US 8,477,952 B2Granted

Audio system with feedback detection means

AssigneeOticon A/S

InventorsThomas Bo Elmedyb, Johan Hellgren

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

The invention concerns in a first aspect an audio system comprising a microphone, audio signal processing means, an output transducer and means for detecting a possible feedback tone and the corresponding frequency of the feedback tone in the audio system between the output transducer and the microphone. According to the invention means for counteracting feedback are provided. Further, means are provided for changing the phase of the audio signal at a given frequency. In a further aspect, a binaural hearing aid system comprising first and second hearing instruments according to the first aspect, each hearing instrument comprising transceiver circuitry allowing an exchange of signals between the two hearing instruments, and wherein the binaural hearing aid system is adapted to provide that a phase change introduced in the first audio signal by a controller of the first hearing instrument is or can be introduced in the second audio signal of the second hearing instrument via said transceiver circuitry.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A binaural hearing aid system comprising first and second hearing instruments adapted for being worn at or in left and right ears of a user,

the first and second hearing instruments each comprising
a microphone for capturing first and second audio signals, respectively,
an audio signal processor,
an output transducer, and
transceiver circuitry for establishing a wireless link allowing an exchange of signals between the two hearing instruments,
the first hearing instrument further comprising
a feedback tone detector for detecting a possible feedback tone and the corresponding frequency of the feedback tone between the output transducer and the microphone of the first hearing instrument,
an adaptive feedback cancellation system,
a controller for changing the phase of the first audio signal at a given frequency with a predefined amount when the feedback detector detects a possible feedback tone in the first hearing instrument at this frequency, and
a comparing unit for comparing the frequency of the detected possible feedback tone before and after effecting the change of the phase of the first audio signal,
wherein the binaural hearing aid system is adapted to provide that the phase change introduced in the first audio signal by the controller of the first hearing instrument is introduced in the second audio signal of the second hearing instrument via said wireless link.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/042,234Filed 7 Mar 2011 · continuation in part
Priority: EP 0510345427 Apr 2005
Published: US 2011/0176685 A121 Jul 2011
Granted: 2 Jul 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

H04M 1/20
Constructional features of telephone sets: arrangements for preventing acoustic feed-back
H04M 9/082
Two-way loud-speaking telephone systems with means for conditioning the signal, e.g. for suppressing echoes for one or both directions of traffic:…
H04R 3/02
Circuits for transducers: for preventing acoustic reaction , i.e. acoustic oscillatory feedback
H04R 25/453
Prevention of acoustic reaction, i.e. acoustic oscillatory feedback: electronically

Family

Application11/409,991Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 25 Apr 2006
US 2011/0176685 A1Pre-grant publication · published 21 Jul 2011
US 7,925,031 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2006/0266202 A1Published application
US 8,477,952 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.