(19) FEDERAL REPUBLIC
`
`OF GERMANY
`
`(12) Patent Specification
`(10) DE 195 42 961 C1
`
`(51) Int. Cl. 6:
`H 04 R 25/00
`
`GERMAN PATENT OFFICE
`
`195 42 961.3-31
`(21) File number:
`11/17/95
`(22) Filing date:
`(43) Date laid open to public inspection: -
`(46) Publication date of patent granting: 5/15/97
`
`Opposition can be filed within 3 months of publication of granting.
`(72) Inventor:
`(73) Patent proprietor:
`Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH,
`Zöls, Fred, Dipl.-Eng. (FH), 93177
`91058 Erlangen, DE
`Altenthann, DE
`
`(74) Representative:
`Fuchs, F., Dr.-Eng., Patent Attorney,
`81541 Munich
`
`(56) Publications taken into account to
`assess patentability:
`
`53 96 560
`US
`WO 94 23 548
`
`(54) Circuit for Operation of a Hearing Aid as well as Hearing Aid
`(57) The present invention relates to a circuit for operation of a hearing aid having
`at least one variable operating parameter as well as a hearing aid as such, wherein
`a control unit 12 is provided, the operating parameter setting of a starting situation
`as well as that of a target situation is set in a memory system, and, by means of
`the control unit 12, an adjustment of the operating parameter according to the
`setting of the starting situation to the operating parameter of the target situation
`can be carried out over a specific time interval.
`
`BUNDESDRUCKEREI [FEDERAL GERMAN PRINTERS] 03/97 702 120/212
`
` 16
`
`1
`
`HIMPP v. III Holdings 4
`IPR2017-00782
`HIMPP 1115
`
`

`

`DE 195 42 961 C1
`
`
`
`Description
`
`
`The present invention relates to a circuit for operation of a hearing aid as well as
`
`a hearing aid as such.
`
`The hearing aid acoustician determines individually for each patient the
`audiometric characteristics of hearing and, on the basis thereof, makes the optimal
`adjustment of the operating parameter or parameters of the hearing aid. In the process,
`an optimal speech intelligibility is sought. However, the discomfort threshold of the
`patient poses a problem. In many cases, impaired hearing is especially sensitive to
`elevated output levels. If the impaired hearing is provided with a hearing aid adapted to
`optimal speech intelligibility, the patient feels this as a discomfort.
`
`The object of the invention consists in creating a circuit for operation of a hearing
`aid as well as a hearing aid as such that enables the hearing aid to be operated with an
`optimal speech intelligibility for each patient, adjusted individually, without the patient
`feeling it as a discomfort during use.
`
`As prior art, a circuit with a control unit for a hearing aid is described in US
`5,396,560, which, for each channel, makes possible the adjustment of an adaptable
`amplification for selective enhancement of main signals and suppression of background
`noise.
`Known from WO 94/23548 is a circuit for a hearing aid in which, via a
`
`comparator, a channel output or starting signal is compared with a threshold value of
`the respective channel depending on the user desires.
`
`This object is achieved in accordance with the invention in claim 1 as well as
`claim 12 by the respectively characterizing features in conjunction with the respective
`preamble. Appropriate embodiments are claimed in the dependent claims.
`
`In accordance with the invention, the circuit for operation of the hearing aid in the
`way described in the introduction comprises a control unit, wherein the operating
`parameter setting of the starting situation as well as that of the target situation are set in
`a memory system, and, by means of the control unit, the operating parameter or the
`operating parameters according to the setting of the starting situation can be adjusted to
`
`
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`2
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`

`

`DE 195 42 961 C1
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`the operating parameter(s) according to the setting of the target situation over a specific
`time interval.
`
`Appropriately, the adjustment of the operating parameter or operating
`parameters occurs in uniform steps in order of magnitude and/or in time intervals. In
`this case, the control unit comprises a timing element or timer for adjustment of a time
`constant, with which the time interval can be set for adjustment of the output to the
`target situation.
`
`Once a plurality of time constants have been set on the control unit, there exists
`the possibility that the patient himself or herself can choose a longer time constant, that
`is, a longer time interval, in the event that the adjustment of the two operating states is
`too fast.
`
`The amplification, the threshold value and/or the control time of a compression
`circuit (e.g., AGC circuit), the maximum output level, and/or the frequency response are
`to be chosen as operating parameters of the circuit that are to be set in accordance with
`the invention, in each case individually or in differing combination.
`
`The operating parameters of the starting situation should be adjusted so that the
`patient senses the sound to be pleasant. However, by way of the method according to
`the invention or the circuit to be made for it, the sound will be brought gradually to the
`optimal state, that is, the optimal speech intelligibility, and without it being sensed as
`unpleasant.
`
`Instead of a simple circuit for ensuring a linear increase in the setting of the
`operating parameters when viewed over time, the control unit can also interact
`appropriately with a data processing unit, which provides a memory for an adjustment
`program. The adjustment of the operating parameter setting of the starting situation to
`that of the target situation occurs in this case via a specially provided program, which
`can be varied on an individual basis. The adjustment program enables a plurality of
`operating parameters to be adjusted over a specific time interval and, namely, in any
`desired adjustment characteristic and, if appropriate, for each operating parameter
`individually.
`
`The present invention further comprises a hearing aid that is characterized by a
`circuit according to claims 1 (cid:16) 11.
`
`
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`3
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`

`

`DE 195 42 961 C1
`
`Appropriate embodiments of the present invention will be discussed below in
`
`detail on the basis of drawings. Shown are:
`Fig. 1, the hearing aid according to the invention in a greatly simplified illustration
`
`for adjustment of an operating parameter setting of a starting situation to that of a target
`situation;
`Fig. 2, another embodiment of a hearing aid using a data processing unit for
`
`ensuring an adjustment of the operating parameter setting of the starting situation to
`that of the target situation.
`The reference number 1 in Fig. 1 designates the hearing aid in its entirety. It
`
`comprises a microphone 2 as well as a telecoil 3, each of which can be connected by
`means of an operating circuit 11 to an amplifier assembly. The amplifier assembly
`comprises a preamplifier 4, a compression circuit 5 (e.g., a so-called AGC or automatic
`gain control circuit with a specific threshold value as well as a specific compression
`ratio), as well as an audio filter 6.
`Furthermore, an output amplifier 7, which is connected to the receiver 8, as well
`
`as an ear adapter 9 are provided. A battery 10 supplies the hearing aid 1 with electric
`power via an on-off switch 19. The sound level of the hearing aid 1 can be adjusted at a
`sound level control 18. A memory 13 as well as a memory 14 are connected to an input
`unit 16.
`In accordance with the invention, the hearing aid 1 comprises a control unit 12,
`
`which interacts with a timer 15 as well as a memory arrangement, composed of the
`memory 13 for an operating parameter setting of the starting situation as well as a
`memory 14 for an operating parameter setting of the target situation.
`
`The operating parameters to be adjusted involve preferably the amount of
`preamplification, the magnitude of the compression ratio, the magnitude of the threshold
`value, and/or the magnitude of the time constants of the compression circuit, the
`frequency bandwidth with which the sound can be adjusted to the individual hearing
`ability, and/or the maximum output level. The operating parameters can be adjusted
`either individually or together.
`
`The individual operating parameters are adjusted via the time constants of the
`timer 15 in a continuous manner. It is possible with the timer 15 for the patient to
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`DE 195 42 961 C1
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`preferably select alternatively a plurality of time constants. For the case when an
`adjustment of the operating parameters of the starting situation to the target situation
`occurs too rapidly for the patient, the patient can select a slower time constant of the
`circuit. The setting of the operating parameters of the starting situation should be
`adjusted so that the patient finds the sound to be pleasant.
`Fig. 2 shows a slightly altered embodiment of the invention. In this case, the
`
`control unit 12 is connected via a D/A converter 21 with a data processing unit 17, which
`is equipped with an input unit 16, which, for example, is external and can be connected
`to the hearing aid, as well as with a read-only memory 20. The respective
`magnitudes/data of the operating parameter adjustment according to the starting
`situation as well as the target situation are stored in the read-only memory 20. The
`operating parameters can be adjusted for each operating parameter on an individual
`and patient-related basis by means of an adjustment program.
`
`
`Patent Claims
`
`
`1. A circuit for operation of a hearing aid furnished with at least one variable operating
`parameter, is hereby characterized in that a control unit (12) is provided, the
`operating parameter setting of a starting situation as well as that of a target situation are
`set in a memory system, and, by means of the control unit (12), the operating parameter
`according to the setting of the starting situation can be adjusted to the operating
`parameter of the target situation over a specific time interval.
`2. The circuit according to claim 1, further characterized in that the control unit (12)
`carries out the adjustment in uniform steps of the operating parameter in order of
`magnitude and/or in time.
`3. The circuit according to claim 1, further characterized in that the control unit (12) has
`a time constant, which sets the time interval for the adjustment of the operating
`parameter.
`4. The circuit according to claim 1, further characterized in that the control unit (12) has
`a plurality of different time constants, which can be selected at will by an operator.
`
`
`
`5
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`

