US 9,179,224 B2 · Hearing device with adaptive feedback-path estimation

Abstract

A hearing device comprises a feedback-path estimation unit, which adaptively estimates a feedback path from an output transducer to an input transducer, and sets an adaptation-step size of an adaptive feedback-path estimation algorithm in dependence on an estimate of a background-noise spectrum. The feedback-path estimation unit provides an estimation-control signal for generating an acoustic feedback-path estimation signal having an level spectrum, which has at least one first frequency band with non-zero level and at least one second frequency band with zero level or with a non-zero level smaller than the level in the first frequency band and smaller than a background-noise level in the respective second frequency band. Background noise is detected in the second frequency band while the feedback-path estimation signal is provided. The background-noise level in the at least one first frequency band is estimated for obtaining the estimate of the background-noise spectrum. A corresponding method is described. The method is e.g. useful for estimating a feedback path during fitting of a hearing device, e.g. a hearing aid, to a particular user's needs.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A hearing device adapted for being located in or at an ear of a user and comprising

an input transducer, which is configured to detect and convert an acoustic input signal to an electric input signal;
an output transducer, which is configured to receive and convert an electric output signal to an acoustic or vibrational output signal;
a feedback-path estimation unit, which is configured to estimate a feedback path from the output transducer to the input transducer by performing an adaptive feedback-path estimation algorithm and to set an adaptation rate parameter of the adaptive feedback-path estimation algorithm in dependence on an estimate of a background-noise spectrum, to which the input transducer is exposed;
wherein
the feedback-path estimation unit is further configured
to provide to the output transducer an electric estimation-control signal for generating an acoustic feedback-path estimation signal having an level spectrum, which has at least one first frequency band with non-zero level and at least one second frequency band with zero level or with a non-zero level smaller than the level in the first frequency band and smaller than a background-noise level in the respective second frequency band;
to control the input transducer to detect background noise in the at least one second frequency band while the feedback-path estimation signal is provided;
and
to estimate a background-noise level in the at least one first frequency band for obtaining the estimate of the background-noise spectrum.

6 more elements

A method for operating a hearing device adapted for being located in or at an ear of a user in estimating a feedback path between an input transducer, which converts an input sound to an electric input signal, and an output transducer, which converts an electric output signal to an output sound, the method comprising:

providing, via the output transducer, an acoustic feedback-path estimation signal having an level spectrum exhibiting at least one first frequency band having non-zero level and at least one second frequency band, which has zero level or a non-zero level smaller than the level in the first frequency band and smaller than a background-noise level in the respective second frequency band;
estimating the feedback path from the output transducer to the input transducer by performing an adaptive feedback-path estimation algorithm;
detecting background noise in the at least one second frequency band while the acoustic feedback-path estimation signal is provided;
estimating a background-noise level in the at least one first frequency band for obtaining an estimate of a background-noise spectrum to which the input transducer is exposed;
and
setting an adaptation rate parameter of the adaptive feedback-path estimation algorithm in dependence on the obtained estimate of the background-noise spectrum.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hearing device with adaptive feedback-path estimation

Life of this patent

Hearing device with adaptive feedback-path estimation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19