JPH06105399A - Hearing sense compensation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To select the compensation method adaptively for a different sound field condition and a characteristic of an input sound by selecting the optimum audible compensation method for an input and using the method so as to provide a compensation method selection section compensating an audible sense. CONSTITUTION:An input signal 103 is converted into a digital signal 105 by and A/D converter section 104, segmented continuously by a waveform segmentation section 106 and the result becomes a short section waveform 107. Then the waveform 107 is converted into spectrum information 109 by a frequency analysis section 108, and a compensation characteristic 111 is decided by a compensation method selection section 110 based on the information 109, personal information such as preference and an audible characteristic measured in advance being an object of compensation and voice and noise characteristic information. According to the compensation characteristic an audible sense compensation section 112 applies processing at every frequency to the spectrum information 109 to obtain compensated spectrum information 113. A waveform re-constitution section 114 re-constitutes the waveform based on the spectrum information to obtain a digital signal 115, which is used for the reproduction.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hearing compensation device, and more particularly to a digital hearing aid.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Most conventional hearing aids such as hearing aids amplify an input voice by an analog amplifier and reproduce it. In recent years, with the progress of digital technology, complex processing can be executed in a shorter time. For example, G. A. Studebaker and F. Bess, Ed
s. , (Translated by Nakanishi), “Basics of Hearing Aid Fitting,” (Medical Shoin, Tokyo, 1986), the amplitude of the input signal divided into multiple bands using a filter bank,
A method using multi-band amplitude compression that changes for each band has been proposed.

[0003]

The conventional multi-band amplitude compression type hearing aid performs amplification according to a constant amplification characteristic within each band, and is unnatural when the difference in amplification rate between bands is large. However, there is a problem that harmonic distortion occurs due to nonlinear amplification in the time domain. In addition, speech, which is the main purpose of hearing compensation, changes with time, and the frequency characteristics greatly differ depending on the type of phoneme. Therefore, the time-invariant amplification characteristic cannot be used to compensate such that all such input signals are included in the audible range.

On the other hand, noise is a problem when using the hearing compensator. When compensation is performed using a hearing aid, ambient noise is usually amplified at the same time, resulting in a decrease in speech intelligibility and an increase in discomfort. Therefore, various methods including the noise subtraction method have been attempted for the purpose of reducing the influence of noise. However, it is difficult to effectively reduce noise because the sound field condition changes depending on various factors such as time and place.

[0005] Such a difference in frequency characteristics and time variation,
It is conceivable to perform processing in the frequency domain as a means for performing fine compensation such that the compensation characteristic is changed according to the influence of noise. However, for the input signal that fluctuates variously with time and the surrounding environment, the compensation characteristics that optimally compensate are adaptively determined, and under the condition that the size is inconspicuous in real time and portable. Achieving this is almost impossible under the present circumstances in terms of processing amount. In addition, compensation for auditory characteristics in which the audible range sharply narrows in the high frequency range, such as that seen in high-tone sudden-type sensorineural hearing impairment, requires that the signal be effectively contained within a narrow dynamic range. . However, it is not possible to store all the necessary information in the audible range by simple amplification alone, and if compression is performed uniquely, the fine structure of the frequency characteristics will be impaired, leading to a decline in intelligibility. was there.

While solving this problem, a means for performing optimal compensation at high speed for an input sound that fluctuates variously with changes in time and surrounding environment, such as differences in frequency characteristics, time fluctuations, and effects of noise. It is an object of the invention to provide

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, a means for inputting a sound, a means for analyzing the input sound, and processing the sound so as to suit the hearing characteristics and tastes of a specific individual or group. In the hearing compensation method and apparatus having means for compensating hearing and playing back the compensated sound, the optimum hearing compensation method for the input sound is selected,
A compensation method selection unit that compensates for hearing using this is provided.

By registering a standard pattern representative of the input sound in advance and providing a reference table in which each of the standard patterns is associated with an auditory compensation method, the standard pattern having the highest similarity to the input sound is selected. A compensation method selection unit for selecting an optimum compensation method is provided.

There is provided a single reference table in which standard patterns for sounds under arbitrary sound field conditions are registered in advance, and a compensation method selection unit for selecting an optimum compensation method using the reference table is provided.

It has a plurality of reference tables in which different standard patterns are registered in advance for each sound under a plurality of sound field conditions, and the optimum reference table is used for the target sound field among the reference tables. The compensation method selection part which selects a compensation method was provided.

Using the plurality of reference tables, the average similarity of each reference table is calculated with respect to the input sound for a certain time, and the reference table having the maximum average similarity is selected and used. Equipped with parts.

The reference table is provided with a compensation method selection unit that does not perform compensation for a pattern whose similarity to the standard pattern closest to the input sound does not exceed a certain threshold value.

The reference table is provided with a compensation method selection unit for suppressing the similarity with the standard pattern closest to the input sound that does not exceed a certain threshold value.

The reference table is provided with a compensation method selection unit that does not perform compensation when the input sound has the highest similarity to the standard pattern having the characteristics other than the sound to be compensated.

The reference table is provided with a compensation method selection unit that suppresses the input sound when the input sound has the highest similarity to the standard pattern having characteristics other than the sound to be compensated.

There is a reference table in which a standard pattern representing each input sound is associated with a compensation method for each hearing in the left and right ears, and a compensation method selection unit for compensating the hearing of each ear using the reference table is provided. In addition, a playback unit that plays back separately for each ear is provided.

The hearing compensator for compensating the level of the frequency spectrum of the input sound is provided so as to be included between the minimum audible level and the discomfort level of the target auditory characteristic.

[0018]

Operation: A means for inputting a sound, a means for analyzing the input sound, a means for compensating the hearing by processing the sound so as to match the hearing characteristics and preferences of a specific individual or group, and the compensated sound In an auditory compensation method and apparatus having a means for reproducing, by selecting an optimal auditory compensation method for an input sound and providing a compensation method selection unit for compensating the auditory sense using this, a different sound field condition or input sound It becomes possible to adaptively select a compensation method for a feature.

By registering a standard pattern representative of the input sound in advance and providing a reference table in which each of the standard patterns is associated with a hearing compensation method, the standard pattern having the highest similarity to the input sound is selected. By providing the compensation method selection unit that selects the optimal compensation method, it is possible to select the optimal compensation method from the spectrum information only by calculating the similarity.

By having a single reference table in which standard patterns for sounds under arbitrary sound field conditions are registered in advance, and by providing a compensation method selection unit for selecting an optimum compensation method using the reference table, It becomes possible to select the optimum compensation method from the spectrum information only for the similarity calculation for the sound under the sound field condition.

It has a plurality of reference tables in which different standard patterns are registered in advance for each sound under a plurality of sound field conditions, and the optimum reference table is used for the target sound field among the reference tables. By providing a compensating method selecting unit for selecting a compensating method, it is possible to select an optimal compensating method from spectrum information for a sound under an arbitrary sound field condition by using a smaller lookup table and only with a small similarity calculation. Will be possible.

Using the plurality of reference tables, the average similarity of each reference table is calculated for the input sound of a fixed time, and the reference table having the maximum average similarity is selected and used. By providing the unit, it becomes possible to select the optimum reference table for the sound field condition.

The reference table is provided with a compensation method selection unit that does not perform compensation for a pattern whose similarity to the standard pattern closest to the input sound does not exceed a certain threshold value. It will be possible.

The reference table is provided with a compensation method selection unit for suppressing the similarity to the standard pattern closest to the input sound that does not exceed a certain threshold value, thereby suppressing the non-compensation sound. become.

The reference table is provided with a compensation method selection unit that does not perform compensation when the input sound has the highest similarity to the standard pattern having characteristics other than the compensation target sound, thereby compensating for the non-compensation target sound. It becomes possible not to do.

In the reference table, when the input sound has the highest similarity to the standard pattern having the characteristics other than the sound to be compensated, the compensation method selecting unit for suppressing the sound is provided to suppress the sound not to be compensated. It will be possible.

There is a reference table in which a standard pattern representing each input sound is associated with a compensation method for each hearing in the left and right ears, and a compensation method selection unit for compensating the hearing of each ear using the reference table is provided. By providing a playback unit that plays back separately for each of the left and right ears, it is possible to separately compensate for the sound input by a single input means for each of the left and right ears. Become.

By providing the hearing compensator for compensating the frequency spectrum envelope of the input sound so as to be included between the minimum audible level and the discomfort level of the target auditory characteristic, the fine structure of the frequency spectrum is not impaired. It is possible to compensate the input sound level so that the main part of the frequency spectrum is included between the minimum audible level and the discomfort level of the target auditory characteristic.

[0029]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a sound 101 is input by an input unit 102 by a microphone or the like and becomes an input signal 103. The input signal 103 is converted into a digital signal 105 by an A / D conversion unit 104, and then continuously cut out by a waveform cutout unit 106 to obtain a short section waveform 107.
Becomes The short section waveform 107 is converted into spectrum information 109 in the frequency analysis unit 108. The compensation method selection unit 110 determines the compensation characteristic 111 based on the spectrum information 109, personal information such as auditory characteristics and preferences measured in advance for an individual or a group to be compensated, and voice and noise characteristic information. To do. The hearing compensation unit 112 obtains the compensated spectrum information 113 by processing the spectrum information 109 for each frequency according to the compensation characteristic 111. The waveform reconstructing unit 114 reconstructs a waveform from the compensated spectrum information 113 to obtain a digital signal 115. The digital signal 115 is D
Is converted into an output signal 117 by the / A converter 116,
The reproduction section 118 reproduces the sound through a speaker, headphones, earphones, or the like.

Each part will be described in detail below.

The waveform slicing section 106 outputs the digital signal 1
From 05, a waveform section (frame) for analysis is cut out. The waveform section length is about 20 to 60 ms, and usually 1/3 to 1/2 is cut out so as to overlap the preceding and following frames. The cut short section waveform 107 is sent to the frequency analysis unit 108 and converted into spectrum information 109. At this time, after applying a normally used window function such as a Hamming window to the cut-out waveform, embedding zero data before and after it as the data of the power of 2 and using fast Fourier transform (FFT) Data with high frequency resolution can be obtained. The waveform reconstructing unit 114 restores short-term waveforms by performing a fast Fourier inverse transform (IFFT) on the compensated spectrum information 113, that is, the Fourier spectrum, and superimposes the short-term waveforms in the order cut out by the waveform slicing unit to overlap the overlapping portions. The waveform is reconstructed by performing the level correction of.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the compensation method selection unit. The parameter extraction unit 202 uses the spectrum information 201 obtained by the frequency analysis to extract the characteristic parameter 2
03 is extracted. The Fourier spectrum itself or the power spectrum may be used as the characteristic parameter, but in the present embodiment, the low-order component of the cepstrum obtained by performing the inverse Fourier transform on the logarithmized power spectrum is used. The similarity calculation unit 204 calculates the similarity based on the Euclidean distance between the feature parameter 203 and each standard pattern in the reference table 205, and outputs the compensation characteristic 206 corresponding to the standard pattern with the highest similarity. At this time, a compensation characteristic having an amplification factor of 1 or less is prepared for all frequencies, and when the degree of similarity with the standard pattern having the highest degree of similarity is lower than a preset threshold value, the compensation characteristic is selected. It is also possible to suppress unwanted input sound by providing a processing unit.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the structure of the reference table. It is composed of compensation characteristics corresponding to each standard pattern and a correspondence relationship between the two.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the structure of the binaural compensation reference table. Compensation characteristics determined based on the auditory characteristics of the left and right ears correspond to each standard pattern.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the standard pattern learning method. The parameter extraction unit 502 extracts the characteristic parameter 503 from the spectrum information 501 obtained by frequency-analyzing a sample sound prepared in advance for the purpose of standard pattern learning. The codebook creation unit 504
From the characteristic parameter 503, for example, the LBG algorithm (Linde, Y., Buzo, A. and Gray, M. (1980). An.
algorithm for vector quantizer design. IEEE Tran
s. Commun. , Vol. COM-28, No. 1, 84-95) and the like to create a codebook and use it as a standard pattern table 505. Therefore, each centroid of the codebook becomes a standard pattern. However, the spectrum information used is shown in Figure 1.
It is analyzed by using the frequency analysis unit 108.
The parameter extraction unit 502 is the same as the parameter extraction unit 202 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of calculation of compensation characteristics. The spectrum envelope calculation unit 602 calculates the spectrum envelope information 603 for each standard pattern in the standard pattern table 601. Here, since each standard pattern is a cepstrum, the spectrum envelope information 603 can be obtained by performing a Fourier transform on the standard pattern. At this time, the fineness of the obtained envelope can be adjusted by changing the range in which higher-order components are removed. The compensation characteristic calculation unit 604 uses the personal information table 605.
Minimum Hearing Level (HTL:
Hearing Threshold Level) and discomfort level (UCL: Unc
omfortable level), the amplification factor is calculated so that the spectrum envelope level at each frequency is compensated according to the compensation function shown in FIG. 7, for example, and this is used as the compensation characteristic. The minimum audible level and the discomfort level are measured in advance for each person to be compensated using an audiogram or the like, and registered in the personal information table. It is also conceivable to use a characteristic that is measured in advance and is based on the actual change in the hearing ability of the compensation target. In FIG. 7, UCLi and H
TLi, UCLn, and HTLn represent the discomfort level and the minimum audible level to be compensated, and the reference discomfort level and the minimum audible level, respectively. The amplification factor at this time is H (i). FIG. 8 shows an example of spectrum processing by compensation using H (i). By compensating each frequency component of the frequency spectrum envelope 801 before compensation by using the compensation function of FIG. 7C, the frequency spectrum envelope 802 after compensation becomes the minimum audible level (H
It is conceptually represented to be included between TLi) and discomfort level (UCLi). Where UCLn and HTL
It is assumed that n represents a discomfort level and a minimum audible level, which serve as a reference.

