Multi-strategy array processor
The present invention relates to the field of devices for improving the speech perception of hearing impaired subjects. Such devices include acoustic hearing aids, tactile aids, cochlear prostheses and brain stem implants. In particular the invention is concerned with optimising the intelligibility...
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| Main Authors | , |
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| Format | Patent |
| Language | English |
| Published |
05.08.2003
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| Online Access | Get full text |
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| Summary: | The present invention relates to the field of devices for improving the speech perception of hearing impaired subjects. Such devices include acoustic hearing aids, tactile aids, cochlear prostheses and brain stem implants. In particular the invention is concerned with optimising the intelligibility of speech delivered to a subject by means of a directionally discriminating device.
An apparatus and method for processing sound, suitable for use in association with a hearing aid, cochlear implant prosthesis or the like. Coupled to an array of microphones () are a pair of fixed array processors () each having different characteristic signal-to-noise performances and internal noise parameters in different levels of ambient noise. Based upon an ambient noise estimate derived from noise floor detector () a control circuit () controls the gain of a pair of VCA's () coupled to the fixed array processors () in order to produce an output signal from summer () which maximises the signal-to-noise ratio of a signal emanating from a source in an on-beam direction relative to the microphone array (). |
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