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EP3679729B1 - Appareil auditif polyvalent haute performance pourvu d'un terminal mobile, en particulier d'un téléphone intelligent - Google Patents

Appareil auditif polyvalent haute performance pourvu d'un terminal mobile, en particulier d'un téléphone intelligent Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3679729B1
EP3679729B1 EP18769105.0A EP18769105A EP3679729B1 EP 3679729 B1 EP3679729 B1 EP 3679729B1 EP 18769105 A EP18769105 A EP 18769105A EP 3679729 B1 EP3679729 B1 EP 3679729B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
signal
hearing
sound
hearing device
device system
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EP18769105.0A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP3679729A1 (fr
Inventor
Karl-Jürgen KEMMELMEYER
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/55—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception using an external connection, either wireless or wired
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/55—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception using an external connection, either wireless or wired
    • H04R25/558—Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/04—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception comprising pocket amplifiers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/43—Electronic input selection or mixing based on input signal analysis, e.g. mixing or selection between microphone and telecoil or between microphones with different directivity characteristics
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/55—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception using an external connection, either wireless or wired
    • H04R25/556—External connectors, e.g. plugs or modules

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a high-performance hearing aid.
  • a high-performance hearing aid In addition to its main function as a therapeutic hearing aid for people with impaired hearing, it offers additional functions for other hearing situations, in particular telephoning.
  • hearing aids today are often still stigmatizing for the wearer.
  • this negative reception is due to the fact that the functionality of hearing aids is sometimes still unsatisfactory, that third parties still get the impression from the user that the user is actually hard of hearing. So there are still functional deficits of hearing aids.
  • a particular difficulty of hearing aids is that they are sometimes operated in considerably different acoustic environmental conditions (hearing situations).
  • Such listening situations include, for example, a (personal) conversation, a crowded environment with many other people, a telephone call, listening to music in the private sphere, but also, for example, going to a concert with music played in public. All of these situations have different requirements. Fulfilling this is a challenge.
  • the hearing aid should be implemented based on a smartphone ( DE 20 2011 105 898 U1 ).
  • a special program on the smartphone (a so-called app) simulates the functionality of the hearing aid.
  • the smartphone is combined with a special earphone, which also includes a microphone. Sound processing is provided in order in particular to achieve pulse limitation and noise suppression, and also to avoid echoes.
  • the output channel is based on the smartphone's MP3 player, which is usually available anyway. On the one hand, this use of the MP3 player is advantageous, since resources are saved, but on the other hand, it is also functionally limiting.
  • MP3 players are originally intended for a compressed artificial signal; this objective clashes with the aim of enabling listening to music at the highest possible level. However, this does not only apply to the high level of listening to music, but also to the more down-to-earth level in the area of telephony itself. Because MP3 players are not designed for this either. In particular, there is a certain latency issue at work here, since latency itself is meaningless when playing music, when using it as a hearing aid (be it for conversation or for telephony) but not. It is a typical compromise device that is unsatisfactory, especially because of the unresolved latency issue.
  • WO2016/022905 A1 discloses a communication eartip, comprising: an ear canal tube sized to be positioned within an ear canal of a user such that the ear canal is at least partially open to directly receive ambient sounds; a sound processor for amplifying ambient sounds received by a microphone to generate processed signals; and a wired connector for connecting the communication earpiece to at least one external device, wherein the processed signals generated by the sound processor are sent through the connector to the external device and signals from the external device are sent through the connector to the earpiece to of to be emitted from a speaker into the ear canal tube.
  • document DE202010013508 U1 discloses a software-based implementation of a hearing device, characterized in that suitable applications are installed on a commercially available multimedia mobile phone with an open operating system in order in this way to map the functionalities of a hearing device on the smartphone.
  • the invention is based on the object of creating an improved hearing device system based on the prior art last mentioned, which increases the user-friendliness with the same or better functionality.
  • a hearing aid system comprising a hearing unit to be arranged on a user's ear and a remote processing unit, the remote processing unit being designed as a mobile terminal device, in particular a smartphone, with a signal connection being provided via which the hearing unit and the processing unit communicate, and the processing unit has a signal processing path for external sound signals with an amplifier, wherein a basic signal for the signal processing path is formed, which corresponds to the incoming sound
  • the invention provides that the hearing unit has an open earphone and includes a microphone, and the processing unit has a compensation path, which includes a compensator and a splitter, wherein the compensator is designed to determine compensation signals from an applied basic signal using an adjustable frequency band profile of the user, in such a way that the compensation signals emphasize the Are basic signal, and the splitter is designed to split the basic signal, so that an output signal transmitted to the ear unit consists only or at least mainly of the compensation signal, wherein the Compensation signals in the ear canal are synchronously superimposed on the external sound signal.
