10Masatoshi OsawaHearing Care, Sound and Vibration Measurement Technology Development Group, R&D Department, Technology Development Center. Joined Rion in 2012. He oversees research and devel-opment related to embedded software and signal processing for hearing aids. He has participated in the development of environmental analysis functions and noise reduction functions and is cur-rently working on the Rionet 2 series, the first Rionet model to be equipped with AI.Arata YamadaHearing Aid Development Group, Prod-uct and Technical Development Section, Technology Development Center. Since joining Rion in 2013, he has been in charge of hearing aid development. Al-though his main task is electrical de-sign, he has been involved in all aspects of development, including the manage-ment of product development. He previ-ously worked on the development of nursing care hearing aids and the Rionet series, and is currently tasked with the development of the Rionet 2 series.[Rionet Rosé] (2009)Released in 2009. This was the first model to adopt an open platform DSP and among the first to be produced after Rion’s strategy shifted to developing hearing aids unique to Rion. In addition to SSS (Sound Spectrum Shaping), a feature for facilitating sound perception by adjusting sound contrast and em-phasizing the peak and dip of the sound frequency spectrum, the model was equipped with multi-channel OPC, noise reduction, and other features that suppressed noises and unpleasant sounds while making it easier to hear the sounds intended.[Rionet Majes] (2012)Debuting in 2012 under the captivating slogan 'The Thrill of a New Hearing Ex-perience,' this model stood as our flagship offering, seamlessly amalgamating the full spectrum of available Rionet hearing aid technologies. Bursting with innovation, it boasted six distinct comfort and ease-in-hearing functions. These included the potent AFBC+ feedback canceller, Wind Noise Reduction for en-hanced comfort in blustery conditions, and the Pulse Noise Suppressor to quell sudden, impulsive noises. Additionally, the Bright Sound function enriched the auditory landscape, while the Premium Remote Controller II facilitated seamless audio streaming from TVs and mobile devices. Completing the package was FF-NR+, an advanced noise-reducing feature.[Rionet Precia] (2013)Launched in 2013, its sophisticated software has since been adapted for use in many other products. This popular model became the face of Rion’s hearing aids. Since its prototype was based on the Rionet Rosé, released in 2009, its fea-tures were similar, but were significantly upgraded in all aspects. Of these, the feedback cancellation function increased the additional stable gain(ASG) from approximately 15 dB to approximately 25 dB, making it suitable for users with higher hearing threshold levels.What is DSP?DSP, short for Digital Signal Processor, refers to semiconductor chips uti-lized to execute functions akin to those of a computer's CPU. In the realm of hearing aids, sound captured by the microphone undergoes conversion into digital signals via an A/D converter. Subsequently, the DSP undertakes signal processing on these digital signals. During the 1990s, general-pur-pose DSPs were commonly employed for hearing aids. However, the adop-tion of open platform DSPs in the Rionet Rosé facilitated Rion's ability to provide distinctive features more readily.sounds)er than they are)environments)speech)Up to this point, hearing aids have been able to address issues ❶ and ❷, but not ❸ and ❹. The Rionet Rosé models were equipped with our proprietary SSS (Sound Spectrum Shaping) function, which adjusts sound contrast based on the recom-mended values determined by measuring the degree of dete-rioration in frequency selectivity using fitting software. This makes it easier for users to hear the sounds that they want to hear more clearly, even in environments where noise is present. The long-awaited successor to Rionet Rosé II, the upgraded version of Rionet Rosé, was Rionet Precia, released in 2013.If the 1990s can be considered a period of transition from analog to digital hearing aids in Rion’s history, the 15-year pe-riod from 2000 to 2015 can be considered a period of growth for digital hearing aids. Since 2000, Rion has consistently elevated its technical prowess and cultivated extensive devel-opment expertise, while striving to develop hearing aids with rich functionality.Stories about the Rionet Rosé, Rionet Precia, and Rionet Precia II models released during this period are characterized by steady progress in bringing a natural hearing experience to users.The Rionet Rosé, released in 2009, was an ambitious product and the first model to adopt an open platform DSP offering broad freedom in programming, which allowed the incorpora-tion of various functions demanded by hearing aid users. Par-ticularly innovative about the model was how it approached the issue of “deterioration in frequency selectivity”, which hearing aids had been unable to resolve up to that point.Just to start, there are four main causes of difficulty in hearing.❶ Increase in the threshold of hearing (difficulty in hearing small ❷ Loudness recruitment (loud sounds may be perceived as loud-❸ Reduction in frequency selectivity (difficulty hearing in noisy ❹ Reduction in temporal resolution (difficulty perceiving fast “The Rosé series was created with the goal of catching up with and surpassing hearing aid manufacturers around the world,” says Osawa, who does research and development on software and signal processing for hearing aids. “Precia was a fully upgraded series developed based on feedback from Rosé users. It was near perfection at the time.”The starting point—the adoption of an open platform digital signal processor (DSP)
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