JPH08205293A - Hearing aid - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an audibility assisting device which can guarantee an excellent acoustic performance and can be used highly comfortably. CONSTITUTION: An audibility assisting device is provided with at least one microphone 2 and 3 and a control unit 1 connected to the microphones 2 and 3. The control unit 1 is spatially separated from the microphones 2 and 3 and the microphones 2 and 3 are respectively housed in ear casings 4 and 5 which can be provided within the extents of the ears of a human being. Each ear casing 4 and 5 is provided with a transmitter 6 and the transmitter 6 communicates with a receiver 7 within the extent of the control unit 1. One of transmission elements 8 respectively provided with receivers 9 is provided within the extent of at least one casing and the receiver 9 communicates with a transmitter within the extent of the control unit 1. In addition, an analyzer 12 for evaluating the signals of the microphones 2 and 3 is provided within the extent of the control unit 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention comprises at least one microphone which is connected to a control unit, which is supplied with an input signal and which transmits at least one output signal and at least one transmission signal. It relates to a hearing aid device that conveys elements.

[0002]

A device of this type is known from DE-A 35 12 999.
Due to the different orientations of the microphones and the subsequent mutual subtraction of the microphone signals, it is possible to eliminate ambient noise acting in all hearing directions. In this case, the transmission element is designed as a loudspeaker.

Published German patent application No. 3508
It is known from the '830 publication to provide a microphone, an amplifier and a power supply in the area of a separate control unit, which is spatially separated from the loudspeaker provided in the ear casing. The ear casing itself can be contained in or behind the human ear. With this device, the components provided in the range of the human ear can be made relatively lightweight. Wireless transmission of signals to hearing aids is disclosed in German Patent Application No. 30323
No. 11 publication. In this case, the signal to be transmitted wirelessly is considered to be a signal prepared by, for example, a communication device or a radio receiver. Another structure in which the loudspeaker and the control unit are spatially separated is described in DE-A-2844979. In this case as well, the microphone is provided in the range of the control unit.

From German Patent DE 3100135, a hearing aid is already known which comprises two microphones connected to one control unit. The microphone supplies an input signal to the control unit. The control unit conveys at least one output signal to at least one transmission element. The control unit is spatially separated from the microphones, and each microphone is housed in a casing. One of the transmission elements is provided in the area of the ear casing. In the area of the control unit, a comparator is provided for evaluating the microphone signal. This comparator modifies the output of the control unit to adapt it for sound reproduction.

German Patent No. 3,027,384 describes a method for transforming a sound signal. In this case, the unnatural sense of direction is transformed into a hearing that closely resembles the natural hearing by deforming with respect to the directional effect.

German Patent Application Publication No. 4101
In 933, a directional microphone signal control device is described in order to generate a virtual directional characteristic in which the principal sense direction can be adjusted. The output signal is determined by a multiplicative evaluation of the input signal with the control parameters.

German Patent Application Publication No. 3530
From Japanese Patent Publication No. 205, a microphone device having a variable directional characteristic is already known. This microphone device includes a row of microphones that are arranged at equal intervals. The directional pattern is realized by arranging the microphones in a special array and using a weighting network with weighting factors.

German Patent Application Publication No. 2928
Japanese Patent No. 845 describes an integrated device for audio vocals equipped with a microphone. This Micron is connected to the vibrator via a special device. The vibrator can apply vibration to the user's skin. An acoustic or perceptual signal transmission coordination is achieved via suitable control devices.

Therefore, according to this state of the art, all components are spatially separated from the hearing aids or components located in the area of the human ear and only the loudspeaker is placed in the area of the ear, while other configurations are used. Hearing aids are known in which the elements, in particular the amplifier and the microphone, are provided in the area of a control unit which is arranged spatially separated from the loudspeaker. With this device, it is not sufficient for the user to have a spatial hearing like a natural hearing sensation, and at the same time, it is not sufficient to suppress the disturbing noise.

