KR20090021370A - In-the-ear bone-conduction digital hearing aid - Google Patents

Abstract

An ITE(In-The-Ear) bone conduction digital hearing aid is provided to compensate for the lowering of the audition by transmitting an acoustical vibration signal of the bone conduction type to an internal cochlea. An in-the-ear bone conduction digital hearing aid includes a push button device(22), a vibrator(138), and a vibration buffer tube(32). The push button device selects one of a news listening parameter stored in an EEPROM(Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), a music listening parameter, a dialogue listening parameter, the dialogue listening parameter in a noisy place, and a phone call parameter. The vibrator converts the sound signal processed in the sound processing device into the sound vibration and outputs the sound vibration signal(138a). A shell(10) vibrates according to the acoustical vibration signal of the vibrator. A vibration buffer tube connects a face plate(11) and the shell. The wire embedded in the vibration buffer tube is connected to the vibrator.

Description

Inner ear bone conduction digital hearing aid {IN-THE-EAR BONE-CONDUCTION DIGITAL HEARING AID}

The present invention relates to a BONE-CONDUCTION hearing aid, and in particular, the function of the inner ear cochlea is close to normal, while hearing impaired hearing impaired people, including pre-negative hearing loss due to damage to the tympanic membrane or abnormal ear bones, are inserted into the ear canal. BONE-CONDUCTION Hearing aids that correct deteriorated hearing by using a bone conduction hearing aid to transmit a non-tracheal bone conduction acoustic vibration signal to the inner ear cochlea.

Among hearing aids developed or commercially available, hearing aids that physically transmit an acoustic vibration signal to the cochlea by vibrating a human head bone are used to vibrate the temporal bone of the head corresponding to the back of the ear using a vibrator. Hearing aids were being manufactured. The sound pressure signal input to the microphone is amplified by an amplifier and configured to convert an electrical signal into a physical vibration signal through an oscillator. Representative examples of such bone hearing aids are ophthalmic bone hearing aids or temporal bone vibration hearing aids.

However, the ophthalmic bone hearing aid has a problem that the vibrator is located at the end of the spectacles leg, and the joint connecting the spectacle frame and the spectacles leg acts as a pivot.

In addition, the temporal bone oscillation hearing aid requires a medical procedure of directly implanting a screw (screw) into the temporal bone, and the screw inserted into the bone from the outside is not only prone to inflammation in the temporal bone, but also according to the medical procedure Since the implant must be expensive, there was a problem that the hearing impaired according to the procedure.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention can be easily used by the elderly with hearing impairment, and the function of the inner ear cochlea is close to normal, whereas damage to the eardrum or the middle ear is particularly important. A hearing impaired hearing aid, including voice deafness, uses an ear canal hearing aid inserted into the ear canal to deliver a non-tracheal bone conduction type acoustic vibration signal to the inner ear cochlea to compensate for the deteriorated hearing. There is.

In order to achieve the above object, the ear bone type hearing aid digital hearing aid of the present invention is provided with a face plate installed at an input side of a shell formed in a snail shell shape so as to be inserted into the ear, and the front plate and the rear plate installed at the face plate to receive sound. Directional microphones, telecoils to detect magnetic currents from the handset during telephone conversations, and listening to news, parameters, and listening to loud noise A socket for receiving a parameter from an external control personal computer, a volume controller for controlling the reception volume of sound received by the telecoil, the omnidirectional and backward microphones, and the telecoil, the omnidirectional direction built into the face plate. And process sound received by the rearward microphone. Sound processing means, a battery inserted into the receiving space to supply the operating power to the sound processing means, a news listening parameter, a music listening parameter, a dialogue listening parameter and a noise inputted by a personal computer and stored in the EEPROM. A pushbutton element for selecting any one of a dialogue listening parameter and a telephone call parameter at a place; a vibrator for vibrating a shell by receiving an acoustic signal processed by the sound processing means and converting the acoustic signal into an acoustic signal; At the same time as connecting the face plate and the shell, it is characterized in that it comprises a vibration buffer tube with a wire connected to the vibrator in the middle.

