Wireless Digital Link Between Hearing Aids

描述（由申请人提供）：该拟议项目旨在证明超低功耗数字无线收发器集成电路（1C）的可行性，该集成电路将使两个助听器之间的通信成为可能。两台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，双耳听力的好处，即，如果助听器之间的平衡在适配之后被改变和/或助听器算法得出关于音频环境的不同结论，则改善的信噪比（SNR）、听觉定位、响度总和、头影效应的减少以及改善的声音质量可能被降低。集成了所提出的1C的助听器将能够相互通信;从而保持平衡，同时对音频环境得出相同的结论。在这个STTR中，AME公司将与明尼苏达大学电气和计算机工程系合作。最近在明尼苏达大学完成的关于超宽带脉冲无线电收发器的研究表明，在降低无线数字传输的功耗方面有着重大的前景。电路级仿真和为微传感器开发的原型发射器设计的结果表明，该技术将允许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通过重新设计天线结构以适应接地层的存在来减轻附近接地层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接近身体的助听器的天线结构。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposed project seeks to prove the feasibility of an ultra-low power, digital wireless transceiver integrate circuit (1C) which would enable communication between two hearing aids. 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 (SNR), auditory localization, loudness summation, reduction of head shadow effect, and improved sound quality, may be reduced if the balance between the hearing instruments is altered after fitting and/or the hearing aid algorithms reach different conclusions about the audio environment. Hearing aids that incorporate the proposed 1C will be able to communicate with each other; thereby maintaining balance and simultaneously reaching the same conclusions about the audio environment. In this STTR, AME Corp. will partner with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Minnesota. Recent research completed at the University of Minnesota on ultra-wideband impulse radio transceivers has demonstrated significant promise in reducing power consumption of wireless digital transmission. Circuit level simulations and results from a prototype transmitter design developed for micro-sensors shows 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.