EP0924958B1 - Directional hearing device - Google Patents

Directional hearing device Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0924958B1
EP0924958B1 EP19980204331 EP98204331A EP0924958B1 EP 0924958 B1 EP0924958 B1 EP 0924958B1 EP 19980204331 EP19980204331 EP 19980204331 EP 98204331 A EP98204331 A EP 98204331A EP 0924958 B1 EP0924958 B1 EP 0924958B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
output
summer
processor
pass filter
hearing device
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19980204331
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0924958A1 (en
Inventor
Marinus Marias Boone
Ivo Leon Diane Marie Merks
Aart Zeger Van Halteren
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sonion Nederland BV
Original Assignee
SonionMicrotronic Nederland BV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by SonionMicrotronic Nederland BV filed Critical SonionMicrotronic Nederland BV
Publication of EP0924958A1 publication Critical patent/EP0924958A1/en
Priority to NZ509646A priority Critical patent/NZ509646A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0924958B1 publication Critical patent/EP0924958B1/en
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/40—Arrangements for obtaining a desired directivity characteristic
    • H04R25/407—Circuits for combining signals of a plurality of transducers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/40—Arrangements for obtaining a desired directivity characteristic
    • H04R25/402—Arrangements for obtaining a desired directivity characteristic using contructional means

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a hearing device comprising three microphones, two processors, in each case two of the microphones being pairwise electrically coupled to a first and a second processor, each processor comprising a first summer for providing a difference signal of the microphone signals, and an integrator connected to the output of the first summer; an output for further processing in a reproducer being connected to the processor.
  • Such a hearing apparatus is known from the international patent application WO 95/12961.
  • This application relates to a directional microphone system. Of each time two microphones, the output signals are amplified both proportionally and integratingly and supplied to a summer.
  • US-A-4,334,740 describes a directional microphone system comprising an array of four microphones, the signals of two of which are subtracted in a summer, the output signal of this summer being coupled to an integrator and the output signal of this integrator being amplified in a first amplifier.
  • the signals of the other two microphones are added and the added signal is amplified in a second amplifier.
  • the output signals of the first and second amplifier are added again to provide the output signal of the microphone system.
  • the directivity is very important to achieve a high audibility of speech.
  • the acoustic signals should be selectively amplified: only the speech signals or other important audio information should be amplified, not the inevitable undesired noise.
  • each processor comprises a second summer providing a sum signal of the microphone signals, and a proportional amplifier connected to the output of the second summer; and a third summer, which is coupled to the outputs of the proportional amplifier and the integrator, the third summer providing a sum signal of the output signals of the proportional amplifier and the integrator, the output of the third summer forming the output of the processor;
  • the output of the third summer of the first processor is connected to the input of a low-pass filter;
  • the output of the third summer of the second processor is connected to the input of a high-pass filter;
