EP3373599A1 - Method for frequency warping of an audio signal and hearing aid operating according to this method - Google Patents
Method for frequency warping of an audio signal and hearing aid operating according to this method Download PDFInfo
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- EP3373599A1 EP3373599A1 EP18151664.2A EP18151664A EP3373599A1 EP 3373599 A1 EP3373599 A1 EP 3373599A1 EP 18151664 A EP18151664 A EP 18151664A EP 3373599 A1 EP3373599 A1 EP 3373599A1
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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
- H04R25/50—Customised settings for obtaining desired overall acoustical characteristics
- H04R25/505—Customised settings for obtaining desired overall acoustical characteristics using digital signal processing
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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
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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
- H04R25/35—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception using translation techniques
- H04R25/353—Frequency, e.g. frequency shift or compression
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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
- H04R2225/00—Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
- H04R2225/43—Signal processing in hearing aids to enhance the speech intelligibility
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- H—ELECTRICITY
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- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R2430/00—Signal processing covered by H04R, not provided for in its groups
- H04R2430/03—Synergistic effects of band splitting and sub-band processing
Definitions
- the invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1 for the frequency distortion of an audio signal.
- the invention further relates to a hearing aid operating according to the preamble of claim 7.
- hearing device is generally referred to a device that a supplied or by recording ambient sound generated audio signal (hereinafter referred to as "input signal”) - amplified and / or modified in any other way - as a sound signal in a perceptible form for the user (eg in the auditory canal fed airborne sound or as structure-borne noise).
- input signal ambient sound generated audio signal
- the hearing aids also include, in particular, hearing aids.
- a “hearing aid device” is generally referred to as a portable hearing device which serves to improve the perception of the ambient sound that is being applied to the ear of a user.
- hearing aids subclass of hearing aids is designed to care for the hearing impaired who suffer from hearing loss in the medical sense.
- hearing aids such as behind-the-ear hearing aids (BTE), hearing aids with external listeners (RIC, Receiver in the Canal), in-the-ear hearing aids (IDO), or Concha Hearing Aids or Canal Hearing Aids (ITE, CIC).
- BTE behind-the-ear hearing aids
- RIC hearing aids with external listeners
- IDO in-the-ear hearing aids
- ITE Concha Hearing Aids or Canal Hearing Aids
- the hearing aids listed by way of example are worn on the outer ear or in the ear canal.
- bone conduction hearing aids, implantable or vibro-tactile devices are also on the market Hearing aids available. In these, the stimulation of the damaged hearing is either mechanical or electrical.
- PSAD Personal Sound Amplification Devices
- the input signal supplied is frequently frequency-distorted, in particular frequency-shifted and / or frequency-compressed reproduced.
- the frequency distortion is often used in the context of feedback suppression and, in this connection, enables a better estimation of the feedback signal and thus better feedback suppression and reduced artifacts in the reproduced signal.
- the frequency distortion in hearing aids is often used to allow the hearing impaired an improved sound perception (in particular of speech sound) by high-frequency noise components, which are often perceived particularly badly by the minor hearing, are mapped to lower frequencies.
- the frequency distortion is generally not applied to the entire tone spectrum, but only to a high-frequency signal portion of the same, which exceeds a predetermined cutoff frequency.
- a method according to the preamble of claim 1 and a hearing device according to the preamble of claim 7 are made EP 2 244 491 B2 known.
- an input signal by means of a crossover in a high-frequency Split signal component and a low-frequency signal component, wherein the high-frequency signal component is frequency-distorted.
- the low-frequency signal component and the frequency-distorted high-frequency signal component are then superimposed to form an output signal.
- the document EP 2 244 491 B2 The problem is that the two signal components always have a certain spectral overlap due to the inaccuracy of real crossovers in the area of the cutoff frequency.
- the frequency distortion can be known to lead to characteristic artifacts, especially if the input signal has dominant frequencies (ie spectral peaks, especially loud sinusoids) in the overlap region. Namely, in this case, part of the dominant frequency is frequency-distorted with the high-frequency signal component, while another part of the dominant frequency remains undistorted with the low-frequency signal component.
- the dominant frequency of the input signal is thus mapped to two closely adjacent frequencies of the output signal, which cause an audible and often bothersome beating. According to EP 2 244 491 B2 this problem is alleviated by shifting the cut-off frequency such that artifacts in the output signal are reduced.
- a hearing device which divides an input signal by means of a crossover into a low-frequency and a high-frequency frequency band and controls the amplitude of the signals of the two frequency bands by means of two AGCs.
- the compression rate of the AGCs is adjusted via a control signal, wherein increasing the one compression rate causes a simultaneous lowering of the other compression rate.
- the two amplified frequency bands are superimposed with a summer.
- a method for suppressing an acoustic feedback in a hearing aid is known.
- a frequency range to be transmitted by the hearing aid is divided into two frequency ranges separated by a pitch frequency.
- a transfer function of a feedback path is estimated in a frequency domain and evaluated for its behavior at the division frequency.
- the pitch frequency is lowered or raised and in the upper frequency range applied a phase and / or frequency change to the feedback suppression.
- the invention has for its object to provide a method for frequency distortion of an audio signal with which artifacts of the type described above can suppress particularly effective.
- the invention is further based on the object of specifying a hearing device in which artifacts of the type described above are particularly effectively suppressed.
- the object is achieved according to the invention by a method having the features of claim 1.
- the object is further achieved according to the invention by a hearing device with the features of claim 7.
- the method according to the invention serves to frequency-distort an audio signal, in particular during operation of a hearing device.
- This audio signal hereinafter referred to as “input signal”
- LF component low-frequency signal component
- HF component high-frequency signal component
- the frequency at which these two signal components adjoin one another is referred to below as the "limit frequency”.
- low-frequency signal component low-frequency component
- high-frequency signal component high-frequency component
- the LF component and the HF component completely cover the spectrum of the input signal.
- the input signal is therefore only divided into the two signal components mentioned.
- further signal components can also be derived from the input signal in addition to the LF component and the HF component, which are in the audio spectrum above the HF component and / or below the LF component and from the adjacent ones Signal components in each case differ by the type of frequency distortion.
- the HF component is frequency-distorted, in particular frequency-shifted or compressed.
- frequency shift designates an image of the HF component of the input signal to another spectral range of equal spectral expansion.
- compression refers to a mapping of the HF component to a spectral region of smaller spectral extent.
- the frequency distortion in the context of the invention may alternatively also be expressed in an "elongation", i. an image of the RF component to a spectral region of greater spectral extent, even if such a frequency distortion in hearing devices is currently uncommon.
- the LF content is preferably not frequency-distorted, so left unchanged in terms of its spectral position and extent.
- the NF component may also be subject to frequency distortion, which in this case, however, is different from the frequency distortion of the HF component.
- the LF component and the frequency-distorted HF component are superimposed according to the method in order to form an output signal.
- one or more of the input signal before the frequency division into the LF component and the HF component or between the frequency distribution and the superimposition of the LF component and the frequency-distorted HF component (and here either before or after the frequency distortion) other signal processing steps, such as analog-to-digital conversion, frequency-dependent amplification, feedback suppression, etc. made.
- the output signal in the context of the invention, a further signal processing (eg, a digital-to-analog conversion and / or amplification) are subjected.
- an assigned amplification factor is changed, i. increases or decreases, so that a level difference between a signal level of the LF component and a signal level of the frequency-distorted RF component is increased. If the change in the amplification factor does not relate to the entire NF or HF component, but only to the edge region thereof, then a signal level from this edge region is to be used when determining the level difference. In particular, the signal levels of the LF component and of the HF component are compared with one another at a dominant frequency in order to determine the control difference. The change in the amplification factor is expediently carried out in such a way that audible beats in an overlap region of the HF component and the NF component are eliminated or at least reduced.
- the invention is based on the recognition that the artifacts described above are all the more noticeable, the more similar the signal level of a dominant frequency of the input signal in the LF component and the frequency-distorted HF component is pronounced. Due to the inventive enlargement of the level difference between the NF component and the HF component, at least in the edge region of these signal components, it is recognized that the perceptibility of artifacts is particularly effectively reduced.
- the input signal for example by means of a crossover, as in EP 2 244 491 B2 is described - exactly in two (even not further subdivided) signal components, namely the NF component and the RF component is divided.
- a filter bank is used for the division of the input signal, which divides the input signal into a plurality (ie significantly more than two, but at least four) frequency bands. For example, in a typical embodiment of such a filter bank, the input signal is divided into 48 frequency bands.
- a number of high-frequency frequency bands lead to the HF component. Accordingly, these high-frequency frequency bands are frequency-distorted in the manner described above. A number of low frequency bands, however, leads to the NF component. Accordingly, these frequency bands are either not frequency-distorted or frequency-distorted in a variety of ways as compared to the RF component.
- the terms "high-frequency” (“HF”) and “low-frequency” (“NF”) are again to be understood as relative indications.
- further frequency bands with frequencies above the "high-frequency” frequency bands or below the low-frequency frequency bands may be present, which are assigned neither to the HF component nor to the low-frequency component, but stand out as further signal components as a result of different frequency distortion.
- the edge region of the high-frequency signal component is optionally formed by a subset of the high-frequency frequency bands which adjoin the low-frequency frequency bands. Additionally or alternatively, the edge region of the low-frequency signal component is formed by a subset of the low-frequency frequency bands which adjoin the high-frequency frequency bands.
- subset of frequency bands refers to a number of frequency bands that is smaller than the total number of frequency bands of the associated signal component and in the limiting case may include only a single frequency band.
- this limiting case in which the respective edge region of the HF or NF component is formed by a single frequency band represents a preferred embodiment of the invention.
- the plural "frequency bands" is to be understood in this sense as the case of a single frequency band is included therein.
- the respective edge region and the frequency bands associated therewith are characterized in that - in contrast to the other frequency bands of the HF or NF component - only in the frequency bands of the respective edge region the amplification factor is changed to increase the level difference relative to the signal level of the other signal component.
- the edge region of the low-frequency component and / or the high-frequency component is chosen in particular such that its spectral expansion includes the spectral overlap region of the low-frequency component and the high-frequency component. If the input signal is divided into a plurality of frequency bands, the respective edge region is formed in particular by those frequency bands that include the overlap region.
- the edge region, in which the amplification factor is changed to increase the level difference is defined for only one of the two signal components (that is, either only for the HF component or only for the low-frequency component), while the amplification factor in the each other signal component is kept constant.
- an edge region is defined both for the NF component and for the HF component. The amplification factor in these two edge regions is always changed in opposite directions.
- the amplification factor is thus increased, while the amplification factor in the edge region of the second signal component (ie the LF component or the HF component) is lowered ,
- the amplification factor in the second signal component is thereby reduced in such a way that the increase of the amplification factor in the first signal component is compensated thereby.
- the amplification factors in the two edge regions are thus changed in opposite directions such that the signal level averaged over both edge regions or the signal power averaged over both edge regions remain constant (ie unaffected by the change in the amplification factor).
