EP2373064A1 - Method and apparatus for voice control of binaural hearing aids - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for voice control of binaural hearing aids Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2373064A1
EP2373064A1 EP11154775A EP11154775A EP2373064A1 EP 2373064 A1 EP2373064 A1 EP 2373064A1 EP 11154775 A EP11154775 A EP 11154775A EP 11154775 A EP11154775 A EP 11154775A EP 2373064 A1 EP2373064 A1 EP 2373064A1
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EP
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Prior art keywords
voice
speech recognition
hearing aid
hearing
information data
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Granted
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EP11154775A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP2373064B1 (en
Inventor
Roland Barthel
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Sivantos Pte Ltd
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Siemens Medical Instruments Pte Ltd
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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
    • H04R25/55—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
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2225/00—Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2225/61—Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/55—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
    • H04R25/558—Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a binaural method and a binaural arrangement for voice control of hearing aids with voice commands with a first and a second hearing aid.
  • hearing aids also include tinnitus markers and anti-stuttering aids.
  • 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.
  • FIG. 1 illustrated by the example of a behind-the-ear hearing aid 1.
  • In a hearing aid housing 2 for carrying behind the ear usually two microphones 3 are incorporated for receiving the sound from the environment. Above the microphones 3 microphone openings 7 are formed in the hearing aid housing 2.
  • a signal processing unit 4 which is also integrated in the hearing aid housing 2, processes the microphone signals and amplifies them.
  • the output signal of the signal processing unit 4 is transmitted to a loudspeaker or receiver 5, which outputs an acoustic signal.
  • the sound is optionally transmitted via a sound tube, not shown, which is fixed with an earmold in the ear canal, to the eardrum of the hearing aid wearer.
  • the power supply of the hearing device 1 and in particular that of the signal processing unit 4 is effected by a battery 6 likewise integrated into the hearing device housing 2.
  • the invention claims a method for voice control of hearing aids with voice commands with a first hearing aid and a second hearing aid in a binaural arrangement.
  • a first voice recognition method of the first hearing device for recognizing the voice commands uses information data a second speech recognition method of the second hearing aid.
  • the advantage of this is that the rate of misrecognized voice commands ("false alarms") is reduced while maintaining the hit rate.
  • the information data may comprise a second voice command recognized by the second voice recognition method.
  • Voice control becomes more error-free and robust.
  • a voice command can only be used for voice control if the second voice command matches a first voice command recognized by the first voice recognition method.
  • the information data may include acoustic parameters, voice activity detection results, and / or probabilities of recognized voice commands.
  • the second speech recognition method may be the same as the first speech recognition method.
  • the information data from the first hearing aid can be transmitted wirelessly to the second hearing aid.
  • the invention also claims a binaural arrangement with a first and a second hearing device for voice control of hearing aids by voice commands.
  • the arrangement comprises a first voice recognition module in the first hearing aid and a second voice recognition module in the second hearing aid, which uses information data of the first voice recognition module to recognize the voice commands.
  • the information data may comprise a first voice command recognized by the first voice recognition module.
  • a voice command can only be used for voice control if the first voice command matches a second voice command recognized by the second voice recognition module.
  • the information data of the arrangement may include acoustic parameters, results of voice activity detection, and / or probabilities of recognized voice commands.
  • the arrangement may comprise a first speech recognition algorithm in the first speech recognition module and a second speech recognition algorithm in the second speech recognition module.
  • the first speech recognition algorithm can be equal to the second speech recognition algorithm.
  • the arrangement may comprise a first radio module in the first hearing device and a second radio module in the second hearing device, wherein the first radio module transmits the information data to the second radio module.
  • FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of a method for voice control of a hearing aid 10, 20 with voice commands.
  • a first and a second hearing device 10, 20 are used in a binaural arrangement for this purpose.
  • the first hearing aid 10 supplies the left ear and the second hearing aid 20 the right ear of a hearing aid wearer.
  • a first speech recognition method is implemented in the first hearing device 10 and a second speech recognition method is implemented in the second hearing device 20.
  • the speech recognition methods can be the same. They have common or hearing aid-specific speech recognition algorithms.
  • the number of voice commands to be recognized is limited and usually includes five to a maximum of twenty commands.
  • the hearing aids 10, 20 wait for the delivery of a voice command by the hearing aid wearer.
  • the acoustic input signals are continuously analyzed.
  • the first hearing device 10 recognizes a first voice command and sends it in the following step 102 to the second hearing aid by means of wireless communication.
  • the second hearing aid 20 receives the first voice command.
  • the second hearing device 20 has recognized a second voice command simultaneously to step 101 in step 104.
  • step 105 the second hearing device 20 compares the self-determined second voice command with the first voice command received by the first hearing aid 10. If the two voice commands match, the first and second voice commands are executed in step 106. Subsequently, the process returns to step 100. If the two voice commands do not match, the procedure immediately proceeds to step 100.
  • the method can, of course, also run simultaneously in the reverse direction, ie the second hearing device 20 transmits its recognized second voice command to the first hearing device 10.
  • the first hearing device executes the voice command, if the self-determined first voice command matches the received second voice command.
  • FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a binaural arrangement according to the invention with a first hearing aid 10 and a second hearing aid 20, which can exchange data via a radio communication 30.
  • the first hearing device 10 comprises a first signal processing unit 14, which processes and amplifies acoustic signals recorded by a first microphone 13 in the form of electrical signals and forwards them to a first receiver 15 for acoustic emission.
  • the microphone signal of the first microphone 13 is analyzed for the presence of previously known voice commands.
  • the speech recognition takes place with the aid of a first speech recognition algorithm 12 in the first speech recognition module 11.
  • the first hearing aid 10 can wirelessly exchange data with the second hearing aid 20 using a first radio module 16.
  • the second hearing device 20 comprises a second signal processing unit 24, which processes and amplifies acoustic signals recorded by a second microphone 23 in the form of electrical signals and forwards them to a second listener 25 for acoustic emission.
  • a second voice recognition module 21 the microphone signal of the second microphone 23 is analyzed for the presence of previously known voice commands.
  • the speech recognition is carried out by means of a second speech recognition algorithm 22 in the second speech recognition module 21.
  • the second hearing aid 20 with the first hearing aid 10 wirelessly exchange data.
  • the first hearing aid 10 sends the recognized first voice command to the second hearing aid 20 using the first radio module, which receives this first voice command by means of the second radio module 26.
  • the second voice recognition module 21 in turn has itself recognized a second voice command.
  • the second voice recognition module 21 now compares the first and second voice commands and controls the second signal processing unit 24 with the second voice command only when the first and second voice commands match.
  • the binaural arrangement works analogously in the opposite direction.
  • the first voice recognition module 11 compares the first and second voice commands and controls the first signal processing unit 14 with the first voice command only when the first and second voice commands match.

