Wireless Digital Link Companion Microphone

无线数字链路配套麦克风

• 批准号: 7154725
• 负责人: PAUL L GIBSON
• 金额: $ 18.13万
• 依托单位: ADVANCED MEDICAL ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2006-09-20 至 2007-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/7154725
• 关键词: hearing aids

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This project will develop a digital wireless transceiver integrated circuit (IC) and antenna for a companion microphone system that can be packaged in an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid. The use of companion microphones has been shown to improve perception of a companion's speech in noise filled environments such as restaurants, entertainment events, and urban areas. Despite their proven ability to improve speech perception, relatively few adults use them. They are cosmetically unacceptable to many people and draw unwanted attention to the hearing aid user and the companion. Current wireless microphone products use frequency modulation (FM) to transmit an analog signal. They communicate with a hearing aid via a telecoil, linking to a separate device worn by the hearing aid user, or a "boot" that attaches to a behind-the-ear hearing aid. Recently, Bluetooth radios have been used to replace the FM technology, but these are also implemented as a boot or wearable module similar to a wireless cell phone headset. The companion wireless microphones for these wireless systems are typically 50 cm3 or greater in size and consume significantly more power relative to in-the-ear hearing aids. The proposed companion microphone system uses a new radio technology that significantly reduces the power and corresponding physical size of the required battery. New advances in antennas show the potential of achieving the size needed for an ITE hearing aid while meeting the performance needs of the wireless companion microphone application. The proposed IC will also be used to reduce the size of the wireless companion microphone to the same size as the ITE hearing aid. More than 28 million Americans already suffer from or face imminent hearing loss. The segments of hearing aid users that can receive the greatest benefit from the proposed technology are the estimated 10% of hearing-impaired persons suffering signal-to-noise-ratio loss. These individuals have a reduced ability to understand speech in noise-filled environments.

描述（由申请人提供）：该项目将为伴随麦克风系统开发数字无线收发器集成电路（IC）和天线，该系统可以在耳塞（ITE）助听器中包装。已显示出伴侣麦克风的使用可以改善对伴侣在充满噪音环境（例如餐厅，娱乐活动和城市地区）中演讲的看法。尽管他们有能力提高语音感知，但相对较少的成年人使用它们。对于许多人来说，它们在外观上是不可接受的，并引起了对助听器用户和同伴的不必要的关注。电流无线麦克风产品使用频率调制（FM）来传输模拟信号。他们通过电信与助听器进行通信，链接到助听器用户戴的单独设备，或附在幕后助听器上的“启动”。最近，蓝牙收音机已被用来替换FM技术，但它们也被用作启动或可穿戴模块，类似于无线手机耳机。这些无线系统的伴随无线麦克风通常大小为50 cm3或更大，相对于耳朵内助听器而言，功率明显更多。提出的伴侣麦克风系统使用了一种新的无线电技术，可大大降低所需电池的功率和相应的物理尺寸。天线的新进展表明，在满足无线伴随麦克风应用的性能需求时，可以实现ITE助听器所需的尺寸。提出的IC还将用于将无线伴随麦克风的大小降低到与ITE助听器相同的大小。超过2800万美国人已经遭受或面临即将听力的损失。助听器用户的细分市场可以从拟议的技术中获得最大收益，这是估计有10％的听力受损的人遭受信号到噪声的损失。这些人在充满噪音的环境中理解语音的能力降低。