EP1203508B1 - Procede de commande de la directionalite de la caracteristique de reception de son d'une aide auditive, et aide auditive dans laquelle est applique ledit procede - Google Patents

Procede de commande de la directionalite de la caracteristique de reception de son d'une aide auditive, et aide auditive dans laquelle est applique ledit procede Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1203508B1
EP1203508B1 EP00938590A EP00938590A EP1203508B1 EP 1203508 B1 EP1203508 B1 EP 1203508B1 EP 00938590 A EP00938590 A EP 00938590A EP 00938590 A EP00938590 A EP 00938590A EP 1203508 B1 EP1203508 B1 EP 1203508B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
signal
hearing aid
signals
microphone
omni
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP00938590A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1203508A1 (fr
Inventor
Lars Baekgaard Jensen
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.)
Widex AS
Original Assignee
Widex AS
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
Priority claimed from PCT/EP1999/004375 external-priority patent/WO2001001732A1/fr
Application filed by Widex AS filed Critical Widex AS
Priority to EP00938590A priority Critical patent/EP1203508B1/fr
Publication of EP1203508A1 publication Critical patent/EP1203508A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1203508B1 publication Critical patent/EP1203508B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for controlling the directionality of the sound receiving characteristic of a hearing aid comprising spaced apart first and second sound receiving microphone means, a signal processor for processing signals supplied by said microphone means and an output transducer for emission of sound signals in response to output signals from the signal processor, said method comprising the steps of changing over said sound receiving characteristic between an omnidirectional characteristic and a directional characteristic and, when operating the hearing aid with said directional characteristic, combining the signals supplied by said first and second microphone means into an overall combined signal, which is supplied to the signal processor, an adjustable time or phase delay being imposed on at least one signal.
  • Hearing aids having a directional sound receiving characteristic are useful to improve speech perception in noisy environments, where human speech may be received simultaneously from different directions, as is the case e.g. in the noise environment frequently referred to as cocktail party noise.
  • a directional sound receiving characteristic e.g. in the shape of a cardioid or super cardioid characteristic
  • the speech perception in a hearing aid is improved by reduced reception of sound coming from the back of the user, while maintaining the level of sound coming from the area in front of the user.
  • the hearing aid user will normal prefer an omnidirectional or spherical sound receiving characteristic offering the same perception of sound irrespective of the direction, from which it arrives.
  • phase or arrival times change differently in the two hearing aids this will degrade or deteriorate the user's ability to locate the various sound sources in the surrounding space and the advantage of a binaural hearing aid system will be degraded.
  • phase and time relationship in a hearing aid degrades the quality of the sound perceived by the user. It may sound like the result of a Doppler-effect.
  • the amplitude characteristic will change during transition between the omnidirectional and a directional characteristic, e.g. from a flat response to a response in which the amplitudes of higher frequencies will be increased. This increase may be in the area of 6 dB/octave. This results in the serious problem, that hearing aids of this type can not be perfectly fitted with an optimum transfer characteristic for both the omnidirectional and the directional characteristic.
  • the object of the present invention to provide a method of the kind defined, in which the deficiencies of the prior art hearing aid are remedied by effecting a smooth change-over between the omnidirectional characteristic and any directional characteristic substantially without changing the phase relationship or time delay and the amplitude characteristic of the signals.
  • the change-over between the omnidirectional characteristic and a directional characteristic and vice versa may be controllable or even automatic.
  • the invention further relates to a hearing aid with controllable directionality of its sound receiving characteristic, comprising spaced apart first and second sound receiving microphone means, a signal processor for processing signals supplied by said microphone means and an output transducer for emission of sound signals in response to output signals from the signal processor, and further comprising change-over control means for change over of the sound receiving characteristic between an omnidirectional characteristic and a directional characteristic and combining means for combination of the signal from the first and second microphone means to provide an overall combined signal supplied to the signal processor, when operating the hearing aid with said directional characteristic, and adjustable time or phase delay means being provided for producing a phase-delayed modification of at least one signal.
