WO2018103899A1 - Procédé de surveillance de la performance électro-acoustique d'un dispositif auditif et dispositif auditif - Google Patents

Procédé de surveillance de la performance électro-acoustique d'un dispositif auditif et dispositif auditif Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2018103899A1
WO2018103899A1 PCT/EP2017/059441 EP2017059441W WO2018103899A1 WO 2018103899 A1 WO2018103899 A1 WO 2018103899A1 EP 2017059441 W EP2017059441 W EP 2017059441W WO 2018103899 A1 WO2018103899 A1 WO 2018103899A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
measure
receiver
hearing device
vibration
output transducer
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2017/059441
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Bernd Meister
Hamidreza Taghavi
Aart Z VAN HALTEREN
Original Assignee
Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
Sonion Nederland B.V.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sivantos Pte. Ltd., Sonion Nederland B.V. filed Critical Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
Publication of WO2018103899A1 publication Critical patent/WO2018103899A1/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/30—Monitoring or testing of hearing aids, e.g. functioning, settings, battery power
    • H04R25/305—Self-monitoring or self-testing
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/65—Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
    • H04R25/652—Ear tips; Ear moulds
    • H04R25/654—Ear wax retarders
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/70—Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Definitions

  • the invention is directed to a method for monitoring electro-acoustic performance of a hearing device. Additionally the invention is directed to such a hearing device, preferably to a hearing device adapted to perform the aforementioned method.
  • an (especially electro-acoustic) hearing device is perceived as being a device that provides acoustic output signals to a user.
  • a hearing device comprises therefore particularly a receiver (also denoted as ..speaker”) that in general resembles an electro-acoustic transducer.
  • a receiver is usually adapted to transform electric signals into acoustic signals, i.e. into sound waves.
  • a hearing device comprises a transducer that is adapted to convert the electric signals for providing acoustic information to the ear of a user into mechanical vibration that is transmitted by way of bone conduction to the ear.
  • hearing devices are preferably characterized by that they are to be worn in the region of the ears of the user, for example at or even in the ear canal.
  • hearing devices resemble earphones, headsets, hearables (wireless earphones or earphones with more functions than mere sound output) or hearing assistance devices (for example hearing aids).
  • Hearing assistance devices usually are used to allow for at least a partial compensation for a reduced hearing (i.e. a hearing loss) of a person.
  • a hearing device can resemble a tinnitus masker that outputs a noise signal that is used for therapeutic masking of an ear noise that is individual to a patient.
  • a sound output port of the receivers of such hearing devices are to be worn with as little distance as possible to the ear canal or even in the ear canal.
  • cerumen or: ear wax
  • the receiver is usually located inside a housing for (mechanical) protection and, therefore, the housing has to have a canal or sound output opening for the sound emitted by the receiver. That sound output opening is prone to clogging with cerumen.
  • cerumen The period until the sound output port is completely blocked by cerumen depends on frequency and duration of use as well as on the individual tendency to produce more or less cerumen. As it can be seen, clogging causes an unwanted degradation of the electro-acoustic performance of the receiver, particularly an attenuated emission of sound.
  • cerumen guard In order to prevent or at least to slow up the clogging of the sound output opening or even of the output port of the receiver itself hearing devices often comprise a cerumen guard.
  • cerumen guard or: wax filter
  • Such cerumen guard can also be blocked by cerumen and, thus, causes attenuation of the sound emission.
  • cerumen guard enables a reduction of the risk of a clogging of the receiver itself.
  • the invention is based upon the problem to enable a better hearing device.
  • That problem is solved according to the invention by a method for monitoring electro-acoustic performance of a hearing device comprising the features of claim 1 . Furthermore, the problem is solved according to the invention by a hearing device comprising the features of claim 16. Additional expedient embodiments that themselves can be a respective separate invention as well as further developments of the invention are described in the dependent claims and in the following specification.
  • the method according to the invention makes up for monitoring electro-acoustic performance of a hearing device (especially an electro-acoustic hearing device).
  • a hearing device especially an electro-acoustic hearing device.
  • Such a hearing device comprises an output transducer (i.e. preferably at least one) emitting a vibration based signal.
  • a measure is determined by means of a vibration sensitive sensor, the measure being characteristic for a vibration caused by the emission of a sound signal of the (output) transducer and the vibration sensitive sensor being indirectly or directly coupled to the transducer.
  • “Indirectly coupled” is to be understood that the sensor is aligned in respect to the transducer with a distance being insignificant in respect to the overall size of the hearing device.
