Hearing-aid noise reduction circuitry with neural feedback to improve speech comprehension
US9906872B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 20, 2014 |
| Grant date | Feb 27, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 26, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04R2225/67
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A hearing prosthetic has microphones configured to receive audio with signal processing circuitry for reducing noise; apparatus configured to receive a signal derived from a neural interface, and to determine an interest signal when the user is interested in processed audio; and a transducer for providing processed audio to a user. The signal processing circuitry is controlled by the interest signal. In particular embodiments, the neural interface is electroencephalographic electrodes processed to detect a P300 interest signal, in other embodiments the interest signal is derived from a sensorimotor rhythm signal. In embodiments, the signal processing circuitry reduces noise by receiving sound from along a direction of focus, while rejecting sound from other directions; the direction of focus being set according to timing of the interest signal. In other embodiments, a sensorimotor rhythm signal is determined and binned, with direction of audio focus set according to amplitude.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.