Abstract: A hearing prosthesis arrangement is described for a hearing assisted patient. A microphone senses an acoustic environment around the hearing assisted patient and generates a corresponding microphone output signal. An audio signal processor processes the microphone output signal and produces a corresponding prosthesis stimulation signal to the patient for audio perception. The audio signal processor includes a dereverberation process that measures a dedicated reverberation reference signal produced in the acoustic environment to determine reverberation characteristics of the acoustic environment, and reduces reverberation effects in the hearing prosthesis stimulation signal based on the reverberation characteristics.

Abstract: A signal processing system is described for a hearing implant system. A band pass filter bank processes an audio input signal to generate band pass signals. An implant signal processor processes the band pass signals to generate electrode stimulation signals. The processing includes: i. monitoring a key feature characteristic of the audio input signal, ii. using an original coding strategy to generate the electrode stimulation signals when the key feature is less than or equal to an initial value, and iii. using a different new coding strategy to generate the electrode stimulation signals when the key feature is greater than or equal to a coding change value. The implant signal processor automatically transitions from the original coding strategy to the new coding strategy over a transition period of time by adaptively changing the original coding strategy to become the new coding strategy.

Abstract: A hearing prosthesis arrangement is described for a hearing assisted patient. A microphone senses an acoustic environment around the hearing assisted patient and generates a corresponding microphone output signal. An audio signal processor processes the microphone output signal and produces a corresponding prosthesis stimulation signal to the patient for audio perception. The audio signal processor includes a dereverberation process that measures a dedicated reverberation reference signal produced in the acoustic environment to determine reverberation characteristics of the acoustic environment, and reduces reverberation effects in the hearing prosthesis stimulation signal based on the reverberation characteristics.

Abstract: An input sound signal is processed to generate band pass signals. Band pass envelope signals are extracted that reflect time varying amplitude of the band pass signals. Stimulation timing signals are generated that reflect the temporal fine structure features of the band pass signals. A key feature value present in the input sound signal or the band pass signals is monitored. For one or more selected band pass signals, a stimulation coding strategy is selected from multiple possible stimulation coding strategies based on the key feature value. The multiple possible stimulation coding strategies including an envelope-based stimulation coding strategy based on the band pass envelope signals, and an event-based stimulation coding strategy based on the stimulation timing signals. The selected stimulation coding strategy is used to produce the electrode stimulation signals for the electrode contacts.

Abstract: A signal processing system is described for a hearing implant system. A band pass filter bank processes an audio input signal to generate band pass signals. An implant signal processor processes the band pass signals to generate electrode stimulation signals. The processing includes: i. monitoring a key feature characteristic of the audio input signal, ii. using an original coding strategy to generate the electrode stimulation signals when the key feature is less than or equal to an initial value, and iii. using a different new coding strategy to generate the electrode stimulation signals when the key feature is greater than or equal to a coding change value. The implant signal processor automatically transitions from the original coding strategy to the new coding strategy over a transition period of time by adaptively changing the original coding strategy to become the new coding strategy.

Abstract: An input sound signal is processed to generate band pass signals. Band pass envelope signals are extracted that reflect time varying amplitude of the band pass signals. Stimulation timing signals are generated that reflect the temporal fine structure features of the band pass signals. A key feature value present in the input sound signal or the band pass signals is monitored. For one or more selected band pass signals, a stimulation coding strategy is selected from multiple possible stimulation coding strategies based on the key feature value. The multiple possible stimulation coding strategies including an envelope-based stimulation coding strategy based on the band pass envelope signals, and an event-based stimulation coding strategy based on the stimulation timing signals. The selected stimulation coding strategy is used to produce the electrode stimulation signals for the electrode contacts.

Abstract: A system and method are described for generating electrode stimulation signals for electrode contacts in a cochlear implant electrode array. An input audio signal is processed to generate band pass channel signals that each represent an associated band of audio frequencies. From each channel signal channel, audio information is extracted including a channel signal envelope reflecting channel signal energy. Initial electrode stimulation pulses are then generated based on the band pass signal envelopes. A gating function is applied to the initial electrode stimulation pulses based on a gating feedback signal characterizing preceding stimulation signals to produce gated electrode stimulation pulses. The gated electrode stimulation pulses are set to the initial electrode stimulation signals when the band pass signal envelopes are greater than the gating feedback signal, and otherwise are set to zero.

Abstract: A system and method are described for generating electrode stimulation signals for electrode contacts in a cochlear implant electrode array. An input audio signal is processed to generate band pass channel signals that each represent an associated band of audio frequencies. From each channel signal channel, audio information is extracted including a channel signal envelope reflecting channel signal energy. Initial electrode stimulation pulses are then generated based on the band pass signal envelopes. A gating function is applied to the initial electrode stimulation pulses based on a gating feedback signal characterizing preceding stimulation signals to produce gated electrode stimulation pulses. The gated electrode stimulation pulses are set to the initial electrode stimulation signals when the band pass signal envelopes are greater than the gating feedback signal, and otherwise are set to zero.

Abstract: An external device for a hearing implant system and a hearing implant system having an external device is described. An external transmitter generates a radio-frequency inductive link signal to an implanted receiver including a sequence of data word segments which communicate data to the implanted receiver, and a sequence of data word pause segments between each data word segment which communicate energy without data to the implanted receiver. A data word pause controller controls the inductive link signal during the data word pause segments according to an energy management rule.

Abstract: Printed images exhibiting a color medium are applied to the printing substrate by a printing device, the printing substrate having been provided beforehand with a viscous fluid film by an application unit arranged in front of the printing device. The color medium of the printed images migrates to a surface of the viscous fluid film and adheres there. After the drying of the fluid film the printed images are firmly fixed on the printing substrate.

Abstract: Printed images exhibiting a color medium are applied to the printing substrate by a printing device, the printing substrate having been provided beforehand with a viscous fluid film by an application unit arranged in front of the printing device. The color medium of the printed images migrates to a surface of the viscous fluid film and adheres there. After the drying of the fluid film the printed images are firmly fixed on the printing substrate.