EP1885158B1 - Hearing-aid with audio signal generator and method - Google Patents

Hearing-aid with audio signal generator and method Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1885158B1
EP1885158B1 EP07112243.6A EP07112243A EP1885158B1 EP 1885158 B1 EP1885158 B1 EP 1885158B1 EP 07112243 A EP07112243 A EP 07112243A EP 1885158 B1 EP1885158 B1 EP 1885158B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
audio signal
section
hearing aid
signal section
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.)
Active
Application number
EP07112243.6A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1885158A3 (en
EP1885158A2 (en
Inventor
Wolfgang Sörgel
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.)
Sivantos GmbH
Original Assignee
Sivantos GmbH
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 Sivantos GmbH filed Critical Sivantos GmbH
Publication of EP1885158A2 publication Critical patent/EP1885158A2/en
Publication of EP1885158A3 publication Critical patent/EP1885158A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1885158B1 publication Critical patent/EP1885158B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

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
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2225/00—Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2225/61—Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
    • 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
    • H04R25/30—Monitoring or testing of hearing aids, e.g. functioning, settings, battery power
    • H04R25/305—Self-monitoring or self-testing

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a hearing aid with at least one sound receiver and a sound generator.
  • a user interface is known, which is designed to generate a signal tone or an acknowledgment tone as a function of user interaction or as a function of a predetermined event.
  • the hearing aid known from the prior art can confirm a successful change to another hearing program with an acknowledgment tone.
  • This acknowledgment tone can be reproduced via the sound generator of the hearing aid.
  • the hearing aids known from the prior art have the problem that such beeps or acknowledgment tones can be perceived as unpleasant by a user of the hearing aid known from the prior art.
  • a hearing aid which can provide time-limited audio signals on user-changeable storage elements. In this case, different audio signal patterns are provided for an audio signal.
  • the audio signals are each time-limited and can each be generated as an acknowledgment signal in response to a control signal.
  • the user can program the audio signals in which corresponding audio signal patterns can be loaded into a memory of the hearing aid. Sequences of beep signals are also provided as acknowledgment signals.
  • WO 2004/017675 A1 a method of treating monofrequency tinnitus by superimposing sound waves. First, the amplitude and the frequency of a sound are determined. Subsequently, this tone is gradually shifted in phase until extinction of the tinnitus tone of the patient is achieved.
  • the problem underlying the invention is therefore to provide a hearing aid improved with regard to the aforementioned problem.
  • a hearing aid having at least one sound receiver and a sound generator, wherein the at least one sound receiver is configured to receive sound waves and to generate a microphone signal representing the received sound waves.
  • the hearing aid also has a transmission unit which is connected on the input side to the at least one sound receiver and on the output side to the sound generator.
  • the transmission unit is designed to receive the microphone signal on the input side and to generate a power signal depending on the microphone signal received on the input side, which at least partially represents the microphone signal.
  • the sound generator is designed to receive the power signal on the input side and to generate a sound as a function of the power signal received on the input side, which corresponds to the power signal.
  • the hearing aid also has an audio signal unit which is operatively connected to the sound generator and designed to generate an audio signal which has at least two audio signal sections immediately following one another in time.
  • the audio signal sections each have an audio signal section duration and the audio signal has at least one audible frequency for a human ear.
  • the audio signal portions follow each other so that an audio signal portion subsequent to a previous audio signal portion starts before the previous audio signal portion is terminated, so that the previous and subsequent audio signal portions overlap each other with an overlap period, the overlap period being smaller than the audio signal portion period of the previous audio signal section.
  • temporally overlapping temporally consecutive audio signal sections are represented for example by the audio signal sections respectively Sounds perceived by a user of the hearing aid as pleasant.
  • each audio signal section has one end, wherein in particular a sudden termination of an audio signal section often represents a jump signal whose switch-off button can be perceived as unpleasant by a user of the hearing aid.
  • overlapping the audio signal sections such a sudden termination of a previous audio signal section advantageously does not occur.
  • Temporal successive tones can be perceived as a melody.
  • the audio signal unit has an input for an event signal and is designed to generate the audio signal in dependence on the event signal.
  • the event signal can be generated by the hearing aid, for example, when a battery charge of a connected battery falls below a predetermined value.
  • the audio signal may represent, for example, a warning signal in this embodiment.
  • an event signal may be generated by the hearing aid in response to a user interaction signal as confirmation of user interaction.
  • the audio signal section has an end section, wherein an amplitude envelope of the end section has a falling amplitude profile.
  • an audio signal section may be a played sound of a musical instrument, in particular a piano, a harpsichord or represent a sound produced by plucking a guitar page.
  • the amplitude envelope of the end section exhibits an exponentially decreasing amplitude profile.
  • temporally immediately successive audio signal sections can each represent a sound with mutually different pitches, so that the audio signal represents a melody.
  • the audio signal section has an initial section, wherein an amplitude envelope of the initial section has a particularly linearly increasing amplitude profile.
  • the audio signal section has a constant section with a time-constant course of an amplitude envelope.
  • the audio signal section represents a sound having a predetermined fundamental frequency. More preferably, the audio signal portion represents a plurality of harmonics of the sound having the predetermined fundamental frequency. In this way, advantageously, a sound character of a sound can be generated.
  • the audio signal section represents one of at least one musical instrument or a sound produced by a human voice.
  • an audio signal section may represent a two-part, three-part, or a polyphony-generated sound.
  • the audio signal unit has at least two tone signal generators, which are each designed to generate at least one audio signal section.
  • the audio signal unit is designed to control the at least two tone signal generators alternately to each other and thus to generate the audio signal.
  • an audio signal can advantageously be generated by a space-saving and cost-effective manner.
  • the audio signal unit is designed to generate the audio signal section by means of frequency modulation synthesis.
  • a sound-saving sound can advantageously be generated saving space, which represents, for example, a sound of a musical instrument.
  • a memory requirement for a sound thus held may advantageously amount to one-tenth of a memory requirement for a sample formed of samples.
  • the hearing aid has a memory for at least one audio signal section, wherein the audio signal section is formed from samples which each represent an audio signal amplitude value of the audio signal section at a sampling instant.
  • an audio signal section can represent almost any sounds or noises.
  • the invention also relates to a method for generating an audio signal by means of a hearing aid, wherein the audio signal comprises at least two audio signal sections and represents at least one frequency perceptible by a human ear.
  • FIG. 1 1 schematically shows a diagram 1.
  • the diagram 1 shows a graph 7 which represents an amplitude envelope of an audio signal section.
  • the audio signal section has four mutually different phases, namely an attack phase, a decay phase, a sustain phase and a release phase.
  • the diagram 1 has an abscissa 3 and an ordinate 5. On the abscissa 3, a time is plotted and on the ordinate 5, an audio signal amplitude is plotted.
  • the period 9 represents a rising phase of the audio signal portion.
  • the time section 11 represents a decay phase of the audio signal section.
  • the time section 13 represents a holding phase of the audio signal section.
  • the time section 15 represents a decay phase of the audio signal section in which the profile of the amplitude envelope drops.
  • FIG. 2 schematically shows diagram 2, in which three temporal signal amplitude curves are shown. Illustrated are audio signal sections generated by a first audio signal generator 17, audio signal sections 19 generated by a second tone signal generator and an audio signal 20 formed of the audio signal sections 17 and 19.
  • the diagram 2 has an abscissa 4 and an ordinate 6, wherein the abscissa 4 represents a time course and the ordinate 6 for the audio signal sections 17 and 19 and for the audio signal 20 each represent signal amplitude values.
  • the audio signal sections 19 generated by the second tone signal generator are formed of an audio signal section which extends between a sample value 0 and a sample value 15,000.
  • An end section of the audio signal section with a decreasing amplitude characteristic extends between a sample value 10,000 and the sample value 15,000, this end section corresponding to the in FIG. 1 shown time portion 15 corresponds to the falling gradient of the amplitude envelopes.
  • an audio signal portion of the audio signal portions 17 generated by the first tone generator starts and extends to a sample value of 25,000.
  • an audio signal portion generated by the second tone generator and extending to a sample 35,000 begins.
  • an audio signal portion generated by the first tone generator starts.
  • the audio signal 20 represents a sum signal which is generated by summing the audio signal section 17 generated by the first sound signal generator and the audio signal section 19 generated by the second sound signal generator.
  • the audio signal sections may respectively represent sounds generated by a musical instrument to form a melody.
  • the audio signal 20 can thus represent the melody, comprising four tones in this embodiment.
  • FIG. 3 schematically shows an embodiment of a hearing aid with two interconnected Tonsignalgeneratoren, each of which may be part of an audio signal unit and which for generating an audio signal, for example, the in FIG. 2 represented audio signal 20 are provided.
  • a hearing aid circuit 21 has a first tone signal generator 22 and a second tone signal generator 24.
  • the tone signal generator 22 has a trigger input 34, a frequency input 36 and a level input 38.
  • the second tone signal generator 24 has a trigger input 40, a frequency input 42 and a level input 44.
  • the first tone signal generator 22 has a signal output 50
  • the second tone signal generator 24 has a signal output 51.
  • the tone signal generators 22 and 24 are each designed to generate an audio signal section in response to a trigger signal received on the input side, which has at least one frequency perceptible by a human ear.
  • the audio signal section has an amplitude envelope, which has a temporal amplitude characteristic according to the in FIG FIG. 1 may have shown curve 7.
  • the tone signal generators 22 and 24 are each designed to generate the audio signal section at a fundamental frequency, wherein the fundamental frequency in each case depends on a frequency input side received control signal.
  • the tone signal generators 22 and 24 are thus designed to generate a fundamental frequency of the generated audio signal section as a function of a control signal received on the input side. For example, it is further advantageous to generate additional harmonics from the tone signal generators 22 and 24 as a function of the control signal.
  • the tone signal generator 22 is configured to generate a volume level of the audio signal portion in response to a level signal received on the input side.
  • the level signal can be received at the level input 38.
  • the tone signal generator 24 is designed in accordance with the tone signal generator 22 and can receive a level signal on the input side via the level input 44.
  • the tone signal generators 22 and 24 are each connected on the output side to a summation element 47.
  • the summing element 47 is connected on the input side to the signal output 50 and the signal output 51 and connected on the output side to an output 32 of the circuit arrangement 21.
  • the summing element 47 is designed to add signals received on the input side to one another and thus to form a summation signal and output this on the output side.
  • the circuit arrangement 21 has a flip-flop circuit which is formed by a selection element 46, an AND element 48, an AND element 49 and a NOT element 52.
  • the trigger circuit has a trigger input 26, which forms a trigger input of the circuit arrangement 21.
  • the AND gate 48 is connected on the output side to the trigger input 40 of the second tone signal generator 24.
  • the AND gate 49 is connected on the output side to the trigger input 34 of the first tone signal generator 22.
  • a first input of the AND gate 48 is connected to the trigger input 26 and a first input of the AND gate 49 is connected to the trigger input 26.
  • the selector 46 has a signal input u, a reset input R and an input IC for an initial condition.
  • the selector 46 has a transfer function corresponding to a time delay.
  • the reset input of the selector 46 is connected to the trigger input 26.
  • the selection element 46 is fed back on the output side to the signal input u and on the output side to an input of the NOT element 52 and to a second input of the AND element 48.
  • the NOT element 52 is connected on the output side to the input for an initial condition of the selection element 46 and to a second input of the AND element 49.
  • a holding member is formed. For example, if a trigger signal is present at the trigger input 26, the selection element 46 is reset via the reset input and generates a logically positive output signal, which is maintained by the feedback.
  • the output signal is now on the input side to the NOT element 52 and to the second input of the AND gate 48 at.
  • the NOT element 52 generates on the output side a logically negative signal which is applied to the second input of the AND gate 49.
  • At the first inputs of the AND gates 48 and 49 is in each case the - logically positive - trigger signal of the trigger input 26. In this way, a switching condition of the AND gate 48 is given and an output signal of the AND gate 48 may form a trigger signal for the second tone signal generator 24, which is applied to the trigger input 40.
  • the selector 46 Upon a repeated application of a logic positive trigger signal to the trigger input 26, the selector 46 reset, wherein the initial condition, controlled by the input IC, is logically negative. In this way, a logically negative output signal is generated, which is maintained by the feedback via the signal input u.
  • the logically negative output signal is now present at the input side of the NOT element 52 and at the second input of the AND gate 48th
  • the AND gate 48 is now the input side by the NOT element 52 logically positive and controlled by the logic negative output logic negative and therefore goes into a blocking state.
  • On the AND gate 49 are on the input side two logically positive signals, so that the AND gate 49 generates an output signal which is applied to the trigger input 34 of the tone signal generator 22 and thus can form a trigger signal for the tone signal generator 22.
  • the tone signal generator 22 can now - triggered by the trigger signal thus generated - generate an audio signal section and output this output side via the output 50.
  • the circuit arrangement 21 also has a frequency input 28 and a level input 30.
  • the frequency input 28 is connected to the frequency input 36 and the first tone signal generator 22 and to the frequency input 42 of the second tone signal generator 24.
  • the level input 30 is connected to the level input 38 of the first tone signal generator 22 and to the level input 44 of the second tone signal generator 24.
  • the tone signal generators 22 and 24 respectively in the case of a drive generate by means of a trigger signal an audio signal section with a fundamental frequency which corresponds to an input side of the frequency input 28 of the circuit 21 adjacent frequency signal.
  • An output level - and thus a volume of the generated audio signal section - can be controlled via the level inputs 38 and 44, so that an output level and thus a maximum amplitude of the respectively generated audio signal section corresponds to a level signal applied to the level input 30.
  • the circuit arrangement 21 also has a control unit 54 and a melody generator 56, which has an input 66 for an event signal and is connected on the input side to the control unit 54.
  • the melody generator is connected on the output side to the frequency input 28 and to the trigger input 26.
  • the melody generator 56 may keep at least one melody data set 58 representing a melody and decode it in response to an event signal received on the input side, and generate and output to the output side corresponding frequency signals for generating respective audio signal portions.
  • the melody generator 56 can generate a trigger signal for each audio signal section to be generated and output this to the trigger input 26.
  • the circuit arrangement also comprises a transmission unit 60, a sound receiver 62 and a sound generator 64, which are each connected to the transmission unit 60.
  • the operation of the transmission unit 60, the sound generator 64 and the sound receiver 62 is as already described above.
  • the transmission unit 60 is connected on the input side to the output 32 and can generate a power signal which corresponds to an audio signal received by the output 32 and outputs this to the sound generator 64.