  • the determined measure is being compared with a reference measure and, in the case of the measure exceeding or overshooting the reference measure, an action is taken.
  • the measure provides quantitative information about at least one property of the vibration, preferably about its frequency and/or its amplitude.
  • the vibration or its respective property can be read out of the measure distinctly.
  • the measure can constitute the respective property of the vibration directly.
  • the measure can also be directly or indirectly proportional to the respective property of the vibration.
  • the respective property can be derived from the measure by way of a non-linear function, for example a logarithmic, an exponential or a polynomial (i.e. square, cubic, etc.) function.
  • the term “exceeding” or “overshooting the reference measure” is to be understood here and in the following as being directional in the sense that a difference of the measure (or its change in time) and the reference measure changes its algebraic sign.
  • the overshooting of the respective reference measure can be positively (in the sense of a real overshooting by which the measure gets greater than the reference measure) or negative (in the sense of a short fall by which the measure gets smaller than the reference measure).
  • the action is taken especially for that case when the measure overshoots the reference measure by a predefined rate.
  • the predefined rate constitutes some kind of threshold or limit value that has to be trespassed for triggering the action. In that case, it is especially checked whether the difference of the measure and the reference measure exceeds or overshoots that threshold-of limit value.
  • the term "electro-acoustic performance" of the (overall) hearing device describes especially those characteristics that can be detected during a (bidirectional - i.e. at the input or the output side) conversion between electric signals and (especially) non-electric signals, the latter transporting acoustic information.
  • those "non-electric" signals are resembled by airborne sound.
  • those non-electric signals can comprise also structure-borne sound signals, i.e. signals based on mechanical vibration.
  • the transducer emitting the vibration based signal is preferably constituted by a receiver that is, in an optional embodiment, to be worn at or inside an ear canal of a user.
  • a receiver is - as is known - furnished to convert an electric (audio) signal into a vibration of an air column resting against the receiver, i.e. to convert the signal into airborne sound.
  • the transducer can be resembled by a so called bone conduction speaker that converts the electric (audio) signal into a (especially mechanic) vibration and delivers that vibration to a cranial bone of the user.
  • bone conduction the vibration gets from that cranial bone to the middle ear and/or to the inner ear where it is "heard" in a way comparable to airborne sound.
  • the vibration of the transducer itself or for example of a housing supporting the transducer (especially an earpiece) is determined by means of the vibration sensitive sensor.
  • a transfer function of the transducer is determined since the vibration detectible by means of the sensor is related to the vibrational (for example acoustic) output of the transducer.
  • the measure provides also information about the electro-acoustic performance (or characteristics) of the receiver or the electro-mechanic performance of the bone conduction speaker.
  • those electro-acoustic or electro-mechanic characteristics are influenced by intrinsic features of the transducer itself as well as by the suspension of such a transducer in a housing of the hearing device, for example in the earpiece described above.
  • a frequency response of the transducer is determined. In that case, especially a vibration spectrum is derived from the measuring signal output by the vibration sensitive sensor.
  • the vibration sensitive sensor By means of the vibration sensitive sensor, it is therefore possible to monitor the electro-acoustic performance of the whole hearing device, particularly of the transducer, and to take a corresponding action, for example to issue a corresponding warning, in the case that the electro-acoustic performance does not or no longer comply with the specifications.
  • the monitoring of the electro-acoustic performance of the hearing device can thus be carried out by the hearing device itself, preferably automatically, and therefore does no longer fall to the user of the hearing device (alone).
  • the reference measure is determined in a calibration step prior to or during the first usage of the hearing device.
  • the reference measure can be adjusted especially to the individual design of the hearing device, for example to an individually used earpiece that supports the transducer, for example the receiver.
  • the transfer function of the transducer especially the measure detected by the vibration sensitive sensor, varies in dependence on an acoustic coupling of the transducer (and of the sensor) to the environment. I.e. the transfer function can vary especially in correspondence to the composition, for example the hardness, of a material of the housing, especially of the earpiece.
  • earpieces are often made out of a comparably stiff plastic (for example an acrylic), whereas standard earpieces that are provided in different sizes are mostly made of a soft plastic (for example a silicone) such that they adapt better to the ear canal of a plurality of users.
  • a soft plastic for example a silicone
  • the transfer function of especially the receiver can vary in dependence on the position and on the acoustic coupling of the receiver and/or of the probably present earpiece in the ear canal.
  • the reference measure is made up especially by a measure which is deposited in a storage module of the hearing device - in that case the reference measure is especially stored as a factory setting. According to an optional embodiment such stored reference measure is overwritten during an individual calibration as mentioned before.
