公开(公告)号：US11463820B2

公开(公告)日：2022-10-04

申请号：US17029613

申请日：2020-09-23

Applicant: Oticon A/S

Inventor： Anders Højsgaard Thomsen ,  Steen Michael Munk ,  Anders Meng

IPC: H04R25/00

Abstract: A hearing aid comprises a forward path comprising a) at least two input transducers, each for picking up sound from the environment of the hearing aid and providing respective at least two electric input signals; b) a beamformer filter for filtering said at least two electric input signals or signals originating therefrom and providing a spatially filtered signal; c) a signal processor for processing one or more of said electric input signals or one or more signals originating therefrom, and providing one or more processed signals based thereon; and d) an output transducer for generating stimuli perceivable by the user as sound based on said one or more processed signals. The hearing aid further comprises e) a feedback estimation system for estimating a current feedback from the output transducer to each of the at least two input transducers and providing respective feedback measures indicative thereof; and f) a controller configured to receive said feedback measures from said feedback estimation system and to switch between two modes of operation of the hearing aid, a one-input transducer (e.g. omni-directional) mode of operation, and a multi-input transducer (directional) mode of operation, in dependence of the feedback measures. to. The application further relates to a method of operating a hearing aid. Thereby the gain provided by the hearing aid to the user (without a significant risk of howl) can be maximized.

公开(公告)号：US10966038B2

公开(公告)日：2021-03-30

申请号：US16270784

申请日：2019-02-08

Applicant: Oticon A/S

Inventor： Susanna Løve Callaway ,  Nicolas Le Goff ,  Terri Ives ,  Nimrod Bogdanovski ,  Mikkel Bo Rasmussen ,  Anders Meng ,  Martin Kuriger ,  Meng Guo ,  Mikkel Grønbech ,  Mojtaba Farmani ,  Nels Hede Rohde ,  Stefan Gram ,  Sudershan Yalgalwadi Sreepadarao ,  Bernhard Kuenzle

IPC: H04R25/00

Abstract: A method of conducting a fitting session for fitting a hearing device to a hearing device user's needs is provided. The method comprises S1. providing an estimate of, a current feedback from said output transducer to said input transducer, while the hearing device is in an operational state; S2. evaluating said estimate of a current feedback and providing a value of a feedback risk indicator in dependence of said estimate of a current feedback; S3. determining whether said value of the feedback risk indicator fulfils a high-risk criterion; and S4. if said high-risk criterion is fulfilled providing at least one of a warning, a recommendation, and an action in relation to said feedback risk. Steps S1 to S4 are configured to be automatically performed as background processes.
Thereby a simplified scheme for fitting a hearing device to a user's needs may be provided.

公开(公告)号：US12096184B2

公开(公告)日：2024-09-17

申请号：US17673089

申请日：2022-02-16

Applicant: Oticon A/S

Inventor： Meng Guo ,  Anders Meng ,  Bernhard Kuenzle

IPC: H04R25/00

CPC classification number: H04R25/453 ,  H04R25/606

Abstract: A hearing aid includes a forward path including a) an input transducer proving an electric input signal, b) a hearing aid processor, and c) an output transducer. The hearing aid further includes d) a feedback control system having d1) a feedback path estimator including an adaptive filter configured to provide an estimate of a current feedback path from the output transducer to at least one input transducer, the feedback path estimator being controllable via a feedback estimation control input, and d2) a combination unit in the forward path configured to subtract the estimate (v′) of the current feedback path signal (v) from a signal of the forward path (y) to provide a feedback corrected signal (e), and e) a detector for providing the feedback estimation control input in dependence of an offset control signal indicative of an offset in the electric input signal or a signal originating therefrom.

