Directional Patents (Class 381/313)
-
Patent number: 8897455Abstract: A disclosed method selects a plurality of fewer than all of the channels of a multichannel signal, based on information relating to the direction of arrival of at least one frequency component of the multichannel signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2011Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Erik Visser, Ernan Liu
-
Patent number: 8891794Abstract: Method and devices for processing audio signals based on sound profiles are provided. A reproduction device can request a sound profile based on user information, device information, media metadata or a combination. The sound profiles can be customized and shared across multiple devices. User interfaces allow for the input of information that allows the reproduction device or a server in the cloud to select, modify, store, and analyze sound profiles. Deeper analysis allows for the improvement of sound profiles for individuals and groups. Intensity scoring of a music library can also be conducted.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2014Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Alpine Electronics of Silicon Valley, Inc.Inventors: Rocky Chau-Hsiung Lin, Thomas Yamasaki, Hiroyuki Toki, Koichiro Kanda
-
Patent number: 8885855Abstract: A high directivity boundary microphone (10) is disclosed, build up of a normal unidirectional microphone element (12) with cardioid-directivity behavior. The microphone element (12) is placed on a holder plate (14), with a membrane (16) of the microphone element (12) facing a plane (18) where a holder (20), comprising the holder plate (14) and a holder feet (22), is placed upon. The holder (20) ensures that the microphone element (12) is aligned at an angle (24) of preferably 35° respective to the plane (18). In this position, the microphone element (12) can detect direct sound (26) in a defined speech area (28A, 28B) as well as delayed sound (30) that is reflected at the plane (18) beneath the microphone element (12). Outside the defined speech area (28A, 28B) the sensitivity is strongly reduced.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2010Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Aldo Van Dijk
-
Publication number: 20140314260Abstract: A hearing aid system has at least two hearing aid devices to be worn on both sides of a wearer's head. The hearing aid devices have a transducer for picking up an acoustic signal and converting same into a first audio signal in each case. A signal processing unit processes audio signals received from each hearing aid device through a signal connection. The signal processing unit evaluates a signal component from a preferred direction in relation to the head of the wearer in the first audio signals. By way of the first audio signals the signal processing unit generates a first binaural directional microphone signal and adjusts its directional characteristic as a function of the evaluation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2014Publication date: October 23, 2014Applicant: SIEMENS MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS PTE. LTD.Inventors: MARC AUBREVILLE, EGHART FISCHER, HOMAYOUN KAMKAR PARSI
-
Publication number: 20140314259Abstract: A method operates a hearing aid system and the hearing aid system has at least two hearing aid devices, between which a signal path is provided, and with at least one signal processing unit, which is provided to process audio signals. In the method the signal processing apparatus filters first audio signals with a filter predetermined for a defined spatial direction, from which a useful signal arrives, so that second audio signals are generated, in which the components of the useful signal in the second audio signals are equalized to a greater degree than in the first audio signals. The second audio signals are then filtered with an adaptive filter, so that third audio signals are generated, in which the components of the useful signal are equalized to an even greater degree than in the second audio signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2014Publication date: October 23, 2014Applicant: SIEMENS MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS PTE. LTD.Inventors: MARC AUBREVILLE, EGHART FISCHER, HOMAYOUN KAMKAR PARSI, WALTER KELLERMANN, STEFAN MEIER, HENNING PUDER, KLAUS REINDL
-
Patent number: 8867763Abstract: A beamformer of a hearing instrument is focused by automatically adapting the beam width and/or beam direction. A spatial orientation and/or position of the head of the hearing instrument user is first captured. When no head movements are captured, the acoustic signals are picked up with directional dependency. Then the amplification of acoustic signals is boosted that originate from a focus solid angle in front of the head of the hearing instrument user, compared with acoustic signals from other solid angles. This activates or increases directivity. Then the focus solid angle is decreased to gradually focus and to increase directivity, until the level of acoustic signals from the focus solid angle, actually the presence of the desired signals in the focus solid angle (purely theoretically the probability that the desired signal is present in the focus solid angle), reduces on account of reducing the focus solid angle.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2013Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd.Inventor: Vaclav Bouse
-
Publication number: 20140270287Abstract: A hearing aid device and methods implemented in hearing aid devices activate a radio frequency (RF) transceiver for communicating sounds signals for remote processing on a mobile computing device in response to the device detecting reception of meaningful sound, such as speech. Selectively activating the RF transceiver when sound is meaningful and avoiding powering the RF transceiver when detected sound is of little value to the wearer enables hearing aid to use the mobile computing device to process meaningful sound signals (e.g., speech from another person) while conserving batter power, thereby prolonging its battery life. The hearing aid device and methods may also deactivate the RF transceiver when the hearing aid device does not detect a meaningful sound signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATEDInventor: Kee-Hyun PARK
-
Patent number: 8824711Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for improving speech intelligibility for speech-in-noise in audio processing and hearing assistance devices. The present subject matter includes a method for improving speech intelligibility for speech-in-noise for audio processing and hearing assistance devices. The method includes receiving an audio signal using a microphone array and processing the received signal to improve speech intelligibility in noise. A barrier-type beamforming process is used to improve signal-to-noise ratio at the output of the microphone array. The beamforming process includes convex optimization using a logarithmic barrier function, according to various embodiments.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2011Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Eric A. Durant, Ivo Merks, William S. Woods, Jinjun Xiao, Tao Zhang, Zhi-Quan Luo
-
Publication number: 20140219485Abstract: An embodiments described herein relates to a personal communications unit for observing from a point of view and team communications system comprising multiple personal communications units for observing from a point of view; especially to a personal communications system for use in a geographical environment configured with a computational unit configured to calculate a direction and/or a distance of the elsewhere geographical position relative to the origo geographical position; and perform a transformation of the at least one record of information from the at least one elsewhere geographical position; which transformation is as if the record of information was observed from the origo geographical position.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2013Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: GN Store Nord A/SInventors: Jakob JENSEN, Peter MOSSNER, Peter Schou SORENSEN, Kathrine Steen URUP, Lars Klint JOHANSEN
-
Patent number: 8798992Abstract: An signal processing apparatus, system and software product for audio modification/substitution of a background noise generated during an event including, but not be limited to, substituting or partially substituting a noise signal from one or more microphones by a pre-recorded noise, and/or selecting one or more noise signals from a plurality of microphones for further processing in real-time or near real-time broadcasting.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2011Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Michael Gay, Jed Drake, Anthony Bailey
-
Patent number: 8792659Abstract: A method of adjusting a signal processing parameter for a first hearing aid and a second hearing aid forming parts of a binaural hearing aid system to be worn by a user is provided. The binaural hearing aid system comprises a user specific model representing a desired asymmetry between a first ear and a second ear of the user. The method includes detecting a request for processing a parameter change at the first hearing aid, adjusting the signal processing parameter in the first hearing aid, and adjusting a processing parameter for the second hearing aid based on the request for processing parameter change and the user specific model.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2008Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: GN Resound A/SInventors: Alexander Ypma, Aalbert de Vries, Joseph Renier Gerardus Maria Leenen, Job Geurts
-
Publication number: 20140198934Abstract: A hearing assistance system provides a hearing-aid wearer with one or more hearing aids and a portable device allowing for a wearer-driven directionality customization of the one or more hearing aids. The wearer indicates the locations of sound(s) of interest and/or noise source(s) using the portable device. The one or more hearing aids adjust the directionality of sound reception based on these wearer-indicated locations.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2013Publication date: July 17, 2014Applicant: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventor: Karrie LaRae Recker
-
Patent number: 8781141Abstract: The present subject matter relates to an improved connection assembly for hearing assistance devices. The improved connection assembly provides a connection system that is reliable, straightforward to manufacture, and easy to use. The present connection assembly provides a rapid replacement option for the cable and/or the receiver or other electronics connected to the cable. The present subject matter provides for a connection assembly that can be extended to provide connections for a variety of applications which are not limited to a speaker (receiver) in the ear. Sensors and new configurations of component placement are supported using the present assembly, including, but not limited to telecoils, and GMR or TMR sensors. Various electromagnetic interference issues are addressed. In some examples a shielded set of wires are included. In some examples a twisted pair of wires is included. Various combinations of wires for different applications are supported with the present connector system.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2009Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Sidney A. Higgins, James R. Newton