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)
  • Electrophonic Musical Instruments (AREA)

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft eine Hörhilfe mit wenigstens einem Schallempfänger und einem Schallerzeuger. Bei aus dem Stand der Technik bekannten Hörhilfen ist eine Benutzerschnittstelle bekannt, welche ausgebildet ist, in Abhängigkeit einer Benutzerinteraktion oder in Abhängigkeit eines vorbestimmten Ereignisses einen Signalton oder einen Quittierungston zu erzeugen. Beispielsweise kann die aus dem Stand der Technik bekannte Hörhilfe einen erfolgreichen Wechsel in ein anderes Hörprogramm mit einem Quittierungston bestätigen.The invention relates to a hearing aid with at least one sound receiver and a sound generator. In hearing aids known from the prior art, a user interface is known, which is designed to generate a signal tone or an acknowledgment tone as a function of user interaction or as a function of a predetermined event. For example, the hearing aid known from the prior art can confirm a successful change to another hearing program with an acknowledgment tone.

Dieser Quittierungston kann über den Schallerzeuger der Hörhilfe wiedergegeben werden.This acknowledgment tone can be reproduced via the sound generator of the hearing aid.

Bei den aus dem Stand der Technik bekannten Hörhilfen besteht das Problem, dass solche Signaltöne oder Quittierungstöne von einem Benutzer der aus dem Stand der Technik bekannten Hörhilfe als unangenehm wahrgenommen werden können. Aus der WO 01/30127 A2 ist eine Hörhilfe bekannt, welche zeitbeschränkte Audiosignale auf benutzerwechselbaren Speicherelementen bereithalten kann. Dabei sind verschiedene Audiosignalmuster für ein Audiosignal vorgesehen. Die Audiosignale sind jeweils zeitbeschränkt und können jeweils als Quittierungssignal auf ein Steuersignal hin erzeugt werden. Der Benutzer kann die Audiosignale programmieren, in dem in einen Speicher der Hörhilfe entsprechende Audiosignalmuster geladen werden können. Als Quittierungssignale sind auch Abfolgen von Piep-Signalen vorgesehen.The hearing aids known from the prior art have the problem that such beeps or acknowledgment tones can be perceived as unpleasant by a user of the hearing aid known from the prior art. From the WO 01/30127 A2 a hearing aid is known which can provide time-limited audio signals on user-changeable storage elements. In this case, different audio signal patterns are provided for an audio signal. The audio signals are each time-limited and can each be generated as an acknowledgment signal in response to a control signal. The user can program the audio signals in which corresponding audio signal patterns can be loaded into a memory of the hearing aid. Sequences of beep signals are also provided as acknowledgment signals.

