Abstract: A method is described for generating electrical stimulation signals for stimulation contacts in an auditory implant system. Characteristic feature periods are determined for frequency components in an input audio signal. For selected feature periods that meet a period selection criteria, adjusted feature periods are determined that correspond to a nearest integer multiple of a language-specific fundamental period. A corresponding stimulation rate frequency is determined for each adjusted feature period, and each stimulation rate frequency is assigned to one or more stimulation contacts. The stimulation signals are then generated for the stimulation contacts at their respective stimulation rate frequencies.

Abstract: Arrangements are described for generating electrode stimulation signals for stimulation contacts in implanted electrode arrays of a bilateral hearing implant system having electrode arrays on both the left- and right-sides. Left-side and right-side audio input signals are processed to generate corresponding left-side and right-side band pass signals, which each represent an associated band of audio frequencies in the audio input signal. Frequency-specific interaural time delays (ITDs) are estimated for the band pass signals, and the estimated ITDs are used to adjust interaural level differences (ILDs) in the band pass signals. The adjusted band pass signals then are used to generate left-side and right-side electrode stimulation signals for the stimulation contacts in the corresponding left-side and right-side electrode arrays.

Abstract: Arrangements are described for generating electrode stimulation signals for an implanted electrode array having multiple stimulation contacts. An audio input preprocessor receives an input audio signal and generates band pass signals that represent associated bands of audio frequencies. A band pass signal analyzer analyzes each band pass signal to detect when one of the band pass signal components reaches a defined transition event state. A stimulation signal generator generates a set of electrode stimulation signals for the stimulation contacts from the band pass signals such that the electrode stimulation signals to a given stimulation contact: i. use a transition event stimulation pattern whenever a transition event is detected in a band pass signal associated with the given stimulation contact, and ii. use a different non-transition stimulation pattern after the transition event stimulation pattern until a next subsequent transition event is detected.

Abstract: Electrode stimulation signals are generated for an implanted electrode array. An acoustic audio signal is processed with a bank of filters that are each associated with a band of audio frequencies, and a set of band pass signals is generated with each band pass signal corresponding to the band of frequencies associated with one of the filters. Stimulation information is extracted from the band pass signals to generate a set of stimulation event signals defining electrode stimulation signals. Then the stimulation event signals are weighted with a weighted matrix of stimulation amplitudes reflecting patient-specific perceptual characteristics to produce a set of electrode stimulation signals for electrodes in the implanted electrode array.

Abstract: A system is described for generating electrode stimulation signals for stimulation electrodes in an implanted electrode array on a given side of a bilateral cochlear implant system. A pre-processor module processes an acoustic audio signal with a bank of filters to generate a set of band pass signals each corresponding to a band of audio frequencies associated with one of the filters. An automatic gain control (AGC) circuit performs a channel specific dynamic amplitude mapping of the band pass signals to generate a set of compressed band pass signals. The AGC circuit uses a bilateral multiplication matrix characterizing a lateral suppression network and having at least one non-zero coupling element from a contralateral side. A stimulation timing module extracts stimulation information from the compressed band pass signals to generate stimulation timing signals. A pulse shaper module develops the stimulation timing signals into electrode stimulation signals to the stimulation electrodes.

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 signal processing arrangement generates electrode stimulation signals to stimulation contacts in a cochlear implant electrode array. A signal filter bank transforms an input sound signal into band pass signals, which each represent an associated frequency band of audio frequencies. An envelope processing module processes the band pass signals in a sequence of sampling time frames, wherein for each time frame, the processing includes calculating for each band pass signal at least one signal envelope dynamic property that is changing during the time frame. A channel selection module selects one or more of the band pass signals for each time frame based on the dynamic properties to produce the electrode stimulation signals to the stimulation contacts.

Abstract: A method is described for generating electrical stimulation signals for stimulation contacts in an auditory implant system. Characteristic feature periods are determined for frequency components in an input audio signal. For selected feature periods that meet a period selection criteria, adjusted feature periods are determined that correspond to a nearest integer multiple of a language-specific fundamental period. A corresponding stimulation rate frequency is determined for each adjusted feature period, and each stimulation rate frequency is assigned to one or more stimulation contacts. The stimulation signals are then generated for the stimulation contacts at their respective stimulation rate frequencies.

Abstract: A system and method for activating stimulation electrodes in cochlear implant electrode is described. A preprocessor filter bank is configured to process an input acoustic audio signal to generate band pass signals that each represent an associated band of audio frequencies. An information extractor is configured to extract stimulation signal information from the band pass signals based on assigning the band pass signals to corresponding electrode stimulation groups that each contain one or more stimulation electrodes, and generates a set of stimulation event signals for each electrode stimulation group that define electrode stimulation timings and amplitudes. A pulse selector is configured to select a set of electrode stimulation signals from the stimulation event signals based on a pulse weighting function that uses channel-specific weighting factors favoring lower frequencies for activating the stimulation electrodes to stimulate neighboring audio nerve tissue.

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: A system and method for activating stimulation electrodes in cochlear implant electrode is described. A preprocessor filter bank is configured to process an input acoustic audio signal to generate band pass signals that each represent an associated band of audio frequencies. An information extractor is configured to extract stimulation signal information from the band pass signals based on assigning the band pass signals to corresponding electrode stimulation groups that each contain one or more stimulation electrodes, and generates a set of stimulation event signals for each electrode stimulation group that define electrode stimulation timings and amplitudes. A pulse selector is configured to select a set of electrode stimulation signals from the stimulation event signals based on a pulse weighting function that uses channel-specific weighting factors favoring lower frequencies for activating the stimulation electrodes to stimulate neighboring audio nerve tissue.

