US4637402A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for quantitatively measuring a hearing defect
Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corp
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Filing: 1983-12-01
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Granted: 1987-01-20
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Expires: 2003-12-01
Abstract
Abstract A method is described for measuring the hearing deficit of a person preparatory to providing a hearing aid designed in accordance with analysis of the deficit, wherein frequency bands over which hearing level is unacceptable are determined, the bands are then shifted in harmonic sustaining manner to bands over which hearing level is acceptable, and thereafter over all frequency bands parameters necessary to shape, amplify, compress and adaptively filter background noise in continuously variable and adaptive fashion so as to produce an aurally optimized signal are adjusted and recorded.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger A. Adelman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:20
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F11/00; A61F11/04; H; H04; H04R; H04R25/00; H04R25/35; H04R25/353; H04R2430/00; H04R2430/03; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/92; Y10S128/925
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
222 words
A method of providing a quantitative measure of a hearing defect of a patient in relationship to generalized signal processing parameters, comprising the steps of: (a) determining and recording frequency bands to which the patient's auditory system responds at a predetermined level and frequency bands to which the patient's auditory system is unable to respond at the predetermined level through the agency of a swept frequency tone generator operated at incremental intensity levels; (b) providing a number of frequency band limited signal processing paths in accordance with said determining and recording step, the processing paths being operative to generate a signal responsive to those frequency bands to which the patient's auditory system responds at the predetermined level; (c) adjusting and recording the parameters necessary to shift in a harmonic sustaining manner the frequency bands in which the patient's auditory system does not respond to frequency bands in which the patient's auditory system does respond; and (d) adjusting and recording within each frequency band processing path and in the aggregrate of all said frequency band processing paths at least such parameters as are necessary to shape, linearly or nonlinearly amplify, amplitude compress, and adaptively filter background noise from the signals generated by the processing paths in a continuously variable and adaptively fashion so as to produce an aurally recognizable signal to the patient.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
222 words
A method of providing a quantitative measure of a hearing defect of a patient in relationship to generalized signal processing parameters, comprising the steps of: (a) determining and recording frequency bands to which the patient's auditory system responds at a predetermined level and frequency bands to which the patient's auditory system is unable to respond at the predetermined level through the agency of a swept frequency tone generator operated at incremental intensity levels; (b) providing a number of frequency band limited signal processing paths in accordance with said determining and recording step, the processing paths being operative to generate a signal responsive to those frequency bands to which the patient's auditory system responds at the predetermined level; (c) adjusting and recording the parameters necessary to shift in a harmonic sustaining manner the frequency bands in which the patient's auditory system does not respond to frequency bands in which the patient's auditory system does respond; and (d) adjusting and recording within each frequency band processing path and in the aggregrate of all said frequency band processing paths at least such parameters as are necessary to shape, linearly or nonlinearly amplify, amplitude compress, and adaptively filter background noise from the signals generated by the processing paths in a continuously variable and adaptively fashion so as to produce an aurally recognizable signal to the patient.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of recording the patient's responsive and non-responsive frequency bands includes the step of requiring the patient to displace an external transducer in response to said non-responsive frequency band.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the recording of the patient's responsive and non-responsive frequency bands includes the step of operating a plotting device which is responsive to the generated signal's intensity and to the displacement of the external transducer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-01-19 | 1990-07-21 | 1991-01-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-01-19 | 1994-07-21 | 1995-01-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-01-19 | 1998-07-21 | 1999-01-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |