Wireless Digital Link Companion Microphone

描述（由申请人提供）：本项目将为可封装在入耳式助听器中的配套麦克风系统开发数字无线收发集成电路（IC）和天线。在餐馆、娱乐活动和城市地区等充满噪音的环境中，使用同伴麦克风可以改善对同伴讲话的感知。尽管它们被证明有改善语言感知的能力，但相对而言，很少有成年人使用它们。很多人都无法接受助听器的外观，而且会给助听器使用者和同伴带来不必要的关注。目前的无线麦克风产品使用调频（FM）来传输模拟信号。它们通过一个连接到助听器使用者佩戴的单独设备或连接到耳后助听器上的“靴子”的远端装置与助听器通信。最近，蓝牙无线电被用来取代调频技术，但这些也被实现为一个启动或可穿戴模块，类似于无线手机耳机。这些无线系统的配套无线麦克风通常为50 cm3或更大的尺寸，并且相对于耳内助听器消耗更多的功率。所提出的配套麦克风系统使用了一种新的无线电技术，大大降低了所需电池的功率和相应的物理尺寸。天线的新进展表明，在满足无线同伴麦克风应用的性能需求的同时，有可能实现ITE助听器所需的尺寸。该集成电路还将用于将无线配套麦克风的尺寸减小到与ITE助听器相同的尺寸。超过2800万美国人已经或即将遭受听力损失。可以从拟议的技术中获得最大利益的助听器用户部分是估计有10%的听力受损者遭受信噪比损失。这些人在充满噪音的环境中理解语言的能力下降。

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.