- the change of the amplification factor thus leads to a significant reduction or even elimination of artifacts of the frequency distortion, without in turn having a negative effect on the reproduction quality of the input signal.
- sinusoids in the vicinity of the cutoff frequency are reproduced at almost the same volume as in conventional methods, although the beats of these sine tones usually caused by the frequency distortion are eliminated entirely or at least largely.
- the increase in the level difference according to the invention is not unconditionally made, but only if (or to the extent that) this really makes sense, namely when audible artifacts are expected in the output signal (or accordingly the strength of the expected artifacts).
- Audible artifacts are known to be expected if the input signal has a high tonality in the spectral overlap range of the HF component and the LF component, ie if dominant frequencies (in particular loud sine tones) are present in this overlap region. Therefore, in this development of the method, a parameter is detected which is characteristic of the tonality of the input signal in the overlap region (ie, in other words, forms an estimation or comparison value for the tonality of the input signal in the overlap region).
- the change according to the invention of the amplification factor and thus the increase in the level difference between the HF component and the NF component are carried out according to the method as a function of this parameter.
- the increase in the level difference is only carried out if this parameter fulfills a predetermined criterion, in particular exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
- the increase in the level difference in dependence on this Weighted indicator (linear or non-linear).
- the parameter characteristic for the tonality of the input signal in the overlapping region is hereby preferably determined by autocorrelation of the input signal in the overlap region.
- the parameter is formed by the amount of the (in the mathematical sense complex) autocorrelation function.
- the hearing device according to the invention is generally set up to automatically carry out the method according to the invention described above.
- the above-described embodiments and further developments of the method correspondingly correspond to associated embodiments and further developments of the device, wherein advantages of these method variants can also be transferred to the corresponding embodiments of the hearing device.
- the hearing device according to the invention comprises a frequency splitter which is adapted to divide a received signal into a low-frequency signal component (low-frequency component) and a high-frequency signal component (high-frequency component), these two signal components being adjacent to one another at a limiting frequency.
- the hearing device further comprises a signal processor which is adapted to frequency-distort the high-frequency signal component and a synthesizer which is adapted to superimpose the low-frequency signal component and the frequency-distorted high-frequency signal component to form an output signal.
- the signal processor is set up to change an associated amplification factor, at least for a spectral edge area of the HF component and / or the NF component containing the cutoff frequency, so that a level difference between a signal level of the low frequency component and a signal level of the frequency-distorted HF component is enlarged.
- the frequency splitter is preferably formed by an (analysis) filter bank which is set up to split the input signal into a multiplicity of frequency bands.
- the synthesizer in this embodiment is accordingly formed by a (synthesis) filter bank, which then allocates the frequency bands after the frequency distortion (and possibly further signal processing steps) merges the output signal.
- the hearing device according to the invention is, in particular, a hearing aid device, and here again preferably a hearing device designed to supply hearing impaired persons.
- Fig. 1 shows a hearing device in the form of a hearing aid 2.
- the hearing aid 2 comprises as essential components an input transducer 4, a subtractor 6, an (analysis) filter bank 8, a signal processor 10, a (synthesis) filter bank 12, an output transducer 14 and an electrical Feedback path 16 with an (adaptive) filter 18 disposed therein.
- the (in the present case exemplified by a microphone) input transducer 4 converts an incoming from the environment sound signal S i in an (original) input signal E i .
- an electrical compensation signal K which is generated in the electrical feedback path 16, is subtracted from the original input signal E i in the subtracter 6.
- the subtraction of the input signal E i and the compensation signal K results in a (compensated) input signal E k , which is fed to the (analysis) filter bank 8.
- the input signal E k is spectrally divided into a plurality of frequency bands F j .
- the parameter j is a counting index with which the frequency bands F j are numbered consecutively.
- the filter bank 8 divides the input signal E k into substantially more (eg 48) frequency channels F j .
- the input signal E k split into the frequency bands F j is processed in a frequency band-specific manner.
- the output signal A is supplied on the one hand to the (for example, by a speaker or "earpiece” formed) output transducer 14, which converts the output signal A into an outgoing sound signal S a .
- the output signal A is fed via the electrical feedback path 16 to the adaptive filter 18, which determines the compensation signal K therefrom.
- the adaptive filter 18 is additionally supplied with the compensated input signal E k as a reference variable.
- the sound signal S a is either output directly into the auditory canal of a hearing aid wearer or supplied to the auditory canal via a sound tube.
- a part of the output sound signal S a but inevitably on an acoustic feedback path 20 (eg via a vent channel of the hearing aid 2 or structure-borne sound) as a feedback signal R. fed back to the input transducer 4, where the feedback signal R is superimposed with ambient sound to the incoming sound signal S i .
- the sound signals S i , S a and the feedback signal R are original sound signals, in particular airborne sound and / or structure-borne noise.
- the input signals E i , E k , the processed signal P, the output signal A and the compensation signal K are audio signals, ie electrical signals which carry sound information.
- the relevant audio signals namely the input signal E k and the processed signal P, as mentioned, are spectrally split in the frequency bands F j and F j '.
- the hearing device 2 is, in particular, a digital hearing device in which the signal processing in the signal processor 10 takes place by means of digital technology.
- the analog-digital converter 22 of the filter bank 8 is immediately upstream and thus acts on the compensated input signal E k , while the digital-to-analog converter 24 of the filter bank 12 is connected downstream.
- the electrical feedback path 16 carries the output signal A and the compensation signal K in the form of analog signals.
- the analog-to-digital converter 22 is connected between the input converter 4 and the subtractor 6 and thus acts on the original input signal E i (not shown).
- the electrical feedback path 16 expediently carries the output signal A and the compensation signal K in the form of digital signals.
- the subtractor 6 of the analysis filter bank 8 is connected downstream.
- the adaptive filter 18 is supplied with the frequency bands F j 'or the output signal A which is spectrally split by means of a further frequency analysis.
- the adaptive filter 18 includes a corresponding number of channels.
- the signal processor 10 subjects the input signal E k supplied in the frequency bands F j in the signal processing processes that are typical for hearing aids, in particular a frequency band-specific varying gain in order to adapt the reproduction of the input signal E i to the individual needs of a hearing aid user who is hearing the hearing aid close. Furthermore, the signal processor 10 performs frequency distortion which decorrelates the output signal A from the input signal E i to provide improved feedback suppression.
- Fig. 2 the frequency response of the analysis filter bank 8 is shown in a diagram of the frequency-dependent signal gain g (also: Gain) versus the frequency f.
- Fig. 2 the magnitude frequency response of the (in the example simplified six) frequency bands F j , which are divided into three low-frequency frequency bands F 1 , F 2 and F 3 and three high-frequency frequency bands F 4 , F 5 and F 6 .
- the low-frequency frequency bands F 1 -F 3 carry a low-frequency signal component NF of the input signal E k
- the high-frequency frequency bands F 4 -F 6 carry a high-frequency signal component HF of the input signal E k .
- Fig. 2 In addition to the frequency bands F j fed to the signal processor 10, in Fig. 2 also the frequency bands F j 'are entered, which lead the signal P output from the processor 10, and in which the frequency distortion made by the signal processor 10 is reflected. How out Fig. 2 It can be seen here, the frequency distortion acts only on the high-frequency signal component HF, ie on the high-frequency frequency bands F 4 '-F 6 ' by these frequency bands F 4 '-F 6 ' compared to the corresponding original frequency bands F 4 -F 6 at the same Bandwidth are each slightly shifted to high frequencies f out.
- HF high-frequency signal component
- the bandwidth of the frequency bands F 1 -F 6 and the corresponding frequency bands F 1 '-F 6 ' is given in particular by the half-width.
- the Half-value level corresponds in the illustration according to Fig. 2 for example, the baseline (abscissa) of the chart.
- Fig. 2 Out Fig. 2 is also apparent that the frequency bands F 1 to F 6 , and thus the signal components NF and HF overlap spectrally.
- An overlap region U of the signal components NF and HF is formed by the spectral distance of the respective outer half-value limits of the respective outer frequency bands F 3 and F 4 of the low-frequency signal component NF or the high-frequency signal component HF (see Fig. 2 ).
- the center of the overlapping area U at which the curves of the magnitude frequency response of the frequency bands F 3 and F 4 intersect, defines a limit frequency f g of the signal components NF and HF.
- the two adjacent frequency bands F 3 and F 4 form an edge region R L of the low-frequency signal component NF or an edge region R H of the high-frequency signal component HF, in which the overlap region U is respectively recorded.
- the signal processor 10 changes the respectively associated gain factors for the border frequency bands F 3 'and R 4' (and thus on the edges of R L and R H) by a method described in Fig. 3 outlined in an exemplary training.
- the curves of the frequency bands F 3 'and F 4 ' respectively associated magnitude frequency response are determined by this change in the associated gain factors in the illustration Fig. 2 thus almost shifted up or down, s. Fig. 4 , And 5.
- a first step 30 of the said process (which constitutes a part of a method of operation of the hearing device 2) receives the signal processor 10, the input signal e k, which as described above by the filter bank 8 in the frequency bands F j, and thus implicitly in the Signal components NF and HF was split.
- the signal processor 10 forms the frequency bands F 3 and F 4 adjacent to the boundary (and thus over the respective edge regions R L and R H the signal components NF and HF respectively) the autocorrelation function in order to obtain a parameter which represents a quantitative measure of the tonality of the input signal E k in the edge regions R L and R H.
- the term "tonality” designates a property of the input signal E k which determines the dominance of a single frequency f 0 (FIG. 4 and 5 ) in the frequency range covered by the frequency bands F 3 and F 4 .
- a high tonality is given when the input signal E k in the edge regions R L and R H is characterized by a dominant tone (eg a violin tone) with a specific frequency at which the frequency-resolved signal level significantly exceeds the averaged signal level.
- the tonality is low when the signal of the near-border frequency bands F 3 and F 4 is dominated by broadband noise components (eg noise, traffic noise, speech noise, etc.).
- the method uses the knowledge that the autocorrelation function is a good measure of tonality.
- the filter bank 8 is a DFT modulated filter bank (ie, a discrete Fourier transform based filter bank) or similar implementation
- a sinusoidal signal in the frequency bands F 3 and F 4 corresponds to a rotating one complex pointer that rotates at a constant frequency with constant angular jumps between successive time steps.
- this rotating pointer is mapped to a complex pointer having a constant phase angle corresponding to the angular step.
- the amount of this complex-valued autocorrelation function is used by the signal processor 10 as a measure of the tonality.
- the variance of the complex pointer or phase angle is used as a measure of tonality, taking advantage of the fact that a small variance indicates a stable frequency, and hence high tonality.
- a step 34 the signal processor 10 performs the frequency distortion by - as in Fig. 2 represented - the original frequency bands F 4 -F 6 are transferred to the frequency-shifted frequency bands F 4 '-F 6 '.