公开(公告)号：US12052546B2

公开(公告)日：2024-07-30

申请号：US17704355

申请日：2022-03-25

Applicant: Oticon A/S

Inventor： Sudershan Yalgalwadi Sreepadarao ,  Anders Meng ,  Mojtaba Farmani ,  Martin Kuriger ,  Mikkel Grønbech ,  Meng Guo

IPC: H04R25/00

CPC classification number: H04R25/43 ,  H04R25/507 ,  H04R25/554

Abstract: A hearing aid includes an input unit, an output unit, a signal processing unit connected to said input unit and output unit, where the input unit, the signal processing unit and the output unit are forming part of a forward path of the hearing aid, where the signal processing unit is configured to apply a forward gain to the at least one electric input signal or a signal originating therefrom. The hearing aid further includes a feedback control unit configured to reduce a risk of howl due to acoustic, electrical, and/or mechanical feedback of an external feedback path from the output unit to the input unit of said hearing aid, where the hearing aid is configured to receive motion data characterising movement and/or acceleration and/or orientation and/or position of the hearing aid to control processing.

公开(公告)号：US12114133B2

公开(公告)日：2024-10-08

申请号：US17968186

申请日：2022-10-18

Applicant: Oticon A/S

Inventor： Meng Guo ,  Mojtaba Farmani ,  Anders Meng ,  Thomas Kaulberg ,  Peter Sommer

IPC: H04R25/00

CPC classification number: H04R25/453 ,  H04R25/305 ,  H04R25/505 ,  H04R25/603 ,  H04R25/604

Abstract: A hearing aid adapted for being worn by a user at or in an ear of the user comprises a) at least one input transducer for converting sound in an environment around the user to at least one electric input signal representing said sound; b) an output transducer for converting a processed output signal provided in dependence of said at least one electric input signal to stimuli perceivable to the user as sound; c) a feedback control system comprising an adaptive filer, the feedback control system being configured to provide an adaptively determined estimate (h*(n)) of a current feedback path (h(n)) from said output transducer to said at least one input transducer in dependence of c1) said at least one electric input signal, c2) said processed output signal, and c3) an adaptive algorithm. The hearing aid further comprises d) a database comprising a multitude (M) of previously determined candidate feedback paths (hm); and e) a controller configured to identify a change in the current feedback path (h(n)) based on the adaptively determined estimate (h*(n)) of the current feedback path and at least one of said multitude of previously determined candidate feedback paths (hm). A method of operating a hearing aid is further disclosed. The invention may e.g. be used in hearing aids, e.g. binaural hearing aid systems or headsets, or speakerphones, or combinations thereof.

公开(公告)号：US11825269B2

公开(公告)日：2023-11-21

申请号：US17704828

申请日：2022-03-25

Applicant: Oticon A/S

Inventor： Meng Guo ,  Bernhard Kuenzle ,  Anders Meng ,  Martin Kuriger ,  Mojtaba Farmani ,  Mikkel Grønbech ,  Sudershan Yalgalwadi Sreepadarao ,  Kim Tilgaard Petersen

IPC: H04R25/00

CPC classification number: H04R25/453 ,  H04R25/505

Abstract: A hearing aid includes an input unit, an output unit, a signal processing unit connected to the input unit and output unit, where the input unit, the signal processing unit and the output unit form part of a forward path of the hearing aid, where the signal processing unit is configured to apply a forward gain to the at least one electric input signal or a signal originating therefrom. The hearing aid further includes a feedback reduction unit configured to reduce risk of howl due to acoustic, electrical, and/or mechanical feedback of an external feedback path from the output unit to the input unit. The feedback reduction unit is configured to modulate the forward gain in time to provide that the forward gain exhibits an increased or unchanged forward gain in one or more first time periods and a reduced forward gain in one or more second time periods.

公开(公告)号：US12089005B2

公开(公告)日：2024-09-10

申请号：US17674041

申请日：2022-02-17

Applicant: Oticon A/S

Inventor： Meng Guo ,  Anders Meng ,  Martin Kuriger ,  Mojtaba Farmani ,  Mikkel Grønbech ,  Sudershan Y.S

IPC: H04R25/00

CPC classification number: H04R25/453 ,  H04R25/505

Abstract: A hearing aid comprises a forward path comprising an input transducer an electric input signals representing a sound comprising target signal components and background noise, a hearing aid processor for providing a processed signal in dependence of said at least one electric input signal and for providing a processed output signal in dependence thereof, and an output transducer for providing stimuli perceivable as sound to the user in dependence of said processed signal. The forward path provides a frequency dependent intended forward path transfer function. The hearing aid further comprises a feedback path estimator configured to provide a current frequency dependent estimate of a feedback path transfer function of a feedback path from the output transducer to the input transducer, and a current feedback path estimate in dependence of the current estimate of the feedback path transfer function and of the processed signal, and a combination unit in the forward path configured to subtract the current feedback path estimate from a signal of the forward path to provide a feedback corrected signal. The hearing aid may further comprise a noise estimator configured to provide a current frequency dependent noise estimate representing a background noise level in the at least one electric input signal, an open loop transfer function estimator configured to provide a frequency dependent estimate of a current open loop transfer function in dependence of the intended forward path transfer function and the current estimate of the feedback transfer function, and a confidence level estimator configured to provide a current frequency dependent estimate of a confidence level of the current estimate of the feedback transfer function in dependence of a current estimate of open loop gain and optionally the current noise estimate. The hearing aid may be configured to control processing in the hearing aid in a frequency band k in dependence of said current estimate of the open loop transfer function and/or the current estimate of the feedback path transfer function, if the current estimate of the confidence level fulfils a confidence criterion in said frequency band k. A method of operating a hearing aid is further disclosed. The invention may e.g. be used to assess a risk of acoustic feedback in a hearing aid.

公开(公告)号：US09769574B2

公开(公告)日：2017-09-19

申请号：US15052308

申请日：2016-02-24

Applicant: Oticon A/S

Inventor： Michael Smed Kristensen ,  Anders Meng ,  Steen Michael Munk

IPC: H04R25/00

CPC classification number: H04R25/505 ,  H04R25/305 ,  H04R25/453 ,  H04R25/552 ,  H04R2460/03

Abstract: The application relates to a hearing device comprising a) a forward path between an input transducer for converting an input sound to an electric input signal and an output transducer for converting an electric output signal to an output sound, the forward path comprising a signal processing unit for applying a level and/or frequency dependent gain to the electric input signal or a signal originating therefrom and for providing a processed signal, and feeding the processed signal or a signal originating therefrom to the output transducer, an acoustic feedback path being defined from said output transducer to said input transducer; b) a configurable anti-feedback system comprising a feedback estimation unit for providing an estimate of said acoustic feedback path; c) a number of detectors, each providing a detector signal for characterizing a signal of the forward path. The object of the present application is to save power in a hearing device. The problem is solved in that the hearing device further comprises an activation control unit configured to control the anti-feedback system based on said detector signals, and to bring the anti-feedback system into one of at least two predefined modes based on said detector signals, said at least two predefined modes comprising an ON-mode and an OFF-mode. The invention may e.g. be used in hearing aids, headsets, ear phones, active ear protection systems, or similar portable devices, where a need for feedback cancellation and low power consumption is important.

公开(公告)号：US09269343B2

公开(公告)日：2016-02-23

申请号：US14090847

申请日：2013-11-26

Applicant: OTICON A/S

Inventor： Steen Michael Munk ,  Anders Meng

IPC: A61F11/06 ,  G10K11/16 ,  H03B29/00 ,  G10K11/175 ,  H04R3/02 ,  H04R25/00

CPC classification number: G10K11/175 ,  H04R3/02 ,  H04R25/453

Abstract: An audio processing device comprises a feedback estimation system for estimating feedback from an output transducer to an input transducer, the feedback estimation system comprising an adaptive filter comprising a variable filter part for filtering an input signal according to variable filter coefficients and an algorithm part comprising an adaptive algorithm for dynamically updating filter coefficients, a control unit for controlling the de-correlation unit and the adaptive algorithm, and a correlation detection unit for determining a) the auto-correlation of a signal of the forward path and providing an AC-value and/or b) the cross-correlation between two different signals of the forward path and providing an XC-value.

Abstract translation: 音频处理装置包括用于估计从输出换能器到输入换能器的反馈的反馈估计系统，所述反馈估计系统包括自适应滤波器，该自适应滤波器包括用于根据可变滤波器系数对输入信号进行滤波的可变滤波器部分，以及包括 用于动态更新滤波器系数的自适应算法，用于控制去相关单元和自适应算法的控制单元，以及相关检测单元，用于确定a）正向路径的信号的自相关性并提供AC值，以及 /或b）正向路径的两个不同信号之间的互相关并提供XC值。