  • the measure is determined especially when the hearing device is aligned in its intended wearing position.
  • the transducer is constituted by the receiver which is to be worn at or in the ear canal that measure is thus determined not before the receiver is aligned at or in the ear canal.
  • the measure is determined continuously or in prescribed time steps (also named as interval) while the hearing device is worn as intended.
  • the electro-acoustic performance of the transducer can be monitored by intervals that are short especially in comparison to a (probably daily) period of use.
  • a calibration or a first determination of the reference measure is preferably conducted at the first use of the hearing device - i.e. especially during wearing the hearing device at or in the ear or, in the case of a hearing assistance device, during a so called adaption to the user, more precisely to his ear.
  • the measure is determined when the transducer is aligned outside of the ear canal. That means that the measure is especially determined when the hearing device is not worn or not used as intended, rather, when the hearing device is especially taken off. Thus, in that case probably the earpiece supporting the transducer is also not aligned in the ear canal.
  • a test signal is output by means of the transducer and the measure, especially the frequency response of the transducer, is determined on the basis of the test signal.
  • the determination of the measure is conducted when due to a movement of the hearing device - recognized for example by means of a movement sensor - it is realized that the hearing device is taken off.
  • the determination of the measure is conducted during a shutdown process of the hearing device.
  • the (vibration) measure is taken as a criterion for an at least partly occlusion of a sound output opening of the hearing device.
  • that sound output opening is expediently directed to the eardrum and preferably aligned inside the ear canal.
  • a warning about the occlusion of the sound output opening is issued. I.e. based on the measure it is determined whether airborne sound output by the receiver can exit unobstructed.
  • the measure is taken as an indicator whether the user can hear sufficiently with the hearing device or whether he just gets no sound or sound that is attenuated in an undesirable way by the hearing device.
  • the vibration pattern of the receiver detected by the vibration sensitive sensor changes when the receiver or the sound output opening assigned to that receiver is obstructed.
  • the (resonance) frequency detected by means of the sensor moves to another frequency and/or an amplitude differing from the reference is determined.
  • That embodiment of the method can be applied to hearing devices with receivers being positioned especially in the ear canal during intendent use as well as to hearing devices with receivers during intendent use being aligned outside the ear canal and coupled to the ear canal by a sound tube.
  • the influence of a comparably large air volume between the eardrum and the sound port of the receiver itself is considered for the comparison of the measure with the reference measure or at least during calibration of the reference measure, expediently.
  • the aforesaid sound output opening can be constituted especially by a sound port of the receiver itself (also named as sound socked or receiver sprout) as well as by an exit opening of a sound canal leading especially through the aforementioned earpiece.
  • the action to be taken is preferably constituted by issuing an instruction to change the cerumen guard. That instruction is output for example acoustically, i.e. especially by means of the receiver itself. Alternatively or in an optional embodiment additionally, the instruction is issued by means of an optical display that is assigned to a control device (for example a remote control) that is assigned to the hearing device separately.
  • the cerumen guard is especially constituted by an element that is positioned in the sound output opening and serves to prevent intrusion of cerumen into the sound canal or into the receiver itself.
  • the cerumen guard is made up by a kind of mesh, sieve or membrane that is permeable to airborne sound.
  • the cerumen guard can also be an especially one piece (monolithic) part of a standard earpiece (often also named as "ear dome"). Therefore, in the last case the whole standard earpiece has to be changed.
  • cerumen is a regular reason for occlusion (here also referred to as "clogging") of the sound output opening of the hearing device. Such clogging mostly proceeds with especially individually different rates. Therefore, there can be provision of a sound output with little variation of the transfer function of the receiver in a simple way especially for users who rarely can enunciate and/or are comparably little sensitive to changes of the electro-acoustic performance of the hearing device.
  • information indicating a change of the cerumen guard is derived from the measure determined by means of the vibration sensitive sensor. For example, by means of the sensor a clicking or snapping sound being characteristic for the change of the cerumen guard, especially for a putting on or a putting in of the cerumen guard is detected. Thereupon, the measure being characteristic for the vibration of the receiver is determined anew, for example by means of emitting an acoustic test signal by the receiver, for the checkup whether the cerumen guard has been changed, actually. If a new or cleaned cerumen guard has been applied, according to an optional embodiment, a skip can be detected in the vibration spectrum in comparison to the preceding measurements.
  • At least the preceding measurement result is stored, preferably.
  • the measure will not overshoot the reference measure after a change of the cerumen guard.
  • a new instruction to change the cerumen guard is issued.
  • a confirmation by the user is requested, additionally. Such a confirmation can be conducted by triggering a prescribed switch.
  • a repeated issuing of the instruction to change the cerumen guard within a prescribed time window (for example 15 minutes or up to one hour) is taken as an indicator for a defect of the receiver. Accordingly, corresponding information is output.
  • the aforesaid threshold or limit value is considered especially for detection of the (at least partly) clogging of the sound output opening.
  • a second, especially in view of the aforesaid "first" limit value more coarse or higher limit value is stored wherein the transgression of such second limit value is considered as an indicator for a defect of the receiver. Because, recognizably a defect of the receiver causes a more significant (i.e. more severe) change of the vibration pattern in respect to the reference in comparison to an especially just partly clogging of the sound output opening. Additionally, in the case that no signal is detected or output by the sensor it can be taken as an indicator for a defect of the sensor itself.
  • a calibration of the reference measure is conducted preferably automated. That embodiment is expedient especially in the case that the change of the cerumen guard is detected automatically (as described before) and that preferably the change of the cerumen guard has been confirmed in a verification step subsequent to the detection of the change. That verification step may be re-flectd as described before by determining the vibration measure a new.
  • That verification step may be re-flectd as described before by determining the vibration measure a new.
  • the measure being characteristic for the vibration of the transducer, especially of the receiver is considered within the scope of a feedback suppression as a kind of a preconditioned measure - additionally or alternatively to the aforesaid embodiments of the method.
  • the above described taking of an action if the measure overshoots the reference measure as well as the comparison of the measure and the reference measure necessary for determining any overshooting may be omitted.
  • the aforesaid feedback suppression is especially implemented by a filter.
  • the respective controller is furthermore adapted to suppress feedback sound signals as thoroughly as possible from an overall signal detected by the microphone.
  • the (vibration) measure contains information about the frequency response of the receiver and, thus, about the sound signal output by the receiver. Therefore, it is possible to save computing time in the controller for feedback suppression.
  • the aforesaid controller receives information about the topical sound output of the receiver faster in respect to the runtime of the acoustic signal (for example about 30 microseconds earlier than the acoustic reception by the microphone).
  • the hearing device is, in that case, especially a hearing assistance device.
  • the measure can also be used for a checkup of the proper function of the feedback suppression itself.
  • the measure or a further comparison measure derived from the measure is compared with the part of the sound detected by the microphone which has been identified as a feedback signal.
  • the hearing device resembles especially a hearing assistance device with a microphone
  • a defect of the microphone is detected.
  • information about the defect of the microphone is output.
  • an especially predefined test signal is being output by means of the receiver. Beneficently, especially by means of the aforesaid controller for feedback suppression it is subsequently determined whether the signal output by the microphone is formed by parts from the signal output by the receiver and fed back by way of airborne sound or structure borne sound to the microphone.
  • a comparison of the measure with the reference measure can be omitted.
  • the aforesaid checkup of the microphone regarding its proper function is employed in combination with one of the aforesaid embodiments of the method, yet.
  • a distortion especially a so called harmonic distortion ("total harmonic distortion") and/or a so called intermodulation distortion of the acoustic emission of the receiver is derived from the vibration measure - additionally or alternatively to the frequency response of the receiver.
  • a distortion is influenced at a half or a third of the peak frequency by the amplitude (also: "level” of the peak) since the peak enhances the harmonic frequencies.
  • the height of the peak varies immediately even by the slightest clogging of the sound output opening. Also, a variation of the peak frequency can be detected easily.
  • a defect of the receiver (for example of its motor and/or its membrane) is reflected by enhanced distortion.
  • it is inferred from the information about the distortion to a defect of the receiver - additionally or alternatively to the detection of a clogging of the sound output opening.
  • an action (additionally or alternatively) information about the defect of the receiver and/or an instruction to change the receiver is issued, preferably.
  • the vibration measure is compared with a reference measure that is indicative for a fit of the earpiece supporting the receiver in the ear canal of the user.
  • That embodiment of the method can be performed as an alternative or optionally as addition to the above described monitoring of the sound output opening in respect to clogging especially with cerumen.
  • the reference measure of the embodiment is the same measure as for monitoring of the sound output opening in respect to clogging.
  • the comparison in respect to the proper fit of the earpiece is conducted in a frequency range that differs from the frequency range used for monitoring the sound output opening in respect to clogging.
  • the measure overshoots the "fit reference measure" expediently an instruction to correct the fit of the earpiece inside the ear canal is issued as an action.
