The Hearpiece database of individual transfer functions of an openly available in-the-ear earpiece for hearing device research

Abstract: We present a database of acoustic transfer functions of the Hearpiece, an openly available multi-microphone multi-driver in-the-ear earpiece for hearing device research. The database includes HRTFs for 87 incidence directions as well as responses of the drivers, all measured at the four microphones of the Hearpiece as well as the eardrum in the occluded and open ear. The transfer functions were measured in both ears of 25 human subjects and a KEMAR with anthropometric pinnae for five reinsertions of the device. We describe the measurements of the database and analyse derived acoustic parameters of the device. All regarded transfer functions are subject to differences between subjects as well as variations due to reinsertion into the same ear. Also, the results show that KEMAR measurements represent a median human ear well for all assessed transfer functions. The database is a rich basis for development, evaluation and robustness analysis of multiple hearing device algorithms and applications. The database is openly available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3733191.