Des Weiteren beschreibt die WO 2004/017675 A1 ein Verfahren zur Behandlung eines Monofrequenz-Tinnitus mittels Überlagerung von Schallwellen. Dabei werden zunächst die Amplitude und die Frequenz eines Tons bestimmt. Anschließend wird dieser Ton schrittweise in der Phase verschoben, solange bis eine Auslöschung des Tinnitus-Tons des Patienten erreicht wird.Furthermore, the describes WO 2004/017675 A1 a method of treating monofrequency tinnitus by superimposing sound waves. First, the amplitude and the frequency of a sound are determined. Subsequently, this tone is gradually shifted in phase until extinction of the tinnitus tone of the patient is achieved.

Die der Erfindung zugrundeliegende Aufgabe ist es daher, eine hinsichtlich des vorgenannten Problems verbesserte Hörhilfe anzugeben.The problem underlying the invention is therefore to provide a hearing aid improved with regard to the aforementioned problem.

Diese Aufgabe wird durch eine Hörhilfe gemäß Anspruch 1 mit wenigstens einem Schallempfänger und einem Schallerzeuger gelöst, wobei der wenigstens eine Schallempfänger ausgebildet ist, Schallwellen zu empfangen und ein Mikrofonsignal zu erzeugen welches die empfangenen Schallwellen repräsentiert.This object is achieved by a hearing aid according to claim 1 having at least one sound receiver and a sound generator, wherein the at least one sound receiver is configured to receive sound waves and to generate a microphone signal representing the received sound waves.

Die Hörhilfe weist auch eine Übertragungseinheit auf, welche eingangsseitig mit dem wenigstens einen Schallempfänger und ausgangsseitig mit dem Schallerzeuger verbunden ist. Die Übertragungseinheit ist ausgebildet, das Mikrofonsignal eingangsseitig zu empfangen und in Abhängigkeit von dem eingangsseitig empfangenen Mikrofonsignal ein Leistungssignal zu erzeugen, welches wenigstens teilweise das Mikrofonsignal repräsentiert.The hearing aid also has a transmission unit which is connected on the input side to the at least one sound receiver and on the output side to the sound generator. The transmission unit is designed to receive the microphone signal on the input side and to generate a power signal depending on the microphone signal received on the input side, which at least partially represents the microphone signal.

Der Schallerzeuger ist ausgebildet, das Leistungssignal eingangsseitig zu empfangen und einen Schall in Abhängigkeit von dem eingangsseitig empfangenen Leistungssignal zu erzeugen, welcher dem Leistungssignal entspricht. Die Hörhilfe weist auch eine Audiosignaleinheit auf, welche mit dem Schallerzeuger wirkverbunden und ausgebildet ist, ein Audiosignal zu erzeugen, welches wenigstens zwei unmittelbar zeitlich aufeinander folgende Audiosignalabschnitte aufweist.The sound generator is designed to receive the power signal on the input side and to generate a sound as a function of the power signal received on the input side, which corresponds to the power signal. The hearing aid also has an audio signal unit which is operatively connected to the sound generator and designed to generate an audio signal which has at least two audio signal sections immediately following one another in time.

Die Audiosignalabschnitte weisen jeweils eine Audiosignalabschnittzeitdauer auf und dass Audiosignal weist wenigstens eine für ein menschliches Ohr hörbare Frequenz auf.The audio signal sections each have an audio signal section duration and the audio signal has at least one audible frequency for a human ear.

Die Audiosignalabschnitte folgen derart aufeinander, dass ein auf einen vorigen Audiosignalabschnitt zeitlich folgender Audiosignalabschnitt beginnt, bevor der vorige Audiosignalabschnitt beendet ist, so dass der vorige und der folgende Audiosignalabschnitt einander mit einer Überschneidungszeitdauer überschneiden, wobei die Überschneidungszeitdauer kleiner ist als die Audiosignalabschnittzeitdauer des vorigen Audiosignalabschnitts.The audio signal portions follow each other so that an audio signal portion subsequent to a previous audio signal portion starts before the previous audio signal portion is terminated, so that the previous and subsequent audio signal portions overlap each other with an overlap period, the overlap period being smaller than the audio signal portion period of the previous audio signal section.

Durch ein zeitliches Überschneiden zeitlich unmittelbar aufeinander folgender Audiosignalabschnitte werden beispielsweise durch die Audiosignalabschnitte jeweils repräsentierten Töne von einem Benutzer der Hörhilfe als angenehm wahrgenommen. Erfindungsgemäß wurde nämlich erkannt, dass jeder Audiosignalabschnitt ein Ende aufweist, wobei insbesondere ein plötzliches Enden eines Audiosignalabschnittes oftmals ein Sprungsignal repräsentiert, dessen Abschaltknacksen von einem Benutzer der Hörhilfe als unangenehm wahrgenommen werden kann.
Durch ein Überschneiden der Audiosignalabschnitte tritt ein solches plötzliches Beenden eines vorigen Audiosignalabschnitts vorteilhaft nicht auf. Zeitlich aufeinanderfolgende Töne können als Melodie wahrgenommen werden.By temporally overlapping temporally consecutive audio signal sections are represented for example by the audio signal sections respectively Sounds perceived by a user of the hearing aid as pleasant. In fact, according to the invention, it has been recognized that each audio signal section has one end, wherein in particular a sudden termination of an audio signal section often represents a jump signal whose switch-off button can be perceived as unpleasant by a user of the hearing aid.
By overlapping the audio signal sections, such a sudden termination of a previous audio signal section advantageously does not occur. Temporal successive tones can be perceived as a melody.

In einer vorteilhaften Ausführungsform der Hörhilfe weist die Audiosignaleinheit einen Eingang für ein Ereignissignal auf und ist ausgebildet, das Audiosignal in Abhängigkeit von dem Ereignissignal zu erzeugen. Das Ereignissignal kann von der Hörhilfe beispielsweise erzeugt werden, wenn eine Batterieladung einer angeschlossenen Batterie einen vorbestimmten Wert unterschreitet. Das Audiosignal kann in dieser Ausführungsform beispielsweise ein Warnsignal repräsentieren.In an advantageous embodiment of the hearing aid, the audio signal unit has an input for an event signal and is designed to generate the audio signal in dependence on the event signal. The event signal can be generated by the hearing aid, for example, when a battery charge of a connected battery falls below a predetermined value. The audio signal may represent, for example, a warning signal in this embodiment.

Bevorzugt kann ein Ereignissignal von der Hörhilfe in Abhängigkeit eines Benutzerinteraktionssignals als Bestätigung einer Benutzerinteraktion erzeugt werden.Preferably, an event signal may be generated by the hearing aid in response to a user interaction signal as confirmation of user interaction.

In einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Hörhilfe weist der Audiosignalabschnitt einen Endabschnitt auf, wobei eine Amplituden-Einhüllende des Endabschnitts einen fallenden Amplitudenverlauf aufweist.In a preferred embodiment of the hearing aid, the audio signal section has an end section, wherein an amplitude envelope of the end section has a falling amplitude profile.

Ein mit einer fallenden Amplituden-Einhüllenden abklingender Ton oder ein anderes durch einen Audiosignalabschnitt repräsentierten Geräusches wird dadurch vorteilhaft von einem Benutzer der Hörhilfe als angenehm wahrgenommen, da der Ton oder das Geräusch allmählich ausklingt. Beispielsweise kann ein Audiosignalabschnitt einen gespielten Ton eines Musikinstruments, insbesondere eines Klaviers, eines Cembalos oder einen durch Zupfen einer Gitarrenseite erzeugten Ton repräsentieren.A sound decaying with a falling amplitude envelope or another sound represented by an audio signal section is thereby advantageously perceived as pleasant by a user of the hearing aid, as the sound or noise gradually fades away. For example, an audio signal section may be a played sound of a musical instrument, in particular a piano, a harpsichord or represent a sound produced by plucking a guitar page.

In dieser Ausführungsform wird ein allmähliches Abklingen einer Amplituden-Einhüllenden als angenehm empfunden.In this embodiment, a gradual decay of an amplitude envelope is perceived as pleasant.

In einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform weist die Amplituden-Einhüllende des Endabschnitts einen exponentiell fallenden Amplitudenverlauf auf.In a preferred embodiment, the amplitude envelope of the end section exhibits an exponentially decreasing amplitude profile.

In einer bevorzugten Ausführungsvariante der Hörhilfe ist die Überschneidungszeitdauer kleiner als der Endabschnitt des vorigen Audiosignalabschnitts. Wenn beispielsweise ein voriger Audiosignalabschnitt einen mittels eines Klaviers erzeugten angeschlagenen Ton repräsentiert, so wird es von einem Benutzer der Hörhilfe als angenehm empfunden, wenn ein darauf folgender Audiosignalabschnitt, welcher ebenfalls einen mittels eines Klaviers erzeugten, anderen Ton repräsentiert, der zweite Ton während einer Ausklingphase des ersten angeschlagenen Tons beginnt.
Selbstverständlich kann ein Audiosignalabschnitt auch andere Töne repräsentieren:

  • So sind beispielsweise von Schlaginstrumenten erzeugte Töne, insbesondere ein Metallophonton, ein Xylophonton, ein Gongton, ein Glockenton, ein von einem Streichinstrument erzeugter Ton, ein von einem Blasinstrument erzeugter Ton oder ein von einem Synthesizer erzeugter Ton denkbar.
In a preferred embodiment of the hearing aid, the overlap period is shorter than the end section of the previous audio signal section. For example, if a previous audio signal section represents a pitched sound produced by a piano, it is perceived by a user of the hearing aid as pleasant when a subsequent audio signal section, which also represents a different sound generated by a piano, the second sound during a Ausklingphase of the first struck sound begins.
Of course, an audio signal section may also represent other tones:
  • Thus, for example, notes produced by percussion instruments, in particular a metallophone tone, a xylophone tone, a gong tone, a bell sound, a sound produced by a string instrument, a sound produced by a wind instrument or a sound produced by a synthesizer are conceivable.

So können beispielsweise zeitlich unmittelbar aufeinander folgende Audiosignalabschnitte jeweils einen Ton mit zueinander verschiedenen Tonhöhen repräsentieren, so dass das Audiosignal eine Melodie repräsentiert.Thus, for example, temporally immediately successive audio signal sections can each represent a sound with mutually different pitches, so that the audio signal represents a melody.

In einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform weist der Audiosignalabschnitt einen Anfangsabschnitt auf, wobei eine Amplituden-Einhüllende des Anfangsabschnitts einen insbesondere linear ansteigenden Amplitudenverlauf aufweist. Auf diese Weise kann vorteilhaft ein natürlicher Klangeindruck eines von einem Instrument gespielten Tones erzeugt werden.In a preferred embodiment, the audio signal section has an initial section, wherein an amplitude envelope of the initial section has a particularly linearly increasing amplitude profile. This way you can Advantageously, a natural sound impression of a sound played by an instrument are generated.

In einer weiter bevorzugten Ausführungsform weist der Audiosignalabschnitt einen konstanten Abschnitt mit einem zeitlich konstanten Verlauf einer Amplituden-Einhüllenden auf. Dadurch kann vorteilhaft ein ungedämpftes Schwingen eines Tones erzeugt werden.In a further preferred embodiment, the audio signal section has a constant section with a time-constant course of an amplitude envelope. As a result, an undamped oscillation of a sound can advantageously be generated.

In einer vorteilhaften Ausführungsform repräsentiert der Audiosignalabschnitt einen Ton mit einer vorbestimmten Grundfrequenz. Weiter bevorzugt repräsentiert der Audiosignalabschnitt eine Mehrzahl von Oberwellen des Tons mit der vorbestimmten Grundfrequenz. Auf diese Weise kann vorteilhaft ein Klangcharakter eines Tons erzeugt werden.In an advantageous embodiment, the audio signal section represents a sound having a predetermined fundamental frequency. More preferably, the audio signal portion represents a plurality of harmonics of the sound having the predetermined fundamental frequency. In this way, advantageously, a sound character of a sound can be generated.

In einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform repräsentiert der Audiosignalabschnitt einen von wenigstens einem Musikinstrument oder einer von einer menschlichen Stimme erzeugten Ton. Beispielsweise kann ein Audiosignalabschnitt einen zweistimmig, dreistimmig oder einen polyphon erzeugten Ton repräsentieren.In a preferred embodiment, the audio signal section represents one of at least one musical instrument or a sound produced by a human voice. For example, an audio signal section may represent a two-part, three-part, or a polyphony-generated sound.

In einer vorteilhaften Ausführungsform der Hörhilfe weist die Audiosignaleinheit wenigstens zwei Tonsignalgeneratoren auf, welche jeweils ausgebildet sind, wenigstens einen Audiosignalabschnitt zu erzeugen.In an advantageous embodiment of the hearing aid, the audio signal unit has at least two tone signal generators, which are each designed to generate at least one audio signal section.

Weiter bevorzugt ist die Audiosignaleinheit ausgebildet, die wenigstens zwei Tonsignalgeneratoren zueinander alternierend anzusteuern und so das Audiosignal zu erzeugen.More preferably, the audio signal unit is designed to control the at least two tone signal generators alternately to each other and thus to generate the audio signal.

Auf diese Weise kann ein Audiosignal vorteilhaft durch eine speicherplatzsparende und aufwandsgünstige Weise erzeugt werden.In this way, an audio signal can advantageously be generated by a space-saving and cost-effective manner.

Weiter bevorzugt ist die Audiosignaleinheit ausgebildet, den Audiosignalabschnitt mittels Frequenzmodulationssynthese zu erzeugen.More preferably, the audio signal unit is designed to generate the audio signal section by means of frequency modulation synthesis.

Auf diese Weise kann vorteilhaft speicherplatzsparend ein sauber klingender Ton erzeugt werden, welcher beispielsweise einen Ton eines Musikinstruments repräsentiert. Ein Speicherplatzbedarf für einen so vorrätig gehaltenen Ton kann vorteilhaft bis zu einem Zehntel eines Speicherplatzbedarfs für einen aus Abtastwerten gebildeten Ton betragen.In this way, a sound-saving sound can advantageously be generated saving space, which represents, for example, a sound of a musical instrument. A memory requirement for a sound thus held may advantageously amount to one-tenth of a memory requirement for a sample formed of samples.

In einer anderen Ausführungsform weist die Hörhilfe einen Speicher für wenigstens einen Audiosignalabschnitt auf, wobei der Audiosignalabschnitt aus Abtastwerten gebildet ist, welche jeweils einen Audiosignalamplitudenwert des Audiosignalabschnitts zu einem Abtastzeitpunkt repräsentieren.In another embodiment, the hearing aid has a memory for at least one audio signal section, wherein the audio signal section is formed from samples which each represent an audio signal amplitude value of the audio signal section at a sampling instant.

Auf diese weise kann ein Audiosignalabschnitt nahezu beliebige Töne oder Geräusche repräsentieren.In this way, an audio signal section can represent almost any sounds or noises.

Die Erfindung betrifft auch ein Verfahren zum Erzeugen eines Audiosignals mittels einer Hörhilfe, wobei das Audiosignal wenigstens zwei Audiosignalabschnitte umfasst und wenigstens eine von einem menschlichen Gehör wahrnehmbare Frequenz repräsentiert.The invention also relates to a method for generating an audio signal by means of a hearing aid, wherein the audio signal comprises at least two audio signal sections and represents at least one frequency perceptible by a human ear.

Das Verfahren umfasst die Schritte:

  • Erzeugen eines Audiosignalabschnitts mit einer vorbestimmten Audiosignalabschnittszeitdauer;
  • Erzeugen eines zeitlich folgenden Audiosignalabschnitts, wobei der folgende Audiosignalabschnitt beginnt bevor der Audiosignalabschnitt beendet ist; so dass der Audiosignalabschnitt und der zeitlich folgende Audiosignalabschnitt einander mit einer Überschneidungszeitdauer überschneiden, wobei die Überschneidungszeitdauer kleiner ist als die Audiosignalabschnittszeitdauer des Audiosignalabschnitts; und
  • Erzeugen des Audiosignals aus den Audiosignalabschnitten.
The method comprises the steps:
  • Generating an audio signal section having a predetermined audio signal section period;
  • Generating a temporally following audio signal section, wherein the subsequent audio signal section starts before the audio signal section is completed; such that the audio signal section and the temporally subsequent audio signal section overlap each other with an overlap period, the overlap period being smaller than the audio signal section period of the audio signal section; and
  • Generating the audio signal from the audio signal sections.

