Abstract: A method selects a communication status for a first mobile terminal. The first mobile terminal assumes a “slave” status during a first time period and waits to see whether, by a communication request from another mobile terminal to the first mobile terminal, a connection is set up to the other mobile terminal. If a connection is set up, the first mobile terminal constantly assumes the “slave” status and the other mobile terminal constantly assumes a “master” status. After the first time period without a communication request from another mobile terminal, the first mobile terminal switches from the “slave” status to the “master” status for a second time period and sends a number of communication requests to set up a connection to another mobile terminal and, if a connection is set up in this way, constantly assumes the “master” status and the other mobile terminal constantly assumes the “slave” status.

Abstract: A method operates a hearing device system that contains a hearing device and a database system, which is separate from the hearing device and is set up for communication with the hearing device. The method includes ascertaining a piece of location information for a current position of the hearing device and the location information is transmitted to the database. The database then ascertains whether an electronic device that is separate from the hearing device is situated at a prescribed physical distance from the hearing device. The presence of the separate electronic device within the prescribed physical distance is taken as a basis by the database system for creating for the hearing device a parameter set that contains a number of parameters pertaining to the signal processing of audible signals in the hearing device. This parameter set is used by the hearing device for the purpose of signal processing.

Abstract: A hearing device system includes a hearing device with a microphone, with a signal processing unit and with a loudspeaker connected to the signal processing unit, and a voice communication device coupled to the hearing device. A control unit which is integrated in the hearing device operates the system in different modes of operation. At least one device senses a distance between the voice communication device and the hearing device and the control unit operates the hearing device system in a first mode of operation when the distance is relatively short and in a second mode of operation when the distance is relatively greater. There is also described a method for operating the hearing device system.

Abstract: A method selects a communication status for a first mobile terminal. The first mobile terminal assumes a “slave” status during a first time period and waits to see whether, by a communication request from another mobile terminal to the first mobile terminal, a connection is set up to the other mobile terminal. If a connection is set up, the first mobile terminal constantly assumes the “slave” status and the other mobile terminal constantly assumes a “master” status. After the first time period without a communication request from another mobile terminal, the first mobile terminal switches from the “slave” status to the “master” status for a second time period and sends a number of communication requests to set up a connection to another mobile terminal and, if a connection is set up in this way, constantly assumes the “master” status and the other mobile terminal constantly assumes the “slave” status.

Abstract: A method operates a hearing device system that contains a hearing device and a database system, which is separate from the hearing device and is set up for communication with the hearing device. The method includes ascertaining a piece of location information for a current position of the hearing device and the location information is transmitted to the database. The database then ascertains whether an electronic device that is separate from the hearing device is situated at a prescribed physical distance from the hearing device. The presence of the separate electronic device within the prescribed physical distance is taken as a basis by the database system for creating for the hearing device a parameter set that contains a number of parameters pertaining to the signal processing of audible signals in the hearing device. This parameter set is used by the hearing device for the purpose of signal processing.

Abstract: In a method for signal processing in a hearing device, an acoustic noise signal is received by a microphone of the hearing device and processed by a signal processing unit of the hearing device for output to a hearing device user. An electromagnetic information signal is received by a receiving unit of the hearing device. From this information signal, a piece of information about an acoustic interference signal which is contained in the acoustic noise signal is derived. This piece of information is taken into account during the processing of the acoustic noise signal for reducing the acoustic interference signal.

Abstract: Artifacts occurring during frequency compression, in particular in the case of hearing aids, are avoided or reduced. The method compresses the frequency of an audio signal having a fundamental frequency and at least one harmonic. The audio signal is provided in a plurality of frequency channels. The harmonic of the audio signal is shifted or mapped from a first frequency channel of the plurality of frequency channels into a second frequency channel. In addition a frequency which is likewise harmonic with respect to the fundamental frequency is estimated in the second frequency channel, the harmonic being shifted or mapped onto the estimated frequency. As a result the harmonic pattern is preserved in the compressed signal and the artifacts are reduced.

Abstract: A method and device for frequency compression of audio signals to reduce the occurrence of artifacts. A component of the audio signal having a plurality of frequency channels is shifted from a first frequency channel into a second frequency channel. A dominant instantaneous frequency is determined in the first frequency channel. During shifting or mapping, first the entire first frequency channel, including the dominant instantaneous frequency, is shifted or mapped into the second frequency channel, wherein the dominant instantaneous frequency obtains an intermediate frequency position. A final frequency position for the dominant instantaneous frequency is determined using a predefined compression characteristic in the second frequency channel, starting from the frequency position of the dominant instantaneous frequency in the first frequency channel. Finally, the dominant instantaneous frequency is shifted or mapped from the intermediate frequency position to the final frequency position.

Abstract: Multi-stage filter bank systems with filter banks of different bandwidth frequently cause interference in hearing apparatuses and in particular in hearing devices. Therefore a hearing apparatus is proposed with a filter bank system having a multi-stage analysis filter bank and/or a multi-stage synthesis filter bank, to break down an input signal of the hearing apparatus into a number of partial band signals by way of a number of filter bank channels and/or to recombine partial band signals of a number of filter bank channels. The filter bank system is equipped with at least one equalization filter, to equalize differences in the complex frequency responses between filter bank channels. It is thus possible in particular to equalize group delay time differences as well as attenuation and/or amplification.

Abstract: A hearing aid device suitable for executing a frequency compression is optimized to achieve a better assignment between channels of a source frequency range and channels of a target frequency range. A frequency range that can be transmitted by the hearing aid device is split into a number of frequency bands, after which a number of adjacent frequency bands are combined into at least one group of frequency bands and then one frequency band is selected from each group of frequency bands. The selected frequency bands are moved respectively into a target frequency band permanently assigned to the respective group. This prevents that a number of frequency bands from the source frequency range are shifted to the same target frequency band.