At the same time, the compensation characteristic of each frequency is changed based on the features of voice and noise registered in advance in the voice feature information table 606. That is, when the characteristics of one or a plurality of specific bands of the input signal match the characteristics of a specific phoneme, the compensation characteristic is adjusted so as to relatively emphasize that band. For example, (1) the spectral envelope obtained from each standard pattern is divided into a plurality of bands, the average energy of each is calculated,
The amplification factor is determined so as to emphasize the level of the relatively high energy band. For example, if the average energy of the band of f2 or more is the highest when the band is divided into three bands at the frequencies f1 and f2, the amplification factor P (i) at the frequency i is set so that only the amplification factor of this band becomes larger than 1. To decide.

[0039]

[Equation 1]

Here, G1, G2, and G3 represent the amplification factors in each band.

(2) Using the standard pattern table, the degree of similarity with a phoneme sample whose utterance content is known is calculated, and the standard pattern with the highest degree of similarity represents that phoneme. Next, the amplification factor is determined so as to emphasize the level of the frequency portion which is said to be characteristic and serves as a clue for perceiving and judging the phoneme. For example, in the gum fricative, the energy in the band above about 4 kHz is relatively large. Further, the nasal sound has a high energy band near 300 Hz. Based on these findings,
The band to be emphasized is determined for each standard pattern. Assuming that the emphasized frequency band of the standard pattern representing a certain phoneme is f1 to f2, the amplification factor P (i) at the frequency i is expressed by the following equation.

[0042]

[Equation 2]

Here, G1 and G2 represent the amplification factors in each band. The phoneme represented by the standard pattern can also be determined by learning the standard pattern for each phoneme using a phoneme sample whose utterance content is known in advance.

(3) The formant frequency is estimated by using a known formant extraction method, and the amplification factor is determined so as to emphasize the level of the formant frequency part. When the kth formant frequency is fk, the amplification factor P (i) at the frequency i is

[0045]

[Equation 3]

It is represented by However, fk has a certain bandwidth, Gk is the amplification factor in fk, and Ga is fk.
Represents the amplification rate in bands other than.

When the specific band of the input signal has a characteristic indicating noise, the compensation characteristic is adjusted so that amplification is not performed or width is reduced. For example, (1) under the sound field condition at the time of creating the standard pattern table, a standard pattern created from a sample sound of only environmental noise is added to the standard pattern table, and the compensation characteristic for the standard pattern is over all frequencies. It is determined so that the amplification factor is 1 or less. For example, when the amplification factor of the standard pattern of noise is Gn, the amplification factor Q (i) of the standard pattern at the frequency i is represented by the following equation.

[0048]

[Equation 4]

The amplification factor in the standard pattern other than noise is 1 over the entire band.

(2) Under the sound field conditions at the time of creating the standard pattern table, when the environmental noise has relatively strong energy in one or more specific bands, the amplification factor is set so as not to emphasize that band. decide. If the frequency band including much noise is f1 to f2, the frequency i
The amplification factor Q (i) in is expressed by the following equation.

