EP0499699A1 - Prothèse auditive avec au moins deux microphones - Google Patents

Prothèse auditive avec au moins deux microphones Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0499699A1
EP0499699A1 EP91120568A EP91120568A EP0499699A1 EP 0499699 A1 EP0499699 A1 EP 0499699A1 EP 91120568 A EP91120568 A EP 91120568A EP 91120568 A EP91120568 A EP 91120568A EP 0499699 A1 EP0499699 A1 EP 0499699A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
hearing aid
microphones
microphone
switch
sound
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
EP91120568A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0499699B1 (fr
Inventor
André Vonlanthen
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
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Phonak AG filed Critical Phonak AG
Publication of EP0499699A1 publication Critical patent/EP0499699A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0499699B1 publication Critical patent/EP0499699B1/fr
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
    • H04R25/40—Arrangements for obtaining a desired directivity characteristic
    • H04R25/405—Arrangements for obtaining a desired directivity characteristic by combining a plurality of transducers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2410/00—Microphones
    • H04R2410/01—Noise reduction using microphones having different directional characteristics

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a hearing aid with an electronic amplifier arranged in the housing with recording and playback devices for sound amplification.
  • Such devices serve people with poor hearing as hearing aids in that all noises are picked up via a microphone, electronically amplified and reproduced by means of a loudspeaker which, as an outlet opening, has a tubular structure reaching into the auditory canal of the wearer.
  • the hearing aid housing is shaped such that it resp. can be worn around the ear. It follows that it is a relatively small device in which only miniaturized components can be used. Both due to the small size and the positioning on the ear, volume controls and an M-T-O switch are conventionally attached to the hearing aid as control elements. Two operating modes can be selected with the M-T-O switch. Position “M” stands for microphone, position "T” for telephone (the signal is transmitted inductively); in position "O” the device is switched off.
  • mainly omni-directional microphones are used as the recording device. These normally use a small opening in the hearing aid housing as a sound entry opening. As a result of the omnidirectional microphone characteristic, all noises are recorded and amplified to the same extent in a spherical manner around this opening. In particular, in conversations between a hearing aid wearer and a person at a distance from it, all surrounding sound sources interfere with the understanding, since these are amplified as background noise in the same way as the speech source. This effect increases with increasing Hearing impairment and the resulting increased sound amplification increased. In order to do justice to these cases, a few hearing aids have microphones with directional (directional) characteristics. These microphones have two separate sound entry openings.
  • a club-shaped, directed sound recording area By appropriate arrangement of the two sound inlet openings, such a sound recording area can be directed such that it is in the head or.
  • Direction of view of the hearing aid wearer shows. This dampens noise sources behind and next to the hearing aid wearer, for example.
  • a hearing aid version is also already known in which the recording characteristic is switchable.
  • one of the two sound inlet openings is either covered or left open by means of a mechanically operable screen. If one of the two openings is covered with a directional microphone, an omnidirectional characteristic is achieved.
  • the screen which is very small, cannot be operated directly by the user when the hearing aid is worn, since there is no space for a correspondingly easy-to-use actuating element. Conventionally, this setting is therefore permanently preselected when fitting the hearing aid.
  • the object of the present invention was to enable the hearing aid wearer himself to change the recording characteristics of the hearing aid while wearing the hearing aid on the ear. without changing the dimensions of the hearing aid.
  • At least two microphones are provided as recording devices with sound entry openings arranged at a distance from one another in the hearing device and these can be connected to the amplifier either individually or in parallel, connected in each case by means of a switch.
  • a special embodiment of the invention provides that the microphones are omnidirectional microphones, each with a sound inlet opening.
  • a further preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the microphone used is at least one omnidirectional microphone with a sound entry opening and at least one directional microphone with at least two sound entry openings separated from one another, or that the microphones are directional microphones with at least two sound entry openings separated from one another.
  • only one microphone can be connected to the amplifier input by means of the switch.
  • At least one microphone is preferably connected directly to the amplifier input and at least one microphone can optionally be connected in parallel to the directly connected microphones by means of the switch.
  • the switch is an electro-mechanical switch attached to the hearing aid.
  • an electronic switch is used as the switch, which is operated by means of remote-controlled control electronics is controlled.
  • the recording characteristic can be electronically switched on or off. Switch off additional microphones with separate sound inlets. Since such microphones can be greatly miniaturized and electronic switches can at best be integrated into the existing amplifier circuit, practically no additional space in the hearing aid is required for this function.
  • the hearing aid wearer can change the recording characteristic himself at any time, which results in a considerable improvement in comfort.
  • a conventional hearing device essentially has a microphone 1 as a recording device, an amplifier 2 and a playback speaker 3, as shown in FIG. Under An additional control element for controlling the amplifier 2 is possibly provided, with which the degree of amplification can be changed within a certain range.
  • the microphone 1 normally has an omnidirectional recording characteristic.
  • a hearing aid design As shown schematically in section in FIG. 2. Inside the hearing aid housing 5 there is a directional microphone 6 with two separate sound inlet openings 7 and 8. The reproduction is carried out by means of a loudspeaker 9, the output opening 10 of which opens into a channel 11 to be inserted into the auditory canal.
  • a sliding diaphragm 12 with an opening 13 is attached to the hearing aid. In one end position of the diaphragm 12 (as shown in FIG. 2), the opening 13 lies just above the sound entry opening 8 of the microphone 6, which means that the microphone 6 has a directional, directional characteristic. In the other end position of the diaphragm 12, the sound inlet opening 8 is covered by it, and the microphone 6 has an omnidirectional characteristic.
  • the panel is very small and can only be operated with a suitable tool, i.e. be moved.
  • a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention has two microphones 14 and 17 in the hearing device 5 (FIG. 3).
  • one microphone is a directional microphone with two sound inlet openings 15, 16 and the other microphone 17 is an omnidirectional microphone with a sound inlet channel 18.
  • the microphone 14 or the microphone 17 is optionally connected to the amplifier with an electronic switch, whereby each the corresponding recording characteristic is achieved. Any other combinations of microphones are also conceivable.
  • two omnidirectional Microphones are switched in such a way that in one switch position only one microphone is connected to the amplifier and an omnidirectional recording characteristic is thus achieved.
  • both microphones can be connected in parallel, whereby a directional characteristic can be achieved due to the different position of the two sound inlet openings. If necessary, both microphones are connected to their own preamplifiers, which can be set to the correct phase position.
  • the combination of two directional microphones is also conceivable, it being possible to amplify the directional effect by switching on the two microphones.
  • a remote-controlled control electronics is preferably used to control the electronic switches, which allows this function to be operated conveniently by means of a remote control operating device.
  • Such hearing aids are also known today.

