HEARING DEVICE WITH ADAPTIVE FEEDBACK-PATH ESTIMATION

摘要

A hearing device comprises a feedback-path estimation unit, which adaptively estimates a feedback path from an output transducer to an input transducer, and sets an adaptation-step size of an adaptive feedback-path estimation algorithm in dependence on an estimate of a background-noise spectrum. The feedback-path estimation unit provides an estimation-control signal for generating an acoustic feedback-path estimation signal having an level spectrum, which has at least one first frequency band with non-zero level and at least one second frequency band with zero level or with a non-zero level smaller than the level in the first frequency band and smaller than a background-noise level in the respective second frequency band. Background noise is detected in the second frequency band while the feedback-path estimation signal is provided. The background-noise level in the at least one first frequency band is estimated for obtaining the estimate of the background-noise spectrum. A corresponding method is described. The method is e.g. useful for estimating a feedback path during fitting of a hearing device, e.g. a hearing aid, to a particular user's needs.

主权项

1. A hearing device adapted for being located in or at an ear of a user and comprising
an input transducer, which is configured to detect and convert an acoustic input signal to an electric input signal; an output transducer, which is configured to receive and convert an electric output signal to an acoustic or vibrational output signal; a feedback-path estimation unit, which is configured to estimate a feedback path from the output transducer to the input transducer by performing an adaptive feedback-path estimation algorithm and to set an adaptation rate parameter of the adaptive feedback-path estimation algorithm in dependence on an estimate of a background-noise spectrum, to which the input transducer is exposed; wherein the feedback-path estimation unit is further configured
to provide to the output transducer an electric estimation-control signal for generating an acoustic feedback-path estimation signal having an level spectrum, which has at least one first frequency band with non-zero level and at least one second frequency band with zero level or with a non-zero level smaller than the level in the first frequency band and smaller than a background-noise level in the respective second frequency band;to control the input transducer to detect background noise in the at least one second frequency band while the feedback-path estimation signal is provided; andto estimate a background-noise level in the at least one first frequency band for obtaining the estimate of the background-noise spectrum.