EP2039217A1 - Procédés de génération de signaux audibles dans des appareils auditifs - Google Patents

Procédés de génération de signaux audibles dans des appareils auditifs

Info

Publication number
EP2039217A1
EP2039217A1 EP06792496A EP06792496A EP2039217A1 EP 2039217 A1 EP2039217 A1 EP 2039217A1 EP 06792496 A EP06792496 A EP 06792496A EP 06792496 A EP06792496 A EP 06792496A EP 2039217 A1 EP2039217 A1 EP 2039217A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ear
signal
input
output
converter arrangement
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP06792496A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2039217B1 (fr
Inventor
Hansueli Roeck
Raoul Glatt
Ralph Peter Derleth
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sonova Holding AG
Original Assignee
Phonak AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Phonak AG filed Critical Phonak AG
Publication of EP2039217A1 publication Critical patent/EP2039217A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2039217B1 publication Critical patent/EP2039217B1/fr
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/70—Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting
    • 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
    • H04R25/55—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception using an external connection, either wireless or wired
    • H04R25/552—Binaural

Definitions

  • the present invention resides in the field of binaural hearing systems.
  • hearing device a system which comprises two hearing devices, one for each ear of an individual. Such hearing devices of a binaural hearing system do mutually communicate.
  • the hearing devices may be equal with the exception of their ear-specific shape or may be different. This within the frame of devices which are subsumed under the term "hearing device”:
  • the hearing device is tailored so as to improve the perception of a hearing impaired individual towards hearing perception of a "standard” individual, then we speak of a hearing aid device.
  • a hearing device may be applied behind the ear, in the ear, completely in the ear canal or may be implanted.
  • beam-forming tailoring the amplification of an electrical signal with respect to an acoustical signal as a function of direction of arrival DOA of the acoustical signal relative to a predetermined spatial direction.
  • the beam characteristic is represented m polar diagram form and scaled in dB.
  • binaural beam-forming methods are known and described in the literature. Considering that often beam-forming makes use of the phasing difference of acoustical signals impinging at at least two loci which are mutually distant by a known spacing, it is evident that binaural systems with respective acoustical-to-electrical input converter arrangements at each ear, are most suited to provide for "two ear", i.e. binaural beam-forming. • In opposition to "technical" beam-forming, which is performed by technical means, we understand under "natural" beam-forming the ability of human' s body, particularly of human' s head, to transfer acoustical signals to the respective ear with an amplification which varies as a function of DOA.
  • the individual may not anymore acoustically localize an acoustical source m the surrounding neither with respect to direction of arrival, nor with respect to distance.
  • the ability to preserve or reinstall such acoustical localization is one of the most important advantages which may be achieved with correctly performed binaural beam-forming, whereat, per deflnitionem, a "cross"-communication is established between the hearing devices.
  • the correct interaural time difference - ITD - may be preserved which is decisive for perceiving direction of arrival of acoustical signals.
  • this ITD is a function of direction of arrival, DOA.
  • the binaural beam-forming may also help to preserve or reinstall interaural level difference, ILD, which is decisive for distance estimation.
  • interaural time delay ITD the time delay with which an acoustical signal impinges on both ears. Such time delay accords with a phasing difference and is dependent from DOA, the mutual distance of the ears and the head-related transfer function (HRTF) .
  • ILD interaural level difference
  • DOA acoustical environment with respect to acoustical sources.
  • the programs differ in overall acoustical-to- mechanical transfer characteristic. Such different programs may thereby comprise establishing different binaural beam- forming characteristics.
  • the input signals to the right-ear and to the left-ear speaker arrangements are both dependent from output signals of both, left-ear and right-ear microphone arrangements.
  • the respective dependencies of the addressed signals are variably weighted, leading to very high flexibility with respect to overall beam-forming including binaural and monaural .
  • Weighting adjustment is controlled by the classifying results .
  • the present invention targets towards making binaural beam- forming more practicable.
  • this object is followed up by a method for manufacturing an audible signal to be perceived by an individual in dependency from an acoustical signal source, whereby the individual wears a right-ear and a left-ear hearing device, respectively with a right-ear and with a left-ear microphone arrangement and with a right-ear and with a left-ear speaker arrangement.