In addition, the ear bone type digital hearing aid according to the present invention is a conventional ear type digital hearing aid comprising: a vibrator for vibrating a shell by receiving an acoustic signal processed by sound processing means and converting it into an acoustic vibration and outputting an acoustic vibration signal; At the same time as connecting the shell and, characterized in that it has a vibration buffer tube with a built-in wire connected to the vibrator in the middle.

According to the ear bone type hearing aid digital hearing aid of the present invention, it can be easily used by the elderly with hearing impairment, and using the ear bone type hearing aid inserted into the ear canal so that the acoustic vibration signal of the bone conduction method rather than the airway is transmitted to the inner ear cochlea. The function of the inner ear cochlea is close to normal while the hearing impairment, including pre-negative hearing loss, can be compensated for the hearing loss or middle ear bone defect.

Hereinafter, the ear bone bone digital hearing aid according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a perspective view of a sinus bone conduction digital hearing aid according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a front view of a sinus bone conduction digital hearing aid according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4 is a circuit block diagram of the sound processing means applied to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 5 is a front and rear microphone, telecoil, push button element in the terminal of the circuit block diagram of the sound processing means of FIG. Is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which a volume controller, a socket, and a vibrator are soldered.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the ear bone-type digital hearing aid according to an embodiment of the present invention has a face plate 11 installed at an input side of a shell 10 formed in a snail shell shape so as to be inserted into the ear. And front and rear microphones 12 and 14 installed on the face plate 11 to receive sound, and a telecoil 16 which detects a magnetic current generated by the handset during a telephone call and outputs a low sound signal. And a socket 18 which receives news listening parameters, music listening parameters, chat listening parameters, and chat listening parameters from an external control personal computer (not shown) so as to adjust an auditory difference different from person to person. And a volume controller 20 for controlling the reception volume of the sound received by the telecoil 16, the forward and backward microphones 12, 14, and the face play. Sound processing means 100 installed in the seat 11 and processing the sound received by the telecoil 16, the forward and backward microphones 12 and 14, and inserted into an accommodation space to process the sound. The battery 26 for supplying the operating power to the means 100, the news listening parameters, the music listening parameters, the chat listening parameters, and the chat listening parameters in a place with a high noise, which are input by the personal computer and stored in the EEPROM 133. , Push button element 22 for selecting any one of the parameters for a telephone call, and the sound signal processed by the sound processing means 100 is converted into sound vibration and outputs an acoustic vibration signal 138a to the ear shell ( 10 and a vibration buffer tube (32) having a vibrator 138 for vibrating, the face plate (11) and the shell (10), and at the same time a wire connected to the vibrator (138) is built in the middle. It is composed.

When the vibrator 138 receives the output signal from the sound processing means 100 and vibrates the ear shell 10, the vibrator 138 transmits the acoustic vibration signal amplified by the bone conduction method, not the airway, to the inner ear cochlea.

The sound processing means 100 receives a DC voltage supplied from the battery 26 through an input terminal (not shown) and adjusts the voltage to a predetermined DC voltage and outputs the voltage regulator 121 and the voltage regulator 121. A first capacitor C1 for filtering the high level noise included in the DC voltage adjusted to the DC voltage and supplying operating power to the forward and backward microphones 12 and 14 through the output terminal 107, respectively; A high level is included in the sound signal received through the forward and backward sound signal input terminals 109 and 106 to receive the forward and backward sound signals received by the forward and backward microphones 12 and 14. When the second and third capacitors C2 and C3 for filtering noise and the movable terminal 124a of the switching switch 124 are connected to the fourth capacitor C4 (telephones connected to the fixed terminal 124c) Above call) A fourth capacitor C4 for receiving a sound signal received by the recorder 16 through the input terminal 110 and filtering a high level noise included in the sound signal, and a movable terminal of the switching switch 124. When 124a is connected to the third capacitor C3 (when connected to the fixed terminal 124b) or received at the forward and backward microphones 12 and 14 at the fourth capacitor C4. When a high level noise included in the acoustic signal is filtered or when the movable terminal 124a of the changeover switch 124 is connected to the fourth capacitor C4 (when a telephone call is connected to the fixed terminal 124c). First and second A / D converters (123.125) for receiving high-level noise included in the sound signal received from the telecoil 16 and converting the analog sound signal to a digital signal, respectively; Converted into digital signals at the 1st and 2nd A / D converters (123.125) A delay / synthesis circuit 127 for receiving and delaying the received signal and synthesizing the same, and receiving an acoustic signal whose volume is controlled by the volume controller 20 from the input terminal 105 to filter noise included in the acoustic signal. A volume signal A / D converter 129 which receives the analog sound signal filtered out of the fifth capacitor C5 and the fifth capacitor C5, and the noise included in the sound signal whose volume is controlled is converted into a digital signal; And, in the interface circuit 131, the news listening parameter, the music listening parameter, the chat listening parameter, and the chat listening parameter at a loud place are received from the external control personal computer (not shown) through the socket 18 and the input terminal 104. EEPROM 133 for storing the interface mode signal and the delayed and synthesized digital sound signal from the delay / synthesis circuit 127 receives the volume signal A / D conversion A frequency signal of a sound signal received from the volume signal converted into a digital signal at 129 and any one parameter signal of a news listening parameter, a music listening parameter, a chat listening parameter and a chat listening parameter at a loud place from the EEPROM 133; The equalizer 135 divides into first to fourth channel bands, respectively, amplifies and sums the received digital sound signal output from the synthesizer 135e of the equalizer 135, and converts the digital sound signal into an analog signal to output an output terminal ( The D / A converter 137 outputs to the vibrator 138 through the 115, 101.