  • the prior art hearing aid shown in fig. 1 two non-directional microphone circuits including a front microphone MICF and a back microphone MICB. Whereas the output signal from the front microphone MICF is supplied directly to the hearing aid signal processor via a summing node SN, the signal from the back microphone is supplied to the summing node SN via an inverter, an adjustable phase delay circuit and an attenuator with adjustable gain only by closure of a manually operated switch SW, whereby the sound receiving characteristic of the hearing is changed from the omnidirectional characteristic of front microphone MICF to a directional characteristic of varying shape.
  • the graphic representations in figs. 2 and 3 illustrate the variation of the sound receiving characteristic of the hearing aid in figure 1 from the omnidirectional shape ND and various directional shapes D1 to D10 ranging from weak cardioid to super cardioid form for values of the adjustable parameter omni ranging from 0 to 1, measured at 1kHz and 100 Hz, respectively, whereas the graphic representations in figs. 4 and 5 show the variation in the amplitude characteristics of the signals received from the areas in front and back of the hearing aid, respectively, for correspondingly varying values of the parameter omni .
  • the change-over between the omnidirectional characteristic and the various shapes of directional characteristic results in this prior art hearing aid not only in the desired gradual reduction in gain or amplitude response for the signals received from the area behind the user, but is accompanied also by a significant change in gain or amplitude response for the signals received from the area in front of the user.
  • an adjustment or fitting of the hearing to compensate for a users specific hearing impairment for listening in quiet surroundings, where use of the omnidirectional characteristic is preferred will not provide an optimum compensation, when a change over is made to a directional characteristic, e.g. for use of the hearing aid in a more noisy sound environment, such as a party.
  • Fig. 6 shows, in principle, the front end of a first embodiment of a hearing aid according to the inventions including a change-over controller for controlling change of the directionality of sound receiving characteristic of the hearing aid from the omnidirectional characteristic to a directional characteristic and vice versa.
  • This change may be effected as a switch-over or as a gradual and smooth change-over.
  • the front end of the hearing aid comprises at least two microphone circuits, i.a. a front microphone Fmic and a back microphone Bmic and possibly optional preprocessing circuits for the electrical output signals from the microphones.
  • the distance between the two microphones may be as small as 1 mm or as wide as a few cm.
  • the front end further contains at least two controllable amplifiers or attenuators 1 and 2, at least one time or phase delay device 3 and at least three combining circuits 4, 5 and 6. It is to be understood that the combining circuits may contain positive as well as negative input terminals, so as to form adding or subtraction operations or combinations thereof.
  • the back microphone Bmic is connected to the controllable amplifier or attenuator 1 and to a first adding circuit 4.
  • the front microphone Fmic is connected directly to the controllable amplifier or attenuator 2 and to a second adding circuit 6.
  • the output of the controllable amplifier or attenuator 2 is further connected directly to a second input of the first adding circuit 4, whereas the output of the controllable amplifier 1 is directly connected to a positive input of a subtraction circuit 5.
  • a preferable controllable delay device 3 is included.
  • adding and subtracting circuits will generally be referred to as combining circuits.
  • sounds from the environment of the hearing aid is picked up both by the front microphone Fmic and the back microphone Bmic.
  • the distance between the two microphones may be as small as 1 mm and as wide as a few cm.
  • the output signal of the front microphone Fmic is supplied to the combining circuit 6.
  • the output signal of the back microphone Bmic is supplied to a first input of a combining circuit 4 and to the controllable attenuator or controllable amplifier 1, the gain of which may be controllably changed from zero to one, i.e. from no amplification to full amplifi- cation. This change-over may be effected as a switch-over or as a controlled gradual change. This means that any amplification between zero and one may be controllably achieved.
  • the output signal, if any, of the front microphone Fmic is also supplied to a controllable attenuator or amplifier 2, the amplification of which may controllably be changed from zero to one, i.e. from no amplification to full amplification. Also in this case the change-over may be effected as a switch-over or as a gradual controlled change. This means that any amplification between zero and one may be achieved.
  • the output signal, if any, of the controllable attenuator or amplifier 2 is supplied to a second input of the combining circuit 4.
  • the output signal, if any, of combining circuit 4 is supplied to the controllable delay device 3, the delay of which may be controlled from as small as 1 ⁇ s up to 1000 ⁇ s or more.
  • the output signal, if any, of delay device 3 is supplied to the negative input of combining circuit 5, the output of which is supplied to the second input of the combining circuit 6.
  • the output signal of the front microphone Fmic may be attenuated in attenuator or controllable amplifier 2 before it is added to the undelayed output signal of the back microphone Bmic in the combining circuit 4, the output signal of which is then delayed in delay device 3 before being supplied to the combining circuit 5.
