Equal Loudness Contour with Channel Specific Map Laws

A computer program product implemented in a computer readable storage medium for generating electrode stimulation signals for a plurality of stimulation electrodes in an implanted electrode array, the product comprising:

• program code for processing an acoustic audio signal to generate a plurality of band pass signals each representing an associated band of audio frequencies;
• program code for extracting stimulation information from the band pass signals to generate a set of stimulation event signals defining electrode stimulation signals;
• program code for weighting the stimulation event signals according to independent channel-specific loudness functions to produce a set of electrode stimulation signals within channel-specific minimum and maximum threshold levels;
• and
• program code for developing the electrode stimulation signals into a set of output electrode pulses to the electrodes in the implanted electrode array.

A system for generating electrode stimulation signals for an implanted electrode array, the system comprising:

• means for processing an acoustic audio signal to generate a plurality of band pass signals each representing an associated band of audio frequencies;
• means for extracting stimulation information from the band pass signals to generate a set of stimulation event signals defining electrode stimulation signals;
• means for weighting the stimulation event signals according to independent channel-specific loudness functions to produce a set of electrode stimulation signals within channel-specific minimum and maximum threshold levels;
• and
• means for developing the electrode stimulation signals into a set of output electrode pulses to the electrodes in the implanted electrode array.

A method of generating electrode stimulation signals for an implanted electrode array, the method comprising:

• processing an acoustic audio signal to generate a plurality of band pass signals each representing an associated band of audio frequencies and scaled to reflect independent channel specific loudness functions;
• extracting stimulation information from the band pass signals to generate a set of stimulation event signals defining electrode stimulation signals;
• weighting the stimulation event signals according to a common loudness scaling parameter adapted to cooperate with the loudness functions to produce a set of electrode stimulation signals within channel-specific minimum and maximum threshold levels;
• and
• developing the electrode stimulation signals into a set of output electrode pulses to the electrodes in the implanted electrode array.

A computer program product implemented in a computer readable storage medium for generating electrode stimulation signals for a plurality of stimulation electrodes in an implanted electrode array, the product comprising:

• program code for processing an acoustic audio signal to generate a plurality of band pass signals each representing an associated band of audio frequencies and scaled to reflect independent channel specific loudness functions;
• program code for extracting stimulation information from the band pass signals to generate a set of stimulation event signals defining electrode stimulation signals;
• program code for weighting the stimulation event signals according to a common loudness scaling parameter adapted to cooperate with the loudness functions to produce a set of electrode stimulation signals within channel-specific minimum and maximum threshold levels;
• and
• program code for developing the electrode stimulation signals into a set of output electrode pulses to the electrodes in the implanted electrode array.

A system for generating electrode stimulation signals for an implanted electrode array, the system comprising:

• means for processing an acoustic audio signal to generate a plurality of band pass signals each representing an associated band of audio frequencies and scaled to reflect independent channel specific loudness functions;
• means for extracting stimulation information from the band pass signals to generate a set of stimulation event signals defining electrode stimulation signals;
• means for weighting the stimulation event signals according to a common loudness scaling parameter adapted to cooperate with the loudness functions to produce a set of electrode stimulation signals within channel-specific minimum and maximum threshold levels;
• and
• means for developing the electrode stimulation signals into a set of output electrode pulses to the electrodes in the implanted electrode array.