-
Patent number: 8781142Abstract: Systems and methods enhancing auditory experience for a user are provided. The method comprises receiving ambient sound by way of one or more microphones positioned about a user; monitoring the user's movements to determine sound signals interesting to the user; processing the received ambient sound based on the user's movements to at least: increase inclusion of the interesting sound signals in a generated audio output; or reduce inclusion of uninteresting sound signals in the generated audio output.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2012Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Inventors: Sverrir Olafsson, Ismail I. Eldumiati
-
Publication number: 20140193007Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are systems and methods for obtaining an audio stream for hearing assistance devices. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a method comprising sensing proximity of a wearer of a hearing assistance device, and sensing direction of movement of the wearer of the hearing assistance device. Audio streaming to the hearing assistance device is activated or deactivated based on the sensed proximity and direction of movement, according to various embodiments.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2013Publication date: July 10, 2014Applicant: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventor: Jeffrey Paul Solum
-
Publication number: 20140185845Abstract: A spectacle hearing device system includes: a first hearing instrument, the first hearing instrument having a first wireless hearing instrument transceiver and a first acoustic output transducer; a pair of spectacles, the pair of spectacles comprising a first wireless spectacle transceiver, and a first plurality of microphones, the first plurality of microphones forming a first directional microphone array configured for generating a first electrical signal from acoustic signals picked up by the first plurality of microphones; a first processor for processing the first electrical signal according to a hearing loss compensation prescription; and a first amplifier for applying the first electrical signal to the first acoustic output transducer; wherein the first wireless spectacle transceiver is configured for transmitting the first electrical signal wirelessly to the first hearing instrument.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2013Publication date: July 3, 2014Applicant: GN RESOUND A/SInventor: Jesper UDESEN
-
Publication number: 20140185846Abstract: A hearing aid includes: a cue filter having an input that is provided with an output from the BTE sound input transducer; an adaptive feedback canceller configured to provide an output modelling a feedback path between the output transducer and the BTE sound input transducer, wherein the output modelling the feedback path is provided to a subtractor for subtraction of the output modelling the feedback path from the output of the BTE sound input transducer to obtain a difference, the subtractor outputting the difference to the cue filter; and a feedback and cue controller connected to the adaptive feedback canceller and the cue filter, wherein the feedback and cue controller is configured to control the cue filter to reduce a difference between an output of the ITE microphone and a combined output that is obtained using at least the cue filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2013Publication date: July 3, 2014Applicant: GN ReSound A/SInventor: GN ReSound A/S
-
Publication number: 20140185847Abstract: A method of determining parameters of a BTE hearing aid having at least one ITE microphone and at least one BTE microphone, the method includes: determining Head-Related Transfer functions HRTFl(ƒ); determining a hearing aid related transfer function Hl,iITEC(ƒ) of a ith microphone of the at least one ITE microphone for direction l; determining a hearing aid related transfer functions Hl,jBTEC(ƒ) of a jth microphone of the at least one BTE microphone; determining transfer functions GiIEC(ƒ) of a ith cue filter of at least one cue filter filtering audio sound signals of the at least one ITE microphone; and determining transfer functions GjBTEC(ƒ) of a jth cue filter of the at least one cue filter filtering audio sound signals of the at least one BTE microphone; wherein the transfer functions GiIEC(ƒ) and the transfer functions GjBTEC(ƒ) are determined using a processing unit based on equation: minGiIEC(ƒ),GiBTEC(ƒ)?l=0L-1W(l)?W(ƒ)HRTFl(ƒ)??iGiIEC(ƒ)Hl,iIEC(ƒ)??jGjBTEC(ƒ)Hl,jBTEC(ƒ))?p.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2013Publication date: July 3, 2014Applicant: GN ReSound A/SInventors: Karl-Fredrik Johan GRAN, Guilin MA
-
Patent number: 8766765Abstract: A device, method and computer program product that provides tactile feedback to a visually impaired person to assist the visually impaired person in maintaining eye contact with another person when speaking to the other person. The eyeglass-based tactile response device includes a frame that has sensors mounted thereto, and a track that interconnects eyepieces on the device. In one example, a motor and a wheel are coupled to the track and are driven across the track depending on the amount of feedback to be provided to the user regarding how much the user should turn his or her head.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Inventor: Hassan Wael Hamadallah
-
Patent number: 8761421Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a transceiver configurable to communicate with a hearing aid through a radio frequency (RF) communication channel and a memory configured to store a plurality of hearing aid profiles executable by a digital signal processor of the hearing aid to shape audio signals to compensate for a user's hearing deficiency. The portable electronic device further includes a circuit configured to receive a selection corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of hearing aid profiles and to provide the selected one to the hearing aid in response to receiving the selection.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2011Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Audiotoniq, Inc.Inventor: Russell J. Apfel
-
Patent number: 8755546Abstract: A sound processing apparatus, a sound processing method and a hearing aid efficiently emphasize the sound of an utterer regardless of the distance between microphones. The sound processing apparatus outputs a first directivity signal in which the main axis of directivity is formed in the direction of the utterer and outputs a second directivity signal in which the dead zone of directivity is formed in the direction of the utterer. The sound processing apparatus calculates the level of the first directivity signal and the level of the second directivity signal, and determines the distance to the utterer based on the level of the first directivity signal and the level of the second directivity signal. The sound processing apparatus derives a gain to be given to the first directivity signal according to the result of the determination and controls the level of the first directivity signal by using the gain.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2010Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Pansonic CorporationInventors: Yasuhiro Terada, Maki Yamada
-
Patent number: 8744102Abstract: A hearing aid comprises at least one microphone (M) for converting input sound into an input signal, a subtraction node for subtracting a feedback cancellation signal from the input signal thereby generating a processor input signal, a hearing aid processor (G) for producing a processor output signal by applying an amplification gain to the processor input signal, a receiver (R) for converting the processor output signal into output sound, an adaptive feedback cancellation filter for adaptively deriving the feedback cancellation signal from the processor output signal by applying filter coefficients, calculation means for calculating the autocorrelation of a reference signal, and an adaptation means for adjusting the filter coefficients with an adaptation rate, wherein the adaptation rate is controlled in dependency of the autocorrelation of the reference signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2008Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Widex A/SInventors: Kristian Tjalfe Klinkby, Peter Magnus Norgaard, Helge Pontoppidan Foeh
-
Patent number: 8744101Abstract: Systems and method for computing in-situ estimates of the overall level and incoming direction of ambient acoustical energy by combining the output signals of at least one differential directional microphone and at least one omnidirectional microphone, or, multiple differential directional microphones, at specified gains, in order to have various polar pattern estimates for acoustical energy arriving from three or more sectors about the user. In one embodiment as many as eight different sectors about the user, including the front, rear, and sides are used. In various embodiments, front, rear and/or side or portions thereof are used. Other numbers of sectors are possible without departing from the scope of the present subject matter.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2009Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventor: Thomas Howard Burns
-
Patent number: 8737652Abstract: A method for operating a hearing device and a hearing device are provided. Electrical acoustic signals are generated by the hearing device from a recorded ambient sound, the electrical signals being weighted according to their degree of matching with a predefinable acoustic signal class and being mixed together to form an output sound signal. The weight of the acoustic signal is greater or lesser, the greater the extent of the degree of matching.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2009Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd.Inventor: Ulrich Kornagel
-
Publication number: 20140112507Abstract: The invention relates to a transducer comprising a housing having a first and a second sound input, a first and a second vibration sensors configured to convert vibration to an output, and a diaphragm connected to both the first and second vibration sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2013Publication date: April 24, 2014Applicant: Sonion Nederland BVInventor: Aart Zeger van Halteren
-
