Digital hearing aid system
US7433481B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 13, 2005 |
| Grant date | Oct 7, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 18, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04R2460/05
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A digital hearing aid is provided that includes front and rear microphones, a sound processor, and a speaker. Embodiments of the digital hearing aid include an occlusion subsystem, and a directional processor and headroom expander. The front microphone receives a front microphone acoustical signal and generates a front microphone analog signal. The rear microphone receives a rear microphone acoustical signal and generates a rear microphone analog signal. The front and rear microphone analog signals are converted into the digital domain, and at least the front microphone signal is coupled to the sound processor. The sound processor selectively modifies the signal characteristics and generates a processed signal. The processed signal is coupled to the speaker which converts the signal to an acoustical hearing aid output signal that is directed into the ear canal of the digital hearing aid user. The occlusion sub-system compensates for the amplification of the digital hearing aid user's own voice within the ear canal. The directional processor and headroom expander optimizes the gain applied to the acoustical signals received by the digital hearing aid and combine the amplified signal…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.