- the signal processor 10 checks whether the previously determined measure of the tonality, for example, the amount of the determined autocorrelation function in the frequency bands F 3 and F 4 , falls below a predetermined threshold value.
- the signal processor 10 recognizes this as an indication that no disturbing artifacts due to the frequency distortion are to be expected. Accordingly, the signal processor 10 jumps in this case in the process execution to a step 38 in which it outputs the frequency-distorted signal P (possibly after performing further signal processing steps) in frequency bands F j 'for the synthesis of the output signal A to the filter bank 12.
- step S the signal processor 10 estimates the level difference ⁇ L (step S) in a step 40 (FIG. 4 and 5 ) In the border frequency bands F 3 'and R 4' at the dominant frequency f 0 and at the shifted dominant frequency f 0 'from.
- the signal processor 10 checks whether the previously determined level difference ⁇ L exceeds a predetermined limit value.
- the signal processor 10 recognizes this as an indication that disturbing artifacts due to the frequency distortion due to the inherently high level difference ⁇ L are not to be expected. Accordingly, the signal processor 10 in this case jumps back to the step 38 in the method implementation.
- the increase in the level difference is limited according to a predetermined criterion. The increase in the level difference is thus made in this case such that a predetermined maximum value is not exceeded.
- the gain factors, before and / or after the change may also have values less than one and thus produce a frequency-selective attenuation of the input signal E K , even if this is atypical for classical hearing aids.
- the signal processor 10 jumps back to the step 38 in the method implementation.
- the dominant tone in the output signal A is heard with approximately the same strength as if the level adjustment had not been made in step 44 .
- the dominant frequency f 0 is more pronounced, the dominant tone is thereby 'belongs to either the unshifted frequency f 0, or the shifted frequency f 0th
- the increased level difference ⁇ L ' disturbing artifacts in the form of beats between the frequencies f 0 and f 0 ' are suppressed.
- the frequency distortion (step 34) may also be performed elsewhere in the process flow, eg after the level change (step 42).
- a plurality of further signal processing steps can be performed between steps 30 and 38, in particular steps for the frequency-selective amplification of the input signal E k , for noise suppression, etc.
- the effect of the level change according to the invention in the near-border frequency bands F 3 'and F 4 ' is based on 4 and 5 again clarified. It is particularly clear from the comparison of these two figures that the direction of the level change is dependent on the spectral position of the dominant frequency f 0 . If the dominant frequency as shown in Fig. 4 is predominantly in the high-frequency signal component HF (f 0 > f g ), the signal level L 2 of the high-frequency near-border frequency band F 4 'is increased and the signal level L 1 of the low frequency near-border frequency band F 3 ' is lowered to increase the level difference .DELTA.L.
- the dominant frequency f 0 predominantly lies in the low-frequency signal component NF (f 0 ⁇ f g )
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Abstract
Es werden ein Verfahren zur Frequenzverzerrung eines als Audiosignal vorliegenden Eingangssignals (E k ) und eine zugehörige Hörvorrichtung (2) angegeben. Dabei wird das Eingangssignal (E k ) in einen niederfrequenten Signalanteil (NF) und einen hochfrequenten Signalanteil (HF) geteilt, wobei diese beiden Signalanteile (NF,HF) bei einer Grenzfrequenz (f g ) aneinander angrenzen. Der hochfrequente Signalanteil (HF) wird frequenzverzerrt und mit dem niederfrequenten Signalanteil (NF) zur Bildung eines Ausgangssignals (A) überlagert. Zumindest für einen die Grenzfrequenz (f g ) beinhaltenden Randbereich (R H , R L ) des hochfrequenten Signalanteils (HF) und/oder des niederfrequenten Signalanteils (NF) wird ein zugeordneter Verstärkungsfaktor verändert, so dass ein Pegelunterschied (”L) zwischen einem Signalpegel (L 1 ) des niederfrequenten Signalanteils (NF) und einem Signalpegel (L 2 ) des frequenzverzerrten hochfrequenten Signalanteils (HF) vergrößert wird.The invention relates to a method for frequency distortion of an input signal (E k) present as an audio signal and an associated hearing device (2). In this case, the input signal (E k) is divided into a low-frequency signal component (NF) and a high-frequency signal component (HF), these two signal components (NF, HF) adjoin one another at a limiting frequency (f g). The high-frequency signal component (HF) is frequency-distorted and superimposed with the low-frequency signal component (NF) to form an output signal (A). At least for one of the boundary frequency (fg) containing edge region (RH, RL) of the high-frequency signal component (HF) and / or the low-frequency signal component (NF) an associated gain factor is changed so that a level difference ("L) between a signal level (L 1 ) of the low-frequency signal component (NF) and a signal level (L 2) of the frequency-distorted high-frequency signal component (HF) is increased.
Description
Die Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren nach dem Oberbegriff des Anspruchs 1 zur Frequenzverzerrung eines Audiosignals. Die Erfindung bezieht sich weiterhin auf eine nach diesem Verfahren arbeitende Hörvorrichtung nach dem Oberbegriff des Anspruchs 7.The invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1 for the frequency distortion of an audio signal. The invention further relates to a hearing aid operating according to the preamble of claim 7.
Als "Hörvorrichtung" wird allgemein ein Gerät bezeichnet, das ein zugeführtes oder durch Aufnahme von Umgebungsschall erzeugtes Audiosignal (nachfolgend als "Eingangssignal" bezeichnet) - verstärkt und/oder in sonstiger Weise modifiziert - als Schallsignal in einer für den Nutzer wahrnehmbaren Form (z.B. als in den Gehörgang eingespeister Luftschall oder als Körperschall) ausgibt. Zu den Hörvorrichtungen gehören neben Kopfhörern insbesondere auch Hörhilfegeräte. Als "Hörhilfegerät" wird wiederum allgemein eine tragbare Hörvorrichtung bezeichnet, die dazu dient, die Wahrnehmung des an das Ohr eines Nutzers anbrandenden Umgebungsschalls zu verbessern. Eine klassischerweise als "Hörgeräte" bezeichnete Unterklasse der Hörhilfegeräte ist zur Versorgung von Minderhörenden eingerichtet, die im medizinischen Sinne an einem Hörverlust leiden.As a "hearing device" is generally referred to a device that a supplied or by recording ambient sound generated audio signal (hereinafter referred to as "input signal") - amplified and / or modified in any other way - as a sound signal in a perceptible form for the user (eg in the auditory canal fed airborne sound or as structure-borne noise). In addition to headphones, the hearing aids also include, in particular, hearing aids. In turn, a "hearing aid device" is generally referred to as a portable hearing device which serves to improve the perception of the ambient sound that is being applied to the ear of a user. Classically referred to as "hearing aids" subclass of hearing aids is designed to care for the hearing impaired who suffer from hearing loss in the medical sense.
Um den zahlreichen individuellen Bedürfnissen von Nutzern entgegenzukommen, werden unterschiedliche Bauformen von Hörhilfegeräten wie Hinter-dem-Ohr-Hörhilfegeräte (HdO), Hörhilfegeräte mit externem Hörer (RIC, Receiver in the Canal), In-dem-Ohr-Hörhilfegeräte (IdO), oder auch Concha-Hörhilfegeräte oder Kanal-Hörhilfegeräte (ITE, CIC) angeboten. Die beispielhaft aufgeführten Hörhilfegeräte werden am Außenohr oder im Gehörgang getragen. Darüber hinaus stehen auf dem Markt auch Knochenleitungshörhilfen, implantierbare oder vibro-taktile Hörhilfen zur Verfügung. Bei diesen erfolgt die Stimulation des geschädigten Gehörs entweder mechanisch oder elektrisch.To meet the numerous individual needs of users, different types of hearing aids such as behind-the-ear hearing aids (BTE), hearing aids with external listeners (RIC, Receiver in the Canal), in-the-ear hearing aids (IDO), or Concha Hearing Aids or Canal Hearing Aids (ITE, CIC). The hearing aids listed by way of example are worn on the outer ear or in the ear canal. In addition, bone conduction hearing aids, implantable or vibro-tactile devices are also on the market Hearing aids available. In these, the stimulation of the damaged hearing is either mechanical or electrical.
Neuerdings gibt es zusätzlich zu den vorbeschriebenen klassischen Hörgeräten auch Hörhilfegeräte zur Unterstützung von normal hörenden Menschen. Solche Hörhilfegeräte werden auch als "Personal Sound Amplification Products" oder "Personal Sound Amplification Devices" (kurz: "PSAD") bezeichnet. Diese PSAD dienen der Verbesserung des normalen menschlichen Hörvermögens und sind meist auf spezifische Hörsituationen spezialisiert (z.B. zur verbesserten Wahrnehmung von Tiergeräuschen, einem verbesserten Sprachverständnis in komplexen Geräuschumgebungen oder zur gezielten Unterdrückung von Umgebungsgeräuschen).Recently, in addition to the above-described classic hearing aids, there are also hearing aids to assist normally hearing people. Such hearing aids are also referred to as "Personal Sound Amplification Products" or "Personal Sound Amplification Devices" (in short: "PSAD"). These PSADs are designed to enhance normal human hearing and are mostly specialized in specific listening situations (e.g., for improved perception of animal sounds, improved speech understanding in complex noise environments, or targeted suppression of ambient noise).
Bei Hörvorrichtungen der vorstehend beschriebenen Arten wird das zugeführte Eingangssignal häufig frequenzverzerrt, insbesondere frequenzverschoben und/oder frequenzkomprimiert, wiedergegeben. Die Frequenzverzerrung wird hierbei einerseits häufig im Rahmen einer Rückkopplungsunterdrückung eingesetzt und ermöglicht in diesem Zusammenhang eine bessere Abschätzung des Rückkopplungssignals und somit eine bessere Rückkopplungsunterdrückung und verringerte Artefakte in dem wiedergegebenen Signal. Andererseits wird die Frequenzverzerrung in Hörgeräten häufig eingesetzt, um Minderhörenden eine verbesserte Schallwahrnehmung (insbesondere von Sprachschall) zu ermöglichen, indem hochfrequente Geräuschanteile, die von Minderhörenden oft besonders schlecht wahrgenommen werden können, auf niedrigere Frequenzen abgebildet werden.In hearing devices of the types described above, the input signal supplied is frequently frequency-distorted, in particular frequency-shifted and / or frequency-compressed reproduced. On the one hand, the frequency distortion is often used in the context of feedback suppression and, in this connection, enables a better estimation of the feedback signal and thus better feedback suppression and reduced artifacts in the reproduced signal. On the other hand, the frequency distortion in hearing aids is often used to allow the hearing impaired an improved sound perception (in particular of speech sound) by high-frequency noise components, which are often perceived particularly badly by the minor hearing, are mapped to lower frequencies.
