GB2230158A - Balanced-hearing hearing aids - Google Patents
Balanced-hearing hearing aids Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2230158A GB2230158A GB8902112A GB8902112A GB2230158A GB 2230158 A GB2230158 A GB 2230158A GB 8902112 A GB8902112 A GB 8902112A GB 8902112 A GB8902112 A GB 8902112A GB 2230158 A GB2230158 A GB 2230158A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- microphone
- amplifier
- hearing aid
- band
- automatic gain
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
- H04R25/50—Customised settings for obtaining desired overall acoustical characteristics
- H04R25/502—Customised settings for obtaining desired overall acoustical characteristics using analog signal processing
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Neurosurgery (AREA)
- Otolaryngology (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Control Of Amplification And Gain Control (AREA)
Abstract
A hearing aid in which the microphone 7 the microphone amplifier 6, the band-pass filters 5 with their respective amplifiers 3 and automatic gain controls 4 and the master power amplifier 2 are in a common housing (not shown). The receiver 1 may be in this common housing or may be in a separate earpiece, in which case it is electrically connected to the output of the master power amplifier 2 (Figure 1) by leads. The housing has a shielded opening for the input of sound to the microphone 7 (Figure 1), an opening for the user controlled master power amplifier volume control, and an opening for the insertion or removal of the battery/power source. Another opening is provided for the receiver or leads to the receiver. The housing can be constructed to be ear mounted or worn in the ear or on the body. <IMAGE>
Description
BALANCED-HEARING HEARING AIDS
This invention relates to hearing aids.
The main hearing impairment experienced by the hard of hearing is sensorineural and the requirement is to give frequencies with the larger hearing loss equal or higher amplication than those frequencies with the least hearing loss.
The object of this invention is to provide equal or greater amplification between the frequencies of lower or higher hearing loss by means of one or more band-pass filters and their respective amplifiers which are pre-set by use of their respective automatic gain controls so that in use the resultant signal response via a user controlled master amplifier compensates to the need of the user before final amplification by the user controlled master amplifier.
According to the invention there is provided a hearing aid comprising a microphone connected to an amplifier to drive the band-pass filters which are automatic gain controlled via their respective amplifiers, the resultant signal which is applied to the input of a master power amplifier.
The output signal of the master power amplifier is controlled by means of an amplifier volume control before being applied to the receiver.
In order to contain the system physically microcircuitry is used where practical.
In a preferred embodiment the microphone amplifier, the band-pass filters and their respective amplifers and automatic gain controls, and the power amplifier are contained as an integrated circuit in microchip form. A common housing may be provided for the microphone, microphone amplifier, band-pass filters and their respective amplifiers and automatic gain controls, and the power amplifier. Also access space for the battery/power source. The receiver may be in the housing, or outside but in either case is connected to the master power amplifier. Openings may be provided in the housing for the sound input to the microphone, for the master power amplifier volume control, for insertion or removal of the power source, and either for the sound output from the receiver or for electrical leads mounted in a separate earpiece.
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the hearing aid in accordance with the invention, and
Figure 2 shows an audiogram of a person with a determined hearing loss.
Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a hearing aid comprising a microphone 7, the output signal of which is applied to a microphone amplifier 6, the output signal of which is applied to the band-pass filters 5, the output signals of which are applied to the band-pass filter amplifiers 3 governed by their respective automatic gain control 4, the output signals of which are applied to the master power amplifier 2 which is user controlled, the output signal of which is applied to the receiver 1. The microphone amplifier 6, band-pass filter 5, automatic gain controls 4, the band-pass filter amplifiers 3, the master power amplifier 2, are contained in a single microchip.
The automatic gain controls 4 bring all the output signals of the band-pass filters 5 and their respective amplifiers 3, to a common level (for example: a pre-determined hearing loss level of 30 decibels). The user may subsequently adjust the volume of this pre-determined hearing loss level by use of the volume control of the power amplifier 2 to a comfortable hearing level so that the volume of sound from the receiver 1 does not reach the level at which discomfort is felt.
As shown in Figure 2 is an audio frequency band of a to e. An audiogram of a person with normal hearing is represented by graph 1 in Figure 2.
An audiogram of a person with a determined hearing loss is represented by graph 3 - 4 in Figure 2, reference 4 representing the minimum hearing loss.
Graph 2 in Figure 2 represents the hearing loss level to which the automatic gain controls and the band-pass filter amplifers are pre-set to equalise the volume of the frequencies with the higher and lower hearing level loss thus making graph 3 - 4 in Figure 2 become graph 2 in Figure 2. Any hearing loss which is less in value than the gain of the band-pass filter amplifiers 3 (Figure 1) and their covering automatic gain controls 4 (Figure 1) is automatically increased to this pre-set level of hearing loss. Thus the determined hearing loss audiogram 3 - 4 in Figure 2 is brought to the hearing loss represented by Graph 2 in Figure 2 before final user amplification using the volume control of the master power amplifier 2 (Figure 1).
