1. An apparatus for processing sounds, including sounds from a user’s mouth, comprising:
a first microphone to produce a first output signal;
a second microphone to produce a second output signal;
a first directional filter adapted to receive the first output signal and produce a first directional output signal;
a digital signal processor adapted to receive signals representative of the sounds from the user’s mouth from at least one or more of the first and second microphones and to detect at least an average fundamental frequency of voice, or pitch output;
a voice detection circuit adapted to receive the second output signal and the pitch output and to produce a voice detection trigger;
a mismatch filter adapted to receive and process the second output signal, the voice detection trigger, and an error signal, wherein the error signal is a difference between the first output signal and an output of the mismatch filter;
a second directional filter adapted to receive the mismatch output and produce a second directional output signal; and
a first summing circuit adapted to receive the first directional output signal and the second directional output signal and to provide a summed directional output signal,
wherein in use, at least the first microphone and the second microphone are in relatively constant spatial position with respect to the user’s mouth.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the error signal is produced by a second summing circuit adapted to subtract the output of the mismatch filter from the first output signal.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mismatch filter is an adaptive filter.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the adaptive filter is an LMS adaptive filter.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the LMS adaptive filter comprises:
a least mean squares processor (LMS processor) configured to receive the second output signal and the voice detection trigger and the error signal, and to provide a plurality of LMS coefficients; and
a finite impulse response filter (FIR filter) configured to receive the plurality of LMS coefficients and the second output signal and adapted to produce the matched output.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first microphone and second microphone are mounted in a behind-the-ear hearing aid housing.
7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first microphone and second microphone are mounted in an in-the-ear hearing aid housing.
8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first microphone and second microphone are mounted in an in-the-canal hearing aid housing.
9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first microphone and second microphone are mounted in a completely-in-the-canal hearing aid housing.
10. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the apparatus is at least partially realized using a digital signal processor.
11. A method for matching at least a first microphone to a second microphone, using a user’s voice from the user’s mouth, comprising:
processing the user’s voice as received by at least one microphone to determine a frequency profile associated with voice of the user;
detecting intervals where the user is speaking using the frequency profile; and
adaptively canceling variations in microphone reception between the first microphone and the second microphone during the intervals and when the first microphone and second microphone are in relatively constant spatial position with respect to the user’s mouth.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the processing is performed using voice received by the first microphone.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the processing is performed using voice received by the second microphone.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the processing is performed using voice received by the first and second microphone.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein the adaptively canceling variations includes an LMS filter adaptation process.
16. The method of claim 11, comprising performing the adaptively canceling variations in a behind-the-ear hearing aid.
17. The method of claim 11, comprising performing the adaptively canceling variations in an in-the-ear hearing aid.
18. The method of claim 11, comprising performing the adaptively canceling variations in an in-the-canal hearing aid.
19. The method of claim 11, comprising performing the adaptively canceling variations in a completely-in-the-canal hearing aid.
20. The method of claim 11, comprising performing the adaptively canceling variations using a digital signal processor realization.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A package comprising a two-part locking mechanism and a release mechanism for deactivating the two-part locking mechanism, the release mechanism comprising a depressible zone, the depressible zone being formed in a panel of the package and being defined by two oppositely positioned and spaced cut or frangible side edges and the depressible zone otherwise being continuously formed with said panel, the depressible zone being structured and arranged such that the depressible zone is deformable below the plane of the said panel to cause the two-part locking mechanism to be unlocked.
2. A package according to claim 1 wherein said two oppositely positioned cut or frangible side edges are each straight such that the depressible zone is generally rectangular in shape.
3. A package according to claim 1 wherein said two oppositely positioned cut or frangible side edges are each curved such that the depressible zone is generally concave in shape.
4. A package according to claim 1 wherein said two oppositely positioned cut or frangible side edges are each curved such that the depressible zone is generally convex in shape.
