Patent ID: 6549633
Filing Date: 2003-04-15
Classification: H04R

Abstract:
A binaural digital hearing aid system comprising two hearing aid units for arrangement in a user's left and right ear, respectively, each of said units comprising input signal transducer means for conversion of a received input sound signal into an analog input signal, A/D conversion means for conversion of said analog input signal into a digital input signal, digital signal processing means for processing said digital input signal and generating a digital output signal, D/A conversion means for conversion of said digital output signal into an analog output signal and output signal transducer means for conversion of said analog output signal into an output sound signal perceivable to the user, a bidirectional communication link being provided between said units to connect a point in the signal path between the input signal transducer means and the digital signal processing means in one of said units with a corresponding point in the signal path between the input signal transducer means and the digital signal processing means of the other of said units, characterized in that the digital signal processing means of each unit (1, 2; 16, 17) is arranged to effect a substantially full digital signal processing including individual processing of signals from the input transducer means (3r, 3l; 18r, 18l) of the respective unit and simulated processing of signals from the input transducer means of the other unit as well as binaural signal processing of signals supplied, on one hand, internally from the input signal transducer means of the same unit and, on the other hand, via said communication link (7; 28) from the input signal transducer means of the other unit, said digital signal processing means including at least a first digital signal processor part (5r, 5l, 12r, 12l; 21r-23r, 21l-23l) for processing said internally supplied signal, a second digital signal processor part (6l, 6r, 13l, 13r; 21ls-23ls, 21rs-23rs) for processing the signal supplied via said communication link (28) and a third digital signal processor part (9r, 9l; 24r-25r, 24l-25l) to effect common binaural digital signal processing of information derived from the signals processed in said first and second digital signal processor parts, said second digital signal processor part (6l, 6r, 13l, 13r; 21ls-23ls, 21rs-23rs) in each unit simulating the first digital signal processor part (5l, 5r, 12l, 12r; 21l-23l, 21r-23r) in the other unit with respect to adjustment parameters controlling the performance of said first signal processor part in said other unit.