Weitere vorteilhafte Ausführungsvarianten der Erfindung ergeben sich aus den in den abhängigen Ansprüchen beschriebenen Merkmalen oder einer Kombination aus diesen.Further advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the features described in the dependent claims or a combination thereof.

Die Erfindung wird nun im Folgenden anhand von Figuren und weiteren Ausführungsbeispielen erläutert.

Figur 1
zeigt schematisch ein Ausführungsbeispiel für einen Audiosignalabschnitt;
Figur 2
zeigt schematisch ein Ausführungsbeispiel für Audiosignal;
Figur 3
zeigt schematisch eine Schaltungsanordnung für eine Hörhilfe mit zwei miteinander verbundenen Tonsignalgeneratoren, welche jeweils Bestandteil einer Audiosignaleinheit der Hörhilfe sind.
The invention will now be explained below with reference to figures and further embodiments.
FIG. 1
schematically shows an embodiment for an audio signal section;
FIG. 2
shows schematically an embodiment for audio signal;
FIG. 3
schematically shows a circuit arrangement for a hearing aid with two interconnected Tonsignalgeneratoren, each of which is part of an audio signal unit of the hearing aid.

Figur 1 zeigt schematisch ein Diagramm 1. Das Diagramm 1 zeigt einen Graphen 7, welcher eine Amplituden-Einhüllende eines Audiosignalabschnitts repräsentiert. Der Audiosignalabschnitt weist in dieser Ausführungsform vier jeweils zueinander verschiedene Phasen auf, nämlich eine Anstiegsphase (Attack), eine Abklingphase (Decay), eine Haltephase (Sustain) und eine Ausklingphase (Release). FIG. 1 1 schematically shows a diagram 1. The diagram 1 shows a graph 7 which represents an amplitude envelope of an audio signal section. In this embodiment, the audio signal section has four mutually different phases, namely an attack phase, a decay phase, a sustain phase and a release phase.

Das Diagramm 1 weist eine Abszisse 3 und eine Ordinate 5 auf. Auf der Abszisse 3 ist eine Zeit aufgetragen und auf der Ordinate 5 ist eine Audiosignalamplitude aufgetragen.The diagram 1 has an abscissa 3 and an ordinate 5. On the abscissa 3, a time is plotted and on the ordinate 5, an audio signal amplitude is plotted.

Auf der Abszisse 3 sind Zeitabschnitte 9, 11, 13 und 15 gekennzeichnet. Der Zeitabschnitt 9 repräsentiert eine Anstiegsphase des Audiosignalabschnitts. Der Zeitabschnitt 11 repräsentiert eine Abklingphase des Audiosignalabschnitts. Der Zeitabschnitt 13 repräsentiert eine Haltephase des Audiosignalabschnitts. Der Zeitabschnitt 15 repräsentiert eine Ausklingphase des Audiosignalabschnitts, in welcher der Verlauf der Amplituden-Einhüllenden abfällt.On the abscissa 3 time periods 9, 11, 13 and 15 are marked. The period 9 represents a rising phase of the audio signal portion. The time section 11 represents a decay phase of the audio signal section. The time section 13 represents a holding phase of the audio signal section. The time section 15 represents a decay phase of the audio signal section in which the profile of the amplitude envelope drops.

Figur 2 schematisch zeigt Diagramm 2, in welchem drei zeitliche Signalamplitudenverläufe dargestellt sind. Dargestellt sind von einem ersten Tonsignalgenerator erzeugte Audiosignalabschnitte 17, von einem zweiten Tonsignalgenerator erzeugte Audiosignalabschnitte 19 und ein Audiosignal 20, welches aus den Audiosignalabschnitten 17 und 19 gebildet ist. FIG. 2 schematically shows diagram 2, in which three temporal signal amplitude curves are shown. Illustrated are audio signal sections generated by a first audio signal generator 17, audio signal sections 19 generated by a second tone signal generator and an audio signal 20 formed of the audio signal sections 17 and 19.

Das Diagramm 2 weist eine Abszisse 4 und eine Ordinate 6 auf, wobei die Abszisse 4 einen Zeitverlauf repräsentiert und die Ordinate 6 für die Audiosignalabschnitte 17 und 19 und für das Audiosignal 20 jeweils Signalamplitudenwerte repräsentiert.The diagram 2 has an abscissa 4 and an ordinate 6, wherein the abscissa 4 represents a time course and the ordinate 6 for the audio signal sections 17 and 19 and for the audio signal 20 each represent signal amplitude values.

Auf der Abszisse 4 ist der Zeitverlauf in Abtastwerten aufgetragen, wobei der Zeitverlauf 40.000 Abtastwerte umfasst. Die von dem zweiten Tonsignalgenerator erzeugten Audiosignalabschnitte 19 sind aus einem Audiosignalabschnitt gebildet, welcher sich zwischen einem Abtastwert 0 und einem Abtastwert 15.000erstreckt. Ein Endabschnitt des Audiosignalabschnitts mit abfallendem Amplitudenverlauf erstreckt sich zwischen einem Abtastwert 10.000 und dem Abtastwert 15.000, wobei dieser Endabschnitt dem in Figur 1 dargestellten Zeitabschnitt 15 mit abfallendem Verlauf der Amplituden-Einhüllenden entspricht.On the abscissa 4, the time history is plotted in samples, the time course comprising 40,000 samples. The audio signal sections 19 generated by the second tone signal generator are formed of an audio signal section which extends between a sample value 0 and a sample value 15,000. An end section of the audio signal section with a decreasing amplitude characteristic extends between a sample value 10,000 and the sample value 15,000, this end section corresponding to the in FIG. 1 shown time portion 15 corresponds to the falling gradient of the amplitude envelopes.

Zum Zeitpunkt des Abtastwerts 10.000 beginnt ein von dem ersten Tonsignalgenerator erzeugter Audiosignalabschnitt der Audiosignalabschnitte 17, welcher sich bis zum einem Abtastwert 25.000 erstreckt.At the time of the sample 10,000, an audio signal portion of the audio signal portions 17 generated by the first tone generator starts and extends to a sample value of 25,000.

Bei einem Abtastwert 20.000 beginnt ein Audiosignalabschnitt, welcher von dem zweiten Tonsignalgenerator erzeugt ist und welcher sich bis zu einem Abtastwert 35.000 erstreckt. Zum Zeitpunkt des Abtastwerts 30.000 beginnt ein Audiosignalabschnitt, welcher von dem ersten Tonsignalgenerator erzeugt ist.At sample 20,000, an audio signal portion generated by the second tone generator and extending to a sample 35,000 begins. At the time of sample 30,000, an audio signal portion generated by the first tone generator starts.

Das Audiosignal 20 repräsentiert ein Summensignal, welches durch Summieren des von dem ersten Tonsignalgenerator erzeugten Audiosignalabschnitts 17 und des von dem zweiten Tonsignalgenerator erzeugten Audiosignalabschnitts 19 erzeugt ist.The audio signal 20 represents a sum signal which is generated by summing the audio signal section 17 generated by the first sound signal generator and the audio signal section 19 generated by the second sound signal generator.

Unmittelbar aufeinanderfolgende Audiosignalabschnitte des Audiosignals 20 sind jeweils alternierend von dem ersten und dem zweiten Tonsignalgenerator erzeugt.Immediately successive audio signal sections of the audio signal 20 are respectively generated alternately by the first and the second tone signal generator.

Die Audiosignalabschnitte können jeweils von einem Musikinstrument erzeugte Töne zum Bilden einer Melodie repräsentieren. Das Audiosignal 20 kann somit die Melodie, in diesem Ausführungsbeispiel vier Töne umfassend, repräsentieren.The audio signal sections may respectively represent sounds generated by a musical instrument to form a melody. The audio signal 20 can thus represent the melody, comprising four tones in this embodiment.

Figur 3 zeigt schematisch ein Ausführungsbeispiel für eine Hörhilfe mit zwei miteinander verbundenen Tonsignalgeneratoren, welche jeweils Bestandteil einer Audiosignaleinheit sein können und welche zum Erzeugen eines Audiosignals, beispielsweise des in Figur 2 dargestellten Audiosignals 20 vorgesehen sind. FIG. 3 schematically shows an embodiment of a hearing aid with two interconnected Tonsignalgeneratoren, each of which may be part of an audio signal unit and which for generating an audio signal, for example, the in FIG. 2 represented audio signal 20 are provided.

