EP1919256A2 - Hearing device with parameter reset and corresponding method - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a regulating device (E) to modify parameters e.g. directional microphone settings, of the hearing device. A storage device (E1) e.g. dual-electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), automatically stores individual current parameter values for continuous operation of the hearing device, and another storage device (E2) different from the device (E1) stores the values. An actuation device (S) manually actuates the storing process of the values in the device (E2). A resetting device with a push button (T) manually resets the parameter of the values stored in the device (E2). An independent claim is also included for a method for adjusting a hearing device.

Description

The present invention relates to a hearing device with an adjusting device for changing at least one parameter of the hearing device, a first memory device for automatically storing at least one individual, current parameter value for the ongoing operation of the hearing device and a second memory device also for storing the at least one individual, current parameter value. Moreover, the present invention relates to a corresponding method for adjusting a hearing device. The term "hearing device" is here generally understood to mean a portable or non-portable audio device, in particular a hearing device, a headset or a headset.

Hearing aids are portable hearing aids that are used to care for the hearing impaired. To meet the numerous individual needs, different types of hearing aids such as behind-the-ear hearing aids (BTE), in-the-ear hearing aids (IDO) and Concha hearing aids are provided. The hearing aids listed by way of example are worn on the outer ear or in the ear canal. In addition, bone conduction hearing aids, implantable or vibrotactile hearing aids are also available on the market. The stimulation of the damaged hearing takes place either mechanically or electrically.

Hearing aids have in principle as essential components an input transducer, an amplifier and an output transducer. The input transducer is usually a sound receiver, z. As a microphone, and / or an electromagnetic receiver, for. B. an induction coil. The output transducer is usually used as an electroacoustic transducer, z. As miniature speaker, or as an electromechanical transducer, z. B. bone conduction, realized. The amplifier is usually integrated in a signal processing unit. This basic structure is shown in FIG 1 using the example of a behind-the-ear hearing aid. In a hearing aid housing 1 for carrying behind the ear, one or more microphones 2 for receiving the sound from the environment are installed. A signal processing unit 3, which is also integrated in the hearing aid housing 1, processes the microphone signals and amplifies them. The output signal of the signal processing unit 3 is transmitted to a loudspeaker or earpiece 4, which outputs an acoustic signal. The sound is optionally transmitted via a sound tube, which is fixed with an earmold in the ear canal, to the eardrum of the device carrier. The power supply of the hearing device and in particular of the signal processing unit 3 is carried out by a likewise integrated into the hearing aid housing 1 battery. 5

The latest developments are that hearing aids are more and more individually trainable. In this case, the hearing aid wearer receives more and more influence on his hearing aid or its setting, for example through interactive operating options. This may be a problem if the hearing aid wearer loses control of the adaptive settings due to the multitude of adjustment possibilities. This can eventually lead to the hearing aid being set completely wrong.

From the patent DE 42 06 084 C1 is a hearing aid with a means for electronic adjustment of a transmission parameter known. In addition, a reset circuit is provided on the hearing aid, which acts on the means for electronic adjustment of the transmission parameter. With this reset circuit, the means in a basic position (home position) can be switched back. Such a downshift happens in particular when pressing an on / off switch of the hearing aid. But it is also possible to trigger the reset circuit in case of incorrect operation of a manually operable switch. This reverses that Hearing aid both in case of incorrect operation and when switching back automatically in a basic position of the transmission path. Such basic settings are known from other electronic devices and are made at the factory fixed for certain types of equipment and stored in a designated memory.

In hearing aids is usually a complex fitting procedure in which the hearing aid is adjusted in its numerous parameters individually to the hearing loss or the wishes of a patient. Resetting to a factory default can therefore mean a very large loss. Under certain circumstances, the hearing aid wearer has to surrender the entire fitting procedure over himself.