  • the basic concept of using a smartphone for a hearing aid system is decisively improved in that the latency resulting from the signal propagation time on the one hand and the processing time on the other hand is minimized overall, and the compensation signal in the auditory canal is added to the external sound signal that is naturally carried out there, so that the User hears the sum of the two.
  • the invention has recognized that precisely this aspect is the critical one that previously stood in the way of the spread of smartphone-based hearing aid systems.
  • the core idea of the invention is to achieve a significant reduction in the outlay required for signal processing with the compensation channel designed according to the invention.
  • a compensation signal is determined there as an emphasis on the basic signal, and the basic signal itself is split off by a splitter, a significant reduction in the amount of data to be managed for further processing is achieved.
  • the complex signal processing is not - as is usually the case - applied to the overall signal, but only to a subset of it (namely the "rest" part that remains after the basic signal has been split off).
  • the amount of data to be processed is thus significantly reduced. This enables significantly faster signal processing, which significantly reduces latency.
  • the compensation signal generated according to the invention is therefore available comparatively quickly and can therefore be mixed into the basic signal without further ado.
  • the invention has recognized that this is particularly expedient for the use of open headphones, in which the basic signal itself can pass through the auditory canal and thus only the compensation signal (generated according to the invention with a low latency time) is added becomes. According to the invention, this takes place quasi-synchronously, ie without a delay perceptible to the user (ie a latency below the perception threshold).
  • the invention is therefore based on the idea of not fully processing the basic signal in the signal processing during operation, but instead splitting it off in the compensation path in order to process only a data-reduced compensation signal.
  • This applies in particular to digital signal processing, as is provided here.
  • This enables a significantly faster processing and transmission speed back to the earphones, resulting in a practically relevant reduction in latency.
  • a signal overlay at the ear with the basic signal (which is still there anyway) is no problem.
  • this requires recording that is as faithful as possible to the sound, as provided by the architecture of the ear, as well as a broad frequency range in order to be able to process the frequency range of human hearing.
  • the natural architecture of the auricle is used for the position of the microphone and loudspeaker in each ear in such a way that the recording (microphone) takes place in the sound collection point of the auricle and the playback ( loudspeaker) in the open auditory canal.
  • the microphone and loudspeaker are preferably connected to form a unit that the hearing impaired person wears in each ear.
  • special mechanical-acoustic precautions must be taken in the recording/playback unit, which are described in more detail below.
  • the invention can be implemented using a commercially available smartphone as the processing unit and a hearing unit, with the functionality according to the invention being implemented as an app on the smartphone. Since a large part of the population already has a smartphone anyway, the invention can be implemented with a minimum of effort.
  • the recourse to the smartphone also gives the user a familiar user interface, which is favorable for acceptance by the user himself. Because of the ubiquity of the smartphone, acceptance by fellow human beings is also high, so that the conventional stigmatization of hearing aid users is effectively avoided.
  • a basic signal is understood to be that signal which corresponds to the sound arriving at the ear.
  • the term describes the acoustic signal itself, which is conducted from the auricle via the auditory canal [Meatus acusticus externus] to the eardrum.
  • the term also includes the corresponding electrical signal, which is picked up by the microphone of the hearing unit to which the acoustic signal is applied and transmitted to the processing unit.
  • a compensation signal is understood to mean the signal which was determined by the (digital) signal processing of the processing unit in the compensation path as an additional signal for correcting the pathologically caused, distorted frequency response of the user.
  • a mobile end device is typically a smartphone or a tablet computer.
  • the diagram (p. 15 ) ideally shows the compensation of a hearing loss using one or more equalizers.
  • the vertical represents the dynamics (volume), the horizontal the frequencies. Every sound signal consists of a frequency band in which the individual frequencies have different volume levels.
  • the hearing range of the human ear covers approx. 16 Hz to 16,000 Hz.
  • the high-performance hearing aid offers the best options for adapting to such complex hearing situations: in addition to the three processing steps (EQ 1, EQ 2, panorama) per ear, the user now has the option of specifically raising the frequency ranges of the consonants using the adaptation equalizer (EQ 2), to improve character-background perception.
  • the signal path expediently includes a mode selector for selecting between a hearing device mode and an additional telephone mode, in which a voice signal output by a telephone module of the processing unit is applied to the compensation path as an input signal.
  • the hearing aid can thus also be used directly for use with a mobile telephone module, as is often provided in the processing unit anyway.
  • a changeover switch is preferably provided for this purpose, which switches over the input signal in a telephone mode, specifically from a microphone on the ear unit to a voice signal emitted by the telephone module.
  • the mode selector can switch to a playback mode, namely to a playback device of the processing unit. This is preferably an integrated MP3 player and/or streaming client.
