EP2169984B1 - Hearing aid with a directional microphone system and method for operating such a hearing aid device - Google Patents
Hearing aid with a directional microphone system and method for operating such a hearing aid device Download PDFInfo
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- EP2169984B1 EP2169984B1 EP09170157.3A EP09170157A EP2169984B1 EP 2169984 B1 EP2169984 B1 EP 2169984B1 EP 09170157 A EP09170157 A EP 09170157A EP 2169984 B1 EP2169984 B1 EP 2169984B1
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- signal
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- hearing aid
- directivity
- directional microphone
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Images
Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
- H04R25/40—Arrangements for obtaining a desired directivity characteristic
- H04R25/407—Circuits for combining signals of a plurality of transducers
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- 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
- H04R25/45—Prevention of acoustic reaction, i.e. acoustic oscillatory feedback
- H04R25/453—Prevention of acoustic reaction, i.e. acoustic oscillatory feedback electronically
Definitions
- the invention relates to a hearing aid and a method for operating a hearing aid with a directional microphone system for receiving an acoustic input signal and generating at least one electrical microphone signal, a signal processing unit for processing and amplifying the electrical microphone signal and generating an electrical output signal and a receiver for converting the electrical output signal in an acoustic output signal, wherein in the directional microphone system different directional effects are adjustable and wherein the gain is adjustable in dependence on the result of an analysis of the microphone signal.
- an input signal is recorded by means of an input transducer and converted into an electrical input signal.
- an input transducer usually serves as an input transducer at least one microphone which receives an acoustic input signal and converts it into an electrical input signal.
- Modern hearing aids often comprise a directional microphone system with a plurality of microphones in order to achieve a direction dependent on the direction of arrival of acoustic signals reception, a directional characteristic.
- telephone coils or antennas for receiving electromagnetic input signals and conversion to electrical input signals are also common as input transducers.
- the input signals converted by the input transducer into electrical input signals are fed to a signal processing unit for further processing and amplification.
- the further processing and amplification takes place to compensate for the individual hearing loss of a user usually in response to the signal frequency of the input signal.
- the signal processing unit supplies at its output an electrical output signal, which via at least one output transducer the hearing of the hearing aid wearer is supplied so that it perceives the output signal as an acoustic signal.
- output transducers usually listeners are used, which generate an acoustic output signal.
- output transducers for generating mechanical vibrations are also known, which directly excite certain parts of the ear, such as the ossicles, to vibrate.
- output transducers are known which directly stimulate neurons of the ear.
- a hearing aid further comprises a voltage source (battery or Acku) for powering the electronic components.
- controls on / off switch, program switch, volume control, etc. may be present.
- the classification may include u.a. Influence on the amplification of the electrical input signal, the operation of noise canceling algorithms or on the directional microphone system.
- the classification may include u.a. Influence on the amplification of the electrical input signal, the operation of noise canceling algorithms or on the directional microphone system.
- a hearing aid is known with a directional microphone system comprising a plurality of electrically interconnected omnidirectional microphones and in which different directivity can be adjusted.
- the sound quality is to be improved, in particular in a quiet, listening environment.
- it is proposed to increase the signal delay in at least one microphone signal such that an increase in the transfer function in the frequency response of the microphone system takes place, which also improves the signal-to-noise ratio by reducing the proportion of microphone noise in the microphone output signal.
- the hearing aid professional is known that a hearing aid tends to tend to feedback at a very high gain, if in the directional microphone system used a high degree of directivity is set. Therefore, at very high gains (e.g., greater than 100 dB), the directional microphone system is used only in omnidirectional operation, i. without directivity.
- very high gains e.g., greater than 100 dB
- the directional microphone system is used only in omnidirectional operation, i. without directivity.
- adjustment of the directivity has hitherto been carried out as a function of the signal level of the acoustic input signal.
- the maximum directivity of the directional microphone system used was allowed only above a certain signal level of the acoustic input signal, or, if a high degree of directivity was required even at a lower signal level of the acoustic input signal, the gain correspondingly decreased.
- the maximum possible directivity was determined by the signal level of the acoustic input signal.
- US 2005/201579 A1 relates to a hearing aid with a directional microphone system, in which different directional characteristics are adjustable.
- the hearing aid also has a back-up compensator.
- the object of the present invention is always to provide the hearing aid wearer with the greatest possible degree of reinforcement and directivity.
- the invention has the advantage that the greatest possible degree of directivity, in particular with a high gain of the acoustic input signal by the hearing aid, is no longer directly coupled to the signal level of the input signal. Rather, the greatest possible degree of directivity in the hearing aid according to the invention now depends directly on the set gain.