Graph 5 in Figure 2 represents the maximum hearing loss.
Claims (6)
1A hearing aid comprising a microphone,
connected to a microphone amplifier,
connected to one or more band-pass filters
with their respective amplifiers and
automatic gain controls, connected to a
master power amplifier which is volume
controlled by the user before the resultant
signal is applied to the receiver.
2 A hearing aid as in Claim 1 in which
micro-circuitry is used.
3 A hearing aid as in Claims 1 and 2 wherein
the microphone amplifier, the band-pass
filters with their respective amplifiers
and automatic gain controls, together with
the master power amplifier are contained in
a single microchip.
4 A hearing aid in which the microphone, the
microphone amplifier, the band-pass filters
with their respective amplifiers and
automatic gain controls, together with the
master power amplifier are in a common
housing.
5 A hearing aid as claimed in any one of the
previous claims in which the microphone,
microphone amplifier, the band-pass filters
with their respective amplifiers and automatic
gain controls, together with the master power
amplifier are in a common housing which also
contains a battery/power source space, and
openings are provided in the housing for sound
input to the microphone, for the master
amplifier volume control, for insertion and
removal of the power source, and for the output
of the receiver, or for leads to a receiver
mounted in an earpiece.
6 A hearing aid substantially as hereinbefore
described with preference to the accompanying
drawing.
6 A hearing aid substantially as hereinbefore
described with preference to the accompanying
drawing.
Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1A hearing aid comprising a microphone,
connected to a microphone amplifier,
connected to two or more band-pass filters
with their respective amplifiers and
automatic gain controls, connected to a
master power amplifier which is volume
controlled by the user before the resultant
signal is applied to the receiver.
2 A hearing aid as in Claim 1 in which
micro-circuitry is used.
3 A hearing aid as in Claims 1 and 2 wherein
the microphone amplifier, the band-pass
filters with their respective amplifiers
and automatic gain controls, together with
the master power amplifier are contained in
a single microchip.
4 A hearing aid in which the microphone, the
microphone amplifier, the band-pass filters
with their respective amplifiers and
automatic gain controls, together with the
master power amplifier are in a common
housing.
5 A hearing aid as claimed in any one of the
previous claims in which the microphone,
microphone amplifier, the band-pass filters
with their respective amplifiers and automatic
gain controls, together with the master power
amplifier are in a common housing which also
contains a battery/power source space, and
openings are provided in the housing for sound
input to the microphone, for the master
amplifier volume control, for insertion and
removal of the power source, and for the output
of the receiver, or for leads to a receiver
mounted in an earpiece.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB8902112A GB2230158A (en) | 1989-02-01 | 1989-02-01 | Balanced-hearing hearing aids |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB8902112A GB2230158A (en) | 1989-02-01 | 1989-02-01 | Balanced-hearing hearing aids |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB8902112D0 GB8902112D0 (en) | 1989-03-22 |
GB2230158A true GB2230158A (en) | 1990-10-10 |
Family
ID=10650899
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB8902112A Withdrawn GB2230158A (en) | 1989-02-01 | 1989-02-01 | Balanced-hearing hearing aids |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (1) | GB2230158A (en) |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2108805A (en) * | 1981-10-20 | 1983-05-18 | Reynolds & Laurence Ind | Improvements in or relating to hearing aids |
WO1983002212A1 (en) * | 1981-12-10 | 1983-06-23 | Bisgaard, Peter, Nikolai | Method and apparatus for adapting the transfer function in a hearing aid |
EP0237203A2 (en) * | 1986-03-12 | 1987-09-16 | Beltone Electronics Corporation | Hearing aid circuit |
EP0253612A2 (en) * | 1986-07-11 | 1988-01-20 | Btg International Limited | Improvements in or relating to hearing aids |
-
1989
- 1989-02-01 GB GB8902112A patent/GB2230158A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2108805A (en) * | 1981-10-20 | 1983-05-18 | Reynolds & Laurence Ind | Improvements in or relating to hearing aids |
WO1983002212A1 (en) * | 1981-12-10 | 1983-06-23 | Bisgaard, Peter, Nikolai | Method and apparatus for adapting the transfer function in a hearing aid |
EP0237203A2 (en) * | 1986-03-12 | 1987-09-16 | Beltone Electronics Corporation | Hearing aid circuit |
EP0253612A2 (en) * | 1986-07-11 | 1988-01-20 | Btg International Limited | Improvements in or relating to hearing aids |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB8902112D0 (en) | 1989-03-22 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |