Wireless Digital Link Between Hearing Aids

描述（由申请人提供）：此建议项目将创造一个超低功耗的数字无线收发器作为集成电路（IC），使双耳系统中左右耳佩戴的助听器之间能够通信。两个助听器的数字信号处理器之间的无线同步是下一代助听器的新技术。美国市场上大约70%的配件是双耳配件。不幸的是，如果在装配后改变了助听器之间的平衡和/或每种助听器的助听器算法对音频环境得出不同的结论，则双耳听力的好处，即改善的信噪比、听觉定位、响度和减少头影效应以及改善的音质都会降低。包含所提出的IC的助听器将能够相互通信，从而保持平衡，同步数字信号处理并同时得出关于音频环境的相同结论。AME公司将与明尼苏达大学合作。完成的第一阶段计划确定了在这种助听器应用中使用新型超宽带脉冲无线电收发器的可行性。电路级仿真和第一阶段研究的结果表明，该技术将使收发器功能的功耗降低一个数量级。除了这些努力之外，最近在明尼苏达大学进行的一项研究调查了如何通过重新设计天线结构以适应地平面的存在来减轻附近地平面对天线性能的不利影响。这些结果将使我们能够开发出适合于离身体很近的助听器的天线结构。该项目建议创建一个先进的双耳助听器系统。根据非营利组织“听力障碍倡导者”的说法，美国有2500万人有听力障碍。在这2500万人中，大约有2000万人没有使用助听器，使用助听器会使他们受益。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposed project will create an ultra-low power, digital wireless transceiver as an integrated circuit (IC) which will enable communication between hearing aids worn in the left and right ears in a binaural system. Wireless synchronization between the digital signal processors of two hearing instruments is a new technology for next generation hearing instruments. Approximately 70% of fittings in the US market are binaural fittings. Unfortunately, the benefits of binaural hearing, i.e., improved signal-to-noise ratio, auditory localization, loudness summation, reduction of head shadow effect, and improved sound quality, are reduced if the balance between the hearing instruments is altered after fitting and/or the hearing aid algorithms in each respective aid reach different conclusions about the audio environment. Hearing aids that incorporate the proposed IC will be able to communicate with each other, thereby maintaining balance, synchronizing digital signal processing and simultaneously reaching the same conclusions about the audio environment. AME Corp. will partner with the University of Minnesota. The completed phase I program established the feasibility of using a novel ultra-wideband impulse radio transceiver in this hearing aid application. Circuit level simulations and results from the phase I study demonstrate that this technology will allow an order of magnitude reduction in the power consumption of the transceiver function. In addition to these efforts, a recent study performed at the University of Minnesota investigated the mitigation of the adverse effects of a nearby ground plane on antenna performance by redesigning the antenna structure to accommodate the presence of the ground plane. These results will allow us to develop antenna structures suitable for hearing aids that are in close proximity to the body. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE The project proposes to create an advanced binaural hearing aid system. According to the not-for-profit advocacy group Hard of Hearing Advocates, 25 million people in the United States are hearing impaired. Of that 25 million, approximately 20 million of the people do not use hearing aids and would benefit by using one.