In beiden Fällen wird die Frequenzverzerrung allerdings in der Regel nicht auf das gesamte Tonspektrum angewendet, sondern nur auf einen hochfrequenten Signalanteil desselben, der eine vorgegebene Grenzfrequenz überschreitet.In both cases, however, the frequency distortion is generally not applied to the entire tone spectrum, but only to a high-frequency signal portion of the same, which exceeds a predetermined cutoff frequency.
Ein Verfahren nach dem Oberbegriff des Anspruchs 1 und eine Hörvorrichtung nach dem Oberbegriff des Anspruchs 7 sind aus
Aus
Aus
Der Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, ein Verfahren zur Frequenzverzerrung eines Audiosignals anzugeben, mit welchem sich Artefakte der vorstehend beschriebenen Art besonders effektiv unterdrücken lassen. Der Erfindung liegt weiterhin die Aufgabe zugrunde, eine Hörvorrichtung anzugeben, bei der Artefakte der vorstehend beschreibenden Art besonders effektiv unterdrückt sind.The invention has for its object to provide a method for frequency distortion of an audio signal with which artifacts of the type described above can suppress particularly effective. The invention is further based on the object of specifying a hearing device in which artifacts of the type described above are particularly effectively suppressed.
Die Aufgabe wird erfindungsgemäß gelöst durch ein Verfahren mit den Merkmalen des Anspruchs 1. Die Aufgabe wird weiterhin erfindungsgemäß gelöst durch eine Hörvorrichtung mit den Merkmalen des Anspruchs 7. Vorteilhafte und teils für sich gesehen erfinderische Ausgestaltungen und Weiterentwicklungen sind in den Unteransprüchen und der nachstehenden Beschreibung angegeben.The object is achieved according to the invention by a method having the features of claim 1. The object is further achieved according to the invention by a hearing device with the features of claim 7. Advantageous and partly inherently inventive embodiments and further developments are specified in the dependent claims and the description below ,
Das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren dient zur Frequenzverzerrung eines Audiosignals, insbesondere im Betrieb einer Hörvorrichtung. Dieses nachfolgend als "Eingangssignal" bezeichnete Audiosignal wird in einen niederfrequenten Signalanteil (nachfolgend kurz: "NF-Anteil") und einen hochfrequenten Signalanteil (nachfolgend kurz: "HF-Anteil") geteilt. Die Frequenz, bei der diese beiden Signalanteile aneinander angrenzen, ist nachfolgend als "Grenzfrequenz" bezeichnet. Die Begriffe "niederfrequenter Signalanteil" "NF-Anteil") und "hochfrequenter Signalanteil" ("HF-Anteil") bezeichnen hierbei lediglich die spektrale Lage dieser Signalanteile relativ zueinander in dem Sinne, dass der spektrale Schwerpunkt des hochfrequenten Signalanteils bei einer höheren Frequenz liegt als der spektrale Schwerpunkt des niederfrequenten Signalanteils.The method according to the invention serves to frequency-distort an audio signal, in particular during operation of a hearing device. This audio signal, hereinafter referred to as "input signal", is divided into a low-frequency signal component (hereinafter abbreviated to "LF component") and a high-frequency signal component (hereinafter abbreviated to "HF component"). The frequency at which these two signal components adjoin one another is referred to below as the "limit frequency". The terms "low-frequency signal component" "low-frequency component") and "high-frequency signal component" ("high-frequency component") merely describe the spectral position of these signal components relative to one another in the sense that the spectral center of gravity of the high-frequency signal component lies at a higher frequency as the spectral center of gravity of the low frequency signal component.
Vorzugsweise decken der NF-Anteil und der HF-Anteil das Spektrum des Eingangssignals vollständig ab. In diesem Fall wird das Eingangssignal also nur in die beiden genannten Signalanteile aufgeteilt. Grundsätzlich können im Rahmen der Erfindung aber aus dem Eingangssignal neben dem NF-Anteil und dem HF-Anteil auch noch weitere Signalanteile abgeleitet werden, die im Tonspektrum oberhalb des HF-Anteils und/oder unterhalb des NF-Anteils liegen und sich von den benachbarten Signalanteilen jeweils durch die Art der Frequenzverzerrung unterscheiden.Preferably, the LF component and the HF component completely cover the spectrum of the input signal. In this case, the input signal is therefore only divided into the two signal components mentioned. In principle, within the scope of the invention, however, further signal components can also be derived from the input signal in addition to the LF component and the HF component, which are in the audio spectrum above the HF component and / or below the LF component and from the adjacent ones Signal components in each case differ by the type of frequency distortion.
Verfahrensgemäß wird der HF-Anteil frequenzverzerrt, insbesondere frequenzverschoben oder komprimiert. Der Begriff "Frequenzverschiebung" bezeichnet dabei eine Abbildung des HF-Anteils des Eingangssignals auf einen anderen spektralen Bereich gleicher spektraler Ausdehnung. Der Begriff "Kompression" bezeichnet dagegen eine Abbildung des HF-Anteils auf einen spektralen Bereich kleinerer spektraler Ausdehnung. Grundsätzlich kann die Frequenzverzerrung im Rahmen der Erfindung alternativ auch in einer "Dehnung", d.h. einer Abbildung des HF-Anteils auf einen spektralen Bereich größerer spektraler Ausdehnung bestehen, auch wenn eine solche Frequenzverzerrung bei Hörvorrichtungen derzeit unüblich ist.According to the method, the HF component is frequency-distorted, in particular frequency-shifted or compressed. The term "frequency shift" designates an image of the HF component of the input signal to another spectral range of equal spectral expansion. By contrast, the term "compression" refers to a mapping of the HF component to a spectral region of smaller spectral extent. In principle, the frequency distortion in the context of the invention may alternatively also be expressed in an "elongation", i. an image of the RF component to a spectral region of greater spectral extent, even if such a frequency distortion in hearing devices is currently uncommon.
Der NF-Anteil wird vorzugsweise nicht frequenzverzerrt, hinsichtlich seiner spektralen Lage und Ausdehnung also unverändert gelassen. Abweichend davon kann im Rahmen der Erfindung allerdings auch der NF-Anteil einer Frequenzverzerrung unterliegen, die in diesem Fall allerdings verschieden von der Frequenzverzerrung des HF-Anteils ausgeprägt ist.The LF content is preferably not frequency-distorted, so left unchanged in terms of its spectral position and extent. Deviating from this, however, in the context of the invention, the NF component may also be subject to frequency distortion, which in this case, however, is different from the frequency distortion of the HF component.
Der NF-Anteil und der frequenzverzerrte HF-Anteil werden verfahrensgemäß zur Bildung eines Ausgangssignals überlagert.The LF component and the frequency-distorted HF component are superimposed according to the method in order to form an output signal.
Optional werden dabei an dem Eingangssignal vor der Frequenzaufteilung in den NF-Anteil und den HF-Anteil oder zwischen der Frequenzaufteilung und der Überlagerung des NF-Anteils und des frequenzverzerrten HF-Anteils (und hier wahlweise vor oder nach der Frequenzverzerrung) auch ein oder mehrere weitere Signalverarbeitungsschritte, wie z.B. Analog-Digital-Wandlung, frequenzabhängige Verstärkung, Rückkopplungsunterdrückung, etc. vorgenommen. Ebenso kann das Ausgangssignal im Rahmen der Erfindung einer weiteren Signalverarbeitung (z.B. einer Digital-Analog-Wandlung und/oder einer Verstärkung) unterworfen werden.Optionally, one or more of the input signal before the frequency division into the LF component and the HF component or between the frequency distribution and the superimposition of the LF component and the frequency-distorted HF component (and here either before or after the frequency distortion) other signal processing steps, such as analog-to-digital conversion, frequency-dependent amplification, feedback suppression, etc. made. Likewise, the output signal in the context of the invention, a further signal processing (eg, a digital-to-analog conversion and / or amplification) are subjected.
Erfindungsgemäß wird zumindest für einen die Grenzfrequenz beinhaltenden spektralen Randbereich des HF-Anteils und/oder des NF-Anteils ein zugeordneter Verstärkungsfaktor verändert, d.h. erhöht oder erniedrigt, so dass ein Pegelunterschied zwischen einem Signalpegel des NF-Anteils und einem Signalpegel des frequenzverzerrten HF-Anteils vergrößert wird. Sofern die Änderung des Verstärkungsfaktors nicht den gesamten NF- bzw. HF-Anteil betrifft, sondern lediglich den Randbereich desselben, so ist bei der Bestimmung des Pegelunterschiedes ein Signalpegel aus diesem Randbereich heranzuziehen. Insbesondere werden zur Bestimmung des Regelunterschieds die Signalpegel des NF-Anteils und des HF-Anteils bei einer dominanten Frequenz miteinander verglichen. Die Veränderung des Verstärkungsfaktors wird zweckmäßigerweise derart vorgenommen, dass hörbare Schwebungen in einem Überlappbereich des HF-Anteils und des NF-Anteils eliminiert oder zumindest reduziert werden.According to the invention, at least for a spectral edge area of the HF component and / or the NF component which includes the cutoff frequency, an assigned amplification factor is changed, i. increases or decreases, so that a level difference between a signal level of the LF component and a signal level of the frequency-distorted RF component is increased. If the change in the amplification factor does not relate to the entire NF or HF component, but only to the edge region thereof, then a signal level from this edge region is to be used when determining the level difference. In particular, the signal levels of the LF component and of the HF component are compared with one another at a dominant frequency in order to determine the control difference. The change in the amplification factor is expediently carried out in such a way that audible beats in an overlap region of the HF component and the NF component are eliminated or at least reduced.
Der Erfindung liegt die Erkenntnis zugrunde, dass die eingangs beschriebenen Artefakte um so deutlicher wahrnehmbar sind, je ähnlicher der Signalpegel einer dominanten Frequenz des Eingangssignals in dem NF-Anteil und dem frequenzverzerrten HF-Anteil ausgeprägt ist. Durch die erfindungsgemäße Vergrößerung des Pegelunterschieds zwischen dem NF-Anteil und dem HF-Anteil, jedenfalls in dem Randbereich dieser Signalanteile, wird die Wahrnehmbarkeit von Artefakten erkanntermaßen besonders effektiv reduziert.The invention is based on the recognition that the artifacts described above are all the more noticeable, the more similar the signal level of a dominant frequency of the input signal in the LF component and the frequency-distorted HF component is pronounced. Due to the inventive enlargement of the level difference between the NF component and the HF component, at least in the edge region of these signal components, it is recognized that the perceptibility of artifacts is particularly effectively reduced.