- the difference to the previous procedure is particularly clear when the hearing aid adjusts only a relatively low gain despite a relatively quiet acoustic input signal, which would actually require a high gain. This is e.g. then the case when the classifier recognizes that in the acoustic input signal no or only a small useful signal component is present and thus is at least predominantly an interference signal in the input signal. In this case, it makes no sense if the hearing aid selects a high gain.
- the hearing aid device retains the highest possible directivity in the directional microphone system used, especially in a hearing situation with a high interference signal component.
- the greatest possible degree of directivity for a particular hearing situation no longer depends on the level of the acoustic input signal, but directly on the set gain. This fully exploits the technical possibilities of the hearing aid in question.
- a function is stored in the hearing aid, which determines the dependence of the directivity of the gain.
- this is a threshold value of the amplification above which an omnidirectional (and therefore no) directivity is always set.
- a directional microphone system comprising more than two microphones
- higher order directivity effects can be realized, e.g. in a directional microphone system with three omnidirectional microphones directional effects of first and second order.
- two gain thresholds can be set, with the hearing aid concerned automatically a second order directivity at a gain below the lower threshold, a first order directivity at a gain between the two thresholds, and a directivity at a gain above the upper threshold zeroth order chooses.
- This procedure can in principle be extended to directional microphone systems with an arbitrary number of microphones and thus arbitrary order of directivity.
- the selected according to the invention the relationship between the directivity and the gain only the greatest possible degree of directivity at the respective gain.
- This relationship can be determined, for example, by laboratory experiments, so that a stable operation of the respective hearing aid device is always ensured in the directivity associated with the respective amplification.
- a smaller than the largest possible directivity can always be set in the respective gain. Detects the hearing aid by an analysis of one or more microphone signals or from these signals, for example, that in the current hearing situation, a directivity is not required is, then automatically no or a lower than the maximum directivity at the instantaneous gain can be set.
- the invention has hitherto been explained for the complete frequency spectrum which can be transmitted with the relevant hearing aid device.
- the signal processing usually takes place in parallel within individual frequency bands, the so-called channels. Both the setting of the gain and the directivity between the individual channels can vary.
- the considerations explained so far with reference to a frequency band can also be applied to a number of parallel frequency bands.
- FIG. 1 shows a highly simplified block diagram of a hearing aid 1 with three microphones M1, M2 and M3, which receive an acoustic input signal and generate three electrical microphone signals S1, S2 and S3.
- the microphone interconnection unit 4 delivers at its output a directional microphone signal R, which is for further processing and frequency-dependent amplification of a signal processing unit 2 is supplied.
- the processed and amplified directional microphone signal is finally converted by an earphone 3 into an acoustic output signal and supplied to the hearing of a user of the hearing aid device 1.
- the hearing aid 1 is manually (by manual program switching) and automatically adaptable to different listening situations.
- the adaptation takes place in particular by setting parameters which determine the signal processing in the signal processing unit 2.
- an analysis of the microphone signals S1, S2 and S3 takes place in an analysis and control unit 6.
- the hearing situation in which the relevant hearing aid device 1 is currently located is automatically recognized and suitable Parameter settings determined and set in the signal processing unit 2.
- the amount of amplification of an acoustic input signal is determined by the hearing aid 1, wherein in addition to the signal analysis also other factors can influence the gain, such as a manual volume adjustment, which the user makes, for example by means of a remote control on the hearing aid 1.
- a further automatic adaptation of the hearing aid device 1 to the current hearing situation concerns the directional microphone system.
- the control takes place on the basis of a signal analysis of the microphone signals S1, S2 and S3, which takes place in a directional microphone control unit 5 for this purpose.
- the interference signal component and the directions of incidence of acoustic signals in the directional microphone system determine the directivity, which is then adjusted by means of the microphone circuit unit 4.
- the diagrams only give the maximum possible directional effect as a function of the amplification, in which a stable operation of the relevant hearing aid device is ensured.
- a lower directivity can be set.
- FIG. 3 Another example of a variety of possible functions shows FIG. 3 , Also, a directivity index RI is plotted against the gain V. A difference from the example according to FIG. 2 results in the range between the threshold values V1 and V2, wherein here a linear decrease of the directivity of a directional characteristic of the second order to a directional characteristic of zero order is given.
- Such a connection can be achieved, for example, by a targeted control of the time constants in the microphone interconnection unit 4 FIG. 1 be achieved.
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- 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)
- Stereophonic System (AREA)
Description
Die Erfindung betrifft ein Hörhilfegerät sowie ein Verfahren zum Betrieb eines Hörhilfegerätes mit einem Richtmikrofonsystem zur Aufnahme eines akustischen Eingangssignals und Erzeugung wenigstens eines elektrischen Mikrofonsignals, einer Signalverarbeitungseinheit zur Verarbeitung und Verstärkung des elektrischen Mikrofonsignals und Erzeugung eines elektrischen Ausgangssignals und einem Hörer zur Wandlung des elektrischen Ausgangsignals in ein akustisches Ausgangssignal, wobei bei dem Richtmikrofonsystem unterschiedliche Richtwirkungen einstellbar sind und wobei die Verstärkung in Abhängigkeit des Ergebnisses einer Analyse des Mikrofonsignals einstellbar ist.The invention relates to a hearing aid and a method for operating a hearing aid with a directional microphone system for receiving an acoustic input signal and generating at least one electrical microphone signal, a signal processing unit for processing and amplifying the electrical microphone signal and generating an electrical output signal and a receiver for converting the electrical output signal in an acoustic output signal, wherein in the directional microphone system different directional effects are adjustable and wherein the gain is adjustable in dependence on the result of an analysis of the microphone signal.
Bei einem Hörhilfegerät wird mittels eines Eingangswandlers ein Eingangssignal aufgenommen und in ein elektrisches Eingangssignal überführt. Üblicherweise dient als Eingangswandler wenigstens ein Mikrofon, welches ein akustisches Eingangssignal aufnimmt und in ein elektrisches Eingangssignal wandelt. Moderne Hörhilfegeräte umfassen häufig ein Richtmikrofonsystem mit mehreren Mikrofonen, um einen von der Einfallsrichtung akustischer Signale abhängigen Empfang, eine Richtcharakteristik, zu erreichen. Als Eingangswandler sind jedoch auch Telefonspulen oder Antennen zur Aufnahme elektromagnetischer Eingangssignale und Wandlung in elektrische Eingangssignale üblich. Die durch den Eingangswandler in elektrische Eingangssignale gewandelten Eingangssignale werden zur Weiterverarbeitung und Verstärkung einer Signalverarbeitungseinheit zugeführt. Die Weiterverarbeitung und Verstärkung erfolgt zum Ausgleich des individuellen Hörverlustes eines Benutzers in der Regel in Abhängigkeit der Signalfrequenz des Einganssignals. Die Signalverarbeitungseinheit liefert an ihrem Ausgang ein elektrisches Ausgangssignal, welches über wenigstens einen Ausgangswandler dem Gehör des Hörhilfegeräteträgers zugeführt wird, so dass dieser das Ausgangssignal als akustisches Signal wahrnimmt. Als Ausgangswandler werden üblicherweise Hörer verwendet, die ein akustisches Ausgangssignal erzeugen. Es sind jedoch auch Ausgangswandler zur Erzeugung mechanischer Schwingungen bekannt, die direkt bestimmte Teile des Gehörs, wie beispielsweise die Gehörknöchelchen, zu Schwingungen anregen. Weiterhin sind Ausgangswandler bekannt, die direkt Nervenzellen des Gehörs stimulieren. Ein Hörhilfegerät umfasst ferner eine Spannungsquelle (Batterie oder Acku) zur Spannungsversorgung der elektronischen Komponenten. Weiterhin können auch Bedienelemente (Ein-/Ausschalter, Programmumschalter, Lautstärkesteller etc.) vorhanden sein.In a hearing aid, an input signal is recorded by means of an input transducer and converted into an electrical input signal. Usually serves as an input transducer at least one microphone which receives an acoustic input signal and converts it into an electrical input signal. Modern hearing aids often comprise a directional microphone system with a plurality of microphones in order to achieve a direction dependent on the direction of arrival of acoustic signals reception, a directional characteristic. However, telephone coils or antennas for receiving electromagnetic input signals and conversion to electrical input signals are also common as input transducers. The input signals converted by the input transducer into electrical input signals are fed to a signal processing unit for further processing and amplification. The further processing and amplification takes place to compensate for the individual hearing loss of a user usually in response to the signal frequency of the input signal. The signal processing unit supplies at its output an electrical output signal, which via at least one output transducer the hearing of the hearing aid wearer is supplied so that it perceives the output signal as an acoustic signal. As output transducers usually listeners are used, which generate an acoustic output signal. However, output transducers for generating mechanical vibrations are also known, which directly excite certain parts of the ear, such as the ossicles, to vibrate. Furthermore, output transducers are known which directly stimulate neurons of the ear. A hearing aid further comprises a voltage source (battery or Acku) for powering the electronic components. Furthermore, controls (on / off switch, program switch, volume control, etc.) may be present.