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

Abstract

The method involves using speech recognition module (11) by speech recognition module (21) for recognizing the language commands. The speech recognition modules are provided in respective hearing aids (10,20). An independent claim is included for binaural arrangement for language control of hearing aids.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft ein binaurales Verfahren und eine binaurale Anordnung zur Sprachsteuerung von Hörgeräten mit Sprachbefehlen mit einem ersten und einem zweiten Hörgerät. Unter Hörgerät werden neben den Hörhilfen für Hörgeschädigte auch Tinnitus-Marker und Anti-Stotter-Hilfen verstanden.The invention relates to a binaural method and a binaural arrangement for voice control of hearing aids with voice commands with a first and a second hearing aid. In addition to hearing aids for the hearing impaired, hearing aids also include tinnitus markers and anti-stuttering aids.

Hörgeräte besitzen prinzipiell als wesentliche Komponenten einen Eingangswandler, einen Verstärker und einen Ausgangswandler. Der Eingangswandler ist in der Regel ein Schallempfänger, z. B. ein Mikrofon, und/oder ein elektromagnetischer Empfänger, z. B. eine Induktionsspule. Der Ausgangswandler ist meist als elektroakustischer Wandler, z. B. Miniaturlautsprecher, oder als elektromechanischer Wandler, z. B. Knochenleitungshörer, realisiert. Der Verstärker ist üblicherweise in eine Signalverarbeitungseinheit integriert. Dieser prinzipielle Aufbau ist in Figur 1 am Beispiel eines Hinter-dem-Ohr Hörgeräts 1 dargestellt. In ein Hörgerätegehäuse 2 zum Tragen hinter dem Ohr sind üblicherweise zwei Mikrofone 3 zur Aufnahme des Schalls aus der Umgebung eingebaut. Oberhalb der Mikrofone 3 sind Mikrofonöffnungen 7 in dem Hörgerätegehäuse 2 ausgebildet. Durch die Mikrofonöffnungen 7 kann der Schall zu den Mikrofonen 3 im Inneren des Hörgerätegehäuses 2 gelangen. Eine Signalverarbeitungseinheit 4, die ebenfalls in das Hörgerätegehäuse 2 integriert ist, verarbeitet die Mikrofonsignale und verstärkt sie. Das Ausgangssignal der Signalverarbeitungseinheit 4 wird an einen Lautsprecher bzw. Hörer 5 übertragen, der ein akustisches Signal ausgibt. Der Schall wird gegebenenfalls über einen nicht dargestellten Schallschlauch, der mit einer Otoplastik im Gehörgang fixiert ist, zum Trommelfell des Hörgeräteträgers übertragen. Die Energieversorgung des Hörgeräts 1 und insbesondere die der Signalverarbeitungseinheit 4 erfolgt durch eine ebenfalls ins Hörgerätegehäuse 2 integrierte Batterie 6.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 in FIG. 1 illustrated by the example of a behind-the-ear hearing aid 1. In a hearing aid housing 2 for carrying behind the ear usually two microphones 3 are incorporated for receiving the sound from the environment. Above the microphones 3 microphone openings 7 are formed in the hearing aid housing 2. Through the microphone openings 7, the sound can reach the microphones 3 in the interior of the hearing aid housing 2. A signal processing unit 4, which is also integrated in the hearing aid housing 2, processes the microphone signals and amplifies them. The output signal of the signal processing unit 4 is transmitted to a loudspeaker or receiver 5, which outputs an acoustic signal. The sound is optionally transmitted via a sound tube, not shown, which is fixed with an earmold in the ear canal, to the eardrum of the hearing aid wearer. The power supply of the hearing device 1 and in particular that of the signal processing unit 4 is effected by a battery 6 likewise integrated into the hearing device housing 2.

