Electrical audio signal processing systems and devices – Sound effects – Reverberators
Patent
1983-10-11
1987-08-25
Rubinson, Gene Z.
Electrical audio signal processing systems and devices
Sound effects
Reverberators
340517, 340521, H04R 2500, G08B 300
Patent
active
046898204
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a digital hearing aid in which sensed signals are digitally processed.
BACKGROUND
In the course of modern microcomputer technology, it has also become known to use microcomputers for hearing aids for hearing-impaired persons. To this end, the analog input signal of the microphone must be converted into a data word and then the output data word, which was formed by digital conversion in the microcomputer in accordance with the desired auditory function, must in turn be delivered as an analog signal to an electro-acoustic converter (for example a receiver). It has now been found that the opportunities afforded by a microcomputer for this purpose are often insufficiently well exploited and a desire for greater versatility exists.
THE INVENTION
It is an object to expand the versatility of hearing aid which includes a microcomputer to permit a hearing-impaired person to receive information provided in a form which is other than audible spoken form.
Briefly, a hearing aid which includes a microcomputer has at least one additional or further sensor coupled thereto, which further sensor is responsive to signals which are outside the audible range, for example signals which are optical, electrical, magnetic, electromagnetic, or ultrasonic signals. These signals may be received in digital or analog form; if received in digital form, they can be directly applied to the microcomputer for processing in accordance with the program stored in an additional memory. The thus processed signal may be applied to the acoustic output transducer, such as an earphone, of the hearing aid. In one form, signals may be received in the form of digital signals transmitted in the infrared wave length, and reproduced, for example, as a sequence of tones in accordance with the program stored in the additional memory. The microcomputer can also provide additional outputs, for example for retransmission to transducers, in the form of infrared signals of speech picked up by the microphone to enable a group of listeners with similar equipment to clearly hear the spoken word, also over distances which are not normally within the audible range of the listener.
The hearing aid according to the invention has the advantage that because of the opportunity for additionally detecting further sensor signals, the hearing-impaired person can be provided with a greater variety of information which he would otherwise perceive only with relatively great difficulty or which he could detect only using additional devices. Thus, a single device includes the function of several devices, with important data being superimposed acoustically on the basic functions.
A particularly advantageous possibility in the class-room or in discussions among a relatively large number of hearing-impaired persons is that of requesting information via a second digital output of the hearing aid. If this further output is connected with a transmitter, in particular an infrared or radio transmitter, then the transmitted signal can be received via a respective further sensor in the hearing aids of the other participants and converted into acoustical information.
DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the invention in the form of a block circuit diagram and explained in detail in the ensuing description; and
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the system in use and responding to different types of inputs.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The signal processing system 1 is coupled to three input sensors 10, 16, 18. A microphone 10 functioning as an acoustic sensor is connected via an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter and a bus B1 with a microcomputer 12. First outputs of this microcomputer 12 available at a bus B2 are connected via a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter 13 with an electro-acoustic converter 14. The electro acoustic converter 14 transmits speech data acoustically into the opening of the ear. This converter 14 thus operates as an earphone. The conversion of the input data words into output data words corresponding to the desired auditory function or
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Eggert Albert
Gotze Gerd-Wolfgang
Kopke Wolfgang
Maas Rainer
Wiener Peter
Byrd Danita R.
Robert & Bosch GmbH
Rubinson Gene Z.
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