EP3461147B1 - Method for operating a hearing device - Google Patents
Method for operating a hearing device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3461147B1 EP3461147B1 EP18176654.4A EP18176654A EP3461147B1 EP 3461147 B1 EP3461147 B1 EP 3461147B1 EP 18176654 A EP18176654 A EP 18176654A EP 3461147 B1 EP3461147 B1 EP 3461147B1
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- signal
- directional
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- input
- attenuation
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- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 23
- 230000003321 amplification Effects 0.000 claims description 38
- 238000003199 nucleic acid amplification method Methods 0.000 claims description 38
- 230000005236 sound signal Effects 0.000 claims description 17
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- 230000035945 sensitivity Effects 0.000 description 24
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- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
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Images
Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
- H04R25/40—Arrangements for obtaining a desired directivity characteristic
- H04R25/407—Circuits for combining signals of a plurality of transducers
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
- H04R25/40—Arrangements for obtaining a desired directivity characteristic
- H04R25/405—Arrangements for obtaining a desired directivity characteristic by combining a plurality of transducers
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
- H04R25/45—Prevention of acoustic reaction, i.e. acoustic oscillatory feedback
- H04R25/453—Prevention of acoustic reaction, i.e. acoustic oscillatory feedback electronically
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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
- H04R25/55—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception using an external connection, either wireless or wired
- H04R25/552—Binaural
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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
- 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
- H04R2225/49—Reducing the effects of electromagnetic noise on the functioning of hearing aids, by, e.g. shielding, signal processing adaptation, selective (de)activation of electronic parts in hearing aid
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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
- H04R2430/00—Signal processing covered by H04R, not provided for in its groups
- H04R2430/20—Processing of the output signals of the acoustic transducers of an array for obtaining a desired directivity characteristic
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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
- H04R2430/00—Signal processing covered by H04R, not provided for in its groups
- H04R2430/20—Processing of the output signals of the acoustic transducers of an array for obtaining a desired directivity characteristic
- H04R2430/21—Direction finding using differential microphone array [DMA]
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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
- H04R2430/00—Signal processing covered by H04R, not provided for in its groups
- H04R2430/20—Processing of the output signals of the acoustic transducers of an array for obtaining a desired directivity characteristic
- H04R2430/23—Direction finding using a sum-delay beam-former
Definitions
- the invention relates to a method for operating a hearing aid, a first input signal being generated from a sound signal by a first input transducer, a second input signal being generated from the sound signal by a second input transducer.
- a first input signal being generated from a sound signal by a first input transducer
- a second input signal being generated from the sound signal by a second input transducer.
- Directional signal is formed, and an output signal is generated from the amplification directional signal.
- a sound signal from the environment is converted into corresponding electrical signals by one or more input transducers, amplified depending on the frequency band, among other things, to correct a hearing loss of the hearing aid user, and the signal amplified in this way is converted into an output sound signal by an output transducer, which is sent to the hearing of the user.
- Two basic tasks of the hearing aid are to present the user with a sound image that is tailored to his or her individual requirements caused by the hearing loss, and in which potential useful signals are masked as little as possible by noise, and thus the most favorable signal possible. to noise ratio (SNR) is present.
- SNR noise ratio
- this can be achieved by applying directional microphones to the corresponding input signals, if necessary by applying a frequency band.
- useful signals such as speech or music usually arrive at the user from a clearly defined direction, whereas many types of noise or interference come from a comparatively wide angle range originate, and thus no clear direction for a sound source can be assigned.
- the US 2012/189147 A1 teaches, by means of two microphone signals of a hearing aid, first of all a first directional signal directed at a speaker and a second To form directional signal, which has a total attenuation in the direction of the speaker. On the basis of the signal level of the two directional signals, a distance between the speaker is determined, by means of which a gain factor for the first directional signal is determined.
- the US 2014/198934 A1 calls a hearing aid system with a hearing aid and an external remote control, by means of which a wearer of the hearing aid can indicate the directions of useful signal and background noise sources so that signal processing in the hearing aid to improve a signal-to-noise ratio of the useful signals can take place on the basis of this input.
- the invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a method for operating a hearing aid which allows the most realistic spatial hearing sensation possible, while at least offering the possibility of taking into account user-specific anatomical features for the spatial hearing sensation.
- a method for operating a hearing aid a first input signal being generated from a sound signal by a first input transducer, a second input signal being generated from a sound signal by a second input transducer, a first angle and an angular range being specified be, with frequency band based on the first input signal, the second input signal and the first angle, an attenuation directional signal is formed which has a relative attenuation at least for a second angle located in the angular range around the first angle, and thereby an overlay parameter is determined, based on of the first input signal and the second input signal as well as the superimposition parameter and / or the second angle, a directional gain signal is formed which has a relative gain for the second angle, wherein from the directional attenuation signal and an angle-emphasized directional signal is generated from the amplification directional signal, and an output signal based on the angle-emphasized directional signal is produced.
- the first input signal and the second input signal preferably each have an omnidirectional directional characteristic.
- the formation of the attenuation directional signal on the basis of the first input signal and the second input signal takes place in such a way that a plurality of intermediate signals, each with a non-trivial directional characteristic, are initially formed from the first input signal and the second input signal, and then from these intermediate signals depending on the first Angle the attenuation directional signal is formed, for example by linear superposition.
- the same intermediate signals are also used for generating the directional gain signal (depending on the superposition parameter and / or the second angle).
- the specification of the first angle and the angular range can also take place implicitly, that is to say for example by means of parameters, provided that the corresponding parameters clearly define the first angle or the angular range.
- the first angle can be implicitly specified by a preliminary overlay parameter a0, which corresponds to a minimum sensitivity for the attenuation directional signal at the first angle.
- the final overlay parameter a which corresponds in particular to a sensitivity minimum at the second angle, can then take place through a variation, for example in the form of a minimization of the signal level, of the overlay parameter over a range ⁇ a which exactly corresponds to the angle range.
- a relative attenuation for the attenuation directional signal at the second angle is to be understood in particular to mean that at this angle the sensitivity assumes a significantly lower value than the global maximum of the directional characteristic, and in particular has a local minimum.
- the condition of the local minimum can, however, also be relaxed to the effect that it can be found at least in the angular range around the first angle, provided that the sensitivity increases monotonically from the minimum over the entire angular range and takes on significantly lower values than the global maximum.
- the relative amplification of the amplification directional signal at the second angle is to be understood here in particular as a sensitivity which is considerably increased compared to the global minimum value, and in particular as an absence of local minimums of the sensitivity in the immediate vicinity of the second angle, for example over the specified angular range away.
- the specified angular range can in particular include a widening of up to +/- 15 °, preferably up to +/- 10 °.
- the relative attenuation in the attenuation directional signal can then be understood in this context in particular to mean that the attenuation directional signal at the second angle has a significantly lower sensitivity over a solid angle range which is considerably larger than the specified angle range, for example in a quadrant as the maximum value in the quadrant in which the second angle is located.
- the relative amplification by the amplification directional signal can then be understood in this context to mean that the amplification directional signal at the second angle has a significantly greater sensitivity than the minimum value of the sensitivity for the amplification directional signal in the quadrant.
- the angle-emphasized directional signal can now be constructed in such a way that it itself has a relative gain as a result of the contributions of the amplification directional signal in the direction of the second angle.
- the attenuation directional signal or its contributions in the angle-emphasized directional signal provides an additional degree of freedom in order to be able to set a strength of the directional effect of the angle-emphasized directional signal with respect to the second angle.
- the proportion of sound signals whose source is remote can be set via the proportion of the attenuation directional signal in the angle-emphasized directional signal of the second angle is without this setting resulting in a significant change in the second angle, which would require a renewed adjustment of the amplification directional signal.
- the method steps mentioned are preferably to be carried out in each case in frequency bands and the angle-emphasized directional signal is preferably to be adapted in frequency bands via an output level to the individual requirements of the hearing aid user.
- Such an adaptation can, however, also take place after an additional, possibly directional noise suppression and / or after a renewed addition of omnidirectional signal contributions in frequency bands.
- the attenuation directional signal and the amplification directional signal are each formed from the first input signal and the second input signal by a time-delayed superposition or from a linear superposition of intermediate signals, which are each derived from the first input signal and the second input signal -Directional signal the signal level is minimized over the angular range by the first angle, and thereby the second angle is determined.
- the first input signal and the second input signal are directly or, in the case of a formation from intermediate signals derived therefrom, indirectly each entered linearly in the attenuation directional signal.
- a minimization of the signal level for the formation of the attenuation directional signal is understood here to mean that the first input signal and the second input signal or the intermediate signals derived therefrom are correspondingly convexly superimposed, and the superimposition parameter with regard to the signal level is minimized, the minimization under the Boundary condition takes place that the resulting second angle for a local minimum of the sensitivity within of the specified angular range has to lie around the first angle.
- the signal resulting from this minimization is now taken as the attenuation directional signal, and the angle corresponding to the local minimum sensitivity for this signal is used as the second angle and the resulting superimposition parameter for the amplification directional signal and / or further signal processing.
- the formation of the attenuation directional signal on the basis of such a minimization has the advantage that the signal components which are included in the angle-emphasized directional signal to reinforce the corresponding directional effect make particularly small contributions to the overall level of the angle-emphasized directional signal, and thus the additional degree of freedom for the directional effect as a whole Sound image of the surrounding sound less impaired.
- a first directional signal and a second directional signal are formed as intermediate signals on the basis of the first input signal and the second input signal.
- the first directional signal and the second directional signal are preferably each formed from a time-delayed superposition of the first input signal and the second input signal.
- Particularly preferred is the respective time delay given by the sound path from the first input transducer to the second input transducer or vice versa, so that the first directional signal has a cardioid-shaped directional characteristic with respect to the axis defined by the first input transducer and the second input transducer, and the second directional signal accordingly an anti-cardioid polar pattern.
- the attenuation directional signal is formed based on the first directional signal and the second directional signal as a function of the first angle and the angular range, and / or the amplification directional signal is based on the first directional signal and the second directional signal as a function of the superimposition parameter and / or the second Formed angle.
- the use of the mentioned directional signals as intermediate signals has the advantage that to generate the attenuation directional signal as well as the amplification directional signal, and in particular to estimate the corresponding angle-dependent attenuation or amplification, no variations of the time parameters have to take place, but rather a variation is carried out on the basis of an overlay parameter can be. As a result, no delays with variations, which in individual cases could be below a sampling period, have to be implemented, but only algebraic operations.
- a notch filter directional signal is particularly preferably formed as the attenuation directional signal.
- This is to be understood as a signal whose directional characteristic has a sensitivity in at least one direction which is reduced by at least six dB, preferably by several tens of dB, compared to the global maximum value of the sensitivity, the shape of the directional characteristic at the minimum value corresponding to the sensitivity of a notch.
- the minimum that is to say the "notch” is preferably located at the second angle ⁇ 2.
- the angle-emphasized directional signal is preferably formed by a superposition, that is to say in particular by a linear superposition, of the attenuation directional signal and the amplification directional signal.
- the signal level is expediently minimized in order to generate the angle-emphasized directional signal.
- the contributions of the attenuation directional signal which represent the spatial directions apart from the desired preferred direction of the second angle, are included in the angle-emphasized directional signal to the smallest possible extent.
- Directional noise suppression is basically an algorithm used in many hearing aids to improve the SNR.
- a directional useful signal is assumed and an amplifying directional signal is aimed at this direction.
- the other spatial directions are weakened because it is assumed that the background noise component is higher in these spatial directions.
- the amplification or attenuation directional signal that is present in any case can now be used for amplification or for weakening.
- the attenuation directional signal has already been generated by minimizing the total signal level over the specified angular range, because in this case it can be assumed that the useful signal component in the attenuation directional signal is minimal, while the useful signal Share in the most complementary amplification directional signal is particularly high.
- the directional signals generated as part of the method are advantageously used in a further signal processing process which is frequently used in hearing aids.
- an omnidirectional signal is added in a frequency-dependent manner in order to generate the output signal.
- the admixing can in particular consist of a simple linear combination with frequency-dependent linear factors.
- the spatial hearing perception of a person shows a considerable frequency dependence.
- this frequency dependency can be taken into account in a particularly simple manner, with bands, in which there is usually a lower angular dependence of the hearing sensitivity, can be correctly mapped.
- the invention also mentions a hearing aid with a first input transducer for generating a first input signal, a second input transducer for generating a second input signal, a signal processing unit and an output transducer for generating an output sound signal from an output signal, the signal processing unit being set up to use the first input signal and of the second input signal, the output signal by the method described above.
- the advantages mentioned for the method and its developments can be applied to the hearing aid in the same way.
- the invention also mentions a bilateral hearing aid system with two such hearing aids, and in particular a binaural hearing aid system in which the two hearing aids of the hearing aid system each transmit signal components to one another to improve the spatial hearing impression.
- a method 2 for operating a hearing aid 4 is shown schematically in a block diagram.
- the hearing aid 4 has a first input transducer 6 and a second input transducer 8, which generate a first input signal 12 and a second input signal 14 from a sound signal 10 from the surroundings.
- the first input transducer 6 and the second input transducer 8 are each designed as omnidirectional microphones in the present case.
- a first directional signal 18 and a second directional signal 20 are now generated as intermediate signals from the first input signal 12 and the second input signal 14.
- the first directional signal 18 has a directional characteristic 22 which is given by a cardioid, its preferred direction 24 runs along the axis 25, which is formed by the two input transducers 6, 8.
- the second directional signal 20 has a directional characteristic 26 which is complementary to the first directional signal 18, that is to say which, with regard to the axis 25, along the first input transducer 6 and the second input transducer 8 is formed by an anti-cardioid.
- An attenuation directional signal 28 is now formed from the first directional signal 18 and the second directional signal 20.
- a first angle ⁇ 1 is first specified externally, it being possible for the specification to be static or dynamic.
- a static specification can be made here, for example, by storing, among other things, anatomically determined angle values in a database, while a dynamic specification can also include the current hearing situation.
- the attenuation directional signal 28 is now first implemented as a notch filter 30 in the direction of the predetermined first angle ⁇ 1.
- the notch filter 30 is obtained from a linear superposition of the first directional signal 18 with the second directional signal 20.
- an angular range ⁇ is also specified, in which the direction of minimum sensitivity of the notch filter 30 can vary by the first angle ⁇ 1.
- the corresponding superimposition parameter a for the superposition is ultimately determined in such a way that the resulting signal level of the attenuation directional signal 28 is minimal over the angular range ⁇ .
- the direction of minimum sensitivity for the notch filter 30 is therefore not necessarily in the direction of the first angle ⁇ 1, but in the direction of a second angle ⁇ 2, which is located in the angular range ⁇ around the first angle ⁇ 1.
- a directional amplification signal 34 is now formed from the first directional signal 18 and the second directional signal 20 on the basis of the superimposition parameter a or on the basis of the angle ⁇ 2 established by this.
- the amplification directional signal 34 has a directional characteristic 36, the sensitivity of which preferably has a local maximum at the second angle ⁇ 2, or a local maximum can be found in the angular range ⁇ around the first angle ⁇ 1.
- the angular range ⁇ can be formed here, for example, by an interval of 20 °, that is ⁇ 1 +/- 10 °.
- L denotes the amplification directional signal 34 and b is an overlay parameter which is to be selected as a function of the overlay parameter a of the attenuation directional signal 28.
- the directional characteristic 36 of the amplification directional signal 34 varies between a cardioid or anti-cardioid and an omnidirectional characteristic.
- the amplification directional signal 34 is now subjected to amplitude compensation 38, which takes into account the different a priori output levels of cardiodic and omnidirectional directional characteristics for identical omnidirectional input signals.