The equalizer 135 includes first to fourth channel amplifiers 135a, 135b, 135c, and 135d for dividing and amplifying a frequency band of an acoustic signal into channels 1 to 4, respectively, and the first to fourth channels. The amplifier 135a, 135b, 135c, and 135d comprises a synthesizer 135e for non-linearly synthesizing the amplified sound signals by dividing them into respective frequency bands.

When the vibrator 138 receives the output signal from the sound processing means 100 and vibrates the ear shell, the vibrator 138 transmits the amplified acoustic vibration signal 138a to the inner ear cochlea rather than the air conduction method.

In addition, the ear bone type digital hearing aid according to the present invention, in the conventional ear type digital hearing aid, receives a sound signal processed by the sound processing means 100 and converts it into sound vibration to output an acoustic vibration signal 138a to the shell 10. Also provided with a vibrator (138) for vibrating, and the face plate (11) and the shell (10) and at the same time, the vibration buffer tube (32) in which wires connected to the vibrator (138) are built in the middle. It goes without saying that it is included in the concept of the present invention.

In the drawings, reference numeral 22 denotes a news listening parameter and a music listening parameter which are input by a personal computer (not shown) and are stored in an EEPROM (133; electrically erasable programmable read only memory). , A push button element for selecting any one of the chat listening parameters and the chat listening parameters in a place with a high noise level, 30 is a cover for opening and closing the opening of the accommodation space 28, 102, 103, 108 and 114 are ground terminals, and 111 is the push button. An operating power supply terminal for supplying a button element 22 to the operating power supply a DC voltage adjusted to a constant DC voltage from the voltage regulator 121, 112 is the ground terminal, 113 is the operating power to the equalizer 135 Supply power supply terminal.

Next, the operation and effects of the sinus bone conduction digital hearing aid according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

First, the ear bone-type digital hearing aid of the present invention is manufactured, and then a battery 26 is inserted into an accommodating space (not shown), and a cable is connected between the socket 18 and an external control personal computer (not shown). (Or a USB cable), parameters for adjusting the auditory difference stored in the personal computer, for example, a news listening parameter for listening to news, a music listening parameter for listening to music, and dialogue When listening to the dialogue listening parameter for listening to the dialogue and the listening parameter for listening to the dialogue in a place with a high noise level, the EEPROM 133 is input through the socket 18 and the interface circuit 131. )

As described above, after the news listening parameter, the music listening parameter, the listening parameter and the listening parameter are stored in the EEPROM 133, the push button element 22 is pressed once to listen to the news stored in the EEPROM 133. As the news listening parameters are input to the equalizer 135, the news sound output from the television receiver or the radio can be listened with high sensitivity by the omnidirectional bone backward digital hearing aids 12 and 14 of the present invention. When the push button element 22 is pressed a second time, the music is continuously played as the music listening parameter capable of listening to the music stored in the EEPROM 133 is input to the equalizer 135. The frontal and rearward microphones 12 and 14 of the bone conduction digital hearing aid are in a state of being able to hear with high sensitivity, and the push button element 22 Press the third time, the dialogue listening parameter stored in the EEPROM 133 is input to the equalizer 135, and the dialogue is transmitted to the forward and backward microphones 12 and 14 of the ear bone-type digital hearing aid of the present invention. When the push button element 22 is pressed for the fourth time, the dialogue listening parameter capable of listening to the conversation at the place where the noise stored in the EEPROM 133 is loud is equalized. As it enters into the state, the conversation in a loud place can be heard with high sensitivity by the front and rear microphones 12 and 14 of the hearing aid.