  • the outputs of the low-pass filter and the high-pass filter are connected to the inputs of a fourth summer for providing at the output thereof a sum signal of the output signals of the low-pass filter and the high-pass filter; and the output of the fourth summer forms the output for further processing in a reproducer.
  • FIG. 1 two microphones m 1 and m 2 are schematically shown, which form part of a hearing device according to the invention.
  • the microphones m 1 and m 2 are, for instance, omnidirectional microphones spaced apart a given distance.
  • the processor is schematically indicated by dash lines.
  • the microphones m 1 and m 2 are electrically coupled in any suitable manner to a first summer S1 for providing a difference signal of these microphone signals. Furthermore, an integrator I is connected to this first summer S1. As is known to those skilled in the art, an integrator can be composed using analog electronics.
  • the microphones m 1 and m 2 are also electrically coupled in any suitable manner to a second summer S2 for providing a sum signal of these microphone signals.
  • a proportional amplifier P is connected to this second summer.
  • Both the integrator I and the proportional amplifier P have their outputs coupled to a third summer S3 which provides a sum signal of the signal from the proportional amplifier P and the signal from the integrator I.
  • the sum signal from the third summer S3 forms the output U for further processing in a reproducer (not shown).
  • the output signal is the input signal for the reproducer.
  • the hearing device shown in Fig. 1 is adapted for a specific frequency range.
  • Fig. 2 shows three omnidirectional microphones m 1 , m 2 , and m 3 for a hearing device and two processors GP1 and GP2 with output signals U 1 and U 2 , respectively.
  • the distance between m 1 and m 2 is different from the distance between m 1 and m 2 .
  • these microphones in each case two are connected pairwise to a first and a second processor, GP1 indicating a low-frequency gradient processor and GP2 a high-frequency gradient processor, respectively.
  • processors are designed in the same manner as the processor shown in Fig.1.
  • a low-pass filter LF is connected to the processor GP1, while a high-pass filter HF is connected to the processor GP2.
  • the low-pass filter LF and the high-pass filter HF are connected to a fourth summer S4 which can provide a sum signal of LF and HF.
  • the output of the summer S4 feeds the reproducer (not shown).
  • the cross-over frequency of the high-pass filter and the low-pass filter can be optimized such that the output has a flat frequency response.
  • Figs. 3a and 3b show graphs of results of an advantageous embodiment according to the invention.
  • the microphone distances were 0.1 m for the low-frequency microphone pair and 0.016 m for the high-frequency microphone pair.
  • the graduations are logarithmic.
  • Fig. 3a the horizontal axis indicates the frequency in Hz, while the vertical axis shows the frequency response in dB.
  • Fig. 3b the horizontal axis indicates the frequency in Hz, while the vertical axis shows the directivity index in dB.
  • the directivity index is a measure, generally accepted by skilled persons, of the directional behavior of a microphone or microphone arrangement.
  • the graphs show that between 100 Hz and 5000 Hz the frequency response is flat and the directivity index is nearly constant.
  • the hearing device according to the invention may advantageously be accommodated in or on a side piece of eyeglasses.
  • the electric power may then be supplied by, e.g., a battery or solar cell.
  • the electrical output signal may be fed to the reproducer via a plug contact or a coil generating an electromagnetic field which can be received by a listening coil in the hearing apparatus.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Neurosurgery (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Circuit For Audible Band Transducer (AREA)
  • Obtaining Desirable Characteristics In Audible-Bandwidth Transducers (AREA)