- the superimposition parameter c can be obtained from a minimization of the overall output level of the angle-stressed directional signal 40.
- the angle-emphasized directional signal 40 is now constructed in such a way that, due to the component of the amplification directional signal 34 in the direction of the second angle ⁇ 2, there is a particularly high sensitivity, while the minimization processes, depending on the real sound events, cause interference from other directions to be caused by the attenuation directional signal 28 can be suppressed without this significantly affecting the contributions of the amplification directional signal 32.
- the construction of the attenuation directional signal 28 by minimizing the total output level over the angular range ⁇ by the specified first angle ⁇ 1 also leads to a particularly good adaptation of the attenuation directional signal to the currently present sound events, within the framework of the specification of the first angle ⁇ 1 as the desired one Preferred direction.
- the angle-emphasized directional signal 40 can now also be subjected to directional noise suppression 42, the angle-emphasized directional signal 40 itself being interpreted as the useful signal 44 and the attenuation directional signal 28 being interpreted as the background noise component 46.
- Signal components of an omnidirectional signal for example the first input signal 12, are now added to the signal 48 resulting from the directional noise suppression 42, and so the output signal 50 is generated, which is converted into an output sound signal by an output transducer 52 of the hearing aid 4 54 is converted, which is supplied to the hearing of the user of the hearing aid 4.
- the output sound signal 54 reproduces the acoustic environment of the hearing aid 4 in a particularly realistic manner, since angle-dependent or space-dependent attenuations are modeled on those caused by a real outer ear.
- the directivity or attenuation of real hearing can be controlled by frequency band via the portion of the omnidirectional first input signal 12 in the output signal 50.
- the signal level of the output signal can be lowered or raised individually in a user-specific manner in individual frequency bands.
Description
Die Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren zum Betrieb eines Hörgeräts, wobei von einem ersten Eingangswandler aus einem Schallsignal ein erstes Eingangssignal erzeugt wird, wobei aus dem Schallsignal von einem zweiten Eingangswandler ein zweites Eingangssignal erzeugt wird, wobei anhand des ersten Eingangssignals, des zweiten Eingangssignals ein Verstärkungs-Richtsignal gebildet wird, und wobei aus dem Verstärkungs-Richtsignal ein Ausgangssignal erzeugt wird.The invention relates to a method for operating a hearing aid, a first input signal being generated from a sound signal by a first input transducer, a second input signal being generated from the sound signal by a second input transducer. Directional signal is formed, and an output signal is generated from the amplification directional signal.
In einem Hörgerät wird ein Schallsignal der Umgebung durch einen oder mehrere Eingangswandler in entsprechende elektrische Signale umgewandelt, zur Korrektur eines Hörverlustes des Benutzers des Hörgerätes unter anderem Frequenzband abhängig verstärkt, und das so verstärkte Signal durch einen Ausgangswandler in ein Ausgangsschallsignal umgewandelt, welches an das Gehör des Benutzers ausgegeben wird. Zwei prinzipielle Aufgaben des Hörgerätes bestehen hierbei darin, dem Benutzer ein Klangbild zu präsentieren, welches auf dessen individuelle, durch den Hörverlust bedingte Anforderungen abgestimmt ist, und in welchem potentielle Nutzsignale in möglichst geringem Umfang durch Rauschen maskiert werden, und also ein möglichst günstiges Signal-zu-Rausch-Verhältnis (SNR) vorliegt.In a hearing aid, a sound signal from the environment is converted into corresponding electrical signals by one or more input transducers, amplified depending on the frequency band, among other things, to correct a hearing loss of the hearing aid user, and the signal amplified in this way is converted into an output sound signal by an output transducer, which is sent to the hearing of the user. Two basic tasks of the hearing aid are to present the user with a sound image that is tailored to his or her individual requirements caused by the hearing loss, and in which potential useful signals are masked as little as possible by noise, and thus the most favorable signal possible. to noise ratio (SNR) is present.
Für ein Hörgerät mit wenigstens zwei Eingangswandlern kann dies durch eine - gegebenenfalls frequenzbandweise - Anwendung von Richtmikrofonie auf die entsprechenden Eingangssignale erreicht werden. Hierfür wird angenommen, dass Nutzsignale wie zum Beispiels Sprache oder Musik meist aus einer klar definierten Richtung beim Benutzer eintreffen, während hingegen viele Arten von Rauschen oder Störgeräusche aus einem vergleichsweise breiten Winkelbereich stammen, und somit keine klare Richtung für eine Schallquelle zugeordnet werden kann.For a hearing aid with at least two input transducers, this can be achieved by applying directional microphones to the corresponding input signals, if necessary by applying a frequency band. For this purpose, it is assumed that useful signals such as speech or music usually arrive at the user from a clearly defined direction, whereas many types of noise or interference come from a comparatively wide angle range originate, and thus no clear direction for a sound source can be assigned.
In den meisten Implementierungen von Richtmikrofonen in Hörgeräten wird überdies angenommen, dass ein Benutzer seine Blickrichtung instinktiv auf die Quelle eines Nutzsignals hin ausrichtet, sodass das Richtmikrofon für eine Unterdrückung von Störgeräuschen im Wesentlichen in Frontalrichtung des Benutzers auszurichten ist. Über eine gewünschte Unterdrückung von Störgeräuschen hinaus führt dies jedoch mitunter zu einer unnatürlichen Wahrnehmung der Umgebung. Schallereignisse, welche sich abseits der Vorzugsrichtung des Richtmikrofons ereignen, werden durch die Rauschunterdrückung unabhängig davon ausgeblendet, ob sie für eine realistische Wiedergabe der Umgebungssituation erforderlich sind oder nicht. Eine Lokalisierung derartiger Schallereignisse ist demnach für den Benutzer des Hörgerätes oftmals nicht zufriedenstellend möglich, was seine Gesamtwahrnehmung der Umgebung beeinträchtigen kann.In most implementations of directional microphones in hearing aids, it is moreover assumed that a user instinctively directs his line of sight towards the source of a useful signal, so that the directional microphone has to be aligned essentially in the frontal direction of the user in order to suppress interference. In addition to the desired suppression of background noise, however, this sometimes leads to an unnatural perception of the environment. Sound events that occur away from the preferred direction of the directional microphone are masked out by the noise suppression, regardless of whether they are required for a realistic reproduction of the surrounding situation or not. A localization of such sound events is therefore often not possible in a satisfactory manner for the user of the hearing aid, which can impair his overall perception of the surroundings.
Überdies tragen bestehende Algorithmen der Richtmikrofonie den individuellen anatomischen Begebenheiten und den daraus resultierenden Einschränkungen, die sich hieraus beispielsweise an das Richtfeld eines realen Ohres ergeben, nicht in ausreichendem Maße Rechnung. So weist beispielsweise ein menschliches Ohr aufgrund der Form der Pinna eine nach hinten deutlich verringerte Empfindlichkeit gegenüber Schallsignalen auf, während durch die Form der Concha und des Gehörganges die Richtung maximaler Hörempfindlichkeit im weitesten Sinne schräg nach vorne ausgerichtet ist, wobei das exakte Maximum in Abhängigkeit der individuellen Anatomie variiert. Für ein möglichst realistisches Hörempfinden sind derartige Umstände mit zu berücksichtigen. Auch die bei binauralen Hörgerätesystemen bestehende Möglichkeit, ein Richtmikrofon aus zwei omnidirektionalen Signalen zu bilden, welche jeweils an einem Ohr des Benutzers erzeugt werden, vermag dabei die anatomischen Begebenheiten und daraus resultierenden Einschränkungen nicht ausreichend wiederzugeben.In addition, existing algorithms of the directional microphone do not take sufficient account of the individual anatomical conditions and the resulting restrictions that result from this, for example, to the directional field of a real ear. For example, due to the shape of the pinna, a human ear has a significantly lower sensitivity to sound signals towards the rear, while the shape of the concha and the auditory canal mean that the direction of maximum hearing sensitivity in the broadest sense is directed obliquely forward, the exact maximum depending on the individual anatomy varies. For a hearing experience that is as realistic as possible, such circumstances must be taken into account. The possibility of forming a directional microphone from two omnidirectional signals, which are each generated at one ear of the user, is also not able to adequately reproduce the anatomical conditions and the restrictions resulting therefrom with binaural hearing aid systems.