  • the reference measure is expediently determined (i.e. calibrated) during an adaption of the hearing device. That means that the reference measure regarding the fit of the earpiece is calibrated when the receiver or the earpiece respectively are worn as intended in the ear, precisely inside the ear canal.
  • Such an adaption is preferably conducted by trained personal, especially by an acoustician for hearing assistance devices.
  • the present embodiment enables to continuously or intervallic check the fit of especially the receiver worn by means of the earpiece inside the ear canal, easily.
  • information about the type of the applied receiver is determined by way of comparing the (vibration) measure with the reference measure.
  • each type of receiver features an individual sound spectrum and, accordingly, also a distinctly assigned frequency response. Therefore, especially in the scope of hearing devices that are enabled for a change of the receiver it is possible to identify the type of the respective receiver, for example the size of the receiver (i.e. in the respective maximum output signal strength) by means of the electro-acoustic characteristics of the receiver itself.
  • a signal processing module is preferably constituted by a signal processor designed to adapt audio input signals according to preferably user specific sound characteristics and to afterwards transmit them to the receiver.
  • the signal processing module is preferably constituted by a signal processor designed to adapt audio input signals according to preferably user specific sound characteristics and to afterwards transmit them to the receiver.
  • the present embodiment is preferably combined with one of the embodiments described above.
  • the hearing device comprises the aforementioned signal output transducer as well as the vibration sensitive sensor assigned to that transducer.
  • the vibration sensitive sensor is coupled indirectly or directly to the transducer (as described above).
  • the hearing device comprises the above mentioned signal processing module, i.e. the signal processor.
  • the signal processing module is adapted to conduct the method as described above, especially according to one or the combination of several of the above described embodiments of the method.
  • the hearing device is constituted generally by the receiver that preferably is to be worn at the ear or in the ear canal.
  • the hearing device is constituted by headphones, especially in-ear-headphones, by so called “hearables", by headsets, by communication devices, by hearing assistance devices (also: hearing aids) or the like.
  • hearing assistance device is in particular constituted by a behind the ear or in the ear hearing aid.
  • the signal processing module i.e. the signal processor
  • the signal processing module is built at least fundamentally by a microcontroller with a processor and a data storage.
  • the functionality to conduct the method according to the invention is implemented by means of an operating software ("firmware") as a program such that the method can be conducted - optionally by interaction with the user of the hearing device - automatically by executing the operating software in the microcontroller.
  • the signal processing module is alternatively constituted by a nonprogrammable electronic component, such as an ASIC, inside of which the functionality for conducting the method according to the invention is implemented by means of circuitry.
  • the vibration sensitive sensor is positioned on the outside of a receiver housing, in particular of its housing wall.
  • the sensor is in contrast positioned on the inside of the housing wall, i.e. in the inside of the receiver housing.
  • the sensor is preferably connected permanently to the receiver.
  • the sensor is build integral with the receiver.
  • the receiver is preferably designed as a so called "balanced armature receiver".
  • the receiver is built as a dynamic transducer, a condenser receiver, a piezo receiver, a micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) or the like.
  • MEMS micro-electro-mechanical-system
  • the vibration sensitive sensor is positioned at the earpiece supporting the receiver with a distance to the housing wall of the receiver being especially small in regard to the size of the whole hearing device. In that case, the receiver is manufactured separately from the sensor and preferably also changeable separately.
  • the receiver is designed as a so called double receiver.
  • the receiver comprises two membranes for generating (airborne) sound that vibrate mirror inverted (i.e. symmetrically opposed) during intended operation.
  • one common sound output opening is assigned to both membranes.
  • a common receiver sprout is assigned to both membranes. Since the vibrations of both membranes especially in direction normal to the plane of the membranes compensate each other during intended operation the vibration sensitive sensor is arranged with its sensor direction along the direction of the planes of the membranes with regard to the receiver. Then, the vibrations directed in the direction of the planes of the membranes do not compensate each other.
  • the term "sensor direction” is to be understood especially that it forms the direction along which the sensor is able to detect vibration.
  • the receiver is also designed as a double receiver with the membranes vibrating mirror inverted during intended operation.
  • a respective sound output opening is assigned to each of the membranes.
  • one respective receiver spout as well as one respective sound canal with a respective sound output opening in the earpiece are assigned to each of the membranes.
  • a respective cerumen guard is assigned to each of the sound output openings, as well.
  • the cerumen guard can be one single part that serves for protection of both sound output openings. Otherwise, there can be one cerumen guard for each sound output opening.
