The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 30, 1996
Filed:
Nov. 23, 1993
Fred Waldhauer, La Honda, CA (US);
ReSound Corporation, Redwood City, CA (US);
Abstract
An improved audio compressor of the type which is used in a hearing aid and having a programmable compression ratio is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the compressor includes a variable gain limiter which provides variable gain amplification of the input signal and as a further function of a programmable control signal. A feedforward circuit is disposed in parallel to the variable gain limiter and provides a fixed gain signal. The output of the limiter and the feedforward circuit are combined at a summing node, which serves as an output. The gain curve of the compressor defines a sigmoid function having a pivot midway between the upper and lower break points.