In modernen Hörhilfegeräten finden Einrichtungen zur Klassifikation von Hörsituationen Verwendung. Je nach Hörsituation werden die Übertragungsparameter des Hörhilfegerätes automatisch variiert. Dabei kann die Klassifikation u.a. Einfluss haben auf die Verstärkung des elektrischen Eingangssignals, die Wirkungsweise von Störgeräuschunterdrückungsalgorithmen oder auf das Richtmikrofonsystem. So wird beispielsweise je nach erkannter Hörsituation gewählt (diskret umgeschaltet bzw. kontinuierlich übergeblendet) zwischen einer omnidirektionalen Richtcharakteristik (Richtcharakteristik nullter Ordnung) und einer deutlichen Richtwirkung des Mikrofonsystems (Richtcharakteristik erster oder höherer Ordnung). Zur Erzeugung der Richtcharakteristik werden Gradientenmikrofone verwendet oder mehrere omnidirektionale Mikrofone elektrisch miteinander verschaltet.In modern hearing aids devices for the classification of hearing situations are used. Depending on the hearing situation, the transmission parameters of the hearing aid are automatically varied. The classification may include u.a. Influence on the amplification of the electrical input signal, the operation of noise canceling algorithms or on the directional microphone system. Thus, for example, depending on the detected hearing situation selected (discretely switched or continuously faded) between an omnidirectional directional characteristic (directional characteristic of zero order) and a clear directivity of the microphone system (directivity of the first or higher order). To generate the directional characteristic gradient microphones are used or interconnected several omnidirectional microphones with each other.
Aus der
Aus der
Dem Hörhilfegerätefachmann ist bekannt, dass ein Hörhilfegerät bei einer sehr hohen Verstärkung eher zu Rückkopplungen neigt, wenn bei dem verwendeten Richtmikrofonsystem ein hohes Maß an Richtwirkung eingestellt ist. Deshalb wird bei sehr hohen Verstärkungen (z.B. größer 100 dB), das Richtmikrofonsystem nur im omnidirektionalen Betrieb verwendet, d.h. ohne Richtwirkung. Bei Hörhilfegeräten für hochgradig schwerhörige Hörhilfegeräteträger, die eine verhältnismäßig hohe Verstärkung insbesondere bei leisen akustischen Einganssignalen benötigen, erfolgte daher bisher eine Einstellung der Richtwirkung in Abhängigkeit des Signalpegels des akustischen Eingangssignals. So wurde die maximale Richtwirkung des verwendeten Richtmikrofonsystems nur oberhalb eines bestimmten Signalpegels des akustischen Eingangssignals zugelassen, oder, wenn ein hohes Maß an Richtwirkung auch bei einem niedrigeren Signalpegel des akustischen Eingangssignals verlangt wurde, die Verstärkung entsprechend zurückgenommen.The hearing aid professional is known that a hearing aid tends to tend to feedback at a very high gain, if in the directional microphone system used a high degree of directivity is set. Therefore, at very high gains (e.g., greater than 100 dB), the directional microphone system is used only in omnidirectional operation, i. without directivity. In hearing aids for hearing-impaired hearing aid wearers who require a relatively high amplification, in particular with quiet acoustic input signals, adjustment of the directivity has hitherto been carried out as a function of the signal level of the acoustic input signal. Thus, the maximum directivity of the directional microphone system used was allowed only above a certain signal level of the acoustic input signal, or, if a high degree of directivity was required even at a lower signal level of the acoustic input signal, the gain correspondingly decreased.
Bislang erfolgte demnach bei Hörhilfegräten sowohl die Einstellung der Verstärkung als auch die Einstellung der Richtwirkung jeweils in Abhängigkeit des Ergebnisses einer Analyse eines oder mehrerer Mikrofonsignale oder aus dem bzw. den Mikrofonsignalen hervorgehender Signale. Dabei wurde das größtmögliche Maß an Richtwirkung durch den Signalpegel des akustischen Eingangssignals bestimmt.So far, in hearing aid devices, both the adjustment of the gain and the adjustment of the directivity in each case depending on the result of an analysis of one or more microphone signals or from the or the microphone signals resulting signals. The maximum possible directivity was determined by the signal level of the acoustic input signal.
Aufgabe der vorliegenden Erfindung ist es, dem Hörhilfegeräteträger stets ein möglichst großes Maß an Verstärkung und Richtwirkung zu bieten.The object of the present invention is always to provide the hearing aid wearer with the greatest possible degree of reinforcement and directivity.
