Hearing aid device comprising a sensor member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9596551-B2
Application number	US-201514620685-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 12, 2015
Priority date	Feb 13, 2014
Publication date	Mar 14, 2017
Grant date	Mar 14, 2017

Abstract

A hearing aid device is disclosed. The hearing aid device comprises means to improve, augment and/or protect the hearing capability of a user by receiving acoustic signals from the surroundings of the user, generating corresponding audio signals, possibly modifying the audio signals and providing the possibly modified audio signals as audible signals to at least one of the user's ears. The hearing aid device comprises a sensor member for detecting the movement and/or acceleration and/or orientation (or spatial position) of the hearing aid device. The hearing aid device comprises at least two hearing aid microphones and a control unit for determining the position or a deviation from an intended position of the hearing aid device or hearing aid microphones. The hearing aid device is configured to compensate for a possible dislocation of the hearing aid microphones.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A hearing aid device for improving, augmenting and/or protecting the hearing capability of a user when receiving acoustic signals from the surroundings of the user, the hearing aid device comprising an input unit for generating corresponding audio signals, a signal processing unit for modifying the audio signals and an output unit for providing modified audio signals as audible signals to at least one of the user's ears, the hearing aid device comprising a sensor member for detecting the movement and/or acceleration an/or orientation and/or position of the hearing aid device, the input unit of the hearing aid device comprises at least two hearing aid microphones and a control unit for determining the position or a deviation from an intended position of the hearing aid device or hearing aid microphones and wherein the hearing aid device is configured to compensate for a possible dislocation of the hearing aid microphones.

2. A hearing aid device according to claim 1 comprising a directional system with an adaptive directional algorithm for providing a combined signal based on signals from the at least two hearing aid microphones.

3. A hearing aid device according to claim 2 , wherein the control unit is configured for changing an adaptation speed in one or more adaptive algorithms applied to the audio signal by the hearing aid device.

4. A hearing aid device according to claim 1 comprising a feedback estimation unit comprising an adaptive feedback algorithm for estimating a feedback path from the output unit to the input unit.

5. A hearing aid device according to claim 4 comprising a memory wherein a reference position or an orientation of the hearing aid device is stored.

6. A hearing aid device according to claim 5 configured to compare a current position of the hearing aid with the stored reference position and to determine a modified reference feedback path estimate used for determining a current setting of signal processing parameters used in the signal processing unit for modifying the audio signals.

7. A hearing aid device according to claim 6 configured to determine said modified reference feedback path estimate used for determining the current setting of signal processing parameters based on an algorithm or a lookup table with corresponding values of incremental position changes and feedback path and/or processing parameter values.

8. A hearing aid device according to claim 6 configured to determine a modified reference feedback path estimate in connection with power up of the hearing device and/or after a mounting of the hearing aid device at an ear of the user.

9. A hearing aid device according to claim 6 configured to continuously monitor a plurality of microphone positions and to modify the reference feedback path estimate and/or the setting of signal processing parameters.

10. A hearing aid device according to claim 6 wherein the setting of signal processing parameters comprises frequency dependent maximum gain values that may be applied to the audio signals to minimize the risk of feedback.

11. A hearing aid device according to claim 1 , wherein the hearing aid device is configured for detecting if the hearing aid user is moving or turning the head and for improving and/or augmenting received acoustic signals from the surroundings of the hearing aid user by compensating for the head movement if it is detected that the hearing aid user is moving or turning the head.

12. A hearing aid device according to claim 1 , comprising an actuator configured to change the orientation of the hearing aid microphones.

13. A hearing aid device according to claim 1 configured to use the sensor member together with other sensors to detect whether or not the hearing aid device is located at or on one of the ears of a user.

14. A hearing aid device according to claim 1 wherein control of functionality of the hearing aid device is performed by said sensor member in combination with a number of other sensors including one or more of a time unit for estimating a time range elapsed and a feedback path unit for estimating a feedback path of the hearing aid device.

15. A hearing aid device according to claim 1 configured to use the difference in input level between the two hearing aid microphones to detect whether the user's own voice is present in the current acoustic signals received by the microphones and to provide an own voice control signal indicative thereof.

16. A hearing aid device according to claim 15 configured to estimate a reliability of the own voice control signal based on a comparison of a current position of the hearing aid with a stored reference position.

17. A hearing aid system comprising two hearing aid devices according to claim 1 each comprising antenna and transceiver circuitry for establishing a communication link to the other hearing device, and thereby allowing the exchange of information between them.

18. A hearing aid system according to claim 17 wherein at least one of the hearing aid devices is configured for determining the angle (α) between the hearing aid devices on the basis of measurements made by means of the sensor member(s) in the two hearing devices.

19. A hearing aid system according to claim 17 further comprising an auxiliary device, and wherein the hearing aid system is configured to allow the hearing aid devices and the auxiliary device to communicate with each other.

20. A hearing aid system according to claim 17 wherein an estimated reliability of the own voice control signal is based on the comparison of a current position of the hearing aid with a stored reference position of both hearing aid devices of the hearing aid system.

Assignees

• Oticon As

Inventors

• Pedersen Michael Syskind
• Møller Kenneth Rueskov
• Petersen Svend Oscar
• Kiemer Niels Stubager
• Nielsen Jesper Kofoed
• Ohl Björn
• Elmlund Marianne Kleist
• Carvalho Karin
• Bendsen Henrik
• Pedersen Regin Kopp
• Bürger Christian C
• Munk Steen Michael
• Christophersen Morten
• Pedersen Julie Hefting
• Westergård Bo
• Oxenbøll Maria

Classifications

• H04R2225/0213

  Constructional details of earhooks, e.g. shape, material · CPC title

• H04R25/505

  using digital signal processing · CPC title

• H04R2225/41

  Detection or adaptation of hearing aid parameters or programs to listening situation, e.g. pub, forest · CPC title

• H04R2430/20

  Processing of the output signals of the acoustic transducers of an array for obtaining a desired directivity characteristic (H04R2203/12 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04R2225/55

  Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange · CPC title