Die
Die
Der Erfindung liegt daher die Aufgabe zugrunde, ein Verfahren zum Betrieb eines Hörgerätes anzugeben, welches ein möglichst realistisches räumliches Hörempfinden erlaubt, und dabei die wenigstens prinzipielle Möglichkeit bieten soll, benutzerspezifische anatomische Besonderheiten für das räumliche Hörempfinden mit zu berücksichtigen.The invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a method for operating a hearing aid which allows the most realistic spatial hearing sensation possible, while at least offering the possibility of taking into account user-specific anatomical features for the spatial hearing sensation.
Die genannte Aufgabe wird erfindungsgemäß gelöst durch ein Verfahren zum Betrieb eines Hörgeräts, wobei von einem ersten Eingangswandler aus einem Schallsignal ein erstes Eingangssignal erzeugt wird, wobei aus einem Schallsignal von einem zweiten Eingangswandler ein zweites Eingangssignal erzeugt wird, wobei ein erster Winkel und ein Winkelbereich vorgegeben werden, wobei frequenzbandweise anhand des ersten Eingangssignals, des zweiten Eingangssignals und des ersten Winkels ein Abschwächungs-Richtsignal gebildet wird, welches wenigstens für einen im Winkelbereich um den ersten Winkel gelegenen zweiten Winkel eine relative Abschwächung aufweist, und hierdurch ein Überlagerungsparameter festgelegt wird, wobei anhand des ersten Eingangssignals und des zweiten Eingangssignals sowie des Überlagerungsparameters und/oder des zweiten Winkels ein Verstärkungs-Richtsignal gebildet wird, welches für den zweiten Winkel eine relative Verstärkung aufweist, wobei aus dem Abschwächungs-Richtsignal und dem Verstärkungs-Richtsignal ein winkelbetontes Richtsignal erzeugt wird, und wobei anhand des winkelbetonten Richtsignals ein Ausgangssignal erzeugt wird. Vorteilhafte und teils für sich gesehene Ausführungsformen sind Gegenstand der Unteransprüche und der nachfolgenden Beschreibung.The stated object is achieved according to the invention by a method for operating a hearing aid, a first input signal being generated from a sound signal by a first input transducer, a second input signal being generated from a sound signal by a second input transducer, a first angle and an angular range being specified be, with frequency band based on the first input signal, the second input signal and the first angle, an attenuation directional signal is formed which has a relative attenuation at least for a second angle located in the angular range around the first angle, and thereby an overlay parameter is determined, based on of the first input signal and the second input signal as well as the superimposition parameter and / or the second angle, a directional gain signal is formed which has a relative gain for the second angle, wherein from the directional attenuation signal and an angle-emphasized directional signal is generated from the amplification directional signal, and an output signal based on the angle-emphasized directional signal is produced. Advantageous embodiments, some of which are seen in isolation, are the subject matter of the subclaims and the following description.
Bevorzugt weisen das erste Eingangssignal und das zweite Eingangssignal jeweils eine omnidirektionale Richtcharakteristik auf. Die Bildung des Abschwächungs-Richtsignals anhand des ersten Eingangssignals und des zweiten Eingangssignals erfolgt hierbei derart, dass zunächst aus dem ersten Eingangssignal und dem zweiten Eingangssignal eine Mehrzahl an Zwischensignalen mit jeweils nicht-trivialer Richtcharakteristik gebildet werden, und anschließend aus diesen Zwischensignalen in Abhängigkeit des ersten Winkels das Abschwächungs-Richtsignal gebildet wird, beispielsweise durch lineare Superposition. Dieselben Zwischensignale werden dabei auch für die Erzeugung des Verstärkungs-Richtsignals (in entsprechender Abhängigkeit des Überlagerungsparameters und/oder des zweiten Winkels) verwendet.The first input signal and the second input signal preferably each have an omnidirectional directional characteristic. The formation of the attenuation directional signal on the basis of the first input signal and the second input signal takes place in such a way that a plurality of intermediate signals, each with a non-trivial directional characteristic, are initially formed from the first input signal and the second input signal, and then from these intermediate signals depending on the first Angle the attenuation directional signal is formed, for example by linear superposition. The same intermediate signals are also used for generating the directional gain signal (depending on the superposition parameter and / or the second angle).
Alternativ dazu ist es auch denkbar, das Abschwächungs-Richtsignal direkt durch eine zeitverzögerte Überlagerung des ersten Eingangssignals mit dem zweiten Eingangssignal zu bilden. Vergleichbares ist auch für das Verstärkungs-Richtsignal möglich.As an alternative to this, it is also conceivable to form the attenuation directional signal directly by superimposing the first input signal on the second input signal with a time delay. The same is also possible for the directional amplification signal.
Die Vorgabe des ersten Winkels und des Winkelbereiches kann hierbei auch implizit erfolgen, also beispielsweise durch Parameter, sofern die entsprechenden Parameter den ersten Winkel bzw. den Winkelbereich eindeutig festlegen. Soll beispielsweise das Abschwächungs-Richtsignal durch eine Überlagerung von Zwischensignalen gebildet werden, so kann der erste Winkel implizit durch einen vorläufigen Überlagerungsparameter a0 vorgegeben werden, welcher einem Empfindlichkeitsminimum für das Abschwächungs-Richtsignal beim ersten Winkel entspricht. Der endgültige Überlagerungsparameter a, welcher insbesondere einem Empfindlichkeitsminimum beim zweiten Winkel entspricht, kann dann durch eine Variation, beispielsweise in Form einer Minimierung des Signalpegels, des Überlagerungsparameters über einen Bereich Δa hinweg erfolgen, welcher genau dem Winkelbereich entspricht.The specification of the first angle and the angular range can also take place implicitly, that is to say for example by means of parameters, provided that the corresponding parameters clearly define the first angle or the angular range. For example, if the attenuation directional signal is to be formed by superimposing intermediate signals, the first angle can be implicitly specified by a preliminary overlay parameter a0, which corresponds to a minimum sensitivity for the attenuation directional signal at the first angle. The final overlay parameter a, which corresponds in particular to a sensitivity minimum at the second angle, can then take place through a variation, for example in the form of a minimization of the signal level, of the overlay parameter over a range Δa which exactly corresponds to the angle range.