Abstract: A system and method for activating stimulation electrodes in cochlear implant electrode is described. A preprocessor filter bank processes an input acoustic audio signal to generate band pass signals that each represent an associated band of audio frequencies. An information extractor extracts stimulation signal information from the band pass signals based on assigning the band pass signals to corresponding electrode stimulation groups that each contain one or more stimulation electrodes, and generates a set of stimulation event signals for each electrode stimulation group that define electrode stimulation timings and amplitudes. A pulse selector selects a set of electrode stimulation signals from the stimulation event signals based on a pulse weighting function that uses channel-specific weighting factors favoring lower frequencies for activating the stimulation electrodes to stimulate neighboring audio nerve tissue.

Abstract: A signal processing system is described for a cochlear implant. A pre-processor filter bank processes an acoustic audio signal to generate band pass signals which represent associated bands of audio frequencies. An information extraction module defines macro bands, each of which characterizes multiple band pass signals, and processes the macro bands in a sequence of sampling intervals. For each sampling interval the information extraction module processing includes: i. extracting timing and energy information from each band pass signal to form requested stimulation events, ii. decimating the requested stimulation events to select a maximum energy band pass signal within each macro band, and iii. decimating each selected band pass signal based on a pulse selection inhibition function and preserving temporal and spectral structures of the band pass signals so as to generate stimulation event signals.

Abstract: A method of developing a weighting matrix for a cochlear implant patient is described. An electrode stimulus signal is derived from a first musical signal. A set of further stimulus signals is derived that have a defined musical relation to the first musical signal. A set of weighting values are selected for the stimulation electrodes for the electrode stimulus signal. Then the weighting values are set for the stimulation electrodes for each of the further stimulus signals. Each of the stimulus signals is consecutively presented to the patient and the weighting values individually adjusted for each of the further stimulus signals until the series of stimulus signals elicits an increasing pitch percept according to the defined musical relation. The adjusted weighting values are stored and assigned to a corresponding analysis channel.

Abstract: A system and method of signal processing for a hearing implant. The hearing implant includes at least one electrode, each electrode associated with a channel specific sampling sequence. An acoustic audio signal is processed to generate for each electrode a band pass signal representing an associated band of audio frequency. For each electrode, a sequence signal is determined as a function of the electrode's associated band pass signal and channel specific sampling sequence. An envelope of each band pass signal is determined. The envelope of each band pass signal is filtered to reduce modulations resulting from unresolved harmonics, creating for each electrode an associated filtered envelope signal. Each electrode's sequence signal is weighted based, at least in part, on the electrode's associated filtered envelope signal.

Abstract: A method is described for generating electrode stimulation signals for an implanted electrode array. An acoustic audio signal is processed to generate band pass signals each representing an associated band of audio frequencies. Stimulation information is extracted from the band pass signals to generate stimulation event signals defining electrode stimulation signals. The stimulation event signals are mapped according to independent channel-specific loudness functions to produce a set of electrode stimulation signals within channel-specific minimum and maximum threshold levels. The electrode stimulation signals are developed into a set of output electrode pulses to the electrodes in the implanted electrode array.

Abstract: An implantable device includes a multi-channel electrode array in which each channel is associated with an electrode in the array. An audio processing stage processes an input audio signal to produce output channel signals representing associated bands of audio frequencies. A timing and envelope detector processes the output channel signals in a sequence of sampling intervals, including, for each sampling interval, determining for each output channel signal a set of pulse timing requests. A pulse selection amplitude definition stage determines for each set of requested pulse timings a set of output pulses at specified times and amplitudes selected from the set of requested pulse timings based on a pulse selection inhibition function.

Abstract: A method is described for generating electrode stimulation signals for a plurality of stimulation electrodes in an implanted electrode array. An acoustic audio signal is processed with a bank of filters to generate a set of band pass signals where each band pass signal corresponds to a band of audio frequencies associated with one of the filters. A lateral suppression network is used to perform channel specific dynamic amplitude mapping of the band pass signals to generate a set of compressed band pass signals. Stimulation information is extracted from the compressed band pass signals to generate a set of stimulation timing signals, and the stimulation timing signals are developed into a set of electrode stimulation signals to the stimulation electrodes.

Abstract: Generating electrode stimulation signals for an implanted electrode array is described. An acoustic audio signal is processed to generate band pass signals which represent associated bands of audio frequencies. Macro bands are defined, each of which characterizes multiple band pass signals. The macro bands are processed in a sequence of sampling intervals. For each sampling interval, the processing includes: i. extracting timing and energy information from each band pass signal to form requested stimulation events, ii. decimating the requested stimulation events to select a maximum energy band pass signal within each macro band, and iii. decimating each selected band pass signal based on a pulse selection inhibition function and preserving temporal and spectral structures of the band pass signals so as to generate stimulation event signals.

Abstract: A system and method of signal processing for a hearing implant. The hearing implant includes at least one electrode, each electrode associated with a channel specific sampling sequence. An acoustic audio signal is processed to generate for each electrode a band pass signal representing an associated band of audio frequency. For each electrode, a sequence signal is determined as a function of the electrode's associated band pass signal and channel specific sampling sequence. An envelope of each band pass signal is determined. The envelope of each band pass signal is filtered to reduce modulations resulting from unresolved harmonics, creating for each electrode an associated filtered envelope signal. Each electrode's sequence signal is weighted based, at least in part, on the electrode's associated filtered envelope signal.