Eine in Figur 3 dargestellte Schaltungsanordnung 21 für eine Hörhilfe weist einen ersten Tonsignalgenerator 22 und einen zweiten Tonsignalgenerator 24 auf. Der Tonsignalgenerator 22 weist einen Triggereingang 34, einen Frequenzeingang 36 und einen Pegeleingang 38 auf. Der zweite Tonsignalgenerator 24 weist einen Triggereingang 40, einen Frequenzeingang 42 und einen Pegeleingang 44 auf.An in FIG. 3 A hearing aid circuit 21 has a first tone signal generator 22 and a second tone signal generator 24. The tone signal generator 22 has a trigger input 34, a frequency input 36 and a level input 38. The second tone signal generator 24 has a trigger input 40, a frequency input 42 and a level input 44.

Der erste Tonsignalgenerator 22 weist einen Signalausgang 50, und der zweite Tonsignalgenerator 24 weist einen Signalausgang 51 auf. Die Tonsignalgeneratoren 22 und 24 sind jeweils ausgebildet, in Abhängigkeit von einem eingangsseitig empfangenen Triggersignal einen Audiosignalabschnitt zu erzeugen, welcher wenigstens eine von einem menschlichen Gehör wahrnehmbare Frequenz aufweist. Der Audiosignalabschnitt weist ein Amplituden-Einhüllende auf, welche einen zeitlichen Amplitudenverlauf gemäß der in Figur 1 dargestellten Kurve 7 aufweisen kann.The first tone signal generator 22 has a signal output 50, and the second tone signal generator 24 has a signal output 51. The tone signal generators 22 and 24 are each designed to generate an audio signal section in response to a trigger signal received on the input side, which has at least one frequency perceptible by a human ear. The audio signal section has an amplitude envelope, which has a temporal amplitude characteristic according to the in FIG FIG. 1 may have shown curve 7.

Die Tonsignalgeneratoren 22 und 24 sind jeweils ausgebildet, den Audiosignalabschnitt mit einer Grundfrequenz zu erzeugen, wobei die Grundfrequenz jeweils von einem frequenzeingangsseitig empfangenen Steuersignal abhängig ist.The tone signal generators 22 and 24 are each designed to generate the audio signal section at a fundamental frequency, wherein the fundamental frequency in each case depends on a frequency input side received control signal.

Die Tonsignalgeneratoren 22 und 24 sind somit ausgebildet, eine Grundfrequenz des erzeugten Audiosignalabschnitts in Abhängigkeit von einem eingangsseitig empfangenen Steuersignal zu erzeugen. Beispielsweise können weiter vorteilhaft von den Tonsignalgeneratoren 22 und 24 zusätzlich Oberwellen in Abhängigkeit von dem Steuersignal erzeugt werden.The tone signal generators 22 and 24 are thus designed to generate a fundamental frequency of the generated audio signal section as a function of a control signal received on the input side. For example, it is further advantageous to generate additional harmonics from the tone signal generators 22 and 24 as a function of the control signal.

Der Tonsignalgenerator 22 ist ausgebildet, einen Lautstärkepegel des Audiosignalabschnitts in Abhängigkeit von einem eingangsseitig empfangenen Pegelsignal zu erzeugen. Das Pegelsignal kann an dem Pegeleingang 38 empfangen werden. Der Tonsignalgenerator 24 ist entsprechend dem Tonsignalgenerator 22 ausgebildet und kann eingangsseitig über den Pegeleingang 44 ein Pegelsignal empfangen.The tone signal generator 22 is configured to generate a volume level of the audio signal portion in response to a level signal received on the input side. The level signal can be received at the level input 38. The tone signal generator 24 is designed in accordance with the tone signal generator 22 and can receive a level signal on the input side via the level input 44.

Die Tonsignalgeneratoren 22 und 24 sind jeweils ausgangsseitig mit einem Summenglied 47 verbunden. Das Summenglied 47 ist eingangsseitig mit dem Signalausgang 50 und dem Signalausgang 51 verbunden und ausgangsseitig mit einem Ausgang 32 der Schaltungsanordnung 21 verbunden. Das Summenglied 47 ist ausgebildet, eingangsseitig empfangene Signale einander zu addieren und so ein Summensignal zu bilden und dieses ausgangsseitig auszugeben.The tone signal generators 22 and 24 are each connected on the output side to a summation element 47. The summing element 47 is connected on the input side to the signal output 50 and the signal output 51 and connected on the output side to an output 32 of the circuit arrangement 21. The summing element 47 is designed to add signals received on the input side to one another and thus to form a summation signal and output this on the output side.

Die Schaltungsanordnung 21 weist eine Flip-Flop-Schaltung auf, welche durch ein Auswahl-Glied 46, ein UND-Glied 48, ein UND-Glied 49 und ein NICHT-Glied 52 gebildet ist. Die Trigger-Schaltung weist einen Triggereingang 26 auf, welcher einen Triggereingang der Schaltungsanordnung 21 bildet.The circuit arrangement 21 has a flip-flop circuit which is formed by a selection element 46, an AND element 48, an AND element 49 and a NOT element 52. The trigger circuit has a trigger input 26, which forms a trigger input of the circuit arrangement 21.

Das UND-Glied 48 ist ausgangsseitig mit dem Triggereingang 40 des zweiten Tonsignalgenerators 24 verbunden. Das UND-Glied 49 ist ausgangsseitig mit dem Triggereingang 34 des ersten Tonsignalgenerators 22 verbunden. Ein erster Eingang des UND-Glieds 48 ist mit dem Triggereingang 26 und ein erster Eingang des UND-Glieds 49 ist mit dem Triggereingang 26 verbunden.The AND gate 48 is connected on the output side to the trigger input 40 of the second tone signal generator 24. The AND gate 49 is connected on the output side to the trigger input 34 of the first tone signal generator 22. A first input of the AND gate 48 is connected to the trigger input 26 and a first input of the AND gate 49 is connected to the trigger input 26.

Das Auswahlglied 46 weist einen Signaleingang u, einen Reset-Eingang R und einen Eingang IC für eine Anfangsbedingung auf. Das Auswahl-Glied 46 weist eine Transferfunktion auf, welche einer Zeitverzögerung entspricht.The selector 46 has a signal input u, a reset input R and an input IC for an initial condition. The selector 46 has a transfer function corresponding to a time delay.

Der Reset-Eingang des Auswahl-Glieds 46 ist mit dem Triggereingang 26 verbunden. Das Auswahl-Glied 46 ist ausgangsseitig mit dem Signaleingang u rückgekoppelt und ausgangsseitig mit einem Eingang des NICHT-Glieds 52 und mit einem zweiten Eingang des UND-Glieds 48 verbunden. Das NICHT-Glied 52 ist ausgangsseitig mit dem Eingang für eine Anfangsbedingung des Auswahl-Glieds 46 und mit einem zweiten Eingang des UND-Glieds 49 verbunden.The reset input of the selector 46 is connected to the trigger input 26. The selection element 46 is fed back on the output side to the signal input u and on the output side to an input of the NOT element 52 and to a second input of the AND element 48. The NOT element 52 is connected on the output side to the input for an initial condition of the selection element 46 and to a second input of the AND element 49.

Durch die Rückkoppelung des Auswahl-Glieds 46 ist ein HalteGlied gebildet. Wenn beispielsweise am Triggereingang 26 ein Triggersignal anliegt, so wird das Auswahl-Glied 46 über den Reset-Eingang zurückgesetzt und ein logisch positives Ausgangssignal erzeugt, welches durch die Rückkopplung aufrechterhalten wird.By the feedback of the selection member 46, a holding member is formed. For example, if a trigger signal is present at the trigger input 26, the selection element 46 is reset via the reset input and generates a logically positive output signal, which is maintained by the feedback.

Das Ausgangssignal liegt nun eingangsseitig an dem NICHT-Glied 52 und an dem zweiten Eingang des UND-Glieds 48 an. Das NICHT-Glied 52 erzeugt ausgangsseitig ein logisch negatives Signal, welches an dem zweiten Eingang des UND-Glieds 49 anliegt. An den ersten Eingängen der UND-Glieder 48 und 49 liegt jeweils das - logisch positive - Triggersignal des Triggereingangs 26 an. Auf diese Weise ist eine Durchschaltbedingung des UND-Glieds 48 gegeben und ein Ausgangssignal des UND-Glieds 48 kann ein Triggersignal für den zweiten Tonsignalgenerator 24 bilden, welches an dem Triggereingang 40 anliegt.The output signal is now on the input side to the NOT element 52 and to the second input of the AND gate 48 at. The NOT element 52 generates on the output side a logically negative signal which is applied to the second input of the AND gate 49. At the first inputs of the AND gates 48 and 49 is in each case the - logically positive - trigger signal of the trigger input 26. In this way, a switching condition of the AND gate 48 is given and an output signal of the AND gate 48 may form a trigger signal for the second tone signal generator 24, which is applied to the trigger input 40.

