Method of fitting a hearing device
AssigneeOticon A/S
InventorSteen Michael Munk
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a method for determining an estimated transfer function of an acoustic feedback path during fitting of a hearing device, which receives acoustic signals from an individual's surroundings, modifies the acoustic signals electronically and transmits the modified acoustic signals into the individual's ear or ear canal. In order to save resources in the hearing device, the hearing device reuses a start-up jingle for determining an estimated transfer function during a fitting session upon reception of a predefined message from a fitting apparatus.
Claims21
A method of fitting a hearing device to an individual, the hearing device comprising a communication interface, a microphone, a signal processor and a loudspeaker connected in series to form an electronic signal path having an acoustic gain, the loudspeaker and the microphone being arranged such that an acoustic feedback path exists from the loudspeaker to the microphone, the method comprising:
- during a user-mode period, operating the hearing device in a user mode in which the acoustic gain is non-zero;
- during a start-up period that precedes the user-mode period and starts on start-up of the hearing device, operating the hearing device in a gain-reduced mode in which the acoustic gain is lower than in the user-mode and thus effectively prevents feedback-generated oscillations in the hearing device;
- within the start-up period, providing a first predetermined audio signal and transmitting it via the loudspeaker such that a portion thereof reaches the microphone through the acoustic feedback path as a first acoustic feedback signal, and determining with the signal processor a first estimated transfer function of the acoustic feedback path based on the first acoustic feedback signal and the first predetermined audio signal;
- receiving in the communication interface a predetermined message from a fitting apparatus;
- interrupting the user-mode period with a test-period on receiving the predetermined message and continuing the user-mode period at the conclusion of the test-period;
- during the test-period, providing a second predetermined audio signal substantially identical to the first predetermined audio signal and transmitting it via the loudspeaker such that a portion thereof reaches the microphone through the acoustic feedback path as a second acoustic feedback signal;
- receiving in the microphone the second acoustic feedback signal and providing a corresponding second microphone signal;
- and
- determining with the signal processor a second estimated transfer function of the acoustic feedback path in dependence on the second microphone signal and at least one of the first predetermined audio signal and the second predetermined audio signal.
A hearing device, comprising:
- a communication interface;
- a microphone;
- a signal processor;
- and
- a loudspeaker connected in series to form an electronic signal path having an acoustic gain, the loudspeaker and the microphone being arranged such that an acoustic feedback path exists from the loudspeaker to the microphone, wherein
- the signal processor is configured to execute a method including
- during a user-mode period, operating the hearing device in a user mode in which the acoustic gain is non-zero;
- during a start-up period that precedes the user-mode period and starts on start-up of the hearing device, operating the hearing device in a gain-reduced mode in which the acoustic gain is lower than in the user-mode and thus effectively prevents feedback-generated oscillations in the hearing device;
- within the start-up period, providing a first predetermined audio signal and transmitting it via the loudspeaker such that a portion thereof reaches the microphone through the acoustic feedback path as a first acoustic feedback signal, and determining a first estimated transfer function of the acoustic feedback path based on the first acoustic feedback signal and the first predetermined audio signal;
- receiving in the communication interface a predetermined message from a fitting apparatus;
- interrupting the user-mode period with a test-period on receiving the predetermined message and continuing the user-mode period at the conclusion of the test-period;
- during the test-period, providing a second predetermined audio signal substantially identical to the first predetermined audio signal and transmitting it via the loudspeaker such that a portion thereof reaches the microphone through the acoustic feedback path as a second acoustic feedback signal;
- receiving in the microphone the second acoustic feedback signal and providing a corresponding second microphone signal;
- and
- determining a second estimated transfer function of the acoustic feedback path in dependence on the second microphone signal and at least one of the first predetermined audio signal and the second predetermined audio signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.