[0010]

The object of the present invention is therefore to form a device of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way as to ensure a good acoustic performance and to achieve a pleasant-to-use comfort. Is.

[0011]

According to the invention, the object is to provide a control unit spatially separated from the microphone, the microphone being housed by an ear casing which can be provided in the area of the human ear, The casing comprises a transmitter, which communicates with a receiver in the range of the control unit, at least one area of the ear casing is provided with one of the transmission elements, which transmission element comprises a receiver, The solution communicates with a transmitter in the range of the control unit and is provided in the range of the control unit with an analyzer for evaluating the signal of the microphone.

By arranging the microphone in the ear casing, the orientation of sound reception in various directions is performed in line with normal hearing habits. This makes it possible in particular to cancel out disturbing noise by means of suitable directional hearing. Two
With individual microphones, the evaluation of the individual microphone signals can be done centrally. The comparator makes it possible, for example, to select between valid and disturbing sounds.
In the case of impaired hearing, this choice makes it possible to mainly perceive the sound source considered to be important, by moving the head or by adjusting appropriately in the area of the control unit. It does not matter here whether the acoustic signal is speech, music or noise. In particular, in the case of a single-hearing-impaired person, it is possible to simulate hearing that substantially matches ordinary spatial hearing. As a result, the deaf person can, by moving his head and by appropriate signal evaluation,
You can check the position of the sound source.

Due to the placement of the microphone in an ear casing insertable into the ear and the movement of all other elements into the control unit, which is spatially separated, an invisible hearing aid is provided. It is feasible. The hearing aid has high acoustic performance and does not create a visual constraint on the appearance of the person equipped with the device.

By providing a transmission line for the data transmission from the transmitter to the receiver, a particularly high degree of use comfort is achieved. It can be formed wirelessly.

In order to ensure a high transmission reliability, the transmitter can be connected to the receiver via a conductor.

To aid directional hearing, the comparator comprises an envelope correlator.

A further improvement in directional hearing can be achieved if the comparator comprises a time correlator.

By providing the control unit in the region of the bracelet which can be supported by the wrist joint, a highly ergonomically favorable control unit arrangement is achieved.

In order to be able to set the parameters manually, it is proposed that the control unit for manual input comprises an operating unit.

In another variant for directional hearing, a directional microphone is provided in the area of the control unit.

An ear battery is provided in the area of at least one ear casing for supplying energy to the ear amplifier and other components.

In order to avoid undesired volume, a level limiter is provided in the area of the control unit for at least one transmission channel.

Sufficient strength of the signal transmitted from the control unit can be achieved by providing a main amplifier in the range of the control unit.

Sufficient sound energy in the area of the ear casing is obtained by providing an ear amplifier in the area of at least one transmission element.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The drawings schematically show an embodiment of the present invention.

The hearing aid according to the embodiment of FIG. 1 comprises a control unit 1, two microphones 2, 3 and ear casings 4, 5. Microphones 2 and 3 are installed in this ear casing.
It has a shape that allows the ear casings 4, 5 to be placed in the auricle or ear canal region of the human ear. A transmitter 6 is attached to each of the microphones 2 and 3 in the range of the ear casings 4 and 5. This transmitter communicates with each receiver 7 in the range of the control unit 1. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, a transmission element 8 is further provided in the area of each ear casing 4, 5. This transmission element is likewise connected to a respective receiver 9 provided in the area of the ear casing 4, 5. This receiver 9 obtains its signal from a transmitter 10 provided in the area of the control unit 1. In order to supply the transmission element 8 directly, an ear amplifier 11 is provided in the area of the ear casing 4, 5.

The control unit 1 comprises a comparator 12. This comparator makes it possible to evaluate the mutual signals of the microphones 2, 3 in order to simulate spatial hearing and suppress noise. If the transmission element 8 is formed as a loudspeaker, a level limiter 13 is provided in the area of the control unit 1 in order to limit the acoustic energy radiated in the area of the loudspeaker. To supply energy, the control unit 1 comprises a main battery 14. The ear casings 4, 5 may include ear batteries 15 to provide energy to the components. The transmission element 8 may be formed as an electrode that electrically acts on the auditory nerve.