Bei einem wiederholten Anlegen eines logisch positiven Triggersignals an den Triggereingang 26 wird das Auswahl-Glied 46 zurückgesetzt, wobei die Anfangsbedingung, gesteuert durch den Eingang IC, logisch negativ ist. Auf diese Weise wird ein logisch negatives Ausgangssignal erzeugt, welches durch die Rückkopplung über den Signaleingang u aufrechterhalten wird. Das logisch negative Ausgangssignal liegt nun eingangsseitig an dem NICHT-Glied 52 an und an dem zweiten Eingang des UND-Glieds 48.Upon a repeated application of a logic positive trigger signal to the trigger input 26, the selector 46 reset, wherein the initial condition, controlled by the input IC, is logically negative. In this way, a logically negative output signal is generated, which is maintained by the feedback via the signal input u. The logically negative output signal is now present at the input side of the NOT element 52 and at the second input of the AND gate 48th

Das UND-Glied 48 wird nun eingangsseitig durch das NICHT-Glied 52 logisch positiv und durch das logisch negative Ausgangssignal logisch negativ angesteuert und geht daher in einem Sperrzustand über.The AND gate 48 is now the input side by the NOT element 52 logically positive and controlled by the logic negative output logic negative and therefore goes into a blocking state.

An dem UND-Glied 49 liegen eingangsseitig zwei logisch positive Signale an, so dass dass UND-Glied 49 ein Ausgangssignal erzeugt, welches an dem Triggereingang 34 des Tonsignalgenerators 22 anliegt und somit ein Triggersignal für den Tonsignalgenerator 22 bilden kann.On the AND gate 49 are on the input side two logically positive signals, so that the AND gate 49 generates an output signal which is applied to the trigger input 34 of the tone signal generator 22 and thus can form a trigger signal for the tone signal generator 22.

Der Tonsignalgenerator 22 kann nun - getriggert durch das so erzeugte Triggersignal - einen Audiosignalabschnitt erzeugen und diesen ausgangsseitig über den Ausgang 50 ausgeben.The tone signal generator 22 can now - triggered by the trigger signal thus generated - generate an audio signal section and output this output side via the output 50.

Auf diese Weise kann durch die vorab beschriebene Flip-Flop-Schaltung durch die Tonsignalgeneratoren 22 und 24 - jeweils alternierend - ein Audiosignal, gebildet aus Audiosignalabschnitten erzeugt werden.In this way, by the previously described flip-flop circuit by the tone signal generators 22 and 24 - each alternating - an audio signal formed from audio signal sections are generated.

Die Schaltungsanordnung 21 weist auch einen Frequenzeingang 28 und einen Pegeleingang 30 auf. Der Frequenzeingang 28 ist mit dem Frequenzeingang 36 und des ersten Tonsignalgenerators 22 und mit dem Frequenzeingang 42 des zweiten Tonsignalgenerators 24 verbunden.The circuit arrangement 21 also has a frequency input 28 and a level input 30. The frequency input 28 is connected to the frequency input 36 and the first tone signal generator 22 and to the frequency input 42 of the second tone signal generator 24.

Der Pegeleingang 30 ist mit dem Pegeleingang 38 des ersten Tonsignalgenerators 22 und mit dem Pegeleingang 44 des zweiten Tonsignalgenerators 24 verbunden. Auf diese Weise können die Tonsignalgeneratoren 22 und 24 jeweils im Falle einer Ansteuerung mittels eines Triggersignals einen Audiosignalabschnitt mit einer Grundfrequenz erzeugen, welche einem eingangsseitig an dem Frequenzeingang 28 der Schaltungsanordnung 21 anliegenden Frequenz-Signal entspricht.The level input 30 is connected to the level input 38 of the first tone signal generator 22 and to the level input 44 of the second tone signal generator 24. In this way, the tone signal generators 22 and 24 respectively in the case of a drive generate by means of a trigger signal an audio signal section with a fundamental frequency which corresponds to an input side of the frequency input 28 of the circuit 21 adjacent frequency signal.

Ein Ausgangspegel - und somit eine Lautstärke des erzeugten Audiosignalabschnitts - kann über die Pegeleingänge 38 und 44 gesteuert werden, so dass ein Ausgangspegel und somit eine Maximalamplitude des jeweils erzeugten Audiosignalabschnitts einem an dem Pegeleingang 30 anliegenden Pegelsignal entspricht.An output level - and thus a volume of the generated audio signal section - can be controlled via the level inputs 38 and 44, so that an output level and thus a maximum amplitude of the respectively generated audio signal section corresponds to a level signal applied to the level input 30.

Die Schaltungsanordnung 21 weist auch eine Steuereinheit 54 und einen Melodieerzeuger 56 auf, welcher einen Eingang 66 für ein Ereignissignal aufweist und eingangsseitig mit der Steuereinheit 54 verbunden ist. Der Melodieerzeuger ist ausgangsseitig mit dem Frequenzeingang 28 und mit dem Triggereingang 26 verbunden. Der Melodieerzeuger 56 kann wenigstens einen eine Melodie repräsentierenden Melodiedatensatz 58 vorrätig halten und diesen in Abhängigkeit von einem eingangsseitig empfangenen Ereignissignal decodieren und der Melodie entsprechende Frequenzsignale zum erzeugen entsprechender Audiosignalabschnitte erzeugen und ausgangsseitig ausgeben.The circuit arrangement 21 also has a control unit 54 and a melody generator 56, which has an input 66 for an event signal and is connected on the input side to the control unit 54. The melody generator is connected on the output side to the frequency input 28 and to the trigger input 26. The melody generator 56 may keep at least one melody data set 58 representing a melody and decode it in response to an event signal received on the input side, and generate and output to the output side corresponding frequency signals for generating respective audio signal portions.

Der Melodieerzeuger 56 kann für jeden zu erzeugenden Audiosignalabschnitt ein Triggersignal erzeugen und dieses an den Triggereingang 26 ausgeben. Die Schaltungsanordnung weist auch eine Übertragungseinheit 60, einen Schallempfänger 62 und einen Schallerzeuger 64 auf, welche jeweils mit der Übertragungseinheit 60 verbundenen sind. Die Wirkungsweise der Übertragungseinheit 60, des Schallerzeugers 64 und des Schallempfängers 62 ist wie bereits vorab beschrieben. Die Übertragungseinheit 60 ist eingangseitig mit dem Ausgang 32 verbunden und kann ein Leistungssignal erzeugen, welches einem von dem Ausgang 32 empfangenen Audiosignal entspricht und dieses an den Schallerzeuger 64 ausgeben.The melody generator 56 can generate a trigger signal for each audio signal section to be generated and output this to the trigger input 26. The circuit arrangement also comprises a transmission unit 60, a sound receiver 62 and a sound generator 64, which are each connected to the transmission unit 60. The operation of the transmission unit 60, the sound generator 64 and the sound receiver 62 is as already described above. The transmission unit 60 is connected on the input side to the output 32 and can generate a power signal which corresponds to an audio signal received by the output 32 and outputs this to the sound generator 64.