  • the input signal of the right-ear speaker arrangement is dependent from the output signal of the right-ear microphone arrangement.
  • the input signal of the left-ear speaker arrangement is dependent from the output signal of the left-ear microphone arrangement.
  • the contra-lateral speaker arrangement By establishing a predominant dependency of the input signal of the contra-lateral speaker arrangement from the output signal of the ipsi-lateral microphone arrangement the contra-lateral speaker arrangement becomes substantially fed with a signal dependent from the signal sensed at the ipsi-lateral side and thus with an improved S/N ratio signal. There is established a distinct acoustical situation at which the addressed binaural beam- forming is exclusively established.
  • the dependency of the input signal of the contra-lateral speaker arrangement from the output signal of the contra-lateral microphone arrangement is reduced.
  • a dependency of the input signal of the ipsi-lateral speaker arrangement from the output signal of the contra-lateral microphone arrangement is at least substantially disabled for the addressed situation.
  • a device-to-device cross-communication is established exclusively consisting of communication from the ipsi- lateral microphone arrangement to the contra-lateral speaker arrangement. This allows for considerable processing power and power consumption savings.
  • binaural beam- forming is performed by establishing dependency of the input signal of the right-ear speaker arrangement from the output signal of the left-ear microphone arrangement and dependency of the input signal of the left-ear speaker arrangement from the output signal of the right-ear microphone arrangement at least for DOA outside the range addressed above.
  • this binaural beam- forming processing is established not only outside the addressed DOA range, but within a second specific range of DOA.
  • the influences of the output signals of the right- and of the left-ear microphone arrangements cross-wise on the input signals of the left- and right-ear speaker arrangements are delayed more by a fixed amount of time than time delaying the influences of the output signals of the right-ear and of the left-ear microphone arrangements on the input signals of the respective right-ear and left-ear speaker arrangements.
  • this fixed amount of time is selected at least approx. equal to the time an acoustical signal in the hearable frequency range needs to run from one ear to the other ear around human's head.
  • the ITD is approximated, leading on one hand to a satisfyingly good sensation of localization of the acoustical source by the individual and leading, on the other hand, to substantially reduced processing requirements compared with DOA-dependent time delaying to establish source localization as accurately as possible .
  • the right-ear and the left-ear microphone arrangements are conceived to have in situ and at least for a part of the frequencies within the audible frequency band monaural beam-forming ability leading to an amplification maximum for a DOA from the lateral hemisphere of the individual and to an amplification minimum for a DOA from the head sided hemisphere of the individual.
  • the addressed manual beam-forming ability comprises exploiting at least predominantly the respective head-related transfer function, i.e. a natural beam-forming ability.
  • binaural beam-forming is disabled in a DOA range from at most 45° to at least 315°, thus whenever the acoustical source is located in front of the individual in a range of ⁇ 45°.
  • the different processing modes are characterized by respective different signal dependencies between output signals of the microphone arrangements and input signals of the speaker arrangements.
  • switching from one signal dependency status to another is performed in a fading manner, i.e. without perceivable transition.
  • the dependencies of the input signals of the output converter arrangements from output signals of the input converter arrangements comprise signal processing in frequency mode. After a respective analogue to digital conversion downstream the respective acoustical inputs, a time-domain to frequency-domain conversion is thus performed.
  • the individual wears at least one microphone arrangement and at least one speaker arrangement.
  • the input signal of the speaker arrangement is dependent from the output signal of the microphone arrangement via at least two controllably interchangeable transfer functions.
  • Changing from a first transfer function to the second in a controlled manner comprises performing time-domain to frequency-domain conversion upstream the addressed transfer functions. Then signal processing of a first group of spectral components is maintained to be performed via the first transfer function and signal processing of a second group of spectral components is changed so as to be performed via the second transfer function. Then signal processing of the first group is changed over to be done via the second transfer function as well, whereby signal processing of the second group is maintained to be performed via the second transfer function.
  • staggered m time at least two groups of spectral components of the signal to be processed are switched from one transfer function to the other.
  • grouping of the spectral components of the signal in more than two groups may be done to render the fading effect even smoother .
  • the addressed method under the second aspect of the present invention allows fadmgly switching from one signal processing to another, especially at a hearing device, with substantially reduced or even without transient artifacts for the individual wearing the hearing device.
  • binaural beam-forming is only applied if necessary, is performed m simplified processing mode wherever possible and is only in fact exceptionally performed m full crosswise mterdevice communication mode.
  • the present invention provides for a method of manufacturing an audible signal in which selected specific processing types are controllably applied.
  • a method is proposed for manufacturing an audible signal to be perceived by an individual m dependency from an acoustical signal source.
  • the individual wears a right-ear as well as a left-ear hearing device respectively with a right-ear and with a left-ear microphone arrangement and with a right-ear and with a left-ear speaker arrangement.
  • the input signal of the right-ear speaker arrangement is - normally - dependent from the output signal of the right-ear microphone arrangement and the input signal of the left-ear speaker arrangement is - again normally - dependent from the output signal of the left-ear microphone arrangement . If necessary, such dependencies may be disabled or gradually reduced m binaural processing.
  • the addressed method comprises performing in a controlled manner alternatively - controlled e.g. by a classifier - at least two of the following processings: a) Binaural beam-forming by establishing an at least predominant dependency of the input signal of the right-ear and of the left-ear speaker arrangements from the output signal of the left-ear or of the right-ear microphone arrangement, respectively; b) binaural beam-forming by establishing dependency of the input signal of the left-ear speaker arrangement from the output signal of the right-ear microphone arrangement, and vice versa for the right-ear speaker arrangement; c) Binaural beam-forming by establishing a dependency of the input signal of the left-ear speaker arrangement from the output signal of the right-ear microphone arrangement and a dependency of the input signal of the right-ear speaker arrangement from the output signal of the left-ear microphone arrangement, thereby realizing a beam characteristic with minimum amplification in ahead and in backwards direction with respect to individual's head; d) binaural beam-forming as addressed under c) , realizing thereby a
  • performing processing according to a) is done only when an acoustical signal source is to be perceived, which is situated lateral to individual's head and in a first predetermined DOA range.
  • processing b) is performed only when an acoustical signal source to be perceived is situated in a second predetermined DOA range, which is different from the first range.
  • Still m a further embodiment processing c) is selected as stereo enhancement processing.
  • processing d) is selected when an acoustical signal source to be perceived is situated behind individual's head. This may e.g. be the case for driver-to-rear-seat-passenger communication situations .
  • processing according to e) is performed, whenever the acoustical signal source to be perceived is located ahead i.e. in front of the individual.
  • the change between the addressed at least two processing modes is performed m a fading manner.
  • Such fading manner is thereby realized, in a further embodiment, by establishing the addressed signal dependencies so as to comprise signal processing m frequency-domain.
  • Changing signal processing comprises performing changing processing subsequently m time in at least two groups of spectral components of the signal processed.
  • Fig. 1 simplified, a signal-flow/functional block diagram of a binaural hearing system, which is used for manufacturing the audible signals according to the present invention
  • Fig. 2 m a representation in analogy to that of fig. 1, a first embodiment of the present invention to manufacture the audible signals/
  • Fig. 3 a schematic top-to-bottom view of individual's head, defining DOA angle with respect thereto and specific areas of space;
  • Fig. 4 (a) to (d) polar diagram of beam-forming ability of the HRTF and of a cardioid technical beam-former at different frequencies;
  • Fig. 5 a further embodiment for operating the method according to the present invention and in a representation in analogy to that of fig. 1 and 2;
  • Fig. 6 m a representation in analogy to that of fig. 5, a part thereof differently operated as a further embodiment of operating the method according to the invention
  • Fig. 7 m a representation m analogy to that of fig. 6, still a further embodiment of operating the method according to the present invention
  • Fig. 8 m a simplified functional block/signal-flow diagram, signal processing by alternative transfer functions
  • Fig. 9 operating switch-over from signal processing from a first transfer function to a second transfer function according to fig. 8 and performed according to the present invention under a further aspect;
  • Fig. 10 in a representation according to that of fig. 9, a further example of switch-over according to the present invention and with an eye on the present invention under the aspect of audio signal manufacturing
  • Fig. 11 in a simplified functional block/signal-flow diagram of a binaural hearing system as of fig. 1, the structure thereof when operated according to the present invention under its second aspect, namely of transiting from a first to a second processing mode.
  • the principal of the present invention is to apply in a binaural hearing system binaural processing only if necessary and to simplify wherever possible such binaural processing so as to reduce over the operating time of the binaural hearing system, power consumption which is especially due to increased processing requirements necessary for binaural signal processing.
  • FIG. 1 there is shown by means of a signal- flow/functional-block: diagram a binaural hearing system as addressed by the present invention.
  • An individual I wears a right-ear and a left-ear hearing device 1 L and 1 R .
  • Each of the hearing devices comprises a respective input converter arrangement 3 L and 3 R , also referred to as "microphone arrangement" 3 L and 3 R .
  • the microphone arrangements in fact acoustical-to-electrical converter arrangements, comprise one or more than one acoustical-to-electrical converters, e.g. microphones. At the outputs A 3L and A 3R of the microphone arrangements electrical signals S 3L and S 3R are generated.
  • the binaural hearing system of fig. 1 further comprises a signal transmission link 9 for cross-data-transmission between the hearing devices 1 L and 1 R .
  • the transmission link 9 may be wireless or wirebound.
  • a signal which is dependent from the input signal S 3L is combined with a signal which is dependent from the output signal S 3R as transmitted via transmission link 9.
  • a weighted signal combination of S 3L and S 3R is performed, with respective variable complex and frequency-dependent factors ⁇ R and ⁇ R .
  • the weighting factors ⁇ L , ⁇ R , ⁇ L and ⁇ R are controlled from the result of classification of the momentarily prevailing acoustical surrounding of the individual I as performed by a classifier unit 11 generating the respective control signals C ( ⁇ , ⁇ ) .
  • fig. 2 there is schematically shown in a representation in analogy to that of fig. 1 the binaural hearing system as of fig. 1 performing signal processing according to the present invention.
  • the input converter arrangement of one of the two hearing devices, according to fig. 2 of the right-ear device, 3 R is conceived e.g. to have an omnidirectional technical beam-forming characteristic.
  • the output signal S 3R of the addressed input converter arrangement 3 R is applied to the signal processing unit 5 R .
  • the input signal S 5R to the right-ear speaker arrangement 7 R is made dependent from the output signal of the microphone arrangement 3 R .
  • the transmission of a signal dependent from the output signal S 3L of the left-ear microphone arrangement 3 L is substantially disabled as schematically shown in the transmission unit 9 by the open connection.
  • the input signal Ss R of the right-ear speaker arrangement 7 R is practically exclusively dependent from the output signal of the microphone arrangement 3 R of the same device 1 R .
  • signal transmission dependent from the output signal S 3R of microphone arrangement 3 R to the input signal S 5L of the speaker arrangement 7 L at the left-ear device 1 L is enabled as shown in the transmission unit 9 of fig. 2 by the closed connection.
  • the weighting factor ⁇ L as of fig. 1 is selected to be approx. zero. Thereby, the input signal S 5L becomes practically exclusively dependent from the output signal S 3R of the right-ear microphone arrangement 3 R .
  • signal processing exploits exclusively the microphone arrangement at one of individual's ears to feed the input signals to the speaker arrangements of both ears of the individual.
  • the signal processing as shown in fig. 2 is applied whenever the classifier unit 11 detects an acoustical signal source which is located in a specific area Fi as will be explained with the help of fig. 3.
  • Direction of arrival DOA is defined counter clockwise with respect to the projection of the sagittal plane SP on a horizontal plane.
  • Signal processing according to fig. 2 is performed whenever an acoustical signal source is located m a range of DOA
  • the dominating hearing device as of fig. 2 the right-ear hearing device 1 R , is the ipsi-lateral hearing device.
  • this acoustical situation i.e. perception of an acoustical source in the spatial area Fi
  • delaying the signal output at the contra-lateral speaker arrangement with respect to the signal output at the ipsi-lateral speaker arrangement is established by a fixed amount of time.
  • the complex weighting factors ⁇ L and ⁇ R are set to provide for the time delay ⁇ 0 between the respectively output mechanical signals S ML , S MR .
  • this is realized by group delay ⁇ provided by a wireless communication link 9 and a delay ( ⁇ - ⁇ 0 ) provided by setting the weighting factor ⁇ R .
  • the ipsi-lateral microphone arrangement is or may be operated m the signal processing technique of fig. 2 with omni- directional beam characteristic. This resides on the following recognition:
  • the natural beam- forming characteristics of the HRTF at frequencies of 500 Hz, 1 kHz, 2 kHz, 4 kHz. It might be seen that at 2 kHz and above the HRTF provides for a natural beam-forming which is very similar to that of a cardioid-type microphone.
  • the head shadow of the individual provides for an increased amplification on the ipsi-lateral side by about 5 dB compared with the amplification towards the contra-lateral side. Therefore and with an eye on fig. 2, the HRTF provides for sufficient beam-forming at the ipsi-lateral hearing device, so that no additional technical beam- forming is necessitated at the "primany", the ipsi-lateral input converter arrangement.
  • the contra-lateral speaker arrangement too is fed with a signal which practically exclusively depends from the output signal of the ipsi-lateral microphone arrangement, an improved signal level and signal-to-noise ratio from the ipsi-lateral side - compared to the contralateral side - is exploited.
  • the signal processing substantially necessitates only - except possibly control data - a one-directional transmission from the ipsi-lateral to the contra-lateral hearing device with a constant time delay, so that relatively small processing power and supplying power is needed to operate this signal processing mode .
  • fig. 5 there is shown in a representation in analogy to that of fig. 1 the binaural hearing system which is controlled to also allow operating in the processing mode as of fig. 2.
  • the right-ear side of the binaural hearing system of fig. 5 is again the ipsi-lateral side.
  • the differences to the processing mode as of fig. 2 are:
  • the input signal of the ipsi-lateral speaker arrangement 7 R is dependent from the output signal S 31 , of the contralateral microphone arrangement too.
  • the weighting factor ⁇ R provides for the delay ⁇ as does the weighting coefficient ⁇ L .
  • the signal which is transmitted over transmission link 9 from the contra-lateral hearing device to the ipsi-lateral hearing device is subtracted from the signal originating from the ipsi-lateral microphone arrangement. This results m binaural beam-forming, whereat a pronounced amplification minimum is established in contra-lateral direction.
  • the two microphone arrangements 3 L , 3 R may be selected to be omnidirectional.
  • technical monaural beam-forming abilities may be provided at the two hearing devices, possibly controllably variable as a function of the result of classification in unit 11, so as to further improve signal-to-noise ratio.
  • the HRTF as exploited in the embodiment of fig. 2 to enhance ipsi-lateral source perception provides in the direction of approx. 315 to 330° for the right ear and, m analogy, of approx. 30 to 45° for the left ear, an amplification maximum.
  • the embodiment of fig. 5 there results beam-forming with maximum amplification still for a DOA of 315 to 330° and of 30 to 45°, but with a significantly better attenuation (negative relative amplification) of signals with a DOA of about 180°.
  • one of its objects is to establish to the individual the ability to localize acoustical sources. Whereas improving signal-to-noise ratio may be resolved purely by monaural beam-forming, such monaural beam-forming may not establish such ability.
  • Acoustical sources, which are to be perceived in. the area Fi are especially sources as occurring m telephone applications .
  • the adjacent area F 2 as of fig. 3 is served by signal processing as has been shown in fig. 5.
  • this is achieved by the embodiment of fig. 5 with relatively small processing power and power consumption.
  • binaural beam-forming may be minimalized, keeping in mind that one of its primary purposes is to allow proper source localization rather than to improve signal-to-noise ratio.
  • F 3 in fig. 3 which may be approximated by a DOA of at most 45° and of at least 315°, there is no need for technical binaural beam-forming, i.e. in this range the two hearing devices 1 L and 1 R as of fig. 1 may be operated independently merely with the respective monaural beam-forming for signal-to-noise improvement .
  • F 2 and F 3 signal processing may be performed as has been shown in fig. 6.
  • the embodiment as shown in fig. 7, in a representation m analogy to that of fig. 6, provides for technical binaural beam-forming for stereo enhancement or stereo widening effect. Thereby, there is achieved a binaural beam-forming characteristic approximately showing, in polar representation, an "8" with direction of minimum amplification at zero and 180°.
  • Another aspect which is considered per se inventive is that changeover from one signal processing mode to the other should not cause artifacts to the individual and should thus be performed m a fading manner.
  • This object too may be resolved in. an inventive manner upon the respective signal having been transformed from time-domain into frequency-domain.
