Differential Hearing Aid With Programmable Frequency Response

This invention relates generally to a hearing aid and especially to a hearing aid employing differential audio inputs combined with a programmable filtered frequency response. While the art of hearing aids is generally well known and well understood, hearing aid users continue to suffer from the non-discriminating nature of hearing aids, resulting in the equal amplification of both audio information and background noise. Additionally, it is well known in the medical arts relating to human audio function, that most hearing loss does not take place equally across the audio frequency spectrum, but rather is localized at certain frequencies and to certain levels.

While hearing aids have taken various forms in an attempt to both cancel background noise and to more accurately customize the frequency response of the hearing aid to its particular user, these attempts have resulted in hearing aids that require constant adjustment by their owners as well as extended and elaborate set-up procedures.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a hearing aid having differential audio inputs coupled with a programmable frequency response to provide the hard of hearing with the capability to listen to individual conversations in the midst of high ambient background noise, and to have the frequency response of the hearing aid tailored to the individual user in an expedited and low cost manner.

Generally speaking, in accordance with the present invention, an improved hearing aid having differential audio inputs and a programmable frequency response is provided. The hearing aid includes two small microphones which are used to pick-up the sound; the first microphone is placed at the front of the unit and the second microphone is placed at the rear of the unit. The output of these two microphones are coupled to a differential amplifier. The differential amplifier amplifies only the difference signal, which is a subtraction of the signal of the first microphone from the signal of the second microphone, and is adjustable by a balance control to permit selected deactivation of the subtraction feature. A telephone pick-up input and an auxiliary signal input is provided to enable the user to have access to a wide variety of signal sources. The output of the differential amplifier is coupled to a voice activated switch (VOX), which is sensitive to signal level changes, and which is used to control power to the later amplifier portions of the unit, thereby helping to conserve the hearing aid battery source.

The output of the VOX is coupled to an array of switched capacitor filter circuits. These circuits provide the required controlled frequency response based on pre-programmed digital information which is stored within the hearing aid in an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM). The information may be stored in the EPROM through an input jack or the EPROM can be a plug-in unit. The switched capacitor filter circuits permit the breakdown of the applied audio signal by digital processing into a series of frequency bands of selected width and center frequency as determined by the digital information stored in the EPROM. The selective amplification of the bands as required to deal with the hearing deficiency of the wearer is also set by the information stored in the EPROM. The output of the amplified bands are joined into a corrected audio signal.

The joined, amplified outputs of the switched capacitor filter circuits are then coupled into an amplifier circuit having a built-in squelch means, so as to allow the user to set the threshold of the signal that will be passed through the hearing aid. The output of the squelching amplifier is then coupled through a final signal amplifier having a means for adjusting the overall volume, and the output of the final amplifier is further coupled to drive an earphone.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved hearing aid.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved hearing aid having differential audio inputs to enable the selective cancelling of background noise.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved hearing aid having a digital programmable frequency response which can be set through the use of plug in EPROMS.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved hearing aid which is readily adapted to the user.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent in the specification.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagramatic circuit diagram of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagramatic sectional view taken along the longitudinal center line through a hearing aid constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is an in part block, in part circuit diagram of an embodiment of a switched capacitor filter usable in the hearing aid constructed in accordance with the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a block circuit diagram of the apparatus of the present invention is shown, wherein, a front microphone 10 is connected through an input buffer 20 to the positive input 26a of differential input amplifier 26. A rear microphone 12 is connected through a buffer 22 to the negative input 26b of differential input amplifier 26. The front microphone 10 and rear microphone 12 are connected to differential amplifier 26 in a subtractive manner, so that any sound which appears at both the front microphone 10 and the rear microphone 12 with equal amplitude will, ideally, be cancelled out. This arrangement provides the hearing aid with a background noise cancelling function, since most background noise will originate at a point of sufficient distance from the listener such that it will arrive at both the front microphone 10 and rear microphone 12 at substantially the same time.