Grundsätzlich ist im Rahmen der Erfindung denkbar, dass das Eingangssignal - z.B. mittels einer Frequenzweiche, wie sie in
Verfahrensgemäß führt hiervon eine Anzahl hochfrequenter Frequenzbänder den HF-Anteil. Entsprechend werden diese hochfrequenten Frequenzbänder in der vorstehend beschriebenen Weise frequenzverzerrt. Eine Anzahl niederfrequenter Frequenzbänder führt dagegen den NF-Anteil. Entsprechend werden diese Frequenzbänder entweder nicht frequenzverzerrt oder im Vergleich zu dem HF-Anteil in verschiedener Weise frequenzverzerrt. Die Begriffe "hochfrequent" ("HF") und "niederfrequent" ("NF") sind dabei wiederum als relative Angaben zu verstehen. Zudem können im Sinne der vorstehenden Erläuterungen weitere Frequenzbänder mit Frequenzen oberhalb der "hochfrequenten" Frequenzbänder oder unterhalb der niederfrequenten Frequenzbänder vorhanden sein, die weder dem HF-Anteil noch dem NF-Anteil zugeordnet sind, sondern sich davon infolge verschiedenartiger Frequenzverzerrung als weitere Signalanteile abheben.In accordance with the method, a number of high-frequency frequency bands lead to the HF component. Accordingly, these high-frequency frequency bands are frequency-distorted in the manner described above. A number of low frequency bands, however, leads to the NF component. Accordingly, these frequency bands are either not frequency-distorted or frequency-distorted in a variety of ways as compared to the RF component. The terms "high-frequency" ("HF") and "low-frequency" ("NF") are again to be understood as relative indications. In addition, in the sense of the above explanations, further frequency bands with frequencies above the "high-frequency" frequency bands or below the low-frequency frequency bands may be present, which are assigned neither to the HF component nor to the low-frequency component, but stand out as further signal components as a result of different frequency distortion.
Der Randbereich des hochfrequenten Signalanteils wird dabei gegebenenfalls durch eine Untermenge der hochfrequenten Frequenzbänder gebildet, die an die niederfrequenten Frequenzbänder angrenzen. Zusätzlich oder alternativ hierzu wird der Randbereich des niederfrequenten Signalanteils durch eine Untermenge der niederfrequenten Frequenzbänder gebildet, die an die hochfrequenten Frequenzbänder angrenzen.The edge region of the high-frequency signal component is optionally formed by a subset of the high-frequency frequency bands which adjoin the low-frequency frequency bands. Additionally or alternatively, the edge region of the low-frequency signal component is formed by a subset of the low-frequency frequency bands which adjoin the high-frequency frequency bands.
Der Begriff "Untermenge von Frequenzbändern" bezeichnet dabei eine Anzahl von Frequenzbändern, die kleiner als die Gesamtanzahl der Frequenzbänder des zugehörigen Signalanteils ist und im Grenzfall auch nur ein einzelnes Frequenzband umfassen kann. Tatsächlich stellt dieser Grenzfall, in dem der jeweilige Randbereich des HF- oder NF-Anteils durch ein einzelnes Frequenzband gebildet wird, eine bevorzugte Ausgestaltung der Erfindung dar. Der Plural "Frequenzbänder" ist in diesem Sinne dahingehend zu verstehen, dass der Fall eines einzelnen Frequenzbandes darin umfasst ist.The term "subset of frequency bands" refers to a number of frequency bands that is smaller than the total number of frequency bands of the associated signal component and in the limiting case may include only a single frequency band. In fact, this limiting case in which the respective edge region of the HF or NF component is formed by a single frequency band represents a preferred embodiment of the invention. The plural "frequency bands" is to be understood in this sense as the case of a single frequency band is included therein.
Der jeweilige Randbereich und die diesem zugeordneten Frequenzbänder zeichnen sich dadurch aus, dass - im Unterschied zu den übrigen Frequenzbändern des HF- bzw. NF-Anteils - nur in den Frequenzbändern des jeweiligen Randbereichs der Verstärkungsfaktor zur Erhöhung des Pegelunterschieds relativ zu dem Signalpegel des jeweils anderen Signalanteils verändert wird.The respective edge region and the frequency bands associated therewith are characterized in that - in contrast to the other frequency bands of the HF or NF component - only in the frequency bands of the respective edge region the amplification factor is changed to increase the level difference relative to the signal level of the other signal component.
Der Randbereich des NF-Anteil und/oder des HF-Anteils ist insbesondere derart gewählt, dass seine spektrale Ausdehnung den spektralen Überlappbereich des NF-Anteils und des HF-Anteils beinhaltet. Sofern das Eingangssignal auf eine Vielzahl von Frequenzbändern aufgeteilt wird, wird der jeweilige Randbereich insbesondere durch diejenigen Frequenzbänder gebildet, die den Überlappbereich beinhalten.The edge region of the low-frequency component and / or the high-frequency component is chosen in particular such that its spectral expansion includes the spectral overlap region of the low-frequency component and the high-frequency component. If the input signal is divided into a plurality of frequency bands, the respective edge region is formed in particular by those frequency bands that include the overlap region.
In zweckmäßigen Ausführungen der Erfindung ist der Randbereich, in dem der Verstärkungsfaktor zur Erhöhung des Pegelunterschieds verändert wird, nur für einen der beiden Signalanteile (also entweder nur für den HF-Anteil oder nur für den NF-Anteil) definiert, während der Verstärkungsfaktor in dem jeweils anderen Signalanteil konstant gehalten wird. In einer besonders vorteilhaften Ausführung der Erfindung ist abweichend hiervon aber sowohl für den NF-Anteil als auch für den HF-Anteil jeweils ein Randbereich definiert. Der Verstärkungsfaktor in diesen beiden Randbereichen wird hierbei stets gegenläufig verändert. In dem Randbereich eines ersten der beiden Signalanteile (also dem HF-Anteil oder dem NF-Anteil) wird der Verstärkungsfaktor somit erhöht, während der Verstärkungsfaktor in dem Randbereich des zweiten Signalanteils (also dem NF-Anteil bzw. dem HF-Anteil) erniedrigt wird.In expedient embodiments of the invention, the edge region, in which the amplification factor is changed to increase the level difference, is defined for only one of the two signal components (that is, either only for the HF component or only for the low-frequency component), while the amplification factor in the each other signal component is kept constant. In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, however, deviating from this, an edge region is defined both for the NF component and for the HF component. The amplification factor in these two edge regions is always changed in opposite directions. In the edge region of a first of the two signal components (that is to say the HF component or the LF component), the amplification factor is thus increased, while the amplification factor in the edge region of the second signal component (ie the LF component or the HF component) is lowered ,
In einer besonders vorteilhaften Variante der Erfindung wird der Verstärkungsfaktor in dem zweiten Signalanteil dabei derart erniedrigt, dass hierdurch die Erhöhung des Verstärkungsfaktors in dem ersten Signalanteil kompensiert wird. Die Verstärkungsfaktoren in den beiden Randbereichen werden also mit anderen Worten derart gegenläufig verändert, dass der über beide Randbereiche gemittelte Signalpegel oder die über beide Randbereiche gemittelte Signalleistung konstant (d.h. von der Veränderung des Verstärkungsfaktors unbeeinflusst) bleiben. Dies führt - insbesondere bei stark tonaler Natur des Eingangssignals in dem Überlappbereich des HF-Anteils und des NF-Anteils (also bei Anwesenheit einer sehr dominanten Frequenz in diesem Überlappbereich) - dazu, dass die erfindungsgemäße Änderung als Verstärkungsfaktors in dem Ausgangssignal nicht oder in nur sehr geringem Umfang wahrnehmbar ist, zumal die wahrnehmbare Lautstärke der dominanten Frequenz durch die Pegeländerung nicht oder nur sehr gering beeinflusst wird.In a particularly advantageous variant of the invention, the amplification factor in the second signal component is thereby reduced in such a way that the increase of the amplification factor in the first signal component is compensated thereby. In other words, the amplification factors in the two edge regions are thus changed in opposite directions such that the signal level averaged over both edge regions or the signal power averaged over both edge regions remain constant (ie unaffected by the change in the amplification factor). This leads - especially in a strongly tonal nature of the input signal in the overlap region of the HF component and the LF component (ie in the presence of a very dominant frequency in this overlap region) - to the inventive Change as a gain in the output signal is not or only to a very limited extent perceptible, especially since the perceptible volume of the dominant frequency is not or only slightly influenced by the level change.
Die Änderung des Verstärkungsfaktors führt somit zu einer deutlichen Reduzierung oder gar Eliminierung von Artefakten der Frequenzverzerrung, ohne ihrerseits die Wiedergabequalität des Eingangssignals negativ zu beeinflussen. Konkret werden Sinustöne in der Umgebung der Grenzfrequenz mit nahezu gleicher Lautstärke wiedergegeben wie bei herkömmlichen Verfahren, wobei allerdings die durch die Frequenzverzerrung gewöhnlich verursachten Schwebungen dieser Sinustöne gänzlich oder zumindest weitgehend eliminiert werden.The change of the amplification factor thus leads to a significant reduction or even elimination of artifacts of the frequency distortion, without in turn having a negative effect on the reproduction quality of the input signal. Specifically, sinusoids in the vicinity of the cutoff frequency are reproduced at almost the same volume as in conventional methods, although the beats of these sine tones usually caused by the frequency distortion are eliminated entirely or at least largely.
In einer vorteilhaften Weiterbildung der Erfindung wird die erfindungsgemäße Erhöhung des Pegelunterschieds nicht bedingungslos vorgenommen, sondern nur dann, wenn (oder in dem Maße, in dem) dies wirklich sinnvoll ist, nämlich dann, wenn hörbare Artefakte im Ausgangssignal zu erwarten sind (bzw. entsprechend der Stärke der zu erwartenden Artefakte). Erkanntermaßen sind hörbare Artefakte dann zu erwarten, wenn das Eingangssignal in dem spektralen Überlappbereich des HF-Anteils und des NF-Anteils eine hohe Tonalität aufweist, wenn also in diesem Überlappbereich dominante Frequenzen (insbesondere laute Sinustöne) vorhanden sind. Deshalb wird in dieser Weiterbildung des Verfahrens eine Kenngröße erfasst, die für die Tonalität des Eingangssignals in dem Überlappbereich charakteristisch ist (die also mit anderen Worten einen Schätz- oder Vergleichswert für die Tonalität des Eingangssignals in dem Überlappbereich bildet).In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the increase in the level difference according to the invention is not unconditionally made, but only if (or to the extent that) this really makes sense, namely when audible artifacts are expected in the output signal (or accordingly the strength of the expected artifacts). Audible artifacts are known to be expected if the input signal has a high tonality in the spectral overlap range of the HF component and the LF component, ie if dominant frequencies (in particular loud sine tones) are present in this overlap region. Therefore, in this development of the method, a parameter is detected which is characteristic of the tonality of the input signal in the overlap region (ie, in other words, forms an estimation or comparison value for the tonality of the input signal in the overlap region).