The object of the present invention is therefore to make the setting of a hearing more comfortable and secure.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a hearing device having an adjusting device for changing at least one parameter of the hearing device, a first memory device for automatically storing at least one individual, current parameter value for the ongoing operation of the hearing device and a second memory device different from the first memory device for storing the at least an individual, current parameter value, and an actuating device for manually triggering a storage operation of the at least one parameter value in the second memory device and a resetting device for manually resetting the at least one parameter to the parameter value stored in the second memory device.

In addition, the invention provides a method for adjusting a hearing device by changing at least one parameter of the hearing device and automatically storing at least one individual, current parameter value for the ongoing operation of the hearing device in a first memory device, and storing the at least one individual, current parameter value in a second memory device different from the first memory device and manually resetting the at least one parameter to the parameter value stored in the second memory device.

Saving an individual setting according to the invention either after a professionally performed individual fitting procedure or after a positive decision by the hearing aid wearer himself further refined setting serves as a kind of safety net for a trainable hearing device or a correspondingly trainable hearing device.

In principle, the reset device can have a switch or pushbutton with which a so-called "hard reset" can be realized. Such a reset is usually always possible, even if the software is in an undefined state.

However, the reset device can also have several keys (eg remote control), and the reset is carried out by a software-controlled keyboard shortcut. This makes it possible to realize a so-called "soft reset", which can be carried out from defined software states.

The reset device has according to another embodiment, a button which is pressed to reset a predetermined minimum time. In particular, the program button of a hearing device can be used for this purpose. This has the advantage that no special button or button or switch must be provided on the hearing for resetting.

Preferably, the memory devices are each realized with an EEPROM or a dual EEPROM. Thus, the memory can be exceeded as desired.

FIG 1

eine schematische Skizze der wesentlichen Bestandteile eines Hörgeräts und

FIG 2

ein Blockschaltdiagramm eines Hörgeräts mit einer erfindungsgemäßen Rücksetzeinrichtung.

The present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1

a schematic sketch of the essential components of a hearing aid and

FIG. 2

a block diagram of a hearing aid with a reset device according to the invention.

The embodiment described in more detail below represents a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

In the example of FIG. 2, the signal processing chain of a hearing device is represented symbolically by block diagrams. A micron M receives sound signals and a downstream preamplifier PR amplifies the output signals of the microphone M for further processing. An analog-to-digital converter AD converts the signal into a digital signal for the digital signal processor DSP. For signal output, the output signal of the digital signal processor DSP is converted with a digital-to-analog converter into an analog signal, amplified by a power amplifier PW and finally fed to a loudspeaker for electroacoustic conversion.

The digital signal processor DSP has a random access memory RAM and a first nonvolatile memory E1. This memory E1 is realized here by an EEPROM, which can be deleted if necessary. In the memory E1, the individual settings are stored, resulting for example after the adaptation of the hearing aid. Specifically, parameters such as gain, noise reduction, directional microphone settings, etc. are stored, for example. Since the memory is non-volatile, the memory contents remain unchanged even after switching off and on again the hearing aid.

The hearing device wearer can further refine or improve his adjustment gained by the adaptation while wearing the hearing aid. For this purpose, he uses a provided on the hearing aid setting E. The digital signal processor DSP stores each new setting in the memory E1, so that this setting is available when switching on the device.

However, since there are a large number of setting options in a hearing device that represent a multi-dimensional space, it often happens that a hearing device is adjusted so far that the hearing aid wearer himself can no longer return to a setting that is good for him. Therefore, an additional memory device E2 is provided in the hearing device according to the invention, in which an individual setting can be stored. Therefore, if the hearing aid user finds a setting to be good or better than previous settings, he transfers the setting values from the memory E1 to the memory E2. This transmission of memory values triggers the hearing aid wearer via appropriate hardware or software. In FIG. 2, the switch S is indicated symbolically for this purpose. While the data in the memory E1 are constantly updated automatically depending on the design of the hearing aid, the data is transferred from the memory E1 to the memory E2 only by manual operation of the switch S. It can thus be ensured that only those setting data are stored in the memory E2 that the hearing device wearer has consciously stored when he is satisfied with a setting.