  • the controllable delay of delay device 3 will usually have the same value as the acoustical delay between the arrival times of sounds at the front microphone Fmic and at the back microphone Bmic. Preferably this delay is also adjustable and/or controllable.
  • the output signal of the attenuator or controllable amplifier 1 is supplied to the positive input of the combining circuit 5.
  • the delayed output signal of delay device 3 is subtracted from the attenuated output signal of amplifier or attenuator 1.
  • the output signal of the combining circuit 5 is supplied, as a processed signal to the combining circuit 6.
  • the output signal of the combining circuit 6 is then used as an input signal for further processing in the remaining components of the hearing aid such as the signal processor, which need not to be described here.
  • the remaining parts of the hearing aid may. as known in the art, comprise more than one signal processing channel having, and with such a structure either a common change-over controller or a separate controller for each channel may be provided.
  • the output signals of both microphones Fmic and Bmic may advantageously be converted into a digital representation before being supplied to the change-over controller with its components 1 to 6.
  • the signal transfer of the controllable attenuators 1 and 2 is set at zero, i.e. no signal is transferred.
  • the output signal of the front microphone Fmic is directly supplied to the second adding circuit 6.
  • the output signal of the back microphone Bmic is supplied via the first adding circuit 4 and delay device 3 to the negative input of the subtraction circuit 5, where the signal changes its polarity.
  • the output signal of the subtraction circuit 5 is then supplied to a second input of the second adding circuit 6.
  • the delayed signal from the back microphone Bmic is subtracted from the undelayed output signal of the front microphone Fmic.
  • the directional front characteristic may then be created by adjusting the delay T of the delay device to be the same as the acoustical delay A between the back microphone Bmic and the front microphone Fmic. With this delay the signals, that are first received at the back microphone Bmic and are later received at the front microphone Fmic, are then suppressed in the adding circuit 6, where the delayed signal of the back microphone is subtracted from the output signal of the front microphone.
  • This mode of operation results in an output signal from adding circuit 6, which is the result of the subtraction of the delayed output signal of the back microphone Bmic from the output signal of the front microphone Fmic, thus cancelling sound coming directly from the back of the user.
  • both attenuators 1 and 2 are set for a full signal transfer.
  • the output signals from the front microphone Fmic and the back microphone Bmic are supplied to the first adding circuit 4, where they are combined and supplied via delay device 3 to the subtraction circuit 5, where the combined and delayed signal is subtracted from the output signal of the back microphone Bmic.
  • the output signal of the subtraction circuit 5 is then supplied to the second adding circuit 6, where it is combined with the undelayed output signal of the front microphone Fmic.
  • the addition of these signals creates the omnidirectional characteristic.
  • This mode of operation results in an output signal from the adding circuit 6, which is generated by the addition of the signals from the front and back microphones from which the delayed front and back microphone signals are subtracted.
  • the sound signals received at the two microphones differ with respect to their arrival time at the respective microphones from a source, the distance of which is different for the two respective microphones.
  • X back X front *e -j ⁇ A , where e -j ⁇ A is the acoustical delay for the actual direction to the sound source.
  • the parameter omni should preferably be substantially the same for both attenuators 1 and 2.
  • the delay T is selected equal to the delay A directly from the back microphone to the front microphone in the directional mode of operation, then the part of the sound signal X coming directly from the back of the user is suppressed to the maximum extent and a directional characteristic known as a cardioid characteristic is achieved.
  • the signal process described so far is preferably performed as a digital process in the time or frequency domain. If processing in the frequency domain is employed, it is advantageous to use microphone circuits, omni which are capable of generating a delayed microphone output signal in combination with a non-delayed microphone output signal. Such microphone circuits are described in applicants' copending International Patent Application PCT/EP/99/00767.
  • Figs. 7 to 10 are graphic representations of sound receiving characteristics and amplitude response of a hearing aid embodying the front end part shown in fig.1 and corresponding to the representations in figs. 2 to 5 and using the same reference designations as in these figures, As will appear from figs. 7 and 8 the part of the sound receiving characteristic representing the area in front of the user is unaffected by the change over between the omnidirectional characteristic ND and the various directional shapes D1 to D10 and as illustrated by fig. 9 the amplitude response of signals received from the area in front of the user is unaffected by the change over and remains the same irrespective of change of the sound receiving characteristic to suppress sounds coming from the area behind the user.