Landscapes

  • 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)
  • Circuit For Audible Band Transducer (AREA)
  • Headphones And Earphones (AREA)
  • Details Of Audible-Bandwidth Transducers (AREA)
EP91120568A 1991-02-20 1991-11-29 Prothèse auditive avec au moins deux microphones Expired - Lifetime EP0499699B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH515/91A CH681411A5 (fr) 1991-02-20 1991-02-20
CH515/91 1991-02-20

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0499699A1 true EP0499699A1 (fr) 1992-08-26
EP0499699B1 EP0499699B1 (fr) 1996-02-28

Family

ID=4188773

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91120568A Expired - Lifetime EP0499699B1 (fr) 1991-02-20 1991-11-29 Prothèse auditive avec au moins deux microphones

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0499699B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE134814T1 (fr)
CH (1) CH681411A5 (fr)
DE (1) DE59107476D1 (fr)
DK (1) DK0499699T3 (fr)
ES (1) ES2085405T3 (fr)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5274111A (en) * 1992-04-07 1993-12-28 American Home Products Corporation Trifluoromethyl substituted 1H-pyrazoles and derivatives thereof
FR2711515A1 (fr) * 1993-10-21 1995-05-05 Boucobza Fabien Dispositif d'aide à l'audition.
EP0665246A2 (fr) † 1994-01-24 1995-08-02 Arizona Chemical Company Polymérisation thermique de dicyclopentadiène
EP0847227A2 (fr) * 1998-03-02 1998-06-10 Phonak Ag Prothèse auditive
DE19810043A1 (de) * 1998-03-09 1999-09-23 Siemens Audiologische Technik Hörgerät mit einem Richtmikrofon-System
WO2000065873A1 (fr) * 1999-04-28 2000-11-02 Gennum Corporation Système programmable multimode à plusieurs microphones
WO2001076319A2 (fr) * 2000-03-31 2001-10-11 Clarity, L.L.C. Procede et appareil d'extraction de signal vocal
US6751325B1 (en) 1998-09-29 2004-06-15 Siemens Audiologische Technik Gmbh Hearing aid and method for processing microphone signals in a hearing aid
US7013014B2 (en) 2002-12-20 2006-03-14 Siemens Audiologische Technik Gmbh Hearing device system with behind-the-ear hearing aid devices fashioned side-specific
US7103191B1 (en) 1993-04-13 2006-09-05 Etymotic Research, Inc. Hearing aid having second order directional response

