System for automatic reception enhancement of hearing assistance devices

摘要

Method and apparatus for automatic reception enhancement of hearing assistance devices. The present subject matter relates to methods and apparatus for automatic reception enhancement in hearing assistance devices. It provides a power estimation scheme that is reliable against both steady and transient input. It provides a TSM estimation scheme that is effective and efficient both in terms of storage size and computational efficiency. The embodiments employing a decision tree provide a weight factor between the omnidirectional and compensated directional signal. The resulting decision logic improves speech intelligibility when talking under noisy conditions. The decision logic also improves listening comfort when exposed to noise. Additional method and apparatus can be found in the specification and as provided by the attached claims and their equivalents.

主权项

1. An apparatus, comprising a hearing assistance device, the hearing assistance device including:
a first microphone input configured to receive a first microphone signal with a first reception profile over a frequency range; a second microphone input configured to receive a second microphone signal with a second reception profile over the frequency range; and a digital signal processor configured to include:
a compensation filter connected to the second microphone input and configured to output the second microphone signal with a third reception profile which substantially matches the first reception profile;a mixing module connected to the first microphone input to receive the first microphone signal with the first reception profile and connected to compensation filter to receive the second microphone signal with the third reception profile, the mixing module configured to provide a mixing ratio (α(k)), for the first microphone signal with the first reception profile and the second microphone signal with the third reception profile based on relative signal strength and nature of the received signals;a first multiplier configured to:
receive the first microphone signal with the first reception profile over the frequency range;receive a first signal value of (1−α(k)) from the mixing module; andprovide a first multiplier output;a second multiplier configured to:
receive the second microphone signal with the third reception profile over the frequency range;receive a second signal value of α(k) from the mixing module; andprovide a second multiplier output; anda summing stage connected to the first multiplier and the second multiplier, and configured to sum the first multiplier output and the second multiplier output.