Gennum Corporation

Sound Design Technologies, Ltd.

David R Brown

Stephen W Armstrong

James Gregory Ryan

Frederick Edward Sykes

A digital hearing aid is provided that includes front and rear microphones, a sound processor, and a speaker. Embodiments of the digital hearing aid include an occlusion subsystem, and a directional processor and headroom expander. The front microphone receives a front microphone acoustical signal and generates a front microphone analog signal. The rear microphone receives a rear microphone acoustical signal and generates a rear microphone analog signal. The front and rear microphone analog signals are converted into the digital domain, and at least the front microphone signal is coupled to the sound processor. The sound processor selectively modifies the signal characteristics and generates a processed signal. The processed signal is coupled to the speaker which converts the signal to an acoustical hearing aid output signal that is directed into the ear canal of the digital hearing aid user. The occlusion sub-system compensates for the amplification of the digital hearing aid user's own voice within the ear canal. The directional processor and headroom expander optimizes the gain applied to the acoustical signals received by the digital hearing aid and combine the amplified signals into a directionally-sensitive response.

Digital hearing aid system

A capacitive device formed on a substrate is provided that comprises a first set of terminals and a second set of terminals. The first set of terminals comprises a positive input terminal and a negative input terminal. The second set of terminals comprises a positive output terminal and a negative output terminal. The capacitor structure further comprises a first film electrode layer disposed above the substrate and having an input side and an output side, the input side having means for providing a coupling location for the negative input terminal, the output side having means for providing a coupling location for the negative output terminal. The capacitor structure further comprises a second film electrode layer also disposed above the substrate and having an input side and an output side, the input side having means for providing a coupling location for the positive input terminal, the output side having means for providing a coupling location for the positive output terminal. The capacitor structure also comprises a layer of film dielectric material disposed between the first film electrode layer and the second film electrode layer.

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Burlington, Canada

David R Brown