  • a signal S to be processed is subjected to a time-domain to frequency-domain conversion as by an FFT unit 20.
  • the time-domain to frequency-domain conversion the signal is structured m a number of spectral components.
  • the frequency-domain converted signal S is fed to a generic fading unit, in fact generically a filter unit 22.
  • the filter unit 22 is a selective filter bank, whereat the spectral components of the signal S let us say with the components of interest No. 1 to n are grouped in at least two groups, according to fig. 8 e.g. in three groups Qi, Q2 r Ch- The total number of spectral components in the groups Qi to Q3 is n.
  • a control input C 2 2 the selectivity of filter 22 is varied, i.e. the number of spectral components momentarily assigned to each of the groups, as an example the three groups Qi to Q 3 .
  • fig. 9 there is first shown at "J"' the spectral components of interest of signal S.
  • ti all the spectral components of S are assigned to group Qi
  • group Q 2 and Q 3 are empty.
  • Controlled by control input C 22A in a second moment of time, t 2 one of the spectral components, purely as an example, is assigned to group Q 2 , group Qi lacks the addressed component and group Q 3 is still empty.
  • t x/ group Qi is empty and all the spectral components of signal S are controllably split upon the groups Q 2 and Q 3 .
  • each of the groups Qi to Q 3 is assigned to one output of filter unit 22, which is operationally connected to a specific transfer function, named Gi to G 3 in fig. 8.
  • the three transfer functions Gi to G 3 are, according to fig. 8, assigned to three processing units 24i to 24 3 .
  • the output signals of the processing unit 24i to 24 3 are summed m a summing unit 26, resulting in a result signal S' .
  • fig. 9 to processing according to fig. 8 at ti the overall interesting spectral components 1 to n are processed by Gi, resulting in S' being Gi S.
  • This technique is applied in a good embodiment of the present invention under its first aspect, for fadingly switching between the different signal processing modes as have been described e.g. in context with fig. 2, fig. 5, fig. 6, fig. 7.
  • fig. 11 there is shown the technique as has been exemplified with the help of the figs. 8 to 10 for fadingly switching from signal processing according to fig. 2 to signal processing according to fig. 5.
  • the output signals S 3L and S 3R are time-domain to frequency-domain converted in converter units 20 L and 20 R , resulting in the frequency- domain signals S 3 1, and J 3 R.
  • These signals are fed to fading filter units 22 L and 22 R having respectively, outputs Qi L and Qi R , Q 2L and Q 2R .
  • a first transfer function Gi accords with the embodiment of fig. 2 and a second transfer function G 2 with the embodiment of signal processing according to fig. 5.
  • the group Qi of spectral components is processed by Gi, thus according to fig.
  • the second group of spectral components Q 2 by transfer function or processing G 2 thus according to the embodiment of fig. 5.
  • the results of these two processings with different transfer functions Gi and G 2 are summed in respective summing units 2 ⁇ L and 2 ⁇ R , the output thereof being frequency-domain to time-domain converted at units 28 L and 28 R , leading possibly after digital-to-analog conversion to the signals Ss L , Ss R of fig. 1.
  • the synchronized control signals C 22 L and C 22 R the membership of each of the interesting frequency components to the groups Qi and Q 2 is controlled, so that for switching from processing according to fig. 2 to processing according to fig.
  • binaural beam-forming modes have been proposed which are assigned to specific situations of acoustical surrounding and which necessitate little processing power and supply power requirements.
  • binaural beam-forming modes there is proposed to provide at least two processing modes assigned to specific acoustical situations which modes are of relatively small processing power and supply power consumption and between which one may switch system operation.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Neurosurgery (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Stereophonic System (AREA)
  • Circuit For Audible Band Transducer (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne des situations acoustiques sélectionnées qui, pour mettre en pratique une formation de faisceau binaural, ont une puissance de traitement et une capacité de consommation de puissance minimales au niveau d'un système d'écoute binaural. Les convertisseurs contra-latéraux (7L) ainsi que les convertisseurs électrique en mécanique de sortie ipsi-latéraux (7R) de deux appareils d'écoute du système d'écoute binaural sont mis en marche, pour des sources acoustiques près de l'oreille, pratiquement exclusivement en dépendance du signal de sortie de la disposition de convertisseurs acoustique en électrique d'entrée ipsi-latéraux (3R).
EP06792496A 2006-07-12 2006-07-12 Procédés de génération de signaux audibles dans des appareils auditifs Active EP2039217B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/EP2006/064123 WO2008006401A1 (fr) 2006-07-12 2006-07-12 Procédés de génération de signaux audibles dans des appareils auditifs