Description

The invention relates to a hearing device comprising three microphones, two processors, in each case two of the microphones being pairwise electrically coupled to a first and a second processor, each processor comprising a first summer for providing a difference signal of the microphone signals, and an integrator connected to the output of the first summer; an output for further processing in a reproducer being connected to the processor.
Such a hearing apparatus is known from the international patent application WO 95/12961. This application relates to a directional microphone system. Of each time two microphones, the output signals are amplified both proportionally and integratingly and supplied to a summer.
US-A-4,334,740 describes a directional microphone system comprising an array of four microphones, the signals of two of which are subtracted in a summer, the output signal of this summer being coupled to an integrator and the output signal of this integrator being amplified in a first amplifier. The signals of the other two microphones are added and the added signal is amplified in a second amplifier. The output signals of the first and second amplifier are added again to provide the output signal of the microphone system.
In hearing apparatus, the directivity is very important to achieve a high audibility of speech. The acoustic signals should be selectively amplified: only the speech signals or other important audio information should be amplified, not the inevitable undesired noise.
There is therefore a need for highly directional hearing apparatus in which the directional characteristic of the hearing apparatus gives a good response to the difference in sound pressure between two discrete microphones.
The invention provides such a hearing apparatus, which is
characterized in that each processor comprises a second summer providing a sum signal of the microphone signals, and a proportional amplifier connected to the output of the second summer; and a third summer, which is coupled to the outputs of the proportional amplifier and the integrator, the third summer providing a sum signal of the output signals of the proportional amplifier and the integrator, the output of the third summer forming the output of the processor; the output of the third summer of the first processor is connected to the input of a low-pass filter; the output of the third summer of the second processor is connected to the input of a high-pass filter; the outputs of the low-pass filter and the high-pass filter are connected to the inputs of a fourth summer for providing at the output thereof a sum signal of the output signals of the low-pass filter and the high-pass filter; and the output of the fourth summer forms the output for further processing in a reproducer.
Thus, a flat frequency response and a nearly constant directional index can be achieved.
The invention will now be explained below in more detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings and the description, by way of example, in which drawings:
  • Fig. 1 schematically shows the diagram of the prior art,
  • Fig. 2 schematically shows the diagram of the invention; and
  • Figs. 3a and 3b show graphs of the frequency response vs. frequency and directional index vs. frequency, plotting results of a hearing device according to the invention.
    • Referring to Fig. 1 two microphones m1 and m2 are schematically shown, which form part of a hearing device according to the invention. The microphones m1 and m2 are, for instance, omnidirectional microphones spaced apart a given distance. The processor is schematically indicated by dash lines.
    The microphones m1 and m2 are electrically coupled in any suitable manner to a first summer S1 for providing a difference signal of these microphone signals. Furthermore, an integrator I is connected to this first summer S1. As is known to those skilled in the art, an integrator can be composed using analog electronics. The microphones m1 and m2 are also electrically coupled in any suitable manner to a second summer S2 for providing a sum signal of these microphone signals. A proportional amplifier P is connected to this second summer.
    Both the integrator I and the proportional amplifier P have their outputs coupled to a third summer S3 which provides a sum signal of the signal from the proportional amplifier P and the signal from the integrator I. The sum signal from the third summer S3 forms the output U for further processing in a reproducer (not shown).
    The output signal is the input signal for the reproducer.
    The operation of such a hearing device is based on the principle of the first order gradient receiver. This principle is known per se to those skilled in the art and will therefore not be described in detail.
    Suffice it to observe that the gradient is obtained by processing the signals from the separate omnidirectional microphones.
    In practice, the hearing device shown in Fig. 1 is adapted for a specific frequency range.
    Fig. 2 shows three omnidirectional microphones m1, m2, and m3 for a hearing device and two processors GP1 and GP2 with output signals U1 and U2, respectively. The distance between m1 and m2 is different from the distance between m1 and m2. Of these microphones, in each case two are connected pairwise to a first and a second processor, GP1 indicating a low-frequency gradient processor and GP2 a high-frequency gradient processor, respectively.
    Each of these processors is designed in the same manner as the processor shown in Fig.1.
    A low-pass filter LF is connected to the processor GP1, while a high-pass filter HF is connected to the processor GP2.
    Furthermore, the low-pass filter LF and the high-pass filter HF are connected to a fourth summer S4 which can provide a sum signal of LF and HF. The output of the summer S4 feeds the reproducer (not shown).
    The cross-over frequency of the high-pass filter and the low-pass filter can be optimized such that the output has a flat frequency response.
    Figs. 3a and 3b show graphs of results of an advantageous embodiment according to the invention. The microphone distances were 0.1 m for the low-frequency microphone pair and 0.016 m for the high-frequency microphone pair. The graduations are logarithmic.
    In Fig. 3a the horizontal axis indicates the frequency in Hz, while the vertical axis shows the frequency response in dB.
    In Fig. 3b the horizontal axis indicates the frequency in Hz, while the vertical axis shows the directivity index in dB.
    The directivity index is a measure, generally accepted by skilled persons, of the directional behavior of a microphone or microphone arrangement.
    The graphs show that between 100 Hz and 5000 Hz the frequency response is flat and the directivity index is nearly constant.
    It is observed that a flat frequency response can be undesirable in some applications of hearing devices, because, e.g., amplification is only necessary at higher frequencies. In that case high-pass filters can be used immediately after the microphones or at the output of the circuit.
    The hearing device according to the invention may advantageously be accommodated in or on a side piece of eyeglasses. The electric power may then be supplied by, e.g., a battery or solar cell. The electrical output signal may be fed to the reproducer via a plug contact or a coil generating an electromagnetic field which can be received by a listening coil in the hearing apparatus.

