Patent EP0342782A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0342782A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Electroacoustic system with electronic filters
Assignee: K/S Himpp
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Filing: 1989-03-21
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-03-21
Abstract
Abstract An electronic filter for an electroacoustic system. The system has a microphone for generating an electrical output from external sounds and an electrically driven transducer for emitting sound. Some of the sound emitted by the transducer returns to the microphone means to add a feedback contribution to its electrical output. The electronic filter includes a first circuit for electronic processing of the electrical output of the microphone to produce a filtered signal. An adaptive filter, interconnected with the first circuit, performs electronic processing of the filtered signal to produce an adaptive output to the first circuit to substantially offset the feedback contribution in the electrical output of the microphone, and the adaptive filter includes means for adapting only in response to polarities of signals supplied to and from the first circuit. Other electronic filters for hearing aids, public address systems and other electroacoustic systems, as well as such systems and methods of operating them are also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 A. Maynard Engebretson
- 👤 Michael P. O'connell
- 👤 Baohua Zheng
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:11
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04R; H04R25/00; H04R25/45; H04R25/453; H03; H03H; H03H21/00; H03H21/0012; H04R3/00; H04R3/04; H03H2021/007; H03H2021/0072; H03H2021/0074; H04R25/50; H04R25/505
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
An electroacoustic system comprising; a microphone means for generating an electrical output from external sounds; an electrically driven transducer means for emitting sound, some of said sound emitted by said transducer returning to said microphone means to add a feedback contribution to said electrical output; a first filter means for electronically processing said electrical output of said microphone means to produce a filtered signal; first combining means for combining said filtered signal with a second distinct signal for said transducer means; said system characterized by: a second filter means, united with and connected to said first filter means for electronically processing said filtered signal and said second distinct signal to produce an adaptive output; second combining means for combining said adaptive output with said electrical output from said microphone means to produce a combined signal input to said first filter means; and circuit means united with and connected to said first filter means for adaptively varying said electronic processing of said second filter means as a function of said combined signal input so that said adaptive output substantially offsets said feedback contribution in said electrical output of said microphone means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
An electroacoustic system comprising; a microphone means for generating an electrical output from external sounds; an electrically driven transducer means for emitting sound, some of said sound emitted by said transducer returning to said microphone means to add a feedback contribution to said electrical output; a first filter means for electronically processing said electrical output of said microphone means to produce a filtered signal; first combining means for combining said filtered signal with a second distinct signal for said transducer means; said system characterized by: a second filter means, united with and connected to said first filter means for electronically processing said filtered signal and said second distinct signal to produce an adaptive output; second combining means for combining said adaptive output with said electrical output from said microphone means to produce a combined signal input to said first filter means; and circuit means united with and connected to said first filter means for adaptively varying said electronic processing of said second filter means as a function of said combined signal input so that said adaptive output substantially offsets said feedback contribution in said electrical output of said microphone means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electroacoustic system as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said first and second filter means comprises an all-hardware filter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
126 words
A hearing aid adapted to be coupled to a user, comprising: a microphone means for generating an electrical output from sounds external to said user; an electrically driven receiver means for emitting sound into the ear of said user, some of the sound emitted by said receiver returning to said microphone means to add a feedback contribution to its electrical output; said hearing aid characterized by: means for electronically processing the electrical output of the microphone means to produce a filtered signal for said receiver means; and an adaptive filter means, having an input coupled to said filtered signal, for processing said filtered signal to produce an adaptive output to said electronic processor to substantially offset said feedback contribution in the electrical output of said microphone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
126 words
A hearing aid adapted to be coupled to a user, comprising: a microphone means for generating an electrical output from sounds external to said user; an electrically driven receiver means for emitting sound into the ear of said user, some of the sound emitted by said receiver returning to said microphone means to add a feedback contribution to its electrical output; said hearing aid characterized by: means for electronically processing the electrical output of the microphone means to produce a filtered signal for said receiver means; and an adaptive filter means, having an input coupled to said filtered signal, for processing said filtered signal to produce an adaptive output to said electronic processor to substantially offset said feedback contribution in the electrical output of said microphone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
149 words