  • the invention can thus directly use signal sources arranged in the processing unit itself, such as the telephone module or the playback device, and use their output signal directly at the input of the signal path for further processing to compensate for hearing impairments of the user.
  • playback adapted to the hearing loss of the user takes place not only in hearing device mode, but also in telephone mode and playback mode.
  • the user thus receives (for him) a consistently high signal quality across the different modes ("seamless integration" of the different modes).
  • An automatic switching between the modes is preferably also provided. It is particularly expedient if the changeover switch interacts with a switch, the switch being designed to bypass the splitter provided according to the invention in the telephone mode and/or playback mode.
  • the hearing device mode is advantageously configured differently from the telephone mode and/or playback mode, so that a latency time in the compensation path is lower in the hearing device mode than in the telephone mode and/or playback mode.
  • This is expediently achieved using faster filters and/or a reduced data rate.
  • digital filters offer the advantage that they can be selected differently depending on the mode.
  • The preferably significantly reduced latency results in faster signal processing in the compensation path, so that the compensation signal is available more quickly and can be transmitted to the earphone, from which it is emitted into the user's auditory canal. There it mixes with the basic signal that is available there, so that a low latency time is associated with an improved quality of the overall signal.
  • the latency time in the hearing aid mode is preferably at most 12 ms, preferably at most 10 ms and more preferably at most 8 ms.
  • a lower limit is not mandatory, but in practice it will usually be 1 ms as a minimum value.
  • a practically proven range is between 2 and 8 ms.
  • a programming interface is expediently provided for the compensator. This can be used to program the compensator from the outside with a compensation characteristic that suits the user. This enables an adjustment to the individual hearing curve of the user and their individual defects.
  • the programming interface is advantageously connected to a server of a therapy station via a mobile radio module of the processing unit. In this case, the connection is expediently made via the Internet, to which the processing unit can be connected anyway via the mobile radio module. In this way, the therapy station (this will often be an ENT practice) can directly program the processing unit in order to achieve better adaptation to the user. This becomes particularly convenient if a user-operated interface is also provided in the form of a separate app, which is used to manage this process.
  • An equalizer is preferably provided in the signal path, in which different listening situations are stored as a profile. It is designed separately from the compensator.
  • the equalizer is advantageously connected downstream of the compensator.
  • the hearing aid system according to the invention can thus be adapted to different environmental conditions and the different hearing situations resulting therefrom. Listening situations can be stored for quiet surroundings, entertainment in noisy surroundings, listening to music at home, listening to music in public places (concerts), etc. Selecting a suitable profile can significantly improve the overall compensation performance of the device. It is convenient if the main equalizer with a selection unit, in such a way that the profiles can be selected and preferably also changed by the user. In this way, the user can adjust the profiles according to his personal circumstances. Furthermore, he can select them himself. However, it should not be ruled out that an automatic switchover of the profiles is provided if necessary.
  • the signal connection between the processing unit and the hearing unit on the ear is preferably wireless.
  • a Bluetooth connection has proven particularly useful, in particular an energy-saving variant of the Bluetooth connection. Thanks to such a wireless design of the signal connection, disruptive cables can be avoided. The comfort of use increases considerably. However, it should not be ruled out that the hearing unit is connected to the processing unit via a cable connection.
  • the signal path expediently includes AD and DA converters.
  • AD and DA converters These original components of the processing unit are advantageous.
  • the converters of the processing unit which are usually already present anyway, can be used. This saves additional effort and simplifies signal routing.
  • converters arranged on the hearing unit can also be provided. The latter is particularly advantageous when using a digital signal connection, in particular a Bluetooth connection.
  • the signal propagation time in the compensation path is shorter than the signal propagation time between the microphone and the input of the processing unit and the output of the processing unit and loudspeaker.
  • the hearing device system is stereophonic with a left and right channel and preferably includes a panorama module.
  • This design enables a much more realistic listening experience for the user.
  • the panorama module makes it possible to compensate for dynamic differences between the ears.
  • the original signal, as recorded by the hearing unit to be further adapted to the compensation signal using the main equalizer and to be continuously mixed back into the compensation signal.
  • the natural sound impression for the user can thus be further improved.
  • the listening unit is preferably designed as a commercially available stereo headset, which also includes microphones for recording the original signal and is provided with a bidirectional signal connection to the processing unit.
  • a commercially available stereo headset which also includes microphones for recording the original signal and is provided with a bidirectional signal connection to the processing unit.
  • the hearing unit expediently comprises a sound conduction tube at the beginning of which an electroacoustic sound transducer is arranged and the end of which is designed as an end funnel which is preferably to be arranged in the user's auditory canal via a sound-permeable material.
  • the sound-permeable design allows the basic signal to pass through (so-called open construction). In this way, it automatically mixes in the ear with the compensation signal generated by the processing unit. Thus, the natural hearing situation with open ears is preserved.
  • the design using the funnel preferably tapers and the sound conduction tube from the connection of the sound transducer at the beginning and opens again in a funnel shape for radiating the sound in the open auditory canal.
  • the sound-conducting tube is preferably designed as a pressure-wave hose and/or the end funnel shaped like a so-called lintel of an orchestra horn. A particularly good coupling can be achieved as a result.
  • the sound-permeable material is approximately drop-shaped and has an opening for receiving the sound-conducting tube with the end funnel. It is shaped so that the end funnel is positioned away from the wall in the ear canal, preferably in the center of the ear canal.
  • the hearing unit is preferably provided with openings in the region of the funnel in order to better guide the sound into the interior of the ear.
  • the sound-conducting tube is preferably designed to be flexible and thus enables easy adaptation to the individual circumstances of the user's ear.
  • the hearing unit preferably further comprises a microphone which is arranged in the auricle adjacent to the auditory canal.
  • a holder for the microphone on the hearing unit is expediently designed in such a way that the microphone is positioned in a sound focus point of the ear. This not only achieves the strongest possible signal recording of the sound, but also a largely natural recording of the sound image, since the sound coloration caused by the natural shape of the auricle, which is extremely important for a natural sound experience, is also recorded.
  • the microphone is thus positioned outside the auditory canal at a specific point in the auricle by the hearing unit according to the invention.
  • the microphone has proven useful to provide the microphone with at least one sound guide vane.
  • This is shaped in such a way that it partially, but not completely, surrounds a sound entry opening of the microphone, specifically preferably in the shape of a circular arc. It expediently extends approximately over part of the circumference, preferably in the range from about one fifth to one third of the circumference. Feedback can be reduced by means of this sound guide vane.
  • the sound guide vane is advantageously arranged in such a way that it faces away from the end funnel with its inner surface. It has proven useful to dimension them in such a way that their height is less than the diameter of the sound inlet opening of the microphone, preferably less than half.
  • FIG 1 shows an overview of the exemplary embodiment for the hearing aid system.
  • the hearing device system comprises a hearing unit (1) to be arranged on the ear (9) of a user and a processing unit (3) spatially separated therefrom.
  • the processing unit (3) is designed as a smartphone or a tablet.
  • the hearing unit (1) and the smartphone (3) are connected to one another via a signal connection (2).
  • This can preferably be a Bluetooth connection (21), but it should not be ruled out that a cable connection (20) can also be provided as an alternative or in addition.
  • the cable connection (2) offers the advantage of a secure connection with the possibility of a simple power supply to the hearing unit (1). This is offset by the advantage of the Bluetooth connection (21) that cables can be omitted. The freedom of movement of the user and the wearing comfort are thus significantly increased.
  • the smartphone functioning as the processing unit (3) has a conventional design. It has a housing with a large display for operation. It also has a mobile radio module (32) via which data and/or voice telephony can be exchanged in a mobile radio network (87). For this purpose, the smartphone is provided with a visible or invisible antenna (31).
  • the hearing unit 1 includes an earphone (11) which is designed in an open design.
  • a sound-conducting tube (10) is provided, which ends via an end funnel (14) in the auditory canal (90) of the user's ear (9).
  • the sound-conducting tube (10) is connected to a holding plate (15) in the region of the start of the auditory canal (90).
  • This has a number of sound conduction holes (16) in order to ensure that the sound entering the ear (9) can enter the auditory canal (90) as unhindered as possible.
  • the retaining plate (15) is designed to extend with a retaining arm inside the earcup (91) to such an extent that the microphone (12) is positioned at a predetermined location in the earcup (91).
  • This predetermined location is selected such that it is a point at which the sound incident on the ear (9) is focused by the shape of the pinna (91) (so-called sound focus point).
  • the sound-conducting tube (10) with its end funnel (14) is held in the auditory canal (90) by means of a casing (18) made of sound-permeable material, preferably in such a way that the end funnel (14) does not rest against one of the walls of the auditory canal (90). , but is preferably positioned in the middle of the ear canal. Thanks to a casing (18) made of sound-permeable material, sound impinging on the ear (9) from outside can be conducted through the auditory canal (90) to the eardrum (93) of the user.
  • a star-shaped bracket (18') can also be provided, as shown in the illustration in 9 is shown. This supports the end of the sound pipe (1) with the end funnel (sound cup) (14) on a casing (18").
  • the free spaces (18′′′) between the star-shaped holder (18') and the casing (18") are preferably open and thus allow an unimpeded passage of the natural sound signal coming from the outside - this mixes with the sound signal generated by the hearing aid for compensation and emitted via the bell (14).
  • the hearing unit (1) is stereophonic, i. H. there is an earphone (11) and microphone (12) for the left ear and an earphone (11') and microphone (12') for the right ear.
  • an earphone (11) and microphone (12) for the left ear
  • an earphone (11') and microphone (12') for the right ear.
  • FIG. 10a The design of the final rectifier as a sound-conducting cup is detailed in Figure 10a shown.
  • the end of the sound-conducting tube (10) can be seen there, which widens at its end and a sound-conducting cup (14) is formed there.
  • This is formed in the shape of the lintels of an orchestral horn.
  • the orchestra horn (cf. 14a, b from Wikipedia "Horn") has a narrow bore of the tube, the widening of the tube towards the bell (i, ii, iii) occurs at a short distance and widens out.
  • the sound conduction tube (10) replaced by the direct arrangement of the speaker (11) in the ear canal.
  • the shape of the sound-conducting cup which is important for the acoustic coupling, is the same as in the embodiment according to FIG Figure 10a , i.e. corresponding to the falls of an orchestral horn.
  • the processing unit (3) designed as a smartphone comprises a mobile radio module (32) that communicates with a mobile radio network (87) via an antenna (31) arranged on or in the housing. Furthermore, the mobile radio module (32) is preferably designed to dial into the Internet (88). A therapy station (89) is also connected to the Internet (88). This can in particular be an ear doctor's practice (ENT practice) which has a server (not shown) for providing setting data for the processing unit (3).
  • ENT practice an ear doctor's practice
  • the processing unit (3) also has an analog/digital converter (41) and a digital/analog converter (48). Furthermore, it has input and output amplifiers (40)(49) for amplifying incoming voice signals - in particular from the microphone - and for amplifying audio signals to be output.
  • a signal processing path (4) is formed, which includes an equalizer (42), among other things.
  • a compensator (50) is also provided according to the invention, which is designed to compensate for limitations in the hearing ability of the user across the frequency spectrum by means of appropriate additional signals.
  • a programming interface (52) is also provided, via which the compensator (50) can be programmed. This is done in particular by setting parameters as determined individually for the user by the therapy station (89). became. These can expediently be transmitted wirelessly to the processing unit (3) via the Internet (88) using the mobile radio module (32).
  • a Bluetooth module (21) is also provided, which is used to set up a signal connection (2) to the hearing unit (1).
  • a sound signal from the environment for example the speech signal of a person conversing with the user, is picked up by the microphone (12) of the hearing unit (1).
  • This incoming sound signal is symbolized by the signal line (71).
  • the microphone (12) picks up this sound signal and converts it into electrical impulses.
  • the amplifier (40) is provided at the input. Its output signal is converted into digital signals by an analog/digital converter (41).
  • the signal processed to this extent is now referred to as the basic signal (72). Further signal processing in the signal path (4) and in a compensation path (5) is preferably digital.
  • a compensation path (5) is provided in the processing unit (3) to improve the intelligibility of the sound signal for the user.
  • the compensation path (5) includes a frequency compensator (50). This is designed to generate corresponding additional signals depending on the defects in the user's auditory frequency curve determined by the therapy station (89), ie in particular to add signal frequencies in the pathological frequency spectrum for compensation.
  • the compensator includes, among other things, digital filters (51). Depending on this, additional signals are determined (they are shown in the illustration in figure 4 identified by black coloring on the signal train shown). They are added to the basic signal (72) at the output of the compensator (50) to form a composition signal (73). The signal is now applied to a splitter (53). This is designed to separate the basic signal. Only the additional signal determined by the compensator (50) remains at the output. This is visualized by the signal train (74), in which the (now separated) basic signal is symbolized by a dashed representation.
  • the signal can optionally be further processed using an equalizer (42).
  • the equalizer (42) can adapt to the respective listening situation.
  • Different profiles are expediently provided for this purpose, each of the profiles (43) representing a different listening situation.
  • Hearing situations can be understood to mean, for example, environmental conditions that are typical for a personal conversation between two people, a conversation in a noisy public environment (inn), listening to music in a private environment or listening to music in a public environment (concert).
  • One of the profiles (43) can be selected by the user on the display using the selection unit (44).
  • a panorama module (45) can also be provided. In a stereophonic version of the hearing aid system, this is designed to compensate for dynamic differences between the user's left and right ear.
  • a panorama controller (46) is provided as an input to the panorama module.
  • the output signal thus formed is applied to a digital to analog converter (48) for conversion back to an analog signal.
  • the signal is then fed to the earphone (11) of the hearing unit (1).
  • This is in figure 4 visualized by a superimposed signal (70).
