IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,540,070
Granted Patent B2
US 11,540,070 · App. 17/252,048 · Granted Dec 27, 2022

Method of fine tuning a hearing aid system and a hearing aid system

Inventor: Peter Magnus Norgaard (Denmark, DK)
Assignee: Widex A/S
H04R25/70H04R25/30H04R2225/55H04R2225/61
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,540,070
App. No.
17/252,048
Granted
Dec 27, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A hearing aid system ( 100 ), wherein changes to the settings is only allowed if a hearing aid performance verification is carried out with a successful result as well as a method of operating such a hearing aid system.

Claims (34)

1. A hearing aid system ( 100 ) comprising a hearing aid ( 101 ), an external device ( 102 ) and a wireless communication link ( 109 ) adapted to transmit data between the hearing aid ( 101 ) and the external device ( 102 );

wherein the hearing aid comprises an acoustical-electrical input transducer ( 104 -A, 104 -B), a digital signal processor ( 105 ) and an electrical-acoustical output transducer ( 107 ), wherein the digital signal processor ( 105 ) comprises settings configured to apply a frequency dependent gain that is adapted to at least one of suppressing noise, enhancing a target sound, customizing the sound to a user preference and alleviating a hearing deficit of an individual wearing the hearing aid system ( 100 );

wherein the hearing aid system ( 100 ) is adapted to only allow changes to at least some of the digital signal processor settings if a hearing aid performance verification is carried out with a successful result; and

wherein the hearing aid comprises a fine tuning controller configured to control at least some of the digital signal processor settings and the hearing aid performance verification in response to a received trigger signal, wherein the received trigger signal is received from at least one of a user interaction means accommodated in the hearing aid or in the external device; and

wherein the fine tuning controller is configured to carry out a hearing aid feedback test before carrying out at least one of a wax congestion detection and microphone performance test; and wherein the fine tuning controller is further configured to not carry out at least one of the wax congestion detection, ear piece positioning and the microphone performance test if a result of the feedback test is within a range of expected values.

2. The hearing aid system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the hearing aid performance verification is carried out using at least one of:

feedback test circuitry and wax congestion circuitry and microphone performance circuitry and receiver distortion circuitry and ear piece positioning test circuitry.

3. The hearing aid system according to claim 1 , wherein the external device is a smartphone.

4. A method of operating a hearing aid system comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for fine tuning a setting of a digital signal processor of the hearing aid system;

carrying out a hearing aid performance verification in response to receiving the request; and

carrying out the requested fine tuning only if the hearing aid performance verification is carried out with a successful result;

wherein the step of receiving the request comprises at least one of a user interacting with a fine tune controller in the hearing aid or with an external device that is part of the hearing aid system and that transmits the request to the fine tuning controller; and

wherein the fine tuning controller carries out a hearing aid feedback test before carrying out at least one of a wax congestion detection and microphone performance test; and wherein the fine tuning controller carries out at least one of the wax congestion detection, ear piece positioning and the microphone performance test if a result of the feedback test is within a range of expected values.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the step of carrying out a hearing aid performance verification involves carrying out at least one of a feedback test, a wax congestion test, a microphone performance test, a receiver distortion test and an ear piece positioning test.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions thereon for fine tuning a hearing aid system, which when executed by a computer perform the following method steps:

receiving a request for fine tuning a setting of a digital signal processor of the hearing aid system;

carrying out a hearing aid performance verification in response to receiving the request; and

carrying out the requested fine tuning only if the hearing aid performance verification is carried out with a successful result; and

wherein the receiving the request comprises at least one of a user interacting with a fine tune controller in the hearing aid or with an external device that is part of the hearing aid system and that transmits a request to the fine tuning controller; and

wherein the instructions when executed by a computer further cause the fine tuning controller to carry out a hearing aid feedback test before carrying out at least one of a wax congestion detection and microphone performance test; and cause the fine tuning controller to not carry out at least one of the wax congestion detection, ear piece positioning and the microphone performance test if a result of the feedback test is within a range of expected values.

7. A computerized device, comprising a graphical user interface, and a software application for hearing aid system, wherein the software application is adapted to:

receiving a request for fine tuning a setting of a digital signal processor of a hearing aid system;

carrying out a hearing aid performance verification in response to receiving the request; and

carrying out the requested fine tuning only if the hearing aid performance verification is carried out with a successful result; and

wherein receiving the request comprises a user interacting with an external device that is part of the hearing aid system; and

wherein the carrying out the requested fine tuning is performed by a fine tuning controller configured to carry out a hearing aid feedback test before carrying out at least one of a wax congestion detection and microphone performance test; and wherein the fine tuning controller is further configured to not carrying out at least one of the wax congestion detection, ear piece positioning and the microphone performance test if a result of the feedback test is within a range of expected values.

8. A hearing aid system ( 100 ) comprising a hearing aid ( 101 ), an external device ( 102 ) and a wireless communication link ( 109 ) adapted to transmit data between the hearing aid ( 101 ) and the external device ( 102 );

wherein the hearing aid comprises an acoustical-electrical input transducer ( 104 -A, 104 -B), a digital signal processor ( 105 ) and an electrical-acoustical output transducer ( 107 ), wherein the digital signal processor ( 105 ) comprises settings configured to apply a frequency dependent gain that is adapted to at least one of suppressing noise, enhancing a target sound, customizing the sound to a user preference and alleviating a hearing deficit of an individual wearing the hearing aid system ( 100 );

wherein the hearing aid system ( 100 ) is adapted to only allow changes to at least some of the digital signal processor settings if a hearing aid performance verification is carried out with a successful result;

wherein the hearing aid ( 101 ) comprises a fine tuning controller ( 106 ) adapted to control at least some of the digital signal processor settings and the hearing aid performance verification in response to a received trigger signal, wherein the received trigger signal may be received from at least one of:

a user interaction means accommodated in the hearing aid ( 101 ) or in the external device ( 102 ), and

a remote fitting computer or remote internet server using the internet and the external device as gateway; and

wherein the fine tuning controller ( 106 ) is configured to carry out a hearing aid feedback test before carrying out at least one of a wax congestion detection and microphone performance test; and wherein the fine tuning controller ( 106 ) is further configured to not carrying out at least one of the wax congestion detection, ear piece positioning and the microphone performance test if a result of the feedback test is within a range of expected values.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2020
From: NOERGAARD, PETER MAGNUS
To: WIDEX A/S
Reel/Frame 054640/0266 →
Priority Claims (1)
DK PA201800275 · Jun 15, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210266688A1 · Aug 26, 2021