Diese Aufgabe wird durch ein Hörhilfegerät mit den Merkmalen gemäß Patentanspruch 1 gelöst. Ferner wird die Aufgabe gelöst durch ein Verfahren zum Betrieb eines Hörhilfegerätes mit den Verfahrensschritten gemäß Patentanspruch 3.This object is achieved by a hearing aid with the features of
Die Erfindung bringt den Vorteil, dass das größtmögliche Maß an Richtwirkung, insbesondere bei einer hohen Verstärkung des akustischen Eingangssignals durch das Hörhilfegerät, nicht länger direkt an den Signalpegel des Eingangssignals gekoppelt ist. Vielmehr hängt das größtmögliche Maß an Richtwirkung bei dem Hörhilfegerät gemäß der Erfindung nun direkt von der eingestellten Verstärkung ab. Der Unterschied zur bisherigen Vorgehensweise wird insbesondere dann deutlich, wenn das Hörhilfegerät trotz eines verhältnismäßig leisen akustischen Eingangssignals, bei dem eigentlich eine hohe Verstärkung erforderlich wäre, nur eine verhältnismäßig niedrige Verstärkung einstellt. Dies ist z.B. dann der Fall, wenn der Klassifikator erkennt, dass in dem akustischen Eingangssignal kein oder nur ein geringer Nutzsignalanteil vorhanden ist und es sich damit bei dem Eingangssignal zumindest überwiegend um ein Störsignal handelt. In diesem Fall macht es keinen Sinn, wenn das Hörhilfegerät eine hohe Verstärkung wählt. Jedoch ist es für den Benutzer von Vorteil, wenn das Hörhilfegerät gerade in einer Hörsituation mit einem hohen Störsignalanteil ein möglichst hohes Maß an Richtwirkung bei dem verwendeten Richtmikrofonsystem beibehält. Vorteilhaft hängt das größtmögliche Maß an Richtwirkung für eine bestimmte Hörsituation nun nicht mehr vom Pegel des akustischen Eingangsignals, sondern direkt von der eingestellten Verstärkung ab. Damit werden die technischen Möglichkeiten des betreffenden Hörhilfegerätes voll ausgeschöpft.The invention has the advantage that the greatest possible degree of directivity, in particular with a high gain of the acoustic input signal by the hearing aid, is no longer directly coupled to the signal level of the input signal. Rather, the greatest possible degree of directivity in the hearing aid according to the invention now depends directly on the set gain. The difference to the previous procedure is particularly clear when the hearing aid adjusts only a relatively low gain despite a relatively quiet acoustic input signal, which would actually require a high gain. This is e.g. then the case when the classifier recognizes that in the acoustic input signal no or only a small useful signal component is present and thus is at least predominantly an interference signal in the input signal. In this case, it makes no sense if the hearing aid selects a high gain. However, it is advantageous for the user if the hearing aid device retains the highest possible directivity in the directional microphone system used, especially in a hearing situation with a high interference signal component. Advantageously, the greatest possible degree of directivity for a particular hearing situation no longer depends on the level of the acoustic input signal, but directly on the set gain. This fully exploits the technical possibilities of the hearing aid in question.
Vorteilhaft ist im Hörhilfegerät eine Funktion hinterlegt, die die Abhängigkeit der Richtwirkung von der Verstärkung festlegt. Im einfachsten Fall eines Hörhilfegerätes mit einem Richtmikrofonsystem, das zwei elektrisch miteinander verschaltbare omnidirektionale Mikrofone umfasst, ist dies ein Schwellenwert der Verstärkung, oberhalb dessen stets eine omnidirektionale (und damit keine) Richtwirkung eingestellt wird.Advantageously, a function is stored in the hearing aid, which determines the dependence of the directivity of the gain. In the simplest case of a hearing aid device with a directional microphone system comprising two omnidirectional microphones which can be interconnected electrically, this is a threshold value of the amplification above which an omnidirectional (and therefore no) directivity is always set.