  • the adjustment or fitting of the hearing aid to compensate for the user's hearing impairment in quiet surroundings, where the omnidirectional characteristic is used will provide optimum listening performance also when the hearing aid is used in a more noisy environment using a directional shape of the sound receiving characteristic.
  • the circuit in fig. 11 is similar to the circuit in fig. 6 and includes a change-over controller with components 1 to 6. Similar components have been assigned the same reference numerals.
  • signal processing units 7 and 8 are placed at the outputs of the at least two microphones, i.e. the front microphone Fmic and the back microphone Bmic.
  • the processed output signals of the two signal processing units 7 and 8 are then supplied to the change-over controller with components 1 to 6.
  • the signal processing units 7 and 8 may perform an equalizing function on the two output signals of the two microphones and/or may contain various filters, e.g. band pass filters. With the use of band pass filters the microphone signals may be split up into several bands, each equipped with its own change-over controller.
  • the respective output signals from the adding circuits 6 in the various bands or channels may then be combined into a composite combined signal to be further processed in the remaining stages of the hearing aid.
  • Fig. 12 shows a similar circuit diagram of a third embodiment, so that for the same components the same reference numerals are used.
  • this circuit the time delay for the output signals of the two microphones Fmic and Bmic is effected in separate delay units 3a and 3b representing the delay device 3.
  • the function is similar to the function of the circuits of figs. 6 and 11.
  • a control unit 9 is shown, which may control the attenuation of the controllable attenuators 1 and 2 as well as the delays of delay units 3a and 3b.
  • This embodiment of the invention is of special advantage in combination with microphone input circuits, which are capable of supplying a delayed microphone signal together with an undelayed microphone signal for a hearing aid. Such a circuit has been disclosed and described in applicants' copending International Patent Application PCT/EP99/00767.
  • Fig. 13 schematically shows a further improvement of the front end circuit of a hearing aid including a change-over controller as described so far with reference to fig. 6. Similar components have been designated with the same reference numerals as before.
  • the resulting amplitude response of the output signals of the adding means 6 will - of course - in the relevant frequency range - rise with 6 dB per octave compared to the amplitude response of a single microphone.
  • the change-over controller of the present invention could also be adapted to perform this compensation filtering. Therefore there will be no need to add a filter at the output of the adding circuit 6.
  • an additional subtraction circuit 10 is arranged between the adding circuit 4 and the delay device 3, an the output signal of the adding circuit 6 is directly supplied to the negative input of adding means 10 in a feedback loop.
  • controllable amplifier or attenuator 11 into the feedback loop.
  • the output signal of the change-over controller is fed back from the adding circuit 6 via the controllable attenuator 11 to the negative input of subtraction circuit 10.
  • the output signal of attenuator 11 is subtracted in the subtraction circuit 10 from the output signal of adding circuit 4.
  • the resulting output signal of subtraction circuit 10 is supplied to the delay device 3 and hence to the negative input of the subtraction circuit 5, the positive input of which is connected to the output of the controllable attenuator 1.
  • subtraction circuit 5 and adding circuit 6 could also be combined into a single combining circuit, provided this has, in every respect, the same properties as the two separate adding means 5 and 6.
  • the gain factor of attenuator 11 should be one or unity for the filtering being able to perform the 6 dB per octave fall at very low frequencies. However, this would probably result in a loop gain of unity so that the circuit might become unstable. Therefore, it is preferred to have the gain of the amplifier or attenuator 11 set to a little less than one or unity.
  • the change-over means comprises a first adding circuit 12 connected with the front and back microphones Fmic and Bmic and a first subtraction circuit 13 having a positive input connected with the front microphone Fmic and a negative input connected with the back microphone Bmic.
  • First and second phase delay devices 14 and 15 are connected with the first subtraction and adding circuits 13 and 12, respectively.
  • a second adding circuit 16 is connected with the first subtraction circuit 13 and the first phase delay device 14 and a second subtracting circuit 17 has its positive input connected with the first adding circuit 12 and its negative input connected with second phase delay device 15.
  • a first controllable attenuator 18 acts on the signal from the second adding circuit 16 for attenuation of this signlal by a factor (1 - omni )/2 and a second controllable attenuator 19 acts on the signal from the second subtraction circuit 17 for attenuation of this signal by a factor (1 + omni )/2, whereas a third adding circuit 20 is connected with the first and second attenuators 18 and 19 for addition of the signals therefrom to provide the overall combined signal to be supplied to the signal processor.
  • the microphones used in the described embodiments are preferably omnidirectional microphones.
  • the noise signals N are random signals. Therefore, the resulting signal amplitude is less than twice the single amplitude. Thus, a 3 dB-noise reduction results.