The detailed structure of the control unit 1 is shown in FIG. The overall function is monitored by the controller 16. In addition to the level limiter 13, the comparator 12, the main battery 14, the receiver 7 and the transmitter 10 which have already been described, as another structural group, an operating unit 17, a display 18, a directional microphone 19 and a frequency filter 20 are provided. It is provided. The level adaptation is done via the main amplifier 34. When selecting an acoustic pattern, the controller 1
A predetermined table can be accessed via 6. With this table, the frequency filter 20 and the level limiter 13 can be adjusted.

FIG. 3 is a principle diagram for showing spatial hearing. Here, the individual 21 has his or her ears 22 oriented in the main hearing direction. When the sound 24 is emitted from the side, the sound pulses strike the ear 22 with a time shift. Thus, the sound pressure curve 25 has a different level in the region of the ear 22 than the mutually offset curve. On the other hand, the sound from the front 26
In the case of radiation of 1, the sound pressure curve 25 is approximately equal in time in the area of the ear 22. In particular, it is conceivable to provide the control unit 1 in the area of the bracelet 27 according to the embodiment of FIG. The bracelet itself can be fixed within the range of the joint 28 of the wrist of a person. When the space is narrow, the control unit 1
Some of the components of the bracelet chain 27 (components)
It can be installed in the range.

To clarify the function of the comparator 12, FIG.
Shows envelope-type correlation, and FIG. 6 shows a circuit modification for time correlation. In the case of the embodiment of FIG. 5, the microphones 2 and 3 are connected to the frequency separator 29, respectively. This frequency separator 29 comprises separate outputs 30 which are dependent on the individual frequency ranges. For example, one separator output may be subordinate to a frequency of 0 to 0.5 kHz, the next separator output to a frequency of 0.5 to 1 kHz, and another frequency range to the additional separator output 30. It is possible. The envelope correlator 31 performs the analysis for detecting the difference in sound pressure level between the microphones 2 and 3. When such a sound pressure level difference occurs in one of the frequency ranges, only weak signal components are added to the overall signal. In this case, the sound waves coming from the side reach the ears on the side opposite to the sound source or the attached microphones 2 and 3 with a level difference and a time difference. In principle, it is expedient to use the level difference according to the example of FIG. 5 and the time difference according to the example of FIG.

When performing the time correlation according to FIG. 6, the time correlator 32 is used and the connection is made corresponding to the bypass via the attenuator 33.

The envelope-type correlation and the time-correlation can be implemented by analog or digital circuit technology. In particular,
A combination of both methods can improve the identification of sounds. To ensure a sufficient discrimination of the loudness difference between the left and right ears, it is expedient to have the correlation method work only when the sound 26 is emitted from the front.

The control unit 1, which is supported in the area of the wrist joint 28, makes it possible to change the adjustment without changing the positions of the microphones 2, 3. This means that it is not necessary to access the ear casings 4, 5 provided in the ear 22. The directional microphone 19 is an individual 2
It can be positioned by appropriately moving the forearm 1.

Further, external audio input and audio output can be performed. With this additional device,
Warning signals or telephone signals can be generated, transmitted, received and heard.

Operation unit 17 in the range of control unit 1
Thus, the settable amplification of the signals of one of the microphones 2 and 3 can be performed. This allows the user to avoid rotating his or her head in the direction of the desired sound source. Furthermore, the operation unit 17 adjusts the volume,
Microphone selection or acoustic group program selection can be performed.