Bei einem mehr als zwei Mikrofone umfassenden Richtmikrofonsystem sind Richtwirkungen höherer Ordnung realisierbar, z.B. bei einem Richtmikrofonsystem mit drei omnidirektionalen Mikrofonen Richtwirkungen erster und zweiter Ordnung. In diesem Fall können zwei Schwellenwerte für die Verstärkung festgelegt werden, wobei das betreffende Hörhilfegerät bei einer Verstärkung unterhalb des unteren Schwellenwertes automatisch eine Richtwirkung zweiter Ordnung, bei einer Verstärkung zwischen den beiden Schwellenwerten eine Richtwirkung erster Ordnung und bei einer Verstärkung oberhalb des oberen Schwellenwertes eine Richtwirkung nullter Ordnung wählt. Dieses Vorgehen kann prinzipiell auf Richtmikrofonsysteme mit einer beliebigen Anzahl an Mikrofonen und damit beliebiger Ordnung der Richtwirkung erweitert werden.In a directional microphone system comprising more than two microphones, higher order directivity effects can be realized, e.g. in a directional microphone system with three omnidirectional microphones directional effects of first and second order. In this case, two gain thresholds can be set, with the hearing aid concerned automatically a second order directivity at a gain below the lower threshold, a first order directivity at a gain between the two thresholds, and a directivity at a gain above the upper threshold zeroth order chooses. This procedure can in principle be extended to directional microphone systems with an arbitrary number of microphones and thus arbitrary order of directivity.
Ferner ist es neben dem Umschalten zwischen unterschiedlichen Ordnungen der Richtwirkung in Abhängigkeit diskreter Schwellenwerte der Verstärkung auch möglich, dass ein kontinuierlicher und stetiger funktionaler Zusammenhang zwischen der Verstärkung und der Richtwirkung im Hörhilfegerät hinterlegt ist. Je nach augenblicklich bei dem betreffenden Hörhilfegerät eingestellter Verstärkung wird dann das Maß an Richtwirkung für das betreffende Richtmikrofonsystem gewählt und eingestellt.Furthermore, in addition to the switching between different orders of directivity as a function of discrete threshold values of the amplification, it is also possible that a continuous and continuous functional relationship between the amplification and the directivity is stored in the hearing aid. Depending on the currently set at the hearing aid concerned gain then the level of directivity for the respective directional microphone system is selected and set.
Vorteilhaft legt der gemäß der Erfindung gewählte Zusammenhang zwischen der Richtwirkung und der Verstärkung jeweils nur das größtmögliche Maß an Richtwirkung bei der jeweiligen Verstärkung fest. Dieser Zusammenhang kann beispielsweise durch Laborversuche ermittelt werden, so dass bei der der jeweiligen Verstärkung zugeordneten Richtwirkung stets ein stabiler Betrieb des betreffenden Hörhilfegerätes gewährleistet ist. Selbstverständlich kann jedoch bei der jeweiligen Verstärkung stets auch eine kleinere als die größtmögliche Richtwirkung eingestellt werden. Erkennt das Hörhilfegerät durch eine Analyse eines oder mehrerer Mikrofonsignale oder aus diesen hervorgehender Signale beispielsweise, dass in der augenblicklichen Hörsituation eine Richtwirkung nicht erforderlich ist, so kann automatisch auch keine oder eine niedrigere als die bei der augenblicklichen Verstärkung maximal mögliche Richtwirkung eingestellt werden.Advantageously, the selected according to the invention, the relationship between the directivity and the gain only the greatest possible degree of directivity at the respective gain. This relationship can be determined, for example, by laboratory experiments, so that a stable operation of the respective hearing aid device is always ensured in the directivity associated with the respective amplification. Of course, however, a smaller than the largest possible directivity can always be set in the respective gain. Detects the hearing aid by an analysis of one or more microphone signals or from these signals, for example, that in the current hearing situation, a directivity is not required is, then automatically no or a lower than the maximum directivity at the instantaneous gain can be set.
Die Erfindung wurde bislang für das komplette, mit dem betreffenden Hörhilfegerät übertragbare Frequenzspektrum erläutert. Bei Hörhilfegeräten findet die Signalverarbeitung in der Regel jedoch parallel innerhalb einzelner Frequenzbänder, der sogenannten Kanäle, statt. Dabei können sowohl die Einstellung der Verstärkung als auch die der Richtwirkung zwischen den einzelnen Kanälen variieren. Selbstverständlich sind die bisher anhand eines Frequenzbandes erläuterten Überlegungen auch auf eine Anzahl paralleler Frequenzbänder übertragbar.The invention has hitherto been explained for the complete frequency spectrum which can be transmitted with the relevant hearing aid device. In hearing aids, however, the signal processing usually takes place in parallel within individual frequency bands, the so-called channels. Both the setting of the gain and the directivity between the individual channels can vary. Of course, the considerations explained so far with reference to a frequency band can also be applied to a number of parallel frequency bands.
