (en) * 2003-08-11 2006-05-31 Vast Audio Pty Ltd Sound enhancement for hearing-impaired listeners
US7813931B2 (en) 2005-04-20 2010-10-12 QNX Software Systems, Co. System for improving speech quality and intelligibility with bandwidth compression/expansion
US8249861B2 (en) 2005-04-20 2012-08-21 Qnx Software Systems Limited High frequency compression integration
US8219389B2 (en) 2005-04-20 2012-07-10 Qnx Software Systems Limited System for improving speech intelligibility through high frequency compression
US8086451B2 (en) 2005-04-20 2011-12-27 Qnx Software Systems Co. System for improving speech intelligibility through high frequency compression
US8031892B2 (en) 2005-06-27 2011-10-04 Widex A/S Hearing aid with enhanced high frequency reproduction and method for processing an audio signal
AU2005333866B2 (en) * 2005-06-27 2009-04-23 Widex A/S Hearing aid with enhanced high frequency reproduction and method for processing an audio signal
CN101208991B (en) * 2005-06-27 2012-01-11 唯听助听器公司 Hearing aid with enhanced high-frequency rendition function and method for processing audio signal
JP2008544660A (en) * 2005-06-27 2008-12-04 ヴェーデクス・アクティーセルスカプ Hearing aid with enhanced high frequency reproduction and audio signal processing method
WO2007000161A1 (en) * 2005-06-27 2007-01-04 Widex A/S Hearing aid with enhanced high frequency reproduction and method for processing an audio signal
EP1796082A1 (en) * 2005-12-09 2007-06-13 QNX Software Systems (Wavemakers), Inc. System for improving speech intelligibility through high frequency compression
EP2375782A1 (en) * 2010-04-09 2011-10-12 Oticon A/S Improvements in sound perception using frequency transposition by moving the envelope
US8949113B2 (en) 2010-04-09 2015-02-03 Oticon A/S Sound perception using frequency transposition by moving the envelope
EP2437521B2 (en) 2010-09-29 2017-09-13 Sivantos Pte. Ltd. Method for frequency compression with harmonic adjustment and corresponding device
EP3128765A1 (en) * 2015-08-07 2017-02-08 Tain-Tzu Chang Method of processing sound track

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