As described above, after inserting the ear bone in the ear canal in the state of initializing the bone marrow digital hearing aid of the present invention, listening to the news in a state where the movable contact 124a of the changeover switch 124 is set to the fixed contact 124b. In order to press the push button element 22 for the first time, the hearing aid receives the news sound output from the television receiver or the radio as a news listening parameter for listening to the news stored in the EEPROM 133 is input to the equalizer 135. Received by the front and rear microphones 12, 14 of the input to the input terminal (109, 106) of the sound processing means 100, respectively, the forward and rear microphones of the ear bone-type digital hearing aid of the present invention The first and second A / D converters 123 and 125 filter the high level noise included in the news sound received by the second and third capacitors C2 and C3, respectively. The analog news sound is converted into digital news sound and output to the delay / synthesis circuit 127.

The delay / synthesis circuit 127 receives and delays the news sound converted into the digital news sound from the first and second A / D converters 123 and 125, simultaneously synthesizes and outputs the synthesized sound to the equalizer 135. The delay unit 135 delays the news sound signal received by the omnidirectional backward microphones 12 and 14 by the delay / synthesis circuit 127 to reconcile the phase difference with the news sound signal received by the backward microphone 14. After receiving the synthesized news sound signal, the frequency band is divided into first to fourth channels 135a, 135b, 135c, and 135d and amplified, respectively, and then the first to fourth channels 135a, 135b, 135c, and 135d. ) And amplified news sound signals are summed by the synthesizer 135e of the equalizer 135 and output to the D / A converter 137.

The D / A converter 137 divides the frequency band into bands of the first to fourth channels 135a, 135b, 135c, and 135d in the equalizer 135, respectively, amplifies the received digital news sound signal, and receives an analog signal. When the output signal is converted to the vibrator 138 through the output terminals 115 and 101, the vibrator 138 outputs the news acoustic vibration signal 138a converted into an analog signal to the ear canal to listen to the hearing.

At this time, if the news sound signal to be heard is too large or too low, the volume controller A / D converter 129 is adjusted through the input terminal 105 when the volume controller 20 is set to a level suitable for listening. The volume signal A / D converter 129 receives an analog news sound signal, converts it into a digital signal, and outputs the digital news signal to an output terminal of the synthesizer 135e of the equalizer 135 to set the volume of the news sound signal.

Hanpun, the ear bone type digital hearing aid of the present invention is inserted into the ear canal after initializing, and then the telephone can be talked with the movable contact 124a of the changeover switch 124 set to the fixed contact 124c. It becomes a state.

In the above description, after inserting the ear bone in the ear canal in the state of initializing the ear bone bone digital hearing aid of the present invention, the push button in the state of setting the movable contact 124a of the switching switch 124 to the fixed contact 124a When the element 22 is pressed for the second time, a music listening parameter capable of listening to music stored in the EEPROM 133 is input to the equalizer 135, whereby it is possible to listen to music with high sensitivity, and the push button When the element 22 is pressed for the third time, the conversation listening parameter stored in the EEPROM 133 is input to the equalizer 135, so that the conversation can be heard with high sensitivity, and the push button element 22 is pressed. When pressed, the dialogue listening parameter for listening to a conversation at a place with a high noise stored in the EEPROM 133 is input to the equalizer 135, and the conversation is made at a place with a high noise. It is in a state capable of listening to the road.

In these states, the remaining operation of the ear bone-type digital hearing aid of the present invention performs the same operation as the operation for listening to the news described above, and thus redundant description thereof will be omitted.

In the telephone call, the mobile terminal 124a of the switching switch 124 may be connected to the fixed contact 124c to make a telephone call. The telephone call selection may also be selected by the push button element 22.