Landscapes

  • Circuit For Audible Band Transducer (AREA)

Claims (17)

  1. Un procédé pour commander la directivité de la caractéristique de réception de son d'un dispositif de correction auditive comprenant des premier et second moyens à microphone de réception de son espacés (Fmic, Bmic), un processeur de signal pour traiter des signaux fournis par les moyens à microphone et un transducteur de sortie pour l'émission de signaux sonores en réponse à des signaux de sortie du processeur de signal, ce procédé comprenant les étapes consistant à changer la caractéristique de réception de son entre une caractéristique omnidirectionnelle et une caractéristique directionnelle et, pendant le fonctionnement de l'appareil de correction auditive avec la caractéristique directionnelle, à combiner les signaux fournis par les premier et second moyens à microphone en un signal combiné global, un retard de temps ou de phase réglable étant imposé à au moins un signal, caractérisé en ce que le changement de la caractéristique de réception de son pour passer de la caractéristique omnidirectionnelle à la caractéristique directionnelle, et inversement, est effectué par une atténuation et un retard de temps ou de phase commandés de signaux élaborés à partir des deux signaux (Xfront, Xback) provenant des premier et second moyens à microphone, avant de former le signal combiné global (Y), en utilisant un paramètre de commande d'atténuation réglable (omni) et un retard (T), grâce à quoi le signal combiné global (Y) est déterminé par : Y = Xfront * (1 - omni * e-jωT) + Xback * (omni - e-jωT), pour commuter l'appareil de correction auditive entre la caractéristique omnidirectionnelle et n'importe quelle forme désirée de caractéristique directionnelle par une commutation abrupte ou par un changement progressif et régulier, pratiquement sans affecter les caractéristiques de relation de phase, de retard temporel et d'amplitude de l'appareil de correction auditive.
  2. Un procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le signal atténué provenant du premier moyen à microphone (Fmic) est soumis à un retard de temps ou de phase réglable suivi par une soustraction à partir du signal atténué provenant du second moyen à microphone (Bmic) et la formation du signal combiné global par la combinaison du résultat de la soustraction avec le signal fourni directement par le premier moyen à microphone (Fmic).
  3. Un procédé selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce qu'avant d'être soumis au retard de temps ou de phase, le signal atténué provenant du premier moyen à microphone (Fmic) est combiné avec le signal provenant du second moyen à microphone (Bmic) pour donner un premier signal combiné.
  4. Un procédé selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que le signal combiné global est soustrait du premier signal combiné.
  5. Un procédé selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que le signal combiné global est atténué avant d'être soustrait du premier signal combiné.
  6. Un procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les signaux provenant des premier et second moyens à microphone (Fmic, Bmic) sont appliqués à des moyens d'addition ainsi que de soustraction, les signaux obtenus par les moyens d'addition ainsi que de soustraction étant soumis à un retard de temps ou de phase réglable, le signal retardé en temps ou en phase provenant des moyens de soustraction étant additionné au signal fourni directement par les moyens de soustraction, ceci étant suivi par une atténuation d'un facteur (1 - omni)/2, et le signal retardé en temps ou en phase provenant des moyens d'addition étant soustrait du signal fourni directement par les moyens d'addition, ceci étant suivi par une atténuation d'un facteur (1 + omni)/2 pour fournir des premier et second signaux atténués, les premier et second signaux atténués étant additionnés pour donner le signal combiné global.
