公开(公告)号：US08824711B1

公开(公告)日：2014-09-02

申请号：US13276664

申请日：2011-10-19

申请人： Eric A. Durant ,  Ivo Merks ,  William S. Woods ,  Jinjun Xiao ,  Tao Zhang ,  Zhi-Quan Luo

发明人： Eric A. Durant ,  Ivo Merks ,  William S. Woods ,  Jinjun Xiao ,  Tao Zhang ,  Zhi-Quan Luo

IPC分类号： H04R25/00 ,  H04R9/08 ,  H04R1/02

CPC分类号： H04R25/407 ,  H04R25/405 ,  H04R2225/41 ,  H04R2225/43

摘要： Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for improving speech intelligibility for speech-in-noise in audio processing and hearing assistance devices. The present subject matter includes a method for improving speech intelligibility for speech-in-noise for audio processing and hearing assistance devices. The method includes receiving an audio signal using a microphone array and processing the received signal to improve speech intelligibility in noise. A barrier-type beamforming process is used to improve signal-to-noise ratio at the output of the microphone array. The beamforming process includes convex optimization using a logarithmic barrier function, according to various embodiments.

摘要翻译： 这里公开的是用于改善音频处理和听力辅助装置中的噪声中的语音清晰度的方法和装置。 本主题包括用于改善用于音频处理和听力辅助装置的噪声中的语音清晰度的方法。 该方法包括使用麦克风阵列接收音频信号并处理接收到的信号以提高噪声中的语音清晰度。 使用屏障型波束形成处理来提高麦克风阵列输出端的信噪比。 根据各种实施例，波束形成处理包括使用对数屏障功能的凸优化。

公开(公告)号：US08737654B2

公开(公告)日：2014-05-27

申请号：US13081964

申请日：2011-04-07

申请人： Ivo Merks ,  William S. Woods ,  Tao Zhang ,  Dominic Perz

发明人： Ivo Merks ,  William S. Woods ,  Tao Zhang ,  Dominic Perz

IPC分类号： H04R25/00

CPC分类号： H04R25/505 ,  H04R25/356 ,  H04R2225/43 ,  H04R2460/01

摘要： Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for improved noise reduction for hearing assistance devices. In various embodiments, a hearing assistance device includes a microphone and a processor configured to receive signals from the microphone. The processor is configured to perform noise reduction which adjusts maximum gain reduction as a function of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and which reduces the strength of its maximum gain reduction for intermediate signal-to-noise ratio levels to reduce speech distortion. In various embodiments, the hearing assistance device includes a memory configured to log noise reduction data for user environments. Also provided are methods to further adjust the noise reduction based on the logged information.

摘要翻译： 这里公开的是用于改善助听装置的降噪的方法和装置。 在各种实施例中，助听器装置包括麦克风和被配置为从麦克风接收信号的处理器。 处理器被配置为执行降噪，其根据信噪比（SNR）调整最大增益减小，并且降低其中间信噪比水平的最大增益减小的强度以减少语音失真 。 在各种实施例中，助听装置包括被配置为记录用户环境的降噪数据的存储器。 还提供了基于所记录的信息来进一步调整噪声降低的方法。

公开(公告)号：US08718288B2

公开(公告)日：2014-05-06

申请号：US11957161

申请日：2007-12-14

申请人： William S. Woods ,  Brent Edwards

发明人： William S. Woods ,  Brent Edwards

IPC分类号： H04R25/00

CPC分类号： H04R25/70 ,  H04R25/50 ,  H04R25/507 ,  H04R2225/39 ,  H04R2225/41 ,  H04R2225/55

摘要： Disclosed herein, among other things, is a system for customizing a hearing assistance device for a wearer. According to various embodiments, data corresponding to the wearer's acoustic environment is logged using the hearing assistance device. In various embodiments, the hearing assistance device is fitted by an adaptive fitting process controlled by the wearer, the adaptive fitting process having access to the data logged by the hearing assistance device to customize settings of the hearing assistance device for the wearer. In an embodiment, data related to fitting the hearing assistance device is sent via a network connection to a location accessible by the wearer's audiologist and/or device manufacturer. The sent data is used to create an interactive database, and the database is used for fitting hearing assistance devices for one or more wearers, in various embodiments.

摘要翻译： 这里公开了一种用于定制用于佩戴者的助听器装置的系统。 根据各种实施例，使用助听器装置记录与佩戴者声学环境对应的数据。 在各种实施例中，通过由佩戴者控制的自适应装配过程来配合助听装置，自适应装配过程可以访问由助听装置记录的数据，以便为穿戴者定制助听装置的设置。 在一个实施例中，与安装助听装置有关的数据经由网络连接发送到佩戴者的听力学家和/或设备制造商可访问的位置。 发送的数据用于创建交互式数据库，并且在各种实施例中，数据库用于配合一个或多个佩戴者的助听器装置。

公开(公告)号：US20140023218A1

公开(公告)日：2014-01-23

申请号：US13550911

申请日：2012-07-17

申请人： William S. Woods

发明人： William S. Woods

IPC分类号： H04R25/00

CPC分类号： G10L21/0364 ,  G10L25/27 ,  H04R2225/43 ,  H04R2225/55

摘要： A system is provided for training and improvement of noise reduction in hearing assistance devices. In various embodiments the system includes a hearing assistance device having a microphone configured to detect sound. A memory is configured to store background noise detected by the microphone and configured to store a previous recording of speech. A processor includes a training module coupled to the memory and configured to perform training on a binary classifier using programmable feature extraction applied to a sum of the speech and the noise. The processor is configured to process the sound using an output of the binary classifier.

摘要翻译： 提供了一种用于训练和改进助听装置中的降噪的系统。 在各种实施例中，系统包括具有配置成检测声音的麦克风的助听装置。 存储器被配置为存储由麦克风检测到的背景噪声并被配置为存储先前的语音记录。 处理器包括耦合到存储器并被配置为使用应用于语音和噪声之和的可编程特征提取来对二进制分类器执行训练的训练模块。 处理器被配置为使用二进制分类器的输出处理声音。

公开(公告)号：US20160261963A1

公开(公告)日：2016-09-08

申请号：US15061320

申请日：2016-03-04

申请人： William S. Woods ,  Martin McKinney ,  Tao Zhang ,  Ivo Merks

发明人： William S. Woods ,  Martin McKinney ,  Tao Zhang ,  Ivo Merks

IPC分类号： H04R25/00

CPC分类号： H04R25/505 ,  H04R25/50 ,  H04R25/554 ,  H04R2225/39 ,  H04R2225/41 ,  H04R2225/61 ,  H04R2460/05 ,  H04R2460/07

摘要： The signal processing functions of a hearing aid as described above necessarily cause some delay between the time the audio signal is received by the microphone or wireless receiver and the time that the audio is actually produced by the output transducer. In some situations, signal processing incorporating longer delays may be better able to improve signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) or other functional parameters for a hearing aid wearer, but a balance should be struck between these positive effects of delay and other negative effects. The techniques described herein address the problem of to balancing the positive and negative effects of delay.

摘要翻译： 如上所述的助听器的信号处理功能必须在由麦克风或无线接收器接收音频信号的时间与输出换能器实际产生音频的时间之间产生一些延迟。 在某些情况下，包含更长时间延迟的信号处理可以更好地提高助听器佩戴者的信噪比（SNR）或其他功能参数，但应在延迟和其他负面影响的这些积极影响之间取得平衡 。 本文描述的技术解决了平衡延迟的正面和负面影响的问题。

公开(公告)号：US20150325250A1

公开(公告)日：2015-11-12

申请号：US14273346

申请日：2014-05-08

申请人： William S. Woods ,  Tarun Pruthi ,  Jinjun Xiao

发明人： William S. Woods ,  Tarun Pruthi ,  Jinjun Xiao

IPC分类号： G10L21/0208 ,  H03G3/00 ,  H04R25/00

CPC分类号： G10L21/0208 ,  G10L21/0332 ,  G10L21/0364 ,  H03G3/00 ,  H04R25/00 ,  H04R25/43 ,  H04R25/55 ,  H04R2225/43 ,  H04R2430/03

摘要： An audio system processes a speech signal to maintain a target value of the speech intelligibility index (SII) while minimizing the overall speech level so that speech intelligibility is preserved across different environmental sound levels while possible distortions and overall loudness are mitigated. In one embodiment, a hearing aid processes a speech signal received from another device to maintain a target value of the SII while minimizing the overall speech level before mixing the speech signal with a microphone signal.

摘要翻译： 音频系统处理语音信号以保持语音可懂度指数（SII）的目标值，同时使整个语音水平最小化，使得在不同的环境声音水平上保持语音可懂度，同时可以减轻可能的失真和总体响度。 在一个实施例中，助听器处理从另一设备接收的语音信号，以在将语音信号与麦克风信号混合之前最小化整体语音电平的同时维持SII的目标值。

公开(公告)号：US08312150B2

公开(公告)日：2012-11-13

申请号：US11937925

申请日：2007-11-09

申请人： Nicholas James Clark ,  William S. Woods

发明人： Nicholas James Clark ,  William S. Woods

IPC分类号： G06F15/16 ,  G06F15/173

CPC分类号： G06F17/30557 ,  Y10S707/99953 ,  Y10S707/99954

摘要： A method and system for flexibly transferring data from one or more data sources to one or more data destinations within an information network where each of the one or more data sources have data in a particular source format and each of the one or more data destinations have data in the same or another particular destination format using a parameter database that includes parameters to control the transfer of data, a scheduler that initiates the transfer of data, and a data loader in communications with the parameter database and scheduler that, upon initiation by the scheduler, extracts data from the one or more data sources, manipulates the extracted source data into one or more destination formats associated with the one or more data destinations, and inserts the data into one or more data destinations according to the parameters within the parameter database.