A hearing aid comprising: microphone means for generating an electrical output from sounds external to a user of the hearing aid; electrically driven receiver means for emitting sound into the ear of the user of the hearing aid, some of the sound emitted by the receiver returning to said microphone means to add a feedback contribution to its electrical output; said hearing aid characterized by: first means for electronic processing of the electrical output of the microphone means to produce a filtered signal and for combining the filtered signal with a second distinct signal for the receiving of the hearing aid; and digital adaptive filter means, interconnected with said first means, for electronic processing of the filtered signal and second distinct signal to produce an adaptive output to said first means to substantially offset the feedback contribution in the electrical output of the microphone means in the hearing aid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
149 words
A hearing aid comprising: microphone means for generating an electrical output from sounds external to a user of the hearing aid; electrically driven receiver means for emitting sound into the ear of the user of the hearing aid, some of the sound emitted by the receiver returning to said microphone means to add a feedback contribution to its electrical output; said hearing aid characterized by: first means for electronic processing of the electrical output of the microphone means to produce a filtered signal and for combining the filtered signal with a second distinct signal for the receiving of the hearing aid; and digital adaptive filter means, interconnected with said first means, for electronic processing of the filtered signal and second distinct signal to produce an adaptive output to said first means to substantially offset the feedback contribution in the electrical output of the microphone means in the hearing aid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A hearing aid as set forth in claim 4 wherein said digital adaptive filter means includes means for adapting only in response to polarities of signals supplied to and from said first means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
163 words
A hearing aid comprising: microphone means for generating an electrical output from sounds external to a user of the hearing aid; electrically driven receiver means for emitting sound into the ear of the user of the hearing aid, some of the sound emitted by the receiver returning to said microphone means to add a feedback contribution to its electrical output; said hearing aid characterized by: first means for electronically processing the electrical output of the microphone means to produce a filtered signal and for combining the filtered signal with a second distinct signal for the receiver of the hearing aid; means for varying the second distinct signal in magnitude as a function of the magnitude of the filtered signal; and adaptive means, interconnected with said first means, for processing the filtered signal and second distinct signal to produce an adaptive output to said first means to substantially offset the feedback contribution in the electrical output of the microphone means in the hearing aid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
163 words
A hearing aid comprising: microphone means for generating an electrical output from sounds external to a user of the hearing aid; electrically driven receiver means for emitting sound into the ear of the user of the hearing aid, some of the sound emitted by the receiver returning to said microphone means to add a feedback contribution to its electrical output; said hearing aid characterized by: first means for electronically processing the electrical output of the microphone means to produce a filtered signal and for combining the filtered signal with a second distinct signal for the receiver of the hearing aid; means for varying the second distinct signal in magnitude as a function of the magnitude of the filtered signal; and adaptive means, interconnected with said first means, for processing the filtered signal and second distinct signal to produce an adaptive output to said first means to substantially offset the feedback contribution in the electrical output of the microphone means in the hearing aid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
182 words
A hearing aid comprising: microphone means for generating an electrical output from sounds external to a user of the hearing aid; electrically driven receiver means for emitting sound into the ear of the user of the hearing aid, some of the sound emitted by the receiver returning to said microphone means to add a feedback to its electrical output, which feedback is to be substantially offset; said hearing aid characterized by: means for electronic processing of the electrical output of the microphone means to produce a filtered signal; first combining means for combining the filtered signal with a second distinct signal for the receiver of the hearing aid in a proportion wherein th magnitude of the second distinct signal is generally less than the magnitude of the filtered signal at loudness of normal speech; and second combining means for combining the filtered signal with the second distinct signal to produce a control signal for said means for electronic processing wherein the magnitude of the second distinct signal is generally greater than the magnitude of the filtered signal at loudness of normal speech.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
182 words
A hearing aid comprising: microphone means for generating an electrical output from sounds external to a user of the hearing aid; electrically driven receiver means for emitting sound into the ear of the user of the hearing aid, some of the sound emitted by the receiver returning to said microphone means to add a feedback to its electrical output, which feedback is to be substantially offset; said hearing aid characterized by: means for electronic processing of the electrical output of the microphone means to produce a filtered signal; first combining means for combining the filtered signal with a second distinct signal for the receiver of the hearing aid in a proportion wherein th magnitude of the second distinct signal is generally less than the magnitude of the filtered signal at loudness of normal speech; and second combining means for combining the filtered signal with the second distinct signal to produce a control signal for said means for electronic processing wherein the magnitude of the second distinct signal is generally greater than the magnitude of the filtered signal at loudness of normal speech.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
153 words
An electronic filter or a hearing aid having microphone means for generating an electrical output from sounds external to a user of the hearing aid and electrically driven receiver means for emitting sound into the ear of the user of the hearing aid, some of the sound emitted by the receiver returning to the microphone means to add to feedback contribution to its electrical output, the electronic filter characterized by: first means for electronic processing of the electrical output of the microphone means to produce a filtered signal and for combining the filtered signal with a second distinct signal for the receiver of the hearing aid; and adaptive filter means, interconnected with said first means, for electronic processing of the filtered signal and second distinct signal to produce an adaptive output to said first means to substantially offset the feedback contribution in the electrical output of the microphone means in the hearing aid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
153 words
An electronic filter or a hearing aid having microphone means for generating an electrical output from sounds external to a user of the hearing aid and electrically driven receiver means for emitting sound into the ear of the user of the hearing aid, some of the sound emitted by the receiver returning to the microphone means to add to feedback contribution to its electrical output, the electronic filter characterized by: first means for electronic processing of the electrical output of the microphone means to produce a filtered signal and for combining the filtered signal with a second distinct signal for the receiver of the hearing aid; and adaptive filter means, interconnected with said first means, for electronic processing of the filtered signal and second distinct signal to produce an adaptive output to said first means to substantially offset the feedback contribution in the electrical output of the microphone means in the hearing aid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
An electronic filter as set forth in claim 8 wherein said adaptive filter means includes means for adapting only in response to polarities of signal supplied to and from said first means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
168 words
An electronic filter for a hearing aid having microphone means for generating an electrical output from sounds external to a user of the hearing aid and electrically driven receiver means for emitting sound into the ear of the user of the hearing aid, some of the sound emitted by the receiver returning to the microphone means to add a feedback contribution to its electrical output, the electronic filter characterized by: first means for electronically processing the electrical output of the microphone means to produce a filtered signal and for combining the filtered signal with a second distinct signal for the receiver of the hearing aid; means for varying the second distinct signal in magnitude as a function of the magnitude of the filtered signal; and adaptive means, interconnected with said first means, for processing the filtered signal and second distinct signal to produce an adaptive output to said first means to substantially offset the feedback contribution in the electrical output of the microphone means in the hearing aid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
168 words
An electronic filter for a hearing aid having microphone means for generating an electrical output from sounds external to a user of the hearing aid and electrically driven receiver means for emitting sound into the ear of the user of the hearing aid, some of the sound emitted by the receiver returning to the microphone means to add a feedback contribution to its electrical output, the electronic filter characterized by: first means for electronically processing the electrical output of the microphone means to produce a filtered signal and for combining the filtered signal with a second distinct signal for the receiver of the hearing aid; means for varying the second distinct signal in magnitude as a function of the magnitude of the filtered signal; and adaptive means, interconnected with said first means, for processing the filtered signal and second distinct signal to produce an adaptive output to said first means to substantially offset the feedback contribution in the electrical output of the microphone means in the hearing aid.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electronic filter as set forth in claim 10 wherein said means for varying includes means for changing the second distinct signal in magnitude as a direct function of an average of the magnitude of the filtered signal.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of operating a hearing aid having microphone means for generating an electrical output from sounds external to a user of the hearing aid and electrically driven receiver means for emitting sound into the ear of the user of the hearing aid, some of the sound emitted by the receiver returning to the microphone means to add a feedback contribution to its electrical output, the method characterized by the steps of: processing the electrical output of the microphone means to produce a filtered signal; combining the filtered signal with a second distinct signal for the receiver of the hearing aid; adaptively filtering the filtered signal and second distinct signal to produce an electrical signal and feeding back the electrical signal so that the electrical signal is adaptively filtered in the same step also to produce an adaptive output substantially offsetting with the adaptive output the feedback contribution in the electrical output of the microphone means for the processing step.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of operating a hearing aid having microphone means for generating an electrical output from sounds external to a user of the hearing aid and electrically driven receiver means for emitting sound into the ear of the user of the hearing aid, some of the sound emitted by the receiver returning to the microphone means to add a feedback contribution to its electrical output, the method characterized by the steps of: processing the electrical output of the microphone means to produce a filtered signal; combining the filtered signal with a second distinct signal for the receiver of the hearing aid; adaptively filtering the filtered signal and second distinct signal to produce an electrical signal and feeding back the electrical signal so that the electrical signal is adaptively filtered in the same step also to produce an adaptive output substantially offsetting with the adaptive output the feedback contribution in the electrical output of the microphone means for the processing step.