  7. Un procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le paramètre réglable (omni) est pratiquement le même pour l'atténuation des signaux élaborés.
  8. Un procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le paramètre réglable (omni) a une valeur dans la plage 0 ≤ omni ≤ 1.
  9. Un appareil de correction auditive dont la caractéristique de réception de son présente une directivité qui peut être commandée, comprenant des premier et second moyens à microphone de réception de son espacés (Fmic, Bmic), un processeur de signal pour traiter des signaux fournis par les moyens à microphone et un transducteur de sortie pour l'émission de signaux sonores en réponse à des signaux de sortie du processeur de signal, et comprenant en outre des moyens de commande de commutation pour commuter la caractéristique de réception de son entre une caractéristique omnidirectionnelle et une caractéristique directionnelle, et des moyens de combinaison (4 , 5, 6; 12, 13, 16, 17) pour combiner les signaux provenant des premier et second moyens à microphone (Fmic, Bmic) pour fournir un signal combiné global qui est appliqué au processeur de signal, pendant le fonctionnement de l'appareil de correction auditive avec la caractéristique directionnelle, et des moyens de retard de temps ou de phase réglables (3; 14, 15) étant incorporés pour produire une modification de retard de phase d'au moins un signal, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de commande de commutation comprennent des moyens d'atténuation pouvant être commandés (2, 1; 18, 19) et des moyens de retard de temps ou de phase pouvant être commandés (3; 14, 15) agissant sur des signaux élaborés à partir des signaux (Xfront, Xback) provenant à la fois des premier et second moyens à microphone (Fmic, Bmic), respectivement, les moyens d'atténuation et de retard de phase (1 - 3; 14, 15, 18, 19) étant commandés pour former le signal combiné global (Y) en utilisant un paramètre de commande d'atténuation réglable (omni) et un retard (T), grâce à quoi le signal combiné global (Y) est déterminé par : Y = Xfront * (1 - omni * e-jωT) + Xback * (omni - e-jωT), pour commuter l'appareil de correction auditive entre la caractéristique omnidirectionnelle et n'importe quelle forme désirée de la caractéristique directionnelle avec une commutation abrupte ou un changement progressif et régulier, pratiquement sans affecter la relation de phase, le retard temporel et la caractéristique d'amplitude de l'appareil de correction auditive.
  10. Un appareil de correction auditive selon la revendication 9, caractérisé en ce que les moyens d'atténuation comprennent des premier et second moyens atténuateurs (1, 2), la sortie des premiers moyens atténuateurs (2) étant connectée aux moyens de retard de temps ou de phase (3), la sortie des moyens de retard de temps ou de phase (3) étant connectée à une entrée négative de moyens de soustraction (5) ayant une entrée positive connectée aux seconds moyens atténuateurs (1), les signaux de sortie des moyens de soustraction et des premiers moyens à microphone (Fmic) étant appliqués à des moyens de combinaison (6) pour produire le signal combiné global (Y).
  11. Un appareil de correction auditive selon la revendication 10, caractérisé en ce que la sortie des premiers moyens atténuateurs (2) est connectée à une première entrée de moyens d'addition (4) ayant une seconde entrée connectée aux seconds moyens à microphone (Bmic), la sortie des moyens d'addition (4) étant connectée aux moyens de retard de temps ou de phase (3).
  12. Un appareil de correction auditive selon la revendication 9 ou 10, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de retard de temps ou de phase (3) comprennent des première et seconde unités de retard (3a, 3b) séparées, connectées respectivement aux premiers et seconds moyens à microphone (Fmic, Bmic), les moyens d'atténuation comprenant des premiers moyens atténuateurs (2) connectés entre la première unité de retard (3a) et les moyens de soustraction (5).
  13. Un appareil de correction auditive selon la revendication 11, caractérisé en ce que la sortie des moyens de combinaison (6) fournissant le signal combiné global (Y) est connectée par l'intermédiaire d'une boucle de rétroaction à une entrée négative de moyens de soustraction (10) ayant une entrée positive connectée à la sortie des moyens d'addition (4).
  14. Un appareil de correction auditive selon la revendication 13, caractérisé en ce que des troisièmes moyens atténuateurs (11) sont inclus dans la boucle de rétroaction.
  15. Un appareil de correction auditive selon la revendication 9, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de commutation comprennent un premier circuit d'addition (12) connecté aux premiers et seconds moyens à microphone (Fmic, Bmic) et un premier circuit de soustraction (13) ayant une entrée positive connectée aux premiers moyens à microphone (Fmic) et une entrée négative connectée aux second moyens à microphone (Bmic), des premier et second dispositifs de retard de temps ou de phase (14, 15) respectivement connectés aux premiers circuits de soustraction et d'addition (13, 12), un second circuit d'addition (16) pour additionner les signaux fournis par le premier circuit de soustraction (13) et le premier dispositif de retard de temps ou de phase (14), et un second circuit de soustraction (17) ayant une entrée positive connectée au premier circuit d'addition (12) et une entrée négative connecté au second dispositif de retard de temps ou de phase (15), un premier atténuateur (18) pouvant être commandé, soumettant le signal provenant du second circuit d'addition (16) à une atténuation d'un facteur (1 - omni)/2, un second atténuateur (19) pouvant être commandé, soumettant le signal provenant du second circuit de soustraction (17) à une atténuation d'un facteur (1 + omni)/2, et un troisième circuit d'addition (20) pour additionner les signaux provenant des premier et second atténuateurs (18, 19) pour fournir le signal combiné global.
  16. Un appareil de correction auditive selon l'une quelconque des revendications 9 à 15, caractérisé en ce que le paramètre réglable (omni) est pratiquement le même pour l'atténuation des signaux élaborés.
  17. Un dispositif de correction auditive selon l'une quelconque des revendications 9 à 16, caractérisé en ce que le paramètre réglable (omni) a une valeur dans la plage 0 ≤ omni ≤ 1.
EP00938590A 1999-06-24 2000-06-23 Procede de commande de la directionalite de la caracteristique de reception de son d'une aide auditive, et aide auditive dans laquelle est applique ledit procede Expired - Lifetime EP1203508B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP00938590A EP1203508B1 (fr) 1999-06-24 2000-06-23 Procede de commande de la directionalite de la caracteristique de reception de son d'une aide auditive, et aide auditive dans laquelle est applique ledit procede

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/EP1999/004375 WO2001001732A1 (fr) 1999-06-24 1999-06-24 Prothese auditive possedant des caracteristiques directionnelles pouvant etre commandees
WOPCT/EP99/04375 1999-06-24
PCT/DK2000/000339 WO2001001731A1 (fr) 1999-06-24 2000-06-23 Procede de commande de la directionalite de la caracteristique de reception de son d'une aide auditive, et aide auditive dans laquelle est applique ledit procede
EP00938590A EP1203508B1 (fr) 1999-06-24 2000-06-23 Procede de commande de la directionalite de la caracteristique de reception de son d'une aide auditive, et aide auditive dans laquelle est applique ledit procede

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1203508A1 EP1203508A1 (fr) 2002-05-08
EP1203508B1 true EP1203508B1 (fr) 2003-08-27

Family

ID=26070372

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00938590A Expired - Lifetime EP1203508B1 (fr) 1999-06-24 2000-06-23 Procede de commande de la directionalite de la caracteristique de reception de son d'une aide auditive, et aide auditive dans laquelle est applique ledit procede

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1203508B1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7957548B2 (en) 2006-05-16 2011-06-07 Phonak Ag Hearing device with transfer function adjusted according to predetermined acoustic environments
US8483416B2 (en) 2006-07-12 2013-07-09 Phonak Ag Methods for manufacturing audible signals

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7957548B2 (en) 2006-05-16 2011-06-07 Phonak Ag Hearing device with transfer function adjusted according to predetermined acoustic environments
US8483416B2 (en) 2006-07-12 2013-07-09 Phonak Ag Methods for manufacturing audible signals

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1203508A1 (fr) 2002-05-08

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6704422B1 (en) Method for controlling the directionality of the sound receiving characteristic of a hearing aid a hearing aid for carrying out the method
EP1380187B1 (fr) Commande de direction et procede permettant de commander une aide auditive
US10575104B2 (en) Binaural hearing device system with a binaural impulse environment detector
EP2360943B1 (fr) Formation de faisceau dans des dispositifs auditifs
US6888949B1 (en) Hearing aid with adaptive noise canceller
JP4145323B2 (ja) 補聴器の受音特性の指向性制御方法および制御可能な指向特性を備える補聴器用の信号処理装置
CA2385812C (fr) Procede de commande de la directionalite de la caracteristique de reception de son d'une aide auditive, et aide auditive dans laquelle est applique ledit procede
US7764801B2 (en) Directional microphone array system
US20140010373A1 (en) Binaural hearing aid with frequency unmasking
EP1730993B1 (fr) Dispositif d'ecoute a deux microphones ou plus
CN113825076A (zh) 用于包括听力装置的听力系统的与方向相关抑制噪声的方法
EP2928213B1 (fr) Prothèse auditive à localisation améliorée d'une source de signal monophonique
US7460677B1 (en) Directional microphone array system
EP1203508B1 (fr) Procede de commande de la directionalite de la caracteristique de reception de son d'une aide auditive, et aide auditive dans laquelle est applique ledit procede
CA2490845C (fr) Appareil auditif zoom veritable oreille
US7212643B2 (en) Real-ear zoom hearing device
EP2611215B1 (fr) Aide auditive dotée d'un meilleur signal
EP2683179B1 (fr) Aide auditive avec démasquage de la fréquence
EP4084501A1 (fr) Dispositif d'aide auditive à sensibilité omnidirectionnelle
Hamacher Algorithms for future commercial hearing aids

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20020115

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20030827

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20030827

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20030827

Ref country code: CY

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20030827

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20030827

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DK

Ref legal event code: T3

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 60004863

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20031002

Kind code of ref document: P

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: NV

Representative=s name: PATENTANWAELTE SCHAAD, BALASS, MENZL & PARTNER AG

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20031127

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20031127

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20031208

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20040127

NLV1 Nl: lapsed or annulled due to failure to fulfill the requirements of art. 29p and 29m of the patents act
ET Fr: translation filed
PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20040623

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20040623

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MC

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20040630

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20040528

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: MM4A

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20090622

Year of fee payment: 10

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20100623

Year of fee payment: 11

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20110228

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20100623

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20100630

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R082

Ref document number: 60004863

Country of ref document: DE

Representative=s name: PATENTANWAELTE BETTEN & RESCH, DE

Effective date: 20111229

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R081

Ref document number: 60004863

Country of ref document: DE

Owner name: WIDEX A/S, DK

Free format text: FORMER OWNER: WIDEX A/S, VAERLOESE, DK

Effective date: 20111229

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R082

Ref document number: 60004863

Country of ref document: DE

Representative=s name: BETTEN & RESCH PATENT- UND RECHTSANWAELTE PART, DE

Effective date: 20111229

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20110623

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20110623

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20090611

Year of fee payment: 10

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DK

Payment date: 20150610

Year of fee payment: 16

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20150616

Year of fee payment: 16

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 20150612

Year of fee payment: 16

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 60004863

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DK

Ref legal event code: EBP

Effective date: 20160630

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20160630

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20160630

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20170103

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20160630