Abstract: A circuit for operating a hearing device with a variable operating parameter is disclosed. A storage device for storing operating parameter settings in a starting situation as well as in a target situation and a control unit, which implements a matching of the operating parameter according to a setting of the starting situation to the operating parameter settings of the target situation, is provided. Further, a connection device for connection to a control element and a data processing device for influencing the operating parameter by a user of the hearing device, is provided. The control unit performs the matching of the operating parameter with a minimal matching rate in time segments in which the operating parameter is often influenced by the control element or data processing device, and with a higher matching rate in time segments, in which the operating parameter is rarely influenced or not influenced at all by the control element or data processing device.

Abstract: A method for operating a hearing device, an associated microphone system comprising at least two omnidirectional microphones, and a hearing device are provided. The microphones emit microphone signals and are electrically interconnected with one another in order to form directional characteristics. A damping of the upper frequency range of the microphone signals is determined from the lower frequency range of the microphone signals. The impression of a wide-band directional microphone is produced as a result.

Abstract: The aim is to be able to at least partially switch off a hearing apparatus and in particular a hearing device in a simple manner. To this end, provision is made to generate a predetermined acoustic signal through the hearing apparatus. The acoustic signal is received by a receiving device, after it has passed through an acoustic path. This acoustic path changes depending on whether the hearing apparatus is being worn or not. The hearing apparatus is at least partially switched off as a function of the received, acoustic signal. A hearing device thus automatically switches off for instance when it is not being worn.

Abstract: For hearing apparatus and especially for hearing devices a tone balance unit is to be able to be used even under difficult general conditions. Therefore a hearing apparatus with a signal processing device, through which signals are able to be processed in a number of frequency channels, and a control device for controlling the level of the individual frequency channels are provided. The setting device features an unsymmetrical tone balance unit related to a predetermined frequency with which at least one lower and at least one upper channel of the number of frequency channels related to a predetermined frequency is able to be simultaneously unsymmetrically adjusted relative to the predetermined frequency. Thus for example a tone balance unit can also be used with a low feedback limit in the upper frequency range.

Abstract: A hearing aid device suitable for executing a frequency compression is optimized to achieve a better assignment between channels of a source frequency range and channels of a target frequency range. A frequency range that can be transmitted by the hearing aid device is split into a number of frequency bands, after which a number of adjacent frequency bands are combined into at least one group of frequency bands and then one frequency band is selected from each group of frequency bands. The selected frequency bands are moved respectively into a target frequency band permanently assigned to the respective group. This prevents that a number of frequency bands from the source frequency range are shifted to the same target frequency band.

Abstract: A method and device for frequency compression of audio signals to reduce the occurrence of artifacts. A component of the audio signal having a plurality of frequency channels is shifted from a first frequency channel into a second frequency channel. A dominant instantaneous frequency is determined in the first frequency channel. During shifting or mapping, first the entire first frequency channel, including the dominant instantaneous frequency, is shifted or mapped into the second frequency channel, wherein the dominant instantaneous frequency obtains an intermediate frequency position. A final frequency position for the dominant instantaneous frequency is determined using a predefined compression characteristic in the second frequency channel, starting from the frequency position of the dominant instantaneous frequency in the first frequency channel. Finally, the dominant instantaneous frequency is shifted or mapped from the intermediate frequency position to the final frequency position.

Abstract: Artifacts occurring during frequency compression, in particular in the case of hearing aids, are avoided or reduced. The method compresses the frequency of an audio signal having a fundamental frequency and at least one harmonic. The audio signal is provided in a plurality of frequency channels. The harmonic of the audio signal is shifted or mapped from a first frequency channel of the plurality of frequency channels into a second frequency channel. In addition a frequency which is likewise harmonic with respect to the fundamental frequency is estimated in the second frequency channel, the harmonic being shifted or mapped onto the estimated frequency. As a result the harmonic pattern is preserved in the compressed signal and the artifacts are reduced.

Abstract: The training of a hearing apparatus in respect of an individual adjustment is to be developed in a more user-friendly manner. To this end, provision is firstly made to automatically classify a hearing situation, to adjust a parameter of the signal processing facility of the hearing apparatus and to automatically learn the adjusted parameters for the current hearing situation. A temporal monitoring of the steps “classifying” and “adjusting” is however carried out here and the automatic learning is only triggered if the classified hearing situation and the adjustment of the parameters have not changed over a predetermined time period. This not only simplifies the training, but also enables a more rapid training by means of automatically triggered training events.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to make using a hearing device and in particular a hearing aid more comfortable and more effective for the user. To this end the setting of a portable hearing device is to be checked. First the acoustic data of a sound from the environment of the hearing device is recorded and/or determined simultaneously with the setting of the hearing device with at least one setting value. The setting of the hearing device is evaluated against the chronologically matching, recorded acoustic data in the hearing device using at least one predeterminable criterion. If necessary, the hearing device outputs an appropriate message. By this means a hearing aid wearer can, for example, be alerted to contact an acoustician, if the settings he made on the hearing aid are not effective.

Abstract: A differential direction microphone system for a hearing aid device is described, comprising: a first directional microphone stage with a first differential directional microphone, and a second directional microphone stage with a further differential directional microphone, with the second directional microphone stage being connected downstream from the first directional microphone stage, where the directivity of the first directional microphone stage is essentially oriented in the opposite direction to the directivity of the second directional microphone stage, with the differential direction microphone system having a directional characteristic, of which the directivity is essentially orthogonal to an axis predetermined by the directivities of the first and the second directional microphone stage.