Unter einer binauralen Versorgung eines Hörgeschädigten wird die Versorgung mit einem rechten und einem linken Hörgerät bezeichnet. Dadurch können die Hörverluste beider Ohren individuell ausgeglichen werden. Damit die Vorteile einer binauralen Versorgung optimal genutzt werden können, kommunizieren diese drahtlos miteinander und tauschen Daten aus. In der US 2004/0037442 A1 wird eine derartige binaurale Hörgeräteanordnung beschrieben.Under a binaural care of a hearing impaired, the supply is referred to with a right and a left hearing aid. As a result, the hearing loss of both ears can be compensated individually. To make the most of the advantages of a binaural supply, they communicate wirelessly and exchange data. In the US 2004/0037442 A1 Such a binaural hearing device arrangement is described.

Untersuchungen der Anmelderin belegen, dass eine Sprachsteuerung von Hörgeräten den Tragekomfort deutlich verbessert. Die oft lästige Bedienung mittels einer Fernbedienung oder kleinen Einstellknöpfen am Hörgerät kann so oftmals vermieden werden. Die DE 10 2007 056 221 A1 gibt eine Lösung an, wie die für eine Sprachsteuerung benötigte Spracherkennung auch mit der verfügbaren Rechenleistung eines Hörgeräts realisiert werden kann. Trotzdem lässt die Erkennungsrate im Alltag zu wünschen übrig. Zu viele "Fehlalarme" treten auf, d.h. dass das Hörgerät einen gültigen Befehl erkennt, obwohl kein Befehl vom Hörgeräteträger gesprochen wurde. Ursache ist, dass die bekannten Spracherkennungsalgorithmen an die Anwendung bei Hörgeräten noch nicht optimal angepasst sind bzw. mit vertretbarem Aufwand nicht anpassbar werden können.Investigations by the applicant prove that a voice control of hearing aids significantly improves the wearing comfort. The often annoying operation by means of a remote control or small adjustment buttons on the hearing aid can often be avoided. The DE 10 2007 056 221 A1 indicates a solution as to how the voice recognition required for voice control can also be realized with the available computing power of a hearing aid. Nevertheless, the recognition rate leaves something to be desired in everyday life. Too many "false alarms" occur, ie the hearing aid recognizes a valid command even though no command was spoken by the hearing aid wearer. The reason is that the known speech recognition algorithms are not optimally adapted to the application in hearing aids or can not be adapted with reasonable effort.

Es ist Aufgabe der Erfindung "Fehlalarme" zu vermeiden und ein Verfahren sowie eine Anordnung anzugeben, die eine Sprachsteuerung von Hörgeräten verbessern.It is an object of the invention to avoid "false alarms" and to provide a method and an arrangement which improve a voice control of hearing aids.

Gemäß der Erfindung wird die gestellte Aufgabe mit dem Verfahren und der Anordnung der unabhängigen Patentansprüche gelöst.According to the invention, the stated object is achieved with the method and the arrangement of the independent claims.