    Claims (3)

    1. A hearing device comprising three microphones (m1, m2, m3), two processors (GP1, GP2), in each case two of the microphones being pair-wise (m1,m3; m1,m2) electrically coupled to a first and a second processor (GP1; GP2), each processor comprising a first summer (S1) for providing a difference signal of the microphone signals, and an integrator (I) connected to the output of the first summer (S1); an output for further processing in a reproducer being connected to the processor,
      characterized in that
         each processor (GP1; GP2) comprises a second summer (S2) providing a sum signal of the microphone signals and a proportional amplifier (P) connected to the output of the second summer (S2); and a third summer (S3), which is coupled to the outputs of the proportional amplifier (P) and the integrator (I), the third summer (S3) providing a sum signal of the output signals of the proportional amplifier (P) and the integrator (I), the output of the third summer (S3) forming the output of the processor (GP1; GP2);
         the output (U1) of the third summer (S3) of the first processor (GP1) is connected to the input of a low-pass filter (LF);
         the output (U2) of the third summer (S3) of the second processor (GP2) is connected to the input of a high-pass filter (HF);
         the outputs of the low-pass filter and the high-pass filter are connected to the inputs of a fourth summer (S4) for providing at the output thereof a sum signal of the output signals of the low-pass filter and the high-pass filter; and
         the output of the fourth summer (S4) forms the output for further processing in a reproducer.
    2. A hearing device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is accommodated in or on a side piece of eyeglasses.
    3. A hearing device according to any one of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the electrical output signal is fed to the reproducer via a plug contact or a coil.
    EP19980204331 1997-12-19 1998-12-18 Directional hearing device Expired - Lifetime EP0924958B1 (en)

    Priority Applications (1)

    Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
    NZ509646A NZ509646A (en) 1998-07-06 1999-06-30 Farnesyl protein transferase inhibitors with in vivo radiosensitizing properties

    Applications Claiming Priority (2)

    Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
    NL1007858A NL1007858C2 (en) 1997-12-19 1997-12-19 Directional hearing aid.
    NL1007858 1997-12-19

    Publications (2)

    Publication Number Publication Date
    EP0924958A1 EP0924958A1 (en) 1999-06-23
    EP0924958B1 true EP0924958B1 (en) 2004-05-19

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    ID=19766226

    Family Applications (1)

    Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
    EP19980204331 Expired - Lifetime EP0924958B1 (en) 1997-12-19 1998-12-18 Directional hearing device

    Country Status (4)

    Country Link
    EP (1) EP0924958B1 (en)
    DE (1) DE69823971T2 (en)
    DK (1) DK0924958T3 (en)
    NL (1) NL1007858C2 (en)

    Families Citing this family (3)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    EP1192838B2 (en) 1999-06-02 2013-09-04 Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH Hearing aid device, comprising a directional microphone system and a method for operating a hearing aid device
    NL1015111C2 (en) * 2000-05-04 2001-11-06 Ronald Jan Geluk Microphone with frequency-dependent directional effect.
    DK1771038T4 (en) 2005-09-30 2013-06-03 Siemens Audiologische Technik Method of operating a hearing aid system for binaural supply of a user.

    Family Cites Families (6)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    US4334740A (en) * 1978-09-12 1982-06-15 Polaroid Corporation Receiving system having pre-selected directional response
    DE8529458U1 (en) * 1985-10-16 1987-05-07 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Hearing aid
    US5193117A (en) * 1989-11-27 1993-03-09 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Microphone apparatus
    US5463694A (en) * 1993-11-01 1995-10-31 Motorola Gradient directional microphone system and method therefor
    US5473701A (en) * 1993-11-05 1995-12-05 At&T Corp. Adaptive microphone array
    DE4436272A1 (en) * 1994-10-11 1996-04-18 Schalltechnik Dr Ing Schoeps G Influencing the directional characteristics of acousto-electrical receiver device with at least two microphones with different individual directional characteristics

    Also Published As

    Publication number Publication date
    DE69823971D1 (en) 2004-06-24
    EP0924958A1 (en) 1999-06-23
    DE69823971T2 (en) 2005-06-23
    DK0924958T3 (en) 2004-09-27
    NL1007858C2 (en) 1999-06-22

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