Electrical audio signal processing systems and devices – Hearing aids – electrical
Reexamination Certificate
1996-12-26
2001-12-11
Le, Huyen (Department: 2643)
Electrical audio signal processing systems and devices
Hearing aids, electrical
38, 38, 38
Reexamination Certificate
active
06330339
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hearing aid with variable operation modes.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the recent years, digital signal processing is applied in a hearing aid, which enables more complicated signal processing in comparison with an analog hearing aid. However, on the other hand, for digital processing, parts consuming large power, such as DSP (Digital Signal Processor) and CPU (Central Processing Unit) are used in the hearing aid. Therefore, it shortens the duration of continuous operation of the hearing aid.
Therefore, in the hearing aid employing digital signal processing (hereinafter referred to as “digital hearing aid”), there has been proposed a method to reduce power consumption by controlling circuit blocks to be operated depending upon an input voice signal.
FIG. 1
is a circuit diagram showing the conventional digital hearing aid. As shown in
FIG. 1
, the digital hearing aid is constructed with a microphone
1
which converts a voice signal into an electric signal, an input amplifier
2
amplifying the electric signal, a voice level judgement circuit
3
judging magnitude of amplified signal, a signal processing circuit
4
processing the amplified signal, a changeover switch
5
for selecting the amplified signal of the input amplifier
2
and the processing signal of the signal processing circuit
4
, an output amplifier
6
outputting a selection signal, an earphone
7
converting the output signal into the voice signal, a power source
8
driving all of the foregoing circuits, a switch
9
a
for shutting off power supply for the signal processing circuit
4
, and a switch
9
b
for shutting off the power supply for the output amplifier
6
.
When the switches
9
a
and
9
b
supply power to the signal processing circuit
4
and the output amplifier
6
, the hearing aid amplifies the input signal of the microphone
1
by the input amplifier
2
. Then, after signal processing by the signal processing circuit
4
, the earphone
7
is driven by the output of the output amplifier
6
. The input voice signal level is judged by the voice level judgement circuit
3
to control power supply to the signal processing circuit
4
and the output amplifier
6
. Namely, while no voice condition, power supply for both of the signal processing circuit
4
and the output amplifier
6
is shut off. In an ordinary sound field level in normal life, power supply only for the signal processing circuit
4
is shut off. The changeover switch
5
selects the output signal of the input amplifier
2
to supply to the output amplifier
6
so that the earphone
7
is driven by the output signal of the output amplifier
6
.
On the other hand, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. Heisei 6-105399 discloses a hearing aid, in which standard patterns representing typical input sounds are preliminarily registered, mutually different hearing compensation methods are provided with respect to respective patterns for selecting hearing compensation methods depending upon the input sound.
However, as set forth above, while the digital hearing aid is advantageous for permitting complicated signal processing, it encounters a problem of short duration in continuous operation for employing parts consuming large amount of power, such as DSP, CPU or so forth.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Heisei 5-344595 proposed as a solution for the problem set forth above, merely discloses a hearing aid which varies operation modes depending upon an input voice signal. On the other hand, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Heisei 6-105399 discloses a hearing aid which merely varies hearing compensation method only depending upon the input voice signal.
Namely, these hearing aids performs switching of the operation modes or hearing compensation methods ignoring condition upon wearing condition or desire of the wearer, and thus cannot vary characteristics adapting to the condition of the wearer. For example, it is possible to be caused a condition where the operation mode or hearing compensation method is not varied for environmental sound being held unchanged, despite that the wearer is in sleeping.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a hearing aid which can vary adapting a characteristics to a wearer's condition.
According to one aspect of the invention, a hearing aid with variable operation mode, comprises: one or more condition detecting means for detecting a biological signal or motion representative of condition of a wearer; condition determining means for determining an operation mode on the basis of result of detection of said condition detecting means; and operation mode control portion driving an earphone according to an operation mode output from said condition determining means.
On the other hand, according to another aspect of the present invention, a hearing aid comprises: timing means for outputting a time; condition determining means for determining an operation mode with predicting condition of a wearer on the basis of said time; and operation mode control portion for driving an earphone according to an operation mode output from said condition determining means.
The hearing aid may further comprise a power control means for controlling at least one selected from a group consisting of a circuit block to be operated, voltage, and clock frequency depending upon a wearer's condition and time to control power consumption.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, the hearing aid may further comprise a hearing aid processing portion, the operation of the said hearing aid processing portion and hearing aid processing parameter which determines hearing aid characteristics of the said hearing aid being varied depending upon said the condition of the wearer and time.
In the present invention, depending upon condition of the wearer (in sleep, in tension, in motion or so forth), control of operation mode, such as modification of hearing compensation processing method, such as simplification of the hearing compensation process, modification of circuit block to be operated, is performed to adapt the operation of the hearing aid with the condition of the wearer.
On the other hand, in the present invention, since operation mode can be according to the time, operation adapted to the time of the day is possible. Namely, operation mode is varied by setting time of the wearer.
Furthermore, in the present invention, since a power control means is provided in the hearing aid, power saving can be realized by varying the power consumption depending upon the condition of the wearer and the set time.
Also, in the present invention, operation of the hearing aid processing portion and hearing aid processing parameter which process hearing compensation depending upon condition after wearing and set time, are controlled to permit hearing aid process to adapt to the wearer's condition and set time.
According to the present invention, the operation mode can be controlled by judging physical and mental conditions from the condition of the wearer. For example, when the wearer is sleeping, gain is made smaller in comparison with the normal mode. In the alternative, it is possible to set the operation mode in low speed operation mode with simplified hearing aid process. When the wearer is in tension, a mode wherein gain is elevated to remove noise, can be selected.
On the other hand, by monitoring the time by the timer, it is possible to vary the operation mode of the hearing aid depending upon set time.
Furthermore, power saving can be realized by varying one or more of power consumption, operation speed, power source voltage, and component to supply power. More specifically, power saving can be realized by stopping of power supply for the portion which can stop operation, lowering power source voltage to establish sleep mode, lowering of operation speed by lowering the clock speed and so forth. It should be noted that varying of the operation mode is performed exclusi
Ishige Ryuuichi
Kondo Reishi
Foley & Lardner
Le Huyen
NEC Corporation
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