Die Erfindung beansprucht ein Verfahren zur Sprachsteuerung von Hörgeräten mit Sprachbefehlen mit einem ersten Hörgerät und einem zweiten Hörgerät in binauraler Anordnung. Dabei verwendet ein erstes Spracherkennungsverfahren des ersten Hörgeräts zur Erkennung der Sprachbefehle Informationsdaten eines zweiten Spracherkennungsverfahrens des zweiten Hörgeräts. Vorteilhaft daran ist, dass die Rate von falsch erkannten Sprachbefehlen ("Fehlalarme") verringert wird bei einer gleichzeitigen Beibehaltung der Trefferquote.The invention claims a method for voice control of hearing aids with voice commands with a first hearing aid and a second hearing aid in a binaural arrangement. In this case, a first voice recognition method of the first hearing device for recognizing the voice commands uses information data a second speech recognition method of the second hearing aid. The advantage of this is that the rate of misrecognized voice commands ("false alarms") is reduced while maintaining the hit rate.

In einer Weiterbildung des Verfahrens können die Informationsdaten einen von dem zweiten Spracherkennungsverfahren erkannten zweiten Sprachbefehl umfassen. Eine Sprachsteuerung wird dadurch fehlerfreier und robuster.In one development of the method, the information data may comprise a second voice command recognized by the second voice recognition method. Voice control becomes more error-free and robust.

In einer weiteren Ausführungsform des Verfahrens kann ein Sprachbefehl nur dann zur Sprachsteuerung verwendet werden, wenn der zweite Sprachbefehl mit einem von dem ersten Spracherkennungsverfahren erkannten ersten Sprachbefehl übereinstimmt.In a further embodiment of the method, a voice command can only be used for voice control if the second voice command matches a first voice command recognized by the first voice recognition method.

Des Weiteren können die Informationsdaten akustische Parameter, Ergebnisse einer Voice Activity Detection und/oder Wahrscheinlichkeiten von erkannten Sprachbefehlen umfassen.Furthermore, the information data may include acoustic parameters, voice activity detection results, and / or probabilities of recognized voice commands.

In einer weiteren Ausführungsform kann das zweite Spracherkennungsverfahren gleich dem ersten Spracherkennungsverfahren sein.In another embodiment, the second speech recognition method may be the same as the first speech recognition method.

Außerdem können die Informationsdaten vom ersten Hörgerät drahtlos an das zweite Hörgerät übertragen werden.In addition, the information data from the first hearing aid can be transmitted wirelessly to the second hearing aid.

Die Erfindung beansprucht auch eine binaurale Anordnung mit einem ersten und einem zweiten Hörgerät zur Sprachsteuerung von Hörgeräten durch Sprachbefehle. Die Anordnung umfasst ein erstes Spracherkennungsmodul in dem ersten Hörgerät und ein zweites Spracherkennungsmodul in dem zweiten Hörgerät, das Informationsdaten des ersten Spracherkennungsmoduls zur Erkennung der Sprachbefehle verwendet.The invention also claims a binaural arrangement with a first and a second hearing device for voice control of hearing aids by voice commands. The arrangement comprises a first voice recognition module in the first hearing aid and a second voice recognition module in the second hearing aid, which uses information data of the first voice recognition module to recognize the voice commands.

In einer Weiterbildung der Anordnung können die Informationsdaten einen von dem ersten Spracherkennungsmodul erkannten ersten Sprachbefehl umfassen.In a development of the arrangement, the information data may comprise a first voice command recognized by the first voice recognition module.

In einer weiteren Ausführungsform der Anordnung kann ein Sprachbefehl nur dann zur Sprachsteuerung verwendet werden, wenn der erste Sprachbefehl mit einem von dem zweiten Spracherkennungsmodul erkannten zweiten Sprachbefehl übereinstimmt.In a further embodiment of the arrangement, a voice command can only be used for voice control if the first voice command matches a second voice command recognized by the second voice recognition module.

Des Weiteren können die Informationsdaten der Anordnung akustische Parameter, Ergebnisse einer Voice Activity Detection und/oder Wahrscheinlichkeiten von erkannten Sprachbefehlen umfassen.Furthermore, the information data of the arrangement may include acoustic parameters, results of voice activity detection, and / or probabilities of recognized voice commands.

In einer weiteren Ausführungsform kann die Anordnung einen ersten Spracherkennungsalgorithmus in dem ersten Spracherkennungsmodul und einen zweiten Spracherkennungsalgorithmus in dem zweiten Spracherkennungsmodul umfassen.In a further embodiment, the arrangement may comprise a first speech recognition algorithm in the first speech recognition module and a second speech recognition algorithm in the second speech recognition module.

In einer Weiterbildung der Anordnung kann der erste Spracherkennungsalgorithmus gleich dem zweiten Spracherkennungsalgorithmus sein.In a development of the arrangement, the first speech recognition algorithm can be equal to the second speech recognition algorithm.

