US 11,736,868 B2
Method of determining a status of an acoustic feedback path of a head wearable hearing device and a head wearable hearing device
Theodorus Geradus Maria Brouwer, Heemstede (NL); Aart Zeger Van Halteren, Woudenberg (NL); and Andreas Tiefenau, Gammel Holte (DK)
Assigned to GN HEARING A/S, Ballerup (DK)
Filed by GN Hearing A/S, Ballerup (DK)
Filed on Aug. 6, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/396,631.
Application 17/396,631 is a continuation of application No. 16/717,132, filed on Dec. 17, 2019, granted, now 11,317,222.
Claims priority of application No. 18248206 (EP), filed on Dec. 28, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0377673 A1, Dec. 2, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04R 25/00 (2006.01)
CPC H04R 25/305 (2013.01) [H04R 25/453 (2013.01); H04R 25/505 (2013.01); H04R 25/604 (2013.01); H04R 2225/025 (2013.01); H04R 2460/11 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method performed by a hearing device, the hearing device comprising a first housing configured for placement in an ear canal of a user, a microphone, a speaker, and a first control system configured to control an active vent to place the vent in an open state or a closed state, the active vent comprising a vent canal and a valve member configured to block the vent canal when the active vent is in the closed state, and to allow passage of air through the vent canal when the active vent is in the open state, the method comprising:
emitting an acoustic signal from the speaker;
determining a first transfer function of an acoustic feedback path between the speaker and the microphone, the first transfer function corresponding to an expected open state for the active vent;
determining a second transfer function of the acoustic feedback path between the speaker and the microphone, the second transfer function corresponding to an expected closed state for the active vent; and
determining a status of the active vent based on both the first and second transfer functions, wherein the status that is determined based on both the first and second transfer functions indicates a state of the active vent at a timepoint.
 
20. A hearing device comprising:
a first housing configured for placement in an ear canal of a user;
a speaker configured to emit an acoustic signal;
an active vent;
a first control system configured to control the active vent to place the active vent in an open state or a closed state;
at least one microphone; and
a status control system configured to:
receive information regarding an expected state of the active vent;
determine a first transfer function of an acoustic feedback path between the speaker and the microphone, the first transfer function corresponding to an expected open state for the active vent;
determine a second transfer function of the acoustic feedback path between the speaker and the microphone, the second transfer function corresponding to an expected closed state for the active vent; and
determine a status of the active vent based on both the first and second transfer functions, wherein the status that is based on both the first and second transfer functions indicates a state of the active vent at a timepoint.