摘要翻译： 一种用于将数据从一个或多个数据源灵活地传送到信息网络中的一个或多个数据目的地的方法和系统，其中所述一个或多个数据源中的每一个具有特定源格式的数据，并且所述一个或多个数据目的地中的每一个具有 使用包括用于控制数据传送的参数的参数数据库的相同或另一特定目的地格式的数据，启动数据传送的调度器，以及与参数数据库和调度器进行通信的数据加载器， 调度器从一个或多个数据源提取数据，将所提取的源数据操作成与一个或多个数据目的地相关联的一个或多个目的地格式，并根据参数数据库中的参数将数据插入一个或多个数据目的地 。

公开(公告)号：US20120213392A1

公开(公告)日：2012-08-23

申请号：US13304825

申请日：2011-11-28

申请人： Tao Zhang ,  William S. Woods ,  Timothy Daniel Trine

发明人： Tao Zhang ,  William S. Woods ,  Timothy Daniel Trine

IPC分类号： H04R25/00

CPC分类号： H04R25/405 ,  H04R25/70

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.

摘要翻译： 助听器自动接收增强的方法和装置。 本主题涉及助听装置中自动接收增强的方法和装置。 它提供了对稳定和瞬态输入可靠的功率估计方案。 它提供了在存储大小和计算效率方面有效和高效的TSM估计方案。 采用决策树的实施例提供了全向和补偿的定向信号之间的权重因子。 由此产生的决策逻辑在嘈杂条件下进行通话时提高语音清晰度。 当暴露于噪音时，决策逻辑也可以提高听觉舒适度。 附加的方法和装置可以在说明书中找到并且由所附权利要求及其等同物提供。

公开(公告)号：US20120121099A1

公开(公告)日：2012-05-17

申请号：US12944531

申请日：2010-11-11

申请人： William S. Woods

发明人： William S. Woods

IPC分类号： H04R29/00

CPC分类号： H04R25/30 ,  H04R25/305 ,  H04R2225/61

摘要： This disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for diagnosing operation errors in hearing assistance devices, including but not limited to hearing aids. The hearing assistance device includes a microphone and a receiver. In various approaches, a housing is configured to hold the hearing assistance device and to provide a controlled acoustic environment between the microphone and receiver. A lid is configured to cover an opening in the housing to seal the housing from external sounds, in various approaches. In some examples, the hearing assistance device is configured to detect placement of the lid on the housing from within the housing and, once placement is detected, output acoustic signals through the receiver and compare resulting microphone input to baseline parameters to diagnose calibration errors.

摘要翻译： 本公开涉及用于诊断助听设备中的操作错误的方法和装置，包括但不限于助听器。 助听器包括麦克风和接收器。 在各种方法中，壳体被配置为保持助听装置并且在麦克风和接收器之间提供受控的声学环境。 盖子构造成覆盖壳体中的开口，以便以各种方式将壳体与外部声音密封。 在一些示例中，助听装置被配置为从壳体内检测盖子在壳体上的放置，并且一旦检测到位置，则通过接收器输出声信号，并将得到的麦克风输入与基准参数进行比较，以诊断校准误差。

公开(公告)号：US20110249844A1

公开(公告)日：2011-10-13

申请号：US13081964

申请日：2011-04-07

申请人： Ivo Merks ,  William S. Woods ,  Tao Zhang ,  Dominic Perz

发明人： Ivo Merks ,  William S. Woods ,  Tao Zhang ,  Dominic Perz

IPC分类号： H04R25/00

CPC分类号： H04R25/505 ,  H04R25/356 ,  H04R2225/43 ,  H04R2460/01

摘要： Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for improved noise reduction for hearing assistance devices. In various embodiments, a hearing assistance device includes a microphone and a processor configured to receive signals from the microphone. The processor is configured to perform noise reduction which adjusts maximum gain reduction as a function of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and which reduces the strength of its maximum gain reduction for intermediate signal-to-noise ratio levels to reduce speech distortion. In various embodiments, the hearing assistance device includes a memory configured to log noise reduction data for user environments. Also provided are methods to further adjust the noise reduction based on the logged information.

摘要翻译： 这里公开的是用于改善助听装置的降噪的方法和装置。 在各种实施例中，助听器装置包括麦克风和被配置为从麦克风接收信号的处理器。 处理器被配置为执行降噪，其根据信噪比（SNR）调整最大增益减小，并且降低其中间信噪比水平的最大增益减小的强度以减少语音失真 。 在各种实施例中，助听装置包括被配置为记录用户环境的降噪数据的存储器。 还提供了基于所记录的信息来进一步调整噪声降低的方法。