Unter einer relativen Abschwächung für das Abschwächungs-Richtsignal beim zweiten Winkel ist insbesondere zu verstehen, dass bei diesem Winkel die Empfindlichkeit einen wesentlich geringeren Wert einnimmt als das globale Maximum der Richtcharakteristik, und insbesondere ein lokales Minimum aufweist. Die Bedingung des lokalen Minimums kann jedoch auch dahingehend relaxiert werden, dass dieses wenigstens im Winkelbereich um den ersten Winkel aufzufinden ist, sofern die Empfindlichkeit vom Minimum aus über den ganzen Winkelbereich hin monoton zunimmt, und deutlich geringere Werte einnimmt als das globale Maximum. Die relative Verstärkung des Verstärkungs-Richtsignals beim zweiten Winkel ist hierbei insbesondere zu verstehen als eine Empfindlichkeit, welche gegenüber dem globalen Minimalwert erheblich erhöht ist, und insbesondere als eine Abwesenheit lokaler Minima der Empfindlichkeit in unmittelbarer Umgebung des zweiten Winkels, also beispielsweise über den vorgegebenen Winkelbereich hinweg. Der vorgegebene Winkelbereich kann hierbei insbesondere eine Aufweitung bis zu +/- 15°, bevorzugt bis zu +/- 10°umfassen. Die relative Abschwächung im Abschwächungs-Richtsignal kann dann in diesem Zusammenhang insbesondere so verstanden werden, dass über einen Raumwinkelbereich hinweg, welcher erheblich größer ist als der vorgegebene Winkelbereich, also beispielsweise in einem Quadranten, das Abschwächungs-Richtsignal beim zweiten Winkel eine wesentlich geringere Empfindlichkeit aufweist als der Maximalwert im Quadranten, in welchem der zweite Winkel gelegen ist. Die relative Verstärkung durch das Verstärkungs-Richtsignal kann dann in diesem Zusammenhang so verstanden werden, dass das Verstärkungs-Richtsignal beim zweiten Winkel eine wesentlich größere Empfindlichkeit aufweist als der Minimalwert der Empfindlichkeit für das Verstärkungs-Richtsignal im Quadranten.A relative attenuation for the attenuation directional signal at the second angle is to be understood in particular to mean that at this angle the sensitivity assumes a significantly lower value than the global maximum of the directional characteristic, and in particular has a local minimum. The condition of the local minimum can, however, also be relaxed to the effect that it can be found at least in the angular range around the first angle, provided that the sensitivity increases monotonically from the minimum over the entire angular range and takes on significantly lower values than the global maximum. The relative amplification of the amplification directional signal at the second angle is to be understood here in particular as a sensitivity which is considerably increased compared to the global minimum value, and in particular as an absence of local minimums of the sensitivity in the immediate vicinity of the second angle, for example over the specified angular range away. The specified angular range can in particular include a widening of up to +/- 15 °, preferably up to +/- 10 °. The relative attenuation in the attenuation directional signal can then be understood in this context in particular to mean that the attenuation directional signal at the second angle has a significantly lower sensitivity over a solid angle range which is considerably larger than the specified angle range, for example in a quadrant as the maximum value in the quadrant in which the second angle is located. The relative amplification by the amplification directional signal can then be understood in this context to mean that the amplification directional signal at the second angle has a significantly greater sensitivity than the minimum value of the sensitivity for the amplification directional signal in the quadrant.
Das winkelbetonte Richtsignal kann nun so konstruiert werden, dass es infolge der Beiträge des Verstärkungs-Richtsignals in Richtung des zweiten Winkels selbst eine relative Verstärkung aufweist. Hierbei liefert das Abschwächungs-Richtsignal bzw. dessen Beiträge im winkelbetonten Richtsignal einen zusätzlichen Freiheitsgrad, um eine Stärke der Richtwirkung des winkelbetonten Richtsignals bezüglich des zweiten Winkels einstellen zu können. Infolge der relativen Abschwächung für das Abschwächungs-Richtsignal in Richtung des zweiten Winkels, welche relativ zu den globalen Maxima der Empfindlichkeit des Abschwächungs-Richtsignals wesentlich ist, und im Idealfall zu einer vollständigen Unterdrückung in Richtung des zweiten Winkels führt, kann über den Anteil des Abschwächungs-Richtsignals am winkelbetonten Richtsignal der Anteil an Schallsignalen eingestellt werden, deren Quelle abseits des zweiten Winkels liegt, ohne dass durch diese Einstellung beim zweiten Winkel eine erhebliche Veränderung eintreten würde, welche eine erneute Anpassung des Verstärkungs-Richtsignals erfordern würde.The angle-emphasized directional signal can now be constructed in such a way that it itself has a relative gain as a result of the contributions of the amplification directional signal in the direction of the second angle. Here, the attenuation directional signal or its contributions in the angle-emphasized directional signal provides an additional degree of freedom in order to be able to set a strength of the directional effect of the angle-emphasized directional signal with respect to the second angle. As a result of the relative attenuation for the attenuation directional signal in the direction of the second angle, which is essential relative to the global maxima of the sensitivity of the attenuation directional signal and, in the ideal case, leads to complete suppression in the direction of the second angle, the proportion of sound signals whose source is remote can be set via the proportion of the attenuation directional signal in the angle-emphasized directional signal of the second angle is without this setting resulting in a significant change in the second angle, which would require a renewed adjustment of the amplification directional signal.
Bevorzugt sind die genannten Verfahrensschritte jeweils frequenzbandweise durchzuführen und bevorzugt ist das winkelbetonte Richtsignal frequenzbandweise über einen Ausgangspegel an die individuellen Anforderungen des Benutzers des Hörgerätes anzupassen. Eine derartige Anpassung kann jedoch auch nach einer zusätzlichen, gegebenenfalls direktionalen Rauschunterdrückung und/oder nach einer erneuten frequenzbandweisen Beigabe omnidirektionaler Signalbeiträge erfolgen.The method steps mentioned are preferably to be carried out in each case in frequency bands and the angle-emphasized directional signal is preferably to be adapted in frequency bands via an output level to the individual requirements of the hearing aid user. Such an adaptation can, however, also take place after an additional, possibly directional noise suppression and / or after a renewed addition of omnidirectional signal contributions in frequency bands.
Erfindungsgemäß werden das Abschwächungs-Richtsignal und das Verstärkungs-Richtsignal jeweils aus dem ersten Eingangssignal und dem zweiten Eingangssignal durch eine zeitverzögerte Überlagerung oder aus einer linearen Superposition von Zwischensignalen gebildet, welche jeweils vom ersten Eingangssignal und vom zweiten Eingangssignal abgeleitet werden, wobei zur Bildung des Abschwächungs-Richtsignals der Signalpegel über den Winkelbereich um den ersten Winkel minimiert wird, und hierdurch der zweite Winkel festgelegt wird. Dies bedeutet insbesondere, dass das erste Eingangssignal und das zweite Eingangssignal unmittelbar oder, im Falle einer Bildung aus hieraus abgeleiteten Zwischensignalen, mittelbar jeweils linear in das Abschwächungs-Richtsignal eingehen. Unter einer Minimierung des Signalpegels zur Bildung des Abschwächungs-Richtsignals ist hierbei zu verstehen, dass das erste Eingangssignal und das zweite Eingangssignal bzw. die hiervon abgeleiteten Zwischensignale entsprechend konvex überlagert werden, und der Überlagerungsparameter hinsichtlich des Signalpegels, minimiert wird, wobei die Minimierung unter der Randbedingung stattfindet, dass der resultierende zweite Winkel für ein lokales Minimum der Empfindlichkeit innerhalb des vorgegebenen Winkelbereiches um den ersten Winkel zu liegen hat. Das aus dieser Minimierung resultierende Signal wird nun als das Abschwächungs-Richtsignal genommen, und der dem lokalen Minimum der Empfindlichkeit für dieses Signal entsprechende Winkel als zweite Winkel sowie der resultierende Überlagerungsparameter für das Verstärkungs-Richtsignal und/oder weitere Signalverarbeitung verwendet.According to the invention, the attenuation directional signal and the amplification directional signal are each formed from the first input signal and the second input signal by a time-delayed superposition or from a linear superposition of intermediate signals, which are each derived from the first input signal and the second input signal -Directional signal the signal level is minimized over the angular range by the first angle, and thereby the second angle is determined. This means in particular that the first input signal and the second input signal are directly or, in the case of a formation from intermediate signals derived therefrom, indirectly each entered linearly in the attenuation directional signal. A minimization of the signal level for the formation of the attenuation directional signal is understood here to mean that the first input signal and the second input signal or the intermediate signals derived therefrom are correspondingly convexly superimposed, and the superimposition parameter with regard to the signal level is minimized, the minimization under the Boundary condition takes place that the resulting second angle for a local minimum of the sensitivity within of the specified angular range has to lie around the first angle. The signal resulting from this minimization is now taken as the attenuation directional signal, and the angle corresponding to the local minimum sensitivity for this signal is used as the second angle and the resulting superimposition parameter for the amplification directional signal and / or further signal processing.