Die erfindungsgemäße Änderung des Verstärkungsfaktors und damit die Vergrößerung des Pegelunterschieds zwischen HF-Anteil und NF-Anteil werden dabei verfahrensgemäß in Abhängigkeit dieser Kenngröße vorgenommen. Insbesondere wird die Vergrößerung des Pegelunterschieds dabei nur dann vorgenommen, wenn diese Kenngröße ein vorgegebenes Kriterium erfüllt, insbesondere einen vorgegebenen Schwellwert übersteigt. In einer alternativen Ausführungsform der Erfindung wird die Vergrößerung des Pegelunterschieds in Abhängigkeit dieser Kenngröße (linear oder nicht-linear) gewichtet. Die für die Tonalität des Eingangssignals in dem Überlappbereich charakteristische Kenngröße wird hierbei vorzugsweise durch Autokorrelation des Eingangssignals in dem Überlappbereich ermittelt. Insbesondere ist die Kenngröße durch den Betrag der (im mathematischen Sinne komplexwertigen) Autokorrelationsfunktion gebildet.The change according to the invention of the amplification factor and thus the increase in the level difference between the HF component and the NF component are carried out according to the method as a function of this parameter. In particular, the increase in the level difference is only carried out if this parameter fulfills a predetermined criterion, in particular exceeds a predetermined threshold value. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the increase in the level difference in dependence on this Weighted indicator (linear or non-linear). The parameter characteristic for the tonality of the input signal in the overlapping region is hereby preferably determined by autocorrelation of the input signal in the overlap region. In particular, the parameter is formed by the amount of the (in the mathematical sense complex) autocorrelation function.
Die erfindungsgemäße Hörvorrichtung ist allgemein zur automatischen Durchführung des vorstehend beschriebenen erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens eingerichtet. Die vorstehend beschriebenen Ausführungsformen und Weiterentwicklungen des Verfahrens korrespondieren entsprechend mit zugehörigen Ausbildungsformen und Weiterentwicklungen der Vorrichtung, wobei Vorteile dieser Verfahrensvarianten sich auch auf die entsprechenden Ausbildungsformen der Hörvorrichtung übertragen lassen. Konkret umfasst die erfindungsgemäße Hörvorrichtung einen Frequenz-Splitter, der dazu eingerichtet ist, ein Empfangssignal in einen niederfrequenten Signalanteil (NF-Anteil) und einen hochfrequenten Signalanteil (HF-Anteil) zu teilen, wobei diese beiden Signalanteile bei einer Grenzfrequenz aneinander angrenzen. Die Hörvorrichtung umfasst weiterhin einen Signalprozessor, der dazu eingerichtet ist, den hochfrequenten Signalanteil frequenzzuverzerren sowie einen Synthetisierer, der dazu eingerichtet ist, den niederfrequenten Signalanteil und den frequenzverzerrten hochfrequenten Signalanteil zur Bildung eines Ausgangssignals zu überlagern.The hearing device according to the invention is generally set up to automatically carry out the method according to the invention described above. The above-described embodiments and further developments of the method correspondingly correspond to associated embodiments and further developments of the device, wherein advantages of these method variants can also be transferred to the corresponding embodiments of the hearing device. Specifically, the hearing device according to the invention comprises a frequency splitter which is adapted to divide a received signal into a low-frequency signal component (low-frequency component) and a high-frequency signal component (high-frequency component), these two signal components being adjacent to one another at a limiting frequency. The hearing device further comprises a signal processor which is adapted to frequency-distort the high-frequency signal component and a synthesizer which is adapted to superimpose the low-frequency signal component and the frequency-distorted high-frequency signal component to form an output signal.
Der Signalprozessor ist erfindungsgemäß dazu eingerichtet, zumindest für einen die Grenzfrequenz beinhaltenden spektralen Randbereich des HF-Anteils und/oder des NF-Anteils einen zugeordneten Verstärkungsfaktor zu verändern, sodass ein Pegelunterschied zwischen einem Signalpegel des NF-Anteils und einem Signalpegel des frequenzverzerrten HF-Anteils vergrößert wird.According to the invention, the signal processor is set up to change an associated amplification factor, at least for a spectral edge area of the HF component and / or the NF component containing the cutoff frequency, so that a level difference between a signal level of the low frequency component and a signal level of the frequency-distorted HF component is enlarged.
Bevorzugt ist der Frequenz-Splitter durch eine (Analyse-)Filterbank gebildet, die dazu eingerichtet ist, das Eingangssignal in eine Vielzahl von Frequenzbändern aufzuspalten. Der Synthetisierer ist in dieser Ausführungsform entsprechend durch eine (Synthese-)Filterbank gebildet, die die Frequenzbänder dann nach der Frequenzverzerrung (sowie gegebenenfalls weiteren Signalverarbeitungsschritten) zu dem Ausgangssignal zusammenführt. Im Hinblick auf Ausführungsvarianten des Signalprozessors wird im Übrigen sinngemäß auf die vorstehenden Ausführungen zu dem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren Bezug genommen.The frequency splitter is preferably formed by an (analysis) filter bank which is set up to split the input signal into a multiplicity of frequency bands. The synthesizer in this embodiment is accordingly formed by a (synthesis) filter bank, which then allocates the frequency bands after the frequency distortion (and possibly further signal processing steps) merges the output signal. With regard to variants of the signal processor, moreover, reference is made mutatis mutandis to the above statements regarding the method according to the invention.
Bei der erfindungsgemäßen Hörvorrichtung handelt es sich insbesondere um ein Hörhilfegerät, und hier wiederum vorzugsweise um ein zur Versorgung von Minderhörenden ausgebildetes Hörgerät.The hearing device according to the invention is, in particular, a hearing aid device, and here again preferably a hearing device designed to supply hearing impaired persons.
Nachfolgend werden Ausführungsbeispiele der Erfindung anhand einer Zeichnung näher erläutert. Hierbei zeigen jeweils schematisch:
- Fig. 1
- in einem Blockschaltbild eine Hörvorrichtung in Form eines Hörgeräts, bei dem ein eingehendes Audiosignal (Eingangssignal) mittels einer (Analyse-)Filterbank in eine Vielzahl von Frequenzbändern aufgeteilt wird, wobei das in den Frequenzbändern geführte Eingangssignal bei einer Grenzfrequenz in einen niederfrequenten Signalanteil (NF-Anteil) und einen hochfrequenten Signalanteil (HF-Anteil) untergliedert sind, wobei der HF-Anteil des Eingangssignals durch einen Signalprozessor frequenzverzerrt wird, und wobei der frequenzverzerrte HF-Anteil in einer (Synthese-)Filterbank mit dem NF-Anteil des Eingangssignals überlagert wird,
- Fig. 2
- in einem Diagramm der Signalverstärkung gegen die Frequenz den Betragsfrequenzgang der (Analyse-)Filterbank,
- Fig. 3
- in einem Flussdiagramm ein durch die Hörvorrichtung durchgeführtes Verfahren zur Frequenzverzerrung des Eingangssignals, sowie
- Fig. 4 und 5
- jeweils in einem Diagramm der Signalverstärkung gegen die Frequenz die Wirkung des Verfahrens anhand des Betragsfrequenzgangs der zwei unmittelbar an die Grenzfrequenz angrenzenden Frequenzbänder für zwei verschiedenartige Eingangssignale.
- Fig. 1
- 1 shows a block diagram of a hearing device in the form of a hearing device, in which an incoming audio signal (input signal) is split into a multiplicity of frequency bands by means of an (analysis) filter bank, wherein the input signal guided in the frequency bands is converted into a low-frequency signal component (NF) at a cutoff frequency. Portion) and a high-frequency signal component (RF component) are subdivided, wherein the HF component of the input signal is frequency-distorted by a signal processor, and wherein the frequency-distorted RF component in a (synthesis) filter bank is superposed with the NF component of the input signal .
- Fig. 2
- in a diagram of the signal amplification against the frequency the magnitude frequency response of the (analysis) filter bank,
- Fig. 3
- in a flowchart performed by the hearing aid method for frequency distortion of the input signal, as well as
- 4 and 5
- in each case in a diagram of the signal amplification against the frequency, the effect of the method on the basis of the magnitude frequency response of the two directly adjacent to the cutoff frequency bands for two different types of input signals.
Einander entsprechende Teile und Größen sind in allen Figuren jeweils mit gleichen Bezugszeichen versehen.Corresponding parts and sizes are provided in all figures with the same reference numerals.
Der (im vorliegenden Fall beispielhaft durch ein Mikrofon gebildete) Eingangswandler 4 wandelt ein aus der Umgebung eingehendes Schallsignal Si in ein (ursprüngliches) Eingangssignal Ei um.The (in the present case exemplified by a microphone)
Zur Unterdrückung von akustischen Rückkopplungen wird von dem ursprünglichen Eingangssignal Ei in dem Subtrahierer 6 ein elektrisches Kompensationssignal K subtrahiert, welches in dem elektrischen Rückkopplungspfad 16 erzeugt wird. Aus der Subtraktion des Eingangssignals Ei und des Kompensationssignals K resultiert ein (kompensiertes) Eingangssignal Ek, das der (Analyse-)Filterbank 8 zugeführt ist.To suppress acoustic feedback, an electrical compensation signal K, which is generated in the
In der Filterbank 8 wird das Eingangssignal Ek spektral in eine Vielzahl von Frequenzbändern Fj geteilt. Bei dem Parameter j handelt es sich hierbei um einen Zählindex, mit dem die Frequenzbänder Fj durchnummeriert sind. In dem vereinfachten Beispiel gemäß
In dem Signalprozessor 10 wird das in die Frequenzbänder Fj aufgesplittete Eingangssignal Ek frequenzbandspezifisch verarbeitet. Ein von dem Signalprozessor 10 verarbeitetes Signal P wird - wiederum spektral aufgeteilt in Frequenzbänder Fj' (j = 1,2, ..., 6) - der (Synthese-)Filterbank 12 zugeführt, die die Frequenzbänder Fj' zu einem elektrischen Ausgangssignal A zusammenführt (überlagert).In the
Das Ausgangssignal A wird einerseits dem (beispielsweise durch einen Lautsprecher oder "Hörer" gebildeten) Ausgangswandler 14 zugeführt, der das Ausgangssignal A in ein ausgehendes Schallsignal Sa umwandelt.The output signal A is supplied on the one hand to the (for example, by a speaker or "earpiece" formed)
Das Ausgangssignal A wird andererseits über den elektrischen Rückkopplungspfad 16 dem adaptiven Filter 18 zugeführt, der hieraus das Kompensationssignal K ermittelt. Dem adaptiven Filter 18 ist als Führungsgröße zusätzlich das kompensierte Eingangssignal Ek zugeführt.On the other hand, the output signal A is fed via the
Im Betrieb des Hörgeräts 2 wird das Schallsignal Sa entweder unmittelbar in den Gehörgang eines Hörgeräteträgers ausgegeben oder dem Gehörgang über einen Schallschlauch zugeführt. Insbesondere bei Ausführungen des Hörgeräts 2, bei denen das Hörgerät 2 selbst in dem Gehörgang angeordnet ist, wird ein Teil des ausgegebenen Schallsignals Sa aber unvermeidbar über einen akustischen Rückkopplungspfad 20 (z.B. über einen Ventkanal des Hörgeräts 2 oder über Körperschall) als Rückkopplungssignal R auf den Eingangswandler 4 zurückgekoppelt, wo sich das Rückkopplungssignal R mit Umgebungsschall zu dem eingehenden Schallsignal Si überlagert.During operation of the
Bei den Schallsignalen Si, Sa und dem Rückkopplungssignal R handelt es sich dabei um originäre Schallsignale, insbesondere Luftschall und/oder Körperschall. Bei den Eingangssignalen Ei, Ek, dem verarbeiteten Signal P, dem Ausgangssignal A und dem Kompensationssignal K handelt es sich dagegen um Audiosignale, d.h. um elektrische Signale, die eine Schallinformation transportieren.The sound signals S i , S a and the feedback signal R are original sound signals, in particular airborne sound and / or structure-borne noise. The input signals E i , E k , the processed signal P, the output signal A and the compensation signal K, on the other hand, are audio signals, ie electrical signals which carry sound information.