Differential balance control 28 is provided coupled to differential amplifier 26 in order to adjust the ratio of the subtraction circuit between the front microphone 10 and the rear microphone 12. This permits balance for maximizing subtraction, although full elimination of all noise is difficult if not impossible. In addition, it permits creating an imbalance or even eliminating the input of one microphone so that background noise is selectively received by the user. Where the user wishes to pick up close conversations, such as conversations at a table in a noisy restaurant, maximum subtraction would be selected by adjusting balance control 28. Where the user is walking in the street, minimum subtraction might be selected since it would be desirable to pick up distant noises such as vehicle horns or traffic noise. In a restaurant, such background noise could override and block out close conversation in the absence of the subtraction feature in accordance with the invention.

The differential amplifier 26 is also provided with a telephone pick-up input 14 which is buffered through input buffer 18 and an auxiliary pick-up input 16 which is buffered through input buffer 24. The output of the differential amplifier 26 is then coupled to a voice operated switch (VOX) 30. VOX 30 is set to detect minimum input threshold levels, and is used to control power to the electronic components of the hearing aid, thereby saving battery power when the unit is not in use, and when there are no sounds to be amplified. Thus, the power from battery 38 and switch 40, as indicated by arrow 39a, is applied to power buffers 18, 20, 22 and 24, differential amplifier 26 and VOX 30 as shown by arrows 39a. When VOX 30 is actuated by a minimum input threshold level from differential amplifier 26, power is applied from VOX 30, as indicated by arrow 39c, to circuit elements 32, 34, 36, 42 and 48 as indicated by arrows 39c.

The output of VOX 30 is an analog signal which is then coupled to a switched capacitor filter circuit 32. The switched capacitor filter circuit 32 permits digitally controlled processing of analog audio signals. Circuit 32 may include a single integrated hybrid MOS device, such as the National Semiconductor MF 10 universal monolithic dual switched capacitor filter made of operational amplifiers, capacitors and MOS switches. The device uses ratioed capacitors formed in a common integrated circuit substrate, the MOS switch applying the input signal to a first capacitor and then connecting the first capacitor to a second capacitor while disconnecting the input to the first. The result is controlled charging of the second capacitor by a selected frequency band present in the input. A group of band pass filters will be provided covering the desired audio range with the band of each filter being digitally adjustable. The output of each band pass filter is applied to a digitally adjustable amplifier which serves to separately amplify each selected band in accordance with the needs of the user. The outputs of the respective amplified frequency bands are combined at the output to circuit 32 to produce a corrected audio signal.

The switched capacitor filter circuit 32 operates under the command of a microprocessor control circuit 34 by numerically imposing the desired frequency response transfer function (selection of the bands and of degree of amplification of each band) on the input signal received from the VOX 30. The microprocessor control circuit 34, receives its instructions from an electrically programmed read only memory (EPROM) 36. In standard operation, an individual with a hearing problem would have his hearing tested with a computerized audiometer. The audiometer would measure hearing loss within the parameters of center frequency or frequencies of hearing loss, band width of frequency of hearing loss about each center frequency and percentage of hearing loss at each center frequency. The computerized audiometer would transform this information into numeric values representative of center frequency, band width and amplification for each band. These numeric values would then be digitally programmed, by the computerized audiometer, into a form suitable for storage in an EPROM and for setting switched capacitor filter circuit 32. Two approaches are available for programming EPROM 36 to the correction needs of the user. In the first, an input jack 56 would be provided coupled to EPROM 36 through microprocessor 34 for applying the programming signal to the EPROM 36 from an output of the computerized audiometer. In the second approach, the EPROM 36 is adapted to be unplugged from the hearing aid circuit and plugged into a computerized audiometer for programming. The programmed EPROM would then be unplugged from the computerized audiometer and inserted into the programmable hearing aid.