Die Bildung des Abschwächungs-Richtsignals anhand einer derartigen Minimierung hat den Vorteil, dass die Signalanteile, welche zur Verstärkung der entsprechenden Richtwirkung in das winkelbetonte Richtsignal eingehen, besonders geringe Beiträge zum Gesamtpegel des winkelbetonten Richtsignals liefern, und somit der zusätzliche Freiheitsgrad für die Richtwirkung das gesamte Klangbild des Umgebungsschalls weniger beeinträchtigt.The formation of the attenuation directional signal on the basis of such a minimization has the advantage that the signal components which are included in the angle-emphasized directional signal to reinforce the corresponding directional effect make particularly small contributions to the overall level of the angle-emphasized directional signal, and thus the additional degree of freedom for the directional effect as a whole Sound image of the surrounding sound less impaired.
In einer weiter vorteilhaften Ausgestaltung werden anhand des ersten Eingangssignals und des zweiten Eingangssignals ein erstes Richtsignal und ein zweites Richtsignal als Zwischensignale gebildet. Bevorzugt werden das erste Richtsignal und das zweite Richtsignal hierbei jeweils aus einer zeitverzögerten Überlagerung des ersten Eingangssignals und des zweiten Eingangssignals gebildet. Besonders bevorzugt ist hierbei die jeweilige Zeitverzögerung gegeben durch den Schallweg vom ersten Eingangswandler zum zweiten Eingangswandler bzw. umgekehrt, so dass das erste Richtsignal bezüglich der durch den ersten Eingangswandler und den zweiten Eingangswandler definierten Achse eine kardioid-förmige Richtcharakteristik aufweist, und das zweite Richtsignal entsprechend eine anti-kardioid-förmige Richtcharakteristik.In a further advantageous embodiment, a first directional signal and a second directional signal are formed as intermediate signals on the basis of the first input signal and the second input signal. The first directional signal and the second directional signal are preferably each formed from a time-delayed superposition of the first input signal and the second input signal. Particularly preferred is the respective time delay given by the sound path from the first input transducer to the second input transducer or vice versa, so that the first directional signal has a cardioid-shaped directional characteristic with respect to the axis defined by the first input transducer and the second input transducer, and the second directional signal accordingly an anti-cardioid polar pattern.
Zweckmäßigerweise wird hierbei das Abschwächungs-Richtsignal anhand des ersten Richtsignals und des zweiten Richtsignal in Abhängigkeit des ersten Winkels und des Winkelbereichs gebildet wird, und/oder das Verstärkungs-Richtsignal anhand des ersten Richtsignals und des zweiten Richtsignal in Abhängigkeit des Überlagerungsparameters und/oder des zweiten Winkels gebildet.Appropriately, the attenuation directional signal is formed based on the first directional signal and the second directional signal as a function of the first angle and the angular range, and / or the amplification directional signal is based on the first directional signal and the second directional signal as a function of the superimposition parameter and / or the second Formed angle.
Die Verwendung der genannten Richtsignale als Zwischensignale hat den Vorteil, dass zur Bildung des Abschwächungs-Richtsignals sowie des Verstärkungs-Richtsignals, und insbesondere zur Abschätzung der entsprechenden winkelabhängigen Abschwächung bzw. Verstärkung, keine Variationen der Zeitparameter erfolgen müssen, sondern eine Variation anhand eines Überlagerungsparameter durchgeführt werden kann. Hierdurch müssen keine Verzögerungen mit Variationen, welche im Einzelfall unterhalb einer Abtastperiode liegen könnten, realisiert werden, sondern nur algebraische Operationen.The use of the mentioned directional signals as intermediate signals has the advantage that to generate the attenuation directional signal as well as the amplification directional signal, and in particular to estimate the corresponding angle-dependent attenuation or amplification, no variations of the time parameters have to take place, but rather a variation is carried out on the basis of an overlay parameter can be. As a result, no delays with variations, which in individual cases could be below a sampling period, have to be implemented, but only algebraic operations.
Besonders bevorzugt wird als Abschwächungs-Richtsignal ein Kerbfilter-Richtsignal gebildet. Hierunter ist ein Signal zu verstehen, dessen Richtcharakteristik in wenigstens einer Richtung eine Empfindlichkeit aufweist, welche gegenüber dem globalen Maximalwert der Empfindlichkeit um wenigstens sechs dB, bevorzugt um mehrere zehn dB verringert ist, wobei die Form der Richtcharakteristik beim Minimalwert der Empfindlichkeit einer Kerbe entspricht. Bevorzugt ist das Minimum, also die "Kerbe" beim zweiten Winkel ϑ2 gelegen. Durch ein Kerbfilter als Abschwächungs-Richtsignal lassen sich die nachfolgenden winkelabhängigen Verfahrensschritte besonders einfach kontrollieren, da die Signalbeiträge des Abschwächungs-Richtsignals beim zweiten Winkel vernachlässigt werden können.A notch filter directional signal is particularly preferably formed as the attenuation directional signal. This is to be understood as a signal whose directional characteristic has a sensitivity in at least one direction which is reduced by at least six dB, preferably by several tens of dB, compared to the global maximum value of the sensitivity, the shape of the directional characteristic at the minimum value corresponding to the sensitivity of a notch. The minimum, that is to say the "notch", is preferably located at the second angle ϑ2. With a notch filter as an attenuation directional signal, the following angle-dependent method steps can be controlled particularly easily, since the signal contributions of the attenuation directional signal can be neglected at the second angle.
Bevorzugt wird das winkelbetonte Richtsignal durch eine Überlagerung, also eine insbesondere durch eine lineare Superposition, des Abschwächungs-Richtsignals und des Verstärkungs-Richtsignals gebildet wird. Insbesondere kann hierbei das winkelbetonte Richtsignal durch eine Überlagerung der Form
Zweckmäßigerweise wird dabei zur Erzeugung des winkelbetonten Richtsignals der Signalpegel minimiert. Hierdurch kann erreicht werden, dass die Beiträge des Abschwächungs-Richtsignals, welche die Raumrichtungen abseits der gewünschten Vorzugsrichtung des zweiten Winkels repräsentieren, in möglichst geringem Maß in das winkelbetonte Richtsignal eingehen.The signal level is expediently minimized in order to generate the angle-emphasized directional signal. In this way it can be achieved that the contributions of the attenuation directional signal, which represent the spatial directions apart from the desired preferred direction of the second angle, are included in the angle-emphasized directional signal to the smallest possible extent.
Als weiter vorteilhaft erweist es sich, wenn zur Erzeugung des Ausgangssignals eine direktionale Rauschunterdrückung durchgeführt wird, wobei hierfür das winkelbetonte Richtsignal als ein Nutzsignal und das Abschwächungs-Richtsignal als ein Störsignal vorgegeben werden. Eine direktionale Rauschunterdrückung ist grundsätzlich ein in vielen Hörgeräten verwendeter Algorithmus zur Verbesserung des SNR. Hierbei wird ein gerichtetes Nutzsignal angenommen, und auf diese Richtung ein verstärkendes Richtsignal ausgerichtet. Die anderen Raumrichtungen werden dabei abgeschwächt, da angenommen wird, dass in diesen Raumrichtungen der Störgeräuschanteil höher ist. Im Rahmen des vorliegenden Verfahrens können nun zur Verstärkung bzw. zum abschwächen das ohnehin vorliegende Verstärkungs- bzw. Abschwächungs-Richtsignal verwendet werden. Dies ist insbesondere dann vorteilhaft, wenn das Abschwächungs-Richtsignal bereits durch eine Minimierung des Gesamt-Signalpegels über den vorgegebenen Winkelbereich erzeugt wurde, weil in diesem Fall anzunehmen ist, dass der Nutzsignal-Anteil im Abschwächungs-Richtsignal minimal ist, während hingegen der Nutzsignal-Anteil im möglichst komplementären Verstärkungs-Richtsignal besonders hoch ist. So werden die im Rahmen des Verfahrens erzeugten Richtsignale auf vorteilhafte Weise in einem weiteren Signalverarbeitungsprozess verwendet, welcher in Hörgeräten häufig Anwendung findet.It also proves to be advantageous if directional noise suppression is carried out to generate the output signal, for which purpose the angle-emphasized directional signal is given as a useful signal and the attenuation directional signal is given as an interference signal. Directional noise suppression is basically an algorithm used in many hearing aids to improve the SNR. In this case, a directional useful signal is assumed and an amplifying directional signal is aimed at this direction. The other spatial directions are weakened because it is assumed that the background noise component is higher in these spatial directions. Within the scope of the present method, the amplification or attenuation directional signal that is present in any case can now be used for amplification or for weakening. This is particularly advantageous if the attenuation directional signal has already been generated by minimizing the total signal level over the specified angular range, because in this case it can be assumed that the useful signal component in the attenuation directional signal is minimal, while the useful signal Share in the most complementary amplification directional signal is particularly high. The directional signals generated as part of the method are advantageously used in a further signal processing process which is frequently used in hearing aids.