5. A package according to claim 1 wherein each of said two oppositely positioned cut or frangible side edges comprises a tear stop at each of its ends.
6. A package according to claim 5 wherein each tear stop is a \u201cJ\u201d-shaped termination.
7. A package according to claim 1 wherein the depressible zone is structured and arranged such that the depressible zone is deformable below the plane of the said panel by the provision of one or more intermediate fold lines extending between and terminating on each of the two oppositely positioned cut or frangible side edges.
8. A package according to claim 7 wherein the depressible zone is further defined by two outer fold lines, each outer fold line extending between and terminating on the side cuts of the depressible zone.
9. A package according to claim 8 wherein the one or more intermediate fold lines comprises two intermediate fold lines both formed closer to one of said outer fold lines than to the other of said outer fold lines.
10. A package according to claim 1 wherein the package comprises an outer sleeve and a lockable receptacle, the outer sleeve providing a cavity for the lockable receptacle, the two-part locking mechanism for locking the lockable receptacle within the cavity of the outer sleeve and wherein the release mechanism is operable such that the lockable receptacle can be at least partially withdrawn from the outer sleeve.
11. A package according to claim 10 wherein the depressible tab is symmetrical in shape about a notional central axis of the depressible tab.
12. A package according to claim 11 wherein the notional central axis extends between said two outer fold lines.
13. A package according to claim 12 wherein the notional central axis is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the outer sleeve or wherein the notional central axis is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the outer sleeve.
14. A package according to claim 12 wherein the notional central axis is disposed at a non-normal angle relative to a longitudinal axis or lateral axis of the outer sleeve.
15. A package according to claim 14 wherein the non-normal angle is between about 35\xb0 and about 55\xb0.
16. A package according to claim 15 wherein the non-normal angle is about 45\xb0.
17. A package according to claim 10 wherein the outer sleeve comprises a closed rear end and an open or openable front end through which the lockable receptacle is insertable and through which the lockable receptacle is withdrawable.
18. A package according to claim 10 wherein the panel is an outer top panel of the outer sleeve and wherein the outer sleeve additionally comprises a bottom panel spaced from said outer top panel by first and second adjoining side panels and wherein an inner top panel is provided, the inner top panel being affixed in face contacting relationship to the outer top panel and comprising the first part of the two-part locking mechanism and comprising a moveable tab which forms part of the release mechanism.
19. A package according to claim 18 wherein the first part of the two-part locking mechanism comprises a locking edge defined by an aperture in the inner top panel disposed beneath said outer top panel; wherein the lockable receptacle comprises a folded locking foot, a free edge of which is receivable within the aperture and catchable against said locking edge for locking the lockable receptacle within the outer sleeve and wherein the depressible zone and movable tab are positioned and arranged such that depression of the depressible zone causes the depressible zone to bow beneath the plane of the outer top panel and which causes the moveable tab to move and cause the folded locking tail foot to be disengaged from the locking edge.
20. A package according to claim 19 wherein said moveable tab comprises: an anchored portion attached to the inner top panel of the outer sleeve; a front edge defined by the aperture; a first side edge and a second side edge; wherein the first and second side edges of the moveable tab are cut or frangible edges; wherein the first and second side edges are parallel to one another; and wherein the moveable tab is substantially \u201cU\u201d-shaped.
21. A package according to claim 20 wherein an outer top panel of the outer sleeve comprises a demarcated pressing zone disposed in registry with the depressible zone to assist a user in correctly directing an applied force toward said moveable tab such that sufficient depression of the moveable tab occurs to cause the two-part locking mechanism to be unlocked.
22. An outer sleeve for use in the package according to claim 10.
23. A blank of foldable material structured and arranged for being assembled into the outer sleeve of claim 22, the blank comprising a series of panels for forming walls of the outer sleeve including a first top panel in which the depressible zone defined by two oppositely positioned and spaced cut or frangible side edges is integrally formed.