  • the sensor is preferably aligned with its sensor direction along the direction normal to both membranes.
  • a vibration is especially not detected until one of both sound output openings are clogged at least partly. Due to such asymmetric clogging of both sound output openings the two receiver parts get distorted against each other in respect to the vibration, i.e. they vibrate unsymmetrically.
  • the present embodiment enables an especially sensitive detection of a clogging of the sound output openings with cerumen, since it is supposed that both sound output openings will be clocked differently with cerumen, with a high probability.
  • the vibration sensitive sensor is preferably resembled by a MEMS.
  • the sensor is resembled by a conventional electret microphone whose sound input opening is closed against intrusion of cerumen and air such that it is only sensitive for structure born sound, i.e. for vibration.
  • that electret microphone is preferably adapted with its sensitivity to the present frequency of the receiver.
  • the vibration sensitive sensor is connected to the feedback filter described above, i.e. to the controller for feedback suppression.
  • Such feedback filter is normally provided by especially a hearing assistance device in any way. Therefore, input ports expediently provided for wiring, in any way, are used for the vibration sensitive sensor whereby it is enabled to safe wiring effort.
  • Fig. 1 a hearing device by means of a schematic interconnection illustration
  • Fig. 2 a vibration spectrum of a receiver of the hearing device in a schematic diagram
  • Fig. 3 a sequence of a method for monitoring electro-acoustic- performance of the hearing device according to figure 1 in a schematic operational diagram, in principle, and
  • Fig. 4 to 8 in a schematic side view several respectively alternative embodiments of a receiver of the hearing device with a vibration sensitive sensor. Equivalent parts and dimensions are provided with the same reference signs in all figures.
  • FIG. 1 shows a hearing device 1 in form of a hearing assistance device.
  • the hearing device 1 comprises a housing 2 that encases a number of electric components of the hearing device 1 .
  • the hearing device 1 comprises two microphones 3 for detection of sounds as well as a signal processor 4.
  • the signal processor 4 during intended operation of the hearing device 1 the detected sounds, in particular audio input signals output by the microphones 3 and constituting the sounds in the way of electric signals, are filtered by means of deposited signal processing algorithms, amplified and provided as audio output signals for transformation into an acoustic signal (i.e. airborne sound).
  • the hearing device 1 For transformation of the audio output signals the hearing device 1 comprises a signal transducer, in particular a receiver 5 that is aligned outside of the housing 2 and connected by means of a cable link 6 mechanically to the housing 2 and electrically (in terms of signal transmission) to the signal processor 4. Additionally, the receiver 5 is surrounded by an earpiece 7.
  • the earpiece 7 is constituted by a so called ear dome that is not adapted specifically to an ear canal of an individual user of the hearing device 1 . Rather, the earpiece 7 is made of flexible material and devised as a standard element made for usage by a plurality of users.
  • the hearing device 1 is constituted by a so called receiver-in-canal-hearing aid that is also named as RIC-hearing aid or shortly RIC.
  • the hearing device 1 comprises additionally a vibration sensitive sensor which is named in the following as vibration sensor 8. That vibration sensor 8 is assigned to the receiver 5 and, thus, positioned in the earpiece 7, as well. According to an alternative embodiment that is not displayed here, the vibration sensitive sensor is positioned on the outside of the earpiece 7.
  • the vibration sensor 8 serves for detection of vibrations that are caused by the sound production of the receiver 5 during intended operation of the hearing device 1 .
  • the vibration sensor 8 is connected to the signal processor 4.
  • the signal processor 4 is adapted to determine as a measure a frequency response of the receiver from the measurement signals. Thereby, the measure is characteristic for the vibration of the receiver 5. Therefore, the vibration sensor 8 can provide information about electro-acoustic performance of the receiver 5 and, thus, of the whole hearing device 1 .
  • the receiver 5 In an intended wearing position the receiver 5 is aligned with the earpiece 7 inside the ear canal of the individual user. Therefore, the receiver 5 is prone to the cerumen produced in the ear canal which can cause obstruction, in particular clogging of a sound output opening 9 of the earpiece 7.
  • the earpiece 7 comprises a cerumen guard (also: wax filter) which is not displayed here in detail.
  • the cerumen guard In the scope of the displayed ear dome the cerumen guard is resembled by a cover of the sound output opening 9 in form of some kind of cover or sieve that exhibits a plurality of smaller passage openings that enable prevention or at least reduction of an intrusion of cerumen.
  • the signal processor 4 is designed for executing a method described in detail in the following.
  • the measure detected by means of the vibration sensor 8 varies with increased clogging of the sound output opening 9.
