Wireless Digital Link Companion Microphone

描述（由申请人提供）：该项目将开发一个数字无线收发器集成电路（IC）和天线的配套麦克风系统，可以封装在一个耳内（ITE）助听器。已经表明，使用同伴麦克风可以改善在充满噪声的环境（例如，餐馆、娱乐活动和城市区域）中对同伴语音的感知。尽管它们被证明能够改善言语感知，但相对而言，很少有成年人使用它们。它们对许多人来说是不可接受的，并且会引起助听器用户和伴侣的不必要的注意。当前的无线麦克风产品使用频率调制（FM）来发送模拟信号。它们通过一个连接到助听器用户佩戴的单独设备的拾音线圈或连接到耳后式助听器的“靴子”与助听器通信。最近，蓝牙无线电已经被用于取代FM技术，但是这些也被实现为类似于无线蜂窝电话耳机的靴子或可穿戴模块。用于这些无线系统的配套无线麦克风的尺寸通常为50 cm3或更大，并且相对于耳内助听器消耗显著更多的功率。所提出的配套麦克风系统使用新的无线电技术，该技术显著降低了所需电池的功率和相应的物理尺寸。天线方面的新进展显示出实现ITE助听器所需尺寸的潜力，同时满足无线配套麦克风应用的性能需求。所提出的IC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2800万美国人已经患有或即将面临听力损失。助听器用户中能够从所提出的技术中获得最大利益的部分是估计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音的能力降低。

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.