Patent number: 8705781Abstract: The present application discloses methods, systems, and hearing prostheses for reducing wind noise and/or thermal noise in an audio signal transmitted to the user of a hearing prosthesis. A method in accordance with the present disclosure includes utilizing delay-sum beamforming to improve the signal-to-noise ratio in an audio signal that contains wind noise and/or thermal noise. In the presence of at least one of wind noise and thermal noise, amplitudes and phases of at least two input signals are matched. The two signals are then added together, resulting in an average improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio of the signal transmitted to the user of about 3 dB.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2011Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Cochlear LimitedInventor: Paul Holmberg
-
Patent number: 8682012Abstract: A signal processing method includes separating a mixed sound signal in which a plurality of excitations are mixed into the respective excitations, and performing speech detection on the plurality of separated excitation signals, judging whether or not the plurality of excitation signals are speech and generating speech section information indicating speech/non-speech information for each excitation signal. The signal processing signal also includes at least one of calculating and analyzing an utterance overlap duration using the speech section information for combinations of the plurality of excitation signals and of calculating and analyzing a silence duration. The signal processing signal further includes calculating a degree of establishment of a conversation indicating the degree of establishment of a conversation based on the extracted utterance overlap duration or the silence duration.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2013Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Maki Yamada, Mitsuru Engdo, Koichiro Mizushima
-
Patent number: 8681999Abstract: A method of signal processing an input signal in a hearing aid to avoid entrainment, the hearing aid including a receiver and a microphone, the method comprising using an adaptive filter to measure an acoustic feedback path from the receiver to the microphone and adjusting an adaptation rate of the adaptive filter using an output from a filter having an autoregressive portion, the output derived at least in part from a ratio of a predictive estimate of the input signal to a difference of the predictive estimate and the input signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2007Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Lalin Theverapperuma, Harikrishna P. Natarajan, Arthur Salvetti, Jon S. Kindred
-
Patent number: 8682011Abstract: Switching a hearing device from a first operating state into a second operating state is to be configured in an acoustically-friendly fashion. A first output signal power of a first audio data stream is determined for the first operating state and a second output signal power of a second audio data stream is determined for the second d operating state. Furthermore, a fading function, which represents the overall output power during a fading process, and the initial value of which corresponds to the first output signal power and the end value of which corresponds to the second output signal power, is defined. The fading process is finally implemented by mixing the audio data streams such that the overall output power corresponds to the fading function or a corresponding approximation function. Volume jumps can thus be avoided to a large degree during a switchover between operating states.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2009Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Ulrich Kornagel, Stefan Petrausch
-
Patent number: 8682675Abstract: Monitoring accuracy degrades due to a noise where many sound sources exist other than those to be monitored. A sound monitoring system includes a microphone array having multiple microphones and a location-based abnormal sound monitoring section. The location-based abnormal sound monitoring section is supplied with an input signal from the microphone array via a waveform acquisition section and a network. Using the input signal, the location-based abnormal sound monitoring section detects a temporal change in a sound source direction histogram. Based on a detected change result, the location-based abnormal sound monitoring section checks for abnormality in a sound field and outputs a monitoring result. The processing section searches for a microphone array near the sound source to be monitored. The processing section selects a sound field monitoring function for the sound source to be monitored based on various data concerning a microphone belonging to the searched microphone array.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2010Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Masahito Togami, Yohei Kawaguchi
-
Publication number: 20140079260Abstract: A hearing instrument microphone device includes at least two microphone sound ports (or sound inlets), a pressure difference microphone in communication with at least two of the sound ports and a pressure microphone in communication with at least one of the sound ports, wherein the acoustic centers of the pressure difference microphone and the pressure microphone essentially coincide.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2011Publication date: March 20, 2014Applicant: PHONAK AGInventors: Martin Kuster, Alfred Stirnemann, Axel Schlesinger
-
Publication number: 20140079259Abstract: A hearing aid for automatically controlling directivity is provided. The automatic directivity controlling hearing aid controls an amplification factor and delay time for each of a plurality of acoustic signals that are generated from a plurality of microphones, to thus automatically enhance directivity so that a speech sound can be strongly heard among ambient sounds that are generated in the vicinity. Therefore, even any directional voices may be heard as accurate voices by enlarging intensity of a speech sound in contrast to ambient noise.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2013Publication date: March 20, 2014Applicant: Algor Korea Co., Ltd.Inventor: You Jung KWON