Im Bereich zwischen der Analyse-Filterbank 8 und der Synthese-Filterbank 12 werden die betreffenden Audiosignale, nämlich das Eingangssignal Ek und das verarbeitete Signal P, wie erwähnt spektral aufgespaltet in den Frequenzbändern Fj bzw. Fj' geführt.In the area between the
Bei dem Hörgerät 2 handelt es sich insbesondere um ein digitales Hörgerät, in dem die Signalverarbeitung in dem Signalprozessor 10 mittels Digitaltechnik erfolgt. In diesem Fall wird das Audiosignal vor der Signalverarbeitung durch einen Analog-Digital-Wandler 22 digitalisiert und nach der Signalverarbeitung durch einen Digital-Analog-Wandler 24 in ein elektrisches Analogsignal zurückgewandelt. In dem dargestellten Beispiel ist der Analog-Digital-Wandler 22 der Filterbank 8 unmittelbar vorgeschaltet und wirkt somit auf das kompensierte Eingangssignal Ek, während der Digital-Analog-Wandler 24 der Filterbank 12 nachgeschaltet ist. In diesem Fall führt der elektrische Rückkopplungspfad 16 das Ausgangssignal A und das Kompensationssignal K in Form von Analogsignalen.The
Alternativ hierzu ist der Analog-Digital-Wandler 22 zwischen den Eingangswandler 4 und den Subtrahierer 6 geschaltet und wirkt somit auf das ursprüngliche Eingangssignal Ei (nicht dargestellt). In diesem Fall führt der elektrische Rückkopplungspfad 16 das Ausgangssignal A und das Kompensationssignal K zweckmäßigerweise in Form von Digitalsignalen.Alternatively, the analog-to-
In einer weiteren (ebenfalls nicht dargestellten) Ausführungsform des Hörgeräts 2 ist der Subtrahierer 6 der Analysefilterbank 8 nachgeschaltet. Dem adaptiven Filter 18 werden hierbei die Frequenzbänder Fj' oder das mittels einer weiteren Frequenzanalyse spektral aufgespaltete Ausgangssignal A zugeführt. Das adaptive Filter 18 umfasst eine entsprechende Anzahl von Kanälen.In a further (also not shown) embodiment of the
Der Signalprozessor 10 unterzieht das in den Frequenzbändern Fj zugeführte Eingangssignal Ek in der für Hörgeräte typischen Weise vielfältigen Signalverarbeitungsprozessen, insbesondere einer frequenzbandspezifisch variierenden Verstärkung, um die Widergabe des Eingangssignals Ei an die individuellen Bedürfnisse eines minderhörenden Hörgerätenutzers anzupassen und somit für diesen bestmöglich hörbar zu machen. Des Weiteren führt der Signalprozessor 10 eine Frequenzverzerrung durch, die das Ausgangssignal A zur Erzielung einer verbesserten Rückkopplungsunterdrückung von dem Eingangssignal Ei dekorreliert.The
Zur Verdeutlichung des Effekts der Frequenzverzerrung ist in
Zu erkennen ist in
Zusätzlich zu den dem Signalprozessor 10 zugeführten Frequenzbändern Fj sind in
Signalverarbeitungsprozesse, die die jeweiligen Verstärkungsfaktoren der einzelnen Frequenzbänder F1'-F6' relativ zueinander verändern, wurden in der schematischen Darstellung gemäß
Die Bandbreite der Frequenzbänder F1-F6 und der korrespondierenden Frequenzbänder F1'-F6' ist insbesondere durch die Halbwertsbreite gegeben. Das Halbwertsniveau entspricht in der Darstellung gemäß
Aus
Um im Betrieb des Hörgeräts 2, und somit bei der Durchführung der Frequenzverzerrung gemäß
In einem ersten Schritt 30 des genannten Verfahrens (das einen Teil eines Verfahrens zum Betrieb des Hörgerätes 2 darstellt) erhält der Signalprozessor 10 das Eingangssignal Ek, das wie vorstehend beschrieben durch die Filterbank 8 in die Frequenzbänder Fj, und damit implizit auch in die Signalanteile NF und HF aufgeteilt wurde.In a
In einem folgenden Schritt 32 bildet der Signalprozessor 10 über die grenznahen Frequenzbänder F3 und F4 (und somit über die jeweiligen Randbereiche RL und RH der Signalanteile NF bzw. HF) jeweils die Autokorrelationsfunktion, um eine Kenngröße zu gewinnen, die ein quantitatives Maß für die Tonalität des Eingangssignals Ek in den Randbereichen RL und RH darstellt.In a following
Wie vorstehend erwähnt, bezeichnet der Begriff "Tonalität" eine Eigenschaft des Eingangssignals Ek, die die Dominanz einer einzelnen Frequenz f0 (
Das Verfahren nutzt hierbei die Erkenntnis, dass die Autokorrelationsfunktion ein gutes Maß für die Tonalität darstellt. Insbesondere in bevorzugten Ausführungsformen der Erfindung, bei denen es sich bei der Filterbank 8 um eine DFTmodulierte Filterbank (d.h. eine auf diskreter Fourier-Transformation basierende Filterbank) oder eine ähnliche Implementierung handelt, entspricht ein sinusartiges Signal in den Frequenzbändern F3 und F4 einem rotierenden komplexen Zeiger, der bei einer konstanten Frequenz mit konstanten Winkelsprüngen zwischen aufeinander folgenden Zeitschritten rotiert. In einer Ein-Schritt-Autokorrelation ("onetap-autocorrelation"), wie sie im Schritt 32 des Verfahrens vorzugsweise bestimmt wird, wird dieser rotierende Zeiger auf einen komplexen Zeiger abgebildet, der einen dem Winkelschritt entsprechenden konstanten Phasenwinkel aufweist.The method uses the knowledge that the autocorrelation function is a good measure of tonality. In particular, in preferred embodiments of the invention where the
Der Betrag dieser komplexwertigen Autokorrelationsfunktion wird dabei durch den Signalprozessor 10 als Maß für die Tonalität herangezogen. Alternativ wird die Varianz des komplexen Zeigers oder des Phasenwinkels als Maß für die Tonalität herangezogen, wobei ausgenutzt wird, dass eine kleine Varianz auf eine stabilie Frequenz, mithin eine hohe Tonalität hinweist. Aus dem Phasenwinkel der komplexwertigen Autokorrelationsfunktion leitet der Signalprozessor 10 den Betrag der dominanten Frequenz f0 ab, indem er diesen Phasenwinkel durch den Betrag des Zeitintervalls zwischen zwei Zeitschritten teilt (konkret: f0 = ϕ / (π·Ts), wobei ϕ für den Phasenwinkel und Ts für das genannte Zeitintervall steht; die dominante Frequenz f0 ist hierbei auf die Bandmitte des jeweiligen Frequenzbandes T3 bzw. T4 bezogen).The amount of this complex-valued autocorrelation function is used by the
In einem Schritt 34 wird durch den Signalprozessor 10 die Frequenzverzerrung durchführt, indem - wie in
In einem Schritt 36 prüft der Signalprozessor 10, ob das zuvor ermittelte Maß für die Tonalität, beispielsweise also der Betrag der ermittelten Autokorrelationsfunktion in den Frequenzbändern F3 und F4, einen vorgegebenen Schwellwert unterschreitet.In a
Solange das der Fall ist (Y), erkennt dies der Signalprozessor 10 als Anzeichen dafür, dass keine störenden Artefakte durch die Frequenzverzerrung zu erwarten sind. Entsprechend springt der Signalprozessor 10 in diesem Fall in der Verfahrensdurchführung zu einem Schritt 38, in dem er das frequenzverzerrte Signal P (ggf. nach Durchführung weiterer Signalverarbeitungsschritte) in Frequenzbändern Fj' zur Synthese des Ausgangssignals A an die Filterbank 12 ausgibt.As long as this is the case (Y), the
Sofern andernfalls die in Schritt 36 durchgeführte Prüfung ergibt, dass das Maß für die Tonalität den vorgegebenen Grenzwert nicht unterschreitet (N), schätzt der Signalprozessor 10 in einem Schritt 40 den Pegelunterschied ΔL (
In einem folgenden Schritt 42 prüft der Signalprozessor 10, ob der zuvor bestimmte Pegelunterschied ΔL einen vorgegebenen Grenzwert überschreitet.In a following
Solange dies der Fall ist (Y), erkennt der Signalprozessor 10 dies als Anzeichen dafür, dass störende Artefakte infolge der Frequenzverzerrung aufgrund des von Haus aus schon hohen Pegelunterschieds ΔL nicht zu erwarten sind. Entsprechend springt der Signalprozessor 10 in diesem Fall in der Verfahrensdurchführung wiederum zu dem Schritt 38.As long as this is the case (Y), the
Andernfalls (N), wenn also die in Schritt 42 durchgeführte Prüfung negativ ausfällt und entsprechend der Pegelunterschied ΔL den Schwellwert nicht überschreitet, passt der Signalprozessor 10 in einem Schritt 44 die Verstärkungsfaktoren der grenznahen Frequenzbänder F3' und F4' gegenläufig an, sodass ein vergrößerter Pegelunterschied ΔL' (ΔL' = |L1' - L2'|; s.
