47results about "Sets with pocket amplifiers" patented technology

A portable assistive listening system for enhancing sound for hearing impaired individuals includes a fully functional hearing aid and a separate handheld digital signal processing (DSP) device. The focus of the present invention is directed to the handheld DSP device and a unique method of processing incoming audio signals. The DSP device includes a programmable digital signal processor, a UWB transceiver for communicating with the hearing aid and / or other wireless audio sources, an LCD display, and a user input device (keypad). The handheld device is user programmable to apply different audio processing algorithms for processing sound signals received from the hearing aid and / or other audio source. The handheld device is capable of receiving audio signals from multiple sources, and gives the user control over selection of incoming sound sources and selective processing of sound. In the context of being user programmable, the digital signal processing device includes a software platform that provides for the ability of the user to select, or plug-in, desired processing algorithms for application to selected incoming audio signals. The software platform that provides the ability to load and save different processing algorithms, to apply those processing algorithms to one or more incoming audio signals, and / or to apply multiple processing algorithms in series, if desired and the method associated with processing of the incoming audio signals.

A two-piece wireless hearing improvement system having a pocket piece and an earpiece, wherein the pocket piece includes a microphone adapted to receive analog signals, a first processor coupled to the microphone to convert the analog signals to digital signals, and a first transceiver coupled to the processor to transmit the digital signals. The earpiece includes a second transceiver for receiving the digital signals, a second processor coupled to the second transceiver for converting the digital signals to analog signals, a speaker coupled to the second processor for transmitting the analog signals, and a movement detector for detecting relative movements between the earpiece and the pocket piece and generating a first signal according to the relative movements. The first processor provides signal compensation based on the first signal.

An audio system includes a headset and a portable computing device. The headset includes a first speaker and a first microphone, a second speaker, a second microphone and a processing unit. The first microphone and the second microphone output a first signal and a second signal, respectively. The processing unit combines the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal into a third electrical signal, and communicates the third electrical signal to a portable computing device through an output channel. The portable computing device preferably includes an application that separates the third electrical signal into the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal. The application compensates the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal for a hearing loss of an individual.

Provided is a method of automatically fitting a hearing aid. The method includes the steps of entering an audiogram of a test subject, defining criterion gains and SSPLs according to the test subject's audiogram in each test frequency band, generating 70dB SPL long term speech spectrum noise, and measuring the gains and SSPLs of the amplified sound in front of test subject's eardrum using the probe tube microphone, comparing the measured gains and SSPLs with the criterion gains and SSPLs and if the measured gains and SSPLs are less than the criterion gains and SSPLs, increasing the gain and SSPL of the hearing aid and repeating measurement, and if the measured gains and SSPLs becomes equal to the criterion gains and SSPLs, setting the gains and SSPLs of the hearing aid at that time as an actual gain and / or SSPL of the hearing aid and saving the automatic fitting device.

A low-cost, programmable, time-limited hearing aid (104) and a means (102) to program the hearing aid with user-specific hearing-loss data (101) for the purpose of emulating the performance of a more permanent, but more costly, hearing aid device. The hearing aid is operational for only a limited time, and is intended for temporary, evaluative purposes. By providing the user with a low-cost, but temporary, means to evaluate the benefits of assisted hearing, he or she becomes more comfortable with its use, and therefore is more amenable to the more involved process and greater expense of being fitted for a more permanent hearing health solution. A method of use of the hearing health aid and the associated programming system that allows a hearing-loss candidate to evaluate the effectiveness of the hearing aid device is also presented.

A listening device includes an ear-part for being worn in or at an ear of a user, a microphone system including at least two microphones each converting an input sound to an electrical microphone signal, and a TF-conversion unit for providing a time-frequency representation of the at least two microphone signals. Each signal representation includes complex or real values of the signal in a particular time-frequency unit. The listening device also includes a DIR-unit with a directionality system providing a weighted sum of the at least two electrical microphone signals thereby providing at least two directional microphone signals having maximum sensitivity in spatially different directions and a combined microphone signal. Each time-frequency unit of the combined signal is attributable to a particular direction. A frequency shaping-unit modifies one or more selected time-frequency units to indicate directional cues of input sounds providing an improved directional output signal.

A personal voice-transmitted device includes at least one voice box and at least one voice-transmitted tube. The voice box has a speaker arranged therein, and is divided to a first space and a second space by the speaker. The voice-transmitted tube connects to one side of the voice box and extends outwardly and has an outlet. The device can generate and retain a low-pitched tone by resonance of the first space, and the low-pitched tone can be transmitted to the outside by the voice-transmitted tube to form an excellent low-pitched tone. The drawbacks of the prior art such as poor tone because of using an earphone, a shutting stress and an uncomfortable feeling because of inserting an earphone, an unsafe feeling because of hanging an earphone and a sanitation problem because of contacting an earphone can be improved. The device can be used with no restriction on occasions and time.

An earpiece device includes a housing having a sound output portion, a speaker and a microphone. The speaker disposed in the housing includes a diaphragm and a sound transmitting hole. The diaphragm is located between the sound output portion and the sound transmitting hole. The microphone is disposed in the housing and covers the sound transmitting hole. A sound wave generated within an ear canal would be received by the speaker and delivered through the sound transmitting hole to the microphone for pickup.

The invention relates to the technical field of hearing aid, in particular to a vision and voice combined hearing aid method and system. The method comprises the steps that S1, a first collection module is adopted to collect voice information of the surrounding environment of a wearer of a hearing aid device; s2, acquiring image information in front of the wearer by adopting a second collection module; s3, the processing module judges orientation information of speakers around the wearer; s4, the processing module carries out enhancement processing on the voice information and carries out voice recognition so as to acquire text content corresponding to the voice information; s5, a hearing aid device is adopted to receive the voice information, and the voice information is amplified and then played to the wearer; and the visual module is adopted to receive and display the text content for assisting the wearer to understand the voice information. The beneficial effects of the invention are that the method helps a patient with hearing impairment to communicate normally through the combination of voice recognition, image recognition and text display, corrects the errors of conventionalvoice recognition through lip language recognition, and improves the recognition rate of voice recognition in a complex environment.

The present invention relates to a hearing instrument comprising a switched capacitor DC-DC converter. The hearing instrument comprises a rechargeable battery source for providing a battery supply voltage and the switched capacitor DC-DC converter comprising a DC input end coupled to the battery supply voltage for converting the battery supply voltage into a higher or lower DC output voltage. Thehearing instrument comprises at least one active circuit connected to the DC output voltage for energizing active components of the at least one active circuit.

An audio input device is provided which can include a number of features. In some embodiments, the audio input device includes a housing, a microphone carried by the housing, and a processor carried by the housing and configured to modify an input sound signal so as to amplify frequencies corresponding to a target human voice and diminish frequencies not corresponding to the target human voice. In another embodiment, an audio input device is configured to treat an auditory gap condition of a user by extending gaps in continuous speech and outputting the modified speech to the user. In another embodiment, the audio input device is configured to treat a dichotic hearing condition of a user. Methods of use are also described.

The invention adds a hearing aid function to the small portable frequency modulation (FM) radio. The FM radio is a super-heterodyne receiver composed by a FM broadcasting waves (RF), amplifiers, a local oscillator (OSC), a mixer, an IF amplifier, a detector, a voice amplifier (AF), headphones and speakers. To add a hearing aid function to the small portable frequency modulation radio, a FM radio as shown in the abstract figure is manufacturered. A built-in speaker is used as a dynamic microphone (1) for picking up voice signals. In addition, a pre-microphone amplifier (25) is increased, to enlarge the voices picked-up by the microphone. Herein, the high-frequency gain of the audio is inhibited, to reduce the listening barriers caused by the external noise of the frequency. The radio and hearing aids functions are selected by a function switching (20), the selected signal is output to the headphone (27) through the voice amplifier (26) of the original radio, accordingly hearing the voices.

A hearing aid or audio communication system includes an earpiece 10 that can be hidden in the ear canal, and which communicates wirelessly with a remote processor unit, or RPU 16, that enhances audio signals and can be concealed under clothing. Sounds from the environment are picked up by a microphone 12 in the earpiece and sent with other information over a two-way wireless link 17 to the RPU 16. The wireless link 17 uses microwaves for component miniaturization. Furthermore, use of radar technology to implement the wireless link 17, with an RPU 16 interrogator and earpiece 10 transponder, reduces earpiece size and power, as no microwave oscillator is needed in the earpiece 10. Optional secondary wireless link circuitry 19 can be used between the RPU 16 and a cellular telephone system or other sources of information. Electronic voice recognition and response can control system operation.

The invention relates to a sound acquisition and analysis system for a hearing aid. The sound acquisition and analysis system for the hearing aid comprises a hearing aid, a magnetic implant, sound acquisition equipment and a processing and analysis system; the magnetic implant is implanted in the skin outside a human skull; the hearing aid is connected with the magnetic implant through the sound acquisition equipment; an electromagnetic bone conduction oscillator is arranged in the hearing aid; a magnetic gasket is arranged at the lower side of the hearing aid; the electromagnetic bone conduction oscillator is connected with the magnetic gasket outside the hearing aid through a conduction metal sheet; the sound acquisition equipment comprises a shell; a sound sensor is built in the shell; the sound sensor is in communication connection with the processing and analysis system; an upper magnetic end magnetically connected with the magnetic gasket is arranged at the upper end of the shell; and a lower magnetic end magnetically connected with the magnetic gasket is arranged at the lower end of the shell. By means of the sound acquisition and analysis system for the hearing aid disclosed by the invention, the sound acquisition equipment acquires sound transmitted through the magnetic gasket from the hearing aid, and converts the sound into electric signals; therefore, the output condition of the bone conduction hearing aid is measured in real time; the signals are output into the processing and analysis system, so that real-time processing and analysis are carried out; and thus, sound signals transmitting into the skull of a patient are evaluated.

The invention discloses voice receiving equipment and a voice receiving control method. The voice receiving equipment comprises an earphone, a near-end microphone, a far-end microphone, a communication module and a control module; the far-end microphone is used for receiving field voice information; the communication module is used for receiving voice information transmitted by a voice communication device; and the control module is electrically connected with the earphone, the near-end microphone, the far-end microphone and the communication module. When the voice receiving equipment does notcommunicate with the voice communication device, the control module controls the far-end microphone to perform voice receiving, and enables the earphone to play the field voice information; and whenthe voice receiving equipment communicates with the voice communication device, the control module controls the near-end microphone to start voice receiving, and enables the earphone to play the voiceinformation.

An exemplary electro-acoustic stimulation (“EAS”) system (100) includes 1) an off-the-ear sound processor module (102), 2) a headpiece module (104) communicatively coupled directly to the off-the-ear sound processor module (102) and configured to be affixed to a head of a patient, the headpiece module (104) comprising a housing with communication circuitry disposed therein that is configured to facilitate communication by the off-the-ear sound processor module (102) with a cochlear implant (106) implanted within the patient, and 3) a loudspeaker (110) communicatively coupled directly to the headpiece module (104). The off-the-ear sound processor module (102) is configured to direct the cochlear implant (106) to apply electrical stimulation to the patient and direct the loudspeaker (110) to apply acoustic stimulation to the patient. Corresponding systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.

The invention discloses a household hearing information barrier-free system, wherein the system comprises an integrated loudspeaker; the integrated loudspeaker comprises a loudspeaker, an audio amplifier outputting a signal to the loudspeaker, and a plurality of wireless receivers electrically connected with the audio amplifier; the plurality of wireless receivers comprise a doorbell signal receiver, an alarm signal receiver, an indoor distress signal receiver, a telephone signal receiver and a multimedia equipment sound signal receiver; the system also comprises a doorbell signal emitter, analarm signal emitter, an indoor distress signal emitter, a telephone signal emitter and a first sound source collector which are in wireless connection with the integrated loudspeaker. Through the system, a hearing impaired person can hear various sounds involved in home care clearly without wearing a hearing aid and other equipment, and does not need to go to a special institution for equipment fitting, so that the system is simple and convenient to use.

An audio input device is provided which can include a number of features. In some embodiments, the audio input device includes a housing, a microphone carried by the housing, and a processor carried by the housing and configured to modify an input sound signal so as to amplify frequencies corresponding to a target human voice and diminish frequencies not corresponding to the target human voice. In another embodiment, an audio input device is configured to treat an auditory gap condition of a user by extending gaps in continuous speech and outputting the modified speech to the user. In another embodiment, the audio input device is configured to treat a dichotic hearing condition of a user. Methods of use are also described.

The present invention relates to a smartphone-based hearing aid which does not employ a separate power supply or digital signal processing device and instead has an analogue interface unit, configured with a single integrated circuit chip, connected between a plurality of microphones and a smartphone, thereby realizing a compact size, reducing the cost and enhancing the audio performance. Instead of employing a digital signal processing chip which is essentially used in the existing hearing aids or personal sound amplifiers, the smartphone-based hearing aid according to the present invention utilizes components such as a smartphone-embedded application processor (AP), RAM, digital-analogue converter, speaker and display and is therefore affordable. In particular, if a CPU and a GPU which are embedded in the application processor of the smartphone are utilized, digital signal processing necessary for the operation of the hearing aid can be performed within a short time of milliseconds (ms) just by using software.

An exemplary auditory prosthesis system includes an audio accessory configured to be external to a patient and that includes 1) a plurality of microphones that receive incoming audio and convert the incoming audio into a plurality of audio signals, 2) a first communication port that connects directly to a communication port of a body-worn sound processor apparatus by way of a first cable, 3) a second communication port that connects directly to a communication port of a headpiece by way of a second cable, and 4) a control module communicatively coupled to the plurality of microphones and the first and second communication ports and that generates a processed audio signal by processing the plurality of audio signals converted by the plurality of microphones from the incoming audio and provides the processed audio signal to the body-worn sound processor apparatus.