Außerdem kann die Anordnung ein erstes Funkmodul in dem ersten Hörgerät und ein zweites Funkmodul in dem zweiten Hörgerät umfassen, wobei das erste Funkmodul die Informationsdaten an das zweite Funkmodul überträgt.In addition, the arrangement may comprise a first radio module in the first hearing device and a second radio module in the second hearing device, wherein the first radio module transmits the information data to the second radio module.

Weitere Besonderheiten und Vorteile der Erfindung werden aus den nachfolgenden Erläuterungen mehrerer Ausführungsbeispiele anhand von schematischen Zeichnungen ersichtlich.Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following explanations of several embodiments with reference to schematic drawings.

Es zeigen:

Figur 1:
ein Hinter-dem-Ohr Hörgerät gemäß Stand der Technik,
Figur 2:
ein Ablaufdiagramm einer binauralen Sprachsteuerung und
Figur 3:
eine Anordnung mit zwei Hörgeräten zur binauralen Spracherkennung.
Show it:
FIG. 1:
a behind-the-ear hearing aid according to the prior art,
FIG. 2:
a flow chart of a binaural voice control and
FIG. 3:
an arrangement with two hearing aids for binaural speech recognition.

Figur 2 zeigt ein Ablaufdiagramm eines Verfahrens zur Sprachsteuerung eines Hörgeräts 10, 20 mit Sprachbefehlen. Erfindungsgemäß werden dazu ein erstes und ein zweites Hörgerät 10, 20 in einer binauralen Anordnung eingesetzt. Das erste Hörgerät 10 versorgt das linke Ohr und das zweite Hörgerät 20 das rechte Ohr eines Hörgeräteträgers. Im ersten Hörgerät 10 ist ein erstes Spracherkennungsverfahren und im zweiten Hörgerät 20 ein zweites Spracherkennungsverfahren implementiert. Die Spracherkennungsverfahren können gleich sein. Sie weisen gängige oder Hörgeräte-spezifische Spracherkennungsalgorithmen auf. Die Anzahl der zu erkennenden Sprachbefehle ist beschränkt und umfasst in der Regel fünf bis maximal zwanzig Befehle. FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of a method for voice control of a hearing aid 10, 20 with voice commands. According to the invention, a first and a second hearing device 10, 20 are used in a binaural arrangement for this purpose. The first hearing aid 10 supplies the left ear and the second hearing aid 20 the right ear of a hearing aid wearer. A first speech recognition method is implemented in the first hearing device 10 and a second speech recognition method is implemented in the second hearing device 20. The speech recognition methods can be the same. They have common or hearing aid-specific speech recognition algorithms. The number of voice commands to be recognized is limited and usually includes five to a maximum of twenty commands.

Im ersten Schritt 100 warten die Hörgeräte 10, 20 auf die Abgabe eines Sprachbefehls durch den Hörgeräteträger. Dazu werden laufend die akustischen Eingangssignale analysiert. Im folgenden Schritt 101 erkennt das erste Hörgerät 10 einen ersten Sprachbefehl und sendet diesen im folgenden Schritt 102 an das zweite Hörgerät mit Hilfe drahtloser Kommunikation. Im Schritt 103 empfängt das zweite Hörgerät 20 den ersten Sprachbefehl. Das zweite Hörgerät 20 hat gleichzeitig zu Schritt 101 im Schritt 104 einen zweiten Sprachbefehl erkannt.In the first step 100, the hearing aids 10, 20 wait for the delivery of a voice command by the hearing aid wearer. For this purpose, the acoustic input signals are continuously analyzed. In the following step 101, the first hearing device 10 recognizes a first voice command and sends it in the following step 102 to the second hearing aid by means of wireless communication. In step 103, the second hearing aid 20 receives the first voice command. The second hearing device 20 has recognized a second voice command simultaneously to step 101 in step 104.

Im Schritt 105 vergleicht das zweite Hörgerät 20 den selbst ermittelten zweiten Sprachbefehl mit dem vom ersten Hörgerät 10 empfangenen ersten Sprachbefehl. Stimmen die beiden Sprachbefehle überein, wird im Schritt 106 der erste bzw. der zweite Sprachbefehl ausgeführt. Anschließend springt das Verfahren zu Schritt 100 zurück. Stimmen die beiden Sprachbefehle nicht überein, geht das Verfahren sofort mit Verfahrensschritt 100 weiter.In step 105, the second hearing device 20 compares the self-determined second voice command with the first voice command received by the first hearing aid 10. If the two voice commands match, the first and second voice commands are executed in step 106. Subsequently, the process returns to step 100. If the two voice commands do not match, the procedure immediately proceeds to step 100.