Claims (12)

  1. Hearing aid (21) having at least one sound receiver (62) and a sound generator (64),
    wherein the at least one sound receiver (62) is designed to receive sound waves and to generate a microphone signal that represents the received sound waves,
    and having a transmission unit (60) that has its input side connected to the at least one sound receiver (62) and its output side connected to the sound generator (64) and wherein the transmission unit (60) is designed to receive the microphone signal on the input side and to take the microphone signal received on the input side as a basis for generating a power signal that represents the microphone signal at least in part,
    and the sound generator (64) is designed to receive the power signal on the input side and to generate a sound on the basis of the power signal received on the input side, which sound corresponds to the power signal, wherein
    the hearing aid has an audio signal unit (56, 22, 24) that is operatively connected to the sound generator (64) and designed to generate an audio signal (20) that has at least two audio signal sections (7, 17, 19) immediately succeeding one another in time,
    wherein the audio signal sections (7, 17, 19) each have an audio signal section duration,
    and the audio signal (20) has at least one frequency that is audible to a human ear,
    characterized in that
    the audio signal sections (7, 17, 19) succeed one another such that an audio signal section (7, 19) that succeeds a previous audio signal section (7, 17) in time begins before the previous audio signal section (7, 17) has ended, so that the previous and succeeding audio signal sections (7, 17, 19) overlap one another by an overlapping time period, the overlapping time period being shorter than the audio signal section duration of the previous audio signal section (7, 17).
  2. Hearing aid according to Claim 1, characterized in that the audio signal unit has an input for an event signal and is designed to generate the audio signal (7, 17, 19) as a function of the event signal.
  3. Hearing aid according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the audio signal section has an end section (15), wherein an amplitude envelope (7) of the end section (15) has a falling amplitude characteristic.
  4. Hearing aid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the audio signal section has a start section (9), wherein an amplitude envelope (7) of the start section (9) has a rising amplitude characteristic.
  5. Hearing aid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the audio signal section has a constant section (13) with a characteristic of an amplitude envelope (7) that is constant over time.
  6. Hearing aid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the audio signal section (7, 17, 19) represents a tone having a predefined fundamental frequency.
  7. Hearing aid according to Claim 6, characterized in that the audio signal section (7, 17, 19) represents a plurality of harmonics of the tone having the predefined fundamental frequency.
  8. Hearing aid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the audio signal section (7, 17, 19) represents a tone produced by at least one musical instrument.
  9. Hearing aid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the audio signal unit (21) has at least two tone signal generators (22, 24) that are each designed to generate at least one audio signal section (7, 17, 19).
  10. Hearing aid according to one of Claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the audio signal section (7, 17, 19) is generated by frequency modulation synthesis.
  11. Hearing aid according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the hearing aid has a memory for at least one audio signal section, wherein the audio signal section is formed from sampled values that each represent an audio signal amplitude value of the audio signal section at a sampling instant.
  12. Method for generating an audio signal using a hearing aid, wherein the audio signal comprises at least two audio signal sections and represents at least one frequency that is perceptible to a human ear, comprising the steps of:
    - generation of an audio signal section having a predefined audio signal section duration;
    - generation of an audio signal section that succeeds in time, wherein the succeeding audio signal section begins before the audio signal section has ended, so that the audio signal section and the audio signal section that succeeds in time overlap one another by an overlapping time period, the overlapping time period being shorter than the audio signal section duration of the audio signal section; and
    - generation of the audio signal from the audio signal sections.
EP07112243.6A 2006-08-04 2007-07-11 Hearing-aid with audio signal generator and method Active EP1885158B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102006036583.6A DE102006036583B4 (en) 2006-08-04 2006-08-04 Hearing aid with an audio signal generator and method

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1885158A2 EP1885158A2 (en) 2008-02-06
EP1885158A3 EP1885158A3 (en) 2012-10-24
EP1885158B1 true EP1885158B1 (en) 2016-12-21

Family

ID=38654353

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP07112243.6A Active EP1885158B1 (en) 2006-08-04 2007-07-11 Hearing-aid with audio signal generator and method

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US8189831B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1885158B1 (en)
DE (1) DE102006036583B4 (en)
DK (1) DK1885158T3 (en)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2010068997A1 (en) 2008-12-19 2010-06-24 Cochlear Limited Music pre-processing for hearing prostheses
US9029291B2 (en) 2011-01-12 2015-05-12 Basf Corporation Rare earth-containing attrition resistant vanadium trap for catalytic cracking catalyst
EP2661103A1 (en) 2012-05-02 2013-11-06 Oticon A/s Method of fitting a hearing device
US9473852B2 (en) 2013-07-12 2016-10-18 Cochlear Limited Pre-processing of a channelized music signal

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0480097B1 (en) * 1990-10-12 1994-12-21 Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH Hearing-aid with data memory
JP3401217B2 (en) * 1999-11-15 2003-04-28 株式会社アテック Low frequency stimulator
WO2001030127A2 (en) * 2001-01-23 2001-05-03 Phonak Ag Communication method and a hearing aid system
AU2002320572A1 (en) 2002-07-17 2004-03-03 Daniel Choy Method and apparatus for treatment of monofrequency tinnitus utilizing sound wave cancellation techniques
US7619156B2 (en) * 2005-10-15 2009-11-17 Lippold Haken Position correction for an electronic musical instrument

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
None *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20080031479A1 (en) 2008-02-07
DE102006036583B4 (en) 2015-11-12
DE102006036583A1 (en) 2008-02-14
EP1885158A3 (en) 2012-10-24
EP1885158A2 (en) 2008-02-06
DK1885158T3 (en) 2017-04-03
US8189831B2 (en) 2012-05-29

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
DE3413845C2 (en) Automatic game device
DE2715510B2 (en) Electronic musical instrument
DE2850286C2 (en) Time-controlled electronic melody percussion circuit
DE3135155C2 (en) Key data input device
EP1885158B1 (en) Hearing-aid with audio signal generator and method
DE2939401C2 (en) Electronic sound signal generator
DE2937256C2 (en) Electronic musical instrument
DE102019215301B4 (en) SOUND SIGNAL GENERATING DEVICE AND SOUND SIGNAL GENERATING METHOD
DE69112708T2 (en) Device for synthesizing musical tones.
DE3237403A1 (en) ELECTRONIC MUSIC INSTRUMENT WITH AUTOMATIC GAME FUNCTION
DE69118462T2 (en) Sound signal synthesizer
DE2801933A1 (en) ELECTRONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT
DE69613157T2 (en) Procedure for recognizing the start and end of a note in a percussion or stringed instrument
DE3427866C2 (en)
DE3247599A1 (en) SOUND SIGNAL GENERATING DEVICE FOR ELECTRONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
DE3249791C2 (en) Electronic musical instrument
DE2228053C2 (en) Device for automatic bass accompaniment in an electronic musical instrument
DE3151127C2 (en) Electronic device with sound generating function
DE2657039C2 (en) Circuit arrangement for imitating the sound characteristics of reed organ pipes
AT410380B (en) DEVICE FOR SOUND OR SOUND SIMULATION OF ORCHESTRA MUSIC
DE2821759A1 (en) PEDAL SOUND GENERATOR
DE69015753T2 (en) Sound synthesis arrangement.
DE3234091C2 (en) Automatic escort facility
DE102004020326B4 (en) Waveform adjustment system for a music file
DE2048671B2 (en) Electronic keyboard instrument, such as an electronic organ

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

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL BA HR MK YU

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL BA HR MK RS

RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Ipc: H04R 25/00 20060101AFI20120920BHEP

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20130306

AKX Designation fees paid

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: SIVANTOS GMBH

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20160715

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

Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

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

Free format text: STATUS: THE PATENT HAS BEEN GRANTED

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

Free format text: NOT ENGLISH

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

Free format text: LANGUAGE OF EP DOCUMENT: GERMAN

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: REF

Ref document number: 856399

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20170115

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 502007015339

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: NV

Representative=s name: E. BLUM AND CO. AG PATENT- UND MARKENANWAELTE , CH

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

Ref country code: LV

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: 20161221

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DK

Ref legal event code: T3

Effective date: 20170328

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: LT

Ref legal event code: MG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MP

Effective date: 20161221

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

Ref country code: LT

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: 20161221

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: 20161221

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: 20170322

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: 20161221

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

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: 20161221

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 11

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

Ref country code: SK

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: 20161221

Ref country code: IS

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: 20170421

Ref country code: CZ

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: 20161221

Ref country code: EE

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: 20161221

Ref country code: RO

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: 20161221

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 FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20161221

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: 20161221

Ref country code: PL

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: 20161221

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: 20170421

Ref country code: BG

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: 20170321

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 502007015339

Country of ref document: DE

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: 20170922

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

Ref country code: SI

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: 20161221

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: MM4A

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: 20170711

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: BE

Ref legal event code: MM

Effective date: 20170731

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

Ref country code: LU

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

Effective date: 20170711

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 12

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

Ref country code: BE

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

Effective date: 20170731

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: MM01

Ref document number: 856399

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20170711

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

Ref country code: MT

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: 20161221

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

Ref country code: AT

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

Effective date: 20170711

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

Ref country code: HU

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

Effective date: 20070711

Ref country code: MC

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: 20161221

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

Ref country code: CY

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

Effective date: 20161221

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

Ref country code: TR

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: 20161221

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

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 20230801

Year of fee payment: 17

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

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20240719

Year of fee payment: 18

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

Ref country code: DK

Payment date: 20240722

Year of fee payment: 18

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

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20240723

Year of fee payment: 18

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

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20240724

Year of fee payment: 18