Hearworks Pty, Limited

Cochlear Limited

Richard Van Hoesel

Andrew E Vandali

Peter Misha Seligman

There is disclosed a system () for processing sound signals for use in a hearing prosthesis, the system comprising a transducer () for converting a sound signal into an electrical signal (). A first. processor () for processing said electrical signal () into a plurality of frequency channel signals, each channel signal having an amplitude envelope to define at least one set of channel outputs (). A second processor () for obtaining information relating to a fundamental frequency of the electrical Signal (). A third processor () for obtaining information relating to the harmonic nature of the electrical signal (). A modulator () for modulating the at least one set of channel outputs () received from the first processor () in accordance with the in formation relating to the fundamental frequency and the harmonic nature of, the electrical signal so as to generate at least one modified set of channel outputs (). A selector () for selecting one or more channels from the at least one modified set of channel outputs () so as to define at least one or more channels for electrical stimulation together with the magnitude of said electrical stimulation and generating a stimulation signal () in accordance therewith, A transmitter () for transmitting said stimulation signal for application by said hearing prosthesis ().

Enhanced envelope encoded tone, sound processor and system

Sound processing processes and sound processing units are disclosed. The processes and units have particular application to auditory prostheses. In an embodiment, after input sound signals are processed into channels, an algorithm is applied to selectively increase the modulation depth of the envelope signals. In another embodiment, a sound processing unit includes a filter bank configured to process a sound signal to generate envelope signals in each of a plurality of spaced frequency channels. The speech processing unit also includes a broadband envelope detector configured to measure the envelope of at least one broadband signal, and a channel modulation module configured to use the at least one broadband envelope signal to modulate the channel envelope signals to generate modulated envelope signals.

Pitch perception in an auditory prosthesis

A sound processing process, device and software are disclosed which seek to improve pitch perception, with particular application to auditory prostheses. After input sound signals are processed into channels, an algorithm is applied to selectively increase the modulation depth of the envelope signals. In certain embodiments, the channelized signals are adjusted in timing so as to align the phase of modulated envelope signals in different channels. This results in provision of synchronous (phase aligned) modulation periodicity across channels and hence less pitch ambiguity for listeners to the processed signal, or for application of the signal to hearing prostheses such as cochlear implants. In some embodiments, a broadband envelope signal is used to modulate the level of the narrow band channel signals, so that voicing frequency modulation information in the broadband envelope signal is provided in all narrow band channel signals and the phase of modulated signals in the channels are aligned. A preferred form uses an envelope signal which is modified to increase its modulation depth, and is normalized so as to allow for modulation of the channel signals.

A sound processing process is disclosed, with particular application to auditory prostheses. After input sound signals are processed into channels, an algorithm is applied to selectively increase the modulation depth of the envelope signals.

Modulation depth enhancement for tone perception

A binaural cochlear implant system, including two intracochlear implants adapted for implantation in the cochleas of a user, each cochlear implant utilising a speech processing strategy wherein the electrical stimuli are matched to the relative timing of the relevant audio signals as detected at each ear, such that the interaural time delays between the audio signals at each ear are substantially preserved in electrical stimuli at each ear. The processing strategy comprises band pass filtering the audio signal, determining the peaks in, and intensity of, each band, prioritising and placing each peak in a buffer in time slots corresponding to the relative timing of each peak. The buffer output forms the basis for stimulus instructions.

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Reservoir, Australia

Richard Van Hoesel