-
Patent number: 8670583Abstract: Disclosed is a hearing aid system capable of increasing the clearness of sound spoken by a speaker while reproducing the incoming direction of the sound spoken by the speaker without using an inverse mapping rule.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2010Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Mitsuru Endo, Koichiro Mizushima, Takeo Kanamori
-
Patent number: 8666080Abstract: Wearers of hearing apparatuses and in particular of hearing device systems having two speakers are to be able to enjoy the experience of spatial multi-channel reproduction. Provision is accordingly made to generate a dual-channel audio signal for a binaural hearing apparatus comprising a multi-channel audio signal having at least three individual channels. Accordingly at least one spatial impression-influencing signal level in at least one of the individual channels is changed, and a signal of at least one of the individual channels is connected with signals of the remaining individual channels to the dual-channel audio signal. A corresponding hearing apparatus and in particular a corresponding hearing device have a transformation system that takes over this preprocessing from the multi-channel audio signal to the dual-channel audio signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2008Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Jens Hain, Robert Kasanmascheff
-
Patent number: 8660055Abstract: An apparatus induces a first wireless device to transmit audio-related data to both the apparatus and a second wireless device by providing the first wireless device with a false indication of the apparatus being capable of performing an audio function that the apparatus is incapable of performing so as to enable the second wireless device to receive the audio-related data simultaneously with the apparatus, and wherein the second wireless device cooperates with the apparatus to leave the first wireless device unaware of the simultaneous receipt of the audio-related data by the second wireless device.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2007Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Bose CorporationInventors: Joji Ueda, Ronald N. Isaac
-
Patent number: 8654990Abstract: A system and method for use in filtering of an acoustic signal are provided for producing an output signal of attenuated amount of diffuse sound in accordance with predetermined parameters of desired output directional response and required attenuation of diffuse sound. The system includes a filtration module and a filter generation module including a directional analysis module and filter construction module.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2010Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Waves Audio Ltd.Inventor: Christof Faller
-
Patent number: 8654998Abstract: A call other than a conversion partner call and various sounds are detected by input audio signals from plural microphones without deteriorating a voice recognition precision. A hearing aid apparatus according to the present invention corrects a frequency characteristic of the call voice other than the conversation partner voice based on an arrival direction of the call voice other than the conversation partner voice, which is estimated based on the audio signal converted by the plural microphones, checks a call word standard pattern representing features of a phoneme and a syllabic sound based on other voice data picked up by using the microphones having one characteristic against a call voice other than the conversation partner voice in which the frequency characteristic is corrected by the frequency characteristic correction processing unit to determine whether the call voice is a call word, and forms a directivity in the direction other than the arrival direction of the voice of the conversation partner.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2010Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Kazuya Nomura, Tomohiro Konuma, Maki Yamada, Mitsuru Endo
-
Patent number: 8644533Abstract: One embodiment of the present subject matter includes an apparatus, including: a microphone to convert sound into a signal; and an electrically adjustable shutter including conductive polymer, the shutter in acoustic communication with the microphone and configured to provide an adjustable acoustic resistance to the microphone. Variations include conductive traces adapted to apply an electric signal to the conductive polymer. In some embodiments a diaphragm in acoustic communication with the shutter configured to detect acoustic energy is included. The present subject matter also provides methods including, but not limited to a method for operating a microphone in a hearing assistance device, including measuring acoustic energy detected by a diaphragm in acoustic communication with a shutter via a conduit, and controllably adjusting an acoustic resistance of the shutter with an electric signal to change directionality of the microphone.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2009Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventor: Thomas Howard Burns
-