By the foregoing arrangement, a defect in the hearing of the user would be correctable with precision. The precise frequency bands requiring correction would be identified by the audiometer and the degree of correction in each such band width would likewise be identified. The correction in terms of bandwidth and center frequency of each band and amplification thereof is stored in EPROM 36 to provide a hearing aid programmed to the needs of the user.

Referring to FIG. 3, an in part block, in part circuit diagram of a switched capacitor filter circuit 32 incorporating the switched capacitor filter of the National Semiconductor MF 10 is depicted. The input from VOX 30 is applied through variable resistor R.sub.1 to chip pin input 62, to provide one input to an operational amplifier 64. The other input to operational amplifier 64 is through chip pin input 66 which is connected to ground. A second variable resistor R.sub.2 is connected between chip pin input 62 and 68 across operational amplifier 64. The output of operational amplifier 64 is applied to the input of integrator 70, the output of which is connected to chip output pin 72. A third varible resistor R.sub.3 is connected between chip pins 62 and 72. A variable clock circuit 74 is connected to integrator 70. The output to the National Semiconductor switched capicitor filter, at chip pin 72, is applied to a controlled operational amplifier 76, the output of which is applied to squelch circuit 42.

In order to control the center frequency and bandwidth of switched capacitor filter circuit 32, the frequency of clock 74 and the values of resistors R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are digitally set by control circuit 34 along lines 78, 80, 82 and 84, as by MOS gates. Similarly, the degree of amplification of the passed band is controlled by control circuit 34 through line 86 coupled to operational amplifier 76.

In the case of the National Semiconductor device, the center frequency of the output, f.sub.o, is equal to the clock frequency divided by 50 or 100, depending on the setting of the inputs to the circuit chip. The bandpass gain at f.sub.o is equal to -R.sub.3 /R.sub.1. The quality factor of the output, Q, equals f.sub.o /BW, which equals R.sub.3 /R.sub.2. The bandwidth BW equals -3 dB bandwidth of the bandpass output.

By using switched capacitor filters a relatively low cost filter arrangement, requiring a minimal number of external components is provided which permits digital programming. Such filters are highly accurate since filter cut-off and frequency stability is directly dependent upon the external clock stability.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the output of the switched capacitor filter circuit 32 is then coupled through a squelch circuit 42. Squelch circuit 42 is adjusted through the use of a squelch control 44 to allow the user to set the threshold of the signal that will be listened to by the user. The output of the squelch circuit 42 is then coupled through the master volume control 46, through the output amplifier 48 and to the earphone 59.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a longitudinal diagramatic section view of the present invention can be seen, wherein the differential balance control 28, squelch control 44, and master volume control 46 are mounted within the hearing aid case 54 so that they are still accessible when the hearing aid case 54 is closed. Master power switch 40 is coupled to master volume control 46. The battery 38 is mounted within the hearing aid case 54, as is the switched capacitor filter circuit 32, microprocessor control circuit 34, and EPROM 36. EPROM 36 may be a plug-in unit. An amplifier circuit package 52 which contains a plurality of operational amplifiers used in the present invention for amplifying and buffering the audio signal, is also mounted within the hearing aid case 54. Front microphone 10 and rear microphone 12 are positioned within the hearing aid case 54 so that front microphone 10 has access to sound through the front microphone sound port 10a, and rear microphone 12 has access to sound through the rear microphone sound port 12a. Sound ports 10a and 12a may be oriented to face in different directions preferably more than 90 degrees apart. Earphone 50 is mounted within the hearing aid case 54 so that it will fit within the human ear canal when the hearing aid case is placed behind the ear. While the embodiment depicted has several external controls, if desired, only a volume control can be provided, the other controls being programmed by means of control circuit 34 and EPROM 36, or pre-set by a manual internal adjustment.

It is clear from the foregoing that a differential audio input hearing aid with a programmable frequency response can be constructed according to the invention, allowing an individual with a hearing loss to be provided with a low cost and personally calibrated hearing aid.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, and those made apparent from the preceeding description, are effectively attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.