As soon as the settings on the hearing aid are further changed via the setting device E, the hearing aid wearer is not satisfied with these new settings and would like to return to a setting that he found to be good and is stored in the memory E2, then he actuates a button T, so that the setting data from the memory E2 are loaded into the digital signal processor or the memory E1 (if necessary, the actuating device, here the button T, a part of the setting device). The hearing aid wearer can thus return to an individual setting, which he himself has stored or was stored in the individual fitting procedure in the memory E2. This type of recovery of a setting state corresponds to a computer "recovery mode" in which the computer can be reset to a defined state after a serious data loss or virus attack.

Basically, there are two ways to implement the reset process according to the invention in the hearing device. On the one hand the implementation can be done as mentioned by a so-called "hard reset" and on the other hand by a "soft reset". In Figure 2, the variant of a "hard reset" is indicated. In the case of a "soft reset", the hearing aid wearer may have to actuate several keys at the same time or select the corresponding instruction in a menu structure. A special embodiment of a hearing aid may be that with the "hard reset" a return to a non-individual factory setting, while with a "soft reset" a return to an individual setting is possible. The "hard reset" allows the manufacturer to set a defined basic state when troubleshooting. The "soft reset" would then rather for the hearing aid wearer an aid, the hearing aid in the setting more or less widely attributed.

The memory E2 provided in the hearing aid in addition to the memory E1 can also be automatically filled with data according to another embodiment. Such automatic data writing occurs in this example when the user changes a setting and the last valid setting is pushed into the memory E2. Depending on the size of the additional memory E2, a history of the last settings can be stored. In this way it is possible, also in a hearing aid a so-called Implement "undo" function, as it is known in computers.

Even if the data is not automatically stored in the additional memory E2, it is possible to store in it a data history of settings. For example, it is possible to store a record in the memory E2 whenever the switch S is actuated. The memory E2 then operates according to the FIFO principle, for example. In this way, for example, the ten last setting parameters or setting parameter sets can be stored retrievably.

The button T, with which the setting can be reset, can be realized as a separate button on the device. If, in addition, a button for a "hard reset" is provided, a location in the housing of the hearing device is usually selected for this purpose. If necessary, a situation button of the hearing device is used for the "soft reset", which is then pressed for, for example, 30 seconds in order to carry out the "soft reset". This gives the situation button, which is usually used for switching to a directional microphone operation, a telecoil operation, etc., the additional function of resetting the hearing aid settings.

The actuating device or the pushbutton T can also be part of the adjusting device E. In this case, with each new setting of the hearing device, the old setting value is automatically stored in the memory E2, so that it is available for later retrieval. Naturally, this also applies to entire parameter sets.

With a hearing aid according to the exemplary embodiments described above, the user has the opportunity to return flexibly and independently to setting conditions of his hearing device.

Claims (8)

Hearing device with a setting device (E) for changing at least one parameter of the hearing device, a first memory device (E1) for automatically storing at least one individual, current parameter value for the ongoing operation of the hearing device and a second memory device (E2) different from the first memory device for storing the at least one individual, current parameter value,
marked by - An actuator (S) for manually triggering a storage operation of the at least one parameter value in the second memory means (E2) and - A reset means (T) for manually resetting the at least one parameter to the stored in the second memory means (E2) parameter value. Hearing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reset means (T) comprises a plurality of keys, and the reset is performed by a keyboard combination software controlled. Hearing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reset means (T) comprises a button which is pressed to reset a predetermined minimum time. Hearing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein for resetting a program button of the hearing for the predetermined minimum time is actuated. Hearing apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the memory devices (E1, E2) are each realized as a dual EEPROM. A method for adjusting a hearing by Changing at least one parameter of the hearing device and automatic storage of at least one individual, current parameter value for the ongoing operation of the hearing device in a first storage device (E1),
marked by Storing the at least one individual, current parameter value in a second memory device (E2) different from the first memory device, and - Manually resetting the at least one parameter to the parameter value stored in the second memory device (E2). The method of claim 6, wherein the resetting is performed by a key combination. The method of claim 6, wherein the reset is performed by pressing a button for a predetermined minimum time.

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