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2039217A1 true EP2039217A1 (fr) 2009-03-25
EP2039217B1 EP2039217B1 (fr) 2012-09-05

Family

ID=37671341

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP06792496A Active EP2039217B1 (fr) 2006-07-12 2006-07-12 Procédés de génération de signaux audibles dans des appareils auditifs

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2039217B1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2008006401A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2018069125A1 (fr) * 2016-10-10 2018-04-19 Widex A/S Système d'appareillage binaural et procédé de fonctionnement d'un système d'appareillage binaural

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2009153718A1 (fr) * 2008-06-17 2009-12-23 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Agencement d'écouteurs et son procédé de fonctionnement
EP2897382B1 (fr) * 2014-01-16 2020-06-17 Oticon A/s Amélioration des sources binaurales
US9551161B2 (en) 2014-11-30 2017-01-24 Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation Theater entrance
DE202015009711U1 (de) 2014-11-30 2019-06-21 Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation Mit sozialen Medien verknüpftes großformatiges Kinosaaldesign
US11818548B2 (en) 2019-09-30 2023-11-14 Widex A/S Method of operating a binaural ear level audio system and a binaural ear level audio system
US11617037B2 (en) 2021-04-29 2023-03-28 Gn Hearing A/S Hearing device with omnidirectional sensitivity

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5757932A (en) * 1993-09-17 1998-05-26 Audiologic, Inc. Digital hearing aid system
US5991419A (en) * 1997-04-29 1999-11-23 Beltone Electronics Corporation Bilateral signal processing prosthesis
AU4278300A (en) * 1999-04-26 2000-11-10 Dspfactory Ltd. Loudness normalization control for a digital hearing aid
US6778674B1 (en) * 1999-12-28 2004-08-17 Texas Instruments Incorporated Hearing assist device with directional detection and sound modification
AU2000262575A1 (en) * 2000-08-11 2000-11-21 Phonak Ag Method for localising direction and localisation arrangement
US7286672B2 (en) 2003-03-07 2007-10-23 Phonak Ag Binaural hearing device and method for controlling a hearing device system
US20040175008A1 (en) * 2003-03-07 2004-09-09 Hans-Ueli Roeck Method for producing control signals, method of controlling signal and a hearing device