Die Erfindung wird nachfolgend anhand eines Ausführungsbeispiels näher erläutert. Dabei zeigen:
-
ein stark vereinfachtes Blockschaltbild eines Hörhilfegerätes gemäß der Erfindung,Figur 1 -
ein erstes Beispiel für den Zusammenhang zwischen der Verstärkungseinstellung und der Richtwirkung undFigur 2 -
Figur 3 ein zweites Beispiel für den Zusammenhang zwischen der Verstärkungseinstellung und der Richtwirkung.
-
FIG. 1 a highly simplified block diagram of a hearing aid according to the invention, -
FIG. 2 a first example of the relationship between the gain setting and the directivity and -
FIG. 3 a second example of the relationship between the gain setting and the directivity.
Das Hörhilfegerät 1 ist manuell (durch manuelle Programmumschaltung) und automatisch an unterschiedliche Hörsituationen anpassbar. Die Anpassung erfolgt insbesondere durch Einstellung von Parametern, die die Signalverarbeitung in der Signalverarbeitungseinheit 2 bestimmen. Hierfür erfolgt zum automatischen Bestimmen der für die jeweilige Hörsituation geeigneten Parametereinstellungen eine Analyse der Mikrofonsignale S1, S2 und S3 in einer Analyse- und Steuereinheit 6. Mittels dieser Analyse wird die Hörsituation, in der sich das betreffende Hörhilfegerät 1 augenblicklich befindet, automatisch erkannt und geeignete Parametereinstellungen ermittelt und in der Signalverarbeitungseinheit 2 eingestellt. Insbesondere wird so die Höhe der Verstärkung eines akustischen Eingangssignals durch das Hörhilfegerät 1 festgelegt, wobei neben der Signalanalyse auch weitere Faktoren die Verstärkung beeinflussen können, etwa eine manuelle Lautstärkeneinstellung, die der Benutzer beispielsweise mittels einer Fernbedienung am Hörhilfegerät 1 vornimmt.The
Eine weitere automatische Anpassung des Hörhilfegerätes 1 an die augenblickliche Hörsituation betrifft das Richtmikrofonsystem. Auch hierbei erfolgt die Steuerung aufgrund einer Signalanalyse der Mikrofonsignale S1, S2 und S3, die hierzu in einer Richtmikrofonsteuereinheit 5 stattfindet. Dabei bestimmen insbesondere der Störsignalanteil und die Einfallsrichtungen akustischer Signale in das Richtmikrofonsystem die Richtwirkung, die dann mittels der Mikrofonschaltungseinheit 4 eingestellt wird.A further automatic adaptation of the
Als weiterer Parameter fließt bei der Bestimmung und Einstellung der Richtwirkung bei dem Hörhilfegerät 1 gemäß der Erfindung auch die aktuell bei dem Hörhilfegerät 1 in der Signalverarbeitungseinheit 2 eingestellte Verstärkung mit ein.As a further parameter flows in the determination and adjustment of the directivity in the
Den Zusammenhang zwischen der maximalen Richtwirkung und der Verstärkung verdeutlicht
Wie bereits erwähnt wurde, geben die Diagramme lediglich die maximal mögliche Richtwirkung in Abhängigkeit der Verstärkung wieder, bei der ein stabiler Betreib des betreffenden Hörhilfegerätes gewährleistet ist. Selbstverständlich kann stets auch eine niedrigere Richtwirkung eingestellt werden.As already mentioned, the diagrams only give the maximum possible directional effect as a function of the amplification, in which a stable operation of the relevant hearing aid device is ensured. Of course, always a lower directivity can be set.
Ein weiteres Beispiel aus einer Vielzahl möglicher Funktionen zeigt
Vorteilhaft ist der Zusammenhang zwischen der Verstärkung und der maximalen Richtwirkung, wie er etwa mit Hilfe der
Claims (4)
- Hearing aid (1) having a directional microphone system (M1, M2, M3, 4) for picking up an acoustic input signal and generating at least one electrical microphone signal (S1, S2, S3, R), a signal processing unit (2) for processing and amplifying the electrical microphone signal (S1, S2, S3, R) and generating an electrical output signal, and an earphone (3) for converting the electrical output signal into an acoustic output signal, wherein the directional microphone system (M1, M2, M3, 4) has a microphone interconnection unit (4) that delivers, at its output, a directional microphone signal (R) that is supplied to the signal processing unit (2) for further processing and frequency-dependent amplification, and wherein the processed and amplified directional microphone signal (R) is converted into the acoustic output signal by the earphone (3), wherein different directivities are settable for the directional microphone system (M1, M2, M3, 4) and wherein the gain is settable on the basis of the result of an analysis of the microphone signal (S1, S2, S3, R),
characterized in that the directivity is set directly on the basis of the set gain,
wherein the hearing aid (1) is designed to limit the greatest possible degree of directivity for the respective gain according to the set gain. - Hearing aid (1) according to Claim 1, wherein at least zeroth- and first-order directivities are settable, wherein at least one threshold value (V1, V2) for the gain is settable and wherein a first-order directivity is settable for a gain below the threshold value (V2) and a zeroth-order directivity is settable for a gain above the threshold value (V2).
