Dynamic range analog to digital converter suitable for hearing aid applications

A digital hearing aid comprising:

• a first analog-to-digital converter;
• a second analog-to-digital converter;
• and
• a digital signal processor that uses a first bit string from the first analog-to-digital converter when an input is below an amplitude level, and a second bit string from the second analog-to-digital converter when the input is above an amplitude level, wherein the digital signal processor uses the first bit string from the first analog-to-digital converter where the input is below a first amplitude level, the second bit string from the second analog-to-digital converter when the input is above a second amplitude level, and a combination of the first and second bit strings when the input is between the first and second amplitude levels.

A method of operating a digital hearing aid, the method comprising:

• receiving a bit string from a first analog-to-digital converter, said first analog-to-digital converter being a low-amplitude analog-to-digital converter;
• receiving a bit string from a second analog-to-digital converter, said second analog-to-digital converter being a high-amplitude analog-to-digital converter;
• and
• processing the bit string from the first analog-to-digital converter when an input is below an amplitude level, and the second bit string from the second analog-to-digital converter when the input is above an amplitude level.

A method of operating a digital hearing aid, the method comprising:

• receiving a bit string from a first analog-to-digital converter;
• receiving a bit string from a second analog-to-digital converter;
• and
• processing the first bit string from the first analog-to-digital converter when the input is below a first amplitude level, processing the second bit string from the second analog-to-digital converter when the input is above a second amplitude level, and processing a combination of the first and second bit strings when the input is between the first and second amplitude levels.