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19635229C2 (de) * 1996-08-30 2001-04-26 Siemens Audiologische Technik Richtungsempfindliche Hörhilfe
DE19852758C2 (de) * 1998-11-16 2001-05-23 Siemens Audiologische Technik Hinter dem Ohr tragbares Hörhilfegerät
DE19948907A1 (de) * 1999-10-11 2001-02-01 Siemens Audiologische Technik Verfahren zur Signalverarbeitung in einer Hörhilfe sowie Hörhilfe
EP1330940B1 (fr) 2000-10-05 2012-03-07 Etymotic Research, Inc Ensemble microphone directionnel
US7832080B2 (en) 2007-10-11 2010-11-16 Etymotic Research, Inc. Directional microphone assembly

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1938435A1 (de) * 1969-07-29 1971-02-11 Schoeps Dr Ing Karl Hoergeraet
US3875349A (en) * 1972-02-02 1975-04-01 Bommer Ag Hearing aid
US3975599A (en) * 1975-09-17 1976-08-17 United States Surgical Corporation Directional/non-directional hearing aid
FR2500248A1 (fr) * 1981-02-13 1982-08-20 Rion Co Auxiliaire d'audition du type a porter derriere l'oreille
WO1990008448A1 (fr) * 1989-01-11 1990-07-26 Tøpholm & Westermann APS Systeme programmable a telecommande pour appareils de correction auditive
EP0466676A2 (fr) * 1990-07-13 1992-01-15 VIENNATONE Gesellschaft m.b.H. Prothèse auditive avec un microphone directif muni d'une directivité variable

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1938435A1 (de) * 1969-07-29 1971-02-11 Schoeps Dr Ing Karl Hoergeraet
US3875349A (en) * 1972-02-02 1975-04-01 Bommer Ag Hearing aid
US3975599A (en) * 1975-09-17 1976-08-17 United States Surgical Corporation Directional/non-directional hearing aid
FR2500248A1 (fr) * 1981-02-13 1982-08-20 Rion Co Auxiliaire d'audition du type a porter derriere l'oreille
WO1990008448A1 (fr) * 1989-01-11 1990-07-26 Tøpholm & Westermann APS Systeme programmable a telecommande pour appareils de correction auditive
EP0466676A2 (fr) * 1990-07-13 1992-01-15 VIENNATONE Gesellschaft m.b.H. Prothèse auditive avec un microphone directif muni d'une directivité variable

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5274111A (en) * 1992-04-07 1993-12-28 American Home Products Corporation Trifluoromethyl substituted 1H-pyrazoles and derivatives thereof
US7103191B1 (en) 1993-04-13 2006-09-05 Etymotic Research, Inc. Hearing aid having second order directional response
FR2711515A1 (fr) * 1993-10-21 1995-05-05 Boucobza Fabien Dispositif d'aide à l'audition.
EP0665246B2 (fr) † 1994-01-24 2004-04-28 Arizona Chemical Company Polymérisation thermique de dicyclopentadiène
EP0665246A2 (fr) † 1994-01-24 1995-08-02 Arizona Chemical Company Polymérisation thermique de dicyclopentadiène
EP0847227A3 (fr) * 1998-03-02 1998-10-21 Phonak Ag Prothèse auditive
US6574343B1 (en) 1998-03-02 2003-06-03 Phonak Ag Hearing aid
WO1999045744A1 (fr) * 1998-03-02 1999-09-10 Phonak Ag Prothese auditive
EP0847227A2 (fr) * 1998-03-02 1998-06-10 Phonak Ag Prothèse auditive
US7372973B2 (en) 1998-03-02 2008-05-13 Phonak Ag Hearing aid
DE19810043A1 (de) * 1998-03-09 1999-09-23 Siemens Audiologische Technik Hörgerät mit einem Richtmikrofon-System
US6424721B1 (en) 1998-03-09 2002-07-23 Siemens Audiologische Technik Gmbh Hearing aid with a directional microphone system as well as method for the operation thereof
US6751325B1 (en) 1998-09-29 2004-06-15 Siemens Audiologische Technik Gmbh Hearing aid and method for processing microphone signals in a hearing aid
WO2000065873A1 (fr) * 1999-04-28 2000-11-02 Gennum Corporation Système programmable multimode à plusieurs microphones
WO2001076319A2 (fr) * 2000-03-31 2001-10-11 Clarity, L.L.C. Procede et appareil d'extraction de signal vocal
WO2001076319A3 (fr) * 2000-03-31 2002-12-27 Clarity L L C Procede et appareil d'extraction de signal vocal
US7013014B2 (en) 2002-12-20 2006-03-14 Siemens Audiologische Technik Gmbh Hearing device system with behind-the-ear hearing aid devices fashioned side-specific

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH681411A5 (fr) 1993-03-15
ES2085405T3 (es) 1996-06-01
DK0499699T3 (da) 1996-03-18
ATE134814T1 (de) 1996-03-15
DE59107476D1 (de) 1996-04-04
EP0499699B1 (fr) 1996-02-28

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