[0051]

[Equation 5]

The overall compensation characteristic C (i) is expressed by the following equation using all or part of the above amplification factor. However, the spectrum after compensation is the discomfort level UC of the compensation target person.
It goes without saying that each amplification factor is adjusted so as not to exceed Li.

[0053]

[Equation 6]

Further, for a person to be compensated having an auditory characteristic with a reduced frequency selectivity, the spectrum compensated by the compensation characteristic is side-suppressed so that the spectrum peak is emphasized. Adjust. Lateral suppression is expressed by the following equation.

[0055]

[Equation 7]

Where y (i) is the i-th frequency component,
W (k) is a discrete representation of the side suppression function w (x) as shown in FIG. 9, and Y (i) is the i-th frequency component obtained by the side suppression.

In this configuration, since it is not necessary to calculate the compensation characteristic at the time of use, it is possible to determine the compensation characteristic after confirming the frequency to be emphasized or the frequency to be suppressed by visual inspection in advance. is there.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an optimum reference table selection method for preparing different reference tables for various sound field conditions and selecting and using the optimum reference table under the use conditions. . Parameter extraction unit 10
02 extracts the characteristic parameter 1003 from the spectrum information 1001 obtained by the frequency analysis using the frequency analysis unit 108 of FIG. However, the parameter extraction unit 1003 uses the same one as the parameter extraction unit 202 in FIG. The similarity calculation unit 1004 uses the feature parameter 10
03 and all reference tables 1006, 1007, 1008 of the reference table group 1005 for each sound field are calculated, and the similarity between the sound input at a certain time and the standard pattern selected from each reference table is averaged. Thus, the average similarity 1009 for each reference table is obtained. The reference table selection unit 1010 selects the reference pattern having the highest average similarity and sets it as the optimum reference table 1011.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining one embodiment of the compensation method selection unit when the reference table is not used. The spectrum envelope calculation unit 1102 is the frequency analysis unit 1 of FIG.
The spectrum envelope information 1103 is calculated from the spectrum information 1101 obtained by the frequency analysis using 08 by the same processing as the same part of FIG. Compensation characteristic calculator 1
104 calculates a compensation characteristic from the personal information 1105 and the voice characteristic information 1106 by the same processing as that of the same part in FIG. However, in this case, no means such as visually determining the emphasis frequency is used.

The frequency analysis method is not limited to the Fourier transform. For example, it is conceivable to use a linear prediction analysis (LPC analysis). In this case, the LPC coefficient is used as the spectrum information. When the frequency analysis unit performs LPC analysis instead of Fourier transform, the waveform reconstruction unit restores the short-term waveform from the LPC coefficient after compensation and the prediction residual calculated by the analysis in the frequency analysis unit. Further, the LPC coefficient may be directly used as the characteristic parameter, or the LPC cepstrum may be used. The spectrum envelope information can be obtained as an all-pole spectrum. The LPC analysis is described in detail in Sadahiro Furui: Digital Speech Processing, Tokai University Press (1985) and the like.

FIG. 12 shows the hearing compensation system according to the present invention,
2 is a configuration example of a single-channel hearing aid applied according to the system configuration example of FIG. 1. The hearing aid mainly comprises a microphone 1201, a driving power source 1202, a sound processing section 1203 for digitally processing and reproducing an input sound, a storage section 1204 for storing data, and an ear speaker 1205. The sound input from the microphone 1201 is stored in the storage unit 12 in the acoustic processing unit 1203 which performs digital calculation using a DSP.
It is compensated in real time using the compensation characteristic obtained from the hearing characteristic reference table stored in advance in 04, and is output from the ear speaker 1205. The storage unit 1204 is composed of a non-volatile memory, and the hearing characteristic reference table is adjusted to suit the user in advance using the present invention, and then a known data storage device independent of the hearing aid is used. It is stored in the storage unit 1204 in advance. This hearing aid is configured for one ear, but by performing the same processing independently in two channels, or by performing the hearing compensator and subsequent parts in FIG. 1 in two channels using the reference table in FIG. It is also possible to construct a two-channel hearing aid for binaural hearing.