Das Verfahren kann selbstverständlich auch gleichzeitig in umgekehrter Richtung ablaufen, d.h. das zweite Hörgerät 20 überträgt seinen erkannten zweiten Sprachbefehl an das erste Hörgerät 10. Das erste Hörgerät führt den Sprachbefehl aus, wenn der selbst ermittelte erste Sprachbefehl mit dem empfangenen zweiten Sprachbefehl übereinstimmt.The method can, of course, also run simultaneously in the reverse direction, ie the second hearing device 20 transmits its recognized second voice command to the first hearing device 10. The first hearing device executes the voice command, if the self-determined first voice command matches the received second voice command.

Anstatt des Ergebnisses der Spracherkennung in Form von ersten oder zweiten Sprachbefehlen können in Ergänzung oder alternativ auch andere Informationsdaten des ersten bzw. zweiten Spracherkennungsverfahrens an das andere Hörgerät übertragen werden. Diese "Rohdaten" werden dann im anderen ersten bzw. zweiten Spracherkennungsverfahren bei einer Spracherkennung mitberücksichtigt.Instead of the result of speech recognition in the form of first or second voice commands, other information data of the first or second voice recognition method can be transmitted to the other hearing aid in addition or alternatively. These "raw data" are then taken into account in the other first or second speech recognition method in a speech recognition.

Figur 3 zeigt ein Blockschaltbild einer erfindungsgemäßen binauralen Anordnung mit einem ersten Hörgerät 10 und einem zweiten Hörgerät 20, die über eine Funkkommunikation 30 Daten austauschen können. Das erste Hörgerät 10 umfasst eine erste Signalverarbeitungseinheit 14, die von einem ersten Mikrofon 13 aufgenommene akustische Signale in Form von elektrischen Signalen aufbereitet und verstärkt und zur akustischen Abgabe an einen ersten Hörer 15 weiterleitet. Mit Hilfe eines ersten Spracherkennungsmoduls 11 wird das Mikrofonsignal des ersten Mikrofons 13 auf das Vorhandensein von vorbekannten Sprachbefehlen analysiert. Die Sprecherkennung erfolgt mithilfe eines ersten Spracherkennungsalgorithmus 12 im ersten Spracherkennungsmodul 11. Mit einem ersten Funkmodul 16 kann das erste Hörgerät 10 mit dem zweiten Hörgerät 20 drahtlos Daten austauschen. FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a binaural arrangement according to the invention with a first hearing aid 10 and a second hearing aid 20, which can exchange data via a radio communication 30. The first hearing device 10 comprises a first signal processing unit 14, which processes and amplifies acoustic signals recorded by a first microphone 13 in the form of electrical signals and forwards them to a first receiver 15 for acoustic emission. With the aid of a first voice recognition module 11, the microphone signal of the first microphone 13 is analyzed for the presence of previously known voice commands. The speech recognition takes place with the aid of a first speech recognition algorithm 12 in the first speech recognition module 11. The first hearing aid 10 can wirelessly exchange data with the second hearing aid 20 using a first radio module 16.

Das zweite Hörgerät 20 umfasst eine zweite Signalverarbeitungseinheit 24, die von einem zweiten Mikrofon 23 aufgenommene akustische Signale in Form von elektrischen Signalen aufbereitet und verstärkt und zur akustischen Abgabe an einen zweiten Hörer 25 weiterleitet. Mit Hilfe eines zweiten Spracherkennungsmoduls 21 wird das Mikrofonsignal des zweiten Mikrofons 23 auf das Vorhandensein von vorbekannten Sprachbefehlen analysiert. Die Sprecherkennung erfolgt mithilfe eines zweiten Spracherkennungsalgorithmus 22 im zweiten Spracherkennungsmodul 21. Mit einem zweiten Funkmodul 26 kann das zweite Hörgerät 20 mit dem ersten Hörgerät 10 drahtlos Daten austauschen.The second hearing device 20 comprises a second signal processing unit 24, which processes and amplifies acoustic signals recorded by a second microphone 23 in the form of electrical signals and forwards them to a second listener 25 for acoustic emission. With the aid of a second voice recognition module 21, the microphone signal of the second microphone 23 is analyzed for the presence of previously known voice commands. The speech recognition is carried out by means of a second speech recognition algorithm 22 in the second speech recognition module 21. With a second radio module 26, the second hearing aid 20 with the first hearing aid 10 wirelessly exchange data.