In the case of a line connection between the ear casings 4, 5 and the control unit 1, the transmitters 6, 10 are designed as output amplifiers and the receivers 7, 9 as input amplifiers. When connecting wirelessly, standardized and affordable functional elements can be used. In the case of wireless communication, for example, a predetermined transmission frequency can be reserved in order to suppress interference. Further, alternative transmission channels can be provided and alternative modulation frequencies can be maintained. Wireless transmission can also occur via IR or HF signals.

The device can be used in different applications. When used as a hearing aid as already mentioned, it is possible to record via the microphones 2, 3 in the area of the ear casings 4, 5. Instead, it is possible to record via a microphone provided in the range of the bracelet 27. Other recordings can be made externally, for example via telephone, powerless, surveillance microphone, entertainment electronics, personal computer or emergency alarm.

When used as a hearing aid, signal processing takes place in the area of the central unit. This central unit may comprise a comparator 12, a level limiter 13, a frequency filter 20 and a suitable amplifier 34. Comparison of the time difference and level difference between the left and right microphone signal spectral components leads to lateral sound suppression. In this case, the signal component having the time difference and the level difference is not amplified. Therefore, the user of the device can first feel the sound source. The user points the front of his head towards this source.

When the microphones 2 and 3 are provided in the auricle, signals coming from the rear side are attenuated by the auricle.
If the comparator 12 knows that only signals with a time difference and a level difference are present, no side sound suppression is performed.
This is done, for example, when the person on the other side sits and speaks on the left or right side of the user and the person on the other side is silent. When recording through a microphone provided in the range of the bracelet 27 or when recording from an external audio unit, side sound suppression is not performed.

If the central unit and the components inside the ear casings 4, 5 are connected by lines, the ear casings 4, 5
No amplifier current supply is required in the range. Of course, in some cases a preamplifier for the transmitter may be purposeful. When used as a hearing aid, the sound reproduction takes place via at least one loudspeaker in the area of the ear casings 4, 5. When a lateral sound suppressor is used in the case of an inner ear implant, the lateral sound suppressed signal is provided to a processor that controls the implanted electrodes. The electrodes stimulate the auditory nerve.

When used outside the field of use of hearing aids,
Recording is done via a microphone in the range of the central unit. By the signal processing in the range of the central unit, it is possible to arbitrarily suppress the interfering sound. The sound can be reproduced externally, for example via the same hearing aid, telephone, electric machine, personal computer or emergency alarm.

As in the case of such an application, recording can be performed externally. This can be done, for example, via a telephone, an electronic device, a monitoring microphone, a piece of entertainment electronics, a personal computer or an emergency alarm.
The signal processing unit in the central unit may optionally further comprise a voice recognition unit or a voice generation unit. When recording externally, sound reproduction takes place via at least one loudspeaker in the area of the ear casings 4, 5. Similarly,
Sound reproduction may take place via loudspeakers in the range of the central unit.

The signal transmission between the microphones 2, 3 in the area of the ear casings 4, 5 and the central unit may be analog or digital. Similarly, signal processing can be analog or digital.
Furthermore, it is possible to carry out mixed processing of analog and digital according to the respective limit conditions. Depending on the processing sequence selected in each case, analog-digital conversion or digital-analog conversion is performed. It is conceivable to carry out the amplification operation in analog, in particular in the case of partial analog implementation.

In order to perform digital signal processing, the signals recorded by Micron 2 and 3 are digitized,
It is broken down into individual frequency bands. This allows the individual spectral components to be subjected to other evaluations. The decomposition can be done, for example, by the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) or by the use of multi-filters. After separation into frequency bands, side sound suppression, frequency response correction, voice compression,
Echo cancellation or other methods can be implemented to improve the comprehension of the speech.

In the case of frequency response correction, the necessary speech compression is carried out in accordance with the existing harmful sound for the individual frequency range. In this case, in order to guarantee a sufficient acoustic pleasure, it is expedient not to exceed the maximum value.

