Patent · US Active

Sound processing apparatus, sound processing method and hearing aid

US8755546B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
1References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 20, 2010
Grant dateJun 17, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 4, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04R2225/43
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

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.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.