Wird ein erster Sprachbefehl durch das erste Spracherkennungsmodul 11 erkannt, sendet das erste Hörgerät 10 mithilfe des ersten Funkmoduls den erkannten ersten Sprachbefehl an das zweite Hörgerät 20, das diesen ersten Sprachbefehl mithilfe des zweiten Funkmoduls 26 empfängt. Das zweite Spracherkennungsmodul 21 hat wiederum selbst einen zweiten Sprachbefehl erkannt. Das zweite Spracherkennungsmodul 21 vergleicht nun den ersten und den zweiten Sprachbefehl und steuert die zweite Signalverarbeitungseinheit 24 mit dem zweiten Sprachbefehl nur dann, wenn der erste und der zweite Sprachbefehl übereinstimmen.If a first voice command is recognized by the first voice recognition module 11, the first hearing aid 10 sends the recognized first voice command to the second hearing aid 20 using the first radio module, which receives this first voice command by means of the second radio module 26. The second voice recognition module 21 in turn has itself recognized a second voice command. The second voice recognition module 21 now compares the first and second voice commands and controls the second signal processing unit 24 with the second voice command only when the first and second voice commands match.

Die binaurale Anordnung funktioniert analog in umgekehrter Richtung. Das erste Spracherkennungsmodul 11 vergleicht den ersten und den zweiten Sprachbefehl und steuert die erste Signalverarbeitungseinheit 14 mit dem ersten Sprachbefehl nur dann, wenn der erste und der zweite Sprachbefehl übereinstimmen.The binaural arrangement works analogously in the opposite direction. The first voice recognition module 11 compares the first and second voice commands and controls the first signal processing unit 14 with the first voice command only when the first and second voice commands match.

Anstelle von oder zusätzlich zu erkannten ersten und zweiten Sprachbefehlen können mit der Funkkommunikation 30 auch andere Informationsdaten, wie beispielweise akustische Parameter, Ergebnisse einer Voice Activity Detection oder Wahrscheinlichkeiten von erkannten Sprachbefehlen, ausgetauscht werden.Instead of or in addition to recognized first and second voice commands, other information data, such as acoustic parameters, results of a voice activity detection or probabilities of recognized voice commands, can also be exchanged with the radio communication 30.

BezugszeichenlisteLIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

11
Hinter-dem-Ohr HörgerätBehind-the-ear hearing aid
22
Hörgerätegehäusehearing aid housing
33
Mikrofonmicrophone
44
SignalverarbeitungseinheitSignal processing unit
55
Hörerreceiver
66
Batteriebattery
77
Mikrofonöffnung im Hörgerätegehäuse 2Microphone opening in the hearing aid housing 2
1010
erstes Hörgerätfirst hearing aid
1111
erstes Spracherkennungsmodulfirst speech recognition module
1212
erster Spracherkennungsalgorithmusfirst speech recognition algorithm
1313
erstes Mikrofonfirst microphone
1414
erste Signalverarbeitungseinheitfirst signal processing unit
1515
erster Hörerfirst listener
1616
erstes Funkmodulfirst radio module
2020
zweites Hörgerätsecond hearing aid
2121
zweites Spracherkennungsmodulsecond speech recognition module
2222
zweiter Spracherkennungsalgorithmussecond speech recognition algorithm
2323
zweites Mikrofonsecond microphone
2424
zweite Signalverarbeitungseinheitsecond signal processing unit
2525
zweiter Hörersecond listener
2626
zweites Funkmodulsecond radio module
3030
Funkkommunikationradio communication
100100
Warten auf SprachbefehlWaiting for voice command
101101
Erster Sprachbefehl erkanntFirst voice command recognized
102102
Senden des ersten SprachbefehlsSending the first voice command
103103
Empfangen des ersten SprachbefehlsReceive the first voice command
104104
Zweiter Sprachbefehl erkanntSecond voice command detected
105105
Vergleich erster und zweiter SprachbefehlComparison first and second voice command
106106
Ausführen des SprachbefehlsExecute the voice command

Claims (13)