Der Signalprozessor 10 berechnet diese Änderung der Verstärkungsfaktoren dabei insbesondere derart, dass sich die Pegelerhöhung und die Pegelerniedrigung in den grenznahen Frequenzbändern F3' und F4' gegenseitig kompensieren, dass also die angepassten Signalpegel L1' und L2' der Frequenzbänder F3' und F4' bei der dominanten Frequenz f0 bzw. f0' in Summe (oder im Mittelwert) den entsprechenden Pegeln L1 bzw. L2 vor der Pegelanpassung entsprechend (L1' + L2' = L1 + L2). Abweichend von der einfachen Summen- oder Mittelwertbildung wird in einer weitergebildeten Ausführungsform des Verfahrens auch der Betragsfrequenzgang der betroffenen Frequenzbänder berücksichtigt.The
Anschließend springt der Signalprozessor 10 in der Verfahrensdurchführung wiederum zu dem Schritt 38.Subsequently, the
Durch die in Schritt 44 vorgenommene gegenläufige Änderung der Verstärkungsfaktoren in den grenznahen Frequenzbändern F3' und F4' wird erreicht, dass der dominante Ton in dem Ausgangssignal A mit etwa gleicher Stärke zu hören ist, als wäre die Pegelanpassung in Schritt 44 nicht vorgenommen worden. Je nachdem, in welchem der Signalanteile NF und HF die dominante Frequenz f0 stärker ausgeprägt ist, wird der dominante Ton dabei entweder mit der unverschobenen Frequenz f0 oder mit der verschobenen Frequenz f0' gehört. Infolge des vergrößerten Pegelunterschieds ΔL' werden dabei allerdings störende Artefakte in Form von Schwebungen zwischen den Frequenzen f0 und f0' unterdrückt.By means of the opposite change in the amplification factors in the adjacent frequency bands F 3 'and F 4 ' made in
Im Rahmen der Erfindung sind zahlreiche alternative Ausführungen des Verfahrens möglich. Beispielsweise kann die Frequenzverzerrung (Schritt 34) auch an anderer Stelle des Verfahrensablaufs durchgeführt werden, z.B. nach der Pegeländerung (Schritt 42). Des Weiteren können im Rahmen der Erfindung zwischen den Schritten 30 und 38 noch vielfältige weitere Signalbearbeitungsschritte vorgenommen werden, insbesondere Schritte zur frequenzselektiven Verstärkung des Eingangssignals Ek, zur Rauschunterdrückung, etc.In the context of the invention numerous alternative embodiments of the method are possible. For example, the frequency distortion (step 34) may also be performed elsewhere in the process flow, eg after the level change (step 42). Furthermore, within the scope of the invention, a plurality of further signal processing steps can be performed between
Die Wirkung der erfindungsgemäßen Pegeländerung in den grenznahen Frequenzbändern F3' und F4' ist anhand der
Die Erfindung wird anhand der vorstehend beschriebenen Ausführungsbeispiele besonders deutlich. Sie ist gleichwohl auf diese Ausführungsbeispiele aber nicht beschränkt. Vielmehr können zahlreiche weitere Ausführungsformen der Erfindung aus den Ansprüchen und der vorstehenden Beschreibung abgeleitet werden.The invention will be particularly apparent from the embodiments described above. It is nonetheless not limited to these embodiments. Rather, numerous other embodiments of the invention may be inferred from the claims and the foregoing description.
- 22
- Hörgeräthearing Aid
- 44
- Eingangswandlerinput transducer
- 66
- Subtrahierersubtractor
- 88th
- (Analyse-)Filterbank(Analysis) filter bank
- 1010
- Signalprozessorsignal processor
- 1212
- (Synthese-)Filterbank(Synthesis) filter bank
- 1414
- Ausgangswandleroutput transducer
- 1616
- (elektrischer) Rückkopplungspfad(electrical) feedback path
- 1818
- (adaptiver) Filter(adaptive) filter
- 2020
- (akustischer) Rückkopplungspfad(acoustic) feedback path
- 2222
- Analog-Digital-WandlerAnalog to digital converter
- 2424
- Digital-Analog-WandlerDigital to analog converter
- 3030
- Schrittstep
- 3232
- Schrittstep
- 3434
- Schrittstep
- 3636
- Schrittstep
- 3838
- Schrittstep
- 4040
- Schrittstep
- 4242
- Schrittstep
- 4444
- Schrittstep
- ΔL.DELTA.L
- PegelunterschiedLevel difference
- ΔL'.DELTA.L '
- (vergrößerter) Pegelunterschied(enlarged) level difference
- ff
- Frequenzfrequency
- f0 f 0
- (dominante) Frequenz(dominant) frequency
- f0'f 0 '
- (verschobene dominante) Frequenz(shifted dominant) frequency
- fg f g
- Grenzfrequenzcut-off frequency
- gG
- Signalverstärkungsignal amplification
- AA
- Ausgangssignaloutput
- Ei E i
- (ursprüngliches) Eingangssignal(original) input signal
- Ek E k
- (kompensiertes) Eingangssignal(compensated) input signal
- Fj F j
- Frequenzband (j = 1, 2, 6)Frequency band (j = 1, 2, 6)
- Fj' Fj '
- Frequenzband (j = 1, 2, 6)Frequency band (j = 1, 2, 6)
- HFHF
- (hochfrequenter) Signalanteil(high frequency) signal component
- KK
- Kompensationssignalcompensation signal
- L1 L 1
- Signalpegelsignal level
- L2 L 2
- Signalpegelsignal level
- L1'L 1 '
- Signalpegelsignal level
- L2'L 2 '
- Signalpegelsignal level
- NFNF
- (niederfrequenter) Signalanteil(low frequency) signal component
- PP
- (verarbeitetes) Signal(processed) signal
- RR
- RückkopplungssignalFeedback signal
- RH R H
- Randbereichborder area
- RL R L
- Randbereichborder area
- Sa S a
- (ausgehendes) Schallsignal(outgoing) sound signal
- Si S i
- (eingehendes) Schallsignal(incoming) sound signal
- UU
- Überlappbereichoverlap
Claims (12)
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
characterized,
wobei zumindest für den Randbereich (RL,RH) eines ersten der beiden Signalanteile (NF,HF) der Verstärkungsfaktor erhöht wird, und wobei zumindest für den Randbereich (RH;RL) des zweiten Signalanteils (HF;NF) der Verstärkungsfaktor erniedrigt wird.Method according to claim 1 or 2,
wherein at least for the edge region (R L , R H ) of a first of the two signal components (NF, HF), the amplification factor is increased, and wherein at least for the edge region (R H ; R L ) of the second signal component (HF, NF), the amplification factor is lowered.
wobei der Verstärkungsfaktor für den zweiten Signalanteil (HF; NF) derart erniedrigt wird, dass die Erhöhung des Verstärkungsfaktors für den ersten Signalanteil (NF,HF) kompensiert wird.Method according to claim 3,
wherein the amplification factor for the second signal component (HF, NF) is reduced such that the increase of the amplification factor for the first signal component (NF, HF) is compensated for.
wobei eine Kenngröße ermittelt wird, die für die Tonalität des Eingangssignals (EK) in einem Überlappbereich (U) des hochfrequenten Signalanteils (HF) und des niederfrequenten Signalanteils (NF) charakteristisch ist, und wobei die Änderung des Verstärkungsfaktors in Abhängigkeit dieser Kenngröße vorgenommen wird.Method according to one of claims 1 to 4,
wherein a characteristic is determined, which is characteristic of the tonality of the input signal (E K ) in an overlap region (U) of the high-frequency signal component (HF) and the low-frequency signal component (NF), and wherein the change in the amplification factor is made in dependence on this characteristic ,
wobei die für die Tonalität charakteristische Kenngröße durch Autokorrelation des Eingangssignals (Ek) in dem Überlappbereich (U) ermittelt wird.Method according to claim 5,
wherein the characteristic characteristic of the tonality is determined by autocorrelation of the input signal (E k ) in the overlap region (U).
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
characterized,
wobei der Signalprozessor (10) dazu eingerichtet ist, zumindest für den Randbereich (RH,RL) eines ersten der beiden Signalanteile (HF,NF) den Verstärkungsfaktor zu erhöhen, und zumindest für den Randbereich (RL,RH) des zweiten Signalanteils (NF;HF) den Verstärkungsfaktor zu erniedrigen.Hearing apparatus (2) according to claim 7 or 8,
wherein the signal processor (10) is adapted to increase the gain factor at least for the edge region (R H , R L ) of a first of the two signal components (HF, NF), and at least for the edge region (R L , R H ) of the second Signal component (NF, HF) to lower the amplification factor.
wobei der Signalprozessor (10) dazu eingerichtet ist, den Verstärkungsfaktor für den zweiten Signalanteil (NF; HF) derart zu erniedrigen, dass die Erhöhung des Verstärkungsfaktors für den ersten Signalanteil (HF,NF) kompensiert wird.Hearing device (2) according to claim 9,
wherein the signal processor (10) is arranged to decrease the gain factor for the second signal component (NF, HF) in such a way that the increase of the amplification factor for the first signal component (HF, NF) is compensated for.
wobei der Signalprozessor (10) dazu eingerichtet ist, eine Kenngröße zu ermitteln, die für die Tonalität des Eingangssignals (Ek) in einem Überlappbereich (U) des hochfrequenten Signalanteils (HF) und des niederfrequenten Signalanteils (NF) charakteristisch ist, und die Änderung des Verstärkungsfaktors nur dann vorzunehmen, wenn die Kenngröße ein vorgegebenes Kriterium erfüllt.Hearing apparatus (2) according to one of claims 7 to 10,
wherein the signal processor (10) is adapted to determine a characteristic characteristic of the tonality of the input signal (E k ) in an overlap region (U) of the high-frequency signal component (HF) and the low-frequency signal component (NF), and the change of the gain factor only if the characteristic meets a predetermined criterion.
wobei der Signalprozessor (10) dazu eingerichtet ist, die für die Tonalität charakteristische Kenngröße durch Autokorrelation des Eingangssignals (Ek) in dem Überlappbereich (U) zu ermitteln.Hearing device (2) according to claim 11,
wherein the signal processor (10) is adapted to determine the characteristic characteristic of the tonality by autocorrelation of the input signal (E k ) in the overlap region (U).
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EP (1) | EP3373599B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP6622829B2 (en) |
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AU (1) | AU2018200907A1 (en) |
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US10483931B2 (en) * | 2017-03-23 | 2019-11-19 | Yamaha Corporation | Audio device, speaker device, and audio signal processing method |
DE102021205251B4 (en) * | 2021-05-21 | 2024-08-08 | Sivantos Pte. Ltd. | Method and device for frequency-selective processing of an audio signal with low latency |
US11978468B2 (en) * | 2022-04-06 | 2024-05-07 | Analog Devices International Unlimited Company | Audio signal processing method and system for noise mitigation of a voice signal measured by a bone conduction sensor, a feedback sensor and a feedforward sensor |
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- 2018-01-15 DK DK18151664T patent/DK3373599T3/en active
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CN108540913A (en) | 2018-09-14 |
CN108540913B (en) | 2020-08-11 |
AU2018200907A1 (en) | 2018-09-20 |
US10674283B2 (en) | 2020-06-02 |
DK3373599T3 (en) | 2019-11-25 |
DE102017203630B3 (en) | 2018-04-26 |
JP2018148561A (en) | 2018-09-20 |
US20180255405A1 (en) | 2018-09-06 |
JP6622829B2 (en) | 2019-12-18 |
EP3373599B1 (en) | 2019-08-21 |
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