Abstract: A method (300) of operating a hearing aid system (100), wherein the dynamic range of input signal levels is improved by reducing the sensitivity of an input transducer in response to a trigger event while at the same time applying a gain adapted to compensate the reduced sensitivity and a hearing aid system (100, 200) adapted to carry out the method.

Abstract: A programming equipment (1) for programming (fitting) of a programmable hearing aid (2) comprises means for receiving information on the state of operation of signal processing systems included in the hearing aid. This information is utilized to present a graphical representation of the state of operation of these systems to the person performing the programming. The invention further provides a hearing aid and a method of programming a hearing aid.

Abstract: A hearing aid system and method of operating the hearing aid system, wherein the impedance of a hearing aid receiver is measured, values of two hearing aid receiver parameters are derived based on the measurements, an electro-acoustical model of the receiver is provided using the derived values, the model is used to predict (i) a non-distorted membrane displacement based on the derived values of the parameters measured at a zero bias voltage, and (ii) a distorted membrane displacement based on the derived values of the parameters measured at a non-zero bias voltage, based on the predicted displacements, a compensation gain is determined suitable to compensate non-linear distortion of the hearing aid receiver, and the compensation gain is applied to the processing of a hearing aid input signal.

Abstract: A hearing aid system and method of operating the hearing aid system, wherein the impedance of a hearing aid receiver is measured, the measured impedance is used to determine non-linearity characteristics of the receiver, and upon detecting that the non-linearity exceeds a threshold, the user is alerted and/or the receiver non-linearity is compensated.

Abstract: A method (300) of operating a hearing aid system (100), wherein the dynamic range of input signal levels is improved by reducing the sensitivity of an input transducer in response to a trigger event while at the same time applying a gain adapted to compensate the reduced sensitivity and a hearing aid system (100, 200) adapted to carry out the method.

Abstract: A method (400) of operating a hearing aid system, wherein the sensitivity of an input transducer is reduced in response to a trigger event, whereby clipping due to limited dynamic range of the input transducer can be avoided and wherein the sensitivity of the input transducer is controlled using a digital pulse train whereby a high resolution control is obtained and a hearing aid system adapted to carry out the method.

Abstract: A method of operating a hearing aid system and a hearing aid system adapted to carry out said method, wherein said hearing aid system comprises a hearing aid (700).

Abstract: A method of operating a hearing aid system and a hearing aid system adapted to carry out said method, wherein said hearing aid system comprises a hearing aid (400).

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a hearing aid component adapted for fitting in the auditory canal of a hearing aid user, the hearing aid component having a covering of resilient material on at least part of its outside surface and having an inner sound conveying part, the method including the steps of acquiring data representing the shape of the auditory canal of the user; forming a three-dimensional computer model of the shape of the hearing aid component based on the acquired data; forming a three-dimensional computer model of a mould for casting the covering; manufacturing the mould in a rapid prototyping process based on the three-dimensional model; casting the covering in the mould; removing the mould from the covering; and forming the hearing aid component by joining the covering with the inner sound conveying part.

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus (100) for a hearing aid with a controllable directional characteristic is provided which comprises a directional controller (10) receiving first and second microphone signals (20, 30) and output an output signal (40), a signal analyzer (70) which detects whether at least one of said first and second microphone signals being undesired signals, and wherein said directional controller minimizes the output signal by adjusting the directional characteristic only if the signal analyzer has detected undesired signals.

Abstract: An elastic sleeve member (1) for a receiver module of a hearing aid of the receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) type comprises an elongated housing adapted for receiving an electrical input signal from said hearing aid, a sound output port and at least one receiver for converting said input signal to an acoustic output signal. The sleeve member (1) comprises a body (2) adapted to at least partly enclose said receiver module, and a spout (3) for extending said sound output port of the elongated housing into the ear. The invention further provides a receiver assembly and a hearing aid.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a hearing aid component (15, 50) adapted for fitting in the auditory canal of a hearing aid user, the hearing aid component having a covering of resilient material on at least part of its outside surface and the hearing aid component having an inner sound conveying part (16, 56) comprises the steps of acquiring data representing the shape of the auditory canal of a hearing aid user; forming a three-dimensional computer model of the shape of the hearing aid component (15, 50) based on the acquired data; forming a three-dimensional computer model of a mould (10, 40) for casting the covering; manufacturing said mould in a rapid prototyping process based on said three-dimensional computer model of the mould; casting the covering in the mould; removing the mould from the covering; and forming said hearing aid component by joining the covering with the inner sound conveying part. The invention further concerns a hearing aid comprising a hearing aid component manufactured by this method.