  • the digital/analog conversion is carried out, whether in the processing unit (3) or - in the case of a digital signal connection (2), such as Bluetooth, preferably - only in the hearing unit (1).
  • the digital/analog conversion can be expediently integrated into the output amplifier (49) and designed as a so-called Class D amplifier. This offers considerable advantages in terms of compactness and efficiency, which in turn has a favorable effect on the energy consumption and thus the reduced size of accumulators for energy supply.
  • the additional signal (74) can have a reduced resolution compared to the basic signal (72).
  • the additional signal can be processed with a resolution of 8 bits, while a higher resolution of 10 bits, 12 bits or more is provided for the basic signal.
  • the signal finally emitted by the earphone (11) therefore has only a short latency period compared to the original sound signal (71) as it was also picked up by the microphone (12). Due to the design of the hearing unit (1) as an open earphone, the sound signal (71) is present in the auditory canal (90). It therefore does not have to be emitted (again) by the hearing unit (1), but according to the invention it is completely sufficient if the additional signal (74) processed by the processing unit (3)—extremely quickly using data reduction techniques—from the loudspeaker of the hearing unit ( 1) is emitted as a superimposed signal (70).
  • this mixes with that loudspeaker of the earphone (11) and generated by the additional signal (74) in the auditory canal with the natural external sound signal (71) also present there thanks to the open construction, in order to obtain an overall signal (75 ) to generate. Since the sound signal (71) (or its representation as the basic signal (72)) remains untouched according to the invention, the natural auditory impression is fully preserved. The user only notices that he now hears an improved signal, namely an overall signal that compensates for his hearing impairments.
  • the functionality described is preferably implemented using a special app in the smartphone.
  • Default operating mode is operating mode 1, i. H. the hearing aid mode. If a call comes in or if the user wants to listen to music, the switchover to the associated operating mode 2 or 3 takes place automatically.
  • the app uses the ADDA conversion (41, 48) of the smartphone for operating modes 1, 2 and 3:
  • operating mode 1 the performance (latency time) of the smartphone proves to be the ADDA conversion (41, 48) and the wireless transmission despite Data reduction in tests as too slow, the design of the high-performance hearing aid is modified so that the AD and DA conversion takes place in a separate unit (e.g. behind the ear) that is wirelessly connected to the smartphone.
  • the ADDA conversion (41, 48) if necessary. work in the app itself on a data-reduced basis (possibly with only 8 bits) in order to achieve lower latency so that the processed signal emitted by the playback unit can superimpose the natural hearing as synchronously as possible.
  • FIG. 5 and 6 a variant of the exemplary embodiment is shown. Identical components are denoted by identical reference numbers.
  • This in Figure 5, 6 illustrated embodiment differs from that in figure 3 represented essentially in that the processing unit (3) has an additional playback mode.
  • the playback mode is used to present music, radio plays or other audio material to the user using a playback device (34), such as an MP3 player and/or streaming client.
  • the processing unit also has a mode selector (56) with a switch (58). It is designed to switch from normal hearing device operation to a playback mode or a telephone mode.
  • audio signals emitted by the player (34) and telephone signals emitted by the mobile radio unit (32) in telephone mode are used as input signals for uses the signal path (4) (instead of the signals picked up by the microphone (12)).
  • a pre-amplification and analog/digital conversion is usually not necessary here, since the signals are already available in sufficient strength and in digital form.
  • the signal can thus be further processed directly in the signal path (4) and compensation path (5).
  • a switch (57) is also provided. It is designed to bypass the splitter (53) in play mode or phone mode.
  • the basic signal (72) is thus no longer split off, but instead the overall signal (75) consisting of the basic signal (72) and the additional signal (74) is further processed.
  • the switching module (56) can thus be used to optimally adapt the processing unit to the respective operating mode.
  • FIG 7 two views of the hearing unit (1) are shown, with Figure 7a as a sectional view and Figure 7b as a partial view in top view.
  • the holder which acts as a base plate. It is transparent, preferably made of dimensionally stable, soft latex material.
  • a sound-conducting tube (10) is attached to it, at the beginning of which an electroacoustic sound transducer (13) is arranged. This is attached to the sound-conducting tube (10) via an anechoic rubber ring (10) and acts as a loudspeaker for the hearing unit (1).
  • An end funnel (14) is provided at the end of the sound-conducting tube (10).
  • a fastening ring (16) with a plurality of sound-conducting openings (16') is arranged in the area where the sound-conducting tube (10) passes through the holder (15).
  • the fastening ring (16) positions the sound-conducting tube (10) in the holder (15) and is designed with its openings (16') to conduct the sound impinging on the ear (9) from outside into the auditory canal (90).