Als weiter vorteilhaft erweist es sich, wenn zur Erzeugung des Ausgangssignals frequenzabhängig ein omnidirektionales Signal beigemischt wird. Das Beimischen kann dabei insbesondere in einer einfachen Linearkombination mit frequenzabhängigen Linearfaktoren bestehen. Das räumliche Hörempfinden eines Menschen weist eine erhebliche Frequenzabhängigkeit auf. Über eine frequenzbandweise Beigabe eines omnidirektionalen Signals kann auf besonders einfache Weise dieser Frequenzabhängigkeit Rechnung getragen werden, wobei insbesondere Bänder, in welchen üblicherweise eine geringere Winkelabhängigkeit der Hörempfindlichkeit vorliegt, korrekt abgebildet werden.It also proves to be advantageous if an omnidirectional signal is added in a frequency-dependent manner in order to generate the output signal. The admixing can in particular consist of a simple linear combination with frequency-dependent linear factors. The spatial hearing perception of a person shows a considerable frequency dependence. By adding an omnidirectional signal in a frequency band, this frequency dependency can be taken into account in a particularly simple manner, with bands, in which there is usually a lower angular dependence of the hearing sensitivity, can be correctly mapped.
Die Erfindung nennt weiter ein Hörgerät mit einem ersten Eingangswandler zur Erzeugung eines ersten Eingangssignals, einem zweiten Eingangswandler zur Erzeugung eines zweiten Eingangssignals, einer Signalverarbeitungseinheit und einem Ausgangswandler zur Erzeugung eines Ausgangsschallsignals aus einem Ausgangssignal, wobei die Signalverarbeitungseinheit dazu eingerichtet ist, anhand des ersten Eingangssignals und des zweiten Eingangssignals das Ausgangssignal durch das vorbeschriebene Verfahren. Die für das Verfahren und seine Weiterbildungen genannten Vorteile können hierbei sinngemäß auf das Hörgerät übertragen werden. In einer weiter vorteilhaften Ausgestaltung nennt die Erfindung hierbei zudem ein bilaterales Hörgerätesystem mit zwei derartigen Hörgeräten, und insbesondere ein binaurales Hörgerätesystem, in welchem die beiden Hörgeräte des Hörgerätesystems zur Verbesserung des räumlichen Höreindrucks einander jeweils Signalanteile übertragen.The invention also mentions a hearing aid with a first input transducer for generating a first input signal, a second input transducer for generating a second input signal, a signal processing unit and an output transducer for generating an output sound signal from an output signal, the signal processing unit being set up to use the first input signal and of the second input signal, the output signal by the method described above. The advantages mentioned for the method and its developments can be applied to the hearing aid in the same way. In a further advantageous embodiment, the invention also mentions a bilateral hearing aid system with two such hearing aids, and in particular a binaural hearing aid system in which the two hearing aids of the hearing aid system each transmit signal components to one another to improve the spatial hearing impression.
Nachfolgend wird ein Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung anhand einer Zeichnung näher erläutert. Hierbei zeigen jeweils schematisch:
- Fig. 1
- in einem Blockschaltbild ein Verfahren zum Betrieb eines Hörgerätes für ein möglichst realistisches Hörempfinden.
- Fig. 1
- in a block diagram, a method for operating a hearing aid for the most realistic hearing possible.
In
Aus dem ersten Richtsignal 18 und dem zweiten Richtsignal 20 wird nun ein Abschwächungs-Richtsignal 28 gebildet. Hierfür wird nun zunächst extern ein erster Winkel ϑ1 vorgegeben, wobei die Vorgabe statisch oder dynamisch erfolgen kann. Eine statische Vorgabe kann hierbei zum Beispiel durch das Hinterlegen von unter anderem anatomisch bedingten Winkelwerten in einer Datenbank erfolgen, während eine dynamische Vorgabe auch die aktuelle Hörsituation mit einbeziehen kann. Das Abschwächungs-Richtsignal 28 wird nun zunächst als ein Kerbfilter 30 in Richtung des vorgegebenen ersten Winkels ϑ1 implementiert. Das Kerbfilter 30 wird hierbei aus einer linearen Superposition des ersten Richtsignals 18 mit dem zweiten Richtsignal 20 gewonnen. Hierfür wird zudem noch ein Winkelbereich Δϑ vorgegeben, in welchem die Richtung minimaler Empfindlichkeit des Kerbfilters 30 um den ersten Winkel ϑ1 variieren kann. Das Abschwächungs-Richtsignal 28 ist somit gegeben als
Aus dem ersten Richtsignal 18 und dem zweiten Richtsignal 20 wird nun anhand des Überlagerungsparameters a bzw. anhand des durch diesen festgelegten Winkels ϑ2 ein Verstärkungs-Richtsignal 34 gebildet. Das Verstärkungs-Richtsignal 34 weist hierbei eine Richtcharakteristik 36 auf, deren Empfindlichkeit beim zweiten Winkel ϑ2 bevorzugt ein lokales Maximum aufweist, oder ein lokales Maximum im Winkelbereich Δϑ um den ersten Winkel ϑ1 zu finden ist. Der Winkelbereich Δϑ kann hierbei beispielsweise durch ein Intervall von 20°, also ϑ1 +/- 10°, gebildet werden.A
Das Verstärkungs-Richtsignal 34 wird hierbei insbesondere in Richtung des zweiten Winkels ϑ2 als eine Art komplementäres Richtsignal zum Abschwächungs-Richtsignal 28 gebildet. Während das Abschwächungs-Richtsignal 28 als ein Kerbfilter 30 in Richtung des zweiten Winkels ϑ2 eine möglichst geringe Empfindlichkeit aufweisen soll, hat das Verstärkungs-Richtsignal 34 in Richtung des zweiten Winkels ϑ2 eine möglichst geringe Abschwächung relativ zur maximalen Empfindlichkeit. Dies kann beispielsweise durch eine lineare Superposition des ersten Richtsignals 18 mit dem zweiten Richtsignal 20 der Form
Aus dem Abschwächungs-Richtsignal 28 und dem Verstärkungs-Richtsignal 34 wird nun ein winkelbetontes Richtsignal 40 mittels linearer Superposition gebildet. Diese ist hierbei von der Form
Das winkelbetonte Richtsignal 40 ist nun derart konstruiert, dass infolge des Anteils des Verstärkungs-Richtsignals 34 in Richtung des zweiten Winkels ϑ2 eine besonders hohe Empfindlichkeit vorliegt, während durch die Minimierungsprozesse in Abhängigkeit von den realen Schallereignissen Störgeräusche aus anderen Richtungen durch das Abschwächungs-Richtsignal 28 unterdrückt werden können, ohne dass dies die Beiträge des Verstärkungs-Richtsignals 32 wesentlich tangiert. Die Konstruktion des Abschwächungs-Richtsignals 28 mittels einer Minimierung des Gesamtausgangspegels über den Winkelbereich Δϑ um den vorgegebenen ersten Winkel ϑ1 führt zudem zu einer besonders guten Anpassung des Abschwächungs-Richtsignals an die jeweils aktuell vorliegenden Schallereignisse, im Rahmen der Vorgabe des ersten Winkels ϑ1 als gewünschte Vorzugsrichtung.The angle-emphasized directional signal 40 is now constructed in such a way that, due to the component of the amplification
Das winkelbetonte Richtsignal 40 kann nun zusätzlich noch einer direktionalen Rauschunterdrückung 42 unterzogen werden, wobei das winkelbetonte Richtsignal 40 selbst hierbei als das Nutzsignal 44, und das Abschwächungs-Richtsignal 28 hierbei als der Störgeräuschanteil 46 interpretiert werden. Dem aus der direktionalen Rauschunterdrückung 42 resultierenden Signal 48 werden nun frequenzbandweise noch Signalanteile eines omnidirektionalen Signales, beispielsweise des ersten Eingangssignals 12, beigemischt, und so das Ausgangssignal 50 erzeugt, welches von einem Ausgangswandler 52 des Hörgerätes 4 in ein Ausgangsschallsignal 54 umgewandelt wird, das dem Gehör des Benutzers des Hörgerätes 4 zugeführt wird. Durch den Anteil des winkelbetonten Richtsignals 40 am Ausgangssignal 50 bildet das Ausgangsschallsignal 54 die akustische Umgebung des Hörgerätes 4 in besonders realistischer Weise ab, da winkel- bzw. raumabhängige Abschwächungen denen nachempfunden sind, wie sie durch ein reales Außenohr entstehen. Über den Anteil des omnidirektionalen ersten Eingangssignals 12 am Ausgangssignal 50 kann hierbei frequenzbandweise die Richtwirkung bzw. Abschwächung eines realen Gehörs gesteuert werden. Zusätzlich kann hierbei der Signalpegel des Ausgangssignals noch individuell benutzerspezifisch in einzelnen Frequenzbändern abgesenkt oder angehoben werden.The angle-emphasized directional signal 40 can now also be subjected to
Obwohl die Erfindung im Detail durch das bevorzugte Ausführungsbeispiel näher illustriert und beschrieben wurde, ist die Erfindung nicht durch dieses Ausführungsbeispiel eingeschränkt. Andere Variationen können vom Fachmann hieraus abgeleitet werden, ohne den Schutzumfang der Erfindung zu verlassen.Although the invention has been illustrated and described in more detail by the preferred exemplary embodiment, the invention is not restricted by this exemplary embodiment. Other variations can be derived therefrom by the person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.
- 22
- Verfahrenproceedings
- 44th
- HörgerätHearing aid
- 66th
- erster Eingangswandlerfirst input transducer
- 88th
- zweiter Eingangswandlersecond input transducer
- 1010
- Schallsignal der UmgebungSound signal of the environment
- 1212th
- erstes Eingangssignalfirst input signal
- 1414th
- zweites Eingangssignalsecond input signal
- 1616
- VorverarbeitungsschrittPreprocessing step
- 1818th
- erstes Richtsignalfirst directional signal
- 2020th
- zweites Richtsignalsecond directional signal
- 2222nd
- RichtcharakteristikDirectional characteristic
- 2424
- VorzugsrichtungPreferred direction
- 2525th
- Achseaxis
- 2626th
- RichtcharakteristikDirectional characteristic
- 2828
- Abschwächungs-RichtsignalAttenuation directional signal
- 3030th
- KerbfilterNotch filter
- 3434
- Verstärkungs-RichtsignalGain directional signal
- 3636
- RichtcharakteristikDirectional characteristic
- 3838
- AmplitudenkompensationAmplitude compensation
- 4040
- Winkelbetontes RichtsignalAngular directional signal
- 4242
- direktionale Rauschunterdrückungdirectional noise reduction
- 4444
- NutzsignalUseful signal
- 4646
- StörgeräuschanteilNoise component
- 4848
- resultierendes Signalresulting signal
- 5050
- AusgangssignalOutput signal
- 5252
- AusgangswandlerOutput converter
- 5454
- AusgangsschallsignalOutput sound signal
- ϑ1ϑ1
- erster Winkelfirst angle
- ϑ2ϑ2
- zweiter Winkelsecond angle
- ΔϑΔϑ
- WinkelbereichAngular range
Claims (10)
- A method (2) for operating a hearing aid (4),wherein a first input signal (12) is generated from a sound signal (10) by a first input transducer (6),wherein a second input signal (14) is generated from the sound signal (10) by a second input transducer (8),wherein a first angle (ϑ1) and an angle range (Δϑ) are provided, wherein, in a frequency band-wise manner,- a directional attenuation signal (28) is formed on the basis of the first input signal (12), the second input signal (14) and the first angle (ϑ1), said directional attenuation signal (28) having a relative attenuation at least for a second angle (ϑ2) located in the angular range (Δϑ) around the first angle (ϑ1), and thereby determining a superposition parameter,- a directional amplification signal (34) is formed on the basis of the first input signal (12) and the second input signal (14), as well as on the basis of the superposition parameter and/or the second angle (ϑ2), said directional amplification signal (34) having a relative amplification for the second angle (ϑ2),- an angle-enhanced directional signal (40) is generated from the directional attenuation signal (28) and the directional amplification signal (34), and- an output signal (50) is generated on the basis of the angle-enhanced directional signal (40),wherein the directional attenuation signal (28) and the directional amplification signal (34) are respectively formed from the first input signal (12) and the second input signal (14) by a time-delayed superposition or from a linear superposition of intermediate signals (18, 20), each of which are respectively derived from the first input signal (12) and from the second input signal (14),wherein for forming the directional attenuation signal (28), the signal level is minimized over the angular range (Δϑ) around the first angle (ϑ1), thereby determining the second angle (ϑ2).
- The method (2) according to claim 1,
wherein, on the basis of the first input signal (12) and the second input signal (14), a first directional signal (18) and a second directional signal (20) are formed as intermediate signals. - The method (2) according to claim 2,wherein the directional attenuation signal (28) is formed on the basis of the first directional signal (18) and the second directional signal (20) as a function of the first angle (ϑ1) and the angular range (Δϑ), and/or.wherein the directional amplification signal (34) is formed on the basis of the first directional signal (18) and the second directional signal (20) in dependence of the superposition parameter and/or the second angle (ϑ2).
- The method (2) according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein a directional notch filter signal (30) is formed as the directional attenuation signal (28). - The method (2) according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the angle-enhanced directional signal (40) is formed by a superposition of the directional attenuation signal (28) and the directional amplification signal (34). - The method (2) according to claim 5,
wherein the signal level is minimized for the generation of the angle-enhanced directional signal (40). - The method (2) according to one of the preceding claims,wherein for the generation of the output signal (50), a directional noise suppression (42) is performed, andwherein, to this end, the angle-enhanced directional signal (40) is provided as a useful signal (44) and the directional attenuation signal (28) is provided as an interference signal (46).
- The method (2) according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein for the generation of the output signal (50), an omni-directional signal (12, 14) is added in a frequency band-wise manner. - A hearing aid (4) with a first input transducer (6) for generating a first input signal (12), a second input transducer (8) for generating a second input signal (14), a signal processing unit, and an output transducer (54) for generating an output sound signal (54) from an output signal (50), wherein the signal processing unit is configured to generate the output signal (50) on the basis of the first input signal (12) and the second input signal (14) by means of a method (2) according to one of the preceding claims.
- A binaural hearing system comprising two hearing aids (4) according to claim 9.
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DE102019211943B4 (en) * | 2019-08-08 | 2021-03-11 | Sivantos Pte. Ltd. | Method for directional signal processing for a hearing aid |
DE102020209555A1 (en) * | 2020-07-29 | 2022-02-03 | Sivantos Pte. Ltd. | Method for directional signal processing for a hearing aid |
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ATE402586T1 (en) * | 2003-09-19 | 2008-08-15 | Widex As | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE DIRECTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A HEARING AID AND SIGNAL PROCESSING DEVICE FOR A HEARING AID WITH CONTROLLABLE DIRECTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS |
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US9332359B2 (en) * | 2013-01-11 | 2016-05-03 | Starkey Laboratories, Inc. | Customization of adaptive directionality for hearing aids using a portable device |
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