It goes without saying that the present system can be applied as a back end to any device that handles sound, such as acoustic devices such as televisions and radios, communication devices such as telephones, as well as hearing aids.

[0063]

As described above, the means for inputting the sound, the means for analyzing the input sound, and the means for compensating the hearing by processing the sound so as to match the hearing characteristics and tastes of a specific individual or group are compensated. In an auditory compensation method and device having a means for reproducing sound, an optimal auditory compensation method is selected for an input sound, and a compensation method selection unit for compensating auditory sense by using the selected auditory compensation method is provided. It became possible to adaptively select the compensation method for the characteristics of the input sound.

By previously registering a standard pattern representative of the input sound, and providing a reference table in which each of the standard patterns is associated with a hearing compensation method, the standard pattern having the highest similarity to the input sound is selected. By providing the compensation method selection unit that selects the optimal compensation method, it becomes possible to select the optimal compensation method from the spectrum information only by calculating the similarity.

By having a single reference table in which standard patterns for sounds under arbitrary sound field conditions are registered in advance, and by providing a compensation method selection unit for selecting an optimum compensation method using the reference table, any It became possible to select the optimal compensation method from the spectrum information only for the similarity calculation for the sound under the sound field condition of.

By having a plurality of reference tables in which standard patterns different for each sound under a plurality of sound field conditions are registered in advance and using the reference table most suitable for the target sound field among the reference tables, the optimum Since the compensation method selection unit for selecting the compensation method is provided, the optimal compensation method is selected from the spectrum information by using only a small similarity calculation for a sound under an arbitrary sound field condition using a smaller lookup table. It has become possible.

Using the plurality of reference tables, the average similarity of each reference table is calculated with respect to the input sound for a fixed time, and the reference table having the maximum average similarity is selected and used. By providing the section, it becomes possible to select the optimum reference table for the sound field condition.

The reference table is provided with a compensation method selection unit that does not perform compensation for a pattern whose similarity to the standard pattern closest to the input sound does not exceed a certain threshold value. It has become possible.

The reference table is provided with a compensation method selection unit that suppresses the similarity of the standard pattern closest to the input sound that does not exceed a certain threshold, so that the non-compensation sound can be suppressed. It became possible.

In the reference table, when the input sound has the largest similarity to the standard pattern having the characteristics other than the sound to be compensated, the compensation method selecting unit is provided to perform no compensation, so that It became possible not to compensate.

In the reference table, when the input sound has the highest similarity to the standard pattern having the characteristics other than the sound to be compensated, the compensating method selecting unit for suppressing the sound is provided to suppress the non-compensating sound. It became possible to do.

There is a reference table in which a standard pattern representing each input sound is associated with a compensation method for each hearing in the left and right ears, and a compensation method selection unit for compensating the hearing of each ear using the reference table is provided. Since it is equipped with a playback unit that plays back separately for each left and right ear, it is possible to separately compensate for each left and right ear even for the sound input by a single input means. Became.

By providing the hearing compensator for compensating the frequency spectrum envelope of the input sound so that it is included between the minimum audible level and the discomfort level of the target auditory characteristic, the fine structure of the frequency spectrum is impaired. Instead, it is possible to compensate the input sound level so that the main part of the frequency spectrum falls between the minimum audible level and the discomfort level of the target auditory characteristic.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a compensation method selection unit.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a reference table.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a binaural compensation reference table.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a standard pattern learning method.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a compensation characteristic calculation method.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of compensation characteristics at a certain frequency.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a spectrum processing example.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a side suppression function.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an optimum reference table selection method.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a compensation method selection unit.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a hearing aid.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 ... Sound, 102 ... Input section, 103 ... Input signal, 10
4 ... A / D converter, 105, 115 ... Digital signal,
106 ... Waveform cutting-out section, 107 ... Short section waveform, 108
... Frequency analysis unit, 109, 113 ... Spectrum information, 1
10 ... Compensation method selection section, 111 ... Compensation characteristic, 112 ... Auditory compensation section, 114 ... Waveform reconstruction section, 116 ... D / A conversion section, 117 ... Output signal, 118 ... Reproduction section, 119 ... Reproduction sound, 201 ... Spectral information, 202 ... Parameter extraction unit, 203 ... Feature parameter, 204 ... Similarity calculation unit,
205 ... Reference table, 206 ... Compensation characteristic, 501 ... Spectral information, 502 ... Parameter extracting unit, 503 ... Feature parameter, 504 ... Codebook creating unit, 505 ...
Standard pattern table, 601 ... Standard pattern table, 602 ... Spectrum envelope calculation unit, 603 ... Spectrum envelope information, 604 ... Compensation characteristic calculation unit, 605 ... Personal information table, 606 ... Voice feature information table, 607 ...
Compensation characteristic table, 801 ... Precompensation spectrum envelope, 8
02 ... Compensated spectrum envelope, 1001 ... Spectral information, 1002 ... Parameter extraction unit, 1003 ... Feature parameter, 1004 ... Similarity calculation unit, 1005 ... Sound field reference table group, 1006-1008 ... Sound field reference table, 1009 ... Average similarity by reference table, 1010 ...
Optimal reference table selection unit, 1011 ... Optimal reference table, 1101 ... Spectral information, 1102 ... Spectral envelope calculation unit, 1103 ... Spectral envelope information, 1104
Compensation characteristic calculation unit, 1105 ... Personal information table, 11
06 ... Voice feature information table, 1107 ... Compensation characteristic, 1
201 ... Microphone, 1202 ... Driving power supply, 120
3 ... Sound processing unit, 1204 ... Storage unit, 1205 ... Ear speaker.

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. At least a means for inputting a sound, a means for analyzing the input sound, a means for compensating the hearing by processing the sound so as to match the hearing characteristics and tastes of a specific individual or group, and compensation. In a hearing compensator having means for reproducing a reproduced sound, a compensating method selecting unit for selecting an optimum hearing compensating method for the input sound, and compensating for hearing by using the selected compensating method. Hearing compensation device. 2. The compensation method selection unit has a reference table in which a standard pattern representative of an input sound has been registered in advance, and a reference table in which a hearing compensation method is associated with each of the standard patterns is provided. The hearing compensation device according to claim 1, wherein the optimum compensation method is selected by selecting the largest standard pattern. 3. The compensation method selection unit has a single reference table in which standard patterns for sounds under arbitrary sound field conditions are registered in advance, and an optimal compensation method is selected using the reference table. The hearing compensator according to claim 2, which is characterized in that. 4. The compensation method selection unit has a plurality of reference tables in which standard patterns different for each sound under a plurality of sound field conditions are registered in advance, and the reference table is most suitable for a target sound field. 3. The hearing compensation device according to claim 2, wherein the optimum compensation method is selected by using a different look-up table. 5. The compensation method selection unit calculates an average similarity of each reference table with respect to an input sound of a fixed time, and selects and uses a reference table having the maximum average similarity. The hearing compensation device according to claim 4. 6. The hearing compensator according to claim 2, wherein the compensation method selection unit does not perform compensation for a pattern whose similarity to the standard pattern closest to the input sound does not exceed a certain threshold. 7. The hearing compensator according to claim 2, wherein the compensation method selection unit suppresses the similarity of the standard pattern closest to the input sound that does not exceed a certain threshold. 8. The auditory sense according to claim 2, wherein the compensation method selection unit does not perform compensation when the input sound has the highest degree of similarity with a standard pattern having characteristics other than the sound to be compensated. Compensation device. 9. The hearing compensation according to claim 2, wherein the compensation method selection unit suppresses the input sound when the input sound has the highest degree of similarity with a standard pattern having characteristics other than the sound to be compensated. apparatus. 10. The compensating method selecting section has a reference table in which a compensating method for each hearing in the left and right ears is associated with a standard pattern representing each input sound, and hearing of each ear is performed using the reference table. 3. The hearing compensator according to claim 2, further comprising a reproducing unit that compensates for the above and reproduces the left and right ears separately. 11. The hearing compensator compensates a frequency spectrum envelope of an input sound so that the frequency spectrum envelope of the input sound falls between a minimum audible level and a discomfort level of a target auditory characteristic. Hearing compensation device described. 12. A means for inputting a sound, a means for analyzing an input sound, and a means for compensating for hearing by processing a sound so as to match a hearing characteristic or preference of a specific individual or group. A hearing aid comprising means for reproducing sound, a compensation method selection unit for selecting an optimum hearing compensation method for the input sound, and hearing compensation using the selected compensation method.