Hearing device with direction dependent signal processing and corresponding method

The present invention relates to a handset device having a direction detection means for detecting a Direction, at from from a sound source a sound signal the receiver device is received, and a signal processing device for processing of the incoming sound signal in dependence on the detected direction. About that The present invention also relates to a corresponding A method for operating such a receiver device.

Hearing aids have many directional microphones, which allow Sound recording can be made directional. So It is, for example, for noise suppression helpful the sound of a noise source, the particular in a Direction is registered, largely to damp. A generic handset device is known for example from DE 197 21 157 is known.

In addition, the publication WO 00/19770 a Hearing aid and method for processing microphone signals in a hearing in which a noise canceling Provided in numerous situations. The hearing aid has a signal analysis unit, the at least one property the direction-dependent gain or attenuation able to change. The signal analysis unit takes a Direction analysis before the microphone signals. This may combine the Strengths of signal components of the microphone signals in several Direction classes are divided.

However, it is not in every situation low, the noise a source of interference to suppress. It may, for example, be dangerous if in a forest walk a Radoder Moped rider approaches from behind, the sound from the hearing aid identified as noise and is highly attenuated. It then came to a shock situation, if the hearing aid wearer would face the unexpected, optical event. Similar dangerous situations in carriers of headphones and headsets arise.

The object of the present invention is thus, provide a handset device, the respective the Carrier z. B. better protection in a dangerous situation. Furthermore, a corresponding method for operating a receiver device to be specified.

This object is achieved by a receiver device a direction detecting means for detecting a direction from which a sound source of a Sound signal arrives at the receiver device, and a Signal processing means for processing the incoming Sound signal in dependence on the detected Direction, and a noise classification means for Classifying the incoming sound signal from the sound source in signal classes, so that the incoming sound signal in the signal processing device also in dependence is processed by the signal class.

Further, the invention provides a method for Operating a handset device by detecting a Direction from which a sound source of a sound signal is received, and processing of the incoming sound signal into Dependence on the detected direction, classifying of the incoming sound signal from the sound source in signal classes and processing of the incoming sound signal also a function of the signal class.

Preferably, the direction detection device includes in the handset device, an adaptive directional microphone. The directivity the directional microphone, for example, depending be adjusted by the signal class. alternative or additionally, the directional characteristics of the microphone but also in function of the frequency of an incoming set the sound signal. Thus, the one or more notches or notches a directional microphone characteristics Depends on the signal class and / or Frequency are rotated in a desired direction. At given Signal classes that indicate, for example, a danger can thus Suppression in quality be varied accordingly.

The handset device, a signal output means for Outputting a signal about the signal class of the incoming Sound signal having the carrier of the handset device. Also, from this signal output means a signal about the direction of the incoming sound signal at the carrier the handset device to be output. The output Signal can a voice signal or a tactile stimulus, eg vibration, be. Thus, it is possible, for example, the with a generated in a hearing aid language Wearers in a dangerous situation a help to give in the form of additional information. These additional information can, for example, the type of hazard and their direction concern. The integration a corresponding information imaging system in, for example, a hearing aid has the advantage of the loudness-oriented Presentation of a warning. This means that it is ensured may be that the information the user arrives, unlike the sound of a bicycle or moped, which was possibly not sufficiently reinforced.

Besides the aforementioned aspect of the handset device as a hearing aid is also an embodiment in principle as Headphones or headset possible. For example, it is possible that the support of a headset on crying a baby's attention.

The present invention will now reference to the accompanying explained drawings, which shows a block diagram of an inventive represents hearing.

The embodiment described in more detail below represents a preferred embodiment of the present invention represent.

includes an inventive hearing aid, as in the figure is shown schematically, a directional microphone RM. This Directional microphone RM can binaural supply by the Microphones can be realized from both sides. The directional microphone RM provides a signal processing device VE In addition to the acoustic signals and directional information. This can be used, the directivity RC, which is indicated by dashed lines in the figure, the Directional microphone RM align in the desired manner.

The directional characteristic RC has one or more notches or notches. In the figure, a notch N is located. In the direction indicated by the notch N spatial direction the sensitivity of the directional microphone RM lowest.

Typically, the directional characteristic of a directional microphone RC RM aligned with a noise source Q. This happens, by the one or more notches N directed towards the noise source Q will. can through this rotating the directivity Noise from the direction of the source Q effectively suppressed will.

For simplicity, the direction information could in Quadrants are quantized. Accordingly, for example, could according to the present figure, the direction of the Noise source Q are referred to as "rear left".

The directional microphone RM provides the recorded sound signal where appropriate, to a pre Geräuschklassifikator GK. This divides the received signals into several Signal classes. Because of this information can present dangers are obtained. When are signal classes for example, conceivable: Babygeschrei, bicycle bells, tram noise, etc. The sound signals recorded can be only classified according to loudness. Armed with this information can from the hearing recognized HG or its signal processing device VE be the direction from which, where appropriate, risk threatening.

Now if, for example, a tram from left to the hearing aid approaches, the information about the type of the noise and the direction of the signal processing device sent packing to a signal generator SG will. In it is a means of a known algorithm Speech signal generated with respect to the interfering signal Q. This speech signal with the receiver of the hearing aid H sufficient volume forwarded. This gives the Wearers the information on the interference signal source Q sure acoustically.

Alternatively or additionally, the signal generator SG may also an integrated in the hearing aid HG vibrator drive, when the signal of a particular signal class, z. B. bicycle bells, exceeds a certain predetermined threshold or gets louder as you approach the bicycle.

However, the output signal of the hearing device HG may also have other Way done. Thus it is conceivable that the hearing aid HG the obtained information about the direction and nature of the noise transmitted to a mobile phone and there a corresponding Vibrator or the like triggers.

but through an adaptive directional microphone RM also possible to draw conclusions be obtained about the movement of an object. Accordingly can in a further development of the invention HG hearing device by the signal generator SG and the handset H carried out a speech, with the information on the Motion of the object are output to the hearing aid wearer.