Abstract: A method is provided for programming a digital hearing aid using a program encoded in an audio band (20 Hz-20 kHz) signal, to transmit and verify programs and algorithm parameters. Preferably, this is in a digital hearing aid including filterbanks, filtering the audio signal into different frequency bands. The signal is encoded by the presence and absence of a signal in each frequency band or by other well-known modulation techniques used by computer modems. Special programming signals are provided alternating between the frequency bands in a manner to clearly distinguish the program data from any other interfering or normally present audio signal. The method does not require additional hardware, and offers reduced power consumption, as compared to some known wireless programming interfaces. It enables remote programming over a network using standard multimedia computer hardware.

Abstract: For limiting the signal transmitted to the human ear in dependency on an incoming acoustical signal, there is provided a signal processor, the output of which acts on an output transducer and on a calculator unit which calculates according to a preselected model the psychoacoustical entity loudness of the incoming acoustic signal. The loudness, thus calculated, is compared with a predetermined loudness level (MAL) and according to the result of such comparison, parameters at the processor unit are varied so as to restrict the transmitted loudness on the MAL level.

Abstract: A digital signal processing hearing aid is disclosed having a plurality of digital signal processing means for processing input digital signals, and a selector switch manipulable by a user for choosing which of the processing means to utilize. Each of the digital signal processing means is designed to provide optimal results in a particular listening environment. Since the user is allowed to choose which of the plurality of processing means to invoke, and since each processing means is specifically designed to operate in a particular listening environment, the hearing aid is capable of providing excellent results in a plurality of listening environments.

Abstract: A hearing compensation system for the hearing impaired comprises an input transducer for converting acoustical information at an input to electrical signals at an output, an output transducer for converting electrical signals at an input to acoustical information at an output, a plurality of bandpass filters, each bandpass filter having an input connected to the output of said input transducer, a plurality of AGC circuits, each individual AGC circuit associated with a different one of the bandpass filters and having an input connected to the output of its associated bandpass filter and an output connected to the input of the output transducer. The bandpass filters and AGC circuits may be divided into two processing channels, one for low frequencies and one for high frequencies and may drive separate audio transducers, one configured for maximum efficiency at low frequencies and one configured for maximum efficiency at high frequencies.

Abstract: A hearing aid is set forth that includes one or more hearing aid components that introduce an undesired undamped peak into the frequency response of the hearing aid. An electronic damping filter is utilized to compensate for the undamped peak. The electronic damping filter has a notch filter response that includes an inverse peak across the frequency range of the undamped peak thereby electronically damping the frequency response so that the hearing aid output is generally unaffected by the undesired characteristics of the inverse peak.The electronic damping filter may be programmable to vary the magnitude and/or shift the frequency of the inverse peak. A method is set forth that exploits this programmability and allows the same circuit topology to be used in two different hearing aids respectively having two different undamped peaks. A further method allows handling two or more peaks.

Abstract: A hearing compensation system comprises an input transducer for converting acoustical information at an input thereof to electrical signals at an output thereof, a differential analog-to-digital converter sampling the electrical signals output from the input transducer at an input thereof and outputting differential signal samples at an output thereof, a digital signal processing circuit having an input connected to the output of the differential analog-to-digital converter and operating on the differential signal samples to form processed differential signal samples at an output thereof, and an output transducer for converting electrical signals at an input thereof to acoustical information at an output thereof, the processed differential signal samples coupled to the input of the output transducer.

Abstract: A programmable hearing aid has functional parts provided in the housing, such as a microphone, an amplifier circuit, an earphone, a current source, and a socket with electrical contacts, into which a plug of an external programming unit can be inserted. In addition, the hearing aid comprises an audio signal processing unit, so that during the programming of the hearing aid the audio signal processing unit can be simultaneously adjusted.

Abstract: A hearing aid has an input transistor, an amplifier and transmission circuit, an output transducer and a calculating unit that realizes fuzzy logic functions. The calculating unit responds to a tap signal taken at the amplifier and transmission circuit and supplies an event signal that is supplied to the amplifier and transmission circuit and influences an output signal emitted thereby. At least the calculating unit is implemented in digital circuit technology. Such a hearing aid can be manufactured with little development and circuit outlay, operates reliably and enables an optimum matching to the specific requirements of the hearing aid user.

Abstract: A method for sound control of audio signals within a defined frequency range in which the gain of the audio signals is varied using a control element and the filter quality factor and/or the mid-frequency of the audio signals are varied simultaneously by the same control element used to control the gain.

Abstract: A digital hearing aid having a variable hearing compensating characteristics, comprises a hearing compensating circuit having a transposed transversal filter, an analyzer for frequency-analyzing an input signal, a memory storing a hearing characteristics of a person to be fitted with the hearing aid, and a controller receiving a frequency analysis result of the input signal and the hearing characteristics, for deriving coefficients for the transposed transversal filter to supply the derived coefficients to the transposed transversal filter. Since the transposed transversal filter is used, the S/N ration is improved, and the control of the characteristics of the filter becomes easy.

Abstract: A hearing aid includes a microphone (1), a signal-transmission unit (2, 3,) for forming or otherwise processing the signal, an output amplifier (4) to which an earphone (10) is connected, and a battery as the power supply. The output amplifier (4) is implemented essentially as a .SIGMA.-.DELTA. amplifier and is connected to a pulse generator (8) which produces a high-frequency pulsed clock signal in the 1 MHz region. A series-connected low-pass filter (15) is also provided. The input signal to the signal converter is a representation, produced by signal processing in the transmission unit, of the low-frequency input signal to the hearing aid, this signal being converted in the signal converter into a binary signal. The output signal (14) thus appears, after passing through the low-pass filter, essentially as an amplified copy of the low-frequency input signal.

Abstract: According to a hearing aid comprising a voiceless period information detecting means for detecting information about a voiceless period based on sound received by a sound input means, and a control means for changing an amplification factor of an amplifying means or switching on/off output of sound emitted by a sound output means based on the sound received by the sound input means and the information about the voiceless period, output of the hearing aid can be controlled depending on noise included in the sound.

Abstract: A hearing compensation system for the hearing impaired comprises an input transducer for converting acoustical information at an input to electrical signals at an output, an output transducer for converting electrical signals at an input to acoustical information at an output, a plurality of bandpass filters, each bandpass filter having an input connected to the output of said input transducer, a plurality of AGC circuits, each individual AGC circuit associated with a different one of the bandpass filters and having an input connected to the output of its associated bandpass filter and an output connected to the input of the output transducer.

Abstract: In a method for processing data, in particular signal data in a programmable digital hearing aid, first a data memory is searched to locate a stored comparison input value corresponding with a current, incoming input data value E which satisfies a comparison condition. Subsequently the data memory is searched for a stored output value allocated in a predetermined manner now-identified to the stored input data value via a characteristic function. Subsequently the determined comparison output value is emitted as an output value, and the procedure is repeated for further incoming input data values. In a circuit for processing data, particularly signal data, in a programmable hearing aid, the incoming input data value is supplied via a data input/output unit of a processor to a comparison element for determining whether there exists a stored input value corresponding to the current input data value by satisfying a comparison condition.