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus (100) for a hearing aid with a controllable directional characteristic is provided which comprises a directional controller (10) receiving first and second microphone signals (20, 30) and output an output signal (40), a signal analyzer (70) which detects whether at least one of said first and second microphone signals being undesired signals, and wherein said directional controller minimizes the output signal by adjusting the directional characteristic only if the signal analyzer has detected undesired signals.

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus (100) for a hearing aid with a controllable directional characteristic is provided which comprises a directional controller (10) receiving first and second microphone signals (20, 30) and output an output signal (40), a signal analyzer (70) which detects whether at least one of said first and second microphone signals being undesired signals, and wherein said directional controller minimizes the output signal by adjusting the directional characteristic only if the signal analyzer has detected undesired signals.

Abstract: In an output stage for a hearing aid (62), a reduction in the power consumption for low level input signals is obtained through the use of a time-averaging output driver (42), whereby the output transducer is subject to three different conditions of operations, this being obtained through the generation of three-state control signals for control of a H-bridge. The three-state control signals are generated through the use of a time-averaging device whereby the two-level output of a single bit Sigma-Delta modulator (21) is transformed to a set of control signals that, at any given time, can assume one of three states. In a preferred embodiment the time-averaging device is a delay (40).

Abstract: A programming equipment (1) for programming (fitting) of a programmable hearing aid (2) comprises means for receiving information on the state of operation of signal processing systems included in the hearing aid. This information is utilized to present a graphical representation of the state of operation of these systems to the person performing the programming. The invention further provides a hearing aid and a method of programming a hearing aid.

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus (100) for a hearing aid with a controllable directional characteristic is provided which comprises a directional controller (10) receiving first and second microphone signals (20, 30) and output an output signal (40), a signal analyzer (70) which detects whether at least one of said first and second microphone signals being undesired signals, and wherein said directional controller minimizes the output signal by adjusting the directional characteristic only if the signal analyzer has detected undesired signals.

Abstract: A hearing aid with a test controller for detection of a defect in the signal path of the hearing aid is provided. The test controller controls a test signal generator and a probe means for determination of a signal parameter, such as signal level, frequency spectrum, phase characteristic, auto-correlation, cross-correlation, etc. A set of signal switches controlled by the test controller is provided for connecting a desired test signal generator or a desired probe means to a desired point in the signal path for testing of a desired part of the hearing aid. Further signal switches are provided for coupling hearing aid components into and out of the signal path of the hearing aid.

Abstract: A hearing aid with a directional characteristic, including at least two spaced apart input transducers and wherein transducer signal type, such as transducer noise, wind noise, sound emitted from a sound source located in the surroundings of the hearing aid, distorted signals, such as clipped signals, slew rate limited signals, etc, is determined, and wherein signal processing in the hearing aid, such as transducer matching, filtering, signal combination, etc, is adapted according to the determined signal type. For example, the directional characteristic may be switched to an omnidirectional characteristic when at least one of the input transducer signals is dominated by noise or distortion, and/or adaptive matching of input transducers may be put on hold while at least one of the input transducer signals is dominated by noise or distortion.

Abstract: Change over of the sound receiving characteristic of a hearing aid having spaced apart first and second microphone means (Fmic, Bmic) between the omnidirectional characteristic and a directional characteristic is effected by controlled attenuation and time or phase delay of signals derived from the signals (Xfront, Xback) from the first and second microphone means before forming and overall combined signal (Y) to be supplied to the hearing aid signal processor, whereby the overall combined signal (Y) is determined by Y=Xfront*(1−omni*e−j&ohgr;T)+Xback*(omni−e−j&ohgr;T), where omni is an adjustable attenuation control parameter preferably in the range 0≦omni≦1 and T is a time delay corresponding to the acoustical delay between the first and second microphone means.