  • the microphone (12) is also arranged on the holder (15). It has an essentially round sound inlet opening (17). On part of the circumference of the sound inlet opening (17) there is an outwardly projecting element (19) as a sound-conducting surface, which is shaped like a shovel, in particular in the shape of a circular arc. It preferably extends over about 1/4 to 1/3 of the circumference of the sound inlet opening (17). In interaction with the auricle (91), it promotes a favorable reflection behavior and thus increases the sensitivity of the microphone (12) on the one hand and prevents unwanted feedback from the sound entering the auditory canal (90) on the other. At its free end, it preferably has a projecting attachment (19') which further promotes the focussing of the sound.
  • the microphone (12) and loudspeaker (sound transducer 13) are connected to form a unit that the user wears in the ear, plugged into the auditory canal (90).
  • the hearing aid works in two-channel stereo (2 x mono).
  • the microphone and loudspeaker per ear are positioned in such a way that the recording (microphone) takes place in the sound collection point of the auricle and the playback (loudspeaker) in the open auditory canal.
  • the positioning of the microphones in the sound collection point of the auricles and the resulting A/B stereo signal (2 x mono) allow the hearing-impaired to continue hearing naturally. Sound is heard directly in front of the head in the full frequency range, sound from behind in a frequency range with reduced treble ("darkened"), sound from the side through the differences in transit time between the ears, which the brain can determine and evaluate.
  • the distance between the ears and the architecture of the auricles are the cause of this mechanical-acoustic phenomenon.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Neurosurgery (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Headphones And Earphones (AREA)

Claims (16)

  1. Système d'appareil auditif, comprenant une unité auditive (1) à disposer au niveau de l'oreille d'un utilisateur, l'unité auditive (1) comprenant un écouteur (11) ainsi qu'un microphone (12), et une unité de traitement déportée (3), dans lequel l'unité de traitement déportée (3) est réalisée sous la forme d'un terminal mobile, en particulier d'un smartphone, et une liaison de signalisation (2) est prévue par laquelle communiquent l'unité auditive (1) et l'unité de traitement (3), et l'unité de traitement (3) présente un chemin de traitement de signal (4) pourvu d'un amplificateur (40, 49) pour un signal acoustique externe, un signal de base (72) correspondant au son entrant étant formé pour le chemin de traitement de signal (4),
    dans lequel l'écouteur (11) est réalisé sous la forme d'un écouteur ouvert, et l'unité de traitement (3) présente en outre un chemin de compensation (5) qui comprend un compensateur (50) ainsi qu'un répartiteur (53),
    dans lequel le compensateur (50) est réalisé pour déterminer des signaux de compensation à partir du signal de base (72) à l'aide d'un profil de bande de fréquence réglable de l'utilisateur, les signaux de compensation étant une emphase du signal de base (72) de sorte que la somme du signal de base (72) et d'un signal de compensation produit un effet de compensation sur un défaut auditif de l'utilisateur,
    caractérisé en ce que le signal de compensation est à données réduites par rapport au signal de base, et le répartiteur (53) est réalisé pour séparer le signal de base de sorte qu'un signal de sortie (74) transmis à l'unité auditive (1) est composé exclusivement ou du moins principalement du signal de compensation à données réduites, les signaux de compensation à données réduites étant superposés de manière synchrone au signal acoustique externe dans le conduit auditif.
  2. Système d'appareil auditif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'une interface de programmation (52) est prévue pour le compensateur (50), l'interface de programmation (52) étant reliée de préférence par un module de téléphonie mobile (32) de l'unité de traitement (3) à un serveur d'une station thérapeutique, par exemple d'un cabinet ORL, dans lequel de préférence une interface (39) pouvant être commandée par l'utilisateur est prévue pour la gestion.
  3. Système d'appareil auditif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le chemin de signalisation comprend un sélecteur de mode (56) servant à sélectionner parmi un mode appareil auditif et un mode téléphone supplémentaire dans lequel un signal vocal émis par un module de téléphonie mobile (32) est appliqué au chemin de compensation (5) comme un signal d'entrée.
  4. Système d'appareil auditif selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que le sélecteur de mode (56) comprend un commutateur (58) qui commute dans un mode téléphone le signal d'entrée du microphone (12) vers un signal vocal émis par le module de téléphonie mobile (32), et/ou commute au choix dans un mode lecture vers un appareil de lecture (34) de l'unité de traitement, de préférence vers un lecteur MP3 intégré et/ou un client streaming, le commutateur (58) étant de préférence actionné automatiquement.
  5. Système d'appareil auditif selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que le commutateur (58) coopère avec un filtre de bande (57) qui est réalisé pour contourner le répartiteur en mode téléphone et/ou en mode lecture.
  6. Système d'appareil auditif selon la revendication 4 ou 5, caractérisé en ce que le mode appareil auditif est configuré différemment par rapport au mode téléphone et/ou au mode lecture, de préférence au moyen de filtres (51) plus rapides et/ou d'un débit de données réduit de sorte qu'en mode appareil auditif, un temps de latence sur le chemin de compensation (5) est inférieur qu'en mode téléphone et/ou en mode lecture.
  7. Système d'appareil auditif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le signal de compensation est à résolution réduite par rapport au signal de base.
  8. Système d'appareil auditif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que sur le chemin de signalisation un égaliseur (42) séparé du compensateur (50) est prévu dans lequel sont stockées différentes situations auditives sous forme de profils (43), l'égaliseur (42) étant de préférence placé en aval du compensateur (50).
  9. Système d'appareil auditif selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que l'égaliseur (42) coopère en outre avec une unité de sélection (44) de telle sorte que les profilés (43) peuvent être sélectionnés, et de préférence modifiés, par l'utilisateur.
  10. Système d'appareil auditif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la liaison de signalisation (2) est réalisée sans fil, de préférence au moyen d'un module Bluetooth (21) à économie d'énergie, et/ou l'unité auditive (1) est réalisée sous forme de casque stéréo.
  11. Système d'appareil auditif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le chemin de signalisation comprend des convertisseurs A/D et D/A (41, 48) qui sont des composants d'origine de l'unité de traitement.
  12. Système d'appareil auditif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que qu'il est réalisé de manière stéréophonique avec un canal gauche et un canal droit et comprend de préférence un module panoramique (45) qui modifie une dynamique du canal gauche et du canal droit en alternance/sens inverse.
  13. Système d'appareil auditif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que l'unité auditive (1) comprend un tube de conduction acoustique au début duquel est disposé un transducteur électroacoustique (13) et dont l'extrémité est réalisée sous la forme d'un entonnoir d'extrémité (14) qui est à disposer au début du conduit auditif (90) de l'utilisateur par l'intermédiaire d'une gaine (18) perméable au son.
  14. Système d'appareil auditif selon la revendication 13, caractérisé en ce que le microphone (12) de l'unité auditive (1) est disposé dans l'oreillette (91) à proximité du début du conduit auditif (90), un support du microphone (12) étant de préférence réalisé de telle sorte que le microphone (12) est positionné au point de focalisation acoustique de l'oreille externe.
  15. Système d'appareil auditif selon la revendication 14, caractérisé en ce que le microphone est pourvu d'au moins une aube directrice du son (19) qui entoure partiellement une ouverture d'entrée du son (17) du microphone (12), de préférence sur au maximum de trois cinquièmes de la circonférence de celle-ci.
  16. Système d'appareil auditif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le microphone (12) est réalisé sous la forme d'un microphone protégé contre l'effet Larsen, au moyen d'une aube directrice du son (19), au point de convergence acoustique de l'oreillette.
EP18769105.0A 2017-09-04 2018-09-04 Appareil auditif polyvalent haute performance pourvu d'un terminal mobile, en particulier d'un téléphone intelligent Active EP3679729B1 (fr)

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EP17189224 2017-09-04
PCT/EP2018/073718 WO2019043246A1 (fr) 2017-09-04 2018-09-04 Appareil auditif de forte puissance polyvalent avec un appareil terminal mobile, en particulier un téléphone intelligent

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EP3679729B1 true EP3679729B1 (fr) 2022-06-22

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DE102021103769B4 (de) 2021-02-17 2022-10-27 Clir Technologies Gmbh Verfahren zur Signalverarbeitung
US12160709B2 (en) 2022-08-23 2024-12-03 Sonova Ag Systems and methods for selecting a sound processing delay scheme for a hearing device

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US6181801B1 (en) * 1997-04-03 2001-01-30 Resound Corporation Wired open ear canal earpiece
DE202010013508U1 (de) 2010-09-22 2010-12-09 Hörfabric GmbH Software-definiertes Hörgerät
US20130198630A1 (en) * 2012-01-30 2013-08-01 Ability Apps, Llc. Assisted hearing device
DE102013009171A1 (de) * 2013-05-29 2014-12-04 Manuel Herrmann Audiomaterial-Umwandlungsgerät zur Optimierung der Klangwiedergabe aus der Sicht einer hörenden Person
WO2015124211A1 (fr) * 2014-02-24 2015-08-27 Widex A/S Prothèse auditive avec suppression du bruit assistée
WO2016022905A1 (fr) * 2014-08-08 2016-02-11 The Regents Of The University Of California Dispositif, procédé, et systèmes d'assistance auditive et de suppression de bruit tirant profit d'un dispositif externe

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