Verfahren zur Sprachsteuerung von Hörgeräten (10, 20) mit Sprachbefehlen mit einem ersten Hörgerät (10) und einem zweiten Hörgerät (20) in binauraler Anordnung,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass ein erstes Spracherkennungsverfahren des ersten Hörgeräts (10) Informationsdaten eines zweiten Spracherkennungsverfahrens des zweiten Hörgeräts (20) zur Erkennung der Sprachbefehle verwendet.Method for voice control of hearing aids (10, 20) with voice commands with a first hearing aid (10) and a second hearing aid (20) in a binaural arrangement,
characterized,
in that a first voice recognition method of the first hearing device (10) uses information data of a second voice recognition method of the second hearing device (20) to recognize the voice commands. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass die Informationsdaten einen von dem zweiten Spracherkennungsverfahren erkannten zweiten Sprachbefehl umfassen.Method according to claim 1,
characterized,
that the information data comprise one recognized by the second speech recognition method the second voice command. Verfahren nach Anspruch 2,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass ein Sprachbefehl nur dann zur Sprachsteuerung verwendet wird, wenn der zweite Sprachbefehl mit einem von dem ersten Spracherkennungsverfahren erkannten ersten Sprachbefehl übereinstimmt.Method according to claim 2,
characterized,
that a voice command is used only for voice control when the second voice command matches one recognized by the first speech recognition method first voice command. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass die Informationsdaten akustische Parameter, Ergebnisse einer Voice Activity Detection und/oder Wahrscheinlichkeiten von erkannten Sprachbefehlen umfassen.Method according to one of claims 1 to 3,
characterized,
that the information data comprise acoustic parameters, results of a Voice Activity Detection and / or probabilities of recognized speech commands. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass das zweite Spracherkennungsverfahren gleich dem ersten Spracherkennungsverfahren ist.Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized
that the second speech recognition method is the same as the first speech recognition method. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass die Informationsdaten vom ersten Hörgerät (10) drahtlos an das zweite Hörgerät (20) übertragen werden.Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized
that the information wirelessly from the first hearing device (10) to the second hearing device (20) to be transferred. Binaurale Anordnung zur Sprachsteuerung von Hörgeräten (10, 20) durch Sprachbefehle mit einem ersten und einem zweiten Hörgerät (10, 20) ,
gekennzeichnet durch: - ein erstes Spracherkennungsmodul (11) in dem ersten Hörgerät (10) und - ein zweites Spracherkennungsmodul (21) in dem zweiten Hörgerät (20), das Informationsdaten des ersten Spracherkennungsmoduls (11) zur Erkennung der Sprachbefehle verwendet. Binaural arrangement for voice control of hearing aids (10, 20) by voice commands with a first and a second hearing aid (10, 20),
characterized by : a first speech recognition module (11) in the first hearing aid (10) and - A second voice recognition module (21) in the second hearing aid (20), the information data of the first voice recognition module (11) used to recognize the voice commands. Anordnung nach Anspruch 7,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass die Informationsdaten einen von dem ersten Spracherkennungsmodul (11) erkannten ersten Sprachbefehl umfassen.Arrangement according to claim 7,
characterized,
include that the information data detected one of the first speech recognition module (11) first voice command. Anordnung nach Anspruch 8,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass ein Sprachbefehl nur dann zur Sprachsteuerung verwendet wird, wenn der erste Sprachbefehl mit einem von dem zweiten Spracherkennungsmodul (21) erkannten zweiten Sprachbefehl übereinstimmt.Arrangement according to claim 8,
characterized,
that a voice command is used only for voice control, if the first speech command with one of the second voice recognition module (21) detected second voice command matches. Anordnung nach einem der Ansprüche 7 bis 9,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass die Informationensdaten akustische Parameter, Ergebnisse einer Voice Activity Detection und/oder Wahrscheinlichkeiten von erkannten Sprachbefehlen umfassen.Arrangement according to one of claims 7 to 9,
characterized,
that the information data comprises acoustic parameters, results of a Voice Activity Detection and / or probabilities of recognized speech commands. Anordnung nach einem der Ansprüche 7 bis 10, gekennzeichnet durch: - einen ersten Spracherkennungsalgorithmus (12) in dem ersten Spracherkennungsmodul (11) und - einen zweiten Spracherkennungsalgorithmus (22) in dem zweiten Spracherkennungsmodul (21). Arrangement according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized by : a first speech recognition algorithm (12) in the first speech recognition module (11) and a second speech recognition algorithm (22) in the second speech recognition module (21). Anordnung nach Anspruch 11,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass der erste Spracherkennungsalgorithmus (12) gleich dem zweiten Spracherkennungsalgorithmus (22) ist.Arrangement according to claim 11,
characterized,
that the first voice recognition algorithm (12) equal to the second voice recognition algorithm (22). Anordnung nach einem der Ansprüche 7 bis 12, gekennzeichnet durch: - ein erstes Funkmodul (16) in dem ersten Hörgerät (10) und - ein zweites Funkmodul (26) in dem zweiten Hörgerät (20), wobei das erste Funkmodul (16) die Informationsdaten an das zweite Funkmodul (26) überträgt. Arrangement according to one of claims 7 to 12, characterized by : - A first radio module (16) in the first hearing aid (10) and - A second radio module (26) in the second hearing aid (20), wherein the first radio module (16) transmits the information data to the second radio module (26).
EP11154775.8A 2010-03-24 2011-02-17 Method and apparatus for voice control of binaural hearing aids Active EP2373064B1 (en)

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