Real-ear zoom hearing device
View Patent ↗A hearing device has a behind-the-ear microphone arrangement that is not to be placed in the ear canal of the wearer. The microphone arrangement has a first microphone with an output. An electrical/mechanical output converter has a further microphone and a beam former unit with at least two inputs and an output. One beam former input is operationally connected to the output of the first microphone. The second beam former input is operationally connected to the output of the further microphone. The beam former output is operationally connected to an input of the output converter. The beam former unit together with the first and further microphones have a transfer characteristic for acoustical signals impinging on the first and further microphones to an electric signal at the output of the beam former. The amplification of the signal is dependent on the direction with which the acoustical signals impinge on the microphones and on the frequency of the acoustical signals. The direction measured from a reference direction of 0° with respect to the direction in which the wearer is facing, such that the outward direction of the ear canal is at about 90°. The transfer characteristic has the following features: a substantially constant amplification independent of the direction of impingement at a frequency of about 1 kHz and, for a direction of impingement of about 45°, a larger amplification than for a direction of impingement of about 135° at the frequency of about 5 kHz.
1. A hearing device with a behind-the-ear microphone arrangement not to be placed in the ear canal of an individual's ear, said microphone arrangement having at least one microphone with an output further comprising an electrical/mechanical output converter, characterized by a further microphone, a beam former unit having at least two inputs and an output, one input being operationally connected to the output of said at least one microphone, the second input being operationally connected to the output of said further microphone, the output of said beam former unit being operationally connected to an input of said output converter, said beam former unit together with said at least one and said further microphones having a transfer characteristic of acoustical signals impinging on said at least one and said further microphones to an electric signal at said output of said beam former unit, the amplification thereof being dependent on direction with which said acoustical signals impinge on said microphones and on frequency of said acoustical signals, said direction being 0° in a direction that the individual is facing and 90° substantially in a direction from the individual's ear canal outward from said ear, said transfer characteristic having the following features: a substantially constant amplification independent of said direction of impinging at said frequency of 1 kHz, for said direction being 45°, a larger amplification than for said direction being 135° at said frequency of 5 kHz.
2. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein said amplification at said 45° direction is larger by approximate +6 dB than said amplification at said 135° direction, said frequency being 5 kHz.
3. The device of claim 1 or 2 having at least two controllably enabable operating modes with respect to transfer characteristic of acoustical signals impinging on said one and said further microphones to said electric signal at said output, one of said transfer characteristics being said transfer characteristic.
4. The device of claim 3 further comprising a controlled weighting unit controllably establishing the ratio of effect of said at least two operating modes upon said transfer characteristic.
5. The device of claim 4 , wherein said controlled weighting unit steadily changes said ratio.
6. The device of one of claims 1 to 2 , said further microphone being part of said microphone arrangement.
7. The device of one of claims 1 to 2 , said further microphone being part of a second hearing device to be applied at a second ear of said individual.
8. The device of one of claims 1 to 2 being a behind-the-ear hearing device.
9. The device of one of claims 1 to 2 being a behind-the-ear hearing aid device.
10. The device of one of claims 1 to 2 being a hearing protection device.