DIRECTIONAL MICROPHONE ARRAY FOR HEARING AIDS

研究目标是开发一种助听器附件(称为 阵列)，提高了噪声环境中的性能 混响。该方法是处理来自一组 麦克风，以便强调从注视方向传来的声音 相对于从侧面和后方传来的声音。第二阶段计划 是开发衡量患者受益的技术阵列 在减少噪音、混响和反馈方面提供改进和 完成阵列和电路设计，以开发技术 在临床应用中装配阵列，减少整个电路 到单个定制的模拟芯片，开发出易于封装的 穿着和美观，并进行现场测试，中等至 内耳研究所和金色医院的严重受损患者 州立听力协会。儿童和儿童需要的修改 将对植入人工耳蜗的患者进行调查。有关以下项目的信息 现场测试将用于确定商业潜力和 第三阶段的资本承担。 拟议的商业应用：潜在的商业应用 作为一种电子配件产品，它增强了 助听器的方向性。市场预计将是一个很大的 现有助听器市场的细分市场。此外，目标是 所提议的设备的性能是显著提高 在有噪音和混响的环境中使用助听器，应 拓展助听器市场。

The research objective is to develop a hearing aid accessory (called the Array) which improves performance in environments with noise and reverberation. The approach is to process signals from an array of microphones so that sounds coming from the look direction are emphasized relative to sounds coming from the sides and rear. The Phase II plan is to develop techniques for measuring the patient benefit the Array provides in reducing noise, reverberation, and feedback, to improve and finalize the Array and circuit designs, to develop techniques for fitting the Array in clinical applications, to reduce the entire circuit to a single custom analog chip, to develop packaging that is easy to wear and attractive, and to conduct field tests with moderate to severely impaired patients at the House Ear Institute and the Golden State Audiology Associates. Modifications needed for children and patients with cochlear implants will be investigated. Information for the field tests will be used to establish commercial potential and capital commitments for Phase III. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: The potential commercial application of the research is as an electronic accessory product which enhances the directivity of hearing aids. The market is expected to be a large segment of the existing hearing aid market. In addition, the objective of the proposed device is to significantly improve the performance of hearing aids in environments with noise and reverberation, which should expand the hearing aid market.