  • Fig. 2 displays a vibration spectrum of the receiver 5 determined by means of the vibration sensor 8.
  • Fig. 2 there is particularly shown a dimension I derived from an amplitude of the detected vibration (or the amplitude itself) marked in decibel over a (logarithmically marked) frequency f.
  • the dotted line shows the vibration spectrum of the receiver 5 in case of an open, i.e. completely unobstructed sound output opening 9.
  • the broken line shows the vibration spectrum in case of a partly obstructed sound output opening 9 and the continuous line shows the vibration spectrum in case of a completely blocked sound output opening 9.
  • the method executed by the signal processor 4 serves for monitoring electro- acoustic performance of the receiver 5. Therefore, the signal processor 4 determines in a calibration step 20 at first a reference measure for the measure, in particular a reference distribution of the frequency response of the receiver 5.
  • the reference distribution thus shows the frequency response for known environment conditions, in particular in case of an open sound output opening 9.
  • the reference measure is stored for later availability in a search module of the signal processor 4.
  • the signal processor determines by means of the vibration sensor 8 - caused by an input of the user, after a predefined interval or due to reaching a predefined state of the hearing device 1 - the measure for the vibration of the receiver 5.
  • the vibration sensor 8 - caused by an input of the user, after a predefined interval or due to reaching a predefined state of the hearing device 1 - the measure for the vibration of the receiver 5.
  • an acoustic test signal is output by means of the receiver 5 or the sound output of the receiver 5 during normal operation is used.
  • a comparison step 40 the measure is compared with the reference measure and it is determined whether the measure overshoots the reference measure by 2 decibel or more. In that case, within an instruction step 50 as an action an instruction is issued to change the earpiece 7. Subsequently to the change of the earpiece the method step 30 is repeated.
  • the measure does not overshoot the reference measure the monitoring of the electro-acoustic performance is terminated in a method step 60 (for example until the next triggering).
  • the method for monitoring as described above is running in the background.
  • the change of the earpiece 7 is realized on the basis of the measure determined by means of the vibration sensor 8.
  • a characteristic snapping sound i.e. a peak at distinct frequencies, is detected within the vibration spectrum.
  • the user has to confirm the change of the earpiece 7 by means of a respective input, for example by operating a remote control, by operating a switch or the like.
  • Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of the receiver 5 and of the vibration sensor 8.
  • the receiver 5 exhibits an outer shape being approximately box shaped. The shape being composed by a receiver housing 70 and having rounded corners and edges. Inside of this receiver housing 70 there is a membrane stretched along a length direction 72 of the receiver 5 (not shown in detail). During intended operation of the receiver 5 the membrane is vibrated by a drive section also named as "motor”. At a face side 74 of the receiver housing 70 there is a sound socket 76 (also named as "receiver sprout”). That sound socket 76 is founded about a sound opening in the receiver housing 70. Through that sound socket 76, the airborne sound caused by the vibrating membrane exits from the receiver housing 70. By means of that sound socket 76, the receiver 5 is inserted into a sound canal 78 adjoining the sound output opening 9 on the inside of the earpiece 7.
  • the vibration sensor 8 is put directly onto the speaker housing 70.
  • the vibration sensor 8 is connected fixedly, i.e. inseparable, with the receiver housing 70 and, thus, together with the receiver 5 constitutes one unit.
  • the vibration sensor 8 is aligned with its sensor direction 80 perpendicular to the length direction 72 and, thus, also perpendicular to the plane of the membrane of the receiver 5.
  • the term "sensor direction 80" is understood to be a direction along which the vibration sensor 8 is sensitive for vibration.
  • the vibration sensor 8 is furthermore positioned at a spot of the receiver housing 70 being remote from the sound socket 76.
  • Fig. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the receiver 5, wherein the vibration sensor 8 is located as near as possible to the sound socket 76. In that case, variations of the vibration caused by clogging of the sound output opening 9 (or possibly also of the sound socket 76) can be detected especially well.
  • the vibration sensor 8 is integrated into the receiver 5. That means that the vibration sensor 8 is located inside of the receiver housing 70. In that case, the vibration sensor 8 is aligned with its sensor direction 80 along the length direction 72.
  • Fig. 7 shows another alternative embodiment wherein the receiver 5 is designed as a so called double receiver.
  • the receiver 5 comprises two fully- fedged receivers (each named as "subreceiver 82") that are fitted together in parallel to the length direction 72.
  • both subreceivers 82 are enclosed by a common housing (also named as receiver housing 70).
  • the common receiver housing 70 is illustrated in parts, however.
  • the respective sound outputs of both subreceivers 82 open out into one common sound socket 76. That means that the double receiver according to Fig. 7 only has one sound socket 76.
  • the subreceivers 82 are furthermore aligned such that during intended operation the respective membranes of both subreceivers 82 vibrate mirror-inverted.
  • the vibrations being perpendicular to the plane of the membranes compensate each other. Because of that, the vibration sensor 8 according to the present embodiment is positioned with its sensor direction 80 along the length direction 72, i.e. perpendicular to the main direction of vibration of the membranes. That is because the vibrations of both membranes do not compensate each other in length direction 72.
  • Fig. 8 shows another alternative embodiment of the receiver 5, wherein the receiver 5 is also designed as a double receiver.
  • one respective sound socket 76 is assigned to each of the
  • the receiver 5 and the vibration sensor 8 resemble a common unit as described above. In that embodiment the signal ports of the vibration sensor 8 and of the receiver 5 are combined in a common port, especially in a common line, in particular in a common cable.
  • the common unit made up from the receiver 5 and the vibration sensor 8 constitutes an invention for itself, as well.
  • the subject matter of the invention is not constricted by the embodiments described above. Rather, further embodiments of the invention can be derived from the specification above by a person skilled in the art. Especially, the respective features of the invention described by the different embodiments can be combined with each other in other ways, also.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Neurosurgery (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Measurement Of The Respiration, Hearing Ability, Form, And Blood Characteristics Of Living Organisms (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé permettant de surveiller la performance électro-acoustique d'un dispositif auditif électro-acoustique (1) qui comprend un transducteur de sortie (5) émettant un signal de sortie à base de vibrations. Selon le procédé, une mesure caractéristique d'une vibration du transducteur (5) provoquée par l'émission de son au moyen d'un capteur sensible aux vibrations (8) qui est couplé directement ou indirectement au récepteur (5) est détectée. En outre, la mesure est comparée à une mesure de référence, et une action est prise si la mesure dépasse la mesure de référence.
PCT/EP2017/059441 2016-12-09 2017-04-20 Procédé de surveillance de la performance électro-acoustique d'un dispositif auditif et dispositif auditif WO2018103899A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102016224651 2016-12-09
DE102016224651.8 2016-12-09

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WO2018103899A1 true WO2018103899A1 (fr) 2018-06-14

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102018212704B3 (de) * 2018-07-30 2019-11-21 Sivantos Pte. Ltd. Halteschirm

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2061274A1 (fr) * 2007-11-19 2009-05-20 Oticon A/S Instrument d'aide auditive utilisant des récepteurs dotés de propriétés de performance différents
EP2104376A2 (fr) * 2008-03-20 2009-09-23 Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd. Procédé de réduction d'occlusion active à l'aide d'une vérification de plausibilité et dispositif auditif approprié
EP2640095A1 (fr) * 2012-03-15 2013-09-18 Phonak AG Méthode d'appareillage d'une aide auditive avec contrôle actif de l'occlusion à un utilisateur
EP2677770A1 (fr) * 2012-06-21 2013-12-25 Oticon A/s Prothèse auditive comprenant une alarme de rétroaction
EP2966881A1 (fr) * 2014-07-11 2016-01-13 Oticon A/s Dispositif d'aide auditive avec fonction de contrôle de l'oreille

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2061274A1 (fr) * 2007-11-19 2009-05-20 Oticon A/S Instrument d'aide auditive utilisant des récepteurs dotés de propriétés de performance différents
EP2104376A2 (fr) * 2008-03-20 2009-09-23 Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd. Procédé de réduction d'occlusion active à l'aide d'une vérification de plausibilité et dispositif auditif approprié
EP2640095A1 (fr) * 2012-03-15 2013-09-18 Phonak AG Méthode d'appareillage d'une aide auditive avec contrôle actif de l'occlusion à un utilisateur
EP2677770A1 (fr) * 2012-06-21 2013-12-25 Oticon A/s Prothèse auditive comprenant une alarme de rétroaction
EP2966881A1 (fr) * 2014-07-11 2016-01-13 Oticon A/s Dispositif d'aide auditive avec fonction de contrôle de l'oreille

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102018212704B3 (de) * 2018-07-30 2019-11-21 Sivantos Pte. Ltd. Halteschirm
US11019437B2 (en) 2018-07-30 2021-05-25 Sivantos Pte. Ltd. Ear dome for a receiver of a hearing device, method of manufacturing an ear dome, and hearing device

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