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US 2016/0255444 A1Published application
Automated directional microphone for hearing aid companion microphone
AssigneeStarkey Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsJoe Bange, Thomas Howard Burns
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hearing aid system is described that includes a hearing aid and a companion microphone, separate from the hearing aid itself, for improving the understanding of speech spoken by a particular person or produced by a particular sound source. Also described are techniques for dealing with the problem of how to make a robust directional microphone that requires no user input as to the orientation of the companion microphone.
Claims20
A hearing assistance system, comprising:
- a hearing aid for wearing by a hearing aid user and a companion microphone for wearing by a companion user;
- wherein the hearing aid comprises a microphone for converting an audio input into a first input signal, a wireless receiver for receiving a wireless signal to be used as a second input signal, a digital signal processor for processing the first input signal and the second input signal to produce an output signal in a manner that compensates for the patient's hearing deficit, and a speaker for converting the output signal into an audio output;
- wherein the companion microphone comprises a microphone array that includes a plurality of microphones, processing circuitry for configuring the microphone array to produce the second input signal, a wireless transmitter for transmitting the second input signal to the wireless receiver of the hearing aid, and an accelerometer;
- and,
- wherein the processing circuitry of the companion microphone is configured to configure the microphone array to have a polar pattern with a directionality pointed upward as indicated by signals received from the accelerometer.
2 more elements
A companion microphone for use in conjunction with a hearing aid, comprising:
- a microphone array that includes a plurality of microphones;
- processing circuitry for configuring the microphone array to produce an input signal;
- a wireless transmitter for transmitting the input signal to a wireless receiver of the hearing aid;
- an accelerometer;
- and,
- wherein the processing circuitry of the companion microphone is configured to configure the microphone array to have a polar pattern with a directionality pointed upward as indicated by signals received from the accelerometer.
3 more elements
A method for operating a hearing aid system, comprising:
- operating a hearing aid to convert an audio input into a first input signal, receiving a wireless signal to be used as a second input signal, processing the first input signal and the second input signal to produce an output signal in a manner that compensates for the patient's hearing deficit, and a converting the output signal into an audio output;
- operating a companion microphone that comprises a microphone array that includes a plurality of microphones by configuring the microphone array to produce the second input signal, and transmitting the second input signal to a wireless receiver of the hearing aid;
- and,
- configuring the microphone array to have a polar pattern with a directionality pointed upward as indicated by signals received from an accelerometer.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.