Therefore, the ear bone-type digital hearing aid of the present invention can be easily used by the elderly with hearing impairment, and the push button element 22 is used to talk in a place where the news listening parameter, the music listening parameter, the listening parameter and the noise are loud. You can listen to the high and low sound by selecting the Listen Listening parameter, or the Phone Call parameter.

In the above description, the bone-type bone conduction digital hearing aid has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the tympanic bone conduction digital hearing aid may be applied to the hearing aid.

In the above description, the specific embodiments have been shown and described, but the present invention is not limited thereto, for example, by those skilled in the art without departing from the concept of the present invention. Of course, the design can be changed in various ways.

1 is a perspective view of an ear bone conduction digital hearing aid according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of FIG. 1.

3 is a front view of the ear bone bone digital hearing aid according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a circuit block diagram of the sound processing means applied to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a state in which a front and rear microphone, a telecoil, a push button element, a volume controller, a socket, a vibrator, and a vibration buffer tube are soldered to terminals of a circuit block diagram of the sound processing means of FIG. 4. Drawing.

<Description of the code | symbol about the principal part of drawing>

10: Shell 11: Face Plate

12: omnidirectional microphone 14: backward microphone

16: telecoil 18: socket

20: volume controller 22: push button element

26: battery 103: ground terminal

30: cover 32: vibration buffer tube

100: sound processing means 107: output terminal

121: voltage regulator 124: switching switch

123: first A / D converter 125: second A / D converter

127: delay / synthesis circuit 129: volume signal A / D converter

131: interface circuit 133: EEPROM

135: equalizer 135a: first channel amplifier

135b: second channel amplifier 135c: third channel amplifier

135d: fourth channel amplifier 135e: synthesizer

137: D / A converter 138: oscillator

138a: acoustic vibration signal

Claims (3)

Face plate 11 installed on the input side of the shell 10 formed in the shape of a snail shell so as to be inserted into the ear, and the front and rear microphones 12 and 14 installed on the face plate 11 to receive sound. ), A telecoil 16 for detecting a magnetic current generated by the handset during a telephone call, and a news listening parameter, a music listening parameter, a dialogue listening parameter, and a place where noise is large so as to adjust an auditory difference that varies from person to person. A volume controller 20 for controlling a reception volume of sound received by the socket 18 receiving the conversation listening parameter from an external control personal computer and the telecoil 16 and the forward and backward microphones 12 and 14; And sound processing means (100) embedded in the face plate (11) for processing sound received by the telecoil (16), the forward and backward microphones (12, 14), A battery 26 inserted into the space to supply operating power to the sound processing means 100, a news listening parameter, a music listening parameter, a dialogue listening parameter stored by the personal computer and stored in the EEPROM 133; The push button element 22 for selecting any one of a dialogue listening parameter and a telephone call parameter in a place having a high noise, and receives the sound signal processed by the sound processing means 100 and converts it into an acoustic vibration signal 138a. A vibrator 138 for vibrating the shell 10 by outputting an acoustic vibration signal 138a, and connecting the face plate 11 and the shell 10 and at the same time with the vibrator 138 A sinusoidal bone conduction digital hearing aid, characterized in that it is provided with a vibration buffer tube 32 is built-in wire. In the normal ear type digital hearing aid, Push-button element 22 which selects any one of a news listening parameter, a music listening parameter, a chat listening parameter, and a chat listening parameter and a telephone call parameter at a place having a high noise input by a personal computer and stored in the EEPROM 133. )Wow, A vibrator 138 which receives the sound signal processed by the sound processing means 100 and converts the sound signal into sound vibration to output the sound vibration signal 138a to vibrate the shell 10; At the same time as connecting the face plate 11 and the shell 10, the inner ear bone conduction digital hearing aid, characterized in that it further comprises a vibration buffer tube 32 is built in the wire connected to the vibrator 138 in the middle. . According to claim 1 or claim 2, The vibrator 138 receives the output signal from the sound processing means 100 and vibrates the ear shell to vibrate the acoustic vibration signal 138a amplified by a bone conduction method, not airway An ear bone conduction digital hearing aid, characterized in that it is transmitted to the inner cochlea.

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