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???
03/21/06 02:04
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#112645 - How about
Responding to: ???'s previous message
Jan Waclawek said:
Kai Klaas said:
Well, a 23bit ADC, a dynamic range of 138dB, a DSP with 150 millions operations per second and this powered by a 1.4V battery indeed looks like alien hamster technology...

Bah, Kai, you are trying to tell me this is something you won't be able to do singlehandedly with a mid-range 8051 and a handful of well-chosen transistors?
:-)))
Of course, if I would manufacture the hearing aids wanting to squeeze out $$$$s from the pacient and his health insurance company, I'd try to take their breath with the technology I use - or at least with my techtalk.
I won't say a hi-end aid could be stitched together from a handful of TL082's but I believe a fair try is not beyond the reach of a skilled engineer attending here.
But let's translate some of the techtalk from the site you mentioned:
The circuit samples the raw output of the microphone at a million samples per second and then processes those samples 32 thousand times a second in three separate frequency bands.
[translation]We use a serial ADC (sigma/delta perhaps) outputting at 1Mbit/s (22 bit at 44ksample/s or so), feeding into DSP clocked at 32kHz. performing a 3-band graphic equalizer.[/translation]
The digital signal processor statistically analyses the signals to automatically regulate each channel to maximize the user's listening experience. The system compensates in each of the channels for the differences in loudness perception, known as "recruitment," experienced by most hearing impaired people ("I can't hear you ... stop shouting").
[translation]It performs automatic gain control, separately for the three bands.[/translation]
This loudness mapping involves a large number of compressors and varying time windows to avoid any sudden audible changes or distortion.
[translation]The AGC is "soft".[/translation]
After the signal processing is complete, the circuits convert the 20 bit wide data stream into a single pulse, direction-coded (+ or -) signal that is presented directly to the output transducer without any digital to analog conversion.
[translation]Output is direct-coupled PWM in push-pull configuration,...[/translation]
The noise frequencies are above 200 k Hertz and are ignored by the output transducer.
[translation]...at 220kHz
.
etc.etc.

Oh yeah, and there are also nice examples of the "overperfections" of the "digital technology" (this term being a nasty techtalk in itself) documented there:
Long time hearing aid wearers sometimes object to the lack of distortion and noise in the environment that they remember from their old aids, but they usually can hear and understand much better with these aids.
Of course, we can't say it's not better than the old, we need to sell the "new technology".
One user reported that the background noise of the airplane he was riding in almost completely disappeared (which gave him quite a scare) when the signal processor circuit turned on.
Do you know that GSM phones, being "digital" and "perfect", have to inject noise during quiet parts otherwise you'd feel "strange"?

OK now I am exagerrating. But I believe you see my point.

Jan Waclawek



How about I change direction. Instead of making hearing aid why don't I make something that will help the hearing impaired.
My bigest problem and most people that where hearing aids is phone conversations. I miss some of words but not all while listening on phone. I was thinking of making a ascii readout on a LCD 1 x 8. But not sure what I would need. I have to convert the analog voice pattern store ram read it to LCD, maybe I could use 89c2051 or 89c4051 for microcontroller. Another words have my voice conversation scrolling on LCD as someone talks to me on the phone. So that way I would not misout on parts of the telephone conversation. Their no hearing aid I know of that works correctly on a telephone conversation. Including the one with telephone switch on BTE. Most hard of hearing people only need to see what being said on their telephone conversation.
I also have to interface to phone network, in some way.
Any suggestions if works out I will try some prototypes.
I will also have to use an 8051 core as that's only one I have worked with to some degree. Maybe I should move this post to message board. But it's basically related to what the members have been talking about on this subject.

Jan I really do enjoy reading your posts. Also Steve's, Jon's and Erik etc. Being I never tryed any thing like this before could some member give some direction to go in to make this help aid.

Best reguards,


Ralph Sack


P.S. LCD could be 1x16 or other size that would work.

List of 48 messages in thread
TopicAuthorDate
Digital Hearing Aids            01/01/70 00:00      
   What do you want to know?            01/01/70 00:00      
      Custom            01/01/70 00:00      
         Tell me more            01/01/70 00:00      
            Sorry            01/01/70 00:00      
               try?            01/01/70 00:00      
                  VALVES            01/01/70 00:00      
                     ...and the earphones...            01/01/70 00:00      
            Here we go            01/01/70 00:00      
               Thank you            01/01/70 00:00      
      How does it work            01/01/70 00:00      
         HYbrid            01/01/70 00:00      
         my dads aid            01/01/70 00:00      
            Sorry            01/01/70 00:00      
      Hearing aid chips            01/01/70 00:00      
         Grant, I saw your location            01/01/70 00:00      
            Swallows            01/01/70 00:00      
               not the cacti, it is wildflowers            01/01/70 00:00      
   Link moved Zarlink            01/01/70 00:00      
   Digital Hearing Aids            01/01/70 00:00      
      Thats right            01/01/70 00:00      
      Ahem            01/01/70 00:00      
         My point!            01/01/70 00:00      
            Power            01/01/70 00:00      
               I don't think so            01/01/70 00:00      
                  Really ?            01/01/70 00:00      
                     Maybe            01/01/70 00:00      
                        NOT ear mounted            01/01/70 00:00      
      There goes the plan            01/01/70 00:00      
   As expensive as gold...            01/01/70 00:00      
      On Hold            01/01/70 00:00      
      don't scare him            01/01/70 00:00      
         as so often before the one thing not men            01/01/70 00:00      
            I thought he wants to make it for himsel            01/01/70 00:00      
               I do not think so            01/01/70 00:00      
         Cosmic technology            01/01/70 00:00      
            bah            01/01/70 00:00      
               Exactly!            01/01/70 00:00      
                  That would be trying to kill an elephant            01/01/70 00:00      
               How about            01/01/70 00:00      
                  Phoning            01/01/70 00:00      
                     Affirmative            01/01/70 00:00      
                        Alternative            01/01/70 00:00      
                           phone "adapter"            01/01/70 00:00      
               comfort noise            01/01/70 00:00      
                  Noise reduction            01/01/70 00:00      
   Digital hearing aids            01/01/70 00:00      
   Phones            01/01/70 00:00      

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