US 12,490,028 B2
Binaural hearing system and method for operating a binaural hearing system
Cecil Wilson, Erlangen (DE); and Jurek Föllmer, Erlangen (DE)
Assigned to Sivantos Pte. Ltd., Singapore (SG)
Filed by Sivantos Pte. Ltd., Singapore (SG)
Filed on Mar. 15, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/184,068.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2022 202 646.2 (DE), filed on Mar. 17, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0300543 A1, Sep. 21, 2023
Int. Cl. H04R 25/00 (2006.01)
CPC H04R 25/43 (2013.01) [H04R 25/407 (2013.01); H04R 25/50 (2013.01); H04R 25/552 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for operating a binaural hearing system, the method comprising:
providing a first hearing instrument and a second hearing instrument;
using an electroacoustic first input transducer of the first hearing instrument to generate a first input signal from ambient sound, and using an electroacoustic second input transducer of the second hearing instrument to generate a second input signal from ambient sound;
using the first input signal to ascertain a first instantaneous gain parameter, and using the second input signal to ascertain a second instantaneous gain parameter;
adjusting at least one of a first parameter of an automatic gain control for the first input signal or a second parameter of an automatic gain control for the second input signal, the adjustment resulting in a difference between the first and the second instantaneous gain parameters being decreased;
performing a signal processing for the first or second input signal using the adjusted first or second parameter of the automatic gain control in the first or second hearing instrument;
using the first input signal and the second input signal to at least approximately determine a direction of a sound source relating to the ambient sound;
additionally basing the adjustment to the first or second parameter of the automatic gain control on the ascertained direction of the sound source;
carrying out the approximate determination of the direction of the sound source by ascertaining a focus half-area containing the sound source and a background half-area being remote from the focus half-area, the focus half-area and the background half-area being defined relative to a plane of symmetry of the binaural hearing system; and
carrying out the adjustment to the first or second parameter of the automatic gain control by also using the first or second instantaneous gain parameter relating to the focus half-area, or a signal level in the focus half-area.