For voice compression, the voice range for a standard listener is 0 to 130 dB. In the presence of harmful speech, noise is only felt from a certain threshold of volume. Audio range is limited. If, for example, a linear amplification of any noise has taken place, the amplitude has to be cut off above the limit of discomfort, ie above the limit of, for example, 130 dB. Therefore, it is desirable to maintain the amplitude profile and compress the limited voice range.

Anti-anti-coupling can also be performed in connection with echo cancellation. Once the signal is digitized, it can be ascertained whether reverberant effects are present and whether reverberant effects can be reduced. in this case,
Digitization allows evaluation of the signal. Furthermore, it can be ascertained whether further amplification of the already amplified signal is taking place by the amplifier. Due to the time delay of the signal, the anti-coupling effect that may occur can be suppressed.

Improved speech comprehension can be done by special algorithms. This algorithm will increase word clarity.

All the aforementioned means for influencing the signal can be formed as algorithms for processing by a digital computer. It is expedient to make the algorithm dependent on a given spectral component in each case in order to increase or decrease the volume. After appropriately dividing the signal into spectral components and applying the above algorithm, a recombination is performed on the overall signal generated. This can be done, for example, by the inverse fast Fourier transform or by the inverse filtration corresponding to the first filtration.

Instead of a fully digital implementation of the algorithm, a partial analog implementation can be performed. The application of analog techniques brings advantages, especially for frequency response correction and voice compression. Instead of the aforementioned analog implementation of the envelope and time correlators, of course, digital algorithms can be used. In this case, a stepwise curve is generated as the envelope.

[0051]

As described above, the hearing aid of the present invention has the advantages that good acoustic performance can be guaranteed and that the user feels comfortable to use.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an apparatus with two microphones and a control unit provided at a separate location, where signal transmission is performed by wire.

2 is an enlarged view of the control unit of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a principle diagram showing a spatial auditory process.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a control unit provided in a range of a bracelet.

FIG. 5 is a principle diagram for showing envelope correlation.

FIG. 6 is a principle diagram for showing time correlation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Control Unit 2,3 Microphone 4,5 Ear Casing 6 Transmitter 7 Receiver 8 Transmission Element 9 Receiver 10 Transmitter 12 Analyzer 22 Ear

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. At least one microphone is provided,
In the hearing aid device, wherein the microphone is connected to a control unit, an input signal is supplied to the control unit and the control unit conveys at least one output signal to at least one transmission element, the control unit (1) comprises a microphone (2, 3 ), The microphone (2, 3) is housed by an ear casing (4, 5) which can be provided in the range of the human ear (22), the ear casing (4,5) Comprises a transmitter (6), which is in communication with a receiver (7) in the area of the control unit (1), in the area of at least one of the ear casings (4,5) of the transmission element (8). One is provided, this transmission element comprising a receiver (9), which is in communication with a transmitter (10) in the range of the control unit (1), in the range of the control unit (1), Emissions (2,3) analyzer for evaluating the signals (12) auditory prosthesis, characterized in that is provided. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the analyzer (12) modifies the output of the control unit (1) to adapt it to spatial sound reproduction. 3. Microphones (2, 3) are provided, the output signals of which are compared and evaluated by an analyzer (12).
Equipment. 4. A transmitter (6, 10) to a receiver (7,
Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that one transmission line is provided for data transmission to 9). 5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the transmitter (6, 10) is connected via a conductor to the receiver (7, 9). 6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the comparator (12) comprises an envelope correlator (31). 7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the comparator (12) comprises a time correlator (32). 8. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit is provided in the region of the bracelet (27) which can be supported by the wrist joint (28). 9. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (1) for manual input comprises an operating unit (17). 10. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a directional microphone (19) is provided in the area of the control unit (1). 11. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that an ear battery (15) is provided in at least one area of the ear casing (4, 5). 12. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a level limiter (13) is provided in the area of the control unit (1) for at least one transmission channel. 13. A main amplifier (34) is provided in the area of the control unit (1).
Any one device of 12. 14. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that an ear amplifier (11) is provided in the area of at least one transmission element (8).