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of operating a hearing aid having microphone means for generating an electrical output from sounds external to a user of the hearing aid and electrically driven receiver means for emitting sound into the ear of the user of the hearing aid, some of the sound emitted by the receiver returning to the microphone means to add a feedback contribution to its electrical output, the method characterized by the steps of: processing the electrical output of the microphone means to produce a filtered signal; combining the filtered signal with a second distinct signal for the receiver of the hearing aid; adaptively filtering the filtered signal and second distinct signal with coefficients varied only in response to polarities, to produce an adaptive output in the hearing aid substantially offsetting with the adaptive output the feedback contribution in the electrical output of the microphone means for the processing step.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of operating a hearing aid having microphone means for generating an electrical output from sounds external to a user of the hearing aid and electrically driven receiver means for emitting sound into the ear of the user of the hearing aid, some of the sound emitted by the receiver returning to the microphone means to add a feedback contribution to its electrical output, the method characterized by the steps of: processing the electrical output of the microphone means to produce a filtered signal; combining the filtered signal with a second distinct signal for the receiver of the hearing aid; adaptively filtering the filtered signal and second distinct signal with coefficients varied only in response to polarities, to produce an adaptive output in the hearing aid substantially offsetting with the adaptive output the feedback contribution in the electrical output of the microphone means for the processing step.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of operating a hearing aid having microphone means for generating an electrical output from sounds external to a user of the hearing aid and electrically driven receiver means for emitting sound into the ear of the user of the hearing aid, some of the sound emitted by the receiver returning to the microphone means to add a feedback contribution to its electrical output, the method characterized by the steps of: processing the electrical output of the microphone means to produce a filtered signal; generating a second distinct signal and varying it in magnitude as a function of the magnitude of the filtered signal; combining the filtered signal with a second distinct signal for the receiver of the hearing aid; adaptively filtering the filtered signal and second distinct signal to produce an adaptive output in the hearing aid substantially offsetting with the adaptive output the feedback contribution in the electrical output of the microphone means for the processing step.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of operating a hearing aid having microphone means for generating an electrical output from sounds external to a user of the hearing aid and electrically driven receiver means for emitting sound into the ear of the user of the hearing aid, some of the sound emitted by the receiver returning to the microphone means to add a feedback contribution to its electrical output, the method characterized by the steps of: processing the electrical output of the microphone means to produce a filtered signal; generating a second distinct signal and varying it in magnitude as a function of the magnitude of the filtered signal; combining the filtered signal with a second distinct signal for the receiver of the hearing aid; adaptively filtering the filtered signal and second distinct signal to produce an adaptive output in the hearing aid substantially offsetting with the adaptive output the feedback contribution in the electrical output of the microphone means for the processing step.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of operating a hearing aid having microphone means for generating an electrical output from sounds external to a user of the hearing aid and electrically driven receiver means for emitting sound into the ear of the user of the hearing aid, some of the sound emitted by the receiver returning to the microphone means to add a feedback to its electrical output which feedback is to be substantially offset, the method characterized by the steps of: processing the electrical output of the microphone means to produce a filtered signal; combining the filtered signal with a second distinct signal for the receiver of the hearing aid in a proportion wherein the magnitude of the second distinct signal is generally less than the magnitude of the filtered signal at loudness of normal speech; and combining the filtered signal with the second distinct signal to produce a control signal for said processing step wherein the magnitude of the second distinct signal is generally greater than the magnitude of the filtered signal at loudness of normal speech.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of operating a hearing aid having microphone means for generating an electrical output from sounds external to a user of the hearing aid and electrically driven receiver means for emitting sound into the ear of the user of the hearing aid, some of the sound emitted by the receiver returning to the microphone means to add a feedback to its electrical output which feedback is to be substantially offset, the method characterized by the steps of: processing the electrical output of the microphone means to produce a filtered signal; combining the filtered signal with a second distinct signal for the receiver of the hearing aid in a proportion wherein the magnitude of the second distinct signal is generally less than the magnitude of the filtered signal at loudness of normal speech; and combining the filtered signal with the second distinct signal to produce a control signal for said processing step wherein the magnitude of the second distinct signal is generally greater than the magnitude of the filtered signal at loudness of normal speech.
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