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2008006401A1 *

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2018069125A1 (fr) * 2016-10-10 2018-04-19 Widex A/S Système d'appareillage binaural et procédé de fonctionnement d'un système d'appareillage binaural
US10244334B2 (en) 2016-10-10 2019-03-26 Widex A/S Binaural hearing aid system and a method of operating a binaural hearing aid system
CN109845296A (zh) * 2016-10-10 2019-06-04 唯听助听器公司 双耳助听器系统和操作双耳助听器系统的方法
CN109845296B (zh) * 2016-10-10 2021-07-23 唯听助听器公司 双耳助听器系统和操作双耳助听器系统的方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2008006401A1 (fr) 2008-01-17
EP2039217B1 (fr) 2012-09-05

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US8483416B2 (en) Methods for manufacturing audible signals
US8532307B2 (en) Method and system for providing binaural hearing assistance
US9560451B2 (en) Conversation assistance system
EP2039217B1 (fr) Procédés de génération de signaux audibles dans des appareils auditifs
CA2648851A1 (fr) Systeme auditif et procede mettant en oeuvre une reduction de bruit biaurale pour preserver des fonctions de transfert interaurales (itf)
WO2007137364A1 (fr) Procédé et système pour améliorer l'intelligibilité de sons
CA2611846A1 (fr) Systeme de communication et prothese auditive
US9253581B2 (en) Method of controlling an effect strength of a binaural directional microphone, and hearing aid system
CN109845296B (zh) 双耳助听器系统和操作双耳助听器系统的方法
JP2013017174A (ja) 無線バイノーラルコンプレッサ
CN105392096A (zh) 双耳听力系统及方法
CN107708045A (zh) 用于改善听力系统中的接收信号的方法
EP3496423A1 (fr) Dispositif auditif et procédé avec direction intelligente
US12028684B2 (en) Spatially differentiated noise reduction for hearing devices
CN113613154A (zh) 提供波束成形信号输出并包括非对称阀状态的助听器系统
EP3340655A1 (fr) Dispositif d'aide auditive doté d'un pilotage auditif binaural et procédé associé
AU2013203174B2 (en) Method for controlling a directional characteristic and hearing system
CA2490845C (fr) Appareil auditif zoom veritable oreille
US7212643B2 (en) Real-ear zoom hearing device
Jespersen Hearing Aid Directional Microphone Systems for Hearing in Noise
Mejia et al. Speech intelligibility enhancement through binaural signal processing

Legal Events

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

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20081113

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

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 NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL BA HR MK RS

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20090624

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

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 NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: NV

Representative=s name: TROESCH SCHEIDEGGER WERNER AG

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: REF

Ref document number: 574568

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20120915

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602006031859

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20121031

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: MK05

Ref document number: 574568

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20120905

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: VDEP

Effective date: 20120905

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: 20120905

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: 20120905

Ref country code: AT

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

Effective date: 20120905

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: LT

Ref legal event code: MG4D

Effective date: 20120905

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

Ref country code: SE

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

Effective date: 20120905

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: 20120905

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: 20120905

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: 20121206

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

Ref country code: ES

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

Effective date: 20121216

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: 20130105

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: 20120905

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: 20120905

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: 20120905

Ref country code: BE

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

Effective date: 20120905

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: 20120905

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: 20120905

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: 20120905

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: 20130107

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

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

Ref country code: DK

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

Effective date: 20120905

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: 20121205

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20130606

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: 20120905

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 602006031859

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20130606

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

Ref country code: MC

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

Effective date: 20120905

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: MM4A

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20140331

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

Ref country code: FR

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

Effective date: 20130731

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: 20130712

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: 20120905

Ref country code: CY

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

Effective date: 20120905

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: 20130712

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: 20060712

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R084

Ref document number: 602006031859

Country of ref document: DE

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

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20230727

Year of fee payment: 18

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 20230802

Year of fee payment: 18

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

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20230727

Year of fee payment: 18