- Method for operating a hearing aid (1) having a directional microphone system (M1, M2, M3, 4) for picking up an acoustic input signal and generating at least one electrical microphone signal (S1, S2, S3, R), a signal processing unit for processing and amplifying the electrical microphone signal (S1, S2, S3, R) and generating an electrical output signal, and an earphone (3) for converting the electrical output signal into an acoustic output signal, wherein the directional microphone system (M1, M2, M3, 4) has a microphone interconnection unit (4) that delivers, at its output, a directional microphone signal (R) that is supplied to the signal processing unit (2) for further processing and frequency-dependent amplification and wherein the processed and amplified directional microphone signal (R) is converted into the acoustic output signal by the earphone (3), wherein different directivities are settable for the directional microphone system (M1, M2, M3, 4) and wherein the gain is set on the basis of the result of an analysis of the microphone signal (S1, S2, S3, R),
characterized in that the directivity is set automatically and directly on the basis of the set gain, wherein the hearing aid (1) limits the greatest possible degree of directivity for the respective gain according to the set gain. - Method for operating a hearing aid (1) according to Claim 3, wherein at least zeroth- and first-order directivities are settable, wherein at least one threshold value (V1, V2) for the gain is set and wherein a first-order directivity is automatically set for a gain below the threshold value (V2) and a zeroth-order directivity is automatically set for a gain above the threshold value (V2).
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DE102008049086A DE102008049086B4 (en) | 2008-09-26 | 2008-09-26 | Hearing aid with a directional microphone system and method for operating such a hearing aid |
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EP (1) | EP2169984B1 (en) |
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US20050201579A1 (en) * | 2004-03-15 | 2005-09-15 | Hans-Ueli Roeck | Feedback suppression |
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DK1192838T4 (en) * | 1999-06-02 | 2013-12-16 | Siemens Audiologische Technik | Hearing aid with directional microphone system and method for operating a hearing aid |
US7471798B2 (en) * | 2000-09-29 | 2008-12-30 | Knowles Electronics, Llc | Microphone array having a second order directional pattern |
DE10131964B4 (en) * | 2001-07-02 | 2005-11-03 | Siemens Audiologische Technik Gmbh | Method for operating a digital programmable hearing aid and digital programmable hearing aid |
US7457426B2 (en) * | 2002-06-14 | 2008-11-25 | Phonak Ag | Method to operate a hearing device and arrangement with a hearing device |
DE10310579B4 (en) * | 2003-03-11 | 2005-06-16 | Siemens Audiologische Technik Gmbh | Automatic microphone adjustment for a directional microphone system with at least three microphones |
DE10327889B3 (en) * | 2003-06-20 | 2004-09-16 | Siemens Audiologische Technik Gmbh | Adjusting hearing aid with microphone system with variable directional characteristic involves adjusting directional characteristic depending on acoustic input signal frequency and hearing threshold |
EP1489882A3 (en) * | 2003-06-20 | 2009-07-29 | Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH | Method for operating a hearing aid system as well as a hearing aid system with a microphone system in which different directional characteristics are selectable. |
DE10331956C5 (en) | 2003-07-16 | 2010-11-18 | Siemens Audiologische Technik Gmbh | Hearing aid and method for operating a hearing aid with a microphone system, in which different Richtcharaktistiken are adjustable |
EP1469702B1 (en) * | 2004-03-15 | 2016-11-23 | Sonova AG | Feedback suppression |
EP1827058A1 (en) * | 2006-02-22 | 2007-08-29 | Oticon A/S | Hearing device providing smooth transition between operational modes of a hearing aid |
US7869606B2 (en) * | 2006-03-29 | 2011-01-11 | Phonak Ag | Automatically modifiable hearing aid |
US8913769B2 (en) * | 2007-10-16 | 2014-12-16 | Phonak Ag | Hearing system and method for operating a hearing system |
DE102008055760A1 (en) * | 2008-11-04 | 2010-05-20 | Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd. | Adaptive microphone system for a hearing aid and associated method of operation |
DE102008064484B4 (en) * | 2008-12-22 | 2012-01-19 | Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd. | Method for selecting a preferred direction of a directional microphone and corresponding hearing device |
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2008
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DK2169984T3 (en) | 2019-08-26 |
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