`

`DE 195 42 961 C1
`
`5. The circuit according to claim 1, further characterized in that the rate of adjustment of
`the operating parameter by the operator can be changed by the control unit (12).
`6. The circuit according to one of the preceding claims, further characterized in that, as
`operating parameter of the circuit, the degree of amplification can be adjusted.
`7. The circuit according to one of the preceding claims, further characterized in that, as
`operating parameter of the circuit, the threshold value and/or the control time of a
`compression circuit (5) can be adjusted.
`8. The circuit according to one of the preceding claims, further characterized in that, as
`operating parameter of the circuit, the maximum output level can be adjusted.
`9. The circuit according to one of the preceding claims, further characterized in that, as
`operating parameter of the circuit, the frequency response can be adjusted.
`10. The circuit according to one of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the
`adjustment of the operating parameters for the starting situation emphasizes the sound
`in contrast to the speech intelligibility.
`11. The circuit according to one of claims 6 (cid:16) 10, further characterized in that the control
`unit (12) interacts with a data processing unit (17), which has a memory for a program,
`by means of which an individual adjustment of the respective operating parameters
`and/or the time period of the adjustment can be carried out.
`12. A hearing aid with a sound signal emitter (cid:16) e.g., a microphone or a telecoil (cid:16) with
`amplifier components (cid:16) e.g., preamplifier, compression circuit, and/ or output amplifier (cid:16)
`and, if appropriate, a sound filter, characterized by a circuit according to one of the
`preceding claims.
`
`______________________________________
`2 pages of drawings appended hereto
`______________________________________
`
`
`
`6
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`DRAWINGS PAGE 1
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`
`DE 195 42 961 C1
`Number:
`Int. Cl.6:
`H 04 R 25/00
`
`Publication date: May 15, 1997
`
`
`
`
`
`8
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`DRAWINGS PAGE 2
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`
`DE 195 42 961 C1
`
`Number:
`Int. Cl6.:
`H 04 R 25/00
`
`Publication date: May 15, 1997
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`9
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`

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`InTransCo, Inc.
`INTERNATIONAL TRANSLATION COMPANY
`_______________________________________________________________________________________
`P.O. BOX 239
`TRANSLATIONS FROM AND INTO ALL LANGUAGES PREPARED BY SPECIALISTS
`LYNNFIELD, MA 01940
`(781) 334-3123
`FAX (781) 334-4445
`
`Verification of Translation
`
`Title of Translated Document:
`
`Circuit for Operation of a Hearing Aid
`as well as Hearing Aid,
`DE 195 42 961 C1
`
`Original Language of Translated Document: German
`
` The undersigned declares that:
`
`I am a professional translator with English as a native language
`and German as an acquire language. I have over 20 years of full-
`time translating experience in general, medical, technical, chemical
`and related fields.
`
`To the best of my knowledge and belief, the attached is a true,
`accurate and complete English translation of the above-referenced
`German document.
`
`I acknowledge that willful false statements and the like are
`punishable by fine or imprisonment, or both under 18 U.S.C. 1001.
`
`All statements made of my own knowledge are true and all
`statements made on information and belief are believed to be true.
`
`Date:______8/14/17____________ Signature:______________________
`David Loewus
`
`10
`
`

`

`BUNDESREPUBLIK ® Patentschrift
`mm“
`DE 195 42 961 c1
`
`@ mm:
`”“4325“
`
`”Iii!iii!iMilli!iiWiiiiiiiiiiiiéiiiiiiiiiiiiiiéii
`
` @ Aktenzeichen:
`
`DEUTSCHES
`
`PATENTAMT
`
`@ Anmeldetag:
`Offenlegungstag:
`Verfiffentiichungstag
`der Patenterteilung:
`
`195 42 961.3-31
`17.11.95
`—
`
`15. 5.97
`
`DE19542961C1
`
`Innerhalb von 3 Monaten nach Verfiffentlichung der Erteiiung kann Einspruch erhoben werden
`
`® Patentinhaber:
`Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH, 91058
`Erlangen, DE
`
`® Vertreter:
`Fuchs, F., Dr.-ing., Pat.-Anw., 81541 Miinchen
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`® Erfinder:
`Zfiis, Fred, DipI.-ing. (FH), 93177 Altenthann, DE
`
`@ Fiir die Beurteilung der Patentféhigkeit
`in Betracht gezogene Druckschriften:
`US
`53 96 560
`W0
`94 23 548
`
`
`metereinsteliung der Zialsituation durchfiihrbar ist.
`
`@ Schaltung zum Betrieb eines Hfirgerfites sowie Hérgerfit
`
`@ Die voriiegende Erfindung batrifft sine Schaitung zum
`Betrieb eines mit mindestens einem variabien Betriebspara-
`meter ausgestatteten H5rgar§ts sowie ein Hérgerét ais
`solches, wobai eine Steuereinheit 12 vorgesahen ist, in ainer
`Speicheranordnung die Betriebsparametereinsteiiung einer
`Ausgangssituatien sowie die einer Zieisituation fastgeiegt ist
`und mitteis der Steuereinheit 12 fiber ein bestimmtes
`Zeitintervail eine Angieichung des Betriobsparameters ge-
`méz Einsteiiung dar Ausgangssituaticn an die Betriebspara-
`
`DE1954296101
`
`1 1
`
`BUNDESDRUCKEREI
`
`03. 97 702120/212
`
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