US 12,334,100 B2 · Hearing system including a hearing instrument and method for operating the hearing instrument

Abstract

A hearing system includes a hearing instrument for capturing a sound signal from an environment of the hearing instrument. The captured sound signal is processed, and the processed sound signal is output to a user of the hearing instrument. In a speech recognition step, the captured sound signal is analyzed to recognize speech intervals, in which the captured sound signal contains speech. In a speech enhancement procedure performed during recognized speech intervals, the amplitude of the processed sound signal is periodically varied according to a temporal pattern that is consistent with a stress rhythmic pattern of the user. A method for operating the hearing instrument is also provided.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for operating a hearing instrument, the method comprising:

capturing a sound signal from an environment of the hearing instrument;
processing the captured sound signal by:
carrying out a speech recognition step, for analyzing the captured sound signal to recognize speech intervals, in which the captured sound signal contains speech, and
carrying out a speech enhancement procedure performed during recognized speech intervals, for periodically varying an amplitude of the processed sound signal according to a temporal pattern being consistent with a stress rhythmic pattern of a user of the hearing instrument;
and
outputting the processed sound signal to the user.

3 more elements

A hearing system, comprising:

a hearing instrument, said hearing instrument including:
an input transducer configured to capture a sound signal from an environment of said hearing instrument;
a signal processor configured to process the captured sound signal, said signal processor including:
a voice recognition unit configured to analyze the captured sound signal to recognize speech intervals, the captured sound signal containing speech, and
a speech enhancement unit configured to periodically vary, in a speech enhancement procedure performed during recognized speech intervals, an amplitude of the processed sound signal according to a temporal pattern consistent with a stress rhythmic pattern of a user of the hearing instrument;
and
an output transducer configured to emit the processed sound signal to the user.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

17/865,611Filed 15 Jul 2022

Priority

EP 2119154116 Aug 2021

Published

US 2023/0047868 A116 Feb 2023

Granted

17 Jun 2025

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

G10L 21/0364
By changing the amplitude: for improving intelligibility
H04R 25/43
Electric hearing aids: electronic input selection or mixing based on input signal analysis, e.g. mixing or selection between microphone and…
G10L 17/06
Speaker identification or verification techniques: decision making techniques; Pattern matching strategies
G10L 21/003
Speech or voice signal processing techniques to produce another audible or non-audible signal, e.g. visual or tactile, in order to modify its…:…

Hearing system including a hearing instrument and method for operating the hearing instrument

Life of this patent

Hearing system including a hearing instrument and method for operating the hearing instrument

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20