Patent number: 8644534Abstract: A recording medium is provided that records a separating step of separating a mixed sound signal in which a plurality of excitations are mixed into the respective excitations, and a step of performing speech detection on the plurality of separated excitation signals, judging whether or not the plurality of excitation signals are speech and generating speech section information indicating speech/non-speech information for each excitation signal. The recording medium also includes at least one of a step of calculating and analyzing an utterance overlap duration using the speech section information for combinations of the plurality of excitation signals and a step of calculating and analyzing a silence duration. The recording medium further includes a step of calculating a degree of establishment of a conversation indicating the degree of establishment of a conversation based on the extracted utterance overlap duration or the silence duration.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2013Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Maki Yamada, Mitsuru Endo, Koichiro Mizushima
-
Patent number: 8638961Abstract: The invention relates to a method of operating an audio processing device. The invention further relates to an audio processing device, to a software program and to a medium having instructions stored thereon. The object of the present invention is to provide improvements in the processing of sounds in listening devices. The problem is solved by a method comprising a) receiving an electric input signal representing an audio signal; b) providing an event-control parameter indicative of changes related to the electric input signal and for controlling the processing of the electric input signal; c) storing a representation of the electric input signal or a part thereof; d) providing a processed electric output signal with a configurable delay based on the stored representation of the electric input signal or a part thereof and controlled by the event-control parameter. The invention may e.g. be used in hearing instruments, headphones or headsets or active ear plugs.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2012Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: Oticon A/SInventor: Niels Henrik Pontoppidan
-
Patent number: 8638960Abstract: A BTE hearing aid includes a BTE hearing aid housing, at least one BTE sound input transducer, a processor configured to generate a hearing loss compensated output signal, a sound signal transmission member for transmission of a signal from a sound output of the BTE hearing aid housing to an ear canal of a user at a second end of the sound signal transmission member, an earpiece configured to be inserted in the ear canal, an output transducer, and an ITE microphone housing accommodating at least one ITE microphone, wherein the ITE microphone housing is configured to be positioned in an outer ear, wherein the processor is further configured for processing an audio signal from the at least one ITE microphone and an audio signal from the at least one BTE sound input transducer in such a way that the hearing loss compensated output signal substantially preserves spatial cues.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2012Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: GN Resound A/SInventors: Karl-Fredrik J. Gran, Guilin Ma, Jacob U. Telcs
-
Publication number: 20140023213Abstract: Method and apparatus for automatic reception enhancement of hearing assistance devices. The present subject matter relates to methods and apparatus for automatic reception enhancement in hearing assistance devices. It provides a power estimation scheme that is reliable against both steady and transient input. It provides a TSM estimation scheme that is effective and efficient both in terms of storage size and computational efficiency. The embodiments employing a decision tree provide a weight factor between the omnidirectional and compensated directional signal. The resulting decision logic improves speech intelligibility when talking under noisy conditions. The decision logic also improves listening comfort when exposed to noise. Additional method and apparatus can be found in the specification and as provided by the attached claims and their equivalents.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2013Publication date: January 23, 2014Applicant: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Tao Zhang, William S. Woods, Timothy Daniel Trine
-
Publication number: 20140023212Abstract: A hearing aid system comprising first and second ear units or hearing aids, and an external audio signal receiver, the first and second ear units including an audio sensor and transceiver, the audio sensor being configured to detect audio signals emanating from the environment, the transceiver being configured to transmit directionality signals representing amplitude and phase of detected audio signals to said acoustic signal receiver, the audio signal receiver including processing means for processing the audio and directionality signals and generating reconstructed acoustic signals that include direction parameters representing a direction of origin of at least one audio signal, the audio signal receiver further including wireless signal transmission means for transmitting the reconstructed acoustic signals to the ear units.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2013Publication date: January 23, 2014Inventor: Bret Herscher
-
Patent number: 8630431Abstract: A hearing aid system includes a first microphone and a second microphone for provision of electrical input signals, a beamformer for provision of a first audio signal based at least in part on the electrical input signals, the first audio signal having a directional spatial characteristic, wherein the beamformer is configured to provide a second audio signal based at least in part on the electrical input signals, the second audio signal having a spatial characteristic that is different from the directional spatial characteristic of the first audio signal, and a mixer configured for mixing the first audio signal and the second audio signal in order to provide an output signal to be heard by a user.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2010Date of Patent: January 14, 2014Assignee: GN Resound A/SInventor: Karl-Fredrik Johan Gran
-
Patent number: 8625826Abstract: An apparatus and a method for background noise estimation use a first and a second hearing device for binaural supply of a hearing impaired person. In each case the hearing devices have a first and a second omnidirectional microphone and the two microphones of each hearing device are connected to each other electrically in order to form a first and/or a second monaural directional characteristic. The first and/or second microphone of the first hearing device is connected together wirelessly with the first and/or second microphone of the second hearing device to form a binaural directional characteristic. To estimate the background noise, the level of an output signal from the first and/or the second directional microphone having a monaural directional characteristic is combined with the level of an output signal from the directional microphone having a binaural directional characteristic. Background noise estimation is thereby enhanced in the case of binaural supply.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2010Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd.Inventor: Eghart Fischer
-
Publication number: 20130336507Abstract: A hearing aid system includes a first microphone and a second microphone for provision of electrical input signals, a beamformer for provision of a first audio signal based at least in part on the electrical input signals, the first audio signal having a directional spatial characteristic, wherein the beamformer is configured to provide a second audio signal based at least in part on the electrical input signals, the second audio signal having a spatial characteristic that is different from the directional spatial characteristic of the first audio signal, and a mixer configured for mixing the first audio signal and the second audio signal in order to provide an output signal to be heard by a user.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2013Publication date: December 19, 2013Applicant: GN ReSound A/SInventor: Karl-Fredrik Johan GRAN
-
Publication number: 20130329923Abstract: A beamformer of a hearing instrument is focused by automatically adapting the beam width and/or beam direction. A spatial orientation and/or position of the head of the hearing instrument user is first captured. When no head movements are captured, the acoustic signals are picked up with directional dependency. Then the amplification of acoustic signals is boosted that originate from a focus solid angle in front of the head of the hearing instrument user, compared with acoustic signals from other solid angles. This activates or increases directivity. Then the focus solid angle is decreased to gradually focus and to increase directivity, until the level of acoustic signals from the focus solid angle, actually the presence of the desired signals in the focus solid angle (purely theoretically the probability that the desired signal is present in the focus solid angle), reduces on account of reducing the focus solid angle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2013Publication date: December 12, 2013Inventor: VACLAV BOUSE
-
Patent number: 8600086Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2011Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Widex A/SInventors: Lars Baekgaard Jensen, Kristian Tjalfe Klinkby
-
Patent number: 8588444Abstract: A method operates a hearing device having at least two omnidirectional microphones emitting microphone signals and a detection unit for defining acoustic feedback. The method includes connecting a first electrical connection of the microphones to one another in order to form a first signal with directional effect, an adjustment of the directional effect of the first signal such that the acoustic feedback in the first signal is maximized, and an analysis of the first signal by the detection unit for defining the acoustic feedback. It is advantageous that the feedback can be detected by a signal with an improved signal-to-noise ratio. Feedbacks are therefore recognized more reliably and more rapidly.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2010Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Sebastian Pape, Stefan Petrausch
-
Patent number: 8588441Abstract: A method and a hearing system for adaptively matching microphones (3, 4) of a hearing system. The method comprising the steps of determining a true direction towards a sound source, determining an estimated direction towards the sound source using microphones (3, 4) of the hearing system, comparing the true direction with the estimated direction to obtain a correction factor, applying the correction factor to the signals of the microphones (3, 4) of the hearing system in order to reduce a difference between the true direction and a corrected estimated direction obtained via corrected